Before she finished speaking, the two little maids on the boat stood up and bowed to her in unison, their voices sweet as orioles: “Welcome, our master!”

Jing Hengbo’s curses stuck in her throat.

She looked at the boat, at the banner, then at her own garments, slowly realizing this boat seemed to match her outfit perfectly.

She touched her nose and carefully asked Zirui and Yong Xue, “You think… this wouldn’t also be for me, would it?”

Zirui and Yong Xue’s expressions were full of disbelief. This boat was an even grander gesture than the sedan – who had sent it?

Jing Hengbo couldn’t think of anyone locally with whom she had good enough relations to send such a boat.

Suddenly “swish” – something flew toward her. Jing Hengbo raised her hand and caught it – a short note fell into her palm.

“Sailing under moonlight is life’s pleasure. This modest gift shows no proper respect.”

Below was a signature mark, flourishing like dragons and phoenixes, which she didn’t recognize.

“It really is for me!” She was dumbfounded.

Had she won the lottery today?

“Jing Hengbo!” An exasperated voice came from beside her. “Did you buy this boat?”

Jing Hengbo turned to see Pei Shu. “Of course not. I can’t afford it yet. Ah, did you buy it?”

“I wish I could!” Pei Shu’s handsome face was contorted with anger. “That old geezer promised to sell it to me! How did he turn around and sell to someone else! Ah, who dares steal my things! Who dares steal my things! Li Bao’er! Li Bao’er!” He angrily called his subordinate. “How did you handle this? Huh? Got intercepted, didn’t you? Go! Ask that old geezer who ate a leopard’s heart and bear’s gall to compete with me! I’ll skin him, draw his tendons, chop his bones piece by piece to feed the dogs!”

Violent Dragon Pei stormed off angrily, seeming greatly affected, even stumbling in his steps. Jing Hengbo couldn’t be bothered comforting his wounded soul, staring at the boat with both joy and wariness.

Such an expensive gift, such a grand gesture, with the giver’s identity unclear – normally she shouldn’t board. But this boat clearly matched her perfectly. Common people would think this was her own prepared boat. Under everyone’s gaze, not boarding her own boat would be unreasonable.

Had the gift-giver also thought of this, making it impossible for her to refuse?

After a long while, she said slowly, “Have people board and search first.”

Immediately Quan Ninghao led people in small boats to approach and inspect the ship. Soon they signaled safety to Jing Hengbo.

“It really is a gift!” Jing Hengbo laughed heartily and exited the sedan.

The common people who’d been staring intently at the sedan all felt their eyes brighten, as if another bright moon had risen in the sky. Before they could see clearly, they exclaimed in amazement, some involuntarily looking up to check if the moon was still there.

Still just a fleeting glimpse – the next moment the Queen was gone from before the sedan. Everyone looked around bewildered when lazy, seductive laughter came from the large boat: “Hi there, fathers and fellow villagers of Ningjin!”

Everyone turned around foolishly again, then ten thousand people fell silent.

Only now could they see the Queen’s true face.

But they dared not believe their eyes.

Under moonlight the boat was like snow, the person like moon – or the person like snow, boat like moon – all one color of milky white flashing pale gold, pure and noble hues.

But no matter how beautiful the colors, they couldn’t surpass that person’s graceful beauty – like immortal consorts with brilliant embroidered splendor.

Yet no matter how beautiful the appearance, it seemed insufficient compared to that soul-stirring figure. Though viewing from across the river was just a distant scene, precisely that distant scene in night’s colors perfectly outlined the woman’s form.

Such linear beauty, feminine beauty, made everyone’s breathing tighten, eyes unblinking, afraid one blink would lose this beautiful scene and perfect moment.

She merely stood there with brilliant lights behind her as backdrop, silk and bamboo music growing soft and light.

Ten thousand starlight seemed to flow backward instantly, gathering on one person alone.

Some people naturally radiate light.

…

Extreme clamor was suppressed by extreme beauty.

Under a tree on the shore, Master Mu sat on the ground, smiling as he watched the woman at the center of thousands, his eyes seeming to flow with light.

…

On the river sailed many small boats carrying scholars participating in tonight’s contest. Now the boatmen had forgotten to paddle, letting boats drift on the river.

On an inconspicuous covered boat, someone reached out to gently lift the curtain.

This boat’s position was clever – very close to the large boat, in the large boat’s shadow where people on board could hardly notice him, yet he could see those on the boat clearly.

He stared at that graceful figure, his clear eyes like frost and snow under moonlight gradually surging with turbulent waves, waves flashing with stunning brilliance.

Her beauty was always like master calligraphy – every stroke world-shocking, every stroke new elegance.

The snow-white tower boat with its snow-white person, uniformly harmonious like moon and jade vase, reminded him of that glimpse at Jade Tower – her snow garments and purple silk could topple the world.

A guard crouched beside him, watching his satisfied and yearning expression, couldn’t help sighing quietly.

Finally making the master satisfied.

Was it easy?

Sending a boat that had to match her – what did “matching her” mean? How could a boat match a person? They had no choice but to first spend heavily buying the finest boat, then inquire about what the Queen would wear tonight, then based on her clothes spend heavily hiring master designers to redesign and modify the hull, then spend heavily hiring craftsmen to work day and night on renovations. Forget the money spent – the effort alone was enough to make one vomit blood.

Fortunately, the guards had long studied their master and received instruction from the Chief Commander, deeply understanding one principle: whether things matched didn’t depend on how they matched, but on making the master feel they matched.

So they worked from the Queen’s garments. Her snow-white dress flashing gold would coordinate with this snow-white boat inlaid with yellow sandalwood, definitely harmonious and beautiful. If the master found it pleasing, then it matched.

Indeed it matched.

…

After a moment of silence along Qu River’s banks came thunderous cheers.

“Long live the Queen!”

“Long live Your Majesty!”

The people’s voices could almost overturn Qu River. Countless people threw silk flowers they’d bought for entertainment toward the river’s center. For a moment flowers fell like rain on the river, disturbing lamplight and moonlight.

For Dahuang’s people, Jing Hengbo was already legendary. Though Dahuang’s history had exiled queens before, none had been exiled so sensationally and dramatically. Regardless, for a rootless woman to mobilize Emperor’s Song’s entire officialdom, nobility, and military to unite and drive her out with great fanfare – that itself proved something.

In other words – being able to offend so many people and make so many treat you as a formidable enemy was also ability.

What she’d done in Emperor’s Song, common people might not know clearly, but they admired such a courageous and resilient woman. Dahuang’s queens were like little widows – how many died melancholy in deep palaces, with occasional resistance ending tragically. This one had walked out, resisted, and could still reach Hawksbill alive, still appear spectacularly in three counties, suppressing sixteen gangs and occupying three counties with one move – such awesomeness was unprecedented since Dahuang’s founding.

Moreover, she was so beautiful!

The people’s cheers were unclear whether for her spectacle or her beauty.

Under moonlight on the tower boat, Her Majesty the Queen like a crown in snow fulfilled Dahuang people’s most perfect imagination of a goddess-like queen.

Some even fainted – several scholars who’d clamored at her inn entrance about rewarding beauties recognized the beauty was actually the Queen and immediately toppled from boat bows…

Jing Hengbo wasn’t intoxicated by the soaring cheers. Her gaze fell on a passage by the riverbank.

This was the path for today’s challengers – the only path. Jing Hengbo naturally guarded against gangs making desperate moves, using her gathering as opportunity to harm common people and cause her trouble. So she’d early ordered Titled Colonels leading subordinates, equipped with “Seven-Pearl Crossbows” and other weapons, to tightly guard the entire perimeter, leaving only this passage for challengers.

Now those people were striding forward while common people watched from afar with complex gazes. Clearly, as the local foremost gang, Lingxiao Gate had long-established intimidation.

The leader wore pure black, had a face like dark dates, was short in stature, with sinister eyes.

Yong Xue said quietly, “Lingxiao Gate Vice-Master Chi Ming, also a hot candidate to succeed the current gate master. He believes Lingxiao Gate’s retreat from three counties was due to traitors within, not military defeat, so he refuses to withdraw and insists on reclaiming three counties’ territory. Reportedly he bet with the Lingxiao Gate Master – if he could defeat you, the three counties would be his alone, with the Gate Master unable to interfere.”

“Thus he’d have capital to compete with the Gate Master,” Zirui said.

Both were responsible for gathering intelligence on all opponents. Jing Hengbo had ordered them to file all Hawksbill forces, categorizing and secretly storing all information learned from Thirteen Guardians’ underground base and Li Hanyu.

She’d only expelled sixteen gangs from the three counties they considered worthless, not touching their foundations, so their power remained. They were now observing but wouldn’t allow her to grow stronger or give up opposing her. Naturally she wouldn’t spare them either, so future battles awaited, making this information very useful.

Jing Hengbo thought this Chi Ming was quite a character, hitting the nail on the head. Lingxiao Gate had indeed produced a traitor – the Gate Master himself.

Since he wanted to lose, she’d let him lose with world-renowned humiliation.

Chi Ming brought seven subordinates. Standing by the riverbank, he glanced at Jing Hengbo and snorted coldly.

He naturally knew what people served under the Queen and wasn’t confident of defeating Ying Bai or Pei Shu, but he knew the Queen couldn’t fight.

With everyone watching today, just making the Queen look thoroughly embarrassed would be victory!

Besides, he had a trump card…

His gaze shot toward the distance. Ahead under a tree’s shadow stood two cloaked figures – one in black, one in green. The black-cloaked one raised his hand in signal from afar.

Chi Ming felt slightly relieved, withdrew his gaze, beckoned, and a pure black boat silently approached. He boarded with his men.

Under tree shadows, the cloaked figures stood silently. The black-cloaked one leisurely rolled up his sleeves and coughed several times.

His companion immediately asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Caught cold? Is it serious?”

Martial artists were strong and healthy, rarely catching cold, so any cold was significant.

That person coughed several more times before shaking his head: “No problem, just a bit tired.”

“You shouldn’t have saved that cripple,” the green-cloaked person complained. “How much vital energy you expended.”

“Indeed a waste,” the black-cloaked person said coldly. “But couldn’t not save him.”

He coughed several more times, one sound slightly louder.

On the boat, Zirui suddenly turned toward that direction and looked.

“What’s wrong?” Yong Xue immediately asked alertly.

“Nothing, I thought I heard a familiar voice…” Zirui murmured.

“Who?” Yong Xue knew Zirui’s hearing was exceptional and was very vigilant.

Zirui thought for a while, then shook her head. “Can’t remember. Just felt somewhat familiar, probably heard wrong.”

As Lingxiao Gate’s boat gradually approached, both had other duties and returned attention.

Under tree shade, that cloaked figure suddenly glanced toward the boat, took medicine, and stopped coughing.

“What’s wrong?” the green-cloaked person said. “Don’t you dislike taking medicine?”

“Someone on the boat seems to have exceptional hearing,” the black-cloaked person smiled.

“We didn’t say anything problematic, did we?” The green-cloaked person wasn’t too worried.

The black-cloaked person glanced at the boat and smiled.

Now both boats had approached, separated by three zhang at an angle – exactly the distance where arrows could reach but light-body skills couldn’t.

People on both banks also quieted down. Many commoners took out pot lids and cutting boards they’d brought, shielding vital points in case arrows flew everywhere, ready for defense.

Jing Hengbo was thunderstruck – worthy of Hawksbill where gang bosses ruled, even common people could think of this! Daring to come to such occasions!

On the opposite boat, Chi Ming shouted harshly, “Jing Hengbo, what are you to dare claim evaluation of the world’s literary and martial talents!”

“Right, I don’t dare,” Jing Hengbo smiled. “So you don’t count.”

“Don’t use glib tongue, know that those who offend our Lingxiao Gate, however far, will be punished!”

“Right, I’m so scared,” Jing Hengbo smiled. “But I don’t know what distance is appropriate? This time separated by three zhang from you, not punished; last time separated by ten zhang from your gang members, not punished; the time before face-to-face with your Gate Master, still not punished. Exactly what distance do you plan to punish me at? Face-to-face?”

Roaring laughter almost shook the river water as common people shouted, “Queen, well done!”

“Beautiful person with a sharp tongue too!”

“Jing Hengbo, can you only rely on glib talk?” Chi Ming now wasn’t angry but said sinisterly, “You challenged us at Qu River and invited these world scholars and common people, creating such a grand display – just to let people watch you show off your beauty and seek cheap applause?”

Before the Queen’s guards could shout “impudence,” common people below were already in uproar, cursing “Chi Ming, how can you speak like that?”

“Verbally attacking a woman like this isn’t befitting a true man!”

Jing Hengbo smiled and waved her hand. “Thank you, fathers and elders, for your indignation on my behalf.” She turned to glance at Chi Ming. “Having beauty allows showing off; having reputation allows seeking applause; similarly, having strength allows creating such displays at Qu River… Chi Ming!” She suddenly shouted, echoing across Qu River. “Since you’re unconvinced, then I’ll set the location, you set the combat method – let’s see who can only rely on glib talk!”

Chi Ming smiled sinisterly – verbal provocation was exactly what he wanted!

According to martial world rules, having won the three counties struggle, Jing Hengbo could refuse challenges. If accepting, she should set both location and method. Chi Ming greatly feared she’d choose best-of-three – with experts like Ying Bai and Pei Shu on her side, Lingxiao Gate could hardly guarantee victory in one-on-one matches.

As for three matches defeating Jing Hengbo, Chi Ming considered this certain, but what use was just defeating her? Losing twice in three matches still meant overall defeat.

“For method,” he said, “between you and me – melee combat!”

“Chi Ming, have you no shame!” People immediately cursed. “You want to fight the Queen? She doesn’t know martial arts!”

“Who says?” Chi Ming sneered. “Didn’t they say the Queen alone at Danling Mountain drove away a thousand people? With such peerless martial arts, I dare face her – you should praise my commendable courage.”

Everyone secretly cursed Chi Ming’s shamelessness. After Danling Mountain, everyone had maintained silence about what really happened. No one was clear on actual events, but no one took the “one person driving away a thousand” seriously, all thinking it was just the Queen’s expert subordinates and clever schemes. Now Chi Ming seized on this, insisting the Queen had peerless martial arts, and no one could refute it.

Jing Hengbo chuckled. “How will we fight?”

“Aren’t you evaluating the world’s heroes and talents?” Chi Ming said. “These Hawksbill talents are now on surrounding boats. You have them submit poetry and prose for your evaluation while I work to destroy them. Finally we’ll tally whether more were evaluated or destroyed, how about it!” He squinted. “This way, not directly attacking each other, so I’m not bullying a woman with male strength!”

“Good!”

“To increase difficulty, both sides’ subordinates can interfere with the other from distance, each using their own methods!”

“Good!”

“Also to increase difficulty, you and I can only occupy small areas and cannot move beyond those areas, which the other side can designate.”

“Good!”

“If I lose, I’ll withdraw from three counties and never enter again; if you lose, kneel and kowtow, then withdraw from three counties!”

“Not good!”

“Uh…” Chi Ming nearly choked.

“I really must ask if you have any shame,” Jing Hengbo smiled and wagged her finger. “The three counties are already my territory. You already lost and should scram. You’re the ones shamelessly refusing to accept defeat, so I’m giving you a chance to be convinced. How can you use this as a condition?”

“Then what do you want?” Seeing shore people’s disdainful expressions, Chi Ming could only suppress his anger and ask.

“You kneel and kowtow, cripple your own martial arts, and swear Lingxiao Gate will never violate royal authority.”

“I’m only vice-master and cannot represent Lingxiao Gate.”

“Can’t represent? Then why are you here babbling? I’m the Queen! You’re a bandit! Even your Gate Master is merely my subject. What qualifies you to bargain with me? Cut the crap – either produce conditions I’m satisfied with or scram now.”

“If I lose, I’ll kowtow in apology and the Fengling County halls I control will also be yours!” Chi Ming gritted his teeth.

“That’s more like it,” Jing Hengbo smiled charmingly. “If I lose, I’ll kowtow to you!”

Chi Ming’s eyes turned vicious – just making the Queen kowtow would thoroughly defeat her today, making the three counties unstable!

“Then let’s begin!” he shouted.

“My pleasure,” Jing Hengbo threw off her short cloak.

“I say, you really want to fight him one-on-one?” Pei Shu approached, dissatisfied. “Wouldn’t best-of-three be better? Ying Bai, Tian Qi and I could ensure three straight victories.”

“I know. But if I only wanted to win, I wouldn’t have staged such a sensational event,” Jing Hengbo curled her lip. “I originally planned to act alone.”

“Why?”

“No matter how awesome subordinates are, others will see me as a supported puppet,” Jing Hengbo smiled. “True awesomeness is your own awesomeness.”

“But…” Pei Shu still wasn’t willing.

“Knowing you three exist yet still daring to challenge shows they’ve prepared experts too. You might not win all three. Under these conditions, using all our experts yet not winning all three would count as failure,” Jing Hengbo glanced at him. “But targeting just me is different. First, it constrains you while also constraining their experts; second, everyone knows I can’t fight and am a woman, while Chi Ming is Lingxiao Gate’s vice-master, famous for years. Him challenging me has overtones of strong bullying weak, male bullying female. So if I lose, it’s not shameful, but if I win, it’s immediately fame-worthy great victory. Understand?”

“Hmph, you woman are getting more cunning,” Pei Shu cursed but wouldn’t go far. “If he plays tricks, I’ll castrate him!”

Jing Hengbo ignored him, looking around. “Zirui will handle examining literature later.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll let the Queen go first,” Chi Ming sneered from across. “Please designate where I should stand.”

Jing Hengbo looked casually. His boat was simply designed with nothing special to designate, only a chair on deck, so she said, “Stand on the chair.”

Chi Ming stood on the chair. Jing Hengbo looked up and exclaimed, “Wow, now I can finally see you.”

The common people burst into laughter again – Chi Ming was short and had long been sensitive about his height, most taboo about height comments. He’d killed many innocents over this, and people had long been angry but afraid to speak.

The Queen was vicious enough!

Chi Ming’s jujube-colored face had turned into a black date, his teeth grinding audibly. Standing on the chair with everyone staring at his short legs, he desperately wanted to jump down, but having proposed the conditions himself, how could he back out now?

When humiliated, the solution was to ruthlessly retaliate against the humiliator!

“My turn,” Jing Hengbo smiled.

Chi Ming raised his head with a sinister laugh, pointing at the top of the flagpole: “Can’t the Queen see clearly? This is the highest point where everyone can be seen clearly. Please move there!”

The crowd erupted in uproar.

“Chi Ming, have you no shame!” Someone immediately shouted. “That flagpole can’t even be climbed, how can one stand on it?”

“Even if you got up, you couldn’t stand steady. Any random move could knock you down.”

“Do you think this is acrobatics?”

Though Jing Hengbo’s boat’s flagpole wasn’t pointed, it only had a palm-sized area at most. Dodging and maneuvering would be severely limited, plus facing attacks – these demands were excessive even for experts.

“The Queen can surrender. Otherwise, if the wind up there blows you right down, we won’t need to compete.” Chi Ming ignored everyone, finally venting his spite with a stiff, smug smile.

In competition, wisdom was also a factor. He didn’t feel ashamed of using cunning.

…

Amid the angry clamor below, beside Master Mu, Xianyu Qing said anxiously, “Aiyo, what can be done? How can anyone stand steady on that flagpole?”

Master Mu smiled slightly, casually tossing a snack into his mouth, saying carelessly, “You should be happy instead.”

“Ah?” Xianyu Qing heard but didn’t understand.

Master Mu gazed at the flagpole, his smile growing more expectant: “From that height, one can indeed see much more clearly…”

…

On the small boat, he glanced outward coolly, his expression quite displeased.

So high up, and that dress had slits, such high slits… with so many people around… everyone could see… hadn’t she thought about such situations… this woman…

Hmm, did she wear those things called… safety shorts underneath?

…

Jing Hengbo exhaled deeply. Fortunately, she’d equipped herself with safety shorts – essential anti-exposure gear for high-slit qipaos.

People below continued cursing Chi Ming. Jing Hengbo waited until he could barely withstand the abuse and his face looked terrible before flashing away.

The next instant everyone was rubbing their eyes – where was she?

“On the flagpole!” someone suddenly shrieked.

The next moment the crowd’s “Ohhh—” could have flown to the heavens.

Somehow the Queen was already standing on the flagpole, suspended in air with garments fluttering in wind. Looking up with craned necks, people found the Queen’s waist looked even more shockingly slender, making them worry a gust of wind might snap her in half.

Such a Queen also made breathing tighten even more – she stood on the flagpole like a weary cloud at rest, with a golden crescent moon behind her, seeming able to hook that lunar horn with one hand and sway gently across the firmament.

“Fellow scholars!” Jing Hengbo laughed lightly from her height. “Where are your poems and essays? Present them!”

The scholars scattered on boats along both shores had long been eager to try. Hearing this call, they all urgently ordered boatmen to row, wanting to board the large boat for close contact with the Queen.

Chi Ming’s eyes flashed with fierce light as he said, “Shoot!”

His subordinate warriors each held rows of crossbows and fired. With a buzzing sound, dark arrows drew black arcs, covering the entire boat.

Those arrows weren’t aimed at Jing Hengbo but at the whole boat.

Jing Hengbo paid no attention – these arrows would be handled by Ying Bai and others. From the flagpole she called out loudly, “All scholars, boats may not approach within five zhang of my vessel. Violators forfeit competition eligibility!”

At this declaration, Chi Ming’s expression changed.

Jing Hengbo had exposed his plan.

His intention to compete with Jing Hengbo was false – he wanted to use this opportunity of “mutual attacks on boats” to shoot dead scholars trying to board Jing Hengbo’s vessel.

The competition was proposed by Jing Hengbo, and she’d invited scholars close. Accidental injuries from random arrows would be her responsibility.

Local scholars able to hire boats and wait here mostly had wealth and power – studying was expensive.

Thus, even if Jing Hengbo won, she couldn’t hold the three counties long and would face united resistance from wealthy households.

He hadn’t expected Jing Hengbo to forbid scholars from approaching – but without scholars approaching, how could she evaluate poetry? These scholars lacked internal energy and couldn’t recite poems across the river.

Send people to collect them?

“Now listen to my question!” Jing Hengbo called out loudly. “Answer within one incense stick’s time – no extensions. Winners will immediately become my honored guests. Those unwilling to be my advisors may make one request of me, as long as I can fulfill it.”

The scholars’ spirits lifted, eyes bright, awaiting the Queen’s question to measure the world’s talents.

“Just one question!” Jing Hengbo pointed toward distant Shangyuan City. “Discuss how to capture Shangyuan Royal City without bloodshed!”

The cheering stopped abruptly. The entire riverside fell into eerie silence.

Everyone looked at each other – knowing the Queen was arrogant, they hadn’t known she was this arrogant. These nearby three counties surely had countless spies from Shangyuan City, yet she’d shouted this publicly.

Without bloodshed no less – trying to anger the Hawksbill Clan Leader? The Hawksbill Clan Leader commanded a famous assassination squad!

Moreover, should scholars answer such a question or not? Answering would make them enemies of the Hawksbill Clan Leader and face the assassination squad.

Facing the silence below, Jing Hengbo crossed her arms with a half-smile.

She was testing not just literary talent and martial skill, but courage and bravery. Her path was destined to face countless thorns – cowards didn’t deserve to stand beside her!

After a moment of silence, some small boats silently rowed away from shore, some support groups quietly removed banners and took away signs.

Wanting fame required staying alive first. Those unwilling to directly oppose the Hawksbill Clan Leader chose to forfeit.

Everyone understood. After all, the Hawksbill Clan Leader commanded fifty thousand troops, had occupied Shangyuan for years, weathered attacks from sixteen gangs in turn yet kept the Hawksbill Royal City. Though cowardly, it wasn’t simple. The Queen had just arrived and merely won an opening victory, not even stabilizing the three counties. People’s reluctance to bet now was normal.

Almost instantly, the small boats packed so densely they nearly collided were reduced by half.

Those remaining were mostly poor scholars, or those with extraordinary backgrounds unafraid of the Hawksbill Clan Leader, or outsiders hoping to try their luck.

“Thank you all for having faith in me,” Jing Hengbo’s gaze flowed as she smiled charmingly. “Now, begin!”

Scholars wrote furiously on their boats while Chi Ming launched another attack: “Shoot!”

This time all arrows concentrated fire like a great black cloud, rushing straight at Jing Hengbo.

The arrow light was so dense it nearly obscured Jing Hengbo’s figure.

The people cried out in alarm.

Chi Ming showed a vicious smile – this volley of crossbow bolts was also fired by specially-made Seven-Pearl Crossbows with long range and strong force. Even if they couldn’t wound Jing Hengbo, they’d be enough to force her down from the flagpole.

The arrows approached.

Jing Hengbo’s figure flashed.

The crowd made a “Yo—” sound, clearly seeing Jing Hengbo now flashing above the arrow cluster.

From afar, she seemed to have stepped down on the arrow cluster, or like the arrows were carrying her aloft.

The next instant she smiled: “Courtesy demands reciprocity! Go!”

“Whoosh.” With a fierce sound, those hundreds of arrows suddenly changed direction, shooting back at Chi Ming!

Swift as wind and lightning, reaching in a blink, faster than Seven-Pearl Crossbows!

The riverside erupted in astonished cries that could overturn river waves.

Chi Ming suddenly flipped backward on his chair, tumbling behind it.

“Sss sss sss sss” – a series of teeth-grinding metallic collision sounds as countless arrows scraped off golden sparks, sliding past the chair onto the deck.

Chi Ming rolled once, emerging from behind the chair to sit calmly again, sneering at the opposite side.

After a moment of silence, someone shouted, “His chair is an iron chair!”

The crowd roared: “Shameless! Despicable!” A basket of epithets was gifted to Chi Ming.

Chi Ming acted as if he heard nothing. Unlike ordinary martial world people, he didn’t care about fair competition or honor, nor about face. In his view, each should use their abilities with winners ruling. Only losers got mocked – win, and who dared say a word?

This was why he could become Lingxiao Gate’s vice-master in his thirties, and why he still wouldn’t give up even when Lingxiao Gate decided to withdraw from the three counties.

As long as he could win, any means were acceptable.

The next instant he waved again: “Shoot!”

This time arrows rushed wildly straight at the flagpole!

Jing Hengbo could dodge, but the flagpole couldn’t!

On Jing Hengbo’s boat, Ying Bai, Pei Shu, Tian Qi, Quan Ninghao and others naturally weren’t pushovers. Figures flashing, crisscrossing and weaving, they blocked all arrows. Sword and blade light formed continuous transparent screens in mid-air, white qi shooting skyward, arrows falling like rain, splashing countless long and short water columns on the surface.

Watching commoners cheered endlessly – without today’s occasion, who would see so many experts acting simultaneously?

Seeing all arrows suppressed, everyone relaxed, but one arrow suddenly exploded, bursting out a smaller arrow. Pei Shu, closest to it, reacted extremely fast and immediately lunged to block, but that arrow’s position was right beside Yong Xue. Seeing it about to hit her, Pei Shu had to pull Yong Xue away first. Slowed by this instant, “swish” – the arrow hugged the boat hull straight up, “snap” striking the flagpole. “Bang” – it exploded with sound enough to shatter the entire pole.

This caught everyone off guard. Pei Shu immediately wanted to cross to the opposite boat and beat people up, but Ying Bai held him firmly.

Jing Hengbo felt the flagpole shake beneath her feet, knowing trouble. Just as she thought to quickly dodge, she suddenly found the pole hadn’t fallen. Looking down, she saw the flagpole was broken but only showed a crack without completely splitting apart.

Chi Ming had been sitting on his chair with a cold smile, waiting for her surrender. Now he stood up in shock, not caring about his awkward posture as he climbed on the chair to stare hard at the opposite side.

Only now did Jing Hengbo discover this flagpole was actually ebony – extremely hard ebony that could break but not crack, helping her at the crucial moment.

This shocked her too – even the flagpole was ebony. How much was this boat worth?

…

On the small boat by shore, he made a satisfied “Mm” sound: “Well done. I’ll have the Chief Commander credit you later.”

The guard beamed and secretly wiped sweat – fortunately he’d strictly followed his master’s “absolutely safe, absolutely solid” requirements, even replacing the flagpole with ebony. Otherwise if it had exploded now, he’d face not commendation but exile.

…

The flagpole hadn’t broken. After the people’s cheers, Jing Hengbo frowned. The pole would break eventually in this condition, and falling would look bad too.

After thinking, she drew her dagger and “rip” – cut her entire banner down.

The people stopped cheering, staring blankly at her, not understanding what this Queen who always surprised them planned now.

Jing Hengbo cut down the banner and with a shake, draped it over herself.

The banner had convenient ties for raising – she casually tied a bow.

She was using the banner as a cloak!

Under the clear blue sky, the snow-white banner cloak fluttered wildly behind her, its large “Jing” character also appearing to soar, contrasting with her snow-white qipao to add even more imposing brilliance.

“Good!” The people’s acclaim nearly overturned Qu River again.

Truly ingenious! Masterful technique turning decay into magic!

Jing Hengbo kicked once, sending the broken flagpole section flying into Pei Shu’s hands. Her body sank down, feet still on the flagpole, now even wider than before.

Pei Shu caught the pole and shot it out like thunder and lightning. “Crack” – it snapped the “Lingxiao” flagpole on Chi Ming’s boat, the banner falling right before Chi Ming.

Chi Ming’s face was iron-green as distant people continuously spat at him.

He’d lost this round. Despite exhausting schemes and discarding dignity, he’d still lost miserably.

But no matter – there was still opportunity!

His malicious gaze turned toward those scholars. Soon, the incense stick’s time would be up.

Not allowing scholars to approach, let’s see how she collected and evaluated papers?

If she sent people to collect, he could send people to destroy. Destroying was always easier than obtaining!

“Chi Ming,” Jing Hengbo said with a smile from the flagpole. “Shall we make a bet?”

“What?” Chi Ming looked up warily.

“I bet you can’t intercept or destroy a single test paper,” Jing Hengbo smiled.

“Arrogant!” Chi Ming scoffed.

Surrounding people also didn’t believe. They knew Chi Ming was black-hearted and ruthless. Such a person might possibly be unable to intercept many, but saying he couldn’t destroy even one was absolutely impossible.

“If I can’t do it, I lose,” Jing Hengbo said lightly.

Chi Ming’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

“Truer than pure gold, truer than your height.”

Chi Ming acted as if he hadn’t heard her latter comment, immediately saying, “If I can’t destroy even one, I lose! I’ll immediately withdraw from the three counties! Fulfill the wager!”

“Good.” Jing Hengbo called out, “Talented scholars, finished yet?”

Under moonlight her raised hand showed ten slender fingers like jade and snow. The scholars stared transfixed, all raising their papers high: “Please Your Majesty review them!”

In tree shadows Master Mu flicked the paper scroll in his hand – he’d also written one.

On the small boat the white-robed figure slowly folded his paper, glancing at the large boat.

Shore-side was another inconspicuous boat that now slowly emerged. Its occupant silently caressed the paper in hand, her bloated figure outlined in moonlight.

She seemed to hesitate long before slowly saying, “Submit mine too…”

…

The moment everyone raised their papers.

Chi Ming shouted loudly, “Attack!”

“Bang.” A fire dragon shot out, rushing straight toward the river!

That fire line was thick as a water barrel, trailing a comet-like tail. “Whoosh” – it burst from the boat with tremendous recoil force making the cannon operator stumble and sit down hard, ash falling from his hair – a bundle had been singed.

“Cannon!” someone screamed in horror, as if liver and gall had burst.

People cried out in alarm, countless fleeing backward, stepping on feet and grabbing robes until the riverbank was in chaos.

Chi Ming watched that fire column with a cold smile at his lips.

This was his trump card today.

He meant to disrupt Jing Hengbo’s scholar evaluation plan.

This fire tube was a local earth cannon loaded with huge gunpowder shells, sealed with flammable animal oil outside. It could only be used once with poor accuracy, but because of the oil, it dropped sparks all along its path.

He didn’t need accuracy – he just needed this fire shell to circle the densely packed small boats, setting them ablaze. Papers would turn to ash, scholars would panic and fall into water, Jing Hengbo’s people would have to rescue them. With people gone, the boat’s defenses would be empty. With shore people in chaos and guards unable to cross, he could kill Jing Hengbo.

A ring of fire shadows rushed toward the dense small boats.

The closest already illuminated papers and the alarmed faces of paper-holding scholars.

Chi Ming’s vicious smile intensified – the next instant those papers would become ash. Burning just one paper meant his victory.

Body and mind elated, all earlier frustration seemed about to pour out. He couldn’t help throwing back his head in laughter.

“Quickly prepare kneeling mats for Her Majesty the Queen…”

Before finishing, he suddenly widened his eyes.