Chapter Forty-Two: The Academy Suffers a Crushing Defeat!

“Li Zisheng,” the supervisor called out again.

This time, Li Zisheng had no choice but to leave his seat and walk up to the platform. His face was gloomy as he made his way forward. In his eyes, the smiling supervisor was no different from a wild bandit lurking in the mountains. A surge of anger toward the supervisor rose suddenly within him, accumulating to its peak.

He had come to the Huile Academy with the intention of studying peacefully, improving himself, hoping to gain entrance to the State Academy, avoiding trouble and refraining from causing any. Yet trouble always seemed to find him.

As the saying goes, even a clay figurine has three fires; even a cornered rabbit bites. The people of Huile Academy were constantly making things difficult for him, so he was determined to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Resolute in his heart, his eyes shone with a sharp glint as he stared unwaveringly at the supervisor before him.

The supervisor naturally noticed Li Zisheng’s attitude. Seeing that piercing look, his expression faltered for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

“So quick to show his edge—such people rarely go far. I wonder what the master sees in this Li Zisheng,” the supervisor mused silently.

“Well, since the students participating in the academy’s training have been chosen, let’s begin.”

“As the saying goes, the body is the capital for marching and fighting. Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in war. Having a strong physique is the fundamental requirement for a soldier, so our first training subject will be a contest of physical strength—martial arts instruction.”

“Quite right. What the general says is every soldier’s foundation. Our academy students train in the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer, preparing themselves to withstand wind and snow on long marches.”

“Our army is full of spirited young men, true stalwart fellows. Today, ten have been selected for instruction, each one forged in blood and fire. If you delicate youths can’t handle it, admit defeat early—better to avoid injuries, lest you go back and cry.”

At once, laughter erupted from the ranks of soldiers. The faces of the academy students flushed red; they glared angrily at each other, and even the scholars from the Literary Hall looked at the bearded general with fury.

Of the eleven students participating, only Wang Zheyuan, Feng Hai, and Li Zisheng remained unperturbed, as if they hadn’t heard a word. They paid no mind to the general’s taunts. The difference in composure was obvious.

The speaking general, a veteran of many battles, could easily discern strength at a glance. Among the eleven on stage, only these three caught his interest.

“You, come up,” the bearded general pointed at the tenth soldier selected for training.

“Alright, this young soldier from our ranks will spar with some of you. Remember, don’t bully them—show them a couple moves, but don’t dawdle. Understood?”

“Yes, General. I promise not to bully anyone. I’ll teach them well,” the soldier replied. Both burst into open laughter, their voices booming.

“You! I, Wang Shizhen, will take you on,” the last of the academy students, his face red with anger, didn’t wait for the supervisor’s announcement. He stormed onto the platform, fiercely glaring at the pair.

“Very well. My name’s Liu Er. Today I’ll properly teach you academy ladies a lesson,” the soldier retorted, showing no restraint, mocking Wang Shizhen even more.

“Scoundrel! How dare you!”

They began fighting at once. Wang Shizhen sent a palm strike toward Liu Er, who remained unfazed. With a slight shift, he dodged the forceful blow. He smirked, eyes full of disdain, and raised his right leg, blocking Wang Shizhen’s attack. Then, with a swift spin, his left leg followed, his body seeming to hover, and he kicked Wang Shizhen squarely.

Wang Shizhen grunted, exhaling sharply, his eyes burning with even fiercer anger.

He pushed forward, a surge of strength erupting from within, rushing toward Liu Er. Liu Er, quick-witted, sidestepped and pushed lightly, using Wang Shizhen’s force against him, causing Wang Shizhen to stumble and nearly fall.

Seizing the moment, Liu Er kicked Wang Shizhen’s backside, who lost his balance and rolled off the training platform.

With Liu Er alone remaining, he mocked the disheveled Wang Shizhen. Wang Shizhen’s face was crimson; clearly, he wanted nothing more than to leave. He abandoned the subsequent exercises and battlefield simulations and departed on his own.

“Huile Academy’s delicate ladies, who’s next? Ha ha ha! Run back to your academy, be proper young misses in your chambers—don’t stay here and embarrass yourselves, unsure who to cry to! Isn’t that right? Ha ha ha!”

Liu Er laughed wantonly from the stage.

“Enough! You’ve won, now get down. Next, Zhang Ling, step forward,” the supervisor ordered.

Liu Er threw one last taunt at the remaining students before leaving the platform.

Zhang Ling, a burly man, ascended next. He silently surveyed the ten remaining academy students and pointed at Wang Yong, who had stood before Wang Shizhen. The result was the same: Wang Yong suffered a crushing defeat.

The rest of the academy students took their turns, and unsurprisingly, they too lost.

Bai Yu, defeated.

Wang Xi, defeated.

Duan Zheng, defeated.

Kong Bingde, defeated.

Xu Da, defeated.

Shi Kai, defeated.

Yet, nothing is absolute. When it came to Wang Zheyuan and Feng Hai, both of exceptional talent, the tide turned.

Wang Zheyuan and Feng Hai, with the grace and agility of swimming dragons, overcame their burly opponents, who were many times their size, outmaneuvering them so thoroughly the soldiers had no chance to catch their breath.

The academy’s gloom was dispelled; their spirits soared as cries of encouragement echoed from the stands. Even the scholars who usually looked down on martial prowess shouted their support with all their might.

Ten soldiers had competed, but Li Zisheng remained. If there was no soldier left to face him, Li Zisheng would win by default.

The bearded general stood watching, pondering how to resolve the situation. He hadn’t expected the academy to add another participant at the last minute, and he couldn’t refuse the request out of respect for Elder Kong Zhichong.

“General, how about this? Li Zisheng is only eight this year—still just a child. You may select a young recruit, someone who’s just joined the army, to compete. That way, it won’t seem like we’re bullying our academy prodigy. What do you say?”

“Old fox. Always scheming,” Li Zisheng cursed inwardly, well aware of the supervisor’s intentions.

“Very well. Liu Er, go fetch Li Gou’er. Li Gou’er is a little beggar I picked up in the wilderness, about ten years old. He’s the most suitable,” the bearded general replied, clearly seeing through the supervisor’s ploy—not wanting to let Li Zisheng off easily.