Chapter 74

## Chapter 74. It seems I've won.

'Something's wrong here.'

This was the first thought that came to the young man's mind.

The pain in his abdomen was nothing. Cold sweat poured down his entire body.

'What the hell...'

At first, everything went according to plan.

After bringing the clueless old man and the brat Wei Zitian to the training ground, he intended to make them wet their pants in front of a large crowd.

Gathering spectators was not difficult, and it was even easier to lure the old man, who wanted to join the children, onto the stage.

"Sir, we'll use wooden swords for the sparring. We can't risk getting injured before the entrance exam."

"Hehe. That's fine. Safety first, indeed."

Thinking of how he would personally show this smelly old man that a wooden sword could break bones, the young man's lips curled into a smile.

The two faced each other on the stage.

To create an even more overwhelming situation, the young man suggested:

"If you don't mind, I'll give you a three-move handicap."

"Hehe. Then I'll accept it."

Gongsun Shou approached with a pace so slow it made him yawn.

It was impossible not to let his guard down.

When five or so methods to block the weak attack came to mind, the sword was already close.

'I can block this with my eyes closed.'

The young man raised his sword with ease.

But at that moment, the opponent's sword suddenly sped up.

"Ah!"

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have been surprised by that speed.

However, when a slow-moving sword suddenly accelerates, it feels twice as fast.

Thud!

Raising his sword hastily, he failed to defend properly.

What three moves?

After barely blocking the attack, the young man instinctively attempted a counterattack.

Whoosh!

Gongsun Shou, who had leaned back to avoid the attack, took a few steps back and laughed.

"Hehe. You said you'd give me a three-move handicap... This was a good lesson. Lying skillfully is also a form of martial arts."

"No..."

Realizing his own disgrace, the young man's face turned red.

'Damn it!'

Many eyes were watching from all sides.

Not only his peers but also seniors and occasionally instructors were present.

He couldn't be labeled a liar in such a situation.

"...That was a mistake. I'll give you this move, no, I'll give you another three-move handicap."

"Hehe. Can I trust you this time...?"

'Damn old man!'

Gongsun Shou looked utterly untrustworthy, and the young man, seething with anger, repeated his promise to give the three-move handicap several times.

"Alright. I'll believe you this time, even if it means being deceived."

Gongsun Shou, who had turned the young man's world upside down, approached cautiously again.

Giving a three-move handicap meant blocking three attacks without retaliating.

But Gongsun Shou was much stronger than the young man had anticipated.

During the three moves, the young man's limbs became entangled, and Gongsun Shou took advantage of the gap to strike his abdomen.

Bang!

"Ugh!"

Struck in the abdomen, the young man staggered back, bending over.

"Oops. Sorry. I didn't expect you couldn't block that..."

This was the sequence of events that unfolded after the two climbed onto the stage.

"Can you get up?"

"Grk... Of course."

The young man immediately straightened his upper body, preparing for the next attack, but Gongsun Shou stood still, showing no intention of attacking further.

"If you want, I can declare a draw."

A statement that instantly made a fool of someone.

Every word, every action, and every expression of Gongsun Shou turned the young man's world upside down.

"Draw?"

There were dozens, now over a hundred, spectators around the stage.

Expressions of surprise, interest, and ridicule were visible.

Among them, the young man couldn't bear the sight of Jin Jin looking at him like a bug and Nangong Shi's emotionless face, which showed no expectation.

'Damn it...'

Killer intent began to cloud the young man's eyes.

He spat on the ground and said:

"Don't act like you've already won. I haven't even started yet."

"Hehe. I was just worried about you..."

"Shut up and attack!"

Roaring, the young man charged with all his might.

There would be no more letting his guard down.

He would repay everything he had endured several times over.

'Old man! I'll shatter every bone in your body!'

The force in the wooden sword split the air.

Some spectators frowned at the near-lethal attack.

"That's a bit..."

"Shouldn't we stop it?"

But no one intervened yet.

Because Gongsun Shou's expression as he faced the attack was surprisingly calm.

"Hehe. Mr. Bai was right."

"Roar!"

Seeing the young man charge like a wild boar, Gongsun Shou recalled the advice Bai Shulong had given him.

- Gongsun Shou, what do you think your strengths are?

- Superior physique for my age? Or remarkable intelligence?

The face that had made a ridiculous joke came to mind.

- First, composure. Having experienced many battles, the student doesn't flinch even in the face of significant threats.

Whoosh!

Bai Shulong suddenly swung his sword and placed it at Gongsun Shou's neck.

Gongsun Shou, far from being surprised, reacted, albeit belatedly.

- You didn't flinch and reacted just now, right?

- ...What's the point? I allowed all the attacks because my reaction was too slow.

- That's because the opponent was too overwhelming.

- Showing off...

- Second, psychological warfare. The student is older than the other applicants and started martial arts late, so he looks physically unimpressive.

- ...Black Ying. Is this guy insulting me?

- Should I call him, sir?

- ...Both of you listen to the end. The opponent naturally underestimates the student. At this point, a gentle provocation can easily manipulate them. The student is good at that, right?

- Hehe...

The face that had laughed wickedly was unforgettable.

Thanks to this, he was now using it effectively.

"Haah!"

The young man roared and swung his sword, but Gongsun Shou dodged all the attacks and smiled lazily.

"Hehe. I'm old, but my hearing is still good. No need to shout so loudly."

Infuriated by Gongsun Shou's mocking words, the young man shouted:

"Shut up!"

"Hmm? Aren't you the noisy one?"

"Damn old man!"

"Hehehe."

He had fought with those who hid knives in their tongues in the chaotic imperial palace all his life.

Just by looking at the eyes, he could tell what the young man was thinking.

'A very green one.'

A typical bully, weak to the strong and strong to the weak.

After gauging the level of those he met, if he judged them to be weaker, he would reveal his hidden fangs.

Gongsun Shou hated this type of person the most.

- Mr. Bai, do you have a third strength?

- This is related to the second. When you have the upper hand in psychological warfare, you naturally gain an advantage in numbers.

- In short, provoke the opponent to make them angry and induce mistakes?

- You understand perfectly. Excellent, student. Do you understand why you need to learn mental communication?

Bai Shulong.

The young martial arts tutor sometimes looked like a fifty-year-old cunning snake.

- Whether by voice or mental communication, provoke the opponent to make mistakes. Then, don't miss the opportunity to finish them.

- Hehe. I read a lot of martial arts novels when I was young. Usually, the villains do such things.

- I, the instructor, have a very open-minded approach in this regard. Hehehe.

If it weren't for his handsome face, he would be considered a demon of the evil sect.

- Remember. Composure, psychological warfare, and numbers. With these, you can play with the young brats of the Azure Dragon Academy.

Recalling that face, Gongsun Shou couldn't help but laugh.

"Honestly, I was skeptical... but not a single word of the teacher was wrong."

"Damn! What have you been mumbling about this whole time!!"

"Ah, I wasn't talking to you."

Gongsun Shou moved smoothly to dodge the young man's attacks.

The attacks were fast and rough, but the larger movements and many gaps were evident.

'So obvious.'

The young man's target, his thoughts, and the sequence of his techniques were crystal clear.

'Hehe. It feels like I've opened my eyes.'

Gongsun Shou's sword drew a gentle arc.

The spectators whispered to each other, speculating.

"Wudang martial arts?"

"No, not Wudang."

"Seems like Daoist martial arts..."

"...It embodies the principle of 'softness overcoming hardness.'"

The martial arts Gongsun Shou displayed were none of what they guessed.

Only the principle of martial arts that Bai Shulong had emphasized for a month was evident.

Softness overcoming hardness.

Easy to say, but it required great courage to practice.

The courage to accept a stronger force without resisting.

'What is this?'

When the swords clashed, the young man felt his sword sink into a deep swamp.

Gongsun Shou's sword was neither fast nor strong.

Instead, it was infinitely soft, entangling his attacks and gradually advancing.

"Ugh...!"

The young man didn't realize he was stepping back.