A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 350 Martial Champion

Tiger gauged his force and did not truly maim him.However, he wouldn’t escape the hundred days it takes to recover from damaged muscles and bones!

Hey, big brother, look how considerate your Tiger brother is, worrying you might tire yourself, so he told you to take a good rest!

The second round. Tiger won. The opponent lay prostrate.

Soon, only five people remained on the Martial Stage. The brawl began.

Each of these five had just endured a fierce battle and was significantly exhausted. Each one bore visible injuries.

At this point, even if one had martial arts skills, it seemed like there was no energy left to use them. Yet, among these five, three would be named Martial Champion, Second Place Scholar, and Third Place Scholar, respectively. Only two would walk away without titles.

Who would want to be those unlucky two? To have struggled until the end, only to be beaten up and walk away empty-handed? That would be too ridiculous.

With this thought, they all summoned every ounce of their resolve to face the battle.

Xia Tingfeng saw Tiger’s injuries and felt a tinge of nervousness.

The thunderous drumming of five war drums resounded like thunder. It was as if they were welcoming the arrival of the Martial Champion.

The five men, forming a pentagon, stood facing each other. With the war drums booming, the five men grappled together in a chaotic mass.

Some moved with swift agility, another struck with a steady hand, and of course, some adopted a strategy of retreating to save their strength for later. In short, each had their own fighting style: chaotic, but not without opportunity.

An opponent charged at Tiger. Standing to the side, Tiger watched with calm eyes, squinting as the opponent nearly reached him. All of a sudden, Tiger’s eyes snapped open.

A pair of bell-like eyes flashed fiercely, terrifyingly intense. After a twitch in the muscles beside his cheeks, one foot powerfully pushed against the ground, and his body immediately shifted direction.

Evading the opponent’s attack, Tiger seized the opportunity and swung his fist down upon the adversary. At that moment, he spared no effort, slamming down without reserve.

His punches were so dense they resembled the relentless downpour of a midsummer rain, penetrating every gap, shattering every defense. The opponent winced in pain, immediately dodging and turning around.

With a roar, he lunged at Tiger. Tiger fell back with the motion, seemingly overpowered by the opponent, but actually searching for an opening.

Soon, the opportunity came. The opponent raised an arm, exposing a weakness of the human body—the ribs. Tiger clenched his fist and hammered away fiercely.

CRA-ACK, CRA-ACK! The sound echoed as several of the opponent’s ribs snapped. How many, exactly, was uncertain, but at least three.

Seizing the chance, Tiger shoved off the person atop him, leaped up, and pounced like a starving wolf, pinning the opponent beneath him. That opponent felt his world spin before a heavy weight descended upon him like a mountain.

Struggling to break free, yet no matter how hard he tried, this mountain simply wouldn’t budge! The Tiger chuckled.

"I might not match your Martial Arts, but I still have strength, and if not strength, haha, at the very least, I have weight on my side!"

With so many advantages, it’d be hard to lose.

The opponent was trapped below Tiger, unable to break free or escape. Amidst his struggles, one of the war drums ceased its thunder.

This meant that Tiger’s adversary had lost! Subsequently, two more war drums fell silent in turn.

Quickly, only two men remained in the combat arena. One was Tiger, and the other a robust man of ordinary appearance but extraordinary ability.

One of these two, who had fought their way to the end, would definitely become the Martial Champion. Yet, at this point, both were utterly exhausted and bore injuries all over their bodies!

Xia Tingfeng stood on the stage, somewhat nervous, his fists repeatedly clenching and unclenching.

Without concern for fancy techniques, Tiger roared and charged forward. The other did the same. His dark eyes were ablaze with the longing for a bright future and titles, and with the determination not to be defeated after having fought so fiercely until now.

The two men grappled together, trading punches and kicks.

At that moment, there was just one thought in Tiger’s mind.

He had to win, he had to win! If he won, he could be just like his elder brother, someone who had made something of himself. He would no longer be pointed at and told: "Look, he’s just a good-for-nothing street thug." Tiger thought he never wanted to live that kind of life again!

Another punch to the chest, and a spurt of blood came out. Tiger didn’t fall, but rolled aside on the spot and kicked his opponent hard in the back. Caught off guard, his opponent thudded to the ground, struggling for a long time but ultimately unable to get up.

Both of them were truly out of strength. Blood was still flowing from Tiger’s mouth, and the little strength he had left was just enough to keep him standing.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, his opponent still had not gotten up. One of the two thunderous war drums stopped abruptly.

Tiger had won!

"Martial Champion! Martial Champion!" the Announcing Officer shouted as he stepped forward. "Congratulations to the Martial Champion, kudos to the Martial Champion!"

After speaking, he handed over the flag symbolizing victory to Tiger. Hoisting the flag, Tiger waved it towards the stands but, before he could even smile, he spat out another mouthful of blood and fell over.

Xia Tingfeng’s face was filled with anxiety as he involuntarily called out, "Tiger!"

Zhao Junyao looked at Xia Tingfeng’s somewhat unusual expression and laughed after a moment of surprise. "An old acquaintance?"

Xia Tingfeng nodded, a bit of a choke in his voice. "Yes!"

Zhao Junyao said no more. The martial contest was over; the Martial Champion had passed out and was carried away for treatment.

The rest—the Second Place Scholar and the Third Place Scholar—all had their places, and with that, the martial examination came to a complete end. Zhao Junyao was very pleased.

"Not bad!" As he finished, he rose to his feet.

"The hour is late, We shall return to the palace!"

Xia Tingfeng immediately became serious. "Yes!"

Saying this, he ordered his subordinates to prepare to escort the Emperor back to the palace.

Zhao Junyao had taken two steps when he suddenly turned around and said casually, "The Martial Champion is a promising seed of the Great Chu Dynasty. You stay behind and watch over him for Us!..."

Xia Tingfeng was completely stunned. "Your Majesty..."

Zhao Junyao turned back again. "We would not wish to see the Great Chu Dynasty lose a loyal and capable general in the future!"

With that said, he walked off with big strides along with Li Shengan. The Imperial Forest Army stood somewhat at a loss behind Xia Tingfeng.

"Commander Xia..."

With eyes reddening, Xia Tingfeng glared at them and shouted, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and protect the Emperor!"

The Imperial Forest Army promptly obeyed. "Understood, sir!"

And with that, a small detachment of soldiers marched neatly, their footsteps resounding, toward the Emperor.

Xia Tingfeng watched the Emperor’s figure grow more distant. He knelt on one knee, fists clenched in salute.

His eyes were fiery, as if there was a blaze in his chest about to burst forth. "Your Majesty, thank you for your wisdom and favor. I am ready to lay down my life in service!"

Having said that, he rose quickly and strode toward the Martial Champion.

In the medical tent at the martial training ground, many injured combatants from the Martial Stage lay about. Tiger was still unconscious, and Xia Tingfeng strode over.

"Imperial Physician, does the Martial Champion have any ailments?"

After taking the pulse, the Imperial Physician stroked his goatee, pondering for a long while before speaking cautiously.