Human Martial Saint: Starting with Bajiquan

Chapter 106 Outsmarting the Enemy

The draw is over.

Liu Sheng arrived at the North Arena.

The sandy ground of the arena had been trampled and became uneven from previous matches.

He was patiently waiting for his opponent to take the stage.

The opponent was a young master from the Kang family.

They did arrive very slowly.

This young master was dressed in a brand-new brocade robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, and he was also pretending to wave a folding fan in his hand.

The gong has sounded.

He strolled leisurely to the edge of the stage.

Instead of rushing onto the stage, he stopped, as if going on stage would be beneath his dignity.

Once everyone had arrived at the edge of the arena, the assistant examiner had already inserted an extremely thin incense stick into the incense burner.

The sparks flickered, and a wisp of smoke rose.

Start timing for this competition.

Seeing this, the young master finally lifted his foot and slowly stepped onto the edge of the ring, but instead of entering the rope fence, he looked down at Liu Sheng.

He had watched the previous two matches of this kid from the Bajiquan Gymnasium.

I have to say, this kid has incredible luck.

One of his two opponents was a lowly commoner who had obtained the essence of a ibex, whose foundation was weak and who could not be defeated easily; the other was a brute with only brute strength who could only bluff people. One punch from the examiner would send him flying several feet away.

Therefore, it is clear that Liu Sheng's so-called two consecutive wins were nothing special; they were all just luck.

This kid's master, Gao Huang, may have a big reputation, but how many times a year does he actually come to the Bajiquan Academy? There are countless nominal disciples like Liu Sheng.

Thinking of this, he paused in his fanning motion, as if he were carefully choosing his words to appear more compassionate.

"Liu Sheng, is it? You're just a ninth-rank official. Reaching the level of a martial arts scholar is already enough to bring honor to your family. I am a member of the Kang family of Yueya County, with a long and distinguished family tradition of martial arts. You are far beyond the reach of an ordinary martial arts school disciple."

He leaned forward slightly, closed his folding fan, and pointed at Liu Sheng, as if pointing out directions to a lost traveler:

"Take my advice: admit defeat now and leave with dignity to avoid physical pain. You can still be a martial arts scholar. If we really fight, I don't know how to hold back and will ruin your future, hehe."

Having said all this, the young master felt he had done everything he could, and had made the right gesture.

He waited for Liu Sheng's face to show fear, struggle, or even the slightest hesitation.

However, Liu Sheng glanced at him standing by the stage, a half-smile on his face, already having made up his mind.

He stepped forward, almost face-to-face, looking directly at the other person:

"Young Master Kang, all you aristocratic scions can do is bark and swore, looking down on others?"

"you!"

Liu Sheng didn't give him a chance to interrupt and continued:

"I, Liu Sheng, am just an ordinary martial arts school disciple, from a merchant family, with no special background. But my skills are the result of rigorous training in the sweltering summer and freezing winter, honed by my own hard work, not by relying on precious meat or medicine! My master, Gao Huang, is a disciple of the prestigious Gao family of Shazhou. In terms of background, how is he inferior to you?"

Upon hearing this, many people in the audience immediately responded loudly.

"Well said!"

"Exactly, what makes a small, established family in a county town compare to a major family in a prefecture-level city?"

Seeing this, Liu Sheng's voice grew louder.

His gaze swept over the crowd below the stage:

"As for you, you keep claiming to come from the most prestigious family in Crescent Moon County, but when those bandits and demon soldiers were roaming outside the city, where were you? When the Black Fox Gang and the Beggar Gang were running rampant in the countryside, where were you? So all your skills and ambition are used to bully your own people?"

"I……"

The young master's face turned extremely ugly. He wanted to argue, but didn't know where to begin, while the shouts from below the stage grew even louder—

"Master Liu is right!"

"Exactly! Why don't you go fight the demons then!"

It turned out that Liu Sheng's words struck a nerve with many ordinary people, especially since the demon magistrate, Lun Ren, was not present, nor was his lackey, Kang, the county lieutenant; everyone present was human.

Therefore, as soon as he finished speaking, an even louder chorus of agreement erupted from the audience, almost drowning out the arena where the two were located.

Seeing the crowd's agitation, the young master was choked red-faced. He never expected that Liu Sheng would not only fail to appreciate his well-intentioned advice, but would also dare to contradict him in public, making him feel embarrassed.

"You bastard, I..."

The young master seized the opportunity to curse back.

Liu Sheng ignored him, quickly moved to the stage, and respectfully but somewhat lewdly cupped his hands behind the armless, expressionless deputy examiner.

"My lord, look, the incense has burned out, and he hasn't even entered the arena yet. He should be declared the loser!"

Upon hearing this, both the deputy examiner and the young master turned their gazes toward the incense burner.

Sure enough, the very thin incense stick, with its last wisp of smoke dissipating, its dark red tip completely turning black and extinguished.

The young master's angry expression was replaced by astonishment. He was so focused on persuading and refuting that he completely forgot that he had not yet crossed the ropes and officially stepped into the ring.

The deputy examiner looked at the young master who was frozen at the edge of the arena with one foot still on the step, and then at Liu Sheng who was hiding behind him.

His facial muscles twitched slightly, then recovered, and he announced:

"The timer has expired. The opponent has not entered the arena and is therefore considered to have forfeited. The winner is Liu Sheng!"

There was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by an even louder burst of laughter and whistles.

The young master's face turned from red to white, then from white to green, his chest heaving violently. He even threw away his folding fan, and his eyes, glaring at Liu Sheng, were practically spitting fire.

The immense humiliation felt like countless needles piercing his face. All pretense of family dignity and martial arts demeanor vanished in that instant.

He suddenly took a step forward, seemingly intending to rush onto the ring.

Liu Sheng remained hidden behind the burly deputy examiner.

He poked half his head out.

Not panicked at all.

She even gave the young master an encouraging gesture, as if afraid he wouldn't come.

The assistant examiner was expressionless, with cold eyes.

Seeing the young master rushing towards them.

When he met the deputy examiner's cold, menacing gaze, the young master of the Kang family felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. Only then did he remember Xiong Li, whom he had punched away earlier... If a fight really broke out, he...

The young master ultimately didn't dare to step forward. He glared fiercely at Liu Sheng, then abruptly flicked his sleeve and, amidst the boos and laughter of the crowd, quickly walked away, looking disheveled.

"Thank you for your fair judgment, Your Honor!"

The deputy examiner glanced at him, then looked at the defending martial artist—Niu Dashan.

At this moment, Niu Dashan, from Niujia Village in Huangqu County, was still among the crowd.

A small group of people had gathered around him, making him seem somewhat out of place in the noisy surroundings.

These people were dressed simply, many of their clothes patched. They all looked weary from their long journey, but their eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation.

Surrounded by them was Niu Dashan, who was shirtless, revealing his sturdy build and broad arms.

Niu Dashan's usually dull eyes softened considerably at this moment.

He was looking at the villagers surrounding him.