Chapter 121: You Looking At

Zu An was instantly amused. "Why are you so fond of tempting fate, just like Chancellor Cao? Didn't you say almost the same thing a moment ago? Have you forgotten so quickly?"

Yuan Wendong paused, then quickly realized, "Chancellor Cao? Who cares who that is!" He retorted, "You're just all talk!"

He snorted coldly. This time, he dared not be careless and immediately unleashed his most formidable sword technique.

"Frenzied Dragon Dance!"

As soon as the words left his lips, Yuan Wendong's body rapidly accelerated, darting towards his opponent like a streak of light. He moved not in a straight line, but constantly changed direction, weaving left and right, both to obscure his true position and to cut off all possible escape routes.

The sword in his hand created a blur of afterimages, seemingly transforming into several powerful dragons that savagely lunged at Zu An, as if they could tear him to shreds in an instant.

Chu Huanzhao, tense, clutched her older sister's hand. Chu Chuyan remained silent, but she was fully focused, ready to intervene and save him at any moment. However, she had sustained severe injuries from her recent victory over Wu Di, and she wondered if she would be fast enough.

Zu An also drew his long sword, executing the only sword technique he knew: the Thirteen Forms of the Moonlit Academy's Beginner Swordplay.

Facing such a ferocious onslaught, he naturally wouldn't clash head-on. However, his opponent, wary of his movement technique, had unleashed "Frenzied Dragon Dance" as an area attack. More than a dozen dragon-like shadows, formed from sword energy, sealed off the space within a several-meter radius.

Zu An dodged most of the sword energy, but a few streams proved unavoidable. Channeling all his vital energy, he clashed head-on with his opponent's sword.

A harsh screech of metal against metal echoed as Zu An stumbled back several steps. He felt his vital energy churning inside him, and his hands ached intensely; he had almost lost his grip on his sword.

Zu An frowned inwardly. Indeed, the difference in cultivation between a third-rank and a fifth-rank was still vast.

Yuan Wendong, meanwhile, stood firm and unmoving like a mountain. The raw, direct clash of the previous move had settled his nerves. "He's nothing more than this," he thought, relieved. "I almost let that guy intimidate me earlier."

A flush of embarrassment spread across his face at the thought. "This fellow has made me lose so much face. Next, I will make you regret ever being born."

Rage value from Yuan Wendong +768!

Zu An was speechless. This guy got angry whether he lost or gained the upper hand. How did he end up with a temper so similar to Qin Wanru's?

At this moment, sighs of relief rippled through the training ground:

"I knew it! How could he possibly defeat the fifth-rank Young Master Yuan? That direct clash couldn't have been faked."

"But I think Zu An is quite impressive. Is he truly the 'waste' you all claim he is?"

"How impressive can he really be? His vital energy fluctuations indicate he's only third-rank. How could he possibly be a match for Young Master Yuan?"

"Judging by his appearance, he must have been biding his time for over a decade, enduring public scorn, all to make a stunning debut today. Had he faced anyone else, he might well have succeeded. It's a shame he encountered a fifth-rank opponent."

"He's incredibly sly! No wonder he managed to marry Miss Chu. He must have used a lot of cunning."

...

At this moment, many shared the same thought. Mayor Xie Yi secretly glanced at Chu Zhongtian, musing, "This fellow usually appears so upright, yet he's clearly a scheming old fox."

Sang Hong also seized the opportunity to lecture his son: "See that, Qian'er? I told you this person is anything but simple. He hides his true capabilities very deeply."

Sang Qian mumbled his agreement, but discontentedly grumbled to himself, "No matter how not simple he is, he's still only a third-rank."

The predictable battle on the stage held no interest for him. He found himself preferring to admire his beautiful fiancée instead. Subconsciously, he glanced towards Zheng Dan, only to see her intently staring at Zu An on the stage, which made his face darken.

Zheng Dan, unaware that her fiancé was watching her, gazed at the figure on the stage, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Oh, this guy is actually a third-rank cultivator! A man who can resist my charms is indeed extraordinary. But why did he still bet on himself to lose? Does he also know he's certain to lose today? If so, what's the point of all this?"

Everyone had written Zu An off, but only Chu Huanzhao watched with flushed excitement. "Brother-in-law is incredible! He can actually face that Yuan fellow head-on without falling behind!"

Chu Chuyan, standing beside her, explained, "That's because Yuan Wendong is wary of his movement technique, so the 'Frenzied Dragon Dance' he's using is an area attack. Its power is somewhat dispersed, which is why he can barely withstand it."

Chu Huanzhao paused in surprise. "So, according to that, brother-in-law has no chance of winning at all?"

Chu Zhongtian sighed. "I originally thought he might possess some miraculous offensive combat technique, similar to his movement skill, which would give him a chance. But look, what he just demonstrated was merely the Moonlit Academy's most basic beginner swordplay. While this sword art has been refined over time, its strengths and weaknesses are equally apparent. It's fine for dealing with ordinary people, but for cultivators, it's truly insufficient."

"Ah~" Hearing even her father say this, Chu Huanzhao's heart sank instantly.

Hong Xingying, who had been listening intently, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Moments ago, seeing the opponent use a strange weapon to break the other's sword manipulation technique, his heart had leaped into his throat. If that guy truly defeated Yuan Wendong, how would he position himself within the Chu family?

Now, even the family head believed he couldn't win. That's good, that's very good...

On the arena, Yuan Wendong had already launched another attack. He wanted to give his opponent no chance to breathe, intent on crushing him completely with his superior cultivation!

Using the Thirteen Forms of Beginner Swordplay, Zu An parried and dodged. Though somewhat disheveled, he managed to hold his ground.

"Huh, this beginner swordplay can be used like that?"

"I must admit, this Zu An really has something going for him."

"It's just a shame that no matter how cleverly he uses this sword technique, it's still only a beginner's form and poses a limited threat to Young Master Yuan."

...

Not only the ordinary spectators but even the prominent figures on the main platform shared this opinion.

Sang Hong mused, 'This young man can comprehend sword intent, something typically only understood by high-level cultivators. Such talent is truly rare. What a pity he's from the Chu family. I wonder if there's a chance to win him over to our side.'

Jiang Luofu, however, frowned slightly. "That last sword strike, if he had been a little faster and moved slightly more to the left, its power would have been vastly different. Is his mastery not yet complete?"

Zu An was in a real bind at this moment. Several times, he almost unleashed his self-created "Bixie Swordplay," but Old Man Mi's warning made him hesitate. An enemy feared even by someone of Old Man Mi's caliber was certainly beyond his current capabilities.

If he used the full version of "Sunflower Phantom," there was no guarantee no one here would recognize it.

But if he didn't use this sword technique, he likely wouldn't be a match for Yuan Wendong.

His previous unscathed encounters with fifth-rank cultivators like Pei Mianman and Xue'er had led him to somewhat underestimate Yuan Wendong, who had only recently reached the fifth rank. He now realized that during those earlier fights, he had been on the verge of death, triggering the explosive effects of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, which drastically increased his vital energy, strength, and speed. This was, in fact, his first time fighting a fifth-rank master under normal conditions.

Yuan Wendong, unable to break through with his prolonged attacks, grew increasingly agitated. He had just lost immense face at Zu An's hands, and if he didn't reclaim it quickly, he would never be able to show himself in public again.

He finally lost his patience and decided to unleash his ultimate technique to decisively defeat his opponent.

"Golden Dragon Stirring the Ocean!"

Yuan Wendong's body spun rapidly, and the air throughout the arena seemed to solidify slightly.

The oppressive sensation made Zu An feel as if he were caught in a raging storm, about to be swallowed by towering waves at any moment.

Yuan Wendong's form blurred, and the next instant, he appeared behind Zu An, grinning menacingly as he thrust his sword towards the vital energy meridian in Zu An's right hand. If a cultivator's hand tendons and vital energy meridians were severed, their cultivation, no matter how high, would essentially be ruined, unless some rare treasure could restore them. But such a treasure was too precious to be wasted on a cripple.

'You've endured for so long, surely planning to make a splash today, to completely change your fate and shock the Chu family and all of Moonlit City? Too bad you encountered me. Just continue being a waste; you're accustomed to that life anyway.'

"Stop!" Chu Zhongtian, who clearly saw the malicious intent behind that move, urgently flew towards the arena.

Wu Wei and the Yuan family head, already prepared, moved in unison to block his path. "Duke Moonlit," they stated, "what is the meaning of your repeated attempts to interfere in a dispute between juniors?"

"You!" Chu Zhongtian was both shocked and enraged. He struck without mercy, but Duke Yangquan was almost his equal, and with Yuan Zhengchu joining, even if he broke through their blockade, it would be too late to save Zu An.

At this moment, Yuan Wendong watched as his sword tip was about to pierce Zu An's wrist, when suddenly Zu An turned his head and quickly said, "What are you looking at?"

Yuan Wendong froze, thinking, 'Is this guy crazy? Why suddenly say that at a moment like this?' Yet, his mouth involuntarily opened, and he retorted, "So what if I am!"

What's happening?

Yuan Wendong was instantly stunned. He knew he hadn't intended to reply, yet those words had inexplicably tumbled out, as if his body were no longer under his control.

In that split second of his distraction, Zu An's sword flashed. Yuan Wendong instantly felt a sharp pain in his hand and looked down at his wrist in disbelief, seeing Zu An's sword impaled there. Streams of blood dripped continuously from the sword's tip onto the ground, while his own sword tip was just half an inch from Zu An's wrist.

Normally, that slight distance would be negligible, but now, that half-inch felt like an impassable chasm. His face twitched uncontrollably, and with a distorted expression, he tried to stab Zu An's wrist in return, but alas, he had no strength in his hand and couldn't even hold his sword steady.

What's happening? Am I crippled?

Yuan Wendong was in a daze. Everything that had happened today felt utterly surreal; he simply couldn't believe any of it was real.

Wu Wei and Yuan Zhengchu were currently looking back to observe the outcome, thinking that by now, Wendong must have crippled that boy.

However, the scene before them left both men dumbfounded. Wu Wei merely looked surprised, but Yuan Zhengchu, after an initial moment of disbelief, instantly erupted in fury, charging at Zu An with a distorted face. "You dare to harm my son, boy? Prepare to die!"

Rage value from Yuan Zhengchu +1024!

Although Yuan Zhengchu's cultivation was inferior to that of the two dukes, it was still effortless for him to overpower Zu An. His attack was merciless, and Zu An barely had time to dodge.

However, a tall figure appeared before him. Chu Zhongtian intercepted Yuan Zhengchu, a smile spreading across his face. "Patriarch Yuan," he said, "isn't it rather inappropriate for you to interfere in a dispute between juniors?"

As infuriated as he had been when they used that exact excuse to block him moments ago, that's how triumphant he felt now. While he had always been a genial person, it didn't mean he was a pushover. The Yuan family had repeatedly overstepped their bounds today, and this lesson was entirely deserved.

"You!" Yuan Zhengchu was both shocked and enraged. Unfortunately, his cultivation was significantly weaker than Chu Zhongtian's, making it impossible to break through his blockade.

Fortunately, Wu Wei also approached at this moment. He did not attack Chu Zhongtian, but instead went to Yuan Wendong's side, staunching the profusely bleeding wound. He gazed grimly at the wrist pierced by the sword tip, his face exceptionally somber.

Concerned for Zu An's safety, Chu Zhongtian flashed to his side, subtly shielding him behind him.

As soon as Yuan Zhengchu had an opening, he rushed to help his son up, pulling out several healing elixirs to put into his mouth. He then looked up at Zu An. "In this family competition, everyone agreed to stop at the point of victory, yet you struck so viciously! How wicked your heart is!"

Rage value from Yuan Zhengchu +999!

How exactly did he lose?

Zu An shrugged. "I don't understand what you mean by that. In battles between cultivators, victory and defeat often hang by a thread. What's more, I just witnessed Young Master Yuan's magnificent display of multiple dragon shadows from a single sword. Who knows if he still had some ultimate skills he hadn't used? It's perfectly normal for me to lose my composure and strike without restraint out of worry. Who knew Young Master Yuan would be so incapable? Alas, compared to my wife Chuyan, he's truly far inferior."

This was precisely the kind of sophistry and mockery Yuan Wendong had used when Chu Huanzhao was deliberately and severely wounded by the Yuan family moments ago. Zu An returned it almost verbatim.

"You!" Yuan Wendong, overcome with shame and rage, exacerbated by his severe injuries, promptly fainted.

Rage value from Yuan Wendong +1024!

"You scoundrel, you, you, you..." Yuan Zhengchu trembled with rage, but for the moment, he couldn't find any words to retort.

Rage value from Yuan Zhengchu +1024!

Chu Zhongtian stood in front of him and calmly stated, "Patriarch Yuan, he is the son-in-law of my Chu family, not some scoundrel. Considering your concern for your son, I won't press the matter this time, but I hope you will be more mindful of your words in the future."

"You!" Yuan Zhengchu's face flushed crimson. Unfortunately, in terms of family background, noble rank, and cultivation, he was far inferior to Chu Zhongtian. Though enraged, he was utterly helpless.

Wu Wei suddenly turned to face the powerful judges on the main platform. "Esteemed sirs," he began, "it was announced before this round of the grand competition that deliberate injury and taking lives are forbidden. In the previous match between Yuan Wenji and Chu Huanzhao, while Chu Huanzhao's injuries were significant, she would recover with some recuperation. In this match, however, Zu An struck viciously, directly crippling Yuan Wendong. I request that you disqualify him and, as per the agreement, declare the Chu family the loser."

"Nonsense!" Chu Zhongtian exploded in anger. "Wu, do you take everyone for fools? It was clearly Yuan Wendong who harbored malicious intent just now, trying to use the opportunity to cripple Zu An's hand, only to be counter-attacked in the end. Ultimately, all of this is his own fault; how can you blame anyone else?"

Among the spectators in the training ground, there were also those who had clearly seen what happened: "Precisely. It was indeed Yuan Wendong who first tried to cripple Zu An."

But immediately, another group of Yuan family supporters began to refute: "Nonsense! Young Master Yuan's move was clearly intended to stop short of harm. A dignified fifth-rank cultivator like him wouldn't need to deliberately target a mere third-rank. It's regrettable that he momentarily held back, only for his opponent to seize the chance for retaliation. What a pity."

Both sides argued their points, but most of the spectators, due to their cultivation levels, hadn't clearly understood what had transpired in that instant. They simply listened to the analyses from the two factions, then chose the viewpoint they wished to believe and cheered accordingly.

At this moment, Sang Hong on the platform did not immediately state his position. Instead, he looked at Xie Yi and Jiang Luofu beside him. "Mayor Xie, Principal Jiang," he inquired, "what are your thoughts?"

Xie Yi secretly cursed him as an old fox. Forcing him to declare his stance now would clearly lead to offending someone, as supporting either side would alienate the other. However, having navigated officialdom for so many years, he quickly found a way to respond. "This humble official's cultivation is shallow," he stated, "and in that instant, I genuinely couldn't comprehend how Zu An, using the academy's most ordinary beginner swordplay, managed to strike Young Master Yuan a step ahead. Therefore, I humbly request the Governor's guidance."

His statement, in fact, voiced the thoughts of most people, as no one understood why Yuan Wendong, who had clearly been dominating, was suddenly defeated in the final instant.

"That waste Yuan Wendong! To be distracted by answering Zu An at such a crucial moment. He deserves to be crippled." Shi Kun drank a bowl of tea, still unable to calm his turbulent emotions. He had prepared for so long, intending to legitimately cripple Zu An through Yuan Wendong's hand, but all his efforts had now been for naught.

Xue'er, beside him, offered comfort. "Perhaps that Zu fellow was simply too irritating, and Yuan Wendong couldn't help himself for a moment."

"Indeed, he's a waste!" Shi Kun clenched his hand, and the teacup he held instantly shattered.

Seeing this, Xue'er became as silent as a cicada in winter, not daring to speak again lest she incur his wrath.

Ji Dengtu, hidden in the crowd, narrowed his eyes, thinking, 'That young man's tongue is truly venomous. To make that Yuan fellow unable to resist responding at such a crucial moment... But as for the movement technique he used earlier, why does it look so familiar? Have I seen it somewhere before?'

But why can't I recall it? Have I been reading too many storybooks at night recently, causing my memory to decline? Hmm, I should exercise more restraint in the future and also get some tonic medicine.

Perhaps Pei Mianman was the least surprised by Zu An's victory. She leaned back leisurely in her seat, her captivating curves drawing frequent glances from nearby men, but she paid no attention. Her beautiful eyes twinkled with amusement. "If I couldn't kill him, how difficult could it be to defeat a Yuan Wendong?"

On the main platform, Sang Hong secretly cursed Xie Yi for being so evasive, while discreetly listening to the discussions across the entire training ground. In truth, he also didn't understand why Yuan Wendong had been distracted at such a crucial moment. He could only conclude that it was due to his youthful impetuousness and insufficient mental resolve.

He then looked at Jiang Luofu beside him. "Principal Jiang, what is your opinion?" With the Chu family's victory, his own plans had suffered a setback; even the attractive legs before him no longer seemed as appealing.

Jiang Luofu calmly stated, "It was indeed Yuan Wendong who first attempted to cripple Zu An, only to be struck by Zu An in return. In such a lightning-fast exchange, no one can hold back, and neither side can be blamed for the outcome. Now that victory has been decided, I believe there's nothing more to discuss."

Sang Hong paused, surprised by her unequivocal stance. But then he reconsidered: she had also targeted the Chu family a few times just now, so she likely wasn't intentionally favoring them, but simply acting impartially according to the academy's long-standing principles.

With this thought, he felt relieved. "Good. Now that victory has been decided, I, this official, declare that the Chu family has won this family grand competition." Although he intended to target the Chu family, he also represented the imperial court's prestige, so many matters could not be handled too obviously. Today's outcome was fixed, and it seemed he would have to make other plans for the future.

The Chu family immediately erupted in cheers. The day's events had been full of twists and turns. They had believed themselves surely defeated by the machinations of the Wu and Yuan families, only for the situation to unexpectedly take a dramatic turn at the very last moment.

The members of the Wu and Yuan family factions, however, all had drastic changes in their expressions. After preparing for so long, such an outcome was unacceptable to anyone.

"Governor!" Wu Wei's face was ashen. The other party's act of 'crossing the river and demolishing the bridge' left him quite displeased.

Sang Hong glanced at him, then continued, "Of course, Young Master Yuan is gravely injured, and the Chu family also bears some responsibility. Duke Moonlit, I rule that you are responsible for Young Master Yuan's medical and recuperation expenses. Do you have any objections?"

"Naturally, no objection," Chu Zhongtian said cheerfully. He had been quite angry not long ago when the Yuan family had to cover Xiao Zhao's medical expenses, but he never expected the tables to turn so quickly, allowing him to vent his frustration so soon.

"No need. Our Yuan family can still afford these minor medical expenses." Yuan Zhengchu's face was ashen. He knew the Governor had already abandoned them. He motioned for his clansmen to carry his son, then turned to leave.

Just then, Zu An's languid voice spoke up. "Wait a moment. Are you just leaving like that?"

Yuan Zhengchu whirled around, his eyes filled with venom. "Zu, what more do you want?"

Rage value from Yuan Zhengchu +783!

Not only them, but even the Chu family members looked puzzled, not understanding why he had suddenly called out to the Yuan family.

"Nothing much, just knowing you hate me to death, so I'm giving you a chance for revenge," Zu An said, pointing his sword at Yuan Wenji in the crowd. "Let him fight me again. Settle your grudges, right your wrongs."

As soon as these words were spoken, many spectators who had been about to leave promptly sat back down, their faces lighting up with excitement at the prospect of more drama.

Yuan Zhengchu paused, then reacted. "Hmph, I suppose you're trying to seize this opportunity to avenge Second Miss Chu, aren't you?"

Zu An shrugged. "I don't deny that's what I have in mind. But this is also an opportunity for your Yuan family. In the future, with the Chu family guards protecting me, you likely won't get another chance for revenge. Miss this opportunity, and it's gone. Think carefully."

On the stretcher, Chu Huanzhao's eyes sparkled, and her face was flushed with excitement. "Brother-in-law is so good to me!"

Qin Wanru, however, frowned. "This is simply outrageous! He happened to defeat Yuan Wendong and now thinks he's invincible? Although Yuan Wenji is not as strong as Yuan Wendong, his cultivation is still higher than Zu An's. And having learned from previous lessons, he won't fall for tricks again. Isn't Zu An just putting himself in unnecessary danger?"

Yuan Zhengchu's ears twitched. It turned out that Shi Kun's secret message had just arrived: "Agree to him. Seize this opportunity to cripple that Zu fellow. Our Shi family will reward you handsomely."

Yuan Wenji originally had the same thought, and now with the Shi family's promise, he was overjoyed. He grinned menacingly at Zu An. "Good, don't you dare regret this!"

Zu An shrugged. "Everyone present is a witness. This duel will be fair, just, and open. Regardless of who wins or loses, neither side is permitted to retaliate afterward."

Sang Hong's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed. "Good. Today, I, this official, will bear witness for these two young heroes."

Originally, he hadn't wanted to involve himself in this matter, but his son had just tearfully informed him about Zu An's wager. He was startled to hear about the loss of a million taels. While a million taels might not be an exorbitant sum for ancient noble families, it was a significant amount for newly emerging influential figures like themselves.

While internally furious at his son for his self-defeating cleverness, he could only first consider how to resolve the situation. He happened to overhear the terms of the wager. If any misfortune befell Zu An, the debt would become an open-ended case, and they could easily disavow it then. Thus, he immediately agreed.

He announced it so quickly that Chu Zhongtian had no time to intervene.