CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 210: NO, WHY DID YOU HUG HER?!

Hongwu, Year 11, March 7th.

The third round of the "Jian Province Competition" commenced, with only 28 teams advancing to this round. At this stage, there were two teams that either had weaker opponents or were lucky enough to get a bye, allowing them to advance without any having broken their Qi and Blood limits. Except for these two teams, the other 26 had various levels of Qi and Blood limit-breakers, and more than half of them were entire teams that had broken the limit—

Six teams from Liyang Academy!

Four teams from Guangling Academy!

Two teams from Qiancheng Academy!

Two teams from Changshe Academy!

One team from Jinxiang Academy!

One team from Wendeng Academy!

A total of sixteen entire teams had broken the limit, leaving no room for the Top Ten or the Top Eight.

Moreover, outside these sixteen full-limit-breaking teams, Taikang Academy’s Yan Chuan Team and Qiancheng Academy’s Fu Yunzhan Team each only had one limit-breaker, but with Yan Chuan and Fu Yunzhan, one person alone could form a team that could defeat full-limit-break teams. These two could also be considered as full-limit-breaking teams.

So, that’s eighteen teams!

Of the remaining ten teams, two had no limit-breakers and were trembling among the strong.

It is foreseeable that in the third round, unless they have good luck and meet each other, the third round is their end station, and it’s tough to move forward.

The weak are unnoticed!

Their remarkable perseverance goes unnoticed!

Only the strong—

Receive all the attention!

Like Yan Chuan.

...

"Ah—"

"Yan Chuan?"

"It’s over, it’s over!"

The old rule: at the beginning of a new round, the first step is drawing lots, and Guangling Academy’s Team No. Six unluckily draws Taikang Academy’s Team No. Six, namely Yan Chuan Team.

If it were another team, they’d be overjoyed.

After all—

"Yan Chuan?"

"Yan Chuan is strong, but as everyone knows, he deliberately loses in the main competition. Meeting him in the main event is good, isn’t it?"

Liu Yun didn’t understand.

He was one of the reinforcements transferred from the Guangling Army to Guangling Academy. Seeing Yan Chuan’s rise to fame these days, he genuinely admired him. Based on his understanding of Yan Chuan, in this third round, it should have been a walk in the park. They just needed to accompany Yan Chuan, let him enjoy lecturing, and in the end, without needing to win against Yan Chuan, Yan Chuan would voluntarily concede.

It was like getting a free win; how could that be bad?

Liu Yun laughed, "You don’t think Yan Chuan is too strong, and we would lose, do you? Hahaha! Yan Chuan is strong, but he doesn’t want to win!"

Hahaha—

The whole team, only Liu Yun was laughing.

A bit awkward.

Liu Yun quickly realized, "Is something off?"

Beside him.

Zheng Shanxiao and Xie Rong, the reinforcements from the Guangling County Governor’s Mansion, exchanged glances, twitching their mouths and shaking their heads without a word.

Instead, Gong Xue, one of the Ten Masters of Guangling Academy with direct lineage and proficiency in "Great Success Boxing," glanced at her fellow disciple and explained to Liu Yun, "If other teams face Yan Chuan, perhaps he just wants to lecture and won’t fight for victory. But there was some unpleasantness between Brother Chen and Yan Chuan, so—"

Guangling Academy!

Team No. Six!

It was none other than Chen Ze’s team!

"Brother Chen?"

"Is there old resentment between Brother Chen and Yan Chuan?"

Liu Yun’s eyes widened. He looked at Chen Ze, then at Gong Xue, and finally Zheng Shanxiao and Xie Rong, "You all knew?"

It’s over!

His heart sank! Though he didn’t know how Chen Ze angered Yan Chuan, since Gong Xue knew and even Zheng Shanxiao and Xie Rong, two "outsiders," also knew, apparently, Chen Ze and Yan Chuan’s feud was significant and widespread.

In this case.

Indeed!

Yan Chuan would lose to anyone but not to Chen Ze with whom he had a grudge, right?

Fine!

What was supposed to be an easy win now seemed to be losing both the chicken and the egg!

"That being the case, I say, let’s just admit defeat when we go on stage, not giving Yan Chuan a chance to attack. This way, we wouldn’t give him the chance to cripple us, making it impossible to even play in the Resurrection Match, nor would we be dragged to a draw by Yan Chuan and encounter him again in the losers’ group, completely ousted."

Liu Yun didn’t bother asking about their grudge; he quickly came up with a new strategy.

"I think it works!"

Zheng Shanxiao and Xie Rong agreed, not wanting to be dragged down by Chen Ze and become targets of Yan Chuan’s revenge and anger.

Liu Yun was unclear, but Zheng Shanxiao and Xie Rong knew well; they knew Chen Ze was originally a direct disciple of Yan Chuan but left the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall after Guangling City was established and joined the academy, cutting off all ties.

In this—

How deep was the hatred?

How great was the grievance?

Would Yan Chuan not act ruthlessly?

They didn’t dare to provoke!

The two didn’t dare to fight at all.

Only Gong Xue asked Chen Ze, "Junior Brother, are you going to fight?"

Chen Ze smiled, "Later on stage, choose a rotational battle; I alone will ask for senior brother’s guidance."

Good! You traitor! If you’re going to die, die alone!

Zheng Shanxiao and Xie Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

...

The confrontation between Yan Chuan and Chen Ze was highly anticipated—

Yan Chuan was currently a hot star, recognized up to now as the "First Youth" and the "First Heavenly Pride" of the Jian Province competition. He was powerful and comprehensive, which was appalling.

Chen Ze was not well-known, but his background added intrigue. He was once Yan Chuan’s junior disciple, both studying under Master Cheng Fengxiao at the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall in Guangling City. After the Great Yan’s martial arts campaign and Guangling’s establishment, this person betrayed the Martial Arts Hall and his mentor, joining Guangling Academy.

Martial Arts Academy!

Indeed in line with the trend.

Rationally speaking, Chen Ze’s choice was wise.

However, putting Yan Chuan and Chen Ze together to compare their seemingly foolish and wise choices, whether among orthodox or unorthodox circles, everyone understood—

"Yan Chuan is loyal and righteous, deeply sentimental and just!"

"Chen Ze! Disloyal and unrighteous!"

In the stands, Ni Mengtong, after hearing others’ introductions about Chen Ze, clearly expressed dislike for Chen Ze: "Joining the Martial Arts Academy is in line with the trend, but how can loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and filial piety be ignored? Chen Ze’s betrayal of his mentor is disloyal and unfilial, and turning against his lifesaver Yan Chuan is unrighteous. Such a disloyal, unfilial, and unrighteous person—"

Ni Mengtong shook her head, her eyes filled with undisguised disdain.

Such words went against the politically correct trajectory of the Great Yan’s martial arts campaign and its broad recruitment of talents. But at Ni Mengtong’s level, and with the Great Yan’s martial arts campaign achieving phased success, her words weren’t deemed sensitive.

Many internally agreed with Ni Mengtong.

People despised Chen Ze’s conduct and looked down upon him from the heart.

This epitomized Chen Ze’s situation over eight or nine years—

From initial covert disdain.

To now.

Digging up old scores.

Even among the New Faction, there were distinctions in heritage and character, with many increasingly openly criticizing Chen Ze’s "character."

Especially after Ni Mengtong’s words today, the "righteous" critics of Chen Ze, true or false, would certainly surge like fish in a stream.

Chen Ze!

His position would become even more difficult!

However, this phenomenon soon reversed.

...

"It’s my turn on stage again!"

"Today, I’m very happy."

"People might not know, but this time, my opponent’s lead figure is Guangling’s Chen Ze. He and I once practiced ’Cheng Family Boxing’ together at the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall under Master Cheng Fengxiao. I am the senior brother, and he is the younger; we were very close."

Yan Chuan took the stage with the "White Horn Trumpet," smiling and narrating his history with Chen Ze.

His tone was cheerful, without anger.

But everyone knew—

"Yan Chuan is very angry!"

"He’s speaking ironically!"

"The more he speaks this way, the angrier he is! Well, since this Chen Ze is a traitor, how could Yan Chuan not be angry?"

"This will be a good show! If Chen Ze accepts the challenge, Master Yan might just beat him thoroughly!"

"Traitor!"

"Scoundrel!"

"Despicable!"

The audience was watching eagerly, especially after hearing Yan Chuan’s "irony," their anticipation heightened.

Yet, what followed confused them—

"Hey?"

"This, this, this!"

"Wait, why are they hugging?"

"What’s going on, can someone explain?"

...

Duan Hong widened her eyes, grabbing Hao Meng, her mouth agape: "What’s happening? What happened? Why is Professor Yan hugging that traitor? Didn’t he just speak ironically? Why are they hugging?!"

Duan Hong couldn’t understand!

Hao Meng was baffled too: "This isn’t right! I heard from Chen Hongyuan that Yan Chuan had three junior disciples turn traitor and join Guangling Academy, and the most successful among them was this Chen Ze! Why isn’t Professor Yan beating him, but instead hugging him?"

Buzz buzz buzz!

Hao Meng’s head was buzzing, utterly confused!

...

In truth.

Not only the audience was baffled.

On stage, Chen Ze was also bewildered, "Senior Brother—"

"These years, you have suffered!"

Yan Chuan hugged Chen Ze tightly and then let go, holding the "White Horn Trumpet," and addressed the surrounding audience: "Back when Guangling was being established, and Guangling Academy was newly founded, the times were turbulent. In the current of the times, I was not as steadfast as Master Cheng Fengxiao. To secure a backup plan, I forced Chen Ze to join Guangling Academy, causing him unnecessary years of infamy and torment in mind and body. Today, taking advantage of the ’Jian Province Competition,’ I want to clear Chen Ze’s name. He has suffered over the years!"

Ah—

The audience present was instantly in an uproar.

In the stands.

Ni Mengtong doubted what she heard; she turned to confirm with those next to her: "Did Yan Chuan just imply that Chen Ze was an undercover agent he sent into Guangling Academy?"

That was about the gist of it.

Ni Mengtong captured it accurately.

Sima Feng laughed heartily: "I thought he was a naïve, blind loyalist, but turns out he has quite the shrewd mind."

Li Mingshan frowned: "Forethoughtful and deep-minded, this Yan Chuan is not a mere martial artist!"

Ni Mengtong, realizing, didn’t agree with Li Mingshan’s view: "I just said Yan Chuan is loyal and righteous, valuing emotions and justice. Now, it seems we should add ’far-sightedness’ and ’unique insight.’ Eight or nine years ago, wasn’t he under twenty? Back then, he already foresaw the trend. To be able to make such a decision balancing ’respecting one’s master and path’ with the ’grand trend,’ accommodating both ends, is indeed not simple."

Beside her.

Jiang Bianliu stroked his beard, admiringly looking at Yan Chuan on the platform: "This matter between Yan Chuan and Chen Ze was originally only known to them. Today, he could have let it be, continuing with the misunderstanding. But Yan Chuan did not; he chose this occasion to clear Chen Ze’s name. His responsibility and emotion are admirable."

Does Yan Chuan not know that announcing it today, while clearing Chen Ze’s name and wiping away labels of ’traitor,’ ’scoundrel,’ ’unfeeling,’ would dilute his own labels of ’respecting master and path’ and ’blind loyalty’?

He certainly knows!

But he still did it.

Chen Ze’s nose felt a sting, "Senior Brother—"

...