Chapter Fourteen: The Contest

On this day, the Yang family estate was especially lively. It was a day long anticipated by many, and some had arrived early at the training grounds, securing the best spots to await the arrival of certain individuals.

Within the secluded courtyard, Yang Ze, after washing and dressing, donned a black fitted robe and slung his formidable blade across his back. The morning sun poured over him, radiating vitality from every pore.

Old Xie stood behind Yang Ze, his loyal servant and perhaps the only one in this contest who truly believed Yang Ze would triumph. Checking the time, Yang Ze deemed it nearly right and, with Old Xie in tow, made his way toward the training grounds.

By now, hundreds had gathered within the arena—a dense crowd blocking the entrance, with more streaming in from various corners of the estate to witness the spectacle. The Yang family employed around a hundred servants, two hundred guards, and one or two hundred branch family members. Most of the estate’s population had turned out for the event.

The estate was usually tranquil, with little ever happening, so when such excitement arose, everyone was drawn in, eager to watch the drama unfold.

As Yang Ze entered the training ground, all eyes immediately fixed upon him. In recent months, Yang Ze had become the most renowned figure in the Yang estate. He had broken through in martial arts, easily defeated Yang De Yi, and even slain the vice leader of the Shocking Sea Gang, Niu Juli, a high-level practitioner of Qi Induction. With such tales circulating, Yang Ze’s reputation had grown far beyond what it once was.

He had previously been an unremarkable youth, of average talent and timid disposition, almost invisible within the family, as if he mattered little. Now, people sought his acquaintance, believing Yang Ze destined for great achievements.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Yang Ze’s expression remained calm as he strode step by step to the center of the training ground, heading for the largest martial stage.

At the same time, Yang Hai appeared at the far end of the arena, instantly drawing the crowd’s attention. This prodigy of the Yang family stepped onto the stage.

When both stood upon the martial platform, their gazes locked, neither yielding.

Below, Yang Yuan Zhen arrived with four elders. The duel was Yang Ze’s idea, and Yang Yuan Zhen had personally agreed to it; both contestants were his sons, so his presence was inevitable.

Yang Yuan Zhen looked at his two sons with tranquil eyes and spoke in an even tone, “Both of you are my sons. This match is meant for friendly competition. I hope you’ll show restraint and not injure each other.”

As he spoke, his gaze mostly lingered on Yang Hai, as if convinced Yang Ze was not his equal, and urging Yang Hai to hold back.

Yang Hai and Yang Ze both assented, though confusion clouded Yang Ze’s heart. Despite his recent demonstrations of strength, his father seemed so certain Yang Hai would best him. All the more reason, then, to defeat Yang Hai and prove his own power!

Their final exchange of looks ended as Yang Yuan Zhen gave the signal, and simultaneously both rushed forward, colliding at the center of the stage.

This duel mattered greatly to both. Yang Hai did not underestimate his brother, nor did he taunt him with offers of first strike; instead, he unleashed his full strength from the start.

Yang Hai’s fists rained down on Yang Ze like a storm. Yang Ze did not rush to counterattack; instead, he began with defense, hands ceaselessly blocking each blow.

This was the experience he’d accumulated over time: when at a disadvantage, facing an opponent whose true strength was unknown, it was best to probe first.

Sure enough, from the first exchange, Yang Ze sensed Yang Hai’s power far surpassed that of other Qi Induction novices. In terms of sheer strength, Yang Ze was not Yang Hai’s equal; within their rank, Yang Hai was among the strongest.

Luckily, Yang Ze had not tried to match him head-on. Had he done so, he would have surely been exhausted before Yang Hai.

On the other side, Yang Hai’s face remained impassive, his large, cold eyes fixed on Yang Ze. Seeing his opening attack fail to subdue Yang Ze, he did not relent. Drawing a deep breath, he pressed his assault even harder.

Yang Ze dared not be careless; he knew this was the crucial moment—his own Qi must not be disrupted by Yang Hai. The second level of the Sea Heart Technique activated, unleashing his internal strength. His fists and palms alternated rapidly, warding off Yang Hai’s attacks.

Each punch and palm was blocked; every bodily collision between them produced muffled sounds, underscoring the intensity of their battle.

Yet as his assault failed to break through, Yang Hai’s patience waned. Suddenly, he swept a leg across, exposing a gap.

But Yang Ze, seeing the opening, did not attack. Instead, he dodged, and in that instant, a blade flashed forth—Yang Ze retreated, evading the strike.

Yang Hai’s long blade in hand revealed that the gap had been a deliberate lure, hoping to tempt Yang Ze into attacking. Yet Yang Ze had not fallen for the trap, and Yang Hai’s blade cleaved only air.

Yang Ze said nothing. Fortunately, his experience in combat had made him cautious, otherwise that blade would have left him dead or crippled.

Seeing that Yang Yuan Zhen below showed no reaction, Yang Ze drew his own blade. Now that both were serious, there was no need to hold back.

As both brandished their blades, murmurs swept through the crowd. It was no secret that both had mastered the Black Tiger Blade Technique—news that had spread throughout the Yang family.

Their earlier hand-to-hand combat was fierce, but weapon techniques promised far more excitement.

Yang Hai fixed his gaze on Yang Ze. With a flick of his wrist, he lunged forward, blade gleaming as he unleashed the Black Tiger Blade Technique.

Yang Ze no longer retreated. In truth, once the Black Tiger Blade Technique was employed, there was no option for retreat—the technique was pure offense, no room for evasion. As both brothers displayed their blade skills, it was clear that victory would soon be decided.

Blades clashed. As Yang Hai executed the Tiger Kill, Yang Ze countered with the Tiger’s Roar—long blades collided, and both weapons rebounded.

Yang Hai gathered his strength, spinning his blade to deliver a horizontal slash—the Tiger’s Roar.

Yang Ze did likewise, but astonishingly managed to strike first, his Tiger’s Roar cutting across before Yang Hai’s.

In that instant, as their blades met again, Yang Hai felt his own weapon suppressed, his strength dispersed.

He faltered. Yang Ze’s blade pressed in, forcing Yang Hai to block, but Yang Hai could only stagger back a step.

That single step back allowed Yang Ze’s Qi to surge anew, generating fresh strength. Driven by the Sea Heart Technique, his arm muscles tensed, both hands gripping the blade, channeling all his power into it.

Whoosh!

In that moment, Yang Ze no longer saw Yang Hai as a person, but as one of the wild beasts he had slain countless times beyond the city in the past two months. He poured the entirety of his beast-slaying blade mastery into this attack on Yang Hai.

Yang Ze unleashed his final, full-force move—Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain—slashing straight for Yang Hai’s face.

Yang Hai’s expression changed dramatically. He had not expected that a single moment’s hesitation would let Yang Ze launch such a decisive attack, executed with the precision of countless rehearsals, utterly fluid and relentless.

As the blade descended, Yang Hai felt its oppressive force. His Qi was already in disarray; his strength would not rise. He managed to muster his energy for a desperate counter—he, too, unleashed Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain—but in momentum, his attack was far inferior.

Yang Hai’s blade struck, but the instant their weapons met, his own was sent flying, the little strength he had gathered dissipating completely. He could summon no new power, leaving himself utterly exposed to Yang Ze’s blade.

Yang Ze’s Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain did not falter, its momentum carrying forward. With this strike, Yang Hai would surely die!

At the critical moment, Yang Yuan Zhen seized a stone from the ground and dashed forward, hurling it at Yang Ze’s blade just before it could fall.

The stone struck the blade, throwing Yang Ze off balance. The apex of his attack was instantly broken, his Qi disrupted, forcing him to withdraw his blade and retreat.

Yang Yuan Zhen now stood between the two brothers, clearly intent on preventing further combat.

“That’s enough. This exchange ends here. I told you not to go too far, Yang Ze—were you aiming for your brother’s life?” Yang Yuan Zhen chided, and Yang Ze said nothing in return.

“The duel is over. Yang Ze is the victor. Everyone may disperse.” Though he reprimanded Yang Ze, Yang Yuan Zhen nonetheless announced the final result.

At his declaration, the crowd erupted in lively discussion. Yang Ze had won! Against all expectations, he had defeated the Yang family’s prodigy, Yang Hai.

Hearing the murmurs below, Yang Hai’s face darkened. He could not accept the outcome—he had lost to the brother he had always looked down upon.

“Father, I object! I didn’t use my full strength—I haven’t even used my One Qi Finger. I demand a rematch!” Yang Hai protested stubbornly.

“Enough. A loss is a loss. If this were a fight to the death, you’d be a corpse now—what excuses can you offer? Rather than searching for reasons, you’d do better to return and train harder. Take him away,” Yang Yuan Zhen ordered, seeing his eldest son’s defiant attitude.

With Yang Yuan Zhen visibly angered, the crowd quickly dispersed. Yang Hai dared not protest further—everyone in the Yang family knew Yang Yuan Zhen’s temper, and none would risk provoking him.

Soon, most of the spectators were gone. Yang Yuan Zhen turned to the silent Yang Ze at his side and said, “Come with me. There’s something I wish to discuss with you.”