Prince Wei Yangwang was brimming with excitement.

He turned to Wen Yuesheng and said, “Si Ning, what do you think? Want to go up and spar a bit?”

Wen Yue Sheng, holding her prayer beads, glanced at him indifferently.

With just that glance, Prince Wei Yangwang immediately shut his mouth.

Lu Qinghuai found this curious.

Normally, Prince Wei Yangwang couldn’t resist provoking everyone if given the chance. Why was he so quiet today?

He asked, “Your Highness, are you giving up just like that?”

Lu Qinghuai was genuinely interested in seeing the match.

After all, as fellow martial generals, it wouldn’t be fair if he were the only one nursing broken ribs.

Prince Wei Yangwang whispered, “It’s wise to recognize the situation and act accordingly.”

He had a gut feeling that Wen Yuesheng might genuinely make a move, and not just any move, but one so severe he’d be left incapacitated.

Lu Qing Huai: “?”

Since when did Prince Wei Yang know how to exercise restraint?

While the speaker meant no harm, the listeners couldn’t help but mull over the implications.

In the past, Wen Yuesheng’s martial skills were a mystery to everyone present. But now…

That flaming arrow at Zhuo Ri was a clear demonstration of her precision and strength, witnessed by all.

On top of that, she had unparalleled abilities in training soldiers.

By all accounts, it seemed impossible that she was completely unskilled in combat.

However, just how capable she was remained a mystery.

Everyone in the hall harbored their own thoughts.

On the other side, Marquis Wu An suddenly addressed the emperor, “Your Majesty, I have a suggestion.”

The emperor replied calmly, “What is your suggestion?”

Previously, apart from the Northern Field Drill Ground, the other three drill grounds had been under Marquis Wu An’s command. Additionally, he oversaw the Imperial Guard.

As soon as he spoke, all eyes turned to him. He continued leisurely, “The Tri-Army Tournament is approaching. In the past, these tournaments focused on the lower-ranked soldiers, with little to do with the generals at the top.”

“But, truthfully, all these generals are exceptional in martial arts. However, due to the tournament’s format, they mostly act as commanders, leaving their skills untested.”

“Therefore, I propose that, since today is the Empress’s birthday and so many generals are gathered here for this martial competition, Your Majesty could add an extra incentive.”

Marquis Wu An paused briefly and smiled. “Allow the leading generals of the Tri-Army Tournament to compete against one another. The winner of today’s competition will earn an extra point for their army in the tournament.”

As soon as he finished, the expressions of many generals changed.

In the Tri-Army Tournament, earning just one point required immense effort. Sometimes, armies of thousands clashed for hours to secure a single point.

Each point in the tournament was crucial, often determining the overall rankings and the outcome of the competition.

Thus, if Marquis Wu An’s proposal were approved, today’s single point would be fiercely contested.

“This proposal has merit,” the Empress said with a light laugh. “With so many generals present, why not give them this opportunity, Your Majesty?”

With the Tri-Army Tournament approaching, the leading generals of the armies were all gathered in the capital. This situation was much more advantageous compared to the earlier days when the Zhao envoy had arrived, leaving the court short-handed.

If they were to compete, it would surely be an exhilarating spectacle.

Most importantly…

Prince Jing Kang, sitting beside Marquis Wu An, glanced at Wen Yue Sheng.

His expression was dark, and he chuckled softly. “Recently, I heard that Si Ning’s arrow struck the heart of the sun. It has left me very curious about her martial skills.”

That penetrating arrow gave him an eerie sense of familiarity.

If his memory served him correctly, during the royal hunt, a tiger had mysteriously been killed with an arrow that pierced straight through it.

As he recalled this, Prince Jing Kang’s gaze grew more intriguing. He was eager to find out if Wen Yue Sheng was indeed the one behind that tiger’s demise.

Among the generals, many echoed Marquis Wu An’s suggestion.

The one who spoke up was Zhong Qin Bo, a fellow general under Marquis Wu An’s command. He had long overseen the Western and Eastern Guard Armies.

“Indeed,” Zhong Qin Bo said gravely. “A general must excel in martial skills to command the respect of the army.”

His words carried an underlying tone. Everyone knew that Zhong Qin Bo had managed the two armies for years, only to see Wen Yue Sheng seize power recently.

Naturally, he wasn’t happy about it.

The Northern Guard troops were loyal to Wen Yue Sheng, but the Eastern and Western Guards were not.

Moreover, the Eastern Guard, under Zhong Qin Bo’s command, had long been the strongest among the four.

They had consistently ranked first in training exercises—until the last drill, when the Northern Guard defeated them.

Losing was one thing, but the defeat had prompted the Great General of the State to take the matter to the emperor, ultimately leading to Wen Yue Sheng’s current position over the four guards.

Zhong Qin Bo, understandably, felt aggrieved.

Now that he had a chance to challenge her, it was no surprise he seized the opportunity.

Interestingly, Wen Yue Sheng didn’t respond to his provocation. Zhong Qin Bo added gravely, “I only wish to secure this precious point for the Guard Army.”

Given Marquis Wu An’s proposal, the emperor had no reason to refuse.

After all, such competitive enthusiasm among the generals was rare, and it presented an excellent opportunity to boost morale.

With the decision made, Xiao Jin was called back to rest before the next match.

Meanwhile, Zhong Qin Bo, who had proposed the generals’ competition, stepped into the arena first.

“How skilled is this Zhong Qinbo?” Wen Yuesheng’s attendant, Lu Hongying, asked in a low voice.

Lu Qing Huai hesitated briefly before replying, “Rumor has it that he is one of the most skilled in the capital.”

However, since they hadn’t served in the same camp, Lu Qing Huai’s knowledge was limited to hearsay.

As Zhong Qinbo entered the arena, all eyes were on him.

“Although this is a generals’ match, if any vice-generals wish to participate, they may,” the Great General of the State announced. “However, victories by vice-generals won’t count toward the score.”

In other words, even if a vice-general defeated a general, no points would be awarded.

Still, for the vice-generals, this was a rare opportunity. After all, defeating a general in such a setting would be a remarkable achievement.

This announcement spurred excitement among many.

As a result, Zhong Qin Bo’s first opponent wasn’t a general but a vice-general.

The vice-general, renowned for his grappling skills, wielded a long spear with impressive strength, making a formidable opponent.

In comparison, Zhong Qin Bo was smaller in stature, less muscular, and wielded an unusual weapon.

Zhang Yulin squinted at it, frowning slightly. “What kind of weapon is that?”

Wen Yuesheng raised her eyes to the arena, where Zhong Qin Bo stood.

His weapon was a long whip covered in black barbs. The sight of it dragging on the ground startled the audience.

Such a weapon was rarely seen, whether on the battlefield or in personal combat.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed oddly fitting for Zhong Qin Bo’s personality.

However, his performance shocked everyone.

Given his smaller build, many assumed he would struggle against the vice-general.

But unexpectedly—

Crack!

The barbed whip lashed across his opponent, tearing through flesh and eliciting a gasp of pain.

The first contender fell out of the arena, groaning in agony.

“Zhong Qin Bo wins!” the herald announced loudly.

The hall fell silent.

The Great General of the State frowned. “Zhong Qinbo is the same as ever.”

His strikes were as ruthless as before.

That one lash had left the vice-general trembling in pain.

The generals nearby shared the same sentiments with him.

However, before the words had fully settled, the Loyal and Diligent Earl stepped forward and helped the fallen general to his feet.

The Marquis of Martial Peace spoke in a cold voice:
“The battlefield is no child’s play. Even in a duel, one must be prepared to get injured at any moment.

If your skills in martial arts are lacking, how can you blame your opponent for striking too hard? If this were a life-and-death situation, what you’d lose wouldn’t just be your dignity—it’d be your life.”

The reasoning was sound, so no one in the hall said anything further.

Unexpectedly, after the injured general was carried away, a palace servant hurriedly came forward to report: “Zhong Qinbo wishes to spar with a few deputy generals from the Northern City Guard.”

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Although it was known that the various city guard units rarely interacted, it was still surprising that the Loyal and Diligent Earl would directly challenge the Northern City Guard.

During the grand military drill, the city guards held a unique position: they could either compete as a unified force or participate individually without affecting the overall event.

From the Zhong Qinbo’s initial suggestion to now stepping onto the stage, it was evident that his true target was Wen Yuesheng, who had just been awarded the imperial golden belt.

Holding onto this golden belt would not be an easy feat for Wen Yuesheng.

All eyes shifted toward Wen Yuesheng.

Zhang Yulin hesitated slightly and was about to stand up.

But before he could move, Li Qingyuan had already risen and said,
“Your Highness, I wish to step forward and give it a try.”

Li Qingyuan had recently received guidance from Wen Yuesheng and had been eager to make a breakthrough.

This rare opportunity was something he didn’t want to miss.

Zhang Yulin paused briefly and said,
“Alright, but if you can’t hold your ground, remember to concede immediately.”

“Understood,” Li Qingyuan replied.

With permission granted, Li Qingyuan made his way to the martial stage.

When he arrived, the Earl Zhong Qinbo was seated nearby, resting. cast a cold glance at Li Qingyuan and scanned the hall with a sneer.

After finishing the tea in his hand, Li Qingyuan saluted and said,
“Lord Earl, please grant me your instruction.”

Zhong Qinbo stood up, picked up the black barbed whip, and swung it into the air.

The whip moved like a blade, producing sharp whistling sounds that made Li Qingyuan’s expression stiffen.

Steeling his resolve, Li Qingyuan gripped his sword tightly and faced the Zhong Qinbo’s whip head-on.

His recent progress was evident. At the start of the duel, his swordsmanship even managed to hold a slight upper hand. Compared to the first general who faced Zhong Qinbo, Li Qingyuan handled himself much more skillfully.

Moreover, Li Qingyuan’s talent for real combat became apparent. The longer he sparred with Zhong Qinbo, the more fluid and precise his swordsmanship became.

By the end, it seemed he had fully grasped Zhong Qinbo’s patterns and was preparing to pierce through the barbed whip to strike Zhong Qinbo’s face.

But just as he made his move, Zhong Qinbo abruptly changed the whip’s trajectory.

The motion was lightning fast. Before Li Qingyuan could react, the whip lashed across his back with a resounding “snap,” leaving a deep, bloody welt.

Li Qingyuan almost collapsed on the spot, dropping to one knee in front of Zhong Qinbo.

His mind raced, but the searing pain on his back made it hard to focus. Before he could recover, the whip lashed out again, aiming directly at his sword hand.

“Ah!” Li Qingyuan cried out as the whip struck his right wrist, twisting it into an unnatural angle.

A horrifying gash appeared, and the pain was so intense it nearly caused him to faint.

Li Qingyuan hadn’t expected Zhong Qinbo to strike so mercilessly.

The pain in his wrist was excruciating, as if it had been forcibly shattered. Forget progress—if his hand was permanently damaged, he might never wield a sword again.

Desperate, he immediately tried to concede,
“My lord, I admit de—”

Before he could finish, the black barbed whip lashed down again.

Li Qingyuan’s face twisted in horror. He was already attempting to surrender—why was Zhong Qinbo still attacking?

As the whip came dangerously close to his face, Li Qingyuan had no time to think. With his back injured and his right wrist in agony, he could only curl into a ball and roll to the side.

But he was still too slow. Mid-roll, the whip struck him again.

“Ah!!!” Li Qingyuan screamed in pain.

The third strike left him bloodied and barely conscious, teetering on the edge of the martial stage.

Hanging precariously, Li Qingyuan’s vision blurred from the overwhelming pain.

Through his haze, he saw the Earl Zhong Qinbo approaching him once more, whip in hand.

Terrified, Li Qingyuan tried to speak, but even forming words was a monumental effort.

In the hall, the soldiers of the Northern City Guard wore grim expressions.

Zhang Yulin abruptly stood and shouted,
“Concede! Li Qingyuan, concede!”

Though distant, it was clear to everyone that Li Qingyuan had already attempted to surrender.

Lu Qinghuai, who had observed everything closely, turned to Wen Yuesheng and said in a cold voice,
“Li Qingyuan tried to concede just now.”