Chapter 25: If I can't defeat you within three moves, I, Zhao Qin, will take my own life on the spot_2

As long as it made contact, it was not only spicy but also unbearably itchy, and if it wasn't washed off immediately, it would cause the skin to fester.

Unfortunately, the blacksmith shop was not up to the task and failed to create the mini crossbow he wanted that could shoot the poison powder; otherwise, hiding the crossbow in the cuff and firing it directly would have had a better effect.

"Where in the world is anything perfect? Being able to do this much is already quite good."

...

...

That day, Chu Ning welcomed a group of special guests.

Zhao Qin, Tang Ruowei... the entire class from the school, including Ji Yang, all came to Xiazhen Town.

"It was Jin Le's suggestion. As our class is about to leave the school, Jin Le suggested that we all gather here at your place," Tang Ruowei explained to Chu Ning, noticing his puzzled expression.

"At Jin Le's tavern?"

Over the past year, Chu Ning often visited the school to consult with teachers on martial arts problems and ran into Jin Le and the others; their relationships had also improved a lot.

In all honesty, there wasn't any deep-seated animosity to begin with, just the typical arrogance of youths, akin to the disdain high-achievers in school might feel towards the underachievers.

Now that the underachievers were catching up, even surpassing them in some respects, attitudes had naturally changed.

Youths still idolize the strong, after all.

Jin Le, in particular, had become one of the closest to Chu Ning.

Jin Le's father had opened a tavern in the county town, which did rather well, and over the past two years, as the number of merchants in Xiazhen Town increased and people from surrounding towns preferred to come to Xiazhen to trade, Jin Le's father also opened a tavern here. He sought Jin Le's help to give Chu Ning a generous red envelope.

Taverns are prone to trouble, so it's essential to maintain good relations with the constables. Most importantly, since Xiazhen Town had no gang influences, there were no protection fees to pay, saving over a hundred taels a year.

Hence, Chu Ning accepted the generous red envelope with a clear conscience. Why was there no gang presence in Xiazhen Town? Chu Ning understood the reasons better than anyone else.

The walls of the boiler in the backyard were now thickly coated with rendered fat.

"Then let's go," Chu Ning said, looking at Tang Ruowei. This girl was growing up fast.

Though she was only sixteen, she walked with a sway.

"By the way, Tang Ruowei, what are your plans after graduating from school? Going home?"

"I'm going to take the school's recommendation to continue martial training in the city. Zhao Qin probably will too," Tang Ruowei responded and added, "Actually, with your current strength, you could also go to the city. Even though you can't join the school, you'd at least be exposed to a higher level of martial arts than in Daning County."

"Forget it, I prefer to stay in Xiazhen Town as a constable, keeping company with my dear aunt. In the future, once you become a Seventh Grade martial master and take position as county prefect in Daning County, you can look out for me then."

Chu Ning smiled slightly. What difference would it make to go to the city? Unless one sold themselves to the major clans or to the imperial court, access to advanced martial arts was limited.

For people like Tang Ruowei and Zhao Qin, going to the city's school meant practicing the last three levels of the Bull Demon Strength, which he had already been taught by his teacher. There was no need to take risks going to the city.

Tang Ruowei pursed her lips. Chu Ning had been so diligent and ambitious in school; why had he become complacent after leaving?

"Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. With my modest martial talent, I'd hardly make a splash in the city. Rather than being an invisible nobody there, I'd prefer to stay in Daning County, where at least people will address me respectfully as 'Magistrate Chu'."

"You just lose yourself in those calls of 'Magistrate', Magistrate Chu!"

Tang Ruowei bit her lip lightly, no longer trying to persuade him, and the two headed towards Jin Le's tavern.

In the backyard of the tavern

Chu Ning and Tang Ruowei hadn't even entered the backyard when they heard He Jin and Zhang Song arguing.

"If you're so capable, let's fight."

"Let's fight then. Who's afraid of whom? I've been wanting to beat you up for a while now."

"The feeling is mutual."

As Chu Ning and Tang Ruowei stepped into the backyard, just as He Jin and Zhang Song rose from their table, rolling up their sleeves ready to fight.

"Enough, you two argue every day. Let's not today, Chu Ning is here!"

Jin Le, upon spotting Chu Ning entering, stood up to greet him and also implicitly gave He Jin and Zhang Song a way to back down.

"Today, for Chu Ning's sake, I'll let you go. Next time, I'm going to thrash you."

"It's me giving Chu Ning face. You can't even tell who will be thrashing whom."

Chu Ning's mouth twitched, his face was really that big?

He really wanted to say, "You two don't have to give me face, just fight it out and see."

For more than two years, Zhang Song and He Jin had been engaged in nothing but trash talk every day, but these two had never really come to blows, Chu Ning guessed the reason—neither of them could afford to lose.

Losing would mean endless mockery from the other's family, making it impossible to lift their heads; it was better to keep up the verbal sparring day after day.

With Chu Ning and Tang Ruowei taking their seats, Jin Le also had the kitchen start serving dishes. Perhaps everyone knew this might be the last time they'd eat together, so everyone let loose with the drinking at the table.

Even Zhao Qin, who always acted aloof, drank quite a few cups this time and became more talkative.

That's more like it.

At the age of just over ten, where did all that aloofness come from? Playing cool all the time must be tiring.

Chu Ning looked at his fellow trainees talking about their post-graduation plans, his gaze suddenly met Ji Yang's, who happened to look his way. Their eyes locked, and Ji Yang quickly averted his gaze.

Raising his glass, Chu Ning walked over to Ji Yang with a smile and said, "Ji Yang, as roommates, how about a drink to that?"

"Sure."

Obviously, Ji Yang hadn't expected Chu Ning to take the initiative to drink with him. After agreeing, he fumbled with his cup and stood up, spilling half of his drink in the process.

"What are your plans after graduation?" asked Chu Ning with a smile after taking a drink.

"I'm planning to enlist in the military."

"Enlist?"

"With my talent, if I don't join the military, it will take at least five years to break through as a martial master. I want to take a chance," Ji Yang said resolutely.

Chu Ning paused for a moment, then said softly, "Safe travels."

"I will. You have to work hard too, break through to martial master soon, or I might just overtake you," Ji Yang joked too.

"Let's work hard together."

"Let's work hard together."

At this banquet, except for Tang Ruowei, everyone got wildly drunk.

"If I can't defeat you in three moves, I, Zhao Qin, will end my life right here," Zhao Qin, drunk, furiously punched at a huge rock in the yard, unstoppable by anyone.

He Jin and Zhang Song finally had their competition, but it wasn't about strength—it was about size.

"Mine is bigger when I take it out."

"Hehehe, mine's even bigger."

Before those two could show it, they were thrown out by Tang Ruowei.

"Tang Ruowei, you did the right thing. Those two bastards truly lacked any sense of shame. They deserved to be thrown out."

Chu Ning gave Tang Ruowei a thumbs-up. Her frosty face relaxed a little. Didn't these drunk guys realize she was a girl?

Luckily, Chu Ning wasn't drunk yet and still knew some limits.

"Who seated here isn't bigger than those two, and yet they have the gall to say it out loud, embarrassing themselves. But seriously, if it came down to it, I, Chu Ning, only want to say that everyone here is..."

Bang!

A figure flew out of the yard, crashing onto He Jin and Zhang Song.

"Chu... Chu Ning, why did you come out too?"

"Those... those guys are too small; I... I came out to compare sizes with you guys."

"When... when it comes to this, I've never lost."

...

...

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