Gong Ming changed into a green silk robe making him look like a young hero and walked up to the the North Gate.
He didn't look happy as he walked, still thinking about his father's meddling into his personal life.
The inner guard opened the gate surprised to find Gong Ming himself had come to retrieve the guests, but as the gate fully opened revealing the two beautiful maidens outside, he chuckled to himself thinking this must be the work of Master Gong.
As Gong Ming passed the gate, he was expecting two people but there were three. He was a little stunned by the beauty of the two maidens before him and understood his father's meddling but stayed cool reminding himself he didn't want to be distracted from his practice.
He looked at the tall handsome teen "Yang Bo?"
Yang Bo bowed "Greetings I'm Yang Bo of Guang Yi Academy"
Gong Ming then turned to the two young ladies not sure which one was An Jian.
An Jian then bowed "Thank you for greeting us, I am An Jian of Wen Long Academy, and this is An Hao my sister and medical scholar also of Wen Long Academy".
Gong Ming studied An Jian as this was who his father wanted to set him up with, thinking she was a little too cute to be as formidable a martial artist as his father made her out to be.
Gong Ming bowed "I am Gong Ming son of Master Gong, please follow me"
As they walked into the palace grounds An Hao commented "Young Master Gong, I have no martial arts skills and don't have much interest in the training grounds, as a medical scholar it would be a great opportunity for me if I could visit the Imperial Library, please allow me to part ways here"
Gong Ming nodded not seeing an issue as there were guards all around the Imperial Library as well.
An Ho thanked Gong Ming and looked to An Jian "I'll meet you later outside the gate" and left
An Jian and Yang Bo followed Gong Ming to the training grounds, when Master Gong caught eye of An Jian, he was surprised by her beauty not use to seeing her in feminine clothes like the yellow flowery dress. He looked at Gong Ming smiling thinking Gong Ming must be satisfied with his choice.
Once arriving in front of Master Gong, An Jian and Yang Bo went onto one knee and bowed to Master Gong "Thank you Master Gong for taking the time to see us" said An Jian. Master Gong lifted them from their knees "Please please you are my guest, although this visit was unannounced I'm very please the two top students from the ranking match have come and visit an old man like me", An Jian and Yang Bo bowed again "Master Gong you are too humble" Gong Ming seeing all the formality wanted to get back to training, An Jian was beautiful but he made up his mind he didn't want to distract from anything that didn't make him stronger. "Father I should get back to training". Master Gong smiled "If you are so in a hurry to get back to training why don't you have a match with An Jian?" An Jian looked at Master Gong surprised. Gong Ming looked at An Jian with her cute girly features and yellow flowery dress felt more protective of her than to fight her like his father was suggesting. "Father it would be rude to our guest, they didn't come here dressed for training" Yang Bo stepped forward, "If Master Gong won't mind I would be happy to replace An Jian as I normally train in these robes" An Jian then looked down at her yellow dress thinking what was everyone fussing over. Gong Ming looked at his father and Master Gong smiled, stepped around and held onto Yang Bo's shoulders from behind, "Yang Bo, please teach my son a lesson if you can, he has been getting too cocky these days". Gong Ming looked at his father annoyed "I haven't been cocky, stop talking nonsense". An Jian and Yang Bo surprised by how casually father and son talked to each other. Gong Ming then turned to Yang Bo "Thank you for entertaining my father, I'm afraid he won't let go of the idea of a match until one is had" Gong Ming then pointed to the training grounds stage, where performances, challenges and ranking test were usually held.
As they walked towards the stage, the men training around it paused "What is that girl doing in the training grounds?", "Is Captain Gong having a match?", "The girl is really beautiful", "Move your head I can't see her!"
Gong Ming walked onto the stage and unbutton his robes so he was only in his pants revealing hiss ripped ox like physique glistening in the sun. Yang Bo could tell Gong Ming had definitely gone through some turmoil to sculpt that body.
Gong Ming then stood across from Yang Bo "Don't hold back, I am working on my iron body and would appreciate your hardest attacks". Yang Bo stared back thinking indeed Gong Ming was a little cocky "If that is what you wish then I will comply". Yang Bo ran forward and engaged. The two went back and forth pretty evenly, Gong Ming had wanted to size up Yang Bo first and didn't apply his full strategy yet. Yang Bo was skilled and fought to a draw without one besting the other. Gong Ming then smirked at Yang Bo "Not bad, but seriously don't hold back" Gong Ming ran forward but this time he didn't block Yang Bo's strikes, but instead took multiple hits directly with his iron body unflinching and unaffected. Yang Bo was surprised, and kept increasing his power after each hit until he was really not holding back, but his strikes seem to have no affect. Gong Ming smiled when he could feel he was taking the full power of Yang Bo without damage.
Gong Ming then decided it was time to use his special strategy.
As Yang Bo threw a strike, instead of blocking, Gong Ming used his free arms to counter back after each hit. Yang Bo didn't have an answer to this, every time he hit Gong Ming, a strike from Gong Ming would also land on him, but his Iron body training was not at the same level and eventually fell to the ground spitting out blood.
An Jian seeing the situation go south for Yang Bo, jumped onto the stage to stop Gong Ming from continuing. "Stop!.. Gong Ming you have won"
Gong Ming finally dropped his guard and stood up straight "Sorry I got a little too carried away"
Yang Bo struggled a little and got up and bowed "It's no problem that was a good match, I didn't hold back and I didn't expect you to hold back either"
Gong Ming bowed back and nodded then looked to his father "I should get back to my training"
An Jian then stood in a confrontational pose confidently in front of Gong Ming. "Gong Ming I think I will take up your father's suggestion to have a match with you, if you don't mind"