Chapter 149 Relax, No Pressure

　　Dongsheng Company.

　　At the front desk.

　　Fang Ping’s gaze went straight to Wei Dongsheng who came in wielding a sword. His blood ran cold as he asked, “Wei Dongsheng?”

　　“Fang Ping?”

　　“Stop beating around the bush. We’re not strangers. Just cut straight to the chase!”

　　Fang Ping knew exactly what entailed. He answered, “If you win, Distance Ltd. will no longer expand, and if you lose, you’ll have to run Dongsheng Company more ethically.

　　Wei Dongsheng gave it a thought and said, “Are you sure? You’re not even a Rank-2”

　　“It won’t matter if I beat you in the end!”

　　“Aren’t you one confident man. Why don’t we raise the stakes a little higher? If I win, Distance Ltd. is mine with 8 million. Otherwise, you can have Dongsheng Company back with 3 million.”

　　Wei Dongsheng chuckled, “Dongsheng Company might have just been recently established, but I’ve already invested more than 5 million in the business. In that case, 3 million shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”

　　“Since you want to gamble, let’s do it!”

　　“Mr. Fang…”

　　Li Chengze let out a yelp as he was slightly worried.

　　Would the Rank-1 Fang Ping really be able to take on the Rank-2 Wei Dongsheng?

　　To make matters worse, Wei Dongsheng was no regular martial artist either! He shouldn’t be undermined.

　　The workers of Dongsheng Company seemed curious. It was their first time seeing a confrontation between 2 martial artists.

　　It was straight to the point and efficient. There was no beating around the bush when it came to matters like this. Maybe this was just how martial artists dealt with their businesses.

　　They spared the nonsense talk and didn’t even as much as talk about the situation they were in. When they met, they immediately discussed the conditions. It was as if the rest was already implied.

　　Fang Ping cracked his knuckles as he signaled Li Chengze to move away from them and head to somewhere safe.

　　After pacing in a circle, Fang Ping said, “Anywhere would be a good place for me. Where do you want to start?”

　　“Right here!”

　　Wei Dongsheng chuckled, “Should I give you some time to prepare?”

　　“Just a minute!” Fang Ping took up his offer. He took his Phoenix Beak Glaive from the wooden box and began assembling it.

　　While he was piecing together his sword, he thought he might need a close-range weapon in case he landed himself in an unexpected situation. If he predicted correctly, he would not have enough time to assemble the weapon.

　　Of course, if it was an emergency, even the hilt would do.

　　When Fang Ping stood up with his sword, Wei Dongsheng’s face grew serious as he drew out his longsword and threw his scabbard aside.

　　“Wei Dongsheng from East Sino Nation Normal University, may the best man win!”

　　“Fang Ping from Magic City Martial Arts University, may the best man win!”

　　The 2 martial artists gave each other a bow. The moment Wei Dongsheng rose from his bow, he circled the longsword in the air and it made a low swooshing sound as it slashed the

　　air!

　　Before everyone could see clearly, they saw slight movements from Wei Dongsheng’s feet. He stepped forward in just an instant, and he was suddenly approaching Fang Ping!

　　Fang Ping’s expression did not change and neither did he take a step back. The longsword was cut off in a thunder-like strike that went off in an instant!

　　Wei Dongsheng’s expression changed slightly as he felt the momentum of the blow. The longsword that was initially pointed at Fang Ping’s throat was drawn back and now pointed at his hand, sword still in wield.

　　At that moment, Fang Ping swiftly took a small step back before taking another one to avoid the longsword that gave a slash!

　　Clang!

　　A metallic sound reverberated. The only thing everyone saw was a swish, followed by Wei Dongsheng taking a few steps back, and finally, the trembling longsword in his hand. They could not tell whether the shaking came from his hand or the sword!

　　Fang Ping, on the other hand, was motionless. He had established the situation in one move!

　　“He has such great Vitality!”

　　The look on Wei Dongsheng’s face changed ever so slightly. When he changed techniques, he had initially wanted to push Fang Ping’s blade away by thrusting at his sword’s center of gravity.

　　But as soon as they touched swords, he felt a constant pressure maintained by Fang Ping’s sword strength. They were in a binding position with Fang Ping’s sword just mere inches his skull. Wei Dongsheng had no choice but to move backward.

　　“You’re barely a Middle-stage Rank-2, aren’t

　　you?”

　　Fang Ping frowned. Wei Dongsheng was weaker than he’d expected!

　　Once he had gauged the strength of his opponent, Fang Ping went into full force. He was no longer treading lightly with his changdao. It went so fast that all they could see was its afterimage. Everyone around could feel the tension in the air as they hurried away for their safety!

　　There was no more space for Wei Dongsheng to retreat. He was cornered with the office area behind him. If he backed up anymore, his own doom would await him at the doorway!

　　Wei Dongsheng gritted his teeth. With his swift footwork swift and fleeting body movement, he managed to dodge the changdao like a soaring dragon. The distance closed in between them, and he was ready to move in for an attack on Fang Ping!

　　However, Fang Ping’s composure was still unwavering!

　　Gah!

　　Fang Ping let out a yelp as he felt his Vitality Outburst course through his entire body. Suddenly, Wei Dongsheng felt a pressure that stopped him in his tracks.

　　It was exactly at this time when Fang Ping’s changdao fell from his grip!

　　Wei Dongsheng heard a gust of wind and felt the pressure from above his head. The color from his face immediately went pale as he hurriedly tried to parry.

　　Clang!

　　The sound of metal colliding was now resonating louder than it was before. Wei Dongsheng’s right hand that held the longsword went instantly numb. His attacks stopped and neither could raise his hands above his head.

　　Wei Dongsheng was too fazed to evade it and could only watch with fear in his eyes as the changdao came slashing overhead!

　　Ah!

　　The crowd at the scene could not help but let out a scream.

　　Fang Ping frowned slightly and instantly changed his lethal attack to a mere graze. The blade swerved from the top of his head. Tap! The blade grazed Wei Dongsheng’s cheek!

　　Huff!

　　The crimson-colored blood stained the whites of his teeth as it gushed out. Wei Dongsheng stumbled backward and stopped when he finally got to a wall!

　　The entire place went pin-drop silent.

　　Fang Ping still wore his furrowed brows and thought, “Weakling. What a weakling!”

　　Wei Dongsheng could not even give him a full-strength blow. He was no better a warrior than Yao Jincheng.

　　Wei Dongsheng’s left face blushed but his right cheek was drained of all color.

　　Wei Dongsheng’s left cheek was blushing but on his right, it was drained of all color. Beads of cold sweat were dripping down his forehead.

　　Fang Ping’s attack moments ago almost had him slashed into two pieces!

　　All everyone else could do was stare in disbelief. Li Chengze stood overwhelmed and dumbfounded. “Is this a victory?”

　　Two moves!

　　If we were to disregard the first move when Fang Ping was testing the water, he almost beheaded Wei Dongsheng in one shot!

　　It was not an exaggerated claim to make. If it was not for Fang Ping’s split-second decision to change moves, Wei Dongsheng would have been sliced in half!

　　“Have you never done a mission before?”

　　Fang Ping shot him a question.

　　Wei Dongsheng’s expression changed rapidly. After a short while, he mumbled, “I only broke through Rank-2 when I was a senior.”

　　A Rank-2 in his fourth year? It was natural for some Rank-1 students to choose to omit carrying out missions. Some choose to undertake them when they reached Rank-2. However, Wei Dongsheng was almost a fourth year but had yet to carry out a single one.

　　The way he talked made it seem as if he had never carried out a mission before. Even if he had, it was probably of the trivial and insignificant type.

　　This sort of martial artist was common in martial arts university.

　　Fang Ping stopped his interrogation and Wei Dongsheng was quiet. The whole scene felt awkward.

　　After a few seconds, Wei Dongsheng sighed softly and said, “What are you waiting for? Ask some of your guys to come and take over then!”

　　“Fine!”

　　Fang Ping did not try to be cordial and agreed immediately.

　　Wei Dongsheng looked at him with confusion and hesitated for a moment before he asked, “Are you taking part in the National Championship?”

　　“At the moment, the list isn’t out yet. But it shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

　　“The gifted newbie from MCMAU…”

　　Wei Dongsheng appeared befuddled as he turned to walk back in. His voice echoed out, “I lost. It’s my fault I suck but that doesn’t mean that all students in East Sino Nation Normal University are as bad as me! I graduated merely as a Rank-2 martial artist. At ESNNU, I’m a nobody!”

　　Forget the fact that he lost. Just a moment ago, he was the graduate from East Sino Nation Normal University who almost got killed by a freshman from MCMAU in just one blow.

　　If this news got out before the National Championship, the reputation of East Sino Nation Normal University would be destroyed!

　　“No one is going to underestimate any martial arts university.”

　　“Thank you!”

　　Wei Dongsheng stopped talking and stepped into his office. He suffered a devastating defeat this time around, and the humiliation from this incident could not be borne by him to stay any longer.

　　If he had fought with Fang Ping for about ten moves or so before losing, that would be a different story completely.

　　However, if people knew how he almost got himself sliced in half in just one blow, anything else that he had to say would be a joke.

　　As soon as Wei Dongsheng entered the office, Dongsheng’s employees had a perplexed facial expression. Most of them could not help but secretly glance at Fang Ping.

　　Initially, they thought their old president who had graduated from East Sino Nation Normal University was a young and promising exemplary Rank-2 martial artist.

　　Nobody would have guessed that the younger president of Distance Ltd. had a more superior strength!

　　Furthermore, the counterpart was just a freshman!

　　“Are all students from famous martial arts university this way?”.

　　The hype and uproar that came from the National Championship got many people talking about it. In the eyes of normal citizens, all martial arts universities were the same and famous universities were the more reputable ones.

　　However, at that moment, everyone finally realized that it was really different!

　　Any freshman from an esteemed martial arts university could defeat a graduate from other martial arts universities with just one blow! Now that was the disparity between them!

　　“Mr. Fang…”

　　Li Chengze could not help but let out another yelp. With his gaze away from Wei Dongsheng, Fang Ping said, “Someone else will come and complete the handover. As for the money, I’ll invest it back into my company.”

　　After he muttered those words, Fang Ping did not stay longer. He turned his back and left.

　　After he was out of view, someone could not help but whisper, “The boss of Distance Ltd… is so terrific!”

　　“President Wei, he…”

　　“Hey, President Wei is actually very powerful. It’s not like you guys aren’t aware of it either. Just a few days ago, a few presidents from other companies paid a visit to President Wei, and they were all Rank-2 martial artists…”

　　When Wei Dongsheng’s company opened for business, he was the Rank-2 graduate from East Sino Nation Normal University. His strength among the other small enterprises in university city was one of the best.

　　The presidents of nearby companies had regularly dropped by to pay him a visit, one after another.

　　Among them were the Rank-2 martial artists whom everyone knew but were still very polite toward Wei Dongsheng.

　　That was the main reason why everyone felt so confident that the match with Distance Ltd. would be a good one.

　　At the end of the day though, the result was far from what they had expected.

　　Wei Dongsheng was horribly defeated!

　　When Fang Ping left, Li Chengze did not dare to add salt to the wound and left hurriedly.

　　If Fang Ping arranged for the handover immediately after beating Wei Dongsheng to the point where he would willingly confess his defeat, it would not come as a surprise if Wei Dongsheng hated his guts.

　　Once the people from Distance Ltd. left, the atmosphere was eerily quiet and weird in Dongsheng. Everything was a mess.

　　Everyone could not tell whether the handover to Distance Ltd. was a good or bad thing. At least, they thought, the boss of Distance Ltd. was stronger and more promising than their now ex-boss.

　　In the office.

　　Wei Dongsheng stroked his badly swollen cheek and hesitated for a moment before taking out his mobile phone to make a call.

　　When the line connected, Wei Dongsheng respectfully said, “Instructor.”

　　“Dongsheng, is there something wrong?”

　　“I … I just came to grips with a freshman from MCMAU…”

　　“Oh? Tell me about it.”

　　Wei Dongsheng’s instructor sounded intrigued. Wei Dongsheng’s batch had already graduated and his instructor was now guiding the new batch of students. Currently, he was the instructor for the freshmen classes.

　　Although Wei Dongsheng’s strength was average, the fact that he graduated as a Rank-2 was considered satisfactory.

　　“Why would he be afraid of an MCMAU freshman that was probably Rank-1?” Wei Dongsheng’s instructor was interested in what his student had to say about this freshman from MCMAU.

　　“I… I was almost killed by one slash… He was very good!”

　　“Huh? In one slash?”

　　“Yes. His swordsmanship was swift and his Vitality was high. I couldn’t dodge him at all. His one outburst of a cut was at least 30cal…”

　　“You!”

　　Wei Dongsheng’s instructor was less amazed by his statement than he was disappointed. He said, “If only you were able to control your own Vitality output, you would not have been defeated in one blow!”

　　If the Rank-2 Wei Dongsheng had good control of his own strength, an outburst of a 30cal Vitality blow would not have been hard to achieve.

　　However, it seemed that Wei Dongsheng was unable to do so. Fang Ping’s one slash was strong enough that he could not even lift up his sword.

　　After a word of criticism for his past student, the instructor on the other side of the phone pondered, “Thanks for informing me about this incident. Now tell me, what’s your opponent’s name?”

　　“Fang Ping.”

　　“Fang Ping… who managed to make a 30cal and above Vitality move… Maybe even stronger…”

　　After he groaned out a few words, Wei Dongsheng’s instructor said, “Even though you’ve graduated, it doesn’t mean that you can slack off in your martial arts. Consider this a lesson learned, and take some time to think this incident through. This Fang Ping that you talk of might be a contestant for the MCMAU National Championship, so don’t be too disheartened. Not everyone in MCMAU is as strong as him.”

　　“Thank you for your advice, instructor.”

　　II

　　11

　　After he hung up the phone, Wei Dongsheng felt a sense of “saudade” as he thought about his graduation in his senior year as a Rank-2.

　　Although he was not the type that was naturally gifted in academia, Wei Dongsheng never thought of himself as weak. Not many graduated as a Rank-2. At least he was the best among those in regular martial arts universities.

　　Even though MCMAU was known to be better than East Sino Nation Normal University, Wei Dongsheng thought that the rest of the MCMAU students, besides the juniors and seniors, were not people to be taken lightly.

　　Who knew that in the end they would only be disappointed.

　　As he gently rubbed his cheek and took another look at his office, Wei Dongsheng breathed out another sigh.

　　Yu Gardens.

　　Fang Ping met Fu Changding and his posse.

　　As soon as they met, Fu Changding asked curiously, “That was fast. Are you out of breath yet?”

　　“Yeah.”

　　“Was it a man or a woman?”

　　“A man.”

　　“Wow. A guy. That’s bold of you…”

　　Everyone snickered as Fang Ping stared at him with a darkened face. With an annoyed tone, he asked, “Too bad I didn’t enjoy it much. Maybe you’d like to try it sometime.”

　　“Heh, I’ll pass. I think Chow Chow’s not bad. Why don’t you ask him?”

　　Tang Songting laughed sarcastically and said, “Fu Changding, do you really think I’m afraid of you?”

　　“Why, do you disagree?”

　　The two of them bickered for a while. Fu Changding looked at Fang Ping and laughed. “I see that your face is barely red and you’re not even out of breath. How strong was the other

　　guy?”

　　“Just average.”

　　Fang Ping shook his head and answered, “Every martial artist from martial arts universities that has a rank lower than Rank-3 lacks training. I think that there’s not much difference between those that rank lower than Rank-3 and mere casual martial artists. Well, that’s what I think about people lower than Rank-3s anyways.”

　　Most of those with a Rank-3 strength were required to enter the Catacombs, so they had to be of a certain standard.

　　On the other hand, there would not be these sorts of opportunities for Rank-is and Rank-2s as their strength was, in fact, just average.

　　Fu Changding answered disapprovingly, “You shouldn’t generalize everything. Of course, if you really want to compare, martial arts universities Rank-3s and below are stronger than casual martial artists but weaker than those from the Military Department.”

　　“I think that there will definitely be changes in the future, at least starting from our current batch. Things turned out to be very different from the past.”

　　As they talked, they wandered along the old-fashioned streets and loitered there.

　　It was there when all of them saw a huge publicity poster!

　　“Stay tuned for the Martial Arts University Freshman National Championship that will commence on the 10th of January!”

　　It seemed that Magic City had begun to build the hype for the National Championship. On the streets, there were a number of foreign tourists that were discussing the Martial Arts University National Championship.

　　Fu Changding looked at the poster and said passionately, “I’m so excited. No wonder they say that the world can’t escape fame and wealth. When I think of sweeping the four corners in the exchange competition…”

　　“Will you just save it?” Tang Songting retorted.

　　Fu Changding did not seem to mind him. He was all smiles as he said, “That’s not necessarily the case. I don’t feel weaker than anyone!”

　　“Then why don’t you challenge the position of the monitor?”

　　“Heh, what do you know!”

　　“Hehe…”

　　The two of them continued poking fun at each other while Fang Ping was lost in his own thoughts.

　　If martial arts universities’ students were all like Wei Dongsheng, then there would be nothing for him to worry about.

　　Would martial artists like Wang Jinyang emerge from the National Championship this time around?

　　“I hope that it might…”

　　Fang Ping muttered that he was really weak and pitiful, so his enthusiasm for the exchange game would be reduced by a few points.