Chapter 0027: Fighting Ten
At the main hall of the Huo family estate.
"Yuanjia, you really need to think this through carefully!"
"This doesn't need any more thought. After this fight, I'll be the first in Tianmen. Once I defeat all of them, I'll be the first in Tianmen, Jinsun, do you understand? Tianmen first!" Huo Yuanjia clenched his fist as he spoke.
"Yuanjia, it's too dangerous. No matter how strong you are, you can't take on ten opponents at once!"
"Jinsun, you don't practice martial arts, you don't understand the difference in the levels of martial artists. I have confidence. These ten people are nothing to me!"
"Akang, why don't you try to persuade your master?"
"Uncle Nong, the master is right. These ten opponents really aren't a match for him."
"You..."
"Hahaha, Jinsun, don't worry. My dream as a child is about to come true. I'm going to make up for the regret of my father. After this, I'll be undoubtedly the first in Tianmen. Hahaha!"
"You..." Nong Jinsun pointed at Huo Yuanjia, then waved his sleeve in anger and turned to leave the hall.
"Master, I'll go see off Uncle Nong."
"Go ahead." Huo Yuanjia waved his hand without concern.
"Uncle Nong."
"Akang, why didn't you persuade your master just now?"
"Uncle, you know how Master is. Trying to persuade him is useless."
"But this time, he's facing ten opponents. How can it be the same?" Nong Jinsun looked at Chen Zheng.
"Uncle, to be honest, I'm not worried about Master facing ten opponents. What I'm concerned about is his state of mind." Chen Zheng said solemnly.
"State of mind?"
"Yes, Master has become a little obsessed. His desire for the title of Tianmen's first and his need to compete have changed him. This is no longer the Master I knew!" Chen Zheng sighed deeply after speaking.
Although Chen Zheng knew this situation would eventually arise, the feeling of witnessing it personally was completely different from just watching movies. Chen Zheng had hoped that Huo Yuanjia would realize this after winning, but now it seemed unlikely.
Huo Yuanjia had challenged ten local martial masters at the same time, and when Nong Jinsun learned of this, he rushed to the Huo family estate to try to persuade him. This led to the earlier scene.
"Yuanjia really has changed!" Nong Jinsun sighed.
"Uncle, how do you think Master's chances of winning are?"
"At least eighty percent. I know all ten of these martial artists. They are definitely no match for Master. Even if they fight together, it won't make a difference!"
"Good. With your words, I can rest assured. I hope after this match, once Master becomes Tianmen's first, he'll wake up!"
"Let's hope so."
The news of Huo Yuanjia's challenge to the ten local martial masters quickly spread throughout Tianmen. On the day of the match, the arena was packed with spectators, and it became a huge event.
As Chen Zheng had predicted, even with ten martial artists attacking together, they were no match for Huo Yuanjia, and he easily defeated all of them.
Huo Yuanjia was victorious!
"Huo Yuanjia!"
"Huo Yuanjia!"
"Huo Yuanjia, are you now Tianmen's first?" Even beggars came to watch the match. After the fight, a somewhat mentally unstable beggar shouted at Huo Yuanjia.
"Do you think so?"
"Huo Yuanjia, Tianmen's first!" The beggar, in a Tianmen accent, gave a supportive shout.
"Hahaha..." Huo Yuanjia laughed triumphantly, then waved to his disciples. "Let's go, today we'll celebrate at Guyue Lou, no one leaves sober!"
"Huo Yuanjia!"
"Huo Yuanjia..."
This scene felt like a parade, with everyone shouting Huo Yuanjia's name, parting to clear the way as he led his disciples toward Guyue Lou. Huo Yuanjia's disciples walked proudly behind him.
As for the defeated ten martial artists, no one paid attention to them. That's the way martial arts battles go: the losers are always forgotten, while the victor's name is remembered.
As the senior disciple, Chen Zheng naturally walked behind Huo Yuanjia, heading toward Guyue Lou. But unlike the other disciples who were excited, Chen Zheng wore a worried expression.
He had hoped that after winning, Huo Yuanjia would regain his calm, but it seemed that was not going to happen.
A large group followed them to Guyue Lou, and behind them were about fifty or sixty strong men, likely potential disciples.
At Guyue Lou, Chen Zheng, as the senior disciple, offered a toast to Huo Yuanjia and then left. Huo Yuanjia knew Chen Zheng's habit of avoiding large crowds and didn't say anything.
As Chen Zheng was leaving the stairs, he noticed a middle-aged man sitting behind Huo Yuanjia, watching him with a somewhat disdainful expression. The man had calluses on his hands, and his posture was stable, indicating he was a martial practitioner with considerable skill. After glancing at him in confusion, Chen Zheng left.
Nong Jinsun, who usually stayed in the back hall of Guyue Lou, was seen talking to a clerk, holding a thick ledger, likely discussing business matters. Chen Zheng assumed it was some business issue and stayed at a distance, not approaching them.
Over the years, Chen Zheng had often chatted with Nong Jinsun, who was the only person with whom he could have meaningful conversations.
"Akang, you're here. Come in!" Nong Jinsun called out when he saw Chen Zheng.
"Uncle Nong, your business is getting bigger. It seems that it will become difficult to even meet you in the future!"
"You little rascal, it's a pity. If you didn't practice martial arts and worked with me in business, you'd be a great entrepreneur for the Qing Dynasty!"
"Uncle Nong, you're joking. I'm just a person who likes to daydream. How could I have your business skills?"
The two of them talked for a while, and Chen Zheng shared some ideas from the future that were considered advanced for that era.
Nong Jinsun often urged Chen Zheng to stop practicing martial arts and focus on business, but Chen Zheng never agreed. After all, he hadn't forgotten his ultimate mission.
"You, always like this. Did Yuanjia win?"
"Yes."