Xue Wenjin's heart couldn't help but tighten.

Although because of his cousin, he has always been somewhat scrutinizing of the Crown Prince.

But it would be a lie to say that I wasn't excited to get his recognition and have him personally invite me.

His hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly unconsciously, and he said, "I was rude to Your Highness just now, and Your Highness doesn't care at all?"

Rong Ruo couldn't help but burst into laughter again, "It turns out that Xue Sanlang also knows that he was rude to His Highness just now! I'm not exaggerating. If the person in front of him was not His Highness, but His Highness the Prince of Wei, it would be a question whether Xue Sanlang could leave this mansion tonight!"

Zhou Yunke looked at him with a half-smile, "Since ancient times, talented people must have distinct personalities. Some are stubborn, some are noble, and some are even cynical. I am not afraid of a person having his own personality. I only have two requirements for the people under me. One is that they must have the ability to get things done well, and the other is loyalty.

Xue Sanlang, there is no need to rush to answer me. You can observe and think about it for a few days. Once you have thought it through and feel that I am someone worthy of following, it will not be too late to make a decision.

The relationship between us is not one of superiors and subordinates, but one of mutual choice.

No matter what choice Xue Sanlang makes, in my eyes, you will always be Liu Yue's cousin."

Xue Wenjin's pupils trembled slightly.

He was somewhat surprised by the Crown Prince's magnanimity, as shown in his "three visits to the thatched cottage". He had read the books of sages for so many years and had been invited to many banquets hosted by important figures. However, those people always treated them in a condescending manner and gave them small favors in exchange for their following and loyalty.

For the first time in all these years, the person who made him feel like he was in the same position as him was actually His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Xue Wenjin was silent for a moment, raised the wine glass in his hand, and said in a hoarse voice: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness to me. I will definitely think carefully and will never let Your Highness down."

The word "favor" he used this time obviously had a different meaning from what he had just said.

After saying that, he raised the glass and drank the wine in it.

Xue Wenbai couldn't help but look at his third brother with some envy and jealousy.

It is better to study. He also wants to be valued by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

If he had known this earlier, he would have obeyed his father when he was chased by his father with a stick to go to school.

Before Xue Wenbai could finish his sigh, he suddenly heard the man on the main seat calling him, "Xue Dalang, you are now the head of the Wuhou Shop on Xingxian Street in the outer city, is that the case?"

Xue Wenbai was stunned. He never expected that there was something about him. He was so nervous that he stuttered, "Yes... yes!"

Zhou Yunke chuckled and said, "To be able to become a martial arts marquis, you must have passed the martial arts exam, right?"

"Yes, I passed the martial arts exam five years ago!"

Xue Wenbai scratched the back of his head innocently and said, "Fortunately, I took the martial arts exam early. In the following years, the martial arts exam started to include a literary exam. If it were now, I might not have passed."

"What place did you get in the martial arts exam?"

At this point, Xue Wenbai's eyes dimmed slightly, but his face was smiling as usual, "I am not talented, I barely made it into the selection range back then, but I forgot exactly which place I ranked."

The selection process for the martial arts examination was not as strict as that for the imperial examination, so there was more room for manipulation.

The military examination at the end of the previous dynasty had almost become the best way for the losers from the major families to earn an official position. Whether an ordinary person could pass the examination depended entirely on how many losers from the major families took the examination that year.

Xue Wenbai's scores in all subjects in the martial arts examination were among the best, but he was only barely selected in the end. However, he did not dare to complain, and instead felt that he was quite lucky.

Zhou Yunke looked at him thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled and said, "Are you willing to spar with me?"

Xue Wenbai was stunned and his eyes widened in shock.

Oh my God, did he hear it wrong?
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, whom he had always admired as a hero, actually... actually invited him to compete with him!

Seeing his eyes wide open like bells, Zhou Yunke chuckled and said, "If it's inconvenient for you, don't force yourself..."

Before the word "strong" came out, Xue Wenbai hurriedly shouted: "I am willing!"

As if afraid that he would go back on his word.

Zhou Yunke raised his eyebrows slightly and couldn't help but smiled softly, "Okay, I'll ask someone to go to the martial arts training ground and prepare."

After saying that, he suddenly turned to Su Liuyue who was standing beside him, with a hint of condemnation in his phoenix eyes, "You haven't moved your chopsticks since just now. It's not good to be so distracted while eating." Su Liuyue: "..."

This guy still has the nerve to talk about her!
Who is to blame for this!

Su Liuyue didn't expect that this guy was talking to Xue Wenjin and the others while paying attention to her, so she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

After Su Liuyue finished her meal, everyone moved to the martial arts training ground.

The training ground was very large, and was surrounded by torches that lit up the entire ground as if it were daytime.

There is a huge weapon rack against the wall, which has almost all kinds of weapons on it, including many strange-shaped weapons that Su Liuyue can't even name.

Zhou Yunke was working in the military camp today. He was wearing a black robe that was easy to move in, so he didn't need to change his clothes. He adjusted his cuffs and said, "Since it's just a small fight, we won't use weapons. What do you think, Xue Dalang?"

"That's exactly what I...ah, this little bastard, want!"

Xue Wenbai was indescribably excited. He clenched his fist and said, "Your Highness, if I accidentally hurt you, you won't blame me, right?"

Zhou Yunke couldn't help but laugh, "I'm really looking forward to you being able to hurt me."

Su Liuyue, Rong Ruo, and Xue Wenjin were standing at the sidelines. Upon hearing this, she looked at Rong Ruo and asked, "How is your highness's boxing and kicking skills?"

Although she had seen Zhou Yunke fight before, she either said that his opponents were too weak or Zhou Yunke had been holding back. She still hadn't seen Zhou Yunke's true strength.

Rong Ruo glanced at him dimly, "What do you think of the winner of the military martial arts competition for five consecutive years, Miss Su San? His Highness even said before that everyone in the army can challenge him at any time. If they can defeat him, their military rank will be immediately promoted by three levels. However, no one has appeared so far who can defeat His Highness."

Su Liuyue couldn't help but get excited.

In her previous life, she was mainly responsible for mental work in the team, and she was not even ranked among the best in the team in terms of martial arts skills.

But that doesn't stop her from liking to watch masters compete with each other.

The rules of their competition this time are very simple. Two people fight each other in the ring. Whoever surrenders first or falls out of the ring loses.

A servant was holding a gong. Seeing that both sides were ready, he immediately struck it hard and shouted, "The duel begins—"

Before he finished speaking, Xue Wenbai rushed out preemptively and attacked Zhou Yunke with his right fist.

Zhou Yunke raised his eyebrows slightly. Xue Dalang was faster than he thought.

He did not rush to counterattack, but just avoided his attacks left and right. Xue Wenbai hit the opponent several times without touching the opponent's body. He seemed a little anxious. He suddenly raised his right foot and was about to kick Zhou Yunke's left side where the defense was weaker.

However, almost at the moment when he raised his right foot, Zhou Yunke leaned over and swept his leg directly towards Xue Wenbo's left foot which was standing alone.

Fortunately, Xue Wenbai reacted in time, immediately retracted his right foot, and stepped back several steps, so he was not knocked down directly.

Anyone with some basic knowledge of martial arts can see that in this competition, Zhou Yunke is far superior in terms of speed, strength and physical agility.

Even the flaws just now were probably exposed by him on purpose to lure Xue Wenbai into the trap!

However, faced with such a huge gap, Xue Wenbai not only did not show any fear, but became even more excited. As soon as he stood firm, he attacked Zhou Yunke again.

This time Zhou Yunke did not dodge, but faced him head-on. After a few fights, a light of convenience flashed in Zhou Yunke's eyes. When Xue Wenbo punched with his left hand again, he dodged to the right, suddenly clamped his left arm, and at the same time bent his elbow with his right hand and pushed him down hard.

Xue Wenbai was immediately pressed to the ground, like a fish on a chopping board, and was immediately suppressed and shouted in admiration: "I admit defeat! I admit defeat!"

After Zhou Yunke let him go, he turned over and lay on the ground with his hands wide open, looking very happy. He laughed loudly and said, "It's been a long time since I had such a hearty fight! Your Highness is really powerful. I am convinced of my defeat!"

Zhou Yunke lowered his eyes and smiled at him. He skillfully pulled out a handkerchief, wiped his hands gently and said, "You are not bad. There are not many people in the army who can survive ten moves from me."

What's more, not everyone has the mentality of facing strong enemies without fear.

Just as Zhou Yunke was about to say a few more words, Su Liuyue came up and pulled Xue Wenbai up. She frowned and looked him up and down and said, "You're not hurt, are you? Cousin, why didn't I know you were so reckless in a fight?"

Zhou Yunke, who was forgotten on the side, said: "..."

Suddenly I felt a little regretful. If I had known earlier, I would have just pretended to be defeated and experienced the feeling of being defeated. (End of this chapter)