CHAPTER 607: CHAPTER 503: STRENGTH THAT SHOCKED THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE_3

Duke Jiang waved his hand grandly: "Well done! Splendid!"

General Hu spoke indifferently: "The contest isn’t over yet. Calling it a victory now is premature."

Duke Jiang chuckled: "If you hadn’t shamelessly increased the difficulty, the result would already be decided!"

"In a battle of attrition, exhausting your strength prematurely is unwise."

General Hu’s implied meaning was that Lu Yuan was holding back; what use was stealing the spotlight in the first challenge when two more rounds remained?

"Tch~"

Duke Jiang waved dismissively, "If you can’t even win the first challenge, forget dreaming about the later rounds!"

General Hu spoke sternly: "Duke Jiang, such disrespectful remarks—do you not regard Your Majesty in your actions?"

Duke Jiang pointed sideways at Zhang Qufeng: "Am I more disrespectful than him?"

Zhang Qufeng choked: I haven’t said a single word this afternoon!

Zhang Qufeng’s insolent remarks about Lu Yuan in Jinluan Palace yesterday were on par with Duke Jiang’s from today.

If penalties were to be given, punish them together.

"Him too."

Duke Jiang then pointed to King Qi, striving to implicate others and strengthen his position—a strategy of doubling down, aiming for zero loss.

A few individuals were so stifled by him they could barely speak.

The contest continued.

Lu Yuan and Lu Qi dismounted, carrying their bows and arrows, and began climbing a tall platform.

Only upon reaching the top did they discover the platform was built with flexible poles, prone to swaying.

A sudden gust of wind caused the two atop the platform to sway precariously.

There was only one Houyi Bow—whoever grabbed it would claim it.

The two simultaneously reached for the nearest bamboo pole, but Lu Qi extended a hand to block Lu Yuan: "Brother, give up now. It’s for your own good; your younger brother is thinking of your safety."

Lu Yuan smirked, circumventing his hand with a deft wrist maneuver and gripping the bamboo pole firmly: "If you’re so considerate, why don’t you let go instead?"

"Brother, it would be better if you stepped down."

"Sure. I’ll listen to you."

With that, Lu Yuan indeed released his hold and jumped downward.

The crowd gasped collectively.

Emperor Liang: "Look at your father."

"Not looking!"

The little one nestled in Emperor Liang’s arms decisively pulled closed the small curtain—a flap of Emperor Liang’s cloak.

Then, unable to resist, she peeked through a tiny gap to sneak a look at her troublesome father.

Emperor Liang couldn’t hold back his amusement.

In such a tense moment, only this little bundle of joy could momentarily distract and relax Emperor Liang.

Lu Qi hadn’t expected Lu Yuan to jump so decisively.

He had always considered himself reckless, but Lu Yuan was even more audacious, each step catching everyone off guard.

"Ah—he fell—murder—cheating—Commandery Prince is killing his brother—cutthroat tactics to win the competition—!"

Duke Jiang wailed like a pig being slaughtered.

Lu Qi leapt upward.

... But couldn’t make it up.

Looking down, he saw Lu Yuan grabbing his ankle and smiling up at him.

A dreadful premonition rose sharply in his heart.

In the next instant, Lu Yuan swung him by his ankle in mid-air, using the momentum of his movement to perform a flip. He soared to the top of the platform, hanging upside down from the bamboo pole where the Houyi Bow was secured.

King Qi glared at Duke Jiang angrily: "Who’s really using underhanded methods?"

Duke Jiang rubbed his nose: "There wasn’t a rule against snatching..."

Lu Yuan kicked upward lightly, dislodging the Houyi Bow.

What seemed like an effortless kick, only General Hu knew, required extraordinary strength to loosen the Houyi Bow.

This opponent of the Commandery Prince was far more formidable than expected.

Seeing the Houyi Bow flying through the air, Lu Qi suddenly shot out a dart, deflecting the bow away from landing in Lu Yuan’s palm.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Using concealed weapons? Then I won’t hold back."

He reached into his garments, pulling out a handful of silver needles and scattering them like flower petals towards Lu Qi.

King Qi looked toward Emperor Liang: "Father! Lu Linyuan is breaking the rules!"

Prince Ming chuckled: "Lu Qi used the dart first."

King Qi gritted his teeth: "Qi’er shot at the bow!"

Prince Ming replied, "The nephew shot at the bow too. Look if you don’t believe me."

King Qi turned to check.

Lu Qi was swinging the Houyi Bow in his hand to block the barrage of silver needles.

King Qi growled through his teeth at Prince Ming: "You... you twist logic shamelessly!"

However, Emperor Liang hadn’t called an end to the match, signaling that their fight was within the boundaries of the rules.

Seeing this, Lu Qi no longer held back.

After all, as the son-in-law of Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, his greatest forte lay in using concealed weapons.

He deployed wave after wave of hidden projectiles, only for Lu Yuan to evade each expertly.

Since releasing his initial barrage of silver needles, Lu Yuan appeared to have exhausted his supply, dodging everything with sheer movement technique.

Prince Ming clicked his tongue: "How’s he carrying this many concealed weapons? Is he competing or planning an assassination?"

The comment was flippant, but many officials began taking notice.

Even though hidden weapons were effective, they were viewed as dishonorable by the civil and military officials present.

For the Commandery Prince to excessively rely on hidden weapons seemed overly devious.

This was not the impression they expected from him.

It wouldn’t have been surprising for the Imperial Grandson to use concealed weapons, as he consistently carried an air of roguishness.

But the Commandery Prince, reputed as refined, humble, and principled, should have conducted himself with openness and integrity.

Several among the audience showed faint traces of disappointment in their eyes.

Lu Qi had once declared he would win not only the competition but also public favor.

Yet now, he was losing public favor bit by bit.

Suddenly, Lu Qi realized as if awakening from a dream.

He had fallen into Lu Yuan’s trap.

Such an insidiously cunning man!

Hastily, Lu Qi withdrew, ceasing his entanglement with Lu Yuan, clutching the Houyi Bow as he leaped away.

Out of nowhere, a whip coiled around his wrist and pulled tight, forcing the Houyi Bow to fall from his grasp.

Lu Yuan flew forward, seizing the Houyi Bow mid-air, curling his forefinger to whistle.

A white horse neighed loudly, galloping toward him.

Lu Yuan landed steadily on the horse’s back.

Lu Qi punched the bamboo pole: "Damn it!"

King Qi scoffed: "What’s the point of snatching it? Can you even draw it?"

A useless fool who couldn’t even draw the Trident Bow—how could they handle the Houyi Bow?

Like a blind man lighting a lamp—a wasted effort!

Just as this thought crossed King Qi’s mind.

Lu Yuan, under everyone’s watchful gaze, steeled his eyes and decisively drew the Houyi Bow.