The entire reception hall fell silent.
Everyone’s expressions varied.
Shen Dao furrowed his brows slightly, sighing inwardly.
This Junior Brother Zhao is still too young.
Xia Cunyi clearly came well-prepared, I even warned him, yet he was provoked by a few words into accepting.
Thinking of backing out now is impossible.
After all, in front of so many people, how can martial artists go back on their word?
Miao Shaocheng and Xu De also looked anxious.
Xia Cunyi, however, was delighted.
His fear was that Zhao Ya wouldn’t accept.
As long as he agreed, Xia Cunyi was confident he could publicly defeat him, to show him the might of Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall.
This way, not only could the honor of the master and the martial hall be restored, but they could also overshadow Dingtai Martial Arts Hall.
The crucial point is that others wouldn’t be able to say anything.
After all, for martial artists, settling disputes through a contest is a common practice.
"Good, Junior Brother Zhao is indeed straightforward, so let’s begin now," Xia Cunyi said with a smile.
Zhao Ya didn’t immediately enter the field but looked at Xia Cunyi and spoke.
"Shall we just fight like this?"
"What do you mean?" Xia Cunyi was taken aback.
Zhao Ya sighed, "My time is very precious, so I can’t fight you for nothing, right?"
Xia Cunyi’s smile gradually faded, staring coldly at Zhao Ya.
"Then what does Junior Brother Zhao propose?"
"I think it’s better to add a wager, like whoever loses has to pay a thousand taels of gold to the winner for good luck. What does Senior Brother Xia think?"
Xia Cunyi didn’t immediately agree, hesitating for a moment.
He was puzzled by Zhao Ya’s confidence in winning. Could it be that he had some trump card Xia Cunyi wasn’t aware of?
Just as Xia Cunyi hesitated, Zhao Ya’s voice drifted over again.
"What’s wrong? Senior Brother Xia, are you hesitating? If so, then forget it, I have a lot of other things to do."
Zhao Ya smiled bashfully, like a fledgling new to the Jianghu, simple and harmless.
Yet Xia Cunyi was indeed bluffed by Zhao Ya’s demeanor, he sneered internally.
In his view, this guy was definitely putting on airs, trying to pressure him into backing out through such means.
But he couldn’t blame anyone else, after all, it was this guy who suggested adding stakes.
So, he smiled slightly, "I’m not hesitating; I just think Junior Brother Zhao’s suggestion is quite good."
"Then it’s settled?" Zhao Ya asked in return.
"Of course!" Xia Cunyi responded proudly.
"Good, words alone can’t be trusted, let’s put it in writing."
Zhao Ya tediously got pen and ink, quickly scribbling a wager agreement, and then placed it in front of Xia Cunyi.
"Senior Brother Xia, see if there’s anything wrong with it."
Xia Cunyi sneered inwardly, thinking Zhao Ya was deliberately stalling for time.
So he just skimmed it before picking up the pen to sign his name.
"Can we start now?" Xia Cunyi asked coldly.
"Of course! Shall we compare weapons or fists?" Zhao Ya asked with a smile.
"Fists, since weapons are dangerous, let’s just spar lightly to avoid injury," Xia Cunyi said.
His words sounded noble, but they were laden with hidden meaning.
It’s well known that Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall excels in palm techniques, their Heaven-Flipping Palm is renowned throughout the Commandery.
Xia Cunyi, being the third disciple of Yuan Chenfeng, naturally had the full transmission.
Now he suggested a fistfight, clearly intending to use the Heaven-Flipping Palm to defeat Zhao Ya.
Shen Dao and others felt anxious upon hearing this.
But Zhao Ya still smiled cheerfully, "Alright, let’s compare fists, Senior Brother Xia, please!"
With a swift move, Xia Cunyi came to the courtyard, his movements clean and fluid like clouds and flowing water.
His appearance alone elicited cheers from the people of Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall.
In contrast, Zhao Ya’s performance seemed much inferior. He slowly removed his outer robe before stepping into the courtyard bit by bit.
"Junior Brother Zhao, please make your move!" Xia Cunyi posed and invited.
Zhao Ya was not polite, raising his hand in a fist salute, "Then forgive me."
With those words, Zhao Ya formed a fist from his palm, stepped forward, and launched a punch.
Shen Dao, watching, was somewhat perplexed.
This was because Zhao Ya used not the Great Vajra Fist, a specialty of Dingtai Martial Arts Hall, but instead the obscure Five Tiger Fist.
Shen Dao had seen Zhao Ya practice this fist technique and found it indeed had its merits.
But thinking he could win against Xia Cunyi with it was quite like a fool’s dream.
And sure enough.
Though the punch came fiercely, Xia Cunyi remained calm.
He thought of the bet and agreement earlier, which had made him a bit anxious, perhaps thinking this guy had some skills after all.
But now, seeing this?
With that thought, Xia Cunyi couldn’t help feeling some disdain, raising his hand to unleash a palm, striking directly at Zhao Ya’s incoming fist.
Zhao Ya stepped back to avoid it.
Xia Cunyi seized the opportunity to close in, his double palms dancing like the wind, never straying from Zhao Ya’s arms.
The Heaven-Flipping Palm is sharp, primarily because when practiced to a high level, the palm itself becomes a lethal weapon.
It’s said to be as hard as a drill at the center, sharp as a knife at the edge, and powerful as a hammer at the back.
These claims are no exaggeration; if struck by this palm, it’s even worse than being cut by a genuine blade.
At least a blade wound can heal, but if struck by the edge of this palm, the inner tendons and bones would be shattered, making future martial practice impossible.