Chapter 208 - 108: You Dare to Bully My Grandson-in-law?

Chapter 208: Chapter 108: You Dare to Bully My Grandson-in-law?

With his shieldmen neutralized, Tan Kuang’s defenses were stretched to their limits. His shieldmen had switched to sabers, and even his crossbowmen had abandoned their shortbows to charge into melee and relieve the pressure. But how could such light weapons possibly stand against a hundred-jin long spear?

After a few frantic exchanges, he was swept off the platform with a single strike of the spear.

"Excellent!"

"Excellent!"

"Excellent!"

Zhao Huan stroked his beard, a broad smile on his face. "Yunduan has raised a fine son! This display of the Xiang’s Spear Technique even reminds me of Celestial Song in his prime. However, Zenan, the art of war requires a balance between offense and defense. A general with only attack and no defense, no matter how powerful, is not a good general if they end up dead.

Your victory today was due to your insight into your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. I imagine your colleagues at your mansion provided considerable help.

But imagine this: if Tan Kuang’s swordsmanship had been just a little swifter, could you have blocked the combined assault of his sword and bow?"

Xiang Zeren was both thrilled and ashamed. He bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty! I was indeed a bit opportunistic and sought tactical advice from Tan Yu. I will take Your Majesty’s teachings to heart!"

Zhao Huan smiled and offered some pointers to Tan Kuang as well, who was so moved he was on the verge of tears.

The reverence the subjects of Great Yu held for the Martial Emperor was no exaggeration.

After the results were announced, Xiang Zeren brandished his long spear toward Zhao Ci with a smile before leaving the platform. "Cousin! Sorry about that!"

Many eyes turned toward Zhao Ci.

With this match decided, the Tenth Prince’s Mansion was all but eliminated. Among the scions of the great clans present who hoped to become a Mansion Official, not one had enough points.

Zhao Qian gave Zhao Ci a slight nod. "Tenth Prince, my apologies."

"We were simply outmatched. There’s nothing more to say."

Zhao Ci smiled, his gaze sweeping over the officials from the Imperial Clan Court on the high platform. These people secretly monitored the daily activities of every mansion. With the exception of a master of stealth like Gu Xiangzhu, it was nearly impossible for anyone to escape their surveillance.

’Evading their detection to make a secret deal with Zhao Qian is no easy task.’

’Even with a Heavenly Concealment Talisman, I’d need a plausible cover story for where the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk went.’

’What a pain.’

Once the outcome of this battle was decided, the atmosphere at the event immediately lightened.

The top three places were essentially locked in. The Tenth Prince’s Mansion had members from the Feng and Zhu families who were Fire Element Divine Treasure cultivators, while Prince Ying’s Mansion had none. With the scores of the two leading mansions far surpassing Prince Lie’s Mansion, even the recipients of the three special rewards were all but determined.

With most of the suspense gone, the tension naturally dissipated.

The subsequent bouts felt more like a simple martial arts exhibition. For the sake of entertainment, the Imperial Clan Court even provided an unlimited supply of Top-Grade Qi Cultivation Pills to help the contestants quickly recover their True Qi, ensuring the fights wouldn’t lose their luster.

But to everyone’s surprise, the biggest highlight turned out to be Zhao Huan’s commentary. The seemingly senile Emperor’s critiques were astonishingly incisive, laying out a future cultivation path for each participant. It was true guidance from a grandmaster.

He didn’t hold back his words in the slightest. He would speak until he was utterly exhausted, needing medicine to restore his strength and catch his breath, which deeply moved everyone in the audience.

The Martial Scholars participating in the Prefecture Examination were particularly affected, their faces flushed with excitement. It no longer mattered whether they could become a Mansion Official.

’With an experience like today, it would be worth it even if I spend the rest of my life as a low-level Junior Official in Lingge!’

They were reminded of a famous couplet unearthed from the ruins of a previous dynasty: "A silkworm spins its silk to the very end; a candle weeps its tears till it turns to ash."

’It’s a perfect description of His Majesty the Martial Emperor!’

This display of weakness filled Zhao Yong with sorrow, yet the words "Desires to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne" still appeared above his head.

A similar desire appeared above Zhao Xie’s head.

’Old Deng, you’re one hell of an actor!’

Zhao Ci cursed inwardly, feeling more and more that Old Deng’s schemes ran deep. ’This persona of a national icon in his twilight years is the perfect way to win over the masses and deceive everyone.’

’And the older he appears, the more intense this worship becomes. The Merit Clans fighting for the succession will only double down more frantically.’

’But Old Deng isn’t going to die at all.’

’He’s already won it all.’

’Once the Yun Dynasty is established, the world will belong to the Zhao Clan, and he’ll be immortal for ten thousand years.’

’By then, there’ll be nowhere left for me to run!’

HISS...

’This is unbearable!’

「The three-mansion competition slowly drew to a close.」

Though the prize distribution was set, the Crown Prince Faction and the Fourth Prince Faction both coveted first place. They fought so fiercely that sparks practically flew, their scores leapfrogging one another.

Right up to the final battle, the two sides were tied.

The Imperial Clan Court certainly knew how to create drama. The final match was set between the Ninth Prince, Zhao Yong, and the Heir of Prince Ying, Zhao Xie.

Before ascending the platform, Zhao Yong couldn’t resist glancing at Zhao Ci, a massive grin threatening to split his face. "Lao Shi! I actually admired your magnanimity, but why haven’t you smiled all day? Were you born without a sense of humor?"

Zhao Xie gave a light chuckle, raised his Long Sword, and stepped onto the platform. "Ninth Prince, let’s not waste time on trivialities. I’ve been looking forward to our match all day!"

Zhao Yong laughed heartily and joined him on the platform.

"What are a couple of losers like them acting so smug for!"

Zhu Li fumed, clutching Zhao Ci’s sleeve to console him. "Boss, don’t listen to them! Just wait until my Yu Xin Flame reaches full mastery, I’ll burn them to a crisp! Don’t frown. It’s just some Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk, it’s not a big deal. I’ll get back to my Alchemy tomorrow, earn some more money, and buy you a Tendon-Strengthening Pill."

Zhao Ci: "..."

’Her words are enough to warm my heart all day.’

’But it’s Old Deng who’s making me worry!’

’And this Imperial Clan Court...’

’Right now, Prince Lie’s Mansion is already eighteen points ahead of the Tenth Prince’s Mansion. That means even if some heaven-defying powerhouse showed up to be my Mansion Official, he’d still need to win the vast majority of the thirty matches to catch up.’