Miss, I would like it.

Chief Steward Feng Piaopiao, seeing that most of the renowned young talents had already leaped across, noticed that Zhao Wuzong, the younger brother of martial arts alliance leader Zhao Wuying, had yet to step forward and try his hand.

This Zhao Wuzong was a guest of considerable weight in the Feng household. Therefore, Feng Piaopiao said, "Young Master Zhao, why don't you give it a try?"

Zhao Wuzong feigned indifference and replied, "Steward Feng, acting on my elder brother's orders, I am here solely to offer birthday congratulations to Chief Escort Feng. I dare not presume upon anything else."

Feng Piaopiao smiled and said, "What harm is there in Young Master Zhao trying?"

Zhao Wuzong answered, "Steward Feng, my learning is shallow and my talents meager. I have no wish to impose upon your esteemed family's young lady. Besides, lacking my brother's command, I would feel quite embarrassed to step forward."

Feng Piaopiao chuckled. "Young Master Zhao is being too modest. With your exceptional talents, if you step forward to liven the occasion, I am sure Alliance Leader Zhao and Hero Zhao will not fault you."

Qu Buping felt a surge of indignation upon hearing this. He thought to himself that it was simply because this fellow had a good older brother that old man Feng was pressing him so relentlessly. Why didn't old man Feng try to urge the rest of them forward? And this fellow surnamed Zhao was truly putting on airs; he clearly wanted to take a wife, yet he stubbornly forced others to coax him into it.

Unable to hold his tongue any longer, Qu Buping stepped forward and said, "Young Master Zhao, just go ahead and try! You are a celebrated young hero of the pugilistic world. If you refuse to attempt it, it would seem as though you consider the Feng family's young lady to be utterly beneath your notice!"

Then, Qu Buping turned to Feng Piaopiao and added, "And you are thoroughly muddle-headed! Why do you keep urging him on endlessly, making the Feng family's young lady look as if no one would have her?"

Before Qu Buping could finish speaking, the young lady's four maidservants all shot him fiercely resentful glares.

Qu Buping laughed upon seeing this. "Little maids, what are you glaring at? Did I say anything wrong? In truth, I am the only one who would boldly shout out to your young lady: 'Young lady, I want you!'"

Xia Que, whose temper was far from mild, fumed, "Bah! You wretched scoundrel, do you even have the face to utter such words?"

Chu Xiaoyu chuckled and said, "Little maid, 'bah', what kind of bah is that? Be careful or I'll take you along as part of the prize as well! My sworn brother here is quite something..."

Before Chu Xiaoyu could finish, everyone burst into loud laughter. Although they also felt that these two scoundrels were completely unworthy, most of them were quite happy to join in the jocular banter regarding matters of romance.

Zhao Wuzong seemed entirely unconcerned with whatever Qu Buping was saying. He merely addressed Feng Piaopiao, "Very well, then I shall make a fool of myself." With those words, Zhao Wuzong executed a light and graceful leap across the barrier.

Seeing this, the onlookers could not help but admire Zhao Wuzong's magnanimity. A true hero, it seemed, did not necessarily need to win every verbal exchange.

In truth, they had no idea that the person Zhao Wuzong truly loathed in his heart was not Qu Buping—he did not even deign to place Qu Buping in his eyes. The one he harbored such deep resentment toward was Xiaoyun, because Long Lengyue, the woman he loved most, happened to be fond of Xiaoyun. This caused him boundless humiliation, and thus he sought every opportunity to exact revenge upon Xiaoyun.

Xiaoyun, seeing that most of those who wished to try had already crossed, and noting the occasional self-deluded fools like the Four Wolves of the River who had tumbled down in disarray without succeeding, remarked, "My two elder brothers, it would seem time for you to take the stage. After all, we want both the young lady and the silver taels, haha!"

Qu Buping laughed, "Rest assured, we certainly won't let you down!" He glanced at Xiaoyu and smiled, "Which of us goes first?"

Xiaoyu smiled back and said, "Brother Qu, if we have the chance to earn an extra ten taels of silver, how should we handle it?" As he spoke, he exchanged a subtle glance with Qu Buping.

Qu Buping turned to Xiaoyun and said, "Look quickly, who is that coming over?"

Xiaoyun was startled, instantly suspecting that Long Lengyue had arrived. He hurriedly asked, "Where?" As he lifted his head to scan the surroundings, Qu Buping and Xiaoyu suddenly grabbed his limbs and shouted in unison, "Up!"

In an instant, Xiaoyun felt his body soaring through the clouds and mists as he was hoisted into the air. Seized by sudden panic and anger, he cried out in alarm and thrashed his hands wildly. As it turned out, the two fellows Qu and Chu had simply tossed him straight over the courtyard wall.

As Xiaoyun plummeted downward, he screamed for help, sending the surrounding crowd into roaring fits of laughter. Whether intentional or purely coincidental on the part of Qu and Chu, the spot where Xiaoyun landed happened to be right beside Hua Sanxiao.

Hua Sanxiao saw him crashing down directly in front of him. Although Xiaoyun wouldn't be seriously injured from the fall, if someone fell right before his eyes and he failed to reach out a hand to steady them, it would make him look far too petty! Consequently, Hua Sanxiao extended a hand to break Xiaoyun's descent, allowing him to land with much greater stability.

Realizing that Hua Sanxiao had just rescued him from a clumsy fall, Xiaoyun hastily said, "Thank you, Young Master Hua, for your kind assistance!"

Hua Sanxiao thought to himself, *Since you fell right in front of me, had I not caught you, it would have shown a complete lack of breadth of mind.* With a faint smile, he replied, "It is nothing at all! What kind of games were you three playing?"

Angered, Xiaoyun snapped, "Those two scoundrels were trying to take my life!" He then cursed at Qu Buping, "Qu, you bastard, were you trying to drop me to my death?"

Qu Buping laughed, "Good brother, don't be angry. We just wanted to earn an extra ten taels of silver! Old man Feng said that anyone who clears this courtyard wall passes the first test, and passing it earns ten taels of silver!"

Chunyan, seeing Xiaoyun clear the first trial in such a fashion, was uncertain whether this counted as valid. Lacking the authority to decide, she stood quietly waiting for Feng Piaopiao to pronounce judgment. Although somewhat displeased, Feng Piaopiao put on a generous facade and declared, "Though this young hero's performance lacked elegance, a crossing is a crossing and remains valid. Chunyan, give him ten taels of silver."

Following this, Qu Buping and Chu Xiaoyu also leaped across one after the other. Though their crossings were rather labored, they nevertheless passed.

The plump son of Squire Shen, watching Xiaoyun clear the first test in such a manner, could no longer contain himself. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Can anyone toss me over the wall? I'll pay a hundred taels of silver!"

Qu Buping chuckled, "Young Master Shen, you are of heavyweight status. We simply don't possess that kind of strength."

Next came the second trial. The wild monk Fang Buji stood at the round moon gate and announced, "So long as you can land a single strike upon this old monk without stepping back three steps, you pass the test."

This round eliminated a considerably larger number of participants, leaving only Hua Sanxiao, Zhao Wuzong, and Lu Badi to successfully pass.