Damn!
The sensation of blood rushing to his head left Black Fang feeling dazed!
You're so handsome, why cover your face?
"Is that him?"
Someone in the Black Mountain Camp recognized Tang Wen.
"What, you know him?"
The man from the Black Mountain Camp clicked his tongue. "Met him once, left a deep impression. He's only eighteen, I think."
"What?"
"An eighteen-year-old Martial Master?"
"Don't joke around!"
"Impossible!"
"He probably just looks young."
The man from the Black Mountain Camp didn't elaborate. He knew no one would believe him anyway.
He stared intently at Tang Wen's face, silently committing this to memory.
The fight continued.
Bang!
Black Fang used a risky move to hook off the black cloth covering Tang Wen's face.
But in doing so, he took a sharp elbow strike to his ribs from Tang Wen.
He grunted in pain.
His ribs, tougher than steel, felt like they were cracking!
At the very least, they were fractured.
Black Fang cursed inwardly, forcing himself to take a deep breath.
His fists began to swing wildly.
Thirteen consecutive explosions!
Tang Wen blocked with both arms, simultaneously preparing to counter.
I don't believe it!
How many more times can you, a mere second-rate Martial Master, keep this up?
Can your stamina really defy the heavens?
I'll fight to the end!
Even if you're made of steel, I'll smash you to pieces today!
The dark energy around him grew thicker.
Tang Wen's fists clashed with the black energy, and he felt an inexplicable sense of sluggishness.
Not good!
Is this guy about to break through mid-fight?
"Hey!" Tang Wen exhaled sharply, his voice like thunder.
Head-on Cannon, Pronunciation Secret Skill.
Black Fang's mind went blank for a moment.
His defenses slowed by half a beat.
He cursed inwardly, his resolve hardening. He shifted his fists into claws, aiming for Tang Wen's shoulders.
Trading injury for injury!
He had trained in Eagle Claw Technique. If he landed this strike, he could gouge out five bloody holes!
By now, both of their outer garments were torn, leaving only their inner clothing.
Facing this claw strike, Tang Wen tilted his head slightly while swinging his other fist.
Bang!
Black Fang took a solid punch to the chest from Tang Wen.
His rock-solid muscles caved in.
At the same time, Black Fang's hand grabbed Tang Wen's shoulder.
With a tearing sound, his fingers failed to penetrate.
"You're wearing inner armor?"
Black Fang exclaimed in surprise.
Tang Wen's other fist was already on its way.
It landed squarely on Black Fang's right chest, the force exploding outward.
The impact sent Black Fang flying.
Thud!
Tang Wen's other hand clamped down on Black Fang's wrist.
He yanked Black Fang's flying body back!
Black Fang wanted to escape, but there was no way out.
"Not good!"
"We concede!"
Black Fang's companions, watching from the sidelines, shouted.
Tang Wen ignored them, delivering punch after punch.
"Show mercy!"
"How dare you!"
Two punches later, Black Fang was spitting blood, half-dead.
The onlookers were all shocked.
Tang Wen aimed for his head, ready to deliver another blow, when suddenly, his vision blurred, and his fist was blocked.
"Enough, you've won. Spare his life."
The one who intervened was the Zheng Family Head.
Black Fang could die, but not in Five Families City.
Otherwise, the Five Great Families would have no way to explain it to the Black Mountain King.
"Fine, out of respect for the Zheng Family Head, I'll spare your life!"
Tang Wen thought it was a pity. Killing Black Fang now would not only strike a blow to the Black Mountain Camp but also tie Five Families City and their Flame Camp to the same boat.
That last punch should've been aimed at his head!
"Thank you, Zheng Family Head." Someone from the Black Mountain Camp stepped forward to feed Black Fang an elixir.
Without uttering a single threat, they quickly left.
Tang Wen watched their retreating figures, his eyes gleaming with intensity, as if he wanted to chase after them immediately.
The Zheng Family Head thought to himself: Good heavens, so young and yet so decisive, does he really want to eliminate the root of the problem?
He quickly stopped Tang Wen: "Hehe, Commander Tang, you're about to spar with my daughter! If you win, you'll become the esteemed son-in-law of our Zheng family!"
Tang Wen's eyebrows twitched at the mention of being the esteemed son-in-law. According to the script, he was supposed to lose to her daughter.
"Alright, then I'll ask for Miss Zheng's guidance."
Seeing that things couldn't be changed, Tang Wen gave up on his original plan.
"It's a battle of attrition!"
"The Zheng family clearly doesn't want to marry their daughter to an outsider."
"Miss Zheng is a third-grade Martial Master. I wonder if Commander Tang has the fortune to win her heart."
"If it were me, I'd take medicine and fight for it."
"Hehehe."
The men exchanged knowing laughter.
The Zheng Family Head sent a voice transmission to his daughter: "Just fight freely. I've already arranged everything, so don't worry."
"Mmm," Zheng Nanzhu, tall and beautiful, felt a mix of emotions.
She had been present when Tang Wen and her father discussed the terms of the match.
She knew full well that Tang Wen was only participating for the benefits.
If it were up to him, he wouldn't have joined her martial arts competition at all.
Young Miss Zheng stepped into the arena, her beautiful eyes filled with affection as they fixed on Tang Wen.
Handsome, talented, and powerful.
He seemed flawless.
And his wife's background was something she couldn't afford to provoke.
Young Miss Zheng's heart was in turmoil, silently reminding herself that this was all just an act.
"Miss Zheng, please!" Tang Wen spoke first.
"Commander Tang, please!"
Tang Wen assumed his stance and waited for several breaths, but the woman opposite him didn't make a move.
The onlookers were puzzled.
Unable to wait any longer, Tang Wen said, "Excuse me!" and threw a punch toward Miss Zheng's shoulder.
Miss Zheng's movements were agile, and she turned her body to avoid it.
Neither of them unleashed their full strength.
It didn't look like a serious match, more like a playful spar between martial siblings.
Miss Zheng was thinking about losing.
Tang Wen was too lazy to exert much effort.
The martial experts in the crowd were confused.
"Why isn't Commander Tang quickly overpowering this beautiful lady? Was he too exhausted earlier?"
More than a dozen moves passed in a flash.
Tang Wen was losing patience: Miss Zheng, are you playing around? Attack me! Why are you only dodging and not attacking?
Seeing Tang Wen's anxious expression, Miss Zheng gritted her teeth.
Am I really that unappealing?
Do you feel nothing for me?
Do you really want to lose that badly?
Then I won't attack you!
Let's see how you lose!
Not attacking was her final act of defiance.
Another dozen moves passed.
Miss Zheng still only dodged and didn't attack. Tang Wen couldn't wait any longer.
He turned to block the view of the crowd, and with a burst of speed from his right hand, he grabbed Miss Zheng's left wrist and pulled it hard against his chest.
With a light push from his feet, Tang Wen leaned back and flew into the air.
He took several steps back, landing at just the right distance to be caught by Commander Qian.
The act was over. Tang Wen sighed loudly: "Miss Zheng's family teachings are profound. I'm no match! Old Huang, according to the rules, I've lost. I'm too exhausted, so I'll take my leave!"
Without waiting for the stunned reactions of the crowd, he disappeared down the street in a flash.
"Hey! Don't leave!" Zheng Nanzhu's heart was a whirlwind of emotions.
But Tang Wen didn't look back, leaving directly.
Stay?
Stay and build a three-bedroom apartment on the spot?
Two hours later, at the Wang family.
The steward of the Wang family looked at Tang Wen with surprise and said, "Commander Tang Wen, why are you in such a hurry? You've just been through a series of intense battles. Shouldn't you rest for the night before proceeding?"
"Thank you for your concern, but it's unnecessary. I'll try to gain some insights quickly and return to the camp," Tang Wen replied, his spirits already restored after a short nap.
The steward had no choice but to nod. "Very well, please follow me. Our family's ancestral Visualization Hard Skill is called the 'Golden Bell Shield.' Commander Tang, you only have one night to study it. Forgive my bluntness, but no one has ever mastered it in a single night."
"I understand. I merely wish to gain some inspiration and broaden my horizons while I'm still young," Tang Wen replied.
Since the Wang family head had already agreed, the steward had no reason to refuse.
Fifteen minutes later, Tang Wen arrived at a secluded meditation chamber.
On the wall of the chamber was a mural, shimmering with golden light.
Outside the door, the steward instructed the guard, "At exactly nine-thirty tomorrow morning, knock on the door and let him out!"
"Don't worry, Steward. Hehe! This Commander Tang has no idea that our Wang family's Golden Bell Shield requires unwavering mental fortitude and meticulous effort to cultivate. Even with his talent, he won't be able to grasp the true essence on his first try!"
The steward nodded and added, "I really don't know what Tang Wen was thinking. Young Miss Zheng was clearly interested in him earlier, yet he ran off!"
"Interested? Don't talk nonsense. Young Miss Zheng is only worthy of our young master."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"She should be our future family matriarch."
"..."
The martial arts arena f
rom earlier had now turned into a trading ground.
The Zheng family was highly efficient. Everything they had promised—the waterwheel blueprint and the waterwheel craftsmen—had been delivered promptly.
Both sides were satisfied with the transaction.
Only Young Miss Zheng seemed distracted.
In the Wang family's secret chamber, Tang Wen focused his mind and immersed himself in the golden light of the mural.
(End of Chapter)