"So they were planning to raze the other side's home..."
Zhou Yun grumbled to himself. He hadn't expected Senior Brother Chen, who seemed so refined and easygoing, to come from the Iron-Forging Clan.
And that wasn't all. His family's way of doing things was ruthless, too.
No wonder something that only required the two families to sit down and discuss had to turn into a fistfight that would hurt their relationship.
If someone was going to dig up your ancestors' graves, wouldn't you be furious?
"What do you think, Junior Brother? Would you care to come watch the excitement?"
Chen Jingping said with a cheerful smile, "Though this time it'll be a match between juniors at the Bright Force level, you won't need to fight. You can just sit back, enjoy the show, and have some drinks."
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline your kind invitation, Senior Brother. I've just had a breakthrough in my martial arts, and I'd like to seize this opportunity to advance my realm."
Zhou Yun came up with an excuse. There was no need to join in on every bit of excitement. The right path was to stay at the martial hall and focus on training.
"You've made progress in your martial arts, Junior Brother? What a pity."
Chen Jingping sighed. "I've heard the White Phoenix Martial Hall is made up entirely of women. Though they practice martial arts, the White Phoenix lineage's techniques can shape the body and preserve one's looks. The White Phoenix disciples are all exceptionally beautiful..."
"Martial progress can come at any time, can't it? Senior Brother, chances to broaden one's horizons don't come often."
Zhou Yun changed his tune and clasped Chen Jingping's hand. "Senior Brother Chen, you're looking out for me. How could I be so unfeeling as to refuse? I'll definitely come tomorrow."
He hadn't been interested in watching a bunch of rough men trade punches. But if the White Phoenix Martial Hall was made up entirely of women, he simply had to go see it for himself.
"Junior Brother, you truly are a man of passion."
Chen Jingping had been about to leave, but seeing Zhou Yun change his mind like an actor changing faces, he couldn't help praising him. "Then it's settled. I'll come to your courtyard tomorrow. Don't you dare stand me up."
"Don't worry, Senior Brother."
Zhou Yun nodded, feeling some anticipation about the White Phoenix Martial Hall.
It wasn't that he had any vulgar thoughts. It was just that whether it was the Chen Family of Xiang City or the White Phoenix Martial Hall, he ought to go and see them.
Not only could he get the latest intelligence right away and gain a clearer picture of the situation in Black Stone County, but he might also make a familiar face in some of the higher circles.
"My Thunder Meteor Spear Art has reached the first turn, and with my other two martial arts mastered, I could kill even a Dark Force expert if I ran into one on the road."
Zhou Yun was full of confidence. What was more, the force inside his body had grown as thick as five fingers, and its capacity had increased considerably.
Judging by Chen Jingping's expression, he was clearly confident of winning this match. Zhou Yun probably wouldn't need to fight.
"Now that I've eaten my fill, I'm heading back to practice my spear."
After finishing the last piece of stewed beef, Zhou Yun got up and returned to his courtyard.
The greatest enemy on the path of martial arts was slackness. If he let himself slip even once, it could easily turn into a lazy habit and damage the very foundation of his martial arts.
In the courtyard, the young man's figure flashed about.
In the blink of an eye, the sun set and rose again, and a full day and night passed.
The next day arrived. Zhou Yun got up especially early and soaked in a wooden tub.
The daily qi-and-blood reward he'd received yesterday hadn't been much, so he'd used it to consolidate his current level.
The rewards he could get from ordinary martial arts practice were becoming fewer and fewer. It seemed he would have to find some other way.
Zhou Yun had already made a plan. He was just getting dressed when a knock sounded at the door.
He opened it and saw that his visitor was none other than Chen Jingping.
"Junior Brother Zhou, you've made yourself quite handsome today. Perhaps a disciple from the White Phoenix Martial Hall really will fall for you."
Chen Jingping teased him. After yesterday's conversation, the two had grown much more familiar with each other.
"You jest, Senior Brother Chen. I'm only going to broaden my horizons. I've never seen two families settle things with a fistfight before."
Zhou Yun spoke frankly, taking Chen Jingping's teasing as a joke.
"Then you're in for a good show. The fighters will be my cousin, who's reached the Bright Force great-achievement stage, and the White Phoenix Martial Hall's head's own daughter, who's also at the Bright Force great-achievement stage."
Chen Jingping said, "My cousin has mastered our family's Cloud Breaking Hand. But I've heard that Miss Bai is just as formidable. She's reached minor mastery in both of the White Phoenix techniques she practices."
When they reached the martial hall entrance, Zhou Yun saw a carriage pulled by two fine steeds and couldn't help revising his estimate of the Xiang City Chen Clan's wealth upward.
He and Chen Jingping boarded the carriage. Then Zhou Yun asked, "Senior Brother Chen, what are the rules behind these matches?"
"These matches between families are divided into matches between family members and matches between outside guests."
Chen Jingping explained, "Matches between family members usually involve matters of some importance. For example, this time my Chen Family wants the White Phoenix Martial Hall to move elsewhere."
"As for matches between outside guests, those are for disputes over interests. They're a way for each family to show off its connections by inviting their guest retainers or sponsored martial artists to fight."
Zhou Yun nodded. So there was more to these matches than he'd thought.
But from the sound of it, he probably wouldn't need to fight this time. After all, he was only a martial artist sponsored by Chen Jingping, not a member of the Chen Family itself.
The two fine steeds raced along the street, and before long they reached the White Phoenix Martial Hall.
The two climbed down from the carriage. Zhou Yun immediately spotted the enormous plaque bearing the name White Phoenix Martial Hall, its characters bold and flourishing like flying dragons and phoenixes.
They crossed the courtyard. Along the way, Zhou Yun saw many disciples of the White Phoenix Martial Hall, and all of them really were women—even the people sweeping the ground were female servants.
He took a look around. Just as Chen Jingping had said, the White Phoenix disciples had striking, almost heroic features.
Perhaps it was because of the martial arts they practiced, but most had shapely, full figures and long legs.
"Today's certainly a feast for the eyes."
Zhou Yun sighed inwardly. It seemed he would have to spend more time with Senior Brother Chen from now on. Otherwise, he'd truly miss out on some lovely sights.
"Junior Brother Zhou, we're here."
Chen Jingping and the others arrived at a platform with an excellent view. Disciples of the White Phoenix Martial Hall were on hand to serve those gathered there. It was treatment befitting a great family.
Zhou Yun glanced to the side. Representatives from several great family powers were wearing plaques bearing their names.
The county magistrate's family, for instance, had the surname Liu on their plaque. It seemed the magistrate himself was there—the same magistrate who had lost a son in the escort mission last time.
Zhou Yun looked over. The middle-aged official in ordinary clothes seemed to sense his gaze and looked back in Zhou Yun's direction.
But there was a complicated look in his eyes, with a trace of gloom buried deep within.
"His close kin died last time, so he resents me."
Zhou Yun silently took note. He would have to be on guard around the county magistrate's people from now on.
Besides them, the Sky Sea Escort Agency and Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall had both sent representatives.
There was a familiar face among those from the Sky Sea Escort Agency. When Shen Qingxue saw Zhou Yun watching the match, she gave him a friendly smile.
Zhou Yun nodded in greeting, and they shared an unspoken understanding.
As for the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall, its representative was a sharp-eyed young man with a shaved head. He stared at everything on the arena like an eagle, making no effort to hide the aura spreading from him.
"Bright Force great achievement? Has he already touched the threshold of Dark Force?"
Zhou Yun sensed his strength and came to a quick judgment.
But the young man didn't look like he was merely there to watch. He looked like someone about to step into the ring.
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