Chapter Sixty-Four: Overshadowing the Host

With a three-foot wooden stick in hand, Pei Min suddenly felt full of confidence.

Seeing that the burly man would not give up, Pei Min feigned anger and said, “If you keep this up, I’ll have to fight back!”

The giant was unmoved. With every step covering a yard, he quickly closed the distance and unleashed another fierce, domineering punch.

Pei Min wielded the stick like a sword, drawing a semicircular arc across his chest and angling it diagonally to rest on the giant’s wrist. The force transmitted through the stick caused the giant’s fist to dip to the right. This was a skill Pei Min had developed based on the future theory of Tai Chi, a technique of redirecting force using minimal effort. He had always found success using this move against those with great strength and momentum. Iron Spear Jiang Fan had been toyed with by it, and the righteous yet fallen Li Wuyi had been decisively defeated.

But the man throwing this punch was in a different league from Li Wuyi or Jiang Fan. The sheer power and ferocity of this blow were indescribable—like the earth itself was cracking and mountains collapsing.

Pei Min’s subtle redirection was rendered ineffective against the giant’s fist; it shifted only a few inches before failing. The explosive force even shook him so violently that the wooden stick nearly slipped from his grasp.

Seeing the giant’s fist closing in, Pei Min reacted swiftly, taking advantage of the slight pull on the punch to sidestep diagonally to the left, brushing past the giant’s shoulder.

Though massive, the giant was surprisingly agile. He turned his hand backward to grab Pei Min.

Smack!

The wooden stick in Pei Min’s hand struck heavily on the back of the giant’s hand.

He was quick, but Pei Min was quicker. Having anticipated this move, he had already prepared to strike as they passed.

A red mark appeared on the giant’s hand but soon faded. His sturdy physique granted him an extraordinary resilience to blows, and the hit caused him no lasting harm.

Pei Min’s expression grew serious. He always knew that while there might be invincible warriors in this world, there were no invincible techniques. The Tai Chi principle of using softness to overcome hardness was indeed profound, but softness could only conquer hardness if the skill behind it was superior. Their previous exchange had clearly shown Pei Min to be at a disadvantage. His soft power could not match the unparalleled divine strength of his opponent. He couldn’t help but wonder, “Who exactly is this man to be so formidable?”

Complexity flickered in the giant’s eyes, but he still swung his fist again. This time, the punch aimed straight at Pei Min’s chest, striking at the vital center. He too realized Pei Min’s extraordinary martial skill; if he didn’t give his all, all his efforts would be in vain.

Pei Min shifted his stance, his body flashing aside, standing on one leg like a crane spreading its wings. Tilting at an impossible angle, he dodged the punch and with unpredictable agility, the wooden stick slammed into the giant’s armpit. The stick seemed to have eyes, striking precisely at the Ji Quan acupuncture point.

The Ji Quan point lies on the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin, where the axillary artery pulses. A heavy strike here, no matter how resilient the recipient, is unbearable.

The giant staggered back three steps, his face swollen. He tried to lift his arm but found it numb and unresponsive.

Pei Min frowned and said, “I do not know who you are; we have never met. Under whose orders do you trouble me here in this examination arena?”

The giant remained silent.

Suddenly, a sharp voice came from outside the stables: “Stop! How dare you cause trouble in the examination hall?”

Pei Min turned and saw Department of Military Affairs assistant official Dou Chen and an unknown guide officer approaching with stern expressions. Biting his lip lightly, Pei Min dropped the wooden stick to the ground, his gaze flickering between Dou Chen and the guide officer as thoughts raced through his mind. With the wisdom of both men in his possession, he was quick to realize he had been trapped: the unknown giant was the first player, and now the second had arrived.

He had barely exchanged blows with the giant, yet the guide officer was right outside the stables. Reason dictated that the officer should have intervened earlier, not just now, and especially not accompanying Dou Chen.

One of them must be the problem: Dou Chen or the guide officer?

Pei Min silently thanked his initial suspicion for not engaging in immediate conflict with the giant, lest he find himself unable to explain.

“Greetings, Assistant Official and Guide Officer,” Pei Min said with an innocent smile. “I dare not offend, but this brother here has a violent temper. I have heard of quarrels breaking out over a single word, but never of someone striking without a word. I have yielded at every turn, yet he has taken advantage, leaving me no choice but to defend myself. Everyone nearby can bear witness, and I, Pei Min, swear I speak no falsehood.”

As soon as Pei Min named himself, a stir broke out.

Pei Min’s reputation in Chang’an was widespread; he was a figure of some renown.

Though many wondered why the top candidate in the literary examination was present at the martial trial, gaining his friendship was undoubtedly beneficial for the future.

Shortly after his words, someone responded, “I can attest that Young Master Pei’s words are true. This brother here bumped into him from behind. Pei Min, with his noble bearing, did not take offense and even apologized to him. Yet, for some unknown reason, the other man struck viciously. If it were not for Pei Min’s impressive skill, who knows what might have happened.”

Pei Min returned a friendly smile to the man who spoke out in his defense.

Others, seeing this, each began to voice their support.

“I can also confirm it was this big man causing trouble, striking without restraint. The horse still cannot stand from the blow.”

“I can also confirm…”

“I can also confirm…”

Though many had been selecting horses and had not witnessed the initial incident clearly, they had seen both Pei Min’s and the giant’s subsequent demeanor. The truth was clear to them, and Pei Min’s composed stance and willingness to appeal to friendship left no doubt. Speaking well of him cost nothing and might gain favor, so nearly everyone chimed in agreement.

Dou Chen, seeing the situation overwhelmingly favor Pei Min, grew uneasy. The turn of events exceeded all his expectations.

According to his original plan, he intended to let the giant provoke trouble so that a commotion would arise: a single slap would not suffice. If Pei Min and the giant came to blows, regardless of who started it, both would be severely punished and expelled from the examination. Though Dou Chen’s rank was low, as assistant official overseeing the martial trial, he held absolute authority to expel troublemakers. This was the best strategy.

If Pei Min had immediately yielded and fallen into the trap, that was also within his plan. The giant’s unmatched strength, like a reincarnation of the fierce warrior Dian Wei, could easily injure Pei Min once or twice. Bearing such wounds, Pei Min would be unable to achieve top grades and thus fail to become a military officer. This was the middle strategy.

The last resort was for Dou Chen to take control personally and expel both for disturbing the examination, a harsh but viable measure that might bring repercussions later but was worth the risk for his career.

Yet matters did not unfold according to these three plans. Pei Min had seized control of the narrative, leaving Dou Chen no chance to dominate the situation...