The next day, in front of Hua Pavilion.
Yin Tianqing led his disciples there, and the place was already packed with people.
Hua Pavilion belonged to the Zhao Family, and Zhao Huayuan had already reached an agreement with the Black Tiger Hall. So it made perfect sense to hold the matches in front of Hua Pavilion.
Chen Mo's gaze swept across the crowd.
The Zhao Family, the Hansha Gang, the Black Tiger Hall, Panshi Martial Hall, and the Wu Family all had familiar faces among them.
Chen Mo even spotted Chen Hang standing in a corner with Panshi Martial Hall. Chen Hang looked his way, then quickly looked away.
When Chen Mo's eyes drifted to a second-floor window of Hua Pavilion, he saw the deputy leader of the Hansha Gang looking down at him.
Their gazes met.
A sinister smile suddenly curled the man's lips.
"Chen Mo."
At the sound of someone calling him, Chen Mo turned away and faced the speaker.
Wu Zhiai came up to him and leaned close to whisper in his ear. "This is just the customary match before the Martial Examination. You don't need to give it your all."
Chen Mo nodded slightly.
He understood. He would save his edge for the final battle!
He asked, "Sister Ai, are you leading the Wu Family's team?"
Wu Zhiai nodded. "I pulled a few strings to win this chance to show my face. The Wu Family only has one mid-stage Ming Jin fighter taking the Martial Examination this year, and he belongs to Eldest Brother and Second Brother's faction. If you weren't just a bodyguard and unable to fight for the Wu Family, I'd be tempted to poach you from Tianqing Martial Hall!"
She finished with a relaxed smile.
Bodyguards and retainers were both types of subordinates. But marrying into a family was different; it meant sharing in that family's fortunes and misfortunes.
Before long, the crowd parted to make way. From the murmurs around him, Chen Mo learned that the Black Tiger Hall's leader had arrived.
Chen Mo stepped aside. As Liu Zongsheng, clad in a black-and-gold robe, passed before him, the pressure of a Hua Jin expert swept over him in an instant.
The aura Chen Mo sensed from Liu Zongsheng was even stronger than Yin Tianqing's.
When Liu Zongsheng passed Yin Tianqing, he stopped and turned to look at him, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. "It's been a long time, Master Yin. You're still as hale and hearty as ever."
Yin Tianqing clasped his hands. "I'm nothing but a pile of old bones now. I can't compare to the extraordinary bearing of Hall Leader Liu!"
Liu Zongsheng smiled and walked on, followed by two Dark Jin subordinates and several Ming Jin attendants.
As he reached the main entrance of Hua Pavilion, Zhao Huayuan happened to come out. The two stopped just a couple of steps apart.
Two attendants behind Zhao Huayuan quickly brought out a pair of sandalwood chairs and set them behind the men.
"Please, Hall Leader Liu!" Zhao Huayuan gestured for him to sit.
Liu Zongsheng returned the gesture, then sat in the seat of honor without waiting for a response. Zhao Huayuan took the seat beside him.
Liu Zongsheng's voice boomed. "Everyone, Black River Town may be just a town, but in Anyang County, it ranks just below the county seat. With this year's Martial Examination approaching, Family Head Zhao and I have gathered you all here. First, we want those taking the examination to spar and get familiar with one another, so they can adapt ahead of time."
"Second, we hope to strengthen the ties of friendship among the various factions of Black River Town."
His speech was rousing and impeccably worded.
Some people in the crowd called out in response. They were all family scions or martial hall disciples. As for the few common folk from the bottom of society, they watched from a distance, not daring to come closer.
After Liu Zongsheng finished speaking, Zhao Huayuan explained the rules.
In short, each person taking the Martial Examination could choose an opponent of comparable strength. Anyone chosen had to accept, and each person could enter the ring only once.
Several people in the crowd looked eager.
A chance to make a name for yourself was hard to come by!
At that moment, Liu Zongsheng summoned one of his Dark Jin subordinates and quietly gave him a few instructions. The man glanced toward Tianqing Martial Hall, then headed that way.
The Dark Jin subordinate stopped in front of Yin Tianqing. "Master Yin, our leader invites you to join him inside Hua Pavilion for a discussion."
Yin Tianqing frowned.
But he didn't refuse. He followed the man to the entrance of Hua Pavilion, and went inside with Liu Zongsheng.
Chen Mo noticed and wondered to himself.
The Black Tiger Hall, Zhao Family, and Hansha Gang seem to be plotting something. Now Liu Zongsheng has invited Yin Tianqing inside. It may have something to do with whatever they're planning...
There were only two reasons Zhao Huayuan might hesitate over something.
The first was that it would harm his interests.
The second was that it was fraught with danger.
After considering it, Chen Mo felt the first possibility could almost be ruled out. Liu Zongsheng had no reason to damage the interests of a Hua Jin expert.
That left only one possibility: whatever they were planning was dangerous.
I wonder if Master Yin will agree...
With his current strength, he couldn't influence the struggle among the various factions in the slightest.
He only wanted a way to protect himself if things went beyond his expectations.
A short while later, Liu Zongsheng came out of Hua Pavilion, looking displeased.
Yin Tianqing emerged with heavy steps. He returned to his disciples, trying hard to hide it, but Chen Mo could see the dark currents roiling beneath his calm expression.
Looks like Master Yin turned him down...
Chen Mo pondered silently. What could have made both Zhao Huayuan and Yin Tianqing refuse?
It was probably more than just some corner of Black River Town.
By then, Zhang Chong, who had become the Zhao Family's future son-in-law, had also come out of Hua Pavilion. He walked over to Zhao Huayuan and bowed in greeting. Zhao Huayuan nodded, gave him a few instructions, and only then did Zhang Chong rise.
Once he was on his feet, he looked toward Tianqing Martial Hall. His gaze met Yin Shanshan's, cold as ice, but he instinctively looked away.
Yin Shanshan didn't want anything more to do with someone like him either. She turned her head and reminded Chen Mo, "Junior Brother Chen, the Zhao Family has four people competing this year. Aside from... that man, two are sons of collateral relatives, and the last is a new disciple of the Zhao Family Head. He only broke through to Dark Jin last month."
"Those two sons of collateral relatives specialize in leg techniques, while the Dark Jin disciple practices Mantis Fist."
Yin Shanshan was telling Chen Mo so he could be prepared.
Chen Mo committed it to memory. "I'll remember. Thank you, Senior Sister."
In Yin Shanshan's view, Zhang Chong wasn't targeting Chen Mo, so he surely wouldn't choose him as an opponent. Any of the other three might.
The Zhao Family's direct descendants were weak in martial arts from one generation to the next, so they could only "borrow" two sons of collateral relatives.
That was proof that martial arts depended on one's natural endowment. Without the right foundation, even a direct descendant couldn't eat enough pills to reach Ming Jin.
"The Black Tiger Hall has five competitors: three Dark Jin and two Ming Jin. Liu Sha is a well-known mid-stage Dark Jin fighter."
"As for the Wu Family, they shouldn't pose a threat to you. Panshi Martial Hall is much like us, with one Dark Jin fighter and two Ming Jin fighters. Their Dark Jin fighter is known for his strong defense."
Chen Mo committed each detail to memory.
Yin Shanshan's introduction gave him a general understanding of this year's competitors from Black River Town.
A sharp shout interrupted them.
A large area in front of Hua Pavilion had been cleared. A Dark Jin fighter from the Black Tiger Hall stepped into the open space, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on a Ming Jin fighter from Panshi Martial Hall.
He pointed at him. "You there, do you dare come out and spar with me?"
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