Chapter 2: Knight Examination (II)
“Instructor, let him be evaluated once more.” the one who said this was Jiang Hu, the first who passed this examination as well as the oldest in this group of children.
“Yes! Instructor, give Hao Chen one more chance.”
“Instructor, Hao Chen is working every day with such diligence, let him try again.”
At this moment, pleas for Long Hao Chen came from almost all of the children. This was the result of his popularity. Adding that they were just a bunch of kids that did not have the notion of interest relationship, it showed that they were merely being concerned for him and had no hidden purpose.
Balza’s voice rang: “Silence.” And everyone in the hall calmed down.
Balza said, “Okay, I will give him an opportunity, but, for this to be fair, Long Hao Chen, you will first have to defeat Jiang Hu in a one versus one duel. The same applies to anyone who failed, those who can beat Jiang Hu within 3 days from today on, I will let them be evaluated again.
Long Hao Cheng was overjoyed, he thanked his partners before turning towards Balza: “Thank you Instructor.”
Looking at this stunning boy with a bright face and a pure smile, even if Balza was a man, he couldn’t help but feel startled. Putting aside Long Hao Chen, he looked at Jiang Hu, lightly saying, “Go all out, or else, I will cancel your promotion as Knight Squire, understood?”
“Yes.” Jiang Hu agreed. As he pulled out a wooden sword from his back, all the other youths scattered away, making way for an empty area.
“Hao Chen, be careful, I will show no mercy.” Jiang Hu, performed a knight salute to Long Hao Chen, holding the wooden sword.
Long Hao Chen likewise saluted, “Jiang Brother, please.”
Jiang Hu let out a sound as he took a step forward, his hands on his wooden sword, going straight towards Long Hao Chen and aiming for his left shoulder.
Long Hao Cheng appeared very calm, as if he was observing in slow-motion. Until the wooden sword in Jiang Hu’s hand split half the distance between them, he didn’t move. Moving his wooden sword, he swung at the bottom of Jiang Hu’s sword.
With a quiet Duh sound, in a situation where Jiang Hu’s spiritual energy was far greater than Long Hao Chen, Jiang Hu was unexpectedly the one being swung at.
Seeing this blow, Instructor Balza’s eyes flashed, showing his surprise.
Jiang Hu was being swung at, but his reaction was quick. He made a rotation, the power of the back of his waist driving the force of his hand and the wooden sword from his hand circled once, cutting horizontally.
Jiang Hu’s adaptability was brilliant. At his age, the fact he was able to have such a good level of mastery was pretty good. However, Long Hao Chen’s answer was even more surprising.
By the time Jiang Hu swung his sword, he had already advanced forward. The distance between the two was already pretty close and with a few steps, he arrived at the side of Jiang Hu. At this moment, his body rotated.
How does he plan to attack? Doubt appeared in Balza’s mind. The wooden swords were a meter long at such a close distance, Long Hao Chen could absolutely not attack openly.
But, at this moment, Long Hao Chen had unexpectedly launch an attack, using the sword’s hilt.
As his body sunk downwards, simultaneously, his sword’s hilt went up, right under Jiang Hu’s rib, and although this attack from Long Hao Chen contained no force, Jiang Hu’s body still fell down and happened to be swept right next to Long Hao Chen’s wooden sword.
“Stop!” Balza shouted.
Balza’s eyes flashed and he said in a heavy voice, “Balance lost, loss by move over-commited to. Jiang Hu, you lost. If Long Hao Chen really used more force, you would be lying down on the floor right now.
Jiang Hu embarrassedly scratched his head, “Hao Chen, you are so sly”
Long Hao Chen stand on his sword, apologetically looking at Jiang Hu because he could not easily stand firm.
Balza nodded towards Long Hao Chen, ”You can try the assessment for a second time!”
Back before the wooden stake, the look on Long Hao Chen’s face changed, becoming more dignified. The look on the youth’s face changed, giving off an unusual feeling.
Both hand holding the wooden sword, Long Hao Chen’s eyes looked imposing, his body appearing like it was producing light. In particular, his eyes, these clear blue eyes wore a firm look.
Suddenly, Long Hao Chen fiercely turned back, taking hold of his wooden sword, far more obsessed than his peers.
Bang — the stone beads went up as Hao Cheng was being repelled by the shock and took a step back. The wooden sword in his hands almost fell, leaking a trace of blood.
“Spiritual energy of 11, you pass”, Balza said with a shocked voice. Going from the ninth spiritual energy level to the eleventh, it sounded just like a little difference of two levels. However, in his previous assessment, Long Hao Cheng was already going all out. To produce such an increase meant that his potential was stimulated at its limit.
After a brief surprise, Balza came back to normal, letting Long Hao Chen go to the infirmary to bandage, and continued the next assessments.
“The assessment is finished. Those who failed, don’t come again tomorrow. Those who passed will be assigned to new instructors tomorrow. Now disband, after receiving some Elemental Training Liquid, you can go back home.
“Thank you Instructor!” The youth shouted in unison.
“Long Hao Chen, you stay a little longer.”
The youths cheerfully leave. Whether they passed or not, at this age, they easily found joy and happiness.
Left in Odin Hall temple were only two people: Long Hao Chen and Instructor Balza.
“Hao Chen, tell me, why did you choose during your duel against Jiang Hu to attack this way?” Balza seriously asked.
Long Hao Chen replied with no hesitation, “Because my strength doesn’t match big brother Jiang Hu’s, so I can only look for his weaknesses. You taught us that when attacking, the strongest point is at the tip of the sword and the closer to the handle, the weaker the strength. Thus at the time he attacked I located his center of gravity on his waist, so I just closed the distance, aiming for his center of gravity, preventing him from using his full power, so that he had no way to continue attacking.”
Balza’s eyes were full of surprise, “So you are saying that, all of this was accomplished through observation?” He never taught these kids combat because of their age, for which the most important was to lay the foundations, and not the actual time spent to train.
“Okay, you can go home.” Balza waved. He felt that this child had a kind of potential that other children didn’t have.
“Instructor, today’s portion of Elemental Training Liquid…” wearing this beautiful face and showing a moment of shyness, Long Hao Chen tentatively asked.
”Oh, go receive it.“
“Instructor, goodbye.” Long Hao Chen happily left.
As he watched his jumping away figure from behind, Balza could not help but reveal a smile on, ”This child, he is well behaved, works hard, and it looks like he has a very promising talent for combat. It is really a rare good seed.”
“Do you know why he could find the opponent’s weak point so easily?” At this moment, a cool and bright melodious voice sounded around Balza. Because this sound came so unexpectedly, Balza was suddenly scared a hop.
He didn’t know since when he had been here, but at Balza’s side was another middle aged person. He looked in his thirties, wore a simple and plain robe, but had a pair of eyes that were as bright as stars. In the depth of his eyes appeared an ounce of disappointment, a radiance of memories, as well as a feeling of pain that could be felt by others.