Chapter 87

Yan Qing was slightly startled upon hearing this. He was known for his intelligence and his ability to understand various local dialects. Hearing the scholar's accent, he realized it was not the local dialect but rather one from the eastern part of the province. How could this person call out his nickname so easily? Observing the scholar's demeanor and bearing, he was certainly no ordinary person. Yan Qing turned to exchange a glance with his close friend, then smiled at the scholar and said, "This hero doesn't seem like an ordinary person. Let's skip the match, shall we?"

Thinking about Jiao Ting, who had practiced with Lu Zhishen on the mountain for a long time and received meticulous guidance from Wu Song in Cangzhou, Wang Lun was eager to see how many rounds Jiao Ting could go against Yan Qing. After all, Jiao Ting's performance at the Taishan tournament was widely praised. Unfortunately, this Xiao Yi was not a person who enjoyed fighting, and he clearly stated his unwillingness to take on the challenge. Wang Lun did not want to force him, so he simply raised his teacup and toasted him from afar.

Seeing that the scholar did not insist and even toasted him, Yan Qing felt a sudden liking for him. He hurriedly returned the salute, but unexpectedly, Jiao Ting walked over and said, "Are you the porcelain doll from Hebei? My brother rarely praises people, so you must be quite skilled! Pay attention, here comes a punch!"

Jiao Ting immediately threw a punch, and Yan Qing quickly dodged. Being an expert, he could easily gauge the force of the punch. He turned and smiled, "Good man, you have strong bones, but why is your punch so soft?"

Jiao Ting was furious upon hearing this and retorted, "I'm afraid of hurting you! You don't appreciate my kindness!"

A smile appeared on Yan Qing's lips, and he bowed apologetically, "That's my fault then!" At this moment, he saw that although Jiao Ting was rash, he had a straightforward heart. The scholar also seemed to have no ill intentions, which piqued Yan Qing's interest. He laughed and said, "If you want to fight, let's fight, but don't damage the furniture or disturb the other customers!"

The surrounding diners, who were familiar with Yan Qing, a regular at entertainment venues, had heard of his martial prowess but never had the chance to see it. Now, seeing an opportunity to witness it, they were not about to miss it. They all cheered, "Fight, fight! If the furniture is damaged, we'll all chip in to pay for it!"

The innkeeper also came out, seeing that Yan Qing was about to have a match in his establishment. He did not object, as it would be inappropriate to dampen everyone's spirits. Yan Qing was a regular and a well-known figure in the city, and it would be unwise to refuse him. Moreover, if the news of this event spread, it would likely attract more customers, which would be beneficial for the inn. Even if some items were damaged, could the wealthy Lu Yuanywai just stand by and do nothing? Thus, he watched with interest, arms crossed.

Seeing no one was stopping him and that the handsome young man had agreed, Jiao Ting stepped forward and bowed, "Be careful, kid. If you can't handle it, just say so, and I'll stop!"

Yan Qing smiled and made a gesture to start. Jiao Ting raised his fist and attacked, and Yan Qing quickly dodged, trying to trip him with his leg. However, this brute had a stable base, and Yan Qing, seeing that he couldn't trip him, felt a surge of excitement. This opponent was just what he needed to bring out his true skills. Jiao Ting, seeing his opponent switch to a defensive stance, did not take it lightly. He focused intently on the wrestling, noting Yan Qing's agility and strength, which made him even more excited. The two men exchanged punches and kicks for nearly thirty rounds, with Jiao Ting both attacking and defending, looking quite professional.

Hao Siwen, who had stood up to watch, turned to Wang Lun and said, "I didn't expect Jiao Ting to be so skilled. I've heard of the Lu Yuanywai's companion, and he lives up to his reputation. It's quite remarkable that he can match Jiao Ting's agility and strength!"

Wang Lun smiled and said, "Hao brother, you don't know that my brother's greatest joy is finding people to spar with. He gets beaten up by Lu Zhishen every time, but a few days later, he's back at it. I think his resilience is what makes him so tough. After each loss, he goes to seek advice from Lin Jiaotou, the father-in-law of Lin Chong. He has learned a lot from this old military instructor, who favors him. Today, meeting a strong opponent like Yan Qing is a great opportunity for him to integrate his skills. Even if he loses, this match will be very beneficial for his future growth!"

Not only Lu Zhishen, but even Mo Gui, before he left the mountain, was often pestered by Jiao Ting. The key was that Mo Gui was skilled with an axe but not with martial arts. However, being a hunter, he had fought many wild beasts and had a high level of insight, which allowed him to handle Jiao Ting. Whenever Jiao Ting was beaten by Lu Zhishen, he would seek out Mo Gui for a match. Mo Gui, being a hunter, found it more satisfying to fight Jiao Ting than Lu Zhishen, which led to his frustration. He finally declared that he would no longer spar with Jiao Ting and, before leaving the mountain to fetch his mother, told Wang Lun, "Jiao Ting looks down on me and comes to me for comfort. I won't fight him anymore, only with weapons!" This made everyone laugh.

After descending the mountain with Wang Lun, Jiao Ting stayed in Cangzhou for a few more days. Wu Song, deeply grateful to Wang Lun, had no way to repay him. When Jiao Ting came to spar with him, Wu Song, after defeating him, taught him for several days, imparting all his knowledge. This made Jiao Ting very happy for a long time.

Hao Siwen, understanding the source of Jiao Ting's skills, was enlightened. He thought, "No wonder he has such achievements, with so many masters teaching him." He stopped talking and focused on the match. By this time, Jiao Ting and Yan Qing had fought for another twenty to thirty rounds, both drenched in sweat. The diners watched in amazement, wondering who this hero was, as he could match the renowned Yan Qing for fifty to sixty rounds without showing any signs of weakness. This was truly impressive.

Jiao Ting, not knowing Yan Qing's reputation, was frustrated that he couldn't win after fifty to sixty rounds. He stepped back and used his leg, and Yan Qing, seeing this, was startled and exclaimed, "Yu Huan Bu Yuan Yang Tui (Yu Huan Step and Yuan Yang Kick)!" He stopped and asked, "Brother, who taught you this leg technique?"

Wang Lun was also surprised when Yan Qing mentioned the name of the leg technique, not expecting Wu Song to teach Jiao Ting his most prized skill. He sighed, wondering if there were any rules about privately passing on such techniques.

Jiao Ting, not answering, continued to kick. However, being a novice, his technique was not refined, and Yan Qing, being as agile as a swallow, easily dodged. Many tables and chairs were damaged in the process. Jiao Ting, seeing this, shouted, "No more fighting! You just dodge, and I'll exhaust myself, so you win!"

Jiao Ting, looking angry, walked back to his seat, picked up the leftover tea in front of Wang Lun, and drank it without hesitation. Yan Qing and his friend exchanged glances and walked over, bowing to Wang Lun and Hao Siwen. Yan Qing, eager, asked Jiao Ting, "Good man, where did you learn this leg technique?"

Jiao Ting, chewing on the tea leaves, mumbled, "I've only learned it for a few days. Why are you shouting so loudly? You're making me lose face in front of my brother Wu Song!"

Wu Song? Yan Qing thought hard but had never heard of this person. However, he sensed that Jiao Ting was not lying. To achieve such skill in just a few days was impressive. Seeing Jiao Ting's strength and agility, he thought that with a good teacher, Jiao Ting could achieve great things in the future, making him a promising talent.

Seeing Yan Qing's puzzled look, Wang Lun thought he might not know Wu Song, as his tiger-fighting feat had not yet occurred, and his name was not well-known. Wang Lun then invited Yan Qing and his friend to sit down. Both were straightforward and generous, and they bowed to each other before sitting down. Wang Lun called a waiter and handed him two ten-tael silver ingots, saying, "This is to cover the damaged furniture. Bring us a pot of good tea and three cups!"

The waiter, nodding, took the silver and retreated, thinking that the scholar had a keen eye, as the furniture was made of fine wood, and the silver would cover the cost. He glanced at Hao Siwen, amazed that he could break a table made of pear wood with a single palm strike, realizing he was no ordinary person.

After the waiter brought the tea, everyone stayed at the same table, exchanging pleasantries. Wang Lun took the opportunity to closely observe Yan Qing's friend, noting his bright eyes, well-defined brows, and a height of about seven feet, with a beard that partially covered his mouth. His appearance was extraordinary. Wang Lun, without beating around the bush, smiled and said, "Could you be Xu Guanzhong, known for your literary and martial prowess? I have long admired you!"

The man was surprised, thinking his reputation wasn't that great. After a moment, Xu Guanzhong was about to ask Wang Lun's name when a servant rushed in, looking around, and upon finding his young master, said, "Old Lady, Old Lady, she's having another episode!"

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