Clang!
The deafening sound of metal crashing rang out as E Le Deng and his hammer smashed onto the arena stage!
Sa Qi bowed with hands clasped to E Le Deng. "I concede."
E Le Deng's attendants came on stage, glared fiercely at Sa Qi, and carried E Le Deng away.
The second challenger was Cao Yan, the second son of the Right Prime Minister's manor.
He held a long spear, first twirled it around in a spear dance, then said to Sa Qi: "I am Cao Yan, please guide me!"
Then he charged at Sa Qi!
Sa Qi stood in his original spot, unmoving, waiting for him to get close. When the spear point was about to pierce his neck, he easily dodged it with a lowering of his waist!
At the same time he kicked Cao Yan flying!
Someone in the crowd couldn't help but cry out: "What great agility!"
Cao Yan lay halfway on the ground, spitting out blood from his mouth. He tried to get up several times but failed each time.
Prime Minister Cao angrily banged the table and yelled: "Bloody useless, not an ounce of capability!"
He had shouted out in dialect, but still no miracle happened. Cao Yan struggled to crawl off the stage.
The third challenger was the third son of the Minister's mansion.
He was even worse than Cao Yan. He got kicked off the stage by Sa Qi, and even smashed several tables.
One after another the decadent sons of Yue Country's nobility were beaten off the stage by Sa Qi. Qin Zheng was losing face publicly.
He gave Huo Chengjin a meaningful look.
Huo Chengjin had been waiting for this moment for a long time!
It seemed everyone had forgotten that Qi Yan Su Luo was the woman the emperor had noticed first.
Although he had yielded Qi Yan Su Luo, every person who went on stage was essentially competing with him for a woman in the emperor's eyes.
Huo Chengjin was a smart man, of course he wouldn't recklessly go on stage.
But now with the emperor's clear indication, he could ascend justified!
Seeing Huo Chengjin walk up on stage, Sa Qi's eyes lit up.
The two stood in place.
Sa Qi said: "Are you the famed Asura King?"
Huo Chengjin humbly smiled. "Unworthy, that is me."
"Hahahaha!" Sa Qi loudly laughed a few times. "The little king coming to the Central Plains, being able to fight the Asura King, it's worth it!"
Huo Chengjin said: "Although this is just a spar, I definitely won't hold back. Please be prudent, Crown Prince!"
"Good, very good! As expected of the Asura King, such bold spirit!"
Huo Chengjin drew out his longsword. "Please."
On the stage, the flashing of blades and crossing of swords fought intensely with flying sparks.
Below the stage, Qin Zhao yawned with boredom, watching the wind blow Qi Yan Su Luo's skirt hem.
He thought: Isn't she cold wearing just two layers?
As if sensing Qin Zhao's thoughts, Qi Yan Su Luo lightly caressed her own arms to warm herself.
Quiet conversation could be heard from the left.
Fifth Prince Qin Cong said: "Fourth brother, that's the seventeenth time you've looked at that woman! Could it be you've taken a liking to her?"
Qin Su: "If I don't take such a peerless beauty into my household, it would be the lifelong regret of this prince."
"But father fancied her first..."
"Father is old now, it should be our turn as the youth."
"Fourth brother, you really dare say that."
"Haha, no need to be so scared. This prince isn't interested in that position, I just want to live freely and happily!"
After six unsuccessful attempts to strike Huo Chengjin's vital points, Sa Qi was disarmed of his curved blade by Huo Chengjin!
With his blade fallen to the ground, his defeat was sealed. Sa Qi gave up struggling. Huo Chengjin placed his longsword at his chest. "I won."
It wasn't the common "I concede", but a confident and self-assured "I won".
Sa Qi understood the difference between Huo Chengjin and the others, conceding wholeheartedly in his loss.
After Huo Chengjin removed his sword, he deeply bowed to Huo Chengjin. "The little king willingly concedes defeat!"
Thunderous applause erupted in the palace banquet hall!
Everyone stood and cheered for Huo Chengjin!
Emperor Qin Zheng nodded at Huo Chengjin, full of admiration in his eyes!
Amidst the heated atmosphere, Qin Su walked onto the stage.
Qin Zheng's expression changed. "Su'er, get down."
Everyone present knew how powerful Huo Chengjin was. Qin Su was definitely not his match.
The problem was if he lost, it would be a loss of face for the imperial clan.
For those useless playboy sons of Yue Country who lost to the Dongqu Crown Prince, Qin Zheng could use Huo Chengjin to regain face.
But if Qin Su lost, who could he use to compensate?
Thinking of this, Qin Zheng spoke again: "Su'er, come to this father's side."
Yet Qin Su did not stop walking. He knelt in the center of the stage, deeply kowtowed to Qin Zheng. "Father, please forgive your unfilial son for disobeying this time.
Your son remains unmarried to this day, only because he never met a girl he liked. But now I have met her.
She's right there. As a stand tall and upright man, how can I give up fighting for the woman I love?"
Qin Zheng slowly let out a breath, enduring too much today. He sighed to himself that sooner or later he would be angered to death by this bunch of useless people!
After a moment, Qin Zheng said: "If you dare lose, I will not let you off!"
Qin Su kowtowed again. "Thank you, father."
Qin Zheng's words were hinting that Huo Chengjin should go easy and intentionally lose to Qin Su.
Qin Zhao watched Huo Chengjin with great interest, curious what choice he would make.
Would he choose the beauty or loyalty to his ruler?
His choice would certainly influence the direction of the story.
If he chose loyalty, it was very possible he would not rebel like in the original story.
If he chose Qi Yan Su Luo, he would go down the road of rebellion, and it would be because the emperor forced him to. No need for Qi Yan Su Luo to painstakingly seduce him.
The butterfly effect manifests in such inconspicuous places.
Qin Su stood up straight and took out a sword he borrowed from the guards.
In a volume only the two of them could hear, he said: "Brother Huo, this prince's martial arts is unskilled. Please go easy."
Huo Chengjin neither affirmed nor denied.
This made Qin Su feel a bit unhappy inside.
He pointed his sword at Huo Chengjin and chopped down. Huo Chengjin's sword easily blocked it.
Only then did Huo Chengjin reply: "Your Highness, some things can be yielded, but women definitely cannot!"
Qin Su's brows slightly furrowed, feeling Huo Chengjin's retaliation growing stronger. His sword-wielding tiger's mouth ached!
He urgently said: "Huo Chengjin, do you know what you're doing? You actually dare to disrespect your superiors!"
Huo Chengjin said: "His Majesty spoke golden words that all present may fairly compete. Your subject is merely acting on the sage's will!"
After speaking, his sword was already at Qin Su's neck.
Under the eyes of the public, Qin Su could not be shameless. He could only admit defeat and walked off stage vexed.
Qin Zheng's gaze at Huo Chengjin became deeper.
Huo Chengjin sheathed his longsword, his eyes fixed firmly on Qi Yan Su Luo!
As if he had made some decision!
Qin Zheng's gaze shifted between his other six sons. "Is there anyone else who wants to challenge Academician Huo?"
He hoped for a miracle, hoping his useless sons had hidden talents beneath the surface.
To ascend the stage and defeat Huo Chengjin.
But his sons all avoided his gaze, not daring to even look at him.
Disappointed, Qin Zheng was about to declare Huo Chengjin the final victor when...
Qin Zhao leapt onto the stage!
