Chapter 87. Can't you stop it?

For the wine not to spill,

One must use 'Yin' to draw the wine from the bottle,

And 'Mo' to project energy to wrap around the inside of the bottle.

This is by no means simple.

If the 'Yin' is even slightly excessive, the bottle will crack, and if the 'Mo' is insufficient, a few drops of wine will spill. Yet, Yan Jiaoyun has perfectly tuned it. The only complaint is his poor acting.

That's why Hou Gong smiled inwardly.

Thinking back to when Zhang Yi, Ban Jiaoren, Miao Jialing, and Wang Xiaohan, the young talents of northern Anhui, showed off their skills at the Ximen family banquet, he felt quite pleased.

Yan Jiaoyun then straightened the wine bottle and shook it.

A swishing sound was heard.

"Ah, what a strange thing. There's clearly enough wine, yet how come it doesn't spill? Let me try again."

This time, he tilted it almost vertically.

But the wine still didn't spill, as if the bottle were empty.

"Oh dear... This won't do. It seems the wine is picky about people. Young Master, I apologize."

Yan Jiaoyun shrugged as if there was nothing he could do and put the bottle away.

"What a strange thing. There's nothing we can do. I'm fine."

Hou Gong nodded calmly.

Yes, you tried your best.

Thanks to you, I had quite a show to watch.

Yan Jiaoyun's move was a deliberate provocation.

There was no malice in it.

He just wanted to see their martial arts skills.

The other young talents' calmness was proof of this.

They must have already agreed on this.

If one side shows a move, the other side will react!

Each side would demonstrate a corresponding move to gauge each other's skills.

At this point, Hou Gong was looking forward to the next move.

Who would step forward and what would they show?

But,

'Damn. In front of whom...?'

Qilidanhun, who couldn't understand Hou Gong's thoughts, found the situation extremely uncomfortable. His lips were dry.

He had experienced death.

He had been buried.

There are people who can joke around, but not in front of the Young Master, talking nonsense about the wine being picky. None of the young talents here can match the Young Master of Tianhua Pavilion.

Even if the Young Master doesn't bury him,

Qilidanhun wished he would have been more restrained.

- I give up. It's not working.

The provocation failed.

Yan Jiaoyun sent a mental message to Pang Wujie, who nodded slightly.

- We need to go a bit harder.

- Brother Pang, shouldn't we stop here? I was quite rude...

- No, you did well. If I were to intervene now, it would be hard to maintain my composure.

With that, Pang Wujie picked up his chopsticks.

He reached for the fish on the plate in front of him, picked up a piece, and put it in his mouth. Then, as if to eat it properly, he began to remove the fish bones.

Hou Gong watched with interest.

Pang Wujie's handling of the fish was quite impressive.

'Maybe he's going to flick the bones out? That would be great.'

If Pang Wujie could flick the fish bones out with his chopsticks?

Hou Gong was willing to clap for him.

It's that challenging a technique.

The application of the 'Tan Zhi' technique.

First, one must apply controlled energy to the chopsticks. It's different from fingers, and different from swords or knives. Even if one is familiar with the 'Tan Zhi' technique, using chopsticks, which are not usually weapons, makes it much more difficult.

The difficulty increases several times.

It's a true display of skill.

If he can flick out more than three fish bones, and if those bones accurately hit pressure points, it would be the best.

Tick, tick.

Pang Wujie's chopsticks moved swiftly.

A fine and precise energy swirled around a part of the fish, causing the flesh to scatter near the bones.

Is this the moment?

The swirling energy bent the fish bones slightly.

About the size of two finger joints.

In an instant, Pang Wujie flicked the chopsticks.

It looked like he accidentally twisted them,

Then the bones shot out.

Two of them.

With the Ziling Eye activated, the fish bones appeared slow and large in Hou Gong's vision, as if a huge spear were flying towards him.

'Oh! The Tiandu and Zhongfu points.'

The positions were the Tiandu point above his chest and the Zhongfu point below his shoulder.

The moment he recognized them, his protective energy automatically activated.

The 'Zhen Xue' technique changed the position of his meridians in an instant.

This time, he would have to show the expression of someone who had been hit by a pressure point, but Hou Gong was quite satisfied.

However, Hou Gong had overlooked one thing.

It was the person sitting next to him!

Snap!

Qilidanhun, whose nerves were already on edge, caught the two bones before they hit Hou Gong.

Everyone was surprised by this unexpected turn of events and looked at Qilidanhun.

Hou Gong was no exception.

His face turned to a 'What?' expression, and he was stunned.

Qilidanhun glared at Pang Wujie.

His gaze, as he stood up, was icy cold.

He immediately shook his sleeve,

And the two delicate fish bones embedded themselves in the wooden table.

"Master Pang, what is this? What are you trying to do?"

"Uh..."

"Are you making fun of the Nangong family? Are you the only guests of the Nangong family?"

"That's not it..."

"Then what is it?"

"I was just trying to test the Young Master of Tianhua Pavilion's..."

"Test him?"

"..."

Pang Wujie was speechless. If he were to ask if his method of satisfying his curiosity was right, he would have no answer.

Qilidanhun's anger continued.

It wasn't just directed at Pang Wujie.

"How can the young masters of prestigious families be so rude? First, Master Yan's rudeness, and now Master Pang steps in to test him?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Qilidanhun's voice rose.

His eyes were blazing, and everyone was at a loss.

"What kind of occasion is this? It's our first meeting, and more importantly, a meal. It should be a warm gathering, yet you insist on doing this here. No one even tried to stop you."

His gaze briefly shifted to Xiaoye.

"Even Xiaoye didn't say a word, just watching. It's very disappointing. How can everyone conspire to commit such a breach of etiquette? Being young doesn't excuse rudeness! Have you never met anyone scary before?"

"Phew!"

Yin Angkai, who was drinking water, spat it out.

Beside him, Xiao Tiankai chuckled.

"So, we met today~."

Qilidanhun glared at the beggars for a moment and then resumed his intense anger. As his words flowed endlessly, it seemed they would never stop,

- Hey.

A mental message came,

And since it was from the Young Master, Qilidanhun stopped and turned around.

The Young Master was frowning.

The mental message continued.

- Can't you stop it? How long do you plan to keep talking?

Hou Gong, who was really enjoying the show, really wanted to do something. Not only did he not know when to step in, but why was he talking so much?

Qilidanhun's face turned pale with sudden embarrassment.

He fumbled for a moment and then hurriedly wrapped it up.

"Uh... So... I think everyone understands now. Ahem..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone looked at Qilidanhun without a word.

They understood.

Too clearly.

Of course, it was the other side.

- Sister, how did you know? It's really true.

- I told you. How many times did you get hit by the Young Master?

- Now I'm even more curious about the Young Master's level.

- That's what I said.

Ying Yingshan and Nangong Xiaohui exchanged mental messages.

The others were also convinced.

The Young Master's slight frown was enough to make the Nangong family's law enforcer flustered and wrap it up quickly. This was proof. From the situation just now, Qilidanhun could almost be called the closest confidant and right-hand man of the Young Master of Tianhua Pavilion.

Although Qilidanhun's rant had quieted down, the atmosphere became awkward and heavy. No one dared to speak first.

In such a difficult situation,

The young talents' gazes wandered.

This is when an adult should step in.

Hou Gong smiled and spoke.

"Ahem... Since it's come to this, there's nothing we can do. I was trying to hide my skills on our first meeting, but now I have to show them."

"!"

"!"

"!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Hou Gong.

Hou Gong stood up and picked up the wine bottle that Yan Jiaoyun had held earlier.

"I'll pour the wine that the famous Pearl Yan couldn't. Please raise your glasses. I'll pour a glass for everyone."

Yan Jiaoyun smiled.

The smile spread to the next seat and then to the surroundings.

"Brother, will you pour for me too?"

"I'll start with you."

Hou Gong filled everyone's glasses, starting with Xiao Tiankai.

This was the wine poured by the First Martial Hero and the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.

No one knew how great an honor this was.

But what did it matter if they didn't know?

Hou Gong thought.

Everyone raised their glasses high.

***

Hou Gong headed to the Nangong family.

The Tianlong Tournament was in two days.

Today was neither too early nor too late, but just right.

He met the young talents and moved with them.

Upon entering the Nangong family,

People greeted them as if they had been waiting.

It seemed the news had been relayed internally before they arrived.

"Hey~ Who's this? The Young Master of Tianhua Pavilion has graced this humble place. Young Master, how have you been?"

Led by the Anhui branch chief of the Beggar Sect, Zui Yungai,

"Hahaha, Brother Fan! What's going on? You said you couldn't come, but what wind brought you here?"

"Welcome, Young Master. Meeting you again here, it seems we have a special bond. Don't you think?"

Moying from the Nanhua Academy and

Meng Yanmeng, the Anhui branch chief of the Martial Arts Alliance, approached and expressed their joy.

The young talents who arrived with them were puzzled.

Zui Yungai and Meng Yanmeng's expressions and gestures were far from formal.

Who is Zui Yungai, the Anhui branch chief of the Beggar Sect? Those who know, know. He is a candidate for the next leader of the Beggar Sect.

And Moying from the Nanhua Academy is known for his high talent and arrogance.

Yet, now, both the branch chief and Moying were beaming with joy.

And Meng Yanmeng, the Anhui branch chief of the Martial Arts Alliance, was trying his best to say more to the Young Master, which was bewildering to watch.

How could they know?

Zui Yungai, after being impressed by the Ximen family, had followed the two disciples ever since, and Moying, after the shock of the Tianwai Tian at the Medicine King Sect, still hadn't recovered.

Of course, Meng Yanmeng, the Anhui branch chief, was eager to bring the Young Master into the Martial Arts Alliance.

"Disciples, are we transparent again?"

"Don't talk to me. I'm upset."

Thanks to this, the two beggars became transparent again.