Chapter 27

Xie Tingzhou and Chang Heng stood on the high platform by the arena. Their vision was excellent, and they could see every move on the platform very clearly.

The youth moved like a swimming dragon, thrusting, stabbing, whipping, pounding, picking, flicking, and brushing, pressing Tu Si with every move.

Chang Heng leaned on the railing, looking out, and couldn’t help but admire, “I told you this kid’s kung fu is not bad. It’s worth all the effort I put in to save his life.”

Han Jiwu stared intently, not forgetting to tease him, “Who said he couldn’t beat Tu Si just now?”

Chang Heng adamantly denied, “Did I say that? Did I say that? I didn’t say that. I just said let Tu Si not go too hard. We’re all comrades, look, look, these are the two great generals under my command.”

“They’re still your soldiers,” Han Jiwu said. “Shiyu is still in the infirmary.”

“Sooner or later, they’ll be mine,” Chang Heng said smugly.

On the arena, Tu Si’s cheeks were already flushed. Every time, he barely withstood the attacks, knowing that the opponent was waiting for him to admit defeat.

A man in the military can die in battle but cannot retreat. Losing is not important, but bowing down first means losing even the slightest trace of dignity.

After watching for a while, their expressions gradually became serious.

Because it was impossible for others not to see that although there were countless opportunities to defeat Tu Si, Shiyu kept maneuvering around him, teasing him.

Xie Tingzhou said, “Young people are full of vigor, but they still need to control themselves.”

He paused and turned to Chang Heng, “Can you handle it?”

“Does Your Highness think I can’t? There are no soldiers I can’t handle,” Chang Heng slapped the railing.

Xie Tingzhou looked down.

Ninety-five moves, ninety-six moves… ninety-nine moves, exactly one hundred.

On the platform, Shen Yu, amidst an exclamation, disarmed Tu Si. The white wax pole was against Tu Si’s throat, barely an inch away.

Cheers erupted in the arena, mixed with a clear and loud voice: “Well done, Mountain Cannon!”

Shen Yu: “…”

“Mountain Cannon, you’re the man! Thank you,” Shen Yu said.

The youth faced the wind, his hair dancing in the breeze.

Tu Si gasped heavily, watching as Shen Yu retrieved the white wax pole, casually tossed it into the air, and then caught it, precisely placing it back into the weapon rack.

Tu Si was about to concede defeat when Shen Yu spoke up.

“So, this is the level of your Qingyun Guard?” she said lightly, with a youthful tone, making sure her words reached everyone’s ears clearly.

There was a moment of silence in the arena, as everyone stared at the figures on the stage.

Just because she won one match, she dared to look down on the Qingyun Guard. Where did she get the courage?

She just rushed thousands of miles to save someone, but then she turns around and says the Qingyun Guard’s skills are inadequate. How could the soldiers tolerate this?

Yelling at Yang Bang, Dazui asked cautiously, “What is he trying to do? Isn’t he looking for trouble?”

Yang Bang’s face darkened slightly. “I don’t know.”

Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Yang Bang and Dazui could tell that he was actually a low-key person. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken so long for everyone to realize how skilled he was. But today’s actions were contrary to his usual style. Did winning one match make him arrogant, or was he planning something?

“I’ll challenge you!” A burly man with sinewy arms and a sturdy waist jumped onto the stage.

As he landed, his steps were steady, even kicking up some dust, indicating his solid stance.

The soldiers below immediately cheered.

Tu Si was impatient. He had offended many people in the army, but at this moment, the Qingyun Guard united against a common enemy, aiming their weapons at Shen Yu.

This was the honor of the Qingyun Guard; how could they allow others to trample on it at will?

After the big man got on stage, he drew the knife from his waist, traced an arc in front of him with his right leg, and stood firm. “Come on!”

Shen Yu stood with her hands behind her back. “Alright then, let’s begin.”

She kicked her right leg back, causing the weapon rack to shake violently. A long knife flew off the shelf, which she caught with one hand and then swung it towards the big man.

This time, she didn’t show the patience she did before. Her face was calm, her eyes shining with determination, and every move she made was deadly.

In less than a stick of incense’s time, the long knife was already at the big man’s neck.

“I concede,” Shen Yu swiftly sheathed her knife and looked towards the audience. “Anyone else?”

The crowd looked on with anticipation as another soldier, holding a long spear, stepped onto the stage.

Meanwhile, on the high platform not far away, Chang Heng exclaimed, “He’s from your battalion. Let’s see how long he can hold out against this kid.”

Once again, the sound of swords clashing filled the air, and as expected, another soldier fell defeated.

Shen Yu returned the weapons to the rack and turned to see another person on stage, staring at her like a hawk. “What weapon will you choose this time?”

“I won’t choose,” Shen Yu brushed off the dust from her hands and said calmly, “Today was quite disappointing. Why don’t you select a few stronger opponents to come at me? I’m ready to accompany you anytime.”

Her provocative tone angered the crowd, and the sound of drawing swords could be heard from the crowd.

Shen Yu looked down and smiled, “Can’t handle losing gracefully?”

They were all men of valor; how could they tolerate her provocation?

Just as a melee was about to erupt, a stern voice rang out from the high platform, “What are you all doing standing there? Get back to training!”

The soldiers below saw Chang Heng speaking on the high platform and immediately shouted, “Your Highness, General, this kid is too arrogant, insulting our Qingyun Guard soldiers.”

Chang Heng remained silent.

Xie Tingzhou’s gaze was sharp, and he looked beyond the crowd at the young man on the stage. “Honor and disgrace are earned by oneself. If one’s skills are inferior, then one should honestly take a beating.”

With his words, the soldiers had to suppress their anger, but as they left, they all cast warning glances at Shen Yu.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only Dazui and Yang Bang cheering for Shen Yu.

As she descended, Yang Bang immediately approached with his cane, asking, “What do you mean? It’s said that General Chang of the Qingyun Guard wants to recruit you, but now you’ve offended everyone. How are you going to get along in the future?”

Dazui’s mind was single-minded, feeling the adrenaline rush from watching the arena, unable to discern the intricacies of the situation.

“Then I’ll just beat them into submission!” Dazui said.

Shen Yu looked up at the high platform, where three figures were still standing without leaving.

“I won’t join the Qingyun Guard,” she said softly, looking towards the high platform.

“What do you mean?” Yang Bang asked.

At the same time…

“What did he say?” Chang Heng, who was about to descend from the high platform, asked. He was too far away to hear the young man’s lips move, and he couldn’t hear what he said at all.

Xie Tingzhou said, “Can you subdue him?”

Chang Heng remembered the look the young man gave him earlier, and in that moment, he seemed to see a burning flame in the young man’s eyes.

Someone with that kind of gaze seemed inherently unmanageable by anyone.

Chang Heng’s competitive spirit was aroused, and he eagerly said, “I must subdue this kid. I won’t be surnamed Chang if I don’t.”

“You can’t do it,” Xie Tingzhou said indifferently, stepping down the stairs.

Han Jiwu chuckled, “Forget it, even His Highness says you can’t.”

Chang Heng was unwilling. “Just wait and see if I can do it or not.”

“You won’t have the chance,” Xie Tingzhou said. “He won’t join the Qingyun Guard.”

“Why?” Chang Heng paused for a moment, then hurriedly followed, “Is it because he killed our soldiers’ morale? Your Highness, although Shiyu is arrogant, many of the soldiers who initially joined the Qingyun Guard were like this. Shouldn’t we be more generous at times like this?”

Xie Tingzhou couldn’t be bothered to explain, and his gaze casually swept over Chang Heng’s face. “Tell Shiyu to come see me.”