Chapter 394 - 189: Choosing a Master (3)

At once, many of the Jianghu People present who were either unversed in music or not skilled enough in martial arts glared angrily toward the source of the voice.

But when they saw who it was, they quickly reined in their anger.

They were terrified that if they were a moment too late, the speaker would notice...

For the speaker was none other than Yan Wushuang, the vice-president of the Hundred Treasures Association.

The woman’s eyes were long and narrow like a phoenix’s, a sharp glint hidden within them. She chuckled softly.

"What is it? Does everyone here find this inappropriate?"

"Not at all, not at all."

Everyone shook their heads.

"Good."

Yan Wushuang chuckled softly and turned to Jiang Ran.

"I wonder, is Young Hero Jiang planning to hold the martial contest first, or the musical one?"

"If we begin with music, I fear the most skilled martial artists will not be satisfied."

"If we begin with martial arts, our musically-inclined peers in the Jianghu will surely feel slighted."

"However, one cannot have the best of both worlds."

"Between the two, I must choose one. Therefore, I will prioritize martial arts over music."

"Because ultimately, protecting the Jiaowei will come down to one’s martial skill."

"I only ask that those who are unversed in music refrain from stepping onto the stage."

Jiang Ran spoke softly, gesturing with one arm toward an open space in the middle of Sunset Plateau. However, that space was currently filled with people.

Jiang Ran gave a wry smile.

"If you would all please make some room. I left this area open for the competition, not as a viewing gallery..."

As he said this, the faces of the Jianghu People in the clearing flushed red. They hastily leaped away, scattering in all directions like a flock of startled birds.

"Alright. Those among you who consider yourselves proficient in both music and martial arts may take the stage."

"However, blades have no eyes, and fists know no mercy. I ask that you all show restraint and stop once a victor is clear!"

After speaking, Jiang Ran waved a hand, opening the box. With another flick of his sleeve, the Jiaowei zither leaped out and landed securely in his palm.

He then scanned the crowd before giving his hand a light shake.

The Jiaowei was tossed slightly into the air. Jiang Ran swept his sleeve, and with a WHOOSH, the zither shot through the air, heading straight for the cliff face.

"Ah!"

Seeing this, the hearts of countless people leaped into their throats. They thought Jiang Ran had lost his mind.

’He talks a good game, but he’s actually trying to destroy the Jiaowei in front of everyone! If he can’t have it, no one can!’

A few people wanted to stop it, but the Jiaowei was like an arrow loosed from a bow. How could they possibly block it?

With a THUNK, the Jiaowei embedded itself two and a half inches deep into the cliff face. Its strings were perfectly still, not even quivering from the impact.

"This..."

A wave of sharp, collective gasps swept through the entire gathering.

Jiang Ran felt the air grow warmer.

It was because none of them had ever imagined that Jiang Ran’s martial skill was so profound.

With a mere wave of his hand, he had driven the Jiaowei into the rock wall as if it were a block of tofu.

This was no simple feat of brute strength.

The fact that the Jiaowei was completely undamaged showed that Jiang Ran’s combination of power and finesse far surpassed that of almost everyone present.

"The Jiaowei is right there."

Jiang Ran pointed. "Gentlemen, it’s all up to your own skills now."

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and hauled the man in front of his table to his feet. "What about you?"

The man stared blankly. "Let... let me go..."

Jiang Ran studied the man’s face, then reached out and rubbed at his cheek. Finally, he shook his head, tossed the man aside, and ignored him.

He sat back down, tidied the teapot and cups on his table, poured himself a cup of tea, and settled in to watch the show.

Just then, a figure leaped into the clearing.

After landing, the man sat down cross-legged. He flipped one palm upward, channeling his Inner Strength. An object flew from his back, and he caught it, placing it across his lap.

He spoke softly.

"I am determined to have this Jiaowei. I won’t stand by while you lot waste time with opening acts. If you’re not afraid to die, then step forward and make your move!"

"Yan Wengge!?"

"He’s making his move already?"

"So impatient. He must be truly excited by the prize."

Jiang Ran hadn’t expected the first person to make a move would be Yan Wengge.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. ’This is good, too. Better than some nobody starting things off, then fighting through them one by one. How long would that take?’

Just as he was thinking this, a voice boomed with laughter.

"Others may fear your Seven-Stringed Zither Manual, Yan Wengge, but I don’t!"

A whistling sound cut through the air as a rather short man bounded across the open space.

He landed on one foot, and the ground trembled with a BOOM.

A cloud of sand and dust instantly billowed out in all directions.

When the crowd got a good look at him, someone immediately started cursing.

"Cripple Sun, have you no shame!?"

"Exactly! Young Hero Jiang made it perfectly clear! Only those who understand music can take the stage to compete."

"You’re an illiterate brute, what the hell would you know about music!"

"The nerve of him!"

"Cripple Sun" was not his real name, of course. The man’s actual name was Sun He.

He’d had a leg ailment since childhood that made walking difficult. Although his condition improved greatly after he began practicing martial arts, a discerning eye could still tell something was wrong with his leg.

An enemy had given him the moniker "Cripple Sun," and over time, the name stuck.

Cripple Sun glared at the crowd and roared.

"That’s a load of fucking bullshit! I’m not your damn father, so how the hell would any of you know whether I understand music or not?"

"Yan Wengge, I’ve long heard that your Seven-Stringed Zither Manual is Swordsmanship masquerading as a sound-based technique."

"Today, I’m here to test that claim!"

Yan Wengge’s brow furrowed slightly as he gently shook his head.

"If you are so musically inclined, then let me ask you: what are the five notes?"

"...One, two, three, four, five?"

Cripple Sun asked tentatively.

"They are Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu."

Yan Wengge sighed. "But no matter. Make your move."

Realizing he’d made a fool of himself, Cripple Sun let out an enraged roar. He spun and charged, his entire body hurtling toward Yan Wengge like a scrawny titan wreathed in thunder.

Yan Wengge didn’t even look up, merely brushing a hand across his zither’s strings.

TWANG!

A note rang out, sharp as the cry of a sword, lancing through the air.