Chapter 273: A world of sneak attacks
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
No one expected Yan Xiu to use a tactic like this at this time.
It felt like they had saved a young innocent looking child from a criminal, only to find out that the child was the criminal’s boss.
They were all in disbelief.
From the very beginning, Yan Xiu matched Xing Qingsui’s attacks. It all pointed to the fact that Yan Xiu was going to fight a very traditional battle.
However, Yan Xiu decided to pull a stunt like this.
This was something that no one would have guessed.
Fang Zhengzhi had used it right at the beginning of the duel. On the other hand, Yan Xiu only pulled it out at the most crucial moment.
I thought that he was supposed to remain just as pure despite being in bad company?
All of the officials did not understand. However, they all closed their eyes subconsciously.
They could guess what was going to happen next. The Hypnotic Eye? Again? That was a humiliation that they could not take.
They would tolerate being blinded by white light twice in a day.
However, they would not face plant into the ground twice in a day!
As such, this time, everyone closed their eyes.
Just at that moment, a huge boom rang out on stage. It was followed by a cracking sound, then a loud thud.
All of the officials opened their eyes and stared at the stage.
All of them were awed by what they saw.
Of the two people originally on stage, only one was left standing...
As for the other one...
He was lying on the floor.
Yan Xiu did not speak. He simply cupped his fist towards the prone Xing Qingsui. Then, he bowed towards Emperor Lin Mubai and the other officials.
After which, he sauntered off the stage.
It looked like a very normal situation. There was nothing rude or unprofessional about it. However, all of the officials looked at Yan Xiu quizzically.
"He really went for a sneak attack?!"
"I don’t think it is a sneak attack? It’s more of a roundabout way to win?"
"Based on what we saw, Yan Xiu already had the upper hand. He could have won that based on his ability alone. Why would he choose to win in this manner?"
All of the officials looked at each other in confusion.
They did not think that Yan Xiu was wrong in doing this. After all, victory in a duel was what mattered. However, based on what they saw, Yan Xiu had no reason to use this method to be victorious.
Xing Qingsui’s expression was also strange. He should not have been willing to lose in such a fashion. However, his gaze revealed no trace of that.
He stood up quietly, patted the dust off his clothes, and walked up to Yan Xiu. Then, he bowed, "Thank you!"
"You’re welcome!" Yan Xiu looked at Xing Qingsui and nodded.
"Thank you?!"
"Xing Qingsui is thanking Yan Xiu? And Yan Xiu looks like he was expecting it?"
"What’s going on?"
All of the officials were stunned by what was happening. None of them understood the situation.
"Oh I see!" One of the officials seemed to have a revelation.
"What is it?" Another official asked immediately.
"Xing Qingsui is still recovering from his injuries. As such, the result of this battle was already determined from the start. However, based on his character, Xing Qingsui would fight to the bitter end! His injuries would only worsen and may even affect his performance in the court examinations!"
"Oh I see, Yan Xiu wanted Xing Qingsui to conserve some of his energy for the court examinations. That’s why he used such a method!"
"I think that’s the best explanation!"
"It is no wonder he is a disciple of the Yan Family. He is virtuous and moral. He is not like someone else we know!"
All of the officials also began to understand the logic behind Yan Xiu’s actions.
Ping Yang was displeased to hear the discussion between the officials. She pouted, "They used the same technique. Why is it that Fang Zhengzhi is shameless but Yan Xiu is virtuous? That being said... Fang Zhengzhi is quite shameless!"
However, Fang Zhengzhi was not affected by the words of the officials. Shameless? That is my best quality!
Only an idiot would put in all his effort and tire himself out on the battlefield when there was an easier method.
Did it feel good to be injured?
Fang Zhengzhi’s belief was simple. He would avoid being hit if he could. His body was bequeathed to him by his parents. He wanted to protect it the best he could.
...
Yan Xiu and Xing Qingsui’s battle was over. This also meant that Yan Xiu had advanced to the final. The officials all looked at Yan Xiu differently now.
After all, when the imperial examinations first began, who would have thought that a then Star Conglomerate State candidate would reach the final.
Amidst the discussions, Fang Zhengzhi stepped on stage.
Fang Zhengzhi’s opponent was a middle aged candidate in the intermediate Heavenly Reflection State. He had made it here after many hard fought battles. Furthermore, he suffered quite a few injuries from his previous battle.
He kept panting as he stepped on stage.
Furthermore, his shirt was stained with blood.
As for Fang Zhengzhi, he still looked calm and composed even after his battle with Nangong Mu. His blue long sleeved shirt was still intact, flapping in the wind...
"Your honor, thank you for saving my life back in the World of the Sage. However, I will have to injure you today!" The middle aged candidate bowed.
"Shouldn’t you be wise and just concede?" For the first time, Fang Zhengzhi felt that he was confident in winning.
He really enjoyed this feeling, and wanted it to last a little longer.
"I have already made it this far, how can I concede now?!" The candidate grit his teeth. Even though he knew what the result was going to be, he was not going to be a coward and concede.
"That’s true. Then I shall let you attack me three times. I will not move throughout your three attacks!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded and walked to the edge of the stage.
"Three attacks? Not move?" The middle aged candidate did not understand what Fang Zhengzhi was doing. However, he did not feel insulted.
After all, Fang Zhengzhi had proven his skills in the battle against Nangong Mu. He definitely had the right to say this.
However...
The middle aged man subconsciously glanced at his left palm. He had something hidden there, something that he had spent many years preparing.
If Fang Zhengzhi really did not move, this will be his best opportunity.
However, he thought about the fact that Fang Zhengzhi had saved his life before. Right now, Fang Zhengzhi was also giving him three free attacks. To use such a shameless tactic right now not be right.
Don’t use it?
Use it?
The middle aged candidate felt extremely conflicted. In the end, he grit his teeth. He would do anything it takes to win this and enter the final.
If he managed to get second place here...
Combined with his First Honor Roll result in the theory examinations... he could even make the top three.
The status of being in the top three of the Imperial Examinations was an honor he simply could not give up.
"Fang Zhengzhi, I am sorry! When I make the top three, I will compensate you accordingly!" The middle aged candidate thought to himself as his eyes glimmered.
Fang Zhengzhi was in the best possible position.
He was right at the edge of the stage. Any strike would knock him off.
The middle aged candidate did not hesitate any longer. He raised his sword and charged.
Somethings had to be used when one’s opponent least expected it. Close combat was the best choice. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi was not going to move.
He thrust his sword.
Fang Zhengzhi swayed to the side, a light flickering in his hands. He pushed the candidate’s blade about a foot from him. The middle aged candidate was also pushed to the right.
"He really didn’t move!" The middle aged candidate was happy with the result of his test. This was the best chance for him to make a name for himself.
He did not hesitate anymore. He turned around, a powerful aura gushing out of his body. He swung his blade from left to right, carving out a blue line in the air.
This was a wave like aura. It contained a subtle white light. That was a lightsword, but a subtle one.
At the same time, he placed his left hand behind his back and opened it slightly.
The moment Fang Zhengzhi blocked his strike, he could attack and knock Fang Zhengzhi off the stage.
The middle aged candidate smiled as he thought of getting the top three spot. However, his smile did not last very long.
Fang Zhengzhi vanished.
Almost like a gust of wind, Fang Zhengzhi disappeared from his sight. There was no one at his original position.
What was going on?
I thought he wasn’t going to move?!
The middle aged candidate was in shock. Then, he felt that something was amiss, but it was too late. He felt a gust of wind just above his head.
"On top?!" The candidate raised his head, his sword prepared to block any attack from above.
However, when he looked up.
His expression froze.
He saw a ball of powder coming straight at him. When it neared his eyes, it exploded.
"My eyes, my eyes!" The middle aged candidate cried out in pain.
Then, he felt a huge force at his butt. It felt as if he had been hit by a huge rock and he lunged forward.
Fang Zhengzhi was at the edge of the stage.
The candidate had chosen close combat. As such, he too was naturally at the edge of the stage.
After being hit, he tumbled off the stage. Having been kicked in the butt, he fell face first onto the stone just below the stage.
"Bong!" The middle aged candidate felt a sharp pain in his nose. His emotions were in turmoil.
All of the officials were stunned to see the candidate at the bottom of the stage. After all, Fang Zhengzhi had said that he wouldn’t move during the three attacks.
But now...
Fang Zhengzhi had moved. Furthermore, he had taken advantage of the candidate’s trust in him.
"Aish... he’s already in his forties, how can he be so naive?"
"Exactly, how can you trust Fang Zhengzhi’s words?"
"Even though he was going to lose, he shouldn’t have lost in such a humiliating way."
All of the officials shook their head after recovering from the shock. The embarrassed middle aged candidate sighed.
He was sullen. He simply could not understand why someone as powerful as Fang Zhengzhi needed to do something so shameless?
Had Fang Zhengzhi seen through his plan from the start?
Or did Fang Zhengzhi set out to play him?
He was furious!
"Why?" The middle aged candidate bellowed.
"Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that?" Fang Zhengzhi swept the dust off his hands and replied.
"Ask myself?" The middle aged candidate was taken aback.
"Don’t you think that it is very naive of you to try a sneak attack on me?" Fang Zhengzhi said scornfully.
All of the officials were shocked when they heard this.
Fang Zhengzhi was clearly the one who had sneaked in an attack. How was it this candidate’s fault?
"How... how did you see through that?" The middle aged candidate’s expression changed. He knew what Fang Zhengzhi was referring to, but he did not know how Fang Zhengzhi saw through it.
"If you really believed me, you would have attacked me with whatever you had all three times. However, you wasted one attack testing me. That showed your intention to do something underhand." Fang Zhengzhi smiled.
"The first attack was a test? But... how can anyone trust their opponent fully during a duel? You can’t be sure that I have sneaky intentions just because of that!" The candidate grit his teeth.
"But I also tested you! I asked you to concede!" Fang Zhengzhi continued.
"You tested me?" The middle aged candidate’s expression froze.
"Yes, if you didn’t have any hope to win, you would not come up on stage with your injuries. Furthermore, you want to win, you really want to win. However, you are not powerful enough. Naturally, you have to think of other methods. That was a sneak attack. As such, I gave you a golden opportunity to do so."
"I see, I was too naive..." The middle aged candidate’s expression darkened. Then, he looked at the item in his left hand. After a moment of hesitation, he grit his teeth, "Your honor, you saved my life once. Yet today, I tried to attack you with underhand methods. I deserve what I got. However, I have a gift for you and I hope you will accept it!"
"Oh? What is it?"
"It is something very suitable for you!" The middle aged candidate assured.