Chapter 272: Challenging Nangong Hao (2/2)
Everyone thought Nangong Mu would be infuriated.
However, in fact...
When Nangong Mu heard that, he stood rooted to his spot.
”This is the first time I have heard Nangong Hao’s name. However, I hear Nangong Mu’s name a lot!”
”A lot!”
Nangong Mu kept repeating this in his head. He did not know if Fang Zhengzhi was telling the truth. However, this was the first time he had heard of someone who knew Nangong Mu but not Nangong Hao.
How could someone know Nangong Mu and not Nangong Hao?!
Nangong Mu gripped his Green and Blue Dual Blades tightly. This was an emotional reaction which resulted from decades of suppressed emotion.
After some time, Nangong Mu’s expression returned to normal.
The ferocity disappeared from his face, replaced by a familiar calm.
”Can you do me a favor?” Nangong Mu stared at Fang Zhengzhi, his mind made up.
”Sure thing!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
”Aren’t you going to ask me what is it?”
”Do I need to? I just told you, we are friends.”
”Friends? Yes... we are indeed friends!” Nangong Mu muttered to himself. Then, his grip on the Green and Blue Dual Blades loosened. ”I want you to defeat Nangong Hao for me!”
”Can, get him to come. I will definitely cave his head in! Even his mother wouldn’t recognize him!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded, then realized something was amiss.
Isn’t Nangong Hao Nangong Mu’s brother? Why did Nangong Mu want him beaten?
Just as he was about to ask, Nangong Mu walked off the stage.
”Thank you! I have lost!” Nangong Mu’s eyes were calm, almost as if he was relieved of a huge burden.
”Oh? Didn’t you say you cannot lose?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Nangong Mu doubtfully.
”I can lose now!” Nangong Mu looked into the distance, in the direction of the Nangong Family. He had just set out from there recently.
At that time, he only had one aim, defeat everyone and take the top spot.
But now, he did not regret making this decision.
”You can lose now?” Fang Zhengzhi did not understand what Nangong Mu meant.
All of the officials were confused by what was happening. What’s going on? Why did Nangong Mu suddenly concede? What did Fang Zhengzhi do to him?
It sounded like...
Hang on, Fang Zhengzhi said that he was going to defeat Nangong Hao!
”Did I hear that correctly? Fang Zhengzhi had openly challenged Nangong Hao?!”
”I think so. He even said he was going to cave his head in?”
”What are callous man! But... what is he thinking? That is Nangong Hao of the Nangong Family. How does he have that much courage?”
All of the officials stared at the fearless Fang Zhengzhi. They could not guess what he was thinking.
He actually challenged Nangong Hao? He even issued the challenge in front of the Emperor. This shameless b*stard is getting more audacious by the day!” Ping Yang muttered excitedly.
”Challenge Nangong Hao?” Xing Qingsui looked at Yan Xiu. Yan Xiu was calm, not surprised by Fang Zhengzhi’s words at all.
King Duan’s solemn expression was replaced by a radiant smile. ”A villager who doesn’t know his own place! I guess Nangong Hao will have to participate in the court examinations.”
Everyone had their own ideas of what was going to happen. However, Emperor Lin Mubai was expressionless throughout. As the Emperor, he did not need to guess what was going to happen.
All he needed to do was observe the developments and wait for the result.
...
After announcing the results for Fang Zhengzhi vs Nangong Mu, the bracket for the semifinals was drawn.
Fang Zhengzhi was in luck and drew a heavily injured candidate.
Yan Xiu drew Xing Qingsui.
Yan Xiu was not a man of many words and neither was Xing Qingsui. Without much words, the battle started.
Xing Qingsui launched the first attack. This was no surprise, after all, the Stabilisation Constabulary believed in offense, offense, and more offense...
Yan Xiu charged as well.
This was a battle between the offenses.
This was a much more intense and exciting battle. It was a battle that far superseded Fang Zhengzhi’s one in terms of entertainment value.
After almost five minutes of intense combat, both of them slowed down.
Yan Xiu was still calm and icy as before
Xing Qingsui was pale. Sweat stains could be seen seeping through his black shirt.
”It looks like Xing Qingsui has not fully recovered!”
”He broke his bones and suffered some serious internal injuries. I don’t think he can make a full recovery in less than six months.”
”Yes, Xing Qingsui suffered some of the most severe injuries during the incident at the World of the Sage. It is a miracle that he survived. I think this battle is pretty much over.”
”That being said, I didn’t expect Yan Xiu to become just as powerful as Xing Qingsui. He is indeed a talent!”
All of the officials were engrossed in discussion as they spectated the battle.
Fang Zhengzhi cheered Yan Xiu on from below the stage. He constantly drew the ire of the surrounding spectators.
”Is this guy really the top student in the theory examinations?!”
”How could this person possibly have produced those six flawless scripts?”
”It is an insult for someone as cultured as Yan Xiu to befriend such a person!”
Many of the youths standing behind the guards chided when they heard Fang Zhengzhi’s shouts.
Only Ping Yang was unsurprised by Fang Zhengzhi’s actions. She too was chanting, ”come on, give it to him, give it to him... come on!”
...
The battle on stage was almost white hot.
Up till now, Xing Qingsui and Yan Xiu had not spoken a single word to each other.
Xing Qingsui held a huge black sword in his hand, his battle spirit getting stronger by the second. Yan Xiu stood in place, his Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan glimmering in the sun.
”Fight!” Xing Qingsui muttered to himself as he lunged. He lowered his sword and his battle spirit became as sharp as a blade
However, in the moment he charged, Yan Xiu disappeared.
He disappeared from where he stood.
In fact, the entire world seem to vanish. It was replaced by a white light. There was no other color.
All of the spectators felt like they had just been stung in the eye. All of them cursed and swore in their hearts.
”How can we be stabbed by white light twice in a day? Must they do that?! This... isn’t this that b*stard Fang Zhengzhi’s technique?!”