Romance of Dragons and Snakes

Chapter 72: The grand competition on the straits (Second)

“Even Xu Zhen is here. After you killed his disciple, he will definitely not let things end there. You’d best be careful.” Chen Bin’s initial voice had been harsh, but it had then grown softer with the second phrase. When she spoke, her voice had tickled Wang Chao’s ears.

Today, Chen Bin was wearing a pure black colored blouse and a matching black skirt. When the wind blew, the skirt had rippled in the wind like water.

Her black colored clothing had accentuated her tender creamy skin. Even her facial appearance had been noticeably beautiful so that even Wang Xiaolei and Wu Yingda would sometimes glance her way despite having many beautiful women already around the two.

But they weren’t the only ones. Many disciples that the masters of the Wulin had brought with them had also been attracted to her.

Listening to Chen Bin’s words, Wang Chao’s eyes followed her hints over to one of the parasols. Right underneath one of them was a middle aged man with golden glasses that stared at Wang Chao poisonously. Even without hiding his presence, his strength could easily be felt.

Wang Chao hurriedly averted his gaze and let out a long breath of air. Calming his heart, he pretended such a person didn’t exist.

The senses of an expert was far too sharp. When they had reached the Hidden Jin stage, they were able to detect anything that touched their hair. Even if the enemy didn’t move, they could use the hostility in their eyes to sense something.

Wang Chao’s entire body had already reached such a level. Even if he hadn’t looked at Xu Zhen’s his stare was like a sharp dagger that pierced into his skin, creating an uncomfortable feeling.

“If this goes on during the competition, then there’s a good chance my heart will be thrown into disarray. And in a competition against an expert like Zhang Wei, this could spell out my death!”

Immediately realizing the purpose of Xu Zhen’s malicious stare, Wang Chao began to steel his heart. Eliminating the stabbing sensation he was feeling, he began to feel a sense of gratitude for Chen Bin.

“If I were to enter a state of hypersensitivity during the competition and felt the hostile stare of Xu Zhen, then I would have been stunned by Xu Zhen’s stare and lose.”

But with Chen Bin’s warning, Wang Chao had been prepared. Now this hostile stare of Xu Zhen was pointless against him.

“Thank you.” Wang Chao thanked Chen Bin graciously.

“It wasn’t much. I only wished for the playing field to be equal.” Chen Bin smiled sweetly before turning around to return back to where Chen Aiyang was sitting.

“Director Wang, is the setting to the competition to your liking? There are masters from Southeast Asia, the martial art scholars from Taiwan, and the martial art masters from Hong Kong and Macau. With Xue Lianxin here, the judging will be completely unbiased. You can rest assured.”

When Chen Bin came up to talk to Wang Chao, Zhao Jun hadn’t dared to eavesdrop. As a form of etiquette, he had stepped two steps away and only came forward when Chen Bin had left.

“Director Wang, although you are a very strong martial artist, this must be the first time you’ve made contact with the coastal martial arts world. Come, I’ll help introduce you to everyone.” Zhao Jun had been very precise with his words as if he had done this many times before.

“Director Zhao, there is no need.” Wang Chao spoke. “I’ve brought the 100 million RMB as stated in the contract. As per the regulations, master Zhang Wei and I must sign a waiver in regards to our death. These things shouldn’t be delayed, so let’s start.”

Wang Chao’s refusal had been because there was too many experts here of all sorts of martial art disciplines. If he were to have Zhao Jun introduce him to everyone here, then Wang Chao would have found himself inspecting everyone and their martial art skill, especially Chen Aiyang and Xue Lianxin. With these experts, Wang Chao would have been far too distracted for the real event.

To be distracted within a competition and have a divided heart and mind, that would only result in death.

A competition between experts had to focus on each other’s martial arts. Wang Chao’s ability to study another’s skill was decent enough since he had long since washed away any impurities within him. This had allowed him to focus and concentrate on his observations without any other thoughts.

“That’s fine. The host naturally has to honor the guest’s wishes. Let’s go start then.” Zhao Jun’s eyebrows narrowed together, unexpecting Wang Chao to be that straightforward.

Wang Chao hadn’t said a word as he followed Zhao Jun up to the table right in front of the platform. On it, there was a single brush and a long piece of paper with a seal right next to it.

On the paper was the words, “A fair contest and nondisclosure agreement.”

Signing his name with the brush, Wang Chao then pressed his hand against the sealed ink on the paper.

By this time, Zhang Wei had also reached the table. He was dressed in pure black and wore cloth shoes with an icy expression. Signing his name, he too pressed his hand against the paper.

Afterwards, a uniformed martial artist came forward and spoke, “Will the witness please sign his name.”

As he spoke, Chen Aiyang stood up.

Wang Chao hadn’t looked at Chen Aiyang at all and spoke, “I’ll go change my clothes, please lead the way.” As he spoke, Wang Chao turned away towards the hold of the ship.

“Xiao Chen, that youth isn’t an ordinary person.” Xue Lianxin was already 90 years old with a snow white beard that was combed nicely. As he walked with Chen Aiyang to the front of the table, he spoke of his opinion to him.

“Indeed.” Chen Aiyang’s eyes shined as he nodded. “Judging from his movements, he shouldn’t be that far apparent from Zhang Wei in terms of skill. Most importantly, he’s very calm and collected without any signs of being distracted. It seems that since both sides are equal in strength, this competition will have someone die. How unfortunate.”

“For a martial artist to die on the stage, it is not a death in vain.” Xue Lianxin stroked his beard, “This is a battle between a dragon and a tiger. Only one winner will be seen, but I cannot see just who that winner will be. We should just observe for now.”

In a battle between experts, any factor could change the battle at any given moment. When both sides were equal in strength, only the heavens could predict the winner. No matter who was stronger in martial arts or which master had the sharper eyes, no one would be able to predict the outcome.

By the time the two had walked back to their seats, Wang Chao had already swapped his clothings into a traditional purple Tang robe that was similar to the one Tang Zichen once wore. He wore clothes shoes and slowly stepped forward like a sparrow skipping across the water onto the platform.

At that moment, Zhang Wei came walking up onto the stage.

The platform was made of several thick planks of fir wood with steel binding it to the ship, making it extremely stable.

“Master Zhang, I’ve no grievances against you, but was forced onto this stage. How life enjoys to play tricks on us humans.” Wang Chao suddenly spoke.

One man was an illustrious master of martial arts from Guangdong while the other was a newly established expert from the mainlands. Neither of the two had known of the other and had neither grievance or connection. However, they were now forced to fight against each other to the death, such a fight like this could only make every spectator sigh in regret.

Both were masters of martial arts with skill that could easily kill or save a man’s life, even their own. This was truly the greatest mockery of martial arts.

“When in the Jianghu, one cannot move about freely.” Zhang Wei spoke of a common term from one of the classic scriptures. By now, the two were standing on the platform with a seamless scenery as their backdrop.

Both men on the platform were truly the greatest example of ‘having to compromise to live in the world.’.

Quack! Quack! A loud sound could be heard as a giant rooster with a fiery crest could be seen squawking down below.

The man holding it immediately swung down his knife to cut off the head.

“Begin!”

Instantly, the entire audience went silent with only the wind being audible as it blew.

The teo martial artists were now having a showdown where only they could hear each other breathe.

It was rare to come across a competition between experts, and when would two experts have to sign a document in regards to their death? Most battles with experts had usually rewards of a few millions to well over ten million RMB.

Chirp! Suddenly, the sound of a red-crowned crane could be heard off in a distance! Zhang Wei’s neck had instantly stretched upwards by a bit! Both of his hands opened wide as his right leg stepped forward resolutely. In an instant, he looked as if he was flying forward as his hands transformed into the beak of a crane. Spiralling his hands, he instantly sent them straight towards Wang Chao!

He had been like a giant red-crowned crane in his forward leap with his hands striking at Wang Chao’s throat. He had been ready for action in both defense and offense. The other hand had already pecked at Wang Chao’s right eye.

This was the White Crane style of Wingchun.

When Zhang Wei issued power, his entire body began to shake and his throat had automatically let out the whistling sound of a crane.

His Wingchun had already reached the stage of where the “sound follows the fist”.

Him being one of the Three Tigers of Guangdong was not for show.

Hou! Wang Chao jumped back like a bow being notched as his back began to bulge to take on the form of a tiger. At the same time, his arms had lashed out like an axe ready to cut apart a mountain. His body had avoided the blow coming at his eye and immediately struck towards the fists of Zhang Wei.

Tiger stance Chopping Jin with a vibrating roar.

Tiger stance versus crane stance.

Zhang Wei’s style of fighting had not yet reached an age of decay. As soon as he saw Wang Chao’s fist come chopping down onto his own, the beaked hands had transformed into a fist with his fingers held inside! The sounds of his bones could be heard crackling as it moved.

Borrowing the strength of the explosive Jin in his fists, Zhang Wei had instantly hardened his fist as it struck against Wang Chao’s own blow.

Muscle hit muscle and bone hit bone with a single cracking sound.

The entire platform suddenly began to shake violently.

The beak of the white crane was devoid of explosive power that was only present when it became a fist! Zhang Wei’s ability to circulate his Jin in such a fashion had already reached an extremely detailed state.

When the two cllided, Wang Chao had been forced back three steps as he transmitted the power through his legs. Each step he took to stabilize himself was firmer than the one before, and by the third step, a cracking sound could be heard as the wooden plank beneath his feet had snapped.

Zhang Wei’s legs moved across the ground nearly silently as he opened up his arms, making look as if he was gliding across ice in the style of a crane. In an instant, he had reached the edge of the platform and exploded outwards with a single leap that destroyed the wooden planks beneath him. Borrowing the explosive strength from his leap, Zhang Wei flew towards Wang Chao again.

When the two met fist to fist, both sides had felt like their strike had encountered a giant axe or a hammer. With a monstruous force, their muscles and bones had creaked under the pressure in pain.

When they both retreated backwards, they had secretly moved to relieve the pressure on their fists before Zhang Wei had leapt forward to attack once more.

Wang Chao suddenly turend around and his arms swayed by his waists before lashing out! Bada! When the two arms lashed out, they had spiralled in the motion of a snake with the fists actng as the snake’s head.

“When the snake emerges from its hole, even an Immortal would find it difficult to block.”

The spot by the waistss were the two holes, and Wang Chao’s arms would explode with power as they flung out. His waist would give assistance in the issuing of power with a sinister Jin that was tricky in its movements and fierce in its blow. This was the essence of the snake stance.

When the snake moves, a clear sound can be heard, and that sound was naturally the hiss!

From far away, Chen Aiyang had simply closed his eyes and had his ears listen to the fight instead of his eyes to observe the details.

In his mind, the image of a snake fighting a crane could be seen.

Wang Chao had gone from the tiger to the snake stance with a lightning quick speed and ferocity that even the nearby experts had gasped with amazement.

“No wonder he killed Qin Maojiao!” Xu Zhen had remarked as he watched Wang Chao fight. His heart had trembled violently, “The mainlands truly have such talented individuals in hiding. His age is so young, yet his martial arts has already reached such a stage. Who is his master, I wonder?”

Upon seeing Wang Chao’s tiger stance become a snake, Zhang Wei had felt his heart shake as well. Both of his fists began to shake the joints in his elbows began to rub together and then letting out a cry that resembled the urgent cry of a crane.

As his elbow joint rubbed together, the entire fist began to shake violently. His fist had shook so much that it resembled the movements of a woodpecker.

Wang Chao’s fist was like the head of a snake that was swaying in preparation to bite. His entire body began to sway along with the fists as he stepped forward in a circular fashion.

The two fists met each other with a peck and a bite. Within 10 seconds of collision, they had exchanged another three or four blows.

The Jin had been transmitted down to their legs, and so with every step, the wooden planks beneath them cracked loudly.

10 seconds later, the entire floor had been a splintered mess.