Chapter 77: Chen Mou May Be Old, But He Can Still Eat A Dou Of Rice
Since Chen Shun’an had said so, those younger than him could only grudgingly withdraw their legs.
Those older than him couldn’t run as fast as him.
Helplessly, they all had to choose to ‘yield’ uniformly.
Chen Shun’an stood on the arena platform, his movements unhurried, cupping his fists toward the arrogant young man,
“This young brother, I am Chen…”
Chen Shun’an’s words were still in his mouth when the arrogant young man suddenly charged forward with a gust of wind, taking several fierce steps. Taking advantage of Chen Shun’an still standing at the edge of the arena platform, he shook his leg and smashed toward Chen Shun’an’s chest!
Looking at his face again, where was there any trace of arrogance or contempt? Instead, it was filled with the cunning glee of a successful scheme.
This young man knew he had just broken through not long ago and couldn’t gain any advantage against these seasoned water carriers, so he simply feigned madness to provoke someone into angrily taking the bait.
Second-rate mid-to-late stage experts, bound by face, wouldn’t step down first to fight.
Second-rate early stage ones, having lost their state of mind, would inevitably show flaws in their moves.
He seized the initiative to strike first, not without a chance of victory!
However, he would never have expected Chen Shun’an, this Water Origin Great Emperor who had slain a body thief, observed the Six Sceneries Rotation True Cultivation Manual, and disguised himself in the second-rate realm, to love this kind of bullying the weak with strength.
“You brat, not following martial world rules, actually sneaking an attack?!”
Seeing this, Chen Shun’an showed anger on his face, hurriedly retreating several steps to stand at the edge of the arena platform, swaying as if about to fall.
Though his face was slightly pale, with lingering shock in his eyes, this also opened the distance between them,
After two exchanges.
In the next instant, Chen Shun’an was as fast as lightning, his leg techniques like a storm of wind and rain. A ‘Rib Piercing Leg’ executed to perfection, in the blink of an eye landing at this person’s ribs.
With a ‘thud’, this person crashed diagonally to the ground, wailing endlessly, clearly no longer having the strength to fight.
“What an insidious brat!”
“What a vicious old man!”
“To turn danger into safety afterward, so experienced… How old is this guy?”
“Almost fifty.”
“That lightness skill…”
“Zhang Mansion’s《Meat Flying Immortal》 is a superior martial art.”
“He’s that Chen Shun’an?!”
Many onlookers were both shocked and amazed, knowing only that the two had exchanged less than two moves before a victor was decided, unaware of the intricacies.
Meanwhile, many martial world experts who came to watch the excitement naturally saw the undercurrents between the two on the arena, couldn’t help but sigh that the Four Overlords of the Capital lived up to their reputation. Casually pulling out an old and a young one, both showed extraordinary skill.
Afterward, one after another, two more came up to the arena to challenge Chen Shun’an.
Chen Shun’an relied on experience to barely win dangerously each time.
Each time in the gap after successfully defending the arena, Chen Shun’an hurriedly took out a pill, swallowed and refined it, circulating Qi and Blood, recovering whatever strength he could.
The noisy crowd below quieted somewhat, silently moved by Chen Shun’an’s unyielding spirit.
Wan Niang’s gaze was fixed tightly on Chen Shun’an, her hands clutching her clothes, covered in cold sweat.
San Dezi, Scarred Liu, and others also frowned deeply.
Lin Shou Zhuo stepped forward a few steps, approaching the edge of the arena platform, preparing to rush up to save Chen Shun’an if anything unexpected happened, even if it broke the rules.
He Qiang, with his burly build, glanced at Chen Shun’an on the platform, his eyes turning, suddenly laughing loudly,
“Don’t laugh at the old man still full of vigor, his flair still matching the ancients. Eldest Brother Chen has cultivated superior lightness skill, extraordinary movement technique. Even second-rate mid-to-late stage lightness skill experts, few can rival him…
It should be enough to win a few more matches, contributing for the landlord!”
As soon as these words were out, many tasted the implication in He Qiang’s words.
Wasn’t this tempting the Pounding House’s second-rate mid-to-late stage experts to take the stage and challenge, putting Chen Shun’an on the fire to roast, making him continue to struggle bitterly?
However, in the Spirit Official Intercepting Meeting, the most important thing is which side can successfully defend the arena, and standing until the end counts as a win.
So He Qiang’s move didn’t harm Landlord Zhao or the water station’s interests.
It just required making Chen Shun’an suffer, grit his teeth and persist, consuming the Pounding House’s strength.
Lin Shou Zhuo showed displeasure: “He Qiang, don’t stir things up…”
He Qiang stood tall with hands behind his back, smiled without saying more.
He completely ignored the complex, strange gazes from others.
During this time, He Qiang had wanted to find an opportunity to feign arrogance and provoke Chen Shun’an into taking the bait.
But He Qiang helplessly found that this old man Chen Shun’an, every day besides pushing the cart for water delivery, actually huddled at home or practiced martial arts at Li Mansion.
Occasionally going to the teahouse once to listen to stories, he also left early and returned early, never staying out overnight, friendly with people, never going to remote alleys, or mixing with shady characters.
He actually couldn’t find an opportunity to strike.
This old man was too cautious!
At such an advanced age, not enjoying pleasures, playing theater tickets, patronizing performers, walking birds or insect fighting, how was he still single-minded on the martial path?!
Still thinking he could continue advancing by leaps and bounds, cultivating into a first-rate expert?!
So, He Qiang had to seize this opportunity.
On the arena platform, Chen Shun’an’s eyes flickered slightly, fully aware of He Qiang’s overt scheme.
Sure enough, the next challenger had second-rate mid stage strength. Though he only cultivated an upper lightness skill, he was young and strong, at his peak.
As soon as he came on stage, he pressed Chen Shun’an and beat him.
No one favored Chen Shun’an, and fortunately he himself wasn’t holding up well.
Chen Shun’an battled this person for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, until his legs trembled, his face ashen as gold paper, finally enduring until the opponent showed a flaw, suddenly erupting, clenching both fists forward, rolling off the arena platform together with him.
It counted as a draw.
San Dezi and Scarred Liu hurriedly helped Chen Shun’an up.
Chen Shun’an adjusted his breathing slightly, cupping his fists toward the surroundings,
“Getting old, no longer up to it… Fortunately, didn’t disgrace the landlord, cleared three! Though old, Chen Mou can still eat a dou of rice!”
These words seemed addressed to the crowd, but clearly meant for Zhao Guangxi on the platform!
Good grief, even at this point, still not forgetting to show loyalty!
The crowd’s mouths twitched, some proud ones even showed sarcasm in their eyes, flicking sleeves and turning away.
Zhao Guangxi, however, beamed with joy, waving a big hand, instructing the lishi to personally deliver Chen Shun’an’s reward,
“Old Chen, well done! Rest well, don’t worry about the later matters!”
Zhao Guangxi was now afraid that this old backbone Chen Shun’an might have any mishap.
He received the reward: a total of sixty taels of silver, four drops of five-wheel water, several bolts of silk, several jin of forging stone that could make mid-grade sharp blades.
Among them, what satisfied Chen Shun’an most was naturally the four drops of five-wheel water.
Equivalent to four months of his salary.
Landlord Zhao was benevolent and righteous; even though Chen Shun’an’s last match was a draw, it still counted as his win.
So adding the advance payment salary from the previous days, there were a total of ten drops of five-wheel water.
Sure enough, it takes chaotic times to produce heroes. In peaceful times, how could Chen Shun’an obtain such resources so quickly?
Chen Shun’an found a long bench to sit on, closed his eyes to adjust his breathing.
Wan Niang hugged the silk, packed the things away, standing not leaving an inch behind Chen Shun’an, her gaze vigilant, just like a mother wolf protecting her cub, ready at any time to tear into any approaching threat.
And from beginning to end, Chen Shun’an never even glanced at He Qiang, responding to his overt psychological attack with unchanging steadiness, completely following his own plan.
Being treated as air and ignored, He Qiang was slightly annoyed inside, but showed no sign on his face.
If not this time, then next time.
There were plenty of opportunities anyway.
……
The intercepting meeting for second-rate martial artists was proceeding in full swing.
Lin Shou Zhuo took the stage, consecutively defeated twelve people, defended the fist and palm arena platform, winning this match.
He Qiang lived up to being promoted by Zhao Guangxi, a hardening technique specialist. His skin and membranes impervious to iron and stone, just standing in place was truly like a black boar with hair like steel needles, also winning the hardening skill match.
But for leg techniques and lightness skill, the water station side lost.
Wanlong Pounding House had a second-rate late stage martial artist who cultivated superior lightness skill《Crane Martial Pine Wind Skill》, his movement technique unfolding like swirling light smoke.
It left many lightness skill martial artists on the water station side exclaiming in amazement, feeling inferior, greatly demoralized.
After adjusting his breathing, Chen Shun’an’s injuries were no longer a problem.
He patted Wan Niang’s hand, stood up slightly out of breath, and walked toward the spear and staff side arena platform to watch the fight.
“Hm? How did the Pounding House win?”
“Strange, Wu Saiyu was only second-rate mid stage strength last month. How in just one month did he reach second-rate late stage cultivation, his spear technique like a mad demon, impervious like ink splashing!”
“Not just that! Did Wu Saiyu also cultivate hardening martial arts? How did he take three staff strikes head-on and still jump around lively, so tough?”
The crowd below buzzed with discussion.
A spear and staff martial artist from the water station side fell off the arena platform, with a ferocious wound on his chest deep to the bone, blood flowing freely like it cost nothing, currently being treated and bandaged by a physician.
Looking at Wu Saiyu on the platform with bloodshot eyes and centipede-like blue veins creeping up his cheeks, Chen Shun’an frowned.
A faint sweet and strange fragrance drifted with the wind.
Making it hard to tell if it was rouge face powder or…
Hibiscus Paste Fire?!
Sure enough, many inside Wanlong Pounding House were already burning and consuming hibiscus paste fire to enhance strength.
But…
Chen Shun’an looked at the extremely irritable Wu Saiyu, whose Qi and Blood was like a wild horse breaking free, pondering inwardly.
The sequelae of burning and consuming paste fire were indeed severe.
More ferocious than tiger-wolf medicine.
The spear and staff match, water station lost again.
On the platform, Zhao Guangxi could no longer laugh.
Though he had some expectation, he still underestimated the effect of hibiscus paste fire.
Liu Ru Yue frowned, looking toward her father, Liu Sui.
Can this continue, still fight?
Liu Sui imperceptibly shook his head.
Liu Ru Yue unwillingly bit her lip lightly, her gaze sharpening.
“Good! I’ll reward too!”
Zheng Shicheng clapped his hands, laughing upward, eyes showing sarcasm, glancing at Zhao Guangxi and others whose faces were cloudy.
Dare to fight me? See if you can compete!
In this way, in the arena matches of second-rate experts, Wanlong Pounding House and water station each had two wins and two losses.
The knife and sword match thus became crucial.
The fights here continued.
The gong and drum team blew three blasts and beat three times, deafening the ears.
Chen Shun’an’s gaze swept over the crowd outside Kui Xing Tower. The commoners had blocked the roads completely, among them vendors selling huoshao, crisp candy, iced water.
Chen Shun’an soon noticed a somewhat familiar theater troupe.
Like the water station and Pounding House sides, they had set up an imperial carriage.
But on the imperial carriage, there was no idol, but a group performing magic tricks.
Things like ladder of blades, dressed as bears, immortal ropes, also blowing and beating very lively, surrounded by a bunch of watching commoners.
Among them, the smaller acrobats were under ten years old; the larger ones nearly forty.
Looking at the banner, it was Jin Family Troupe from behind Tangyuan Hutong, quite famous in Wuqing County.
So they could set up and perform near Kui Xing Tower without being driven away by the government offices.
Considered to have entry qualifications.
“Something’s off.”
Suddenly, Chen Shun’an’s gaze sharpened.
Other martial arts styles aside, in lightness skill alone, Chen Shun’an’s eyes were sharp, even able to see the flexing of others’ leg tendons.
This group performing magic tricks, many had hidden their strength, their steps like spirit cats treading, waists and hips powered, force turning subtly.
Even giving Chen Shun’an a sense of wariness and vigilance.
Moreover, this group performing magic tricks was silently lifting the carriage toward the arena platform!
“Where did these first-rate experts come from, all clustering together?! Could they be Guo Lu Society people?!”
Chen Shun’an immediately became alert, drew back from the arena platform, pulled Wan Niang, and retreated into the water station crowd.
He didn’t dare hide near the high platform.
This theater troupe was clearly coming for the intercepting meeting; who knows if some big shot on the high platform was one of their targets.
Chen Shun’an naturally wouldn’t play hide-in-plain-sight by approaching the high platform.
Instead, the crowd was the safest!
Chen Shun’an said: “Wan Niang, take these things home first, wait for me at home.”
Wan Niang asked nothing, just squeezed Chen Shun’an’s hand, then immediately set off with the things, without any hesitation.
Why ask?
Since it was what brother said, it certainly wouldn’t harm her, certainly had deep meaning.
The only thing Wan Niang needed to do was obey.
Not be a burden.
