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Two consecutive defeats.
The morale on the Zenxing Ryu side had taken a severe hit.
On Li Xiang's side...
Everyone wore expressions of it's only natural, as if it was expected that their senior sister possessed this level of skill.
If Zenxing Ryu couldn't win, it was because Zenxing Ryu was weak.
'Come to think of it… These ten should be second-generation disciples, not the first generation.'
Li Xiang looked at the remaining eight. Most were very young, the oldest only in his thirties. They couldn't possibly be the first batch of disciples Uncle Master took in after coming to Sakura Island.
Listening to Zong Sheng's earlier talk about the main branch, the first-generation disciples had probably branched out on their own, opening their own dojos.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be called "spreading its branches and leaves across Sakura Island" or whatever.
'Speaking of which, should Yan Hu and Zong Sheng be considered first generation?'
He looked toward the main seat. With her dojo's disciples losing two matches in a row, Zong Sheng's expression was still okay, but Yan Hu was barely containing herself, her fists slightly clenched.
She looked like she desperately wanted to step onto the field herself, but as the leader of the dojo, she definitely couldn't participate.
On the Zenxing Ryu side, the third person slowly stood up, first paying his respects to Bai Zhi, then turning his gaze to Qi Sunsun.
"I have long heard that Junior Sister Qi's Twin Hooks are bafflingly unpredictable. I hope you will grant me the favor of a match."
A change of opponents.
Bai Zhi stepped down; Qi Sunsun stepped up.
The twin hooks were presented to her personally by Zong Sheng—an absolute honor, given their status relationship.
When it came to serious matters, Qi Sunsun was unexpectedly proper, respectfully receiving them with both hands and thanking Zong Sheng.
Then, facing her opponent, who had picked up a long spear, she assumed the starting stance of the Zhenxing Hook, a somewhat peculiar posture.
The match began!
In a spacious area, long-handled weapons naturally had the advantage over short-handled ones. Of course, this was provided one didn't get close.
Li Xiang knew full well how agile Qi Sunsun's movements were, but only by watching a real fight from the sidelines did he truly understand what "supple as if boneless" meant.
Powerful insight, combined with an agile body, allowed Qi Sunsun to close the distance to her opponent in an extremely short time.
Her opponent attempted a sweeping strike to force Qi Sunsun to bend backward or leap up, thereby disrupting her balance. Unexpectedly, Qi Sunsun merely reached out with a hook, and the long spear instantly swung past over her head.
Simultaneously, the twin hooks locked onto the long spear, pressing down with a shower of sparks and lightning!
Reaching the base, she gave a fierce twist, not giving her opponent a chance to switch grips, directly disarming him of the long spear.
The curved blades of the hooks came to rest against his throat.
The situation was extremely awkward because being disarmed was a scene that only happened to beginners or when there was a vast difference in skill.
And regardless of the reason, it meant this third person was terribly weak.
'Wow. She really has some skills. Good thing we were in the car before, and she held back.'
Li Xiang clicked his tongue inwardly. Over on Yan Hu's side, her expression was gradually darkening. It wasn't the fear of losing, but the fear of a completely one-sided, inexplicable loss.
So far, the first three hadn't gained any advantage against Duan Tianxing's disciples.
If it had been a back-and-forth fight where one side eventually lost by a narrow margin, she wouldn't have said anything. But the scene before her eyes told her that the gap between the two sides was as vast as heaven and earth.
Thus, amid Yan Hu's grim expression, the fourth person stepped up.
A youth with bulging muscles, even taller and brawnier than the first strongman, possibly two meters tall. He seemed to have the bloodline of some special ethnicity; his eyes and nose didn't quite look like those from Zhu Xia.
Another change of opponent, skipping the agile Qi Sunsun to challenge Third Senior Sister Jiang Shangrong, wanting to compare fists.
'Good gracious! Going straight for the big boss! Young man, I have high hopes for you!'
Sitting on the side, Li Xiang couldn't help but want to applaud. This person probably thought Jiang Shangrong looked slim and weak, so her fist techniques might not be very powerful.
Impossible.
He might not know, but Zong Sheng and Yan Hu should know. They should have told him.
'...Could it be that Zong Sheng and Yan Hu didn't know either? That would be interesting.'
Li Xiang watched as the two stepped onto the field and bowed to each other.
Then, the opponent threw a punch and raised a knee. Jiang Shangrong directly swung her arm to block the fist, which was half the size of her head, simultaneously raising her right leg to meet the knee strike head-on.
Thump.
A solid impact.
'She actually forced the man's hip open!'
Immediately, her right leg stepped forward, she sidestepped in close, and her small, delicate body slammed into him with astonishing stability!
[Beng Quan - Iron Mountain Lean!]
Thud!
A dull sound!
The large block of a man, probably over a hundred kilograms, was forced to stumble backward uncontrollably, his steps pounding loudly on the wooden floor!
Moreover, his head snapped back high, as if he'd been hit by an uppercut, his center of gravity completely lost. He landed sitting on the floor.
"Oof." The tall youth let out a low grunt.
Jiang Shangrong retreated and bowed.
"...Again!"
Just when everyone thought it was over, the tall youth gritted his teeth, stubbornly refusing to admit defeat. Zong Sheng on the main seat frowned and was about to speak, but Yan Hu stopped him.
The second round began.
'Still comparing fists'.
Li Xiang didn't understand if this person hadn't recognized the gap between himself and Jiang Shangrong, or if there was some other reason.
Watching his senior sister hold back a second time, only for him to still rely on his thick skin and shout "Again! Let's compare weapons!", Li Xiang couldn't help but frown.
'Even making unreasonable demands should have its limits!'
He looked at Yan Hu and saw her gripping Zong Sheng's hand tightly. Zong Sheng looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Next to them sat Duan Tianxing, his expression calm.
'What on earth are they thinking?'
Li Xiang withdrew his gaze. The two in the arena had already picked up a Dagger and spear respectively. The Dagger was provided by a disciple outside the arena.
Both stood ready, one panting heavily, one calm and composed.
No matter how many times Li Xiang saw the image of his senior sister lifting that large Dagger, he found the sight incredibly visually impactful. And when Jiang Shangrong raised the large Dagger, her immovable, mountain-like posture was even more mesmerizing.
It was hard to imagine a girl of 1.68 meters, whose thighs weren't as thick as the other's arms, could achieve this.
It made one wonder again if senior sister really had some Pokémon bloodline.
Obviously, the tall youth was absolutely no match for Third Senior Sister.
With a whoosh, the wooden long spear was directly split in half down the middle by the large Dagger.
The crescent blade of the Dagger came to rest on top of the tall youth's head.
He gulped and opened his mouth:
"At—"
Smack!
Before he could finish, Jiang Shangrong tilted the Dagger and gave a light tap. The blade rebounded and vibrated.
The tall youth thudded to the ground, actually knocked unconscious by the tap.
'Knocked out by a tap on the head?'
Li Xiang really couldn't help but give light applause. People on the Zenxing Ryu side also stood up, expressions varied, and dragged the unconscious tall youth back.
On the main seat, Yan Hu seemed to deflate, letting go of Zong Sheng's hand in despair. Seeing this, Zong Sheng said loudly, "The contest ends here. You may all withdraw."
Only four people had fought, and he was telling them to withdraw?
The people on the Zenxing Ryu side looked at each other but, not daring to disobey the master's order, bowed and left the dojo.
Outside the dojo, noise suddenly erupted, as if there were many voices. Then it abruptly quieted down again, as if nothing had happened.
Yan Hu stood up, bowed to Duan Tianxing, and said, "Uncle Master, this junior is feeling unwell and will take her leave for now."
Having said that, she left the dojo through the main entrance.
Her shouts followed from outside.
"Aren't you supposed to be training martial arts today! Did I give you a holiday or something!"
After a commotion, the sounds completely disappeared.
On the main seat, Zong Sheng said with a helpless expression, "My apologies, Uncle Master. My wife was quite disrespectful today. I hope you will be magnanimous. She simply has a very strong competitive spirit, no ill intent."
"It's nothing. Having a competitive spirit is a good thing."
Duan Tianxing was exceptionally calm. He picked up his teacup and said, "She's just like her father, refusing to be inferior to others. Go on. We'll just look around casually."
Sakata Zong Sheng hesitated, then said, "We have been most negligent. Our sincerest apologies."
Having said that, he turned and ran off, probably to chase after his wife.
'Hmm… This is when they finally feel like a young couple in their late twenties. One sulking, the other coaxing.'
Li Xiang stood up and ran over to Jiang Shangrong, very obsequiously taking the large Dagger from her, praising, "Senior sister, you're amazing."
"You can do it too, as long as you keep practicing."
Jiang Shangrong replied offhandedly, rubbing her slightly reddened fists.
Bai Zhi walked over to Duan Tianxing and asked hesitantly, "Master, these people are..."
"They are disciples your senior uncle took in after he fell ill. Nominally, they are Yan Hu's junior brothers and sisters, but they should be considered her disciples, all taught by her herself."
Duan Tianxing was composed. "Within the dojo, Zong Sheng handles external affairs, Yan Hu handles internal affairs. The two complement each other. Superficially, Zong Sheng is the successor, but in reality, the two of them together are the masters of the Zenxing Ryu Dojo."
In short, one was talented in teaching, the other in expanding the dojo. No wonder her mentality had collapsed just now.
The disciples she had painstakingly trained, intending to show them off, were thoroughly crushed by the senior sisters.
Bai Zhi said, "Then we..."
"It's fine. Yan Hu is very much like your senior uncle, almost carved from the same mold. She won't hold a grudge over something this small."
Duan Tianxing stood up and straightened his robes. "She's just momentarily lost. She'll find her way out soon."
'Master, you're talking a lot today. And you seem quite happy.'
Li Xiang looked at Duan Tianxing, who had put on his round-edged sunglasses, and had a strange feeling the old master seemed rather pleased with himself.
Was it because the senior sisters won?
Probably not.
Everyone followed Duan Tianxing out. A servant was waiting by the door. Seeing them, she said softly, "Everyone, please follow me. The master has already called a car. You can go anywhere in Nai City."
"Wait, take us back first. I need to take a shower."
Qi Sunsun, with her big wavy golden hair, said.
Bai Zhi nodded. Sweating was a natural bodily function, not something one could avoid just by mastering martial arts.
So they returned to their rooms.
The original plan was to go to the artisan village in the afternoon.
'It seemed now they could go early?'
Li Xiang hadn't done anything, but he also couldn't resist taking a shower.
After coming out, he happened to see Yan Hu holding a five or six-year-old girl, walking down the corridor.
"Senior Sister!"
Li Xiang greeted her.
Yan Hu seemed to be in a better mood now, her expression kind and bright. "Hello, Junior Brother. Here, Alice, call him Uncle Master."
She turned the little girl's face toward Li Xiang.
"Hello there."
Li Xiang smiled at the little girl named Alice.
"U-Uncle Master, hello."
Alice seemed very shy, her face reddening. After speaking, she hid behind Yan Hu's face.
Yan Hu smiled and said, "By the way, were you planning to go play in Nai City for a while, or go straight to the Triple Village? I'm free anytime."
The Triple Village was the artisan village where weapons were made.
"Eh? You're taking us?" Li Xiang asked curiously.
Yan Hu nodded. "Yes. The village chief is your senior uncle's good friend, an eccentric old man. If I don't go, he won't help."
"Then we'll trouble you, Senior Sister."
"It's no trouble. We share the same origin, the same school. We should support and help each other."