Chapter 194

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As the spectators saw the situation clearly, the participants themselves were even more aware of what was happening.

By this point in the match, Yuan Kong’s mind was crystal clear. The lack of power in Zhang Xiaohua’s punches and the sluggishness in his footwork all indicated one thing: Zhang Xiaohua was like a grasshopper after autumn, barely able to jump a few more times before collapsing.

This realization stirred a mischievous urge in Yuan Kong’s heart. If he could toy with Zhang Xiaohua a bit more on the stage, it would help restore the face that Dalin Temple had lost in earlier matches.

Faced with Yuan Kong’s meaningless and playful moves, Zhang Xiaohua felt helpless. Punches landed lightly on his own body or kicks barely tapped his shoulder—none of it hurt or even itched. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but think it would be better if Yuan Kong just knocked him off the stage outright.

Frustrated, Zhang Xiaohua moved toward the edge of the arena, intending to end it himself. But Yuan Kong immediately blocked his path and pushed him back toward the center of the stage. At this point, even if Zhang Xiaohua wanted to jump off the stage, he couldn’t.

From the depths of his heart, Zhang Xiaohua let out a sigh of despair: Is this what they call the cat playing with the mouse?

Yuan Kong’s behavior drew boos from the crowd below. The spectators began to murmur, criticizing his actions. A gentleman may be killed but not humiliated, they said. Forcing someone to the point where they couldn’t even choose to surrender seemed excessively petty. Isn’t Dalin Temple being too… vengeful?

There was laughter on one side and sighs on the other.

The members of Dalin Temple, however, watched the scene unfold with smiles. Monk Changgeng, in particular, revealed a rare smile, stroking his greying triangular beard with his left hand as he nodded repeatedly, exuding an air of satisfaction—as though to say, “This is exactly what I hoped for.”

Ou Peng, ever since learning that Zhang Xiaohua might possess the Great Celestial Cycle Star Fist, had been carefully counting the moves in Zhang Xiaohua’s technique. As for whether Zhang Xiaohua would lose or exhaust himself, he wasn’t particularly concerned. After all, Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t a disciple of the Piaomiao Sect, so even if he lost, the sect’s reputation wouldn’t suffer much. Moreover, how much face did the Piaomiao Sect still have to lose today? If it was lost, so be it. Besides, in such duels between lower-level disciples, without weapons or techniques with lethal force, there was no life-threatening danger. Why would Ou Peng care?

With this mindset, Yuan Kong launched a few fierce and forceful attacks, while Zhang Xiaohua countered weakly and feebly. Unfocused, Zhang Xiaohua ended up being swept off his feet, tumbling like a gourd on the ground.

Yuan Kong didn’t pursue him. Zhang Xiaohua stood up and initially intended to admit defeat. However, when he caught Yuan Kong’s mocking gaze, he immediately shut his mouth. The duel was already near its conclusion—admitting defeat now would tarnish his reputation for most of the match.

Determined, Zhang Xiaohua silently encouraged himself. Then, with a loud shout, he charged forward once more.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua only wanted to preserve his dignity and wasn’t aiming for success. But as he threw out a casual punch, a warm current unexpectedly surged from the sole of his left foot, flowing upward along his bones.

The sudden sensation of this warm current left Zhang Xiaohua momentarily stunned, followed by overwhelming joy. A brief thought revealed the likely reason for the warm current’s emergence—he must have just completed exactly seven full sets of the Big Dipper Divine Fist. The appearance of the warm current was inevitable. Hadn’t it happened once before during the second stage of the martial tournament, when he had practiced the Big Dipper Divine Fist twice in a row?

With this realization, Zhang Xiaohua continued moving toward Yuan Kong, practicing the Big Dipper Divine Fist as he went. By the time he reached Yuan Kong, he had transitioned into an offensive move. The moment was fleeting—before anyone could react, Zhang Xiaohua’s fist had already closed in on Yuan Kong’s face. Yuan Kong, perplexed by Zhang Xiaohua’s seemingly random moves, paid them little attention. He assumed that Zhang Xiaohua’s strength had long been drained and carelessly raised a hand to block.

However, the instant his palm collided with Zhang Xiaohua’s fist, an overwhelming and unstoppable force surged through. Startled, Yuan Kong immediately tried to counteract the force with his internal energy, but he was a moment too late. His hand was forced backward by the strength of Zhang Xiaohua’s punch and struck his own nose squarely.

In that instant, Yuan Kong’s nose stung sharply, and tears and snot flowed uncontrollably.

Yuan Kong quickly used his other hand to wipe his face, but a thought immediately flashed through his mind: “Zhang Xiaohua, that cunning scoundrel, must have been deliberately laying a trap, pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. How did I fall for it?”

At the same time, he inwardly cried out; “This is bad! My tears are blurring my vision—how can I see Zhang Xiaohua’s moves now?”

In a panic, he hurriedly executed his signature technique, Crossing the River on a Reed, darting across the entire arena, flitting like a shadow to avoid being knocked off the platform by Zhang Xiaohua’s next punch.

As Yuan Kong leaped into the air, Zhang Xiaohua simultaneously launched a kick aimed at Yuan Kong’s chest. However, Yuan Kong’s sudden movement caused the kick to miss entirely. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but inwardly lament the missed opportunity.

As the old saying goes: Strike while they are weak to claim their life.

If he didn’t press the attack now, then when?

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiaohua began executing the Big Dipper Divine Fist, relentlessly chasing Yuan Kong across the arena.

By the time Zhang Xiaohua launched his second offensive, Yuan Kong had already wiped away his tears. Although his eyes were still red like a rabbit’s, at least he could see clearly now. He quickly used his palm techniques to defend himself, but as soon as he blocked the strike, an immense force surged through, several times stronger than Zhang Xiaohua’s initial strength. It was absolutely beyond what Yuan Kong could withstand. As a result, he immediately flipped backward several times, flying through the air to dissipate the force in his palms. Only then did he stare blankly at Zhang Xiaohua before him, who now appeared both familiar and unfamiliar.

Yuan Kong found this very strange. If Zhang Xiaohua possessed such immense strength, why hadn’t he used it from the start? If he had, Yuan Kong might not have lasted this long. Why had Zhang Xiaohua pretended to be weak the entire time, only to deliver such a powerful counterattack at the end? Could it be the legendary ‘masochism’?”

Yuan Kong shivered and quickly shook his head. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua advancing once again, he no longer dared to meet the attack with his palm and instead used his Qinggong to evade.

When Yuan Kong dodged yet again, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but grow furious, thinking: “The warm current in my body will soon flow through my entire being. Once that happens, I won’t have this kind of strength anymore. Why do you keep dodging?”

What Zhang Xiaohua failed to consider was that his own repeated use of the same technique had earned him nine consecutive draws in earlier matches. Yuan Kong was merely giving him a taste of his own medicine.

The sudden change in the tide of the duel and the reversal of their positions were so abrupt that the spectators around the arena momentarily forgot to cheer “Come on!” One by one, they stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the unbelievable scene before them. It was as if the mouse that had just been toyed with by a kitten had suddenly picked up a club and started chasing the kitten instead!

The entire arena fell into silence.

Only the sound of Zhang Xiaohua’s footsteps echoed as he pursued Yuan Kong.

When the disciples of the Piaomiao Sect finally snapped out of their daze and resumed their cheers of “Come on,” Zhang Xiaohua still hadn’t managed to catch Yuan Kong. It wasn’t surprising, though—Yuan Kong’s Crossing the River on a Reed was a match for Zhang Xiaohua’s Piaomiao Steps and couldn’t be overtaken by Zhang Xiaohua’s Big Dipper Divine Fist alone. Even so, Yuan Kong had expended considerable internal energy during the chase.

Meanwhile, the warm current flowing through Zhang Xiaohua’s bones had finally spread throughout his entire body.

As the warm current dissipated, the exhaustion that had plagued Zhang Xiaohua vanished without a trace. His strength fully recovered, as if he had never been fatigued. Yuan Kong, whose martial arts skills far exceeded Zhang Xiaohua’s, immediately sensed the change in the force behind Zhang Xiaohua’s punches.

However, this time, Yuan Kong was no longer naïve enough to believe that Zhang Xiaohua’s strength was limited to what he saw. Even as he parried and countered, he exercised the utmost caution, refusing to let his guard down for even a moment.

The two continued their fight for several sticks of incense’s time. When Zhang Xiaohua’s strength eventually waned again and his punches lost their momentum, Yuan Kong still dared not grow overconfident. He feared that Zhang Xiaohua might once again have laid a trap, waiting for him to step into it.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua, once again, appear to be exhausted—just like before—Yuan Kong didn’t dare approach. He feared that Zhang Xiaohua might launch another punch with that overwhelming, irresistible force that had made him feel utterly powerless.

The two continued to fight for a while longer, but Yuan Kong’s internal energy was nearly exhausted. Even employing the internal techniques of his Vajra Demon-Subduing Palm could not produce even a trace of additional strength.

Zhang Xiaohua, on the other hand, grew visibly weaker.

Unbidden, a thought flashed through Yuan Kong’s mind: “Could it be that the earlier trap was just a feint, and now Zhang Xiaohua truly has no strength left?”

Thinking it over, it made sense. No matter how many external martial arts experts existed in the world, none had ever been known to possess inexhaustible strength. Zhang Xiaohua, though far more resilient than Yuan Kong had initially expected, was not cultivating internal energy. Even for someone like Yuan Kong, who trained in internal techniques, sustaining such a prolonged effort was impossible. How much longer could Zhang Xiaohua’s raw strength last?

The more Yuan Kong thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. The thought that “Zhang Xiaohua has no strength left” grew increasingly prominent in his mind.

Finally, Yuan Kong clenched his teeth. With his last sliver of internal energy remaining, he realized that even if Zhang Xiaohua’s apparent weakness was another trap, he had no choice but to take the risk. If he hesitated any longer, he would still end up defeated once his internal energy ran dry. Better to gamble his final ounce of strength and see if Zhang Xiaohua truly had no energy left.

Resolute, Yuan Kong stepped forward firmly, channeled his last bit of internal energy, and braced against Zhang Xiaohua’s punch.

Sure enough, Zhang Xiaohua’s attack was an empty effort. Yuan Kong’s rather unremarkable palm strike sent Zhang Xiaohua flying backward.

Seeing this, Yuan Kong’s heart finally settled. Without wasting time, he stepped forward quickly, determined to finish the fight and knock Zhang Xiaohua off the platform before anything unexpected could happen.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohua was utterly frustrated. After fighting Yuan Kong for so long, he estimated that he must be close to completing seven sets of the Big Dipper Divine Fist. So why hadn’t the warm current reappeared yet? If he waited any longer, he would be struck off the platform by Yuan Kong. At that point, even if the warm current emerged, it would be meaningless.

By now, Zhang Xiaohua had completely abandoned the idea of admitting defeat, which had crossed his mind when he first stepped onto the platform.

However, just as Yuan Kong was rushing to kick Zhang Xiaohua off the platform, Zhang Xiaohua managed to land a punch squarely on Yuan Kong’s leg. In that moment, the long-awaited warm current finally surged through Zhang Xiaohua’s body. He steadied himself firmly on the platform, and with each attack he launched, the warm current began to flow again. The force behind Zhang Xiaohua’s strikes suddenly became overwhelming and unstoppable.

Yuan Kong was on the verge of tears. This isn’t fair, okay?

If you were capable of defeating me, you could have done so earlier and simply kicked me off the platform. Why did you keep pretending to be weak, giving me hope and confidence, only to crush me now?

Fine, let’s say you were feigning weakness as part of a strategy. Even if I fell into your trap, couldn’t you have ended things quickly once I stepped into it? Why did you have to let me cling to a shred of hope?

Was your goal to exhaust all my internal energy just to humiliate me?

As he thought back to his earlier smugness, treating Zhang Xiaohua like a cat toying with a mouse, and even mocking him inwardly, Yuan Kong now realized with bitter irony that he had no idea who was the cat and who was the mouse.

In an instant, Yuan Kong recalled the bet Zhang Xiaohua had made before the duel.

It’s a setup—there’s no other explanation. There must be some hidden scheme behind all this. Otherwise, why would Zhang Xiaohua dare to wager on obtaining a secret manual from the Dalin Temple? Clearly, he had planned this all along!

Realizing this, Yuan Kong felt a deep sorrow. This kind-hearted little monk has been led step by step into Zhang Xiaohua’s trap.

He then thought of his junior brother Yuan Liao, who had been unceremoniously kicked off the platform earlier. A plan formed in Yuan Kong’s mind. He abruptly halted his attacks and called out: “Zhang Xiaohua, stop for a moment!”

Zhang Xiaohua was in the middle of enjoying himself. The warm current hadn’t yet fully circulated through his body, and he hadn’t relished the feeling to its fullest. Naturally, he didn’t want to stop. Continuing his assault, he replied: “No need to stop—talk while we fight. I’m listening.”

Hearing this, Yuan Kong sneered inwardly: “I’m not falling for your tricks again. Do you want to kick me off the platform? Over my dead body!”

Without saying another word, Yuan Kong strode swiftly to the edge of the platform. In one quick motion, he leaped off!

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua shouted in alarm: “Little master, what are you doing? Don’t jump! Let’s talk first!”

Yuan Kong ignored him entirely, thinking to himself: “Crocodile tears! Fake compassion! You want to kick me? No chance.”

Once Yuan Kong landed steadily on the ground, he turned back and said with pride: “I jumped off on my own. If you wanted to kick me, forget it!”

Zhang Xiaohua stood at the edge of the high platform, looking down with an air of solemnity. He called out: “Little Master Yuan Kong, this is where you went wrong. Just now, you held back several times and didn’t have the heart to kick me off. How could I kick you in return? When I called out to you earlier, it was to suggest that we settle this as a draw!”

Yuan Kong, hearing this, shouted back in frustration: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

Zhang Xiaohua looked entirely innocent as he replied: “Didn’t you ignore me when I tried to tell you?”

“Thud!” With that sound, Yuan Kong collapsed in a faint beneath the platform.

Sometimes, fainting is truly the ultimate form of escape. Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, Yuan Kong lost consciousness entirely. When the young monks finally carried him back to the reed pavilion, he only regained consciousness after a long while, waking up with a groggy sigh.

Meanwhile, the disciples of the Piaomiao Sect had completely cast aside any pretense of concern for the feelings of others. Their passions had been thoroughly ignited. The ever-changing tides of the duel on the platform—the constant twists and turns—had long pushed their nerves to the brink. Yuan Kong’s elegant leap off the platform, so graceful and decisive, had momentarily silenced their cries of “Come on!”

But when Yuan Kong “fainted” into the dust, the Piaomiao Sect disciples suddenly realized something—they had won! Their brother on the platform had won!

Many of them pinched their cheeks to confirm that they weren’t dreaming. Some even resorted to slapping themselves and each other, leading to an immediate chorus of complaints and reprimands.

When they were finally convinced that this was indeed reality, they erupted in an explosion of cheers. The brother on the platform—was he even human? No, absolutely not. He was an unkillable cockroach, a true “Little Qiang!”

[TL_Note: “Little Qiang” was originally the name given to a dead cockroach that had supposedly been a pet of the lead character in the 1993 Hong Kong comedy movie “Flirting Scholar”. Subsequently, it came to be used as a name for any cockroach, and also for characters in film and television who are seemingly indestructible or repeatedly resurrected.]

And so, cries of “Little Qiang! Little Qiang!” mixed with shouts of “Rise up! Rise up!” echoed through the air. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohua, brimming with pride, cupped his fists in acknowledgment toward the cheering disciples below the platform. However, when he heard the chants of “Little Qiang”, his step faltered, and he nearly tumbled off the stage, almost repeating Yuan Kong’s fate. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he muttered to himself: “These brothers are… way too enthusiastic.”

As Zhang Xiaohua strode back and forth on the platform, waving energetically at the crowd like a victorious general, he seemed just short of shouting phrases like, “Hello, brothers!” or “Brothers, you’ve worked hard!” Just then, Zhang Chengyue ascended the platform gracefully. He approached Zhang Xiaohua, gently tugged his sleeve, and whispered: “Zhang Xiaohua, don’t get too carried away. The Law Enforcement Elder from Dalin Temple is still watching you down there.”

The words “Law Enforcement Elder” instantly conjured an image in Zhang Xiaohua’s mind: a long donkey-faced bald man with sinister triangular eyes radiating a chilling gaze. His elation immediately melted away like snow under boiling water, leaving no trace behind. His expression shifted to one of panic as he stammered: “Umm… Uncle Master Zhang, did I go too far?”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s reaction, Zhang Chengyue found it amusing. “Save the act for someone else. The Sect Master has called for you. If you want to play pitiful, do it in front of the Law Enforcement Elder.”

Zhang Chengyue was about to turn away when something seemed to cross his mind. He added casually: “The old monk will probably ask you some questions soon. Time is tight, and I can’t guide you further, so you’ll have to figure it out yourself.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua’s heart sank. This isn’t good. His sister-in-law Liu Qian’s words suddenly echoed in his ears: “An innocent man with a treasure is guilty by association.” Whether or not the Big Dipper Divine Fist was truly a “treasure” was unknown to him, but the fact that he had used it to wear down and ultimately defeat Yuan Kong—someone several ranks above him—meant it might as well be. Even if it wasn’t a treasure before, it surely is now. What should I do?

Just as he was growing anxious, Zhang Xiaohua’s gaze landed on Zhang Chengyue, who was walking ahead, and his earlier words replayed in his mind. Such an obvious hint—if I don’t understand it, wouldn’t I be disgracing the intelligence I gained from my literacy lessons in [Shuowen Jiezi]?

The distance between the platform and the reed pavilion wasn’t far, but the open ground in between was devoid of Piaomiao Sect disciples. Zhang Xiaohua was spared the overwhelming cheers and a grand escort. When he followed Zhang Chengyue into the shelter, the first thing his eyes landed on was the old monk seated in the guest area.

Zhang Xiaohua discreetly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the old monk wasn’t donkey-faced, nor did he have triangular eyes. Though his expression seemed a bit somber, it wasn’t sinister—certainly not the type that Zhang Xiaohua had feared.

He quickly stepped up to Ou Peng, bowed respectfully, and said:“Zhang Xiaohua greets Sect Master Ou Peng.”

After Ou Peng raised a hand to acknowledge him, Zhang Xiaohua turned to the right, bowing to the other elders and hall masters of the Piaomiao Sect. “Greetings to all the elders and hall masters.”

The hall masters and elders, all in good spirits, waved back at him with smiles, exchanging casual greetings.

After Zhang Xiaohua had finished greeting the familiar faces, Ou Peng finally spoke. “Zhang Xiaohua, come here and pay your respects to the Law Enforcement Elder of Dalin Temple, Master Changgeng. He is a renowned figure in the martial world. If you have the opportunity in the future, be sure to learn from Master Changgeng.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua immediately complied, walking obediently to Master Changgeng. With a deep bow, he said: “This junior, Zhang Xiaohua, greets Master Changgeng.”

Master Changgeng stared at Zhang Xiaohua silently for a long moment, without saying a word.