"Next month’s assessment will not be like this month’s, which focused on the speed of mastering the basic stance. Instead, it will take the form of sparring. The strongest will receive more resources! Do any of you have objections?"
Gu Ye directly announced the new rules for the assessment, his gaze sweeping across everyone’s faces.
Chen Yuan’s mind remained completely calm. Sparring was indeed a good way to compare their overall levels of vitality and combat techniques. It seemed the competition this month would be much more intense. However, he wasn’t worried. After all, his two main competitors were at the Changhong Martial Arts Hall; they would rarely ever cross paths.
Just as he was thinking this, Gao Mingchang stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Steward Gu, I highly agree with using sparring to determine superiority. Actually, my hands are itching for a fight right now. I wonder if we could have a little warm-up?"
"Oh?" Gu Ye narrowed his eyes slightly and then smiled. "Who do you want to spar with?"
Chen Yuan already had a premonition. Sure enough, Gao Mingchang looked over with a smile.
"Junior Brother Chen was able to master his stance in just five days. Although the Rocky Pile Skill is relatively simple, I still admire him for it. I wonder if you would do me the honor of sparring with me?"
"Is he hiding a dagger behind a smile? Interesting," Chen Yuan thought.
Chen Yuan naturally heard the underlying meaning. The man was subtly mocking him, implying that his five-day mastery was solely due to the simplicity of the Rocky Pile Skill, and suggesting that he was unworthy of the monthly subsidy of five taels. If Gao Mingchang could defeat him cleanly and decisively in a spar, demonstrating the gap between their skills, it might make Gu Ye change his mind and withdraw the monthly funding. Clearly, Gao Mingchang did not want another competitor.
Even if Gao Mingchang failed to take away the subsidy, he could still use this opportunity to figure out Chen Yuan’s techniques and limits, allowing him to prepare in advance. He might even try to eliminate the threat entirely. After all, fists and kicks were blind.
Of course, it was also possible that Gao Mingchang simply wanted to spar and meant no harm. However, Chen Yuan never hesitated to assume the worst in others. Only by doing so could he seize the initiative, react in time, nip any crisis in the bud, and safely lay low!
Moreover, the timing of Gao Mingchang’s request was exceptionally precise. Could he really refuse in front of Gu Ye? If he didn’t even dare to participate in a normal spar, wouldn’t he look like a spineless coward in actual combat? That would undoubtedly lower his value in Gu Ye’s eyes. Therefore, this was an open scheme, completely unavoidable.
Chen Yuan sighed inwardly. He had hoped to lay low and quietly develop his strength, but unfortunately, things rarely went according to plan. Stepping forward as well, he cupped his hands. "Since Senior Brother has invited me, I will naturally oblige."
"Very well," Gu Ye nodded. "The two of you can spar here in the courtyard. Just don’t let it ruin your camaraderie." He then shot a glance at Huang Yan, who immediately understood the unspoken message and gave a slight nod.
The crowd quickly scattered to the sides, leaving only Chen Yuan and Gao Mingchang standing facing each other, several yards apart.
"Xin Yi Liu He Fist, Chen Yuan. Please guide me," Chen Yuan said, cupping his hands slightly.
Gao Mingchang raised a hand with a smile. "Long Arm Fist, Gao Mingchang. Junior Brother, fists and kicks are blind. Be careful."
As soon as his voice fell, his figure lunged forward like a nimble ape. With a shake of his right arm, his sleeve cracked with a loud SNAP. He delivered a Long Arm chopping strike straight at Chen Yuan’s face, showing no mercy right from the start.
Instead of retreating, Chen Yuan advanced. He stomped his left foot forward, charging straight at his opponent’s center line. The bluestone bricks of the entire courtyard seemed to tremble slightly. Although the Rocky Pile Skill wasn’t particularly profound, its steady foundation was enough to handle all kinds of shifting attacks with a constant defense. Bending his right arm, he raised his elbow to block, forcefully taking the chopping strike head-on.
With a muffled THUD, Qi Force scattered in all directions.
Gao Mingchang felt a heavy, dense power rebound against him. Mildly startled, he used the momentum to bounce back half a step. Then, like a viper striking from its hole, his left fist silently shot toward Chen Yuan’s ribs.
Chen Yuan was already prepared. The Xin Yi Liu He Fist seamlessly integrated offense and defense. His rear hand guarded his navel, his elbows never leaving his ribs, and his hands never straying from his center—expressly defending against such a move. He angled his body slightly. His previously extended left foot had already secured a firm foothold, and he smoothly drove his right knee toward Gao Mingchang’s abdomen.
Reacting with extreme speed, Gao Mingchang shrunk his body back and retreated two steps to widen the distance. The two of them now stood a few yards apart, resuming their standoff.
"What impressive skills, Junior Brother," Gao Mingchang said, his smile remaining undiminished, though his eyes had grown several degrees colder. He adjusted his breathing and pressed forward once again. His right fist lashed out like a whip, but midway through the strike, it suddenly transformed into a claw, aiming straight for Chen Yuan’s throat. This sudden change of moves was incredibly vicious, clearly intended to inflict severe injury.
Chen Yuan’s pupils contracted. Driven by instinct, not only did he refuse to retreat, but he also lunged forward, crashing directly into Gao Mingchang’s chest. He knew he could not retreat; he had to press forward! This head-on charge was the exact essence of the Xin Yi Liu He Fist. Power surged from the ground. With a full-body burst of explosive force, his shoulder slammed into his opponent’s chest like an iron hammer.
Gao Mingchang’s claw barely scraped past the side of Chen Yuan’s neck, leaving a shallow, bloody scratch. However, Gao Mingchang himself was sent staggering backward four or five steps. A sweet metallic taste welled up in his throat, and despite his desperate attempts to swallow it down, a trace of blood still leaked from the corner of his mouth. His internal organs felt thoroughly scrambled.
"That’s enough," Gu Ye’s voice rang out right on time.
Gao Mingchang lowered his head and cupped his hands, hiding the unwillingness in his eyes.
Chen Yuan touched the bloody scratch on his neck and calmly returned the gesture. "Thank you for letting me win, Senior Brother."
As their eyes met, hidden undercurrents surged between them.
Standing behind Gu Ye, Huang Yan said softly, "Gao Mingchang’s final claw was a bit over the line."
Gu Ye remained noncommittal. He merely cast a deep look at Chen Yuan. That last shoulder tackle had been incredibly decisive, carrying a certain ruthlessness to it.
Yu Yan took everything in, still calmly crossing his arms without batting an eye. Although these two had decent form, they were still a cut below him. In the future, the gap between them would only grow larger.
Cao Yan, on the other hand, had a solemn expression. Being a woman, she was naturally lacking in physical strength. She knew that if she fought either of these two right now, she wouldn’t gain any advantage. If she wanted to win, conventional methods likely wouldn’t work.
Sun Chengjie and his two companions were rather excited. They were already close to Chen Yuan, and they all practiced the Rocky Pile Skill and Xin Yi Liu He Fist together. When Gao Mingchang had pointed out that the Rocky Pile Skill was simple, they were already annoyed with the jerk. Seeing him take a solid hit from Chen Yuan, looking utterly pathetic and spitting blood, they felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
"Alright, that will be all for today. Go back to your own training." Gu Ye waved a hand, concluding this monthly assessment.
Sun Chengjie and the other two instantly crowded around Chen Yuan, laughing and chatting as they walked away.
Meanwhile, Gao Mingchang stared at Chen Yuan’s departing back. His smile completely vanished, and a flash of vicious resentment crossed his eyes. He then turned and caught up with Cao Yan, lowering his voice to say something unintelligible.
On the way, Chen Yuan listened to the others’ discussions, occasionally chiming in with a few words, while internally mulling over the situation with Gao Mingchang. Clearly, that guy was up to no good.
His final strike had been quite fierce. Even though it was full of flaws, a newcomer who had been exposed to the Martial Dao for less than a month would mostly panic and choose to retreat and dodge. If he had done that, he would have fallen right into Gao Mingchang’s trap. The man could have chained his attacks together, seized upon those flaws, and struck him while he was vulnerable.
It just hadn’t managed to bluff him.
Before Chen Yuan transmigrated, he had stumbled across a video by an old master. He couldn’t remember the details, but he distinctly remembered four words: "Don’t retreat; press forward."
This was what had doomed Gao Mingchang to failure.
On the surface, it looked like a draw. However, the red scratch on his neck was just a flesh wound, while Gao Mingchang had taken a genuine blow. Without two or three days of quiet recovery, the man probably wouldn’t be able to practice at full strength.
His only fear was that Gao Mingchang, that smiling tiger, wouldn’t just let things go. If he couldn’t win openly, he would resort to dirty tricks. Thinking of this, Chen Yuan’s heart grew cold and stern.