Martial Arts Sainthood Begins with the Tiger-Taming Fist

Chen Mo looked up.

The speaker was a woman wearing a gray-blue round-necked robe and holding a long sword in her hand; she appeared to be a martial artist as well.

He glanced around and knew that most of the guests were martial artists. Like him, they were riding horses to Bagong Town and had come here to stay because it was getting late.

When the woman said someone had set the fire, one of the people around asked, "Do you know who set the fire?"

The woman shook her head. "I don't know, but in the middle of the night, who would bring a fire source to the stable unless it was deliberately set on fire? Please think about it carefully. We are all going to Bagong Town to participate in the Sword Trial. The Sword Trial includes a horsemanship competition. Our competitors deliberately burned and killed our horses so that they would be less of a threat."

Many people nodded in agreement after hearing what the woman said.

One of them suddenly pointed at Chen Mo and said, "This man was the first to come to the stable, and his horse was the only one that didn't burn to death. I think he's the one who started the fire!"

Chen Mo glanced at him, too lazy to pay him any attention.

After thinking for a moment, the woman shook her head. "It can't be him."

Why?

The woman explained, "His own horse was also burned. With its hoof injured, it can no longer run, so it couldn't be him. I guess the arsonist must have already gone far away."

Upon hearing this, the man realized it made sense and stopped talking.

At this moment, the innkeeper hurriedly came out and apologized repeatedly, while some people surrounded him and demanded compensation.

Chen Mo didn't want to get entangled with these people, but something the woman said earlier caught his attention.

Why would the sword-testing ceremony at Nine Swords Mountain test horsemanship? It's not a military examination; it's for selecting generals to fight on the battlefield.

He then asked, "Are you all going to participate in the sword-testing competition?"

Some people nodded in agreement, but most were too preoccupied with the burning of the maned horse to engage in conversation.

The woman looked at Chen Mo suspiciously, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "Aren't you?"

Chen Mo paused for a moment, then said, "I'm also going to participate in the Sword Trial, but... I don't know the specific rules of the Sword Trial?"

This remark drew some laughter.

Chen Mo could tell at a glance that most of the people around him were Ming Jin martial artists. Unless he deliberately released his internal energy aura, they would not be able to detect his An Jin strength.

Therefore, in the eyes of these people, Chen Mo was also a Ming Jin martial artist with weak strength.

The woman forced a smile and said, "Since you are also participating in the Sword Trial, we can go to Hachimiya Town together. I know a shortcut that horses cannot take, but people can walk. Since things have come to this, let's set off at dawn."

"By the way, my name is Yang Caiwei, from the Yang family in Jinyu County."

Yang Caiwei clasped her hands in a fist salute.

"My name is Chen Mo."

Chen Mo responded with a fist and palm salute.

Yang Caiwei was at the peak of Ming Jin strength, so she was the backbone of these people. As soon as she spoke, the group scattered. Some went back to their rooms to rest, while others sat under the eaves dejectedly.

At this moment, the night was dark and the surroundings were quiet, with only the chirping of insects.

Chen Mo found a spot under the eaves to sit down, not far from Yang Caiwei. He asked, "Miss Yang, may I ask you some questions?"

Yang Caiwei turned around and said, "Of course."

What events are included in the sword-testing competition?

"It covers basic swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, horsemanship, and archery."

Chen Mo asked in confusion, "Isn't Nine Swords Mountain supposed to be all about swordsmanship and fist techniques? Why are horsemanship and archery involved?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Caiwei paused for a moment, then suddenly realized and said, "So you didn't know that the Sword Trial is also divided into different levels."

"Different levels?"

"Well, the Sword Trial Competition is roughly divided into two levels. The higher level is for recruiting inner disciples, requiring at least the Dark Force level. It usually tests swordsmanship and fist and palm skills, and the elders of Nine Swords Mountain are in charge of the examination."

She paused for a moment, "As for the lower-level ones, they are for recruiting outer disciples. Outer disciples can only cultivate at the foot of the mountain outside the mountain gate. They are not considered formal disciples, and their strength is not required to be above the Dark Force level."

"Therefore, the requirements for outer disciples are lower, mainly testing simple swordsmanship, fist fighting, and horsemanship."

"Because Nine Swords Mountain has a good relationship with Chuzhou Prefecture, and many outer disciples will join the army in Chuzhou Prefecture in the future, the Nine Swords Mountain outer sect sword trial includes horsemanship."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo suddenly realized what was going on and began to ponder.

At this moment, Yang Caiwei said, "Your horse was also burned, so you can't use your own horse in the horsemanship competition. You need to buy one in Bagong Town, and the effect will definitely not be as good as if you raised it yourself."

Chen Mo nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Well... the people who burned down the stables were indeed quite despicable..."

Yang Caiwei tacitly acknowledged that Chen Mo was participating in the outer disciple sword trial.

In her view, Chen Mo was only at the early or middle stage of Ming Jin, and at most would become an ordinary outer disciple.

Therefore, she had little intention of trying to win over Chen Mo.

After Yang Caiwei left, Chen Mo closed his eyes and meditated to rest.

He secretly pondered, "I'm not familiar with Jinyu County, so traveling with them isn't a bad choice. I'll leave alone once we reach Bagong Town..."

Before long, the sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn, and the distant sky was faintly tinged with the glow of sunrise.

Yang Caiwei stood up, her pale yellow trousers shining brightly in the morning light, highlighting her good figure.

Several pairs of eyes were quietly scanning his body from under the eaves.

Yang Caiwei looked up into the distance and said in a clear voice, "It's dawn, let's set off."

Chen Mo thought the voice was quite approachable, which explained why so many people were willing to follow her.

She led the way, followed by seven or eight people, including Chen Mo.

Chen Mo's black-maned horse had an injured hoof, so it was no longer useful for him to lead it. Therefore, he left it at the inn and gave the innkeeper three taels of silver to take care of it.

After setting off, Yang Caiwei followed a winding mountain road, which was much shorter than the official road she had previously taken.

Around the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the group arrived at a narrow passage with stone walls on both sides.

Chen Mo looked around, slightly startled.

I thought to myself that if this were in ancient times during wartime, it would definitely be a good place to ambush.

Lost in thought, he suddenly frowned, sensing that several auras were indeed rapidly approaching.

A short while later.

Several figures flashed out from the narrow passage, three or four people in front and four behind, attacking from both sides.

Chen Mo slightly raised his eyes. With his late-stage Dark Force perception, he immediately knew that most of the people in this group were at the mid-to-late stage of Ming Force, and their clothing resembled that of a bandit gang, indicating that they were a small gang.

The leader was at the early stage of Dark Force, which was higher than Yang Caiwei's peak of Bright Force.

Chen Mo only needed a moment to think before he realized that the arson in the dead of night and the ambush in the narrow passage were part of a series of interconnected schemes.

Looking across Chuzhou, the strength of those at the early stage of Dark Force is not considered strong, and the fact that the other side dared to launch a direct ambush must mean that they already knew beforehand that the highest combat strength here did not exceed the peak of Bright Force.

However, they overlooked one thing: Chen Mo would actually be mixed in with this group of people.

At this moment, the people behind Yang Caiwei were in a state of chaos, and Yang Caiwei herself also had a solemn expression.

She frowned and said, "I wonder why you are blocking our way? We are just passing through."

The leader then laughed loudly, "Hahaha, haven't you heard of the Green Wolf Gang? We, the Green Wolf Gang, take people's money and solve their problems."