Chapter 128: Defeated in One Move

"Divine Doctor Fang possesses the cultivation of a first-class expert, and even among first-class experts, he is among the strongest. I believe both mounted and foot combat are well within his capabilities," Wu Qingluan said. She did not hide the truth, though she refrained from going into detail, merely letting her confidence in him shine through.

"Are you implying that Fang Xian is truly capable of winning the title of Martial Champion?" Emperor Wu Qing asked.

"That will depend on his results in the military strategy test. As for the martial prowess assessment, even those top-seeded candidates are not necessarily his match," Wu Qingluan replied, sidestepping a direct answer.

Emperor Wu Qing immediately beckoned Chen Lin over and asked, "How did Fang Xian perform in the military strategy test? Does it reach the 'superior-superior' grade?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Fang Xian’s military strategy examination paper was not graded 'superior-superior' because there was some controversy; ultimately, it was assessed as 'superior-inferior'," Chen Lin replied. He naturally knew this, as he had participated in grading Fang Xian’s paper that very afternoon.

"Bring it here. Let me see it," the Emperor commanded upon hearing there was a dispute. Someone was quickly dispatched to retrieve Fang Xian’s paper, and the Emperor began to read it immediately.

Meanwhile, the mounted combat matches had begun below. Fang Xian had drawn number 191 and was set to face number 382, meaning his turn would come near the very end.

The competition was divided into ten groups running simultaneously, with twenty martial candidates participating in mounted combat at any given time. Ten arenas, each the size of a basketball court, had been partitioned off in the center of the grand parade grounds. One could hear the neighing of warhorses, the clashing of weapons ringing out like metal, and the constant shouts of the candidates; the spectacle was intense.

Because the barriers were low, the other candidates gathered around to watch the matches, and those on the high observation platform similarly focused their attention on the fray.

No one noticed that Emperor Wu Qing was reading Fang Xian’s paper with intense concentration. The more he read, the more startled and shocked he became, all while pondering the contents deeply.

In truth, when Emperor Wu Qing had devised the question, he had not given it much thought; he had merely presented a hypothetical scenario to the candidates, letting them use their imaginations. But upon reading Fang Xian’s response, he realized that this hypothesis could very well become a reality. Following Fang Xian’s strategy would allow the State of Wu to secure the maximum amount of time; otherwise, the state would undoubtedly face defeat.

"Tell them that Fang Xian’s military strategy test score is to be upgraded to 'superior-superior.' Furthermore, issue a gag order to anyone who has seen this paper; no one is to speak of its contents to outsiders. I am taking this paper with me," the Emperor said after reading for a while, tucking the document into his sleeve before instructing Chen Lin.

"Your servant obeys," Chen Lin, the Minister of War, replied, feeling immense shock. Although he himself felt that Fang Xian’s paper was pragmatic and that a 'superior-superior' grade was well-deserved, he could not fathom why the Emperor held it in such high regard.

***

On the mounted combat field, intense battles continued one after another. Fang Xian waited on the sidelines, watching the others.

Mounted combat, if there was a discrepancy in strength, was often decided in a few rounds—either a participant was unhorsed or captured alive. Only in rare cases where evenly matched opponents met would they clash for dozens of passes.

Soon, it was Fang Xian’s turn. He had replaced his Divine Huntian Halberd with a standard white wax wood spear. His opponent, upon seeing that he was to face Fang Xian, cursed his luck internally; not only was Fang Xian mysterious, but even the blood-sweating steed he rode exuded a sense of intimidation.

"Yah!"

As soon as Fang Xian entered the arena, his opponent let out a shout and charged with his wooden spear. Shouting during a fight was often a way to bolster one's own courage, and this was exactly what the opponent was doing.

Though he hoped to catch Fang Xian off guard, Fang Xian’s reactions were too swift. In an instant, he leaned to the right, letting the spear tip pass by, and simultaneously hooked his left arm to seize the opponent’s weapon.

"Let go!"

The opponent roared, exerting all his strength to heave the wooden spear, hoping to yank Fang Xian off his horse. Once off the saddle, he would have no leverage, and the opponent would have a chance to throw him.

"Come here."

However, the wooden spear remained unmoved in Fang Xian’s grip. With a soft grunt, Fang Xian pulled the opponent from his horse, swung his own wooden spear with his right hand, and pinned the man’s back, rendering him unable to move.

"I yield."

Captured in a single move, the opponent felt both lingering fear and shame. He was a candidate who was close with Guo Shunsheng and had previously surrounded Fang Xian at the tavern; he quickly conceded to avoid being thrashed.

"Fang Xian is the victor," the referee announced loudly.

However, Fang Xian’s performance in the first round had been unremarkable. Soon after, the other matches concluded, and 193 victors advanced to the second round.

***

The victors drew lots again. One lucky individual drew a bye, while the other 192 were divided into 96 groups for the next matches. Fang Xian drew number 33.

In this round, Fang Xian continued to subdue his enemy in a single move. He had yet to show his true skill or use the power of the Fire King; facing average second-class experts, he felt no pressure at all.

In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, Fang Xian won in single-move fashion, gradually attracting the attention of the top ten seeded candidates. These seeds also generally won in one move, though their styles varied—some were fierce, others subtle.

By the sixth round, only thirteen remained. With one person drawing a bye, only six matches were held simultaneously. At this point, everyone remaining was a first-class expert.

Xia Zhenghong had been eliminated in the previous round, though he had still made it into the top thirty. His strength was upper-middle among the candidates, though he had benefited from a bye in an earlier round.

The draw concluded, and to everyone's surprise, Fang Xian’s opponent was Guo Shunsheng. The two rode their horses into the arena. Fang Xian’s expression remained indifferent, but Guo Shunsheng appeared nervous, as Fang Xian’s ease in the previous rounds had placed immense pressure on him.

"Don't think you can beat me in one move!" Guo Shunsheng shouted at Fang Xian before the match even began.

"Did I ever say I would beat you in one move? Are you perhaps too nervous?" Fang Xian asked, taken aback. He hadn't said a word, yet the other man was clearly on edge.

"You know you're strong, and you’ve won every round in a single move, but you won’t find it so easy to defeat me," Guo Shunsheng said viciously. He had already accepted that he couldn't beat Fang Xian, but he didn't want to lose too ignobly.

"Then do your best," Fang Xian said, feeling somewhat speechless.

Guo Shunsheng gripped his wooden spear tightly, staring fixedly at Fang Xian, yet he dared not initiate an attack. Fang Xian remained calm and composed, holding his spear in one hand, watching as sweat began to bead increasingly on his opponent's forehead.