204: Chapter 84 Competition

The next morning.

Everyone finished breakfast and gathered at the contest grounds.

Medicine Master Huang glanced at those present and got straight to the point: "The first test is a trial of Martial Arts. However, it won't be just the two Nephews fighting; I'm asking Brother Qi and Brother Ouyang to join in for a two-on-two duel."

"For fairness, Brother Qi will test Nephew Ouyang, and Brother Ouyang will test Nephew Guo."

"Furthermore, to avoid damaging our relations, we must agree on three rules."

"First, only Moves are allowed; no one can use Internal Energy."

"Second, the four of you will compete atop this tree. Whoever touches the ground first loses."

"Third, Brother Qi and Brother Ouyang must exercise restraint. If they accidentally injure a junior, they also lose."

Hong Qi looked surprised: "Accidentally injuring a junior counts as a loss?"

Medicine Master Huang said as a matter of course: "Naturally. You two possess peerless Martial Arts. If you don't exercise restraint, wouldn't these two juniors lose their lives? Regardless, one of them will surely be my son-in-law. I cannot allow them to be harmed."

Hong Qi thought about it and couldn't help but laugh: "You, Old Evil Huang, are indeed eccentric and tricky."

"Losing for injuring the opponent—that's a peculiar rule. Fine, as long as it's fair, this Old Beggar has no objection."

Saying that, he called out to Guo Jing: "Let's go, up the tree."

Having spoken, he used his Lightness Skill to fly onto the designated tree.

Guo Jing followed immediately.

Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke did the same.

Meng Li and Mu Nianci exchanged a look and flew to a nearby rooftop to watch.

Huang Rong also went up to the rooftop.

Medicine Master Huang remained where he was, looking up to watch.

Once the four of them were in the tree, they each sought out their opponents as agreed.

Ouyang Feng went for Guo Jing.

Hong Qi went for Ouyang Ke.

The difference was that Guo Jing engaged Ouyang Feng directly, while Ouyang Ke chose a circuitous route, constantly shifting and moving to evade Hong Qi.

From this, the difference between Guo Jing and Ouyang Ke was clear.

Knowing he was no match for his opponent, Guo Jing still chose a frontal confrontation, whereas Ouyang Ke used cleverness, avoiding the brunt of the attack to stall for time, hoping Guo Jing would lose first.

After a while, Ouyang Feng also began to use tricks.

He intentionally moved the battlefield to the other side of the tree and then used his Internal Energy.

Seeing this, Guo Jing was greatly surprised: "Senior, why aren't you following the rules?"

Ouyang Feng said contemptuously: "What if I don't?"

With that, he channeled his Internal Energy and struck at Guo Jing.

Guo Jing was no match and was sent flying on the spot, coincidentally landing on a branch near Ouyang Ke.

Seeing this, Ouyang Ke was delighted and prepared to knock Guo Jing down.

Seeing Ouyang Feng breaking the rules, Hong Qi was infuriated and likewise used his Internal Energy to strike a palm at Ouyang Ke.

Caught off guard, Ouyang Ke's body fell; he hurriedly grabbed onto Guo Jing, and the two became entangled.

Seeing the close-quarters struggle, Guo Jing subconsciously used the Wrestling techniques he had learned in the Great Desert.

Ouyang Ke hadn't expected him to have this trick up his sleeve; although he dragged Guo Jing down with him, he was the first to hit the ground.

By the time he recovered from the dizzying fall, Guo Jing, who had caught a branch just in time, finally landed.

Seeing this, Meng Li and Mu Nianci looked at each other and smiled.

Huang Rong happily leaped down from the roof and ran toward Guo Jing: "Brother Jing, you were amazing!"

Hong Qi also used his Lightness Skill to descend the tree, walking over to praise him: "Not bad, you didn't lose face!"

Ouyang Feng said snidely: "What kind of Martial Arts did you teach this disciple? He even used Wrestling tactics."

Hong Qi said: "I didn't teach him that. Don't take your frustrations out on me for this."

Ouyang Feng snorted coldly and turned to look at Ouyang Ke, a flash of dissatisfaction in his eyes, but he said nothing.

Medicine Master Huang's eyelids lowered slightly as he announced: "In this round, Nephew Guo wins."

Huang Rong was instantly overjoyed.

Guo Jing breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

Meng Li and Mu Nianci were also happy.

But this happiness was soon interrupted by Medicine Master Huang.

"The second and third rounds will be Literary Tests."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke looked delighted.

Hong Qi couldn't help but say: "Old Evil Huang, you're being biased now. We agreed to test Martial Arts, so why has it changed to a Literary Test?"

Medicine Master Huang replied: "When did I ever say it would only be Martial Arts?"

Hong Qi: "..."

Huang Rong immediately protested: "Father, how can you go back on your word again?!"

Medicine Master Huang ignored her.

Guo Jing and Mu Nianci both looked at Meng Li simultaneously.

Because Meng Li had said yesterday that Medicine Master Huang would likely arrange two Literary Tests, and now it had come true.

Then, Medicine Master Huang said: "The second trial is to ask the two Nephews to appreciate a piece of music I play. This piece is very common; each of you take a bamboo branch and strike it to the rhythm of my flute. Whoever strikes best wins."

Ouyang Ke was immediately overjoyed.

Because Guo Jing clearly didn't understand music.

And that was indeed the case.

After announcing the rules, Medicine Master Huang had the others watch from a distance and then began to play.

Guo Jing and Ouyang Ke listened while tapping out the rhythm.

As a result, Ouyang Ke, who had some knowledge of music, could understand it, while Guo Jing was completely bewildered.

In the end, Ouyang Ke won.

For the third round, Medicine Master Huang led everyone to his wife's Memorial Tablet, took out a booklet, and said: "My Late Wife and I only had this one daughter. She unfortunately passed away after our daughter was born. Now, I am honored that you two have come to seek her hand in marriage."

"My wife's soul in heaven will surely be very happy to know this."

"This booklet was written by my Late Wife herself; it is the fruit of her painstaking efforts. I will now give it to each of you to read once, and then you will recite its contents."

"Whoever recites more and more accurately, I will betroth my daughter to him."

After he finished speaking, Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke were secretly pleased.

Hong Qi wasn't having it: "Old Evil Huang, you know full well my disciple isn't well-versed in literature, yet now you're asking him to compete in recitation. Isn't this blatant favoritism?"

Huang Rong also protested: "Father, you're being too biased."

Mu Nianci also frowned at this.

Meng Li thought to himself that it was just as expected, but his expression remained calm: "Since that's the case, let's get started quickly."

Hearing this, everyone else present was surprised.

Because the situation was clearly unfavorable to Guo Jing, and Meng Li's stance was on Guo Jing's side, yet now he wasn't helping and was instead urging the contest to begin.

What was going on?

Hong Qi, Medicine Master Huang, Ouyang Feng, and Ouyang Ke were puzzled.

Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and Mu Nianci were equally confused, but in an instant, they suddenly remembered that Meng Li could divine the future.

Could there be some hidden secret that ensured Guo Jing's victory?

At this moment, Medicine Master Huang took the opportunity to announce the start and formally showed the booklet, which had "The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual" written on it.

Ouyang Ke was shocked.

Ouyang Feng was both shocked and delighted.

Guo Jing also felt a surge of pleasant surprise because he remembered that back in the cave, Meng Li had made him memorize a set of Mnemonics, which were precisely the contents of The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual. At the time, Meng Li said it was just in case; he didn't quite understand, but out of trust, he had memorized it all.

Mu Nianci was equally pleasantly surprised.

"You predicted long ago that Island Master Huang would have Brother Jing recite The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual?" She held Meng Li's hand and wrote the question in his palm.

"Um."

Meng Li replied with a single word.

Just then, the contest officially began...