Chapter 78: Madness!

“I have long heard that the Third Prince is both cultured and martial, unmatched in close combat.”

Sima Rui approached Zhongli Zhengzhen, his menacing aura pressing in from all sides. He snatched the arrow from Zhongli Zhengzhen’s hand, twisted his wrist a few times, and without even looking, tossed the arrow. It flew straight and embedded itself firmly in the bullseye of a target in the outer field.

Such terrifying strength and accuracy! The noble sons present erupted in another wave of astonished exclamations.

Zhongli Zhengzhen glanced at the arrow lodged in the bullseye, then turned back with a smile to meet Sima Rui’s gaze.

The moment their eyes met, the smile on Zhongli Zhengzhen’s lips slowly faded.

Sima Rui spoke again, a faint smile now curling at the corners of his mouth. “Since no one can determine which arrow killed this black bear, why don’t the Third Prince and I exchange a few moves? The winner takes the bear. How does that sound?”

Sima Rui appeared to be acting on a whim, but his eyes were tinged with red, fierce and unyielding. He was clearly a dragon whose scales had been touched, ready to unleash its fiery wrath.

Zhongli Zhengzhen paused for a moment, then also smiled.

“That suits me perfectly. I, too, have long heard of the Regent’s extraordinary martial prowess, having mastered the arts of a hundred schools. On this auspicious day and in this fine place, it is the perfect opportunity to learn from you.”

Zhongli Zhengzhen remained calm and composed, showing not the slightest hint of timidity even when facing the true ruler of Nánzhào. By nature, he was arrogant and untamed; though a hostage prince, he never considered himself inferior to anyone.

Moreover, today he had deliberately provoked the Regent. His men had uncovered a secret—something unknown between the Empress Dowager and the Regent—but they could not verify its truth. Thus, he had used the black bear to insinuate and imply, testing the Regent’s reaction.

“I’ve heard the hostage prince is skilled with a dagger,” Sima Rui wasted no more words. He reached back, and a servant behind him immediately handed him a short dagger. “Shall we compete with daggers today?”

Zhongli Zhengzhen raised an eyebrow. “Then I thank the Regent in advance for your generosity.”

The noble sons in the field were stunned. They had come merely for the spectacle but never expected the two to actually fight.

However, their shock was fleeting, quickly replaced by eager excitement.

The Regent had never displayed his martial skills in public before. These noble sons were eager to witness just how capable the true ruler of Nánzhào truly was.

Zhongli Zhengzhen’s attendant, Song Ci, also stepped forward and presented a dagger.

The two nodded slightly to each other in acknowledgment, then swiftly closed in, daggers clashing.

The noble sons’ eyes widened, their lips curling uncontrollably into grins. Some even let out excited shouts as they watched the two men’s movements, which were almost too fast for the naked eye to follow.

With a whoosh, flames flickered in the wind as the first torch in the field was lit, illuminating the ground beneath their feet.

The warm glow fell upon the Regent’s sharply defined profile. He blinked, and the ferocity in his eyes seemed capable of slicing through the firelight. He took several steps back to create distance, then shifted his footing and launched another fierce attack.

Clang! The piercing sound of daggers colliding tore through the night, sparking a shower of sparks.

Torches were lit one by one, and the tension among the onlookers grew. Yet no one stepped in to mediate, for neither of these men was known for a mild temper, and no one was particularly close to either of them.

Moreover, the noble sons had long resented this mere hostage from Jinchuan. Instead of keeping a low profile as a hostage should, he repeatedly stole the spotlight.

They all hoped the Regent would teach this arrogant hostage prince a lesson.

As the battle between the two men in the arena grew fiercer, cheers rose and fell, mostly for the Regent’s exquisite yet swift moves.

They were all from the Nanzhao Kingdom, naturally harboring a sense of xenophobia. And with the Regent wielding immense power and influence over the court, who needed to think about whom to cheer for?

Sima Rui also unleashed his full momentum. Zhongli Zhengzhen had initially responded calmly, but now his moves grew increasingly rapid. The Regent’s offensive was too fierce, clearly catching Zhongli Zhengzhen off guard.

Zhongli Zhengzhen had underestimated this Regent, who had long resided in the court, usually speaking with little variation in tone, and whose demeanor was so impeccable it seemed like a rigid mold.

Zhongli Zhengzhen gradually found himself struggling to keep up. The Regent’s moves were indeed unpredictable and varied—could the rumor that he had mastered the martial arts of a hundred schools actually be true?

In a moment of carelessness, a slash opened across his chest, tearing his clothes but not cutting into his flesh.

Yet Zhongli Zhengzhen, now at a disadvantage, began to laugh again.

The Regent’s eyes turned bloodshot, and his breathing grew heavier. His attacks became faster and more ruthless, like an enraged lion.

The sound of metal clashing was incessant, sparks flying. What had started as a measured exchange gradually turned into a fight with no retreat. Neither man so much as blinked, repeatedly aiming for each other’s vital points, completely defying the original intent of a sparring match, with no intention of stopping.

The women on the sidelines also noticed that the two were fighting to the death, screaming in alarm. On the field, Zhongli Zhengzhen was kicked in the chest, stumbling back several steps, a metallic taste rising in his throat.

He wiped the corner of his mouth, lightly tapped his toes on the ground, and soared into the air. Soon, he was once again gripping his dagger, charging fiercely toward the Regent.

Unlike the shocked screams from the women, some among the noble sons realized something was amiss and grew anxious, while others were roused to a bloodthirsty frenzy by this “sparring” that drew blood with every strike, their cheers growing louder.

The old steward of Haoyue Manor grew frantic, knowing that if either the Regent or the son of Jinchuan were injured at Princess Hui’an’s birthday banquet, the consequences would be severe.

The old steward sent guards forward to intervene, but they suddenly halted.

Because the guards who rushed into the arena were kicked flying by the Regent, landing at the feet of the onlookers and vomiting blood on the spot!

While the two in the arena fought for their lives, conflicts also erupted among the spectators. Seeing the situation deteriorate, all the guards of Haoyue Manor mobilized to break up the fights. Some also tried to stop the Regent and Zhongli Zhengzhen, but no one could get close.

At that moment, the two kicked each other simultaneously, stumbling back several steps and being supported by those behind them.

Zhongli Zhengzhen smiled triumphantly, for based on the Regent’s behavior, it was almost certain that the Regent and the Empress Dowager had an unusually close relationship.

The Regent’s face darkened. Refusing assistance or interference from others, he still intended to press forward and fight. Even if he were unarmed, no one dared to forcefully stop him, let alone when he wielded a weapon. Thus, the two engaged in another fierce struggle, weapons in hand.

The steward of Haoyue Manor was old, and his bones could never withstand a kick if he rushed into the arena. After a moment’s thought, he ordered the guards to separate the noble sons and keep the women at a distance.

He turned and desperately ran towards Princess Hui’an’s residence, needing to report! Only Princess Hui’an could stop the Regent and Jinchuan Zhizi.

Along the way, he pondered his wording, planning to break the news gently to avoid alarming Princess Hui’an.

But upon arriving at the door, he learned that Princess Hui’an had fallen into a coma. For a moment, he was at a loss, repeatedly rubbing his wrinkled face, his entire demeanor exuding a sense of helpless distress.

Meanwhile, Gan Qiongying, who had been watching the fight, had pushed through the crowded crowd to the front. She saw Zhongli Zhengzhen and the Regent locked in a fierce battle, their movements a dazzling blur, making it impossible to tell who had the upper hand.

All she could hear were gasps from the spectators, with someone exclaiming, “So much blood…”

Many of the female guests had already been escorted away by guards, but Gan Qiongying stayed. She slipped over to the male guests’ side and saw that Zhongli Zhengzhen’s arm was bleeding.

The Regent, too, had clearly not come out unscathed—blood was seeping through the side of his waist.

Both men were boiling with ferocity, growing more frenzied as the fight went on. The Regent, in particular, had unleashed his full malice, revealing a viciousness never before shown in public.

While watching the two men trying to beat each other’s heads into a pulp, Gan Qiongying scanned the crowd for Wen Xueling.

Soon, the scene descended into complete chaos. The female spectators fled as some of the brawling noblemen resorted to underhanded tactics, grabbing whatever was at hand and hurling it. One woman narrowly avoided being hit by a thrown object.

Gan Qiongying’s eyes could hardly keep up. Another wave of howls erupted from the crowd—yes, howls.

These people, usually so refined and dignified, proclaiming their virtue and wisdom, had now become plucked wild chickens, half-evolved apes.

In the midst of it all, Zhongli Zhengzhen had been slashed across the neck, blood flowing freely. The Regent’s wrist had also been stabbed, blood gushing out.

Madness!