Chapter 102: Not Attacking Is My Final Stubbornness
Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Not Attacking Is My Final Stubbornness
Damn it!
The blood rushed to Black Blade’s head, leaving him dazed!
’You’re that handsome, so why were you covering your face?’
"Is that him?"
Someone in the Black Mountain Camp’s contingent recognized Tang Wen.
"What, you know him?"
The man from Black Mountain Camp sucked in a breath through his teeth. "I’ve seen him once before. He left a deep impression. I think he’s only eighteen."
"What?"
"An eighteen-year-old Martial Artist?"
"Get out of here!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"He probably just looks young."
The man from Black Mountain Camp didn’t say any more. He knew no one would believe him even if he did.
He stared intently at Tang Wen’s face, secretly committing this matter to memory.
The duel continued.
BANG!
Black Blade used a risky move to hook off the black cloth from Tang Wen’s face.
But he took an elbow strike to the ribs from Tang Wen in return.
He let out a muffled groan.
A sharp, cracking pain shot through his ribs, which were stronger than refined steel!
It was a hairline fracture, at the very least.
Black Blade cursed inwardly and forced himself to take a deep breath.
He swung his fists wildly.
Thirteen Consecutive Explosions!
Tang Wen parried with both arms, unleashing a Power Burst of his own.
’I don’t believe it!’
’You’re just a measly Second-class Martial Artist. How many more of those bursts can you possibly manage?’
’Is your stamina really that heaven-defying?’
’I’ll risk it all!’
’Even if you have Steel Bones and Iron Flesh, I’ll smash you to pieces today!’
The Dark Qi surrounding his body grew thicker.
As Tang Wen’s fists met the black qi, he felt an unexpected sense of sluggishness.
’Not good!’
’This guy isn’t about to have a breakthrough mid-fight, is he?’
"Hah!" Tang Wen exhaled, his voice booming like thunder.
It was the Head-On Cannon, a vocal Secret Technique.
Black Blade’s mind went fuzzy for a moment.
His defense was half a beat too slow.
He cursed his luck, and with a ruthless thought, he switched from a fist to a claw, grabbing for Tang Wen’s shoulder.
An injury for an injury!
He had practiced the Eagle Claw Technique; if this grab landed true, it would tear out five bloody holes!
By now, both of their outer garments were shredded, leaving only their underclothes.
Facing this grab, Tang Wen slightly tilted his head and simultaneously threw a punch with his other hand.
BANG!
Black Blade took Tang Wen’s punch square in the chest.
His rock-hard muscles caved in.
Meanwhile, Black Blade’s palm also landed on Tang Wen’s shoulder.
With a ripping sound, his five fingers failed to find purchase.
"You’re wearing Inner Armor?"
Black Blade cried out in shock.
Tang Wen’s other fist arrived.
It slammed straight into his right chest, and Qi Force exploded outward.
Sending him flying.
SNAP!
Tang Wen’s other hand clamped down on his wrist.
Yanking Black Blade’s flying body right back!
Black Blade wanted to escape, but he couldn’t.
"Oh no!"
"We surrender!"
Black Blade’s companions, watching from the sidelines, shouted loudly.
Tang Wen turned a deaf ear, hammering down punch after punch.
"Stay your hand!"
"How dare you!"
After two more punches, Black Blade was spraying blood, barely alive.
The hearts of the onlookers were filled with shock.
Tang Wen aimed for his head, preparing to land another blow, when suddenly his vision blurred and his fist was blocked.
"Alright, you’ve won. Spare his life!"
The newcomer was Patriarch Zheng.
Black Blade could die, but not in Five Families City.
Otherwise, the Five Great Clans would be unable to answer to the Black Mountain King.
"Fine. Out of respect for Patriarch Zheng, I’ll spare your life!"
Tang Wen thought it was a pity. ’Killing Black Blade now would not only strike a blow against Black Mountain Camp but also tie Five Families City to the same boat as our Flame Camp.’
’I should have aimed that last punch at his head!’
"Thank you, Patriarch Zheng." Someone from Black Mountain Camp came forward and fed Black Blade an Elixir.
Without so much as a single threatening word, they hurriedly left.
Tang Wen watched their retreating backs, a sharp glint in his eyes, as if he wanted to give chase immediately.
Patriarch Zheng thought to himself: ’Good heavens. So young, yet so decisive. Is he that eager to cut the weeds and pull up the roots?’
He quickly stopped Tang Wen. "Haha, Commander Tang, next up is a match with my little daughter! If you win, you will be the esteemed son-in-law of my Zheng Family!"
Tang Wen’s eyebrow twitched. ’Esteemed son-in-law? According to the script, I’m supposed to lose to your daughter next.’
"Alright, then I ask for Miss Zheng’s guidance."
Seeing that it was no longer possible, Tang Wen abandoned the thought.
"It’s a gauntlet!"
"The Zheng Family clearly doesn’t want to marry their daughter off to an outsider."
"Miss Zheng is a Third-grade Martial Artist. I wonder if Commander Tang Wen is fortunate enough to win her."
"If it were me, I’d take elixirs if I had to just for a shot."
"Hehehe..."
The men shared a knowing laugh.
Patriarch Zheng sent a voice transmission to his daughter: "Just fight your best. Your father has already made the arrangements, so don’t worry."
"Mm," replied Zheng Nanzhu. Tall, with long legs and fair, beautiful features, she felt a storm of complex emotions.
She had been present when Tang Wen and Patriarch Zheng negotiated the terms of his participation.
How could she not know that Tang Wen had only entered the fray for the benefits?
If it were up to him, he wouldn’t have participated in her marriage contest at all.
Miss Zheng the Elder walked into the arena, her beautiful eyes filled with a certain sentiment as she gazed at Tang Wen.
’Unbelievably handsome, exceptionally talented, and incredibly powerful.’
’It’s like he has no flaws.’
’And his background... even his wife’s background is something I can’t afford to offend.’
Miss Zheng the Elder’s heart was in turmoil. She secretly reminded herself that this was all just an act.
"Miss Zheng, please!" Tang Wen spoke first.
"Commander Tang, please!"
Tang Wen took his stance and waited for several breaths, but the woman opposite him didn’t move.
The onlookers found this strange.
He couldn’t wait any longer. With a cry of "Pardon me!" he preemptively threw a punch toward Miss Zheng’s shoulder.
Miss Zheng’s Body Technique was nimble, and she dodged with a simple turn.
Neither of them used a Power Burst.
It didn’t look like a duel, but more like fellow disciples—a brother and sister—playfully sparring.
Miss Zheng was thinking about how to lose.
Tang Wen was too lazy to waste the effort.
The expert Martial Artists in the crowd couldn’t understand what they were seeing.
"Why isn’t Commander Tang using a burst of power to take down this beautiful lady? What’s he doing? Was his previous fight too draining?"
A dozen moves went by in a flash.
Tang Wen was losing patience. ’Miss Zheng, are you playing games? Attack! Hit me! What’s the meaning of only dodging and not attacking?’
Seeing Tang Wen’s anxious expression, Miss Zheng secretly gritted her teeth.
’Am I that undesirable?’
’Are you not even a little bit tempted?’
’Are you that determined to lose?’
’Fine, then I just won’t hit you!’
’Let’s see how you lose now!’
Not attacking was her last act of defiance.
Another dozen moves passed.
Miss Zheng was still only dodging and not attacking. Tang Wen couldn’t wait any longer.
He spun around to block the crowd’s view, his right hand shooting out with explosive speed. He grabbed Miss Zheng’s left hand, pulled her wrist, and slammed it hard against his own chest.
WHOOSH.
With a gentle push from his feet, Tang Wen leaned back and flew into the air.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. He stumbled back several steps, covering the perfect distance to be caught and steadied by Commander Qian.
The act was over. Tang Wen sighed loudly. "Miss Zheng’s family teachings are profound. I am no match! Elder Huang, according to the rules, I have lost. I’ve exhausted too much energy and will take my leave!"
With that, he ignored the shocked and stunned expressions on everyone’s faces and vanished down the street in a flash.
"Hey! Don’t go!" Zheng Nanzhu cried out, her heart a whirlwind of emotions.
But Tang Wen left directly without looking back.
’Stay?’
’And what? Stay here and dig myself a hole out of sheer embarrassment?’
「Two hours later, at the Wang Family estate.」
The Wang Family Steward was surprised to see Tang Wen. "Commander Tang Wen, what’s the rush? You just fought several battles in a row. Why not rest for a night before coming?"
"Thank you for the kind offer, but there’s no need. I’d like to comprehend it as soon as possible so I can return to camp." Having taken a short nap, Tang Wen’s energy was already restored.
The Wang Family Steward could only nod. "Very well, please follow me. Our family’s ancestral Visualization Hard Technique is called the "Golden Bell Shield". Commander Tang, you only have one night to study it. Forgive me for being blunt, but no one has ever managed to learn it in a single night."
"I understand. I’m just hoping to broaden my horizons and learn by analogy while I’m still young."
Since the Wang Family Patriarch had already agreed, the Steward had no grounds to refuse.
A quarter of an hour later, Tang Wen arrived at a hidden, quiet room.
On the wall of the quiet room was a mural that shimmered with golden light.
Outside at the guard post, the Wang Steward gave his instructions: "Tomorrow at 9:30, knock on the door on the dot and have him come out!"
"Don’t worry, Steward! Heh heh! How could this Commander Tang know that our Wang Family’s Golden Bell Shield relies on a resilient spirit and the kind of effort that takes time, like water polishing stone? It’s his first time practicing. Even with his Talent, he won’t be able to grasp its true essence!"
The Wang Steward nodded, then added, "I really don’t know what that Tang Wen was thinking. Miss Zheng the Elder was clearly moved by him, yet he just ran off!"
"Moved? Don’t talk nonsense. Only our Young Master is worthy of Miss Zheng the Elder."
"Ah, right, right, right!"
"She’s destined to be our future Patriarch’s wife."
"..."
The martial arts arena from before had now turned into a trading floor.
The Zheng Family was highly efficient. Everything they had promised—the Water Mill Diagram, the Water Wheel craftsmen—was delivered.
Both sides were very satisfied with the transaction.
Only Miss Zheng the Elder was distracted.
In the Wang Family’s secret chamber, Tang Wen focused his mind and immersed himself in the shimmering golden mural.