"Grand Secretary Zhāng."
"Grand Secretary Zhāng."
Zhang Sheng, whose hair and beard were already turning grey, smoothed the jade belt around his waist and walked slowly forward from afar with a solemn expression that commanded respect without anger. Junior officials bowed along both sides of his path, but he did not even look at them. His bright, energetic eyes gazed straight ahead, waiting for those great doors to open and the morning court session to begin.
As His Majesty's health had been declining day by day, although the Crown Prince was acting as regent, state affairs were basically controlled by Zhang Sheng. Zhang Sheng's power had long since reached every corner of the Holy Dynasty.
When Zhang Sheng reached the bottom of the steps, a eunuch came out to make an announcement: "His Majesty's dragon constitution is indisposed. Today's court session is cancelled."
As soon as the eunuch left, a wave of discussion immediately broke out among the officials below.
Zhang Sheng slowly ascended a few steps, faced the assembled officials, and gave a light cough. Instantly, everyone fell silent and turned to look at him in unison.
"Since His Majesty is indisposed, all of you will come to the Cabinet for discussion."
No officials raised objections; they obediently followed behind Zhang Sheng.
......
"We've finally reached Wudu."
Seeing the sweeping, calligraphed plaque on the city gate, Xia Yun excitedly hopped in place twice.
"It's been a long time since I've been here. It really hasn't changed at all. Inside should be just as bustling as before," Chen Xiaofei sighed, then took the lead and walked through the city gate.
What came into view were the desolate streets within the city. The main street, which should have been bustling with an endless stream of people, had only a sparse few souls.
"Chen Xiaofei, did you bring us to the wrong city?" Seeing this, Xia Yun was also baffled. "When I was in Miaojiang, I heard how huge Wudu was. How is it like this? Did it get raided by bandits?"
"No way, who would dare come to Wudu to rob it? We must have entered the city the wrong way. Let's go back out and enter again." With that, Chen Xiaofei turned to head back out of the city and re-enter.
"Young man, don't busy yourself with that," an old woman running a roadside stall called out to stop Chen Xiaofei.
Xia Yun hurried over. "Granny, do you know what happened? Why is there hardly anyone on the street?"
The old woman replied, "You came at a bad time," and then refused to say another word, smiling silently.
Chen Xiaofei walked up. "Granny, let's have two sesame flatbreads. It's hard work tending a stall in this hot weather. Take this, and keep the change."
With that, Chen Xiaofei handed over a piece of silver.
The old woman took the silver, and her smile instantly blossomed like a flower. "Alright, alright! I said right from the start that you two young martial arts heroes have extraordinary temperaments."
Taking advantage of the moment while the old woman was packing the flatbreads, Chen Xiaofei asked again, "Granny, what did you mean just now when you said we came at a bad time?"
"Ah? Did I say that?" The old woman denied it, packing the sesame flatbreads and placing them on the table. "I said you came at just the right time! Right now, the finals are underway over at the arena!"
"The finals, already?!" Chen Xiaofei was greatly shocked. Why was the progress of this year's Martial Arts Tournament so much faster?
"I heard there are two fierce fighters, so a lot of people just forfeited."
Hearing the old woman's words, Xia Yun grew excited. "It must be Master! Chen Xiaofei, hurry up, let's go!"
"Thanks, Granny," Chen Xiaofei offered a casual expression of gratitude and hurriedly followed after her.
"You didn't take your flatbreads!" the old woman shouted at their retreating backs. Seeing that neither of them reacted, she put the sesame flatbreads back into the oven.
"Dong!"
A massive drum was struck.
"The final match of this year's Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin, featuring Dong Guilin of Qingfeng Mountain versus the savage Niu San! Will Dong Guilin's Heavenly Spring Sword prove superior, or will Niu San's great axe be sharper? Let us wait and see! The winner shall be this year's champion!"
After shouting out the announcement from the platform, the emcee made a swift exit, leaving the arena open.
A gust of dust swept across, blinding everyone present.
"Bang!"
With a loud crash, the dust settled.
Two figures now stood in the arena. One was dressed in cyan robes, wielding a sharp treasured sword, with long hair reaching his waist and a handsome face. All the young women in the crowd cheered, "Dong Guilin!"
The other was tall and powerfully built, a thunderbolt battle axe strapped across his back. He was bald with a rugged face, and his feet had smashed a deep crater into the ground. All the young men in the crowd roared, "Niu San!"
"Chen Xiaofei, why isn't my master's name there? He couldn't have failed to last until the final match, could he?"
In a corner beneath the stands, Xia Yun asked timidly.
"I don't know," Chen Xiaofei was also puzzled. "How could someone as flashy as Baili Chengfeng pass up a chance to show off?"
"My friend, how come we haven't seen Baili Chengfeng this year?" Chen Xiaofei tapped a swordsman on the shoulder and voiced his doubt.
The swordsman turned around, saw two faces full of confusion, and smiled as he replied, "Baili Manor Lord said he wouldn't participate in the Martial Arts Tournament anymore. Can you guess why?"
Chen Xiaofei and Xia Yun looked at each other in dismay. "Why?"
"Because Baili Manor Lord said the Martial Arts Tournament is only fought for second place under heaven." The swordsman raised his chin proudly. "Can you guess why he said that?"
"Why?"
"Because Liu Bo, the champion of the previous Martial Arts Tournament, went to challenge Baili Chengfeng. Guess what happened?"
"Look! Look! They're about to start!" Xia Yun's attention had already been drawn away by the commotion on the arena stage, and she hurriedly tugged at the corner of Chen Xiaofei's sleeve.
Chen Xiaofei gave a loud shout, "Well timed!"
"Hey, guess what happened?" The swordsman stepped forward, continuing to press them. "Take a guess! Don't force me to kneel down to you—just take a guess!"
On the arena stage.
Dong Guilin made the first move with his sword. The long sword in his hand resembled an agile, venomous snake, carrying a fierce momentum as it rapidly thrust toward Niu San. At the same time, countless strands of Sword Qi surged forward like a roaring, rushing spring, continuously flooding toward Niu San as if trying to engulf him.
Seeing this, Niu San showed not a shred of fear. He gripped his great axe tightly and swung it with all his might. A massive wave of Qi Armor erupted outward, colliding with the endless streams of Sword Qi and producing a series of thunderous roars. The two forces intertwined in mid-air, forming a delicate balance.
However, Dong Guilin was not intimidated by this powerful Qi Armor; he displayed astonishing agility and speed. His feet traced strange, ghostly steps, allowing him to skillfully evade the incoming Qi Armor and rapidly close the distance between himself and Niu San.
"My Heavenly Spring Sword is about endless continuity, piercing through defenses at a single point. You're going to lose," Dong Guilin said, the corners of his mouth lifting into a confident smile. Like a flash of lightning, his long sword swept swiftly across the haft of the great axe, aiming straight for Niu San's vital spots.
"My late father is Niu Wanbao," Niu San said softly, before a surge of Qi Armor burst from his body once more. With a heavy jolt of his great axe, he blocked Dong Guilin.
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Dong Guilin muttered, locked in a stalemate and feeling utterly bewildered.
"My late father is Niu Wanbao," Niu San repeated. Veins bulged all over his body as he brought his great axe down, forcefully driving Dong Guilin back.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Dong Guilin scolded. "For goodness' sake, what are you blabbering about? Are you chanting a spell?!"
With that scold, he swung his sword and pressed the attack once more, the countless spring waters behind him converging until they possessed the momentum of an entire ocean. Niu San swung his great axe, condensing his Qi Armor into a gigantic axe of energy, and hacked down viciously.
The collision of Sword Qi and Qi Armor made the entire arena shake, and those with low cultivation could no longer stand steady.
"Are you even going to listen to me speak?!" Chen Xiaofei casually steadied the swaying Xia Yun, and upon hearing a noise, he turned his head to look—the swordsman was already kneeling on the ground, facing directly toward them.