**Chapter 25: The First Showdown**
"The Xu family opens a shop—same as the people of Dongxi Village. Naturally, my Xu family has to say something."
"Here are ten taels of silver. This is my congratulatory gift."
"Young Master's congratulatory gift is quite valuable." Xu Chuan laughed.
Xu Zhen said, "This congratulatory gift isn't so easy to take. I hear that your family has quite a few children practicing martial arts. How about letting them try against my Xu family's youngsters?"
"That would also be some entertainment for your household. What do you say?"
Xu Chuan lowered his head in thought. "Ten taels of silver and ten Qi-Blood Pills—I'd be a fool not to take them. I'll take the lead."
Seeing him so eager, Xu Chuan's other son smiled, then looked at Xu Zhen. "Mr. Xu, how about a few matches? We'll stop at first blood."
"Warriors risk injury to their bones. If you're afraid, you can refuse."
"Don't waste words. I'll go first. Who among you will face me?"
Xu Zhen chuckled. "The Xu family still has men of spirit. Judging by your age, you're only about ten years old. Xu Feng, you go and try him."
"Yes, Grandfather."
The young man who stepped forward was half a head taller than Xu Minghu, around eleven or twelve years old.
Everyone loved to watch the excitement. They made enough space for the match.
Xu Minghu had no strong martial talent, but his comprehension was good, and he practiced martial arts extremely quickly. Along with Li Zhi, he had been taken as a disciple by a peak acquired realm master at the Tianlong Martial Hall.
Though he was only nine years old, with the full support of the Xu family, he was already a martial artist who had opened more than twenty acupoints. Li Zhi's talent for martial arts was much higher than Xu Minghu's.
Xu Minghu was only one step away from becoming a third-rate warrior.
Xu Feng had opened sixteen or seventeen acupoints. His inner strength was inferior to Xu Minghu's, and his martial arts were also lacking. After just a dozen exchanges, he was taken down.
Xu Minghu had only bruised his cheek and hurt his arm.
This performance drew praise from the onlookers.
"Good boy!"
"This young master has skill!"
"His future is surely bright."
Xu Minghu looked at Xu Zhen and the others. "Who's next?"
"You're getting cocky. Xu Wei, you go."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Xu Wei was fifteen, fierce in appearance. Without a word, he lunged with clawed hands aimed at Xu Minghu's heart.
Xu Minghu was calm and steady.
Though his strength wasn't superior, a warrior's contest wasn't simply about the power of inner strength.
The use of martial arts could also be the key to victory.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
After dozens of exchanges, Xu Minghu knew that if it continued, he would deliberately sell a flaw, luring Xu Wei to overextend.
Then he broke Xu Wei's arm with two strikes.
Xu Wei also suffered internal injuries.
Bai Jing's face showed worry. Xu Chuan said, "Minghu, two wins in a row—that's enough. Come back."
"Let your brother take over from here."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Minghu looked up at Xu Wei.
Xu Wei was also flustered and didn't dare meet his gaze.
Xu Zhen sighed inwardly. He had brought the best of the Xu family's younger generation today.
Yet two of them couldn't even handle a nine-year-old boy.
He feared that in another ten years, the Xu family would no longer be able to resist the rise of this household.
Xu Mao was also furious, cursing and shouting, "Second Uncle, let Qian'er go. He will surely fight for our Xu family."
"It seems we have no choice."
"Father, Second Grandfather, don't worry. I will not disgrace the Xu family."
Xu Qian walked to the center of the area and shouted to Xu Chuan and the others, "I am Xu Qian. Who from your family will face me?"
"Xu Qian—I've heard of him. A genius of the Black Wind Martial Hall, already a second-rate warrior in his early twenties. The Black Wind Hall expects him to become one of their peak acquired realm geniuses."
"It looks like the Xu family is in trouble this time. Their eldest son is five or six years younger than him."
"And I heard that the Xu family also sent their third son to a martial hall."
Yang Zhao listened to these remarks and looked at Xu Chuan. "Brother Xu, do you want me to step in?"
"Brother Yang, I invited you here today just to visit. A small matter like this doesn't require you to act."
Yang Zhao let it go.
---
**Across the street, on the second floor of the tavern.**
"Young master, it looks like the Xu family is going to lose. That Xu Qian looks very strong. Xiaomei vaguely sensed the strength of a second-rate warrior."
"A second-rate warrior in his early twenties is indeed good. He might reach the peak of the acquired realm, but the innate realm is unlikely."
"Let's see how this family responds."
Chang Haowen didn't care much. He continued drinking tea and watching the show.
---
Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Shitou, go. Don't disgrace the Xu family name."
"Yes, Father."
Since the age of six, Xu Mingwei had practiced martial arts day and night, never seeking the spotlight.
What his father said today meant there was no need to lie low anymore.
His heart was excited. He walked like a dragon, stepped like a tiger, entering the arena. His eyes were like torches, staring directly at Xu Qian.
The unintentional aura he exuded made even Yang Zhao sigh. "I thought your third son was outstanding. But seeing the eldest son's posture, I now know what a true dragon among men looks like!"
Bai Jing listened happily. "Brother Yang overpraises him. Shitou hasn't been properly trained. He just practices casually in his spare time with his father."
"Your whole family is very humble." Yang Zhao smiled back.
Xu Mingwei looked at Xu Qian, turned his right palm up as a gesture of invitation, and said, "Brother Xu, please."
Xu Qian didn't waste words. His body moved like a ghost, shifting left and right between afterimages, his eyes hard to track.
Then, like an arrow released from a bowstring, he closed in.
Seeing Xu Mingwei unmoving, Xu Qian sneered, raised his fist, and punched toward his face.
His left hand shook.
*Thud.*
Xu Qian's fist was easily blocked by Xu Mingwei's palm.
Then Xu Mingwei's hand turned like a dragon's claw, clamping tightly onto Xu Qian's wrist.
One pull, one twist.
Xu Qian couldn't resist. He performed an involuntary split.
He felt a sharp pain between his legs.
He couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
The crowd realized what had happened and couldn't help but exclaim.
Xu Qian didn't expect to be so utterly outmatched. He tried to raise his arm and throw Xu Mingwei off.
He kicked at Xu Mingwei's chest.
But the kick was blocked by Xu Mingwei's other hand. Then Xu Qian was thrown out by an irresistible force.
"Brother Xu, you're no match for me. Perhaps you should send someone else."
---
Chang Haowen's pupils contracted slightly. "I didn't expect Xu Mingwei to have such strength. Last time I saw him, I really missed it."
"A fifteen-year-old comparable to a first-rate warrior—if he can reach the peak of the acquired realm before twenty, and even go further, breaking through to innate, that's the talent of a grandmaster."
"A grandmaster, living one hundred fifty years, is enough to establish a family in the prefectural city."
"That wooden-head is that strong!" Xiaomei stared out the window, dumbfounded.
"What, interested?"
"No, I'm just curious. A rural household producing someone so outstanding—even in the prefectural city, there aren't many like him."
"Don't underestimate these lowly peasant families. You don't know how many households have climbed up step by step like this."
"I know, young master."
---
The genius of the Black Wind Martial Hall was astonishingly defeated.
Xu Qian, however, was still clamoring. He shouted to Xu Zhen, "I've long heard of Second Master Xu's name. This boy would like to challenge Second Master today. I wonder if I may."
---