boyutpedia Chapter 56 Qingyun Ranking
Chapter 56 Qingyun Ranking
As soon as Li Decai finished speaking, the beaded curtain of the side door of the hall rustled softly, and a young man walked in.
The boy was about fourteen or fifteen years old.
His posture was upright, like a newly grown pine tree.
He was wearing a well-tailored brocade robe with arrow-sleeved sleeves, a jade belt around his waist, and thick-soled boots.
He had a handsome face and an innate air of nobility between his brows.
His eyes were bright, with a hidden glint of intelligence. His glances revealed both the sharpness of a young man and the reserved composure unique to scions of noble families.
His steps were light and silent, clearly indicating that he possessed considerable martial arts skills, and his whole being exuded an outstanding temperament that combined both literary and martial prowess.
"Jintang, come here." Li Decai beckoned with a smile, his tone friendly. "This is Zhang Qingyang, the son of Lieutenant Zhang Zhenshan, whom I often mentioned to you. He is one of the few outstanding young talents in Fengming County in recent years."
"Nephew Qingyang, this is my elder brother's son, Li Jintang, who has come from the prefectural city for a short stay."
Zhang Yuan's mind raced, and he immediately recalled the key information Wang Quanfu had mentioned when introducing the Li family's background.
Li Yuanjiang, a clerk in the government office!
This Li Jintang is a member of the Li family in the prefectural city!
He straightened his clothes, stepped forward with a composed demeanor, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Zhang Yuan greets Young Master Li."
Li Jintang's gaze swept over Zhang Yuan, carrying a scrutinizing and subtly condescending air.
He nodded slightly in return, a gesture that was both precise and arrogant, his voice clear yet distant: "Young Master Zhang, it's a pleasure to meet you."
That sense of superiority from a privileged family naturally shines through.
Li Decai chuckled and smoothed things over, then introduced Li Jintang, saying, "Jintang, don't underestimate your virtuous brother from Qingyang. He's the 'bull-slaughtering boy' who was all the rage a few days ago, the one who killed a strong ox with three punches bare-handed!"
"That bet was so bad that even Uncle Wei lost convincingly."
He specifically pointed out Zhang Yuan's reputation and his "betting match" with him, which both elevated Zhang Yuan's reputation and brought them closer.
Upon hearing this, Li Jintang raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, his gaze toward Zhang Yuan becoming more probing, but his arrogance remained largely intact.
Killing a cow at the age of eight might be shocking in Fengming County, but to him, who had seen many more geniuses in the prefectural city, it was probably just... nothing special.
Amazing strength does not equate to equally high level of martial arts skill and combat prowess.
Li Decai's smile remained unchanged as he turned to Li Jintang and said, "Jintang, didn't you return to Fengming this time precisely to participate in the nomination of candidates for the 'Qingyun Elite List' of Luyang Prefecture in our county?"
He turned to Zhang Yuan and explained, "This Qingyun List is a grand event for selecting talented young people under the age of thirty from various prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Luyang Prefecture. If you can make the list, there are many benefits."
"It's not easy for Jintang to compete for a spot in the city, where there are so many talented people. So, following the rules, he returned to his hometown, Fengming County, to participate in the selection. That way, he has a better chance of winning."
Zhang Yuan understood that this was similar to the advantage of "school registration" or "place of origin" in certain exams in his previous life.
Li Decai put on a warm smile and said to Li Jintang, "Jintang, isn't there a gathering of young people from various families in the county in a couple of days to discuss the Qingyun Ranking? Why don't you take Qingyang with you to see it? Let him gain some experience and broaden his horizons."
He spoke casually, as if it were merely an elder mentoring a younger person.
After saying that, Li Decai turned his gaze to Zhang Yuan, his smile carrying a deeper meaning: "Nephew Qingyang, this is a rare opportunity."
"Several elite members of the Wang family, such as the brothers Wang Chenglin and Wang Chengyu, will also be present at the event."
"You will surely benefit from exchanging ideas and learning from these outstanding members of the Fengming family."
He deliberately pointed out that members of the Wang family would be present, his intentions were obvious.
This was intended to allow Zhang Yuan, through Li Jintang's introduction, to make his debut among the top young people in Fengming County, showcasing his strength and potential.
If Zhang Yuan can demonstrate talent that makes the Wang family take notice or even fear him, then the internal resistance within the Wang family would be much greater if they were to completely break ties with such a promising new star, and with Chen Wenyuan, Zheng Chaoyang, and even the Li family behind him, all for the sake of the Black Tiger Gang.
Ultimately, Li Decai, that old fox, still hoped to resolve the issue in a more "respectable" and less costly way, avoiding a direct confrontation with the Wang family.
After hearing his second uncle's words, Li Jintang's gaze fell on Zhang Yuan again, filled with obvious doubt.
He looked the eight-year-old boy, who was much shorter than him and had a still-childish face, up and down, and a smile that was not quite a smile appeared on his lips.
"My second uncle asked me to take you to see the world, so it's fine." Li Jintang's voice was calm, with a hint of nonchalant arrogance. "However, Zhang Qingyang, when I, Li Jintang, take people out, I am also representing the face of the Li family."
"Killing a cow at the age of eight might be considered a rare thing in Fengming County, proving that you have some brute strength and courage. But in the eyes of true martial arts talents, this... is nothing special."
He paused, his gaze sharpening, carrying a scrutinizing and testing tone: "If you want me to bring you into that circle, I'll have to see if, besides your strength, you truly have the qualifications to be worthy of my introduction."
"Otherwise, if I take you in and embarrass you, I'll lose face too."
Before he finished speaking, Li Jintang did not move. He simply extended one hand, his five fingers slightly spread, palm facing forward, assuming a simple yet rhythmic pose, and stood steadily a step away from him.
He stared intently at Zhang Yuan, his voice clear and carrying an undeniable challenge:
"Alright then, I'll stand here, rooted to the spot, and do as you please."
"Within three moves—"
He deliberately emphasized the words "three moves".
"If you can make me move even an inch, even if it's just the sole of my shoe scraping the ground an inch, I'll acknowledge your skill and personally take you to the party. If not..."
Li Jintang didn't finish his sentence.
But the slightly raised chin and the arrogance in his eyes had already conveyed his unspoken meaning perfectly.
A calm and composed aura, characteristic of the late-stage Acquired Realm, silently spread out along with his outstretched palm.
Although there was no deliberate attempt to intimidate, the atmosphere in the hall instantly froze.
Zhang Yuan's dark eyes remained calm and undisturbed, as if what lay before him was not a test for the heroes of Fucheng, but another fleeing soldier charging into the battlefield of Songshi Town.
He didn't say anything extra, nor did he assume a fighting stance to gather strength. Under the pressure of that late-stage Acquired Realm aura, his body instinctively sank slightly, his center of gravity like the roots of an old tree.
Li Decai held the teacup, his fingers unconsciously stroking the inside of the cup, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and amusement.
Wang Quanfu held his breath nervously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Moved!
"tread--"
Take a step forward!
Zhang Yuan's figure suddenly blurred!
There were no tests, no feints!
He moved like an arrow released from a bow, or like the resolute charge on the battlefield of Songshi Town. With each step he took, the expensive bluestone tiles under his feet made a slight cracking sound as they were unable to bear the weight.
The air was torn apart, producing a low, explosive hiss!