17. A Beautiful Competition
The competition received varied feedback. Everyone was surprised by this batch’s martial skills. However, it also prolonged some matches when the opponents had similar levels and experiences, causing others to feel bored since they didn’t see anything new. It’s only a little after an hour that only 5 top contenders remain. These five individuals remain silent as the crowd cheers. Raising his hand, Gu Yue Bo silences everyone and stands up to announce what the final matches would look like.
Everyone knows how the Village conducts the final matches since this is an Annual Event. But that doesn’t stop Gu Yue Bo from nodding at the group of students with a proud smile.
“You all did amazing! The final match will be similar to the round-robin system where one volunteer will compete with other four students in a random order!”
‘Random?’ Lo Jik chuckles internally. ‘Yeah, right.’
Even before Mo Bei and Chi Cheng can consider stepping up, Fang Zheng turns around and quietly steps up the stage with a clear intention. The other four students watch him before returning to the seating area as the hosts decide on the ‘Random’ order.
‘Will it be the same as my second life?’ Fang Yuan glances at Fang Zheng and then at Lo Jik. ‘Lo Jik died in my second life, becoming a Bear King’s snack. However, he’s the only one close to me in pure skills and has a White Boar Gu. He was lucky and showed it off. However, I can’t reveal my White Boar Gu. Too many ‘lucky’ instances will garner suspicion. And I don’t remember another inheritance site in Qing Mao Mountain, so Lo Jik’s gain must be luck. We have the same physical might. But Lo Jik is sharp enough to notice that and can connect the dots.’
Lo Jik’s arrogant stature didn’t make a few avoid the truth about his intelligence and strength. If nothing else, yesterday’s spectacle was a wake-up call for many!
“Gu Yue Mo Bei!”
Gu Yue Mo Bei steps on the stage, facing Fang Zheng with clenched fists as he vows loudly. “Fang Zheng! Today, I will beat you and become the person who defeated a Rank 2 Gu Master at Rank 1 Cultivation!”
“Fang Zheng is already a Rank 2 Gu Master before graduation?”
“Sigh, that’s A-grade Aptitude!”
“Hah! He’s Gu Yue Clan’s hope and will eventually contend with that Bai Clan’s Genius!”
“Bai Ning Bing, huh? I remember how she almost cut me open with a single attack.”
“What’s surprising? Our Clan Leader raised Fang Zheng. Excellence is expected!”
It’s no secret that Gu Yue Bo started nurturing Fang Zheng after the attempt on his life.
Unfazed by the discussion in the arena, Fang Zheng looks Mo Bei straight in the eye, roaring, “Then come!”
He steps forward, surprising Mo Bei. The current norm has been for the Gu Masters to shoot their Moonblades before tackling each other with their fists. However, Fang Zheng directly steps forward, tossing a wrench in Mo Bei’s plan. Seeing Fang Zheng close up the distance to almost 6 meters, Mo Bei hurriedly uses his Moonlight Gu.
However, Fang Zheng dodges them despite the closer distance. The crowd would have cheered had they not seen Lo Jik do the same by getting closer to the opponent, revealing his expertise with Moonlight Gu.
Instead, the tensions stemmed from knowing the two Gu Master’s backgrounds.
“Gu Yue Fang Zheng will undoubtedly enter Qing Shu’s group and Clan Leader’s Faction. Meanwhile, Mo Bei is the Mo Faction’s member. It’s the conflict between two major groups!”
“Look! Mo Bei cannot hit Fang Zheng at such close distance, but he isn’t used to it, allowing Fang Zheng’s Moonblades to slowly injure him in different places.”
“Sigh, Fang Zheng is a Rank 2 Gu Master. His primeval essence is ten times greater than a Rank 1 Gu Master! How can Mo Bei contend with that?”
It’s the truth.
Mo Bei eventually runs out of steam, and his Gu worm, capable of increasing endurance, doesn’t last long since he accumulated more injuries from Fang Zheng’s relatively tame Moonblades. Why Fang Zheng doesn’t immediately end the fight by cutting off Mo Bei’s limb will always remain a mystery to Lo Jik.
‘End the match as quickly as possible!’ Lo Jik sighs.
“Gu Yue Fang Zheng wins!”
Mo Bei is hurriedly carried off the stage against his will since he refuses to give up. Meanwhile, Mo Chen looks disappointed at the results.
‘I wish you were here, Cui,’ Fang Zheng steps down, accepting the Primeval Stones from the hosts to recover his essence. ‘I will keep my promise!’
He recalls this morning’s events before his Father and Mother sent him off. While this competition is open for all Gu Yue Members, those with businesses cannot take a day off.
He recalls his Cui’s gentle voice, her warm hands, and her bright, coy eyes.
—“Cui knows that Young Master is the best! Graduation means you will become a man. You are the village’s champion, too. I- I shall prepare for tonight.”—
Her blush and soft touches increased the stakes for Fang Zheng!
So many people want him to win.
How can he lose?
“Gu Yue Chi Cheng!”
Another Gu Master steps up.
‘You can do it, Cheng’er,’ Chi Lian watches intently. The elders understand the Leader’s intentions. By having Fang Zheng defeat their heirs first, Gu Yue Bo is setting Fang Zheng up to be the next political leader of his generation.
“Hah! You can’t catch me, Fang Zheng!”
Chi Cheng uses his Gu to move away, not letting Fang Zheng close the distance. This continues for a few minutes before Fang Zheng stops and returns to the stage’s center. He suddenly chuckles. “You’re right, Chi Cheng. However, I’m a Rank 2 Gu Master with an A-grade Aptitude. Can your Aperture keep up with mine? Not to mention, you’re a Rank 1 Gu Master. How long can you last by consuming your essence?”
Chi Cheng’s expression changes.
‘Why should that intimidate you one bit? He’s a rank 2 with Rank 1 Gu Worms, meaning his intensity isn’t different than a Peak Stage Rank 1 Gu Master—only his endurance is.’
Lo Jik sees the situation calmly, already knowing what he will do.
It won’t be pretty.
With his motivation dampened, Fang Zheng swiftly defeats Chi Cheng.
‘I won’t let your hard work go to waste, Clan Leader. I reached Rank 2 as promised, and I will defeat those two, starting a new life after graduation!’
Gu Yue Bo internally smiles as he watches the confident look building on Fang Zheng’s face.
‘Good. You are ready, Fang Zheng.’ Gu Yue Bo feels pleased.
“Gu Yue Lo Jik!”
Fang Zheng and Lo Jik step on the stage.
“START!”
‘I once told you that Lo Jik is like you, Fang Zheng. He has an offensive and defensive Gu. His luck is great to find a White Boar Gu. However, you have your trump card, too!’ Gu Yue Bo has his intentions of setting the matches this way.
‘Defeat Lo Jik. He’s the opponent you gained in Academy. Then defeat your Brother, who’s left a lasting shadow on your heart!’
Lo Jik and Fang Zheng stand 10 meters from each other. Unlike the confidence against his previous two opponents, Fang Zheng seems to have more emotions this time as he reveals the generous nature of the strong! He flourishes his hand, stating, “We have had our differences, Lo Jik. You may also feel confident after gaining a Boar’s strength. However, the human body is weak, and if you use your strength without your Iron Skin Gu, you will injure yourself. So, give up! I won’t let you near me and can continue using the Moonlight Gu longer than you!”
Fang Yuan narrows his eyes.
‘It is true. Silence is a golden virtue,’ he shakes his head internally.
Lo Jik inclines his head before suddenly turning to the Academy Elder, bowing.
‘What? That brat Lo Jik is showing me respect? Hahaha!’ Academy Elder glimpses. However, his expression changes when Lo Jik opens his mouth.
“Academy Elder! Please give me justice!”
‘Not again!’ the Academy Elder’s beard trembles as Lo Jik continues.
“I never revealed my Iron Skin Gu to anyone. It was my trump card. I never used it while practicing my skills in the wild, where I found the White Boar Gu.”
Fang Zheng’s expression changes while the Clan Leader’s eye twitches as he feels the other Elders glancing at him.
“This…” The Academy Elder mutters, revealing a complex expression. Everyone in the arena frowns in contemplation. Many already know what happened, but they dare not speak about it!
Fang Zheng sweats from his head as Lo Jik continues, “Please assure my heart that Fang Zheng only knew this by getting inside the Gu Room to further his studies and managed to count other Gu Worms.”
Since the Gu Worms in the Academy’s Gu Room replenishes every year, it’s certainly possible for Fang Zheng to count them and predict who possesses what. It’s not unheard of for an A-grade Aptitude to get special treatment.
The Academy Elder nods, appeasing the situation, “You are correct, Lo Jik! That’s what happened precisely!”
‘Now, please! Fight!’
The Academy Elder sighs while other Elders in the viewing stands glance at each other meaningfully.
They can see through Lo Jik’s intentions.
He’s saying: I looked through your schemes, but I won’t name and drag you through the mud!
They are wrong.
Lo Jik sighs, beaming at the sweating Fang Zheng as he walks closer to the youth with an amicable expression.
“Sorry, Fang Zheng. I thought you cheated. I should have known better. I’m in the wrong here.”
Fang Zheng dazedly stares at Lo Jik’s hand.
‘Is he trying to make up for the past? Now that I’m Rank 2 Gu Master, he wants to get closer. Hmph! But I cannot deny a clan member’s good intentions in front of so many. No. What if I shake his hand, and he attacks me? I should keep the Jade Sking Gu prepared and focus on his shoulders. I will retreat once he tries to attack me.’
Lo Jik stood a few steps away to prevent spooking Fang Zheng.
The youth steps forward, silently shaking Lo Jik’s hand.
When spectators smile at such a heartfelt moment of forgiveness and friendship, almost about to cheer—Their eyes pop wide open!
Even the Elder and the Clan Leader gape!
So insidious!
Fang Zheng frowns as he feels his balance tilt. His legs feel warm before a sharp pain makes him shout out loud!
“AAAAGHHHHHHHH!”
He lets go of Lo Jik’s hand, retreating as he falls for some reason.
Blood splatters on the ground as the boy howls, crying and staring at his left leg!
It’s been sliced neatly.
Lo Jik’s right boot is torn open for some reason.
“Uh, healer?” Lo Jik glances at the healing Gu Master. “He’s bleeding—”
“Gu Yue Lo Jik!” The Academy Elder roars. “You’re disqualified!”
“Why?” Lo Jik calmly retorts. “The match never stopped. Isn’t that right, Referee?”
The dazed referee pales as the Healing Gu Masters rush on stage while the Academy Elder fumes.
The entire crowd erupts in anger.
“That’s low!”
“Too devious! Too shameless!”
“He lowered Fang Zheng’s guard and… was that a Moonblade from a kick?!”
“Hmph! A cheap trick!”
‘Pathetic losers,’ Mo Yan snorts internally. ‘Not only does the Clan Leader cheat by leaking confidential information about Lo Jik to that cunt Zheng, but they have the cheek to curse him? He’s fighting a Rank 2 Gu Master! Fairness was never part of the deal!’
Lo Jik calmly steps down as the crying Fang Zheng is taken away.
The scene makes Fang Yuan involuntarily recall something.
The start of their year, their first stipend, and his first match with Lo Jik. Lo Jik throws mud and grass at him while using another underhanded tactic to use his dagger’s butt!
‘My third life is too different.’ Fang Yuan sighs, wondering if he will win this match without going all and exposing himself.
‘Using the Moonlight Gu with feet? Hehe, nice idea,’ Fang Yuan’s gaze glimmers.
<<<>>>
Everyone observes the two students on the stage. It’s the first time in the history of the Gu Yue Clan that the high-grade students are knocked out, leaving two C-grade students. The results are undeniable, even if they are a product of an insidious plot. Fang Zheng watches the two students with cold fury in his heart. He cannot accept it!
Fang Zheng wasn’t allowed to display his entire skills!
Yet, that’s the point, isn’t it? Anyone with combat experience understands how to destroy the enemy quickly and keep them from using their trump cards.
Fang Zheng’s left leg throbs painfully. His injuries were already healed since his leg wasn’t destroyed, but the pain still made him frown and ground his jaw.
‘These two are unworthy!’ Fang Zheng roars in his heart. He could defeat these two if it wasn’t for—
“START!”
*Whoosh*
Lo Jik and Fang Yuan dash at each other without speaking a word as the crowd loses their momentary indignance, gasping. One may see Lo Jik is barefoot this time.
Lunar energy covers their palms as both flick their wrists at one another.
*Swish*
Dodging, the two get closer, using another Moonblade! Their bodies evade the sharp Moonblades, eventually getting almost 2 meters close! The situation grips everyone’s attention as they observe intently.
Are they kids?
Lo Jik and Fang Yuan seem to enter a choreographed dance, aware of each other’s movements and attacks, dodging at once while pressuring each other to evade, too! Cold-blue moonlight reflects on their faces and clothes, glinting their brown and black pupils. One’s wavy hair is cut slightly, while the other’s shorter brown strands trim.
Fang Zheng watches in a daze.
What is this?
Is this a battle?
How can it be so intense?!
Fang Yuan’s pupils shrink as he jumps backward, avoiding a moonlight from Lo Jik’s kick.
“So fast! Lo Jik can control his Moonblade from one body to another so quickly?”
“Monsters! And look how Fang Yuan is dodging! These two are battle geniuses of the decade!”
For once, Lo Jik cannot help but agree.
He shouldn’t be this good with four additional months of battle training in the wilds! However, his body seems to pick up skills AND trick shots quicker than his original host or previous life’s body ever did!
‘Fang Yuan is the real genius! Motherfucker is pressuring me! I’m also using my Instincts Gu to keep up, but that man is built differently!’
Lo Jik cannot help but evade another moonblade when his already-increased awareness trembles, forcing him to drop down as a Moonblade from a tricky angle cuts a bit of his hair. Lo Jik sweats as he glances at Fang Yuan’s busted bamboo shoe.
“Fang Yuan did that, too!”
The crowd gasps while grave expressions flicker on the Rank 2 veterans.
Lo Jik hurriedly rolls forward, avoiding another moonlight Gu before B-dancing his way up with a one-two Moonblade tactic, causing Fang Yuan’s eyes to briefly widen as he falls into the passive instead!
Yet, both of them stop at almost the same time.
The crowd exhales at once, not knowing they were holding their breath for so long!
“They are out of Primeval Essence,” one of the viewers whispers.
Yet, don’t Lo Jik and Fang Yuan know each other by now?
‘He definitely has some to spare!’
They think simultaneously.
‘Getting hit would be unavoidable,’ Fang Yuan sighs. He was already spread thin with such an intense display of Moonlight Gu. ‘If I get hit, I will have to hit him back. We grew up from being scrawny brats, and weak punches wouldn’t do. Not to mention, Lo Jik won’t hold back, so I’ll be hit using a boar’s strength! I’ll have to give up on the prize money since I have to hide my gains. In fact, I can eventually borrow the White Boar Gu from Lo Jik to show my full might.’
Fang Yuan raises his hand, “I give up.”
“It was a good fight, Classmate Fang,” Lo Jik cups his fist and bows slightly.
Fang Zheng’s expression couldn’t help but darken at this.
Such skills…
It’s also the first time Lo Jik praised anyone.
Forced to accept Lo Jik’s skills and noticing the hard work needed to master such techniques, the spectators cannot help but change their view of the young man.
‘He won!’ Mo Yan flushes slightly.
“Gu Yue Lo Jik is the WINNER!”
Academy Elder steps up, announcing loudly. He glances at the youth with complicated emotions.
‘Well,’ the man sighs. ‘At least Lo Jik and Fang Yuan are not my problems anymore!’
<<<>>>
‘Things were going smooth!’ Gu Yue Bo stands, delivering another speech after the end of the matches. But the event has yet to end. The Academy Students are the Clan’s resources. Now, they must contribute to the clan by joining a team. It’s a mandatory process. The brighter a student shines in the matches, the more picks they have to choose from.
‘If only Gu Yue Lo Jik didn’t use that underhanded tactic,’ Gu Yue Bo internally scoffs as he adds after his speech.
“Well done, everyone! As this Batch’s champion, Gu Yu Lo Jik will receive 150 Primeval stones and the priority to pick a Gu worm from the academy for free!”
Lo Jik bows slightly.
“Hmm. Which Faction do you think Lo Jik will pick?” Chi Lian strokes his red beard, discreetly glancing at Mo Chen.
They watch Qing Shu walk over to Fang Zheng, inviting the youth to one of the best three teams.
Lo Jik watches Qing Shu, too. Lo Jik wanted to join Qing Shu’s team. However, that won’t happen. His relationship with Fang Zheng and the stunt he pulled won’t allow him to join Qing Shu.
‘The next pick was Chi Shan,’ Lo Jik glances at the topless giant. ‘He’s usually silent, and his team has enough autonomy. However, Chi Lian and Mo Chen are known competitors, and I’ve been staying in one of Mo Family’s rentals. The Chi Faction won’t accept me and may think I’m a spy for the Mo Family.’
If he joins a team better than Mo Yan’s—it’s acceptable. But Lo Jik risked his relationship with the woman by joining a weaker team or her rival.
Yes. Lo Jik didn’t want to be in Mo Yan’s team.
What?
Does the phrase—Don’t defecate where you eat—have no meaning here?
However, this isn’t something Lo Jik can avoid.
‘I should plan to push Mo Yan one final time till she reaches Peak Stage Rank 2 Gu Worm.’
Lo Jik contemplates while stepping through the sea of offers from other Gu Masters, trying to recruit him, before standing across Mo Yan. On the viewing stage, Mo Chen appears pleased as Chi Lian snorts. Chi Lian glances at Fang Yuan, hoping the other combat talent would join Chi Shan’s team to balance things out. However, Fang Yuan unexpectedly joins a small group led by a Rank 2 Gu Master, Gu Yue Jiao San.
“What do you want?” Mo Bei steps out of the group, glaring at Lo Jik. “This isn’t a group you’re allowed into!”
Lo Jik merely glances at Mo Bei before stepping behind Mo Yan, intentionally teasing him, “Open your eyes, Batchmate Mo. You’re no longer the President.”
“You!”
Anger flashes in Mo Bei’s eyes! However, he suddenly meets Mo Yan’s icy, indifferent stare.
“Enough,” she commands quietly. “Gu Yue Lo Jik and Gu Yu Mo Bei are the Mo Faction’s new members.”
***
Alternate Title: Five Final Contestants; Random Match-Ups!; Fang Zheng’s The Actual Underdog and He Failed; Power of Friendship Doesn’t Last, Lo Jik Knows From Experience; Cheating Clan Leader?; Flustering Fang Zheng; Taking a Leg For Friendship; Making The Worst Mistake; Kick-Fu; Scum; Two Scums Face-Off; 500 Years of Experience VS Cheat; Learning From Each Other; Lo Jik Really B-Boyed That Shit!; A Stellar Performance; A Dance of Life and Death; Reflecting Moon, Dangerous Partners; Knowing When To Retreat; The Mo Faction; Fang Zheng Wanted to Get Laid… LOL!