Chapter Thirty-Seven: Knocked Out of the Ring

Watching Zhang Desen step onto the stage, Lian Qiao couldn’t help but sneer, “So, you coward, you finally came up. After sending so many people to their deaths, you still can’t escape your own fate, can you?”

Zhang Desen walked onto the stage, appearing calm and composed. “Enough. There’s no need to use such words to cover up your own fear. Let’s begin,” he said.

As he spoke, Zhang Desen placed his hand on the hilt of his triangular military dagger. Lian Qiao, enraged by Zhang Desen’s words, drew his sword and charged at him.

Zhang Desen sighed inwardly. He knew that a poor mindset in a duel meant half the battle was already lost, and Lian Qiao’s arrogance was his own undoing. At this moment, Zhang Desen drew his own triangular military dagger. The crowd was visibly startled, for none of them had ever seen such a weapon before. But there was no time for astonishment, as Lian Qiao had already closed the distance.

With both hands gripping his sword, Lian Qiao swung horizontally at Zhang Desen’s waist from the left, aiming to sever him in two. Zhang Desen almost laughed at this, for Lian Qiao had just given him an opening. With a swift movement of his right hand, Zhang Desen blocked Lian Qiao’s blade with his dagger—there was a sharp clang—and in the next instant, his right foot lashed out, striking Lian Qiao’s abdomen. It was as though several mountains had crashed into Lian Qiao’s stomach; a massive injury struck him at once.

A scream of agony tore through the air as Lian Qiao’s sword clattered to the ground. His body was hurled off the stage, landing right at Hu Tu’s feet.

Hu Tu, incensed, pointed at Zhang Desen and shouted, “Zhang Desen! How could you disregard the bond we share as fellow members of the Liu household? To strike so ruthlessly—you’re truly unforgivable!”

Zhang Desen replied unhurriedly, “Deputy Steward Hu, just now your man Lian Qiao injured so many people. Did you think of our bond then? And now you bring it up—how convenient.”

Hu Tu grew even more furious and immediately ordered his men to carry Lian Qiao away for treatment. Drawing his sword, he strode onto the stage, blade gleaming as he bore down on Zhang Desen. There was a metallic crash as Zhang Desen found the flaw in Hu Tu’s technique and struck at it. The dazzling blade light from Hu Tu’s attack instantly dissipated.

Hu Tu was stunned that Zhang Desen had so easily broken his proudest sword technique. Enraged, he barked, “Not bad, boy! Aside from Chief Zhao, you’re the first to withstand my opening strike. But that’s as far as you’ll get—watch my second move!”

He shifted to the left, spun around, and used the momentum to slash at Zhang Desen again. But Zhang Desen, having already read his intentions, darted behind Hu Tu as he spun, and as Hu Tu brought his blade down, Zhang Desen delivered a swift kick to his backside.

The blow struck with the force of several mountains, leaving Hu Tu’s rear in agony. His sword nearly flew from his hand, and though he managed to hold onto it, the kick sent him hurtling toward the edge of the stage. Just before falling off, Hu Tu managed to avoid embarrassment by kneeling on the edge, using his sword for support, left hand clutching his bruised backside, unable to rise.

The entire audience burst into laughter at the sight—none more so than Zhao Chengming’s group. Master Liu, ever the host, restrained his laughter for decorum’s sake. As for Miss Liu Yuting, the household’s young mistress, she too struggled to maintain her composure out of propriety.

On the stage, Hu Tu saw even his own men laughing, though they tried to hold it in. Humiliated, yet unwilling to lose face, he remained kneeling, back to Zhang Desen, and shouted, “Boy, you’ve truly angered me! Prepare to die!”

He tried to stand, but the pain forced him to his knees once more, only managing to turn slightly. This act made the laughter around him swell even louder.

Unable to bear it further, Hu Tu used all his strength to turn and face Zhang Desen, then, brandishing his sword with a burst of speed, he struck at Zhang Desen with meteoric force.

Yet Zhang Desen, anticipating his move, dodged to the side just as Hu Tu lunged, evading the attack.

Then, with lightning speed, Zhang Desen kicked Hu Tu in the abdomen while he was still mid-air. Hu Tu’s stomach suffered the same fate as his backside—a collision like being hit by mountains. Like a broken kite, Hu Tu flew off the stage, crashed into the seating area where he’d been watching, and left the place in utter disarray.

This time, Hu Tu didn’t even have time to feel shame—pain overtook him and he passed out immediately. Cheers erupted, and Zhao Chengming’s retinue led the applause for Zhang Desen. But when Master Liu rose to speak, the crowd quickly fell silent.

Master Liu announced, “Everyone, I hereby declare Zhang Desen the winner of our household’s martial competition. Does anyone object?”

He repeated the question a few times. Zhao Chengming’s group, of course, had no objections; and after witnessing Zhang Desen’s display, neither did anyone else.

Satisfied, Master Liu declared, “It is decided—Zhang Desen is the victor of our household’s competition.”

All the household guards cheered for Zhang Desen’s victory, even some from Hu Tu’s faction—though one could only guess how Hu Tu would feel upon waking. Master Liu told Zhang Desen to rest a moment, then to join him and Zhao Chengming.

...

Meanwhile, in the Supreme Leader’s office at the coastal base of the Ormei Empire’s capital, the Director of Intelligence, Kaba Durr, burst in to report to the Ormei Emperor, Yuri Gotne.

“My Leader, something serious has happened.”

Yuri Gotne sat up at once. “What is it this time? Why are you in such a panic?”

Kaba Durr replied, “They have returned. This time, according to the latest energy fluctuations, we have confirmed where they’re from.”

Yuri Gotne asked, “Who are you talking about?”

Kaba Durr said, “My Leader, have you forgotten those baffling deities worshiped by the Gondor tribe of humanity?”

Yuri Gotne’s expression changed. “Ah, I remember now. According to the cycle, the deities of the Gondor tribe are due to appear again, to descend and claim their tribute. Have we detected them? Do we know their origin?”

Kaba Durr replied, “Just as recorded by the Gondor tribe, they come from the direction of Sirius B. We can now confirm that there must be an undiscovered planet near Sirius B.”

Yuri Gotne mused, “Interesting. So those beings treat our planet as a warehouse, using the human Gondor tribe to plunder our world’s resources. Where are they now?”

Kaba Durr responded, “According to our observations, they have already passed through the heliosphere and are now in the Oort Cloud, speeding toward Sedna in the inner Oort region.”

Yuri Gotne asked, “So, tell me—after they reach Ceres, will they linger there? Or perhaps head to Mars? Or will they land directly on Earth this time?”

Kaba Durr replied, “Based on all previous tracking data, they have never landed directly on Earth. They always pause at Ceres to rest, then head to the sun to collect plasma for their ships’ energy, and only then do they come to Earth.”

Yuri Gotne said, “So, they’ve stopped resting at Mars, and now only pause at the dwarf planet Ceres?”

Kaba Durr confirmed, “Yes. Ceres is a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, conveniently located. It has enough gravity to be spherical, but much less than Mars. Taking off from Ceres saves them a lot of energy compared to Mars or other planets.”

Yuri Gotne pondered, “So, on the rare occasions they stopped at Mars, it must have been out of necessity. Otherwise, they’d always choose Ceres for its ideal gravity, then go to the sun to recharge, and finally descend to Earth with ample energy reserves. After collecting their tribute from the Gondor tribe, they depart directly for their own world.”

Kaba Durr added, “Yes. Observations indicate they usually rest on Ceres for several months before heading to the sun for energy replenishment.”

Then, his tone shifted as he asked, “My Leader, are we still not going to intercept them this time? Shall we continue to let them do as they please?”

Yuri Gotne replied, “Don’t forget that we still lack the strength to stop them. Continue monitoring their movements and report to me at once. Dismissed!”

Kaba Durr answered, “Yes, sir!”