Chapter 290: Cheering On
“Look at your lack of ambition.” Lu Bai gave him a glance and said: “Besides, it’s normal for you to lose to Cui Zhongheng.”
“Right, winning would be abnormal.” Lu Lin chewed and swallowed loudly while mumbling: “A few months ago, you weren’t even Black Rank, yet now you fought Black Rank Peak Cui Zhongheng for a hundred rounds before narrowly losing. What more could you want.”
“I’m not a sore loser, I just lost too pathetically.” Lu Song looked at his own hands, wishing he could snap the chopsticks as he said: “If I had used ‘Maiden Worships the Moon,’ he would definitely be the one who lost!”
“Why didn’t you use it earlier?” Lu Yun sighed.
“I wanted to save it for the next round…” Lu Song said with a bitter face: “A trump card at the bottom of the box should naturally be used last.”
“It’s fine, you can still use it this afternoon.” Lu Yun snatched the last pork hock from Lu Lin’s hand and placed it on Lu Song’s plate, saying: “If you don’t eat your fill, you’ll lose again this afternoon.”
“Even if you lose again this afternoon, the sky won’t fall.” Lu Bai glared at Lu Lin and comforted: “We didn’t select you for the martial examination anyway.”
“Exactly, the civil examination in three days is when you’ll truly shine.” Lu Yun nodded with a smile too.
“That’s true…” Thinking of the loser’s group competition in the afternoon, Lu Song barely rallied a bit, but still had no appetite.
“If you keep this up, you’re falling right into their scheme!” Lu Yun sighed and said wistfully.
“What scheme?” Lu Song was stunned, and even Lu Lin stopped chewing, looking at Lu Yun in confusion.
“Think about it, in previous grand competitions, was it civil examination first or martial examination first?” Lu Yun asked calmly.
“Naturally civil examination first.” Lu Lin said in a gruff voice: “This year is the first time martial examination comes first. We have to compete anyway, what’s the difference?”
“Big difference.” Lu Yun said in a deep voice: “Martial examination first is extremely advantageous for clans that stand on martial prowess. But for noble clans like ours that stand on literary education, it’s extremely disadvantageous.”
“Exactly right!” Lu Bai got it immediately and slapped his thigh hard, saying: “Those who excel in both civil and martial are rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Most people who are good at martial arts struggle with articles. Those good at articles are bad at martial arts. So if martial examination comes first, those scholars will lose or get injured, and if their arms are broken, they can’t even write articles! Even if they’re unscathed, their sharp spirit is broken, so how can they write good articles?”
“Mm. Look at his dejected bear-like state, the civil examination will definitely be affected!” Lu Lin looked at Lu Song and deeply agreed.
“Exactly, this is the result they want!” Lu Yun nodded emphatically, looking sharply at Lu Song and saying: “Are you going to let them succeed?”
As the saying goes, better to spur a general than to invite one. The brothers’ comfort and encouragement had no effect on Lu Song. But with Lu Yun’s analysis, he felt a surge of anger in his chest, immediately perking up and gnashing his teeth: “I won’t let them succeed!” With that, he picked up the pork hock and bit into it fiercely.
“That’s the spirit.” Seeing him rally, the three finally relaxed and enjoyed the gourmet food carefully prepared by Lu Ying…
.
In a room not far from the four of Lu Clan, the four of Xiahou Clan had finished lunch and were meditating on one side while chatting relaxedly on the other.
With Xiahou Clan’s overwhelming collective advance in the morning, the four were in good moods, and Xiahou Rongyao and Rongda even joked around unusually.
Xiahou Rongguang frowned slightly at the sight and said: “This time the clan leader went to great lengths to put martial examination before civil examination, just so we could achieve good results. You must not get complacent; in the upcoming competitions, strike even harder!” As he spoke, he glanced at Xiahou Rongda: “Especially you, is this the time to pity the fairer sex?”
“Big Brother, rest assured.” Xiahou Rongda nodded somewhat fearfully: “There won’t be any women later…”
“Big Brother is wronging Rongda; he was also thinking for you.” Xiahou Rongyao said with a grin: “When you take first place later, Grandfather will probably propose marriage to Mei Clan, so we have to curry favor with your future little aunt.”
“Exactly, exactly, Big Brother knows me.” Xiahou Rongda immediately put on a smile upon hearing this: “I’m all thinking for the big picture.”
“Get lost.” Xiahou Rongguang cursed, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve up slightly. Mei Ruohua’s performance today had impressed him; only such an outstanding woman was worthy of him.
“…” Listening to his two brothers flattering Xiahou Rongguang nonstop, Xiahou Rongsheng, who was silently holding a teacup on the side, had a flash of barely perceptible malice in his eyes as his hands unconsciously tightened.
With a snap, the teacup was crushed in his grip, and the ink-green tea soup splashed all over him…
The atmosphere in the room instantly turned cold.
“What are you doing?” Xiahou Rongguang’s face immediately darkened.
“Nothing, a little deviation while circulating qi…” Xiahou Rongsheng stood up, walked out expressionlessly, and said: “I’m going to change clothes.”
Xiahou Rongyao and Xiahou Rongda couldn’t help but feel a chill in their hearts, thinking: ‘Here we go again…’
Xiahou Rongguang darkly watched Xiahou Rongsheng’s back disappear in the doorway. He knew this guy had always been unconvinced by him; probably his biggest rival this time was him!
“This guy just has such a weird temper.” Xiahou Rongyao hurriedly advised his own big brother: “Big Brother, don’t stoop to his level.”
“Mm…” Xiahou Rongguang nodded. Right now was the critical moment of the grand competition; if they fell out, the plank would only hit him as the big brother. He forcibly suppressed his anger and said flatly: “Ignore him.”
.
In Mei Clan’s room, the four girls were kneeling respectfully before clan leader Mei Yi. Mei Fangfei said with shame on her face: “We’ve brought shame to Mei Family.”
But Mei Yi shook her head, showing a kind smile: “Victory and defeat are common in military strategists; no matter.” She looked at the silent Mei Ruohua and softly asked: “But Ruohua, why did you voluntarily concede?”
“…” Mei Ruohua slowly shook her head, unwilling to elaborate, and only softly said: “Granddaughter was willful; please punish me, Grandmother…”
“Sigh, you child.” Mei Yi sighed helplessly. A girl’s thoughts were like a needle at the bottom of the sea; if she wouldn’t say, there was nothing she could do… At least before the grand competition ended, it wasn’t suitable to press for details. The old lady could only change the subject: “On the fighting stage, you clearly used ‘Fragrant Drunkenness Forgets Worries,’ so why haven’t your Ren and Du Meridians been opened?”
“Replying to Grandmother, Granddaughter used that move by lucky coincidence…” Mei Ruohua softly said: “But I benefited greatly; the Ren and Du Meridians should open within half a year.”
“Good, good, good.” Mei Yi knew Mei Ruohua was always steady; for her to say this meant breakthrough was imminent and assured. The old lady was full of delight: “Taking it slow is fine too. You were originally only Black Rank mid-stage; breaking through to Earth Rank all at once might make your foundation unstable, affecting further progress in the future.”
“Further progress…” Hearing this, Mei Fangfei, Mei Lingxuan, and the other two women had sparkling eyes. It seemed big sister was very likely to become another grandmaster of Mei Clan after Aunt Mei Yu!
“Granddaughter understands. After the grand competition, I’ll go into seclusion to solidify before breaking through.” Mei Ruohua respectfully acknowledged.
“Mm.” Mei Yi slowly stood up, helped Mei Ruohua up, held her shoulders, and solemnly looked at her: “Remember, from now on, you represent not just yourself, nor merely Mei Clan, but all the women under heaven! You must set an example for them, proving that we women are not inferior to men at all!”
Mei Ruohua nodded with firm resolve in her eyes.
