"Duan Rong also qualifies, just like Luan Bao and Xiao Yu, and can pay the enrollment fee from the Escort Agency’s account."

"However, I have only promised two spots."

"But now, there are three people eligible for the positions, which just shows our Yuan Shun Escort Agency is teeming with talent."

"Our Escort Agency deals in Jianghu business and lives off Jianghu. My idea is to let them compete in Martial Arts."

"The two winners will qualify for the spots."

Ruan Fengshan’s words left everyone present feeling anxious.

Three people are eligible for the spots; shouldn’t the agency just pay the fee for one more person?

Moreover, since Duan Rong has made great contributions, he must be rewarded. But making him compete for a spot, if he loses, is it considered a reward or not?

Those present were anxious, but Ruan Fengshan understood very well.

He no longer tolerated Luan Jingfu and Luan Bao, so how could he spend sixty thousand silver coins for Luan Bao’s enrollment fee?

He just needed time to set a plan to eliminate Luan Jingfu. As the New Year’s deadline was near, enrollment was imminent.

He introduced Duan Rong into the situation precisely to squeeze Luan Bao out, thus recognizing Duan Rong’s merits without wasting money on Luan Bao.

As for those present, who were worried about Duan Rong losing, he thought that didn’t exist at all. He had seen with his own eyes, from the corridor of the backyard’s accounts room, Duan Rong easily send Luan Bao flying with a single reverse strike.

And Xiao Yu, whether in Martial Arts talent or diligent practice, surpassed Luan Bao. Ruan Fengshan believed Xiao Yu had almost reached the Great Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm Fourth Level.

Therefore, in Ruan Fengshan’s eyes, once Duan Rong intervened, the one squeezed out had to be Luan Bao.

However, those present believed Duan Rong could lose, which made sense, since both Xiao Yu and Luan Bao had long attained the Third Level of the Inner Breath Realm, while Duan Rong had just made the breakthrough. How could he be their opponent?

Luan Jingfu sat in the Grandmaster’s Chair, looking stern. Behind him, Luan Bao whispered "father," hoping for him to speak, but Luan Jingfu remained silent. He merely cast a somewhat gloomy glance at Ruan Fengshan, who was seated on the high, wide chair, trying to guess Ruan Fengshan’s intentions.

Ruan Fengshan, since starting the discussion, hadn’t looked at Luan Jingfu once, instead frequently smiling in the direction of Xiao Zongting...

Nevertheless, Luan Jingfu vaguely felt that Ruan Fengshan was targeting him and his son. He pondered the matter with Xu Shouxian, whether he had handled it cleanly, or if Ruan Fengshan had something on him.

There were no written correspondences between him and Xu Shouxian; everything was discussed face-to-face, leaving no tangible evidence. But he had heard rumors that after Xu Shouxian’s death, his old steward delivered a sealed letter to Ruan Fengshan.

Luan Jingfu never imagined Xu Shouxian had such a contingency plan, setting him up like that. That old bastard, death did little to diminish his influence!

"I think there’s no time like the present, let them decide it now in the Martial Arts Arena. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to witness!" Ruan Fengshan suddenly said.

Xiao Yu, sitting beside Duan Rong, glanced at Duan Rong with her beautiful eyes, then looked past the heads in the front row towards Luan Bao across the way. There was clearly a flash of unusual light in Xiao Yu’s eyes.

Luan Bao also looked towards Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, but since Duan Rong sat in the shadow of the lamp, he could only see Xiao Yu. When their eyes met, their faces instantly turned unfriendly.

Duan Rong, sitting in the lamp’s shadow, felt despair upon hearing Ruan Fengshan’s words.

What spot? He didn’t want it at all!

Sixty thousand silver coins are nothing to him now, at most like a hair, or six hairs at most.

He could afford it, and he had already given the money to Ximen Kankan, who had connections ready.

Besides, if he does squeeze out Luan Bao, wouldn’t he be creating trouble for himself in front of the Luan family father and son?

Luan Jingfu isn’t like Xu Shouxian.

Though Xu Shouxian had some authority within the Escort Agency, he was, after all, in accounting with nearly zero combat skills.

But Luan Jingfu is the Chief Leader; there ought to be many hidden agents within the Escort Team, and he himself is a Martial Artist in the True Qi Realm. Duan Rong had previously managed to eliminate past grievances by currying favor with Ruan Fengshan.

He didn’t want to cross Luan Jingfu again!

Duan Rong had made up his mind to, during his match against Luan Bao in the Martial Arts Arena, find a way to show a flaw to Luan Bao, deliberately lose to him...

Avoid future trouble!

Seeing Ruan Fengshan’s decree, naturally, everyone was eager to watch the spectacle... After all, all three were leaders among the young generation in the Escort Agency, and they truly wanted to see...

Following Ruan Fengshan, the crowd moved from the backyard to the Martial Arts Arena in the central courtyard.

By then, the day was already bright, but it was not yet breakfast time. In the open spaces of the Martial Arts Arena, some Escort Masters were still training in the morning. They stood practicing the Complete Round Pile Skill, sweating profusely, steam rising from their heads...

Those Escort Masters were engrossed in their stance training when suddenly they saw a group of people stirring towards the Martial Arts Arena, and upon a closer look, they saw not only was Shopkeeper Ruan Fengshan present, but also all the big shots of the Escort Agency.

Seeing such a grand arrangement, those Escort Masters knew something was definitely happening, and they all stopped their training, ready to watch the spectacle.

Duan Rong, Xiao Yu, and Luan Bao were already standing beside the Martial Arts stage.

The order of competition was somewhat significant, as the first two competitors would clearly be at a disadvantage.

Duan Rong pondered for a moment, deciding to go first, lose to Luan Bao, and end it quickly.

But before he could speak, Xiao Yu suddenly looked at Luan Bao and said, "Luan Bao, I’ve long heard of your outstanding Martial Arts talent, and I’ve been eager to learn from you, but never had the chance. Today is the perfect opportunity, why don’t we start with a couple of moves!"

Xiao Yu, with her stunning appearance and seasoned in running through Jianghu, exuded a natural heroic spirit in her speech. Her nickname, Rouge Tiger, was truly earned.

Despite Luan Bao’s reluctance to go first, Xiao Yu had already spoken, and since Xiao Yu was a woman, refusing would make him look cowardly.

Luan Bao replied, "Great! Miss Xiao’s famed reputation precedes you, and I have long wanted to learn from you!"

The two no longer wasted words and each leaped onto a corner of the Martial Arts Arena.

Xiao Yu slightly cupped her hands and shouted, "Luan Junior Brother, watch out!"

Only to see Xiao Yu, channeling her Inner Breath, her clothes billowing, her figure swift like a swallow or butterfly. As soon as she made a move, she performed the Cloud Serpent Step, coupled with her Minor Success Realm of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber, she immediately surrounded Luan Bao with blade light like water.

A cheer erupted from the crowd around the Martial Arts Arena!

Luan Jingfu stood there, his face already very grim. As soon as the two made their moves, he could tell Luan Bao was no match for Xiao Yu.

Luan Bao, trapped in Xiao Yu’s blade shadows, could only barely defend, trying hard to cope, but his Inner Breath was clearly not as robust as Xiao Yu’s. Each time their weapons clashed, his palm would slightly tremble, and after a long fight, he was sure to lose.

Their moves were quick, blade shadows flashing, the sound of weapons clashing echoed like beans exploding.

Xiao Yu knew that if they kept clashing, once Luan Bao’s palm went numb, she could knock his weapon out in one go. But Xiao Yu did not want to end things like that; she suddenly suppressed her Inner Breath.

As a result, Luan Bao felt the intense throbbing in his palm suddenly relax. He immediately gripped his weapon tighter and resumed battling fiercely with Xiao Yu.

Outside the arena, Ruan Fengshan, Luan Jingfu, and Xiao Zongting all subtly reacted, clearly noticing something.

Duan Rong perceived even more clearly with his Divine Sense.

Xiao Yu had notably retracted over a tenth of her Inner Breath from her meridians back into her Dantian.

"Is Xiao Yu holding back?" The suspicion flashed in Duan Rong’s eyes.

While Duan Rong was bewildered, Xiao Yu suddenly twisted her body on the Martial Arts Arena, and with a flicker of blade light, stabbed Luan Bao’s right thigh through an opening in his stance. Luan Bao cried out in pain and retreated, but the wound was already bleeding profusely...