The crowd looked over, and Yan Tinghao excitedly rose from his seat, shouting:
"Mother!"
Glancing around and seeing nothing, Da Xingxing mistakenly thought Yan Tinghao was speaking to her, and raised her head haughtily:
"Hmph, never mind calling me mother, even if you called me ancestor, if you can't lift this iron slider, you'll have to bow down and admit defeat!"
"Get lost!
What are you even?
Not only taking advantage of my son, but you dare to take advantage of me too!
My lord, don't stop me!
If this gorilla wants to be our father, if I don't send him down to accompany our father, I'll write my name Duan Sainan backward!"
The only person who used "old lady" as her catchphrase and was called "mother" by Yan Tinghao was none other than Madam Yan, Princess Pingyang.
Madam Yan, flailing wildly, was held in her husband's embrace, baring her teeth and grimacing.
"Father, Mother, why are you here?"
This time, Yan Tinghao simply ran down from the stands. Madam Yan could no longer afford to be angry, and she grabbed her son, examining him from all angles.
"Hao'er, are you alright?
Mother heard they arrested you?
Did they hit you? Did they torture you?
It's all your father's fault, that wretched man, for sending you to be a constable, and then not saving you when you were in trouble, leaving Mother sleepless with worry at home.
Let Mother have a good look!
After a few days, my Hao'er has become... even sturdier?!
Good! Good!"
As she said the last words, Madam Yan patted Yan Tinghao's back, causing him to stumble.
"Mother—!"
Feeling as if she had inflicted internal injuries on him again, Yan Tinghao called out in exasperation.
Madam Yan then reined herself in, turned, and stood beside the iron slider.
Meanwhile, Da Xingxing looked down at the petite woman before him, who didn't even reach his chest, and immediately burst into laughter:
"Whose little lady is this, have you come to the wrong place?"
"You're the little lady, I'm your grandmother!"
With that, Madam Yan secretly gathered her strength and, in one fluid motion, lifted the thousand-jin iron slider high!
Everyone, including Da Xingxing: ...
To Madam Yan, who possessed innate divine strength, lifting the iron slider was hardly a challenge.
She pressed the tip of her tongue against the roof of her mouth, maintaining the pose as she circled the arena.
Seeing this, even Da Xingxing couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
But admiration was one thing; winning was another.
Although he didn't know what deal King Wucheng had made with his own king, he remembered the promise he'd made to his king before departing...
Malice welled up in Da Xingxing. Seeing that Madam Yan had finally stopped, he quickly walked over, raising his hands as if to help support the slider. In reality, he secretly lifted his left leg and used his knee to push towards Madam Yan's waist!
From a woman's intuition, Madam Yan's hairs stood on end the moment Da Xingxing approached.
Catching the fleeting ruthlessness in his eyes, Madam Yan immediately understood:
Bad news, this ape is going to play dirty!
Before her wedding, Madam Yan had been doted on by the old Zhennan King, making her a tyrant in the capital. After her wedding, she was pampered to the heavens by Lord Yan. Her temper was even more volatile than firecrackers.
Upon realizing the situation, a surge of fiery indignation rushed to her head. Without a second thought, she threw the iron slider towards Da Xingxing.
Da Xingxing, who had not only been able to lift the iron slider but even toss it high, was currently on one leg.
Even with strength, he couldn't exert it in this posture. Thus, he immediately abandoned the idea of a head-on confrontation and prepared to dodge sideways.
However, before he could react, two piercing pains struck the back of his knee, causing him to buckle uncontrollably to his knees, already standing precariously on one leg.
At the same moment, the thousand-jin iron slider came crashing down.
With a "splat,"
An instant human tragedy unfolded, turning a living person into a crushed pie.
However, before the splattering blood could reach Madam Yan's cheek, she was pulled into a familiar and warm embrace.
"Mother, are you alright?"
Startled, Yan Tinghao rushed over to check, only to be met with a blatant cold stare from his own father.
Yan Tinghao: ???
On the spectator stands, Lin Qingge, also startled by the sudden turn of events, let out a sigh of relief. Noticing the person beside her staring intently elsewhere, she asked softly:
"Madam, what is it?"
Leng Ningyue glanced at the shattered walnuts and deformed silver ingots scattered in the corner, then at King Wucheng on the opposite high seat. She shook her head, indicating she was fine.
Meanwhile, Hua Jinrong, seated in one of the two central upper seats, fanned himself and said casually:
"Oh, Imperial Uncle, if your nephew remembers correctly, Madam Yan was once betrothed to you, wasn't she~"
Although King Wucheng remained silent, the temperature in the surroundings dropped several degrees.
Despite this, Hua Jinrong showed no intention of stopping.
"Imperial Uncle, your nephew heard Constable Yan say that he was imprisoned in a dungeon at Baosha Temple.
However, the cell where he was held was slightly different from Lord Lin's~
Not only was it luxuriously furnished, but the meals were also an unending array of delicacies from the sky, the earth, and the sea.
According to Constable Yan, he gained several pounds during those days, locked in bed with nothing to do but eat!
However, your nephew is a bit curious. When Imperial Uncle arranged such a room, were you perhaps trying to keep someone hidden in a golden house~
But considering Imperial Uncle's appearance, status, and his methods of deceiving women, he has always been invincible and successful, with effortless conquests. When did you ever need to resort to such petty tactics as imprisonment~
It's a shame your nephew always thought Imperial Uncle had great ambitions, viewing romantic entanglements as stepping stones on the path to success, deceiving whoever he met, and siring children with them~"
"Enough!
This first round goes to you."
"Imperial Uncle is too kind, your nephew thanks Imperial Uncle~"
On the other side.
Da Xingxing had died tragically. The accompanying soldiers and Prince Andre, who had come as spectators, did not clamor for revenge. Instead, they appeared calm.
Seeing everyone subtly observing him, Prince Andre explained in a low voice:
"This General Da Xingxing was a confidant of my elder brother. He was arrogant and overbearing, relying on his immense strength and military merits. Moreover, he was a toad dreaming of swan meat, wanting to marry my royal brother's sister, who is not yet of age.
This prince had long disliked him!
Today, he reaped what he sowed; he deserved it!"
Ye Shengxiao agreed with a nod after hearing this:
"This Da Xingxing is truly a scoundrel!
Let alone being a general, even an ordinary man wouldn't stoop to the despicable act of framing a woman out of anger after being inferior in skill!
He's truly a disgrace to us men!"
At this moment, Liu Chenfei announced the results of the match, and the Tenth Prince's side secured the victory in the first round!
After everything was tidied up, Liu Chenfei raised the order flag into the air, shaking it twice, signaling the start of the second round.
In the second round, it was Lin Qingge's side's turn to issue a challenge.
Fearing that the opponent might employ a strategy similar to Tian Ji's horse racing, Lin Qingge did not let Leng Ningyue participate. Instead, she instructed Ling Han, who possessed the second-highest combat power, to issue the challenge.
Ling Han had revealed his identity as the sect leader of the Xuanming Sect during the previous martial arts大会.
Therefore, when he stepped out, the martial artists who had the fortune to participate in the recent martial arts大会 collectively gasped.
At this time, someone also stepped forward from King Wucheng's side.
"Sect leader of the Xuanming Sect, is it? This old man will face you!"