A Show of Force, a Roadblock

In the blink of an eye.

The Xu Household's bridal procession had entered Azure Cloud Street.

The Yang Residence was already visible in the distance.

Xu Mingshu's eyes curved like crescent moons, and two little dimples appeared as she smiled.

"Little White, give them a roar. Let the Yang Household know we're here."

The White Tiger unleashed a mighty roar. Waves of sound rolled out, briefly drowning even the suona horns.

Fortunately, only Xu Mingyuan and a few others were on horseback. As martial artists, they were strong enough to hold their mounts steady and keep them from bolting.

"Xueji, you could at least have warned us," Xu Mingyuan said with a wry smile.

"Exactly. We nearly made fools of ourselves," Xu Mingxuan said helplessly.

"I forgot." Xu Mingshu stuck out her tongue.

"Keep moving!" Xu Mingwei called.

Not far away.

Everyone but Yang Shichang jumped at the sudden tiger's roar.

The force in that roar was nothing like the cry of an ordinary Fierce Tiger.

"What's going on? Why is there a tiger roaring? Since when were Fierce Tigers allowed into the city?"

They looked at one another in bewilderment.

Yang Shichang laughed inwardly. That'll teach you to be so proud.

A little scare serves you right.

Then the bridal procession came into view.

Among them walked a white tiger with reddish-gold eyes, standing more than half a man tall.

Every gaze swung toward it, eyes full of astonishment.

The man who had called Yang Shichang his younger cousin smiled faintly and asked, "Does the Xu Household have someone who can tame beasts?"

"I wouldn't know, Cousin Shihui," Yang Shichang replied casually.

They reached the front gate.

Xu Mingwei dismounted from the White Tiger, stepped forward, and cupped his fists. "Xu Mingwei of the Xu Household, here to fetch my bride."

Xu Mingyuan and the others dismounted and stood behind him.

Yang Shihui and the others sized Xu Mingwei up.

"A fine-looking man. He's worthy of Cousin Ronghua in that respect, but looks alone aren't enough."

"Right," said a brocade-robed youth of seventeen or eighteen. "In this world, without strength, you can't protect anyone."

"If you want to take my cousin away, you'll have to get past me first."

"My name is Qi Wenzhi. Which of you will face me?"

Xu Mingyuan was closest to him in age, but he was no fighter.

Charcoal Head was about as strong as Xu Mingyuan, but his youth put him at a disadvantage.

Give him another two or three years, and he would certainly become a capable Second-Rate Martial Artist, perhaps even approach the level of a First-Class Martial Artist.

"Fourth Sister, you go," Xu Mingxian whispered.

"Me?"

"I can tell he's strong. No one but Big Brother can handle him. But we can't make Big Brother fight every challenger who steps out. What did the rest of us come for?"

"You have a point."

Xu Mingshu took a few steps forward and met Qi Wenzhi's gaze without fear. "I'll take this match."

"Hahaha! Is there no one left in the Xu Household? They're sending a little girl?"

Qi Wenzhi laughed and waved her away. "Go on, go play house somewhere else."

Anger flashed in Xu Mingshu's eyes. "Little White, swat him!"

The White Tiger had been standing quietly at the rear. At her command, it sprang in front of her. Its black-and-white tail lashed out like a steel whip, carrying a fierce gust straight toward his stomach.

Qi Wenzhi was startled and hurried to retreat, but he was a moment too late.

The tail barely grazed him, yet it sent him flying. He landed flat on his face.

"What the hell!"

"Roar!"

Ferocity lit the White Tiger's eyes as it roared without restraint at the crowd before the Yang Residence.

Several people recoiled under the force of the roar.

Only Yang Shihui stood unmoved.

"What kind of skill is hiding behind a Fierce Tiger? If we drew our blades, we'd slaughter that beast."

Xu Mingshu showed no fear. "Commanding beasts is my skill. If you don't like it, come out and face Little White yourself."

"No, no. It's a joyous day. Spilling blood would be unlucky."

Yang Shichang hurried to intervene.

"Cousin, it seems the Xu Household isn't entirely without merit."

Yang Shihui spoke suddenly, turning to Xu Mingwei. "My uncle told me you're strong, with the potential to become a Grandmaster. Let's have a match. Beat me, and I won't stop you again. How about it?"

"Please." Xu Mingwei wasted no words.

They immediately exchanged blows.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several moves, neither had gained the upper hand.

Xu Mingshu asked curiously, "Brother Shichang, he's really strong. He can actually hold his own against my big brother."

Yang Shichang patted her head. "Don't underestimate the people under heaven."

"My cousin is twenty-one this year and has also reached the Houtian Peak. After a few more months of consolidation, he'll take a Qi-Inducing Pill and attempt to become a Xiantian Martial Artist. He's one of the rare talents of this Yang Household generation."

"He's still not as good as my big brother. My big brother's only nineteen," Xu Mingshu huffed.

"Perhaps. But the main Yang Household has resources the Xu Household can't match. It's hard to say what the future holds."

Yang Shichang added, "My future brother-in-law is certainly an outstanding talent in Moon Lake Commandery. But the truly formidable ones become Xiantian Martial Artists before they turn twenty."

"Hmph. My big brother won't lose," Xu Mingshu said firmly.

"Brother Xu, you truly are remarkable. It isn't easy for a county town to produce someone like you. But if you can't beat me, don't expect me to let you through the gates of the Yang Residence."

Xu Mingwei stood as steady as a mountain, his gaze burning like a torch as he watched Yang Shihui.

"Brother Yang, you really are making things difficult for me. Then I won't hold back."

"Show me what you've got." Yang Shihui brimmed with confidence.

He would not claim to be invincible in the Commandery Seat, but in a county town, he was confident he could sweep aside any opponent.

After all, no small county-town Lineage could compare with the Yang Household's martial arts and techniques.

"Brother Yang, your techniques are exquisite. But I can break ten clever moves with one overwhelming strike."

Xu Mingwei stopped holding back.

Inner Force surged through his body, circulating through the acupoints along its pathways.

His punch looked plain, yet it drove forward like a pillar reaching to the heavens, striking straight at the heart of his opponent's defenses.

Yang Shihui dismissed it at first glance. But when the wind of the punch struck his face, he instantly understood the power hidden in that ordinary-looking blow.

One overwhelming strike to break ten clever moves!

"Black Tortoise Hand!"

Yang Shihui tried to use the technique to redirect the force, but Xu Mingwei was far stronger. Even after part of the blow's power had been diverted, it still broke free of the arm wrapping around it.

Riiip!

The sleeve on Yang Shihui's arm burst apart.

The blow struck his chest and drove him back a dozen steps. When he finally stopped, a muffled groan escaped him.

A sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat, but he swallowed it down.

"Cousin!"

The Yang Household youths cried out in concern.

Yang Shihui waved them off, then laughed at Xu Mingwei. "Well done! One overwhelming strike to break ten clever moves!"

"You're worthy of my cousin."

With Yang Shihui having spoken, the other Yang Household youths naturally did not dare block the way.

"Thank you."

Xu Mingwei cupped his fists with a faint smile and was about to lead the others inside.

"Wait." Yang Shichang blocked him. "You've passed my cousin's test, but you still have to pass mine."

"Brother Shichang, I'm not looking down on you, but you'd better not ask for trouble," Xu Mingshu said with a smile.

"Little Xueji, I never said we'd fight." Yang Shichang's lips curved. "My dear future brother-in-law, if you want to go in, compose a bridal-rousing poem first!"

"Good thing I came prepared." Xu Mingwei breathed a sigh of relief. "Then listen closely."

"By willow-lined ferry, the fragrant bridal carriage waits beneath embroidered curtains; silver candles light the painted hall on this auspicious day.

Before the water-chestnut mirror, she paints her fresh brows; beside the tortoiseshell curtain, she brushes away the dust of old days."

"Excellent!"

At those words, cheers filled the hall and applause thundered.

Xu Mingwei paced a few steps with his hands behind his back, then continued:

"Do not say the heavenly maiden is slow to dress; know that her groom waits at the gate, calling time and again.

The east wind has readied the gold-thread reins; all that remains is for you, my love, to smooth your cloudlike hair."