Ma Zongzhou smiled slightly and said, "Do you know why I said you could never be the top scorer?"
Chen Shi asked incredulously, "Could it be that you are saying you are the destined top scorer?"
Wang Ping chided, "Brother Chen, how can you speak like that? If Brother Ma becomes the top scorer, isn’t that just desserts? Compared to family background, heritage, official rank, and legacy, which can you surpass Brother Ma in?"
Ma Zongzhou shook his head and spoke seriously, "Brother Wang, you are mistaken. The court has always despised cheating in the Imperial Examination. The Imperial Examination and the imperial examination test talent and capability. If it’s just about background, then why bother to hold exams?"
Wang Ping agreed repeatedly, saying, "Brother Ma is right. With your vast talents and unrivaled strength, you will surely be the top scorer in the Imperial Examination and the top scorer in the imperial examination."
Ma Zongzhou’s expression grew solemn, and he shook his head, saying, "Although I regard myself highly, I also know that I am not the material for the top scorer. In the past, I might have been able to compete with scholars from fifty provinces of the West Bull New Continent to see who’s better, but this spring’s Imperial Examination is different. Among the scholars participating this time, there is one whose presence I too respect. He is..."
His expression grew ever more serious, and with a look of reverence, he whispered, "Young Master."
Chen Shi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Sun Yisheng also frowned slightly, clearly having heard the title ’Young Master’ before.
Others were somewhat puzzled by this name, while some seemed very excited. The title ’Young Master’ had gradually spread.
Ma Zongzhou said, "Although I consider myself no less than the progeny of other families and no weaker than any hero under heaven, faced with Young Master, I feel ashamed and willingly admit my inferiority. If Young Master participates in this Imperial Examination, he will surely be the top scorer. No one could snatch his place as the top scorer!"
He looked at Chen Shi, smiled slightly, and said, "As for a ’mud-legged’ top scorer, that’s even more impossible."
Chen Shi, warming himself by the fire, said indifferently, "Is Young Master also participating in this Imperial Examination? So, the top scorer has already been predetermined for him. I was wondering who could have such influence. It turns out to be him. However, Young Master, I will fight, and the ’mud-legged’ top scorer, I will also win!"
Sun Yisheng was surprised and was about to speak, but after a thought, he hesitated, thinking, "Young people are naturally spirited. I was like that at his age. But Young Master’s position as top scorer, indeed, cannot be challenged, let alone fought over!"
He had been an official in the Western Capital, and had already heard about the renown of Young Master.
The origins of this Young Master had long been the talk of the Western Capital.
Young Master vying for the top scorer—who would dare compete with him?
To compete against him was sheer folly!
Ma Zongzhou looked around with a mocking smile and said, "You are all sons of good families, why bother associating with such ruffians?"
Zhou Qianying asked puzzledly, "Ruffians?"
Ma Zongzhou glanced at Chen Shi and sneered, "Mr. Chen has caused havoc in Qingzhou, posing as the Red Horse Bandit, robbed many life-extending Spiritual Medicines from our Ma Family, and even committed murder and arson. The leading philanthropic family of Qingzhou was wiped out by him, not a single survivor!"
People exclaimed in shock and moved further away from the wooden cart.
Chen Shi’s complexion, still somewhat sickly pale, looked up at Ma Zongzhou and smiled, saying, "Your Ma Family has committed so many evils in Qingzhou. The fact that I didn’t kill you on the spot upon hearing your family name already shows my Buddha-like compassion."
The towering muscular man next to Ma Zongzhou roared angrily, stepped forward, and with a terrifying presence pressed against Chen Shi, shouted, "Dare to speak to Young Master Ma like that, I will break your three ribs as an apology!"
With his step forward, truly as if thunder was added, it forced everyone to involuntarily slide back several steps. ƒrēeNovelHub.com
Sun Yisheng flashed in front of the wooden cart, stood off against the muscular giant, whose eyes bulged as he activated his Yellow Turban Warrior True Body, threw a punch that thundered and even intermingled lightning in the air.
Sun Yisheng’s expression changed instantly, and spiritual power burst forth.
He was far from the stage of severing the Three Corpse to refine his Pure Yang Primordial Spirit. Facing such a close-range fighter capable of thundering impacts with just his physical strength, he felt apprehensive.
This kind of attack could harm his Primordial Spirit!
Under normal circumstances, he could have maintained a distance, soared into the sky, and used magical skills to break the giant’s True Body, then kill him. But now, injured and also needing to protect Chen Shi, he could only meet force with force.
Chen Shi’s voice came through, "Mr. Sun, can you hold on?"
Sun Yisheng took the hit from the muscular giant and grunted, suppressing the wound in his Primordial Spirit, and said with a deep voice, "I can hold on. You go first, don’t worry about me! I will catch up with you!"
Chen Shi put down the Sheep Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp, puzzled, "Go? Where?"
He stood up, descended from the wooden cart, and said to Ma Zongzhou, "Brother Ma, we met for the first time, and your muscular companion here wants to break my three ribs."
Ma Zongzhou smiled and said, "Three ribs too few? I can add two more. Chen Shi, I’m not humiliating you. Hand over the Spiritual Medicines you stole, and I assure your safety."
Chen Shi’s pale face, chilled by the wind, shivered and he earnestly said, "Brother Ma, if you want to break my three ribs, I’ll also break just your three. Don’t fight back; if you do, I might kill you in a provoked state."
Sun Yisheng’s heart raced, "What is he doing? I told him to run for his life, what is he planning? He shouldn’t be reckless!"
He secretly worried, but the Yellow Turban Warrior True Body giant before him, with punches and kicks like splitting mountains, accompanied by roaring thunders, made him extremely uncomfortable. His Primordial Spirit was already damaged, and now it was further injured, leaving him unable to intervene.
Ma Zongzhou sized up Chen Shi and smiled, "Your injuries haven’t healed yet, could it be tuberculosis? I’ll let you strike first."
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