Instigation

Very soon.

The military officer in charge of the assessment finished assigning all fifty Martial Imperial Exam candidates.

Fang Yue's opponent was ranked thirty-eighth in Stone Lifting—a bearded, weathered-looking martial artist.

Judging by his ranking, this man's Stone Lifting result should have been just over eleven hundred jin.

There was a difference of two hundred jin between them. The gap was already obvious.

"This martial artist looks like he trained with blades or swords. Now that he has to use his fists, I'm afraid he won't be able to bring much of his strength into play."

Fang Yue gave the martial artist a glance. From the calluses on his tiger's mouth and the other marks on his hands, he judged the path of Martial Arts the man practiced.

There was no helping it. In the Martial Scholar assessment, actual combat ability mattered more, and those who trained in weapon-based Martial Arts were at a greater disadvantage.

However, if one's strength was great enough and one ranked high in Stone Lifting—

Then the difference in strength would be enough to erase the gap between wielding a weapon and using one's fists.

After all, this was a new measure introduced by the Great Wei Imperial Court. Though the Martial Scholar assessment was simple, it still had quite a few flaws.

They fought in pairs, with ten matches per round.

Very soon, it was Fang Yue's turn.

He and his opponent stepped onto the platform. After exchanging names, they began preparing for the match.

"Wang Renjia of Chenwang Village. I ask Martial Instructor Fang to show mercy."

Although Wang Renjia ranked lower, he did not appear worried in the slightest. Instead, he looked brimming with confidence.

After making a few preparations, Wang Renjia actually looked eager to give it a try.

"Fang Yue of Daliushu Village."

Fang Yue smiled faintly and returned the salute with cupped fists.

Once they were ready, the proctoring military officer waved his hand, and the two immediately began fighting.

"Lord Liu, although this is merely the Imperial Court's first Martial Scholar assessment, Xiahe County is truly full of talent. Every martial student has performed admirably. This is all thanks to Lord Liu's excellent governance!"

At the center of the viewing stands, a white-haired official smilingly bowed to Liu Zheng. Judging from the style of his official robes, he was a civil official.

There was not much suspense in the fights, really. They were only meant to determine the rankings.

The Xiahe County officials present to watch were merely there to supervise. In truth, most of them were not paying much attention to the matches.

"If County Magistrate Zheng has something to say, say it," Liu Zheng said coldly.

Zheng Sancai stroked his beard. He was not angered by Liu Zheng's blunt words and said with a smile,

"Such paired assessments may avoid excessive casualties. But there will inevitably be people dissatisfied with their rankings, and they may well bear resentment toward you, my lord."

Only then did Liu Zheng properly look at Zheng Sancai beside him.

"Mm. If anyone is dissatisfied later, they may challenge someone ranked higher. But if they fail the challenge, their result will be canceled, and the person below them will take their place."

"My lord is wise! This way, both sides are satisfied. My lord is truly wise!" Zheng Sancai had a thick enough skin. Though he was considerably older than Liu Zheng—

Because the other man held a higher office, he spared no flattery, without the slightest blush of embarrassment.

After his proposal was accepted, Zheng Sancai immediately straightened up and looked toward a gray-clad candidate in the arena. Without drawing attention, he nodded.

A short while later.

Fang Yue and Wang Renjia's match had reached its final stage.

After familiarizing himself with Wang Renjia's moves, Fang Yue began exerting force. Within a few exchanges, he forced his opponent into one opening after another, driving him into a corner.

Then he unleashed Hungry Tiger Descends the Mountain.

This punch was a killing move of the White Tiger Fist, and it carried considerable power.

His opponent was weaker than him. If he took the punch head-on, he would certainly be seriously injured.

But if he dodged, he could only fall from the platform.

Whether he dodged or not, the outcome was already decided.

However—

At that moment.

Wang Renjia seemed to understand his predicament as well. Seeing that victory was impossible, his heart hardened.

He immediately drew a deep breath and suddenly exerted himself without regard for the consequences.

Faced with Fang Yue's fierce assault, he neither dodged nor retreated. He was clearly planning to withstand the move with his body.

At the same time, Wang Renjia's attack landed on Fang Yue.

It was a fight-for-your-life style!

Fang Yue was somewhat surprised. He had not expected this man to refuse to dodge even at the cost of severe injury.

But did he really think such a move could force Fang Yue to retreat?

He was already completely at a disadvantage. If they truly clashed head-on, Fang Yue's fist would land on him first and directly scatter his strength.

That way, even if his opponent struck Fang Yue, he would not cause much harm.

Bang!

The next instant, Fang Yue's fist slammed squarely into his opponent's body.

The force of thirteen hundred jin erupted. Wang Renjia's skin, tempered until it was like cowhide, only deflected a small portion of the impact.

Then, with a crack, the sound of breaking bones rang out.

Wang Renjia was sent flying.

"This match goes to Fang Yue!"

The military officer in charge of proctoring announced the result. As long as Wang Renjia had not died on the spot after being sent flying, someone would naturally take him away for treatment.

A person who could not see the situation clearly like this was already no longer young. He plainly had no chance, yet still chose to take such a risk. It was truly unwise. Moreover, after suffering this injury, he would never again have the chance to take the Martial Imperial Exam.

Fang Yue walked off the platform expressionlessly and came to the edge of the training ground.

Then his gaze fell upon a gray-clad youth currently fighting on the platform.

At that very moment, the man's eyes seemed to sweep over by chance.

The two met each other's gaze for a moment before looking away.

So that desperate punch from Wang Renjia was arranged by you?

Fang Yue could not help coughing, and his face turned several shades paler.

Just now, he had seriously injured Wang Renjia.

But in truth, Wang Renjia's final punch had struck him as well.

However, just as he had expected, Wang Renjia's strength had been scattered by his blow. The force that Wang Renjia's punch had managed to exert was less than three hundred jin.

Such force might easily seriously injure or even kill an ordinary person.

But to the many martial instructors participating in today's assessment, it was nothing at all.

So long as it did not strike a vital point, it was merely a painless injury.

Yet when Wang Renjia's fist had landed on him just now, it had thrown his qi and blood into reverse flow.

It left him feeling almost drained of strength even now.

Thinking back on the way Wang Renjia had exerted force, as well as that clearly unfamiliar and strange technique—

Fang Yue had a feeling that this man must have known beforehand the qi-and-blood circulation routes of the White Tiger Fist. He had also been able to strike those nodes with a special technique, inflicting enormous harm upon someone who practiced the White Tiger Fist.

But even Fang Yue himself did not know this.

Because qi-and-blood circulation nodes could not produce such an effect merely by being struck at random.

Otherwise, if it worked so easily, who would dare learn this Martial Arts technique?

The fact that Wang Renjia could use such a special technique clearly meant it was not his own ability. Someone had told him about it.

Then this man's desperate struggle just now had clearly been at someone's instigation!

Thinking of Chen Chengan's earlier words, could it have been the gray-clad youth, also a disciple of the White Tiger Martial Arts School, who had instigated him?

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