Chapter 185: Sparring
Since we’re already here, we have to show off our skills a bit.
Pei Qinghe responded crisply and neatly, turning to select more than ten people. Pei Yan, Mao Hongling, Pei Zhi, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng were all among them. These Pei Clan direct descendants were the backbone of the Pei Family Army.
General Yang led a group of military generals to watch from the side. The soldiers also quietly gathered around to watch the fun.
The Pei Family Army had defeated Xiongnu barbarians before and now had greatly defeated the Fanyang Army. Sixth Sister Pei’s formidable fearsome reputation intimidated Youzhou. In the Guangning Army, only Yang Huai had truly learned from the Pei Family Army’s power. The others had only heard of their name; today was the first time they witnessed it with their own eyes.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Pei Qinghe took out her usual long bow, drew an arrow from the quiver with her right hand, pulled the bow and shot the arrow, and the arrow flew out like lightning, hitting the arrow target a hundred meters away.
Pei Yan and the other dozen people pulled their bows and shot arrows together. The dozen arrows flew like shooting stars chasing the moon, all hitting the bullseye of the same arrow target.
General Yang, who knew the goods, was suddenly moved.
Before he could voice his amazement, Pei Qinghe shot a second arrow. The crowd followed suit and shot arrows together, once again hitting the same arrow target.
If this were on the battlefield, how could one resist encountering such a group of divine archers?
General Yang’s expression grew solemn. The military generals behind him also changed expressions.
Only Yang Huai showed a proud self-satisfaction on his face as if sharing in the glory. While others were watching Sixth Sister Pei’s heroic bearing, his gaze fell on Pei Yan’s face.
Pei Yan was exceptionally focused when shooting arrows, her gaze fierce and full of killing intent. Being her enemy would surely make one’s heart pound with fear. Such a powerful Pei Yan would be his fiancée from now on.
Admiration of strength is human nature and instinct. The last trace of awkwardness in Yang Huai’s heart vanished like smoke, leaving only full-hearted pride.
Pei Qinghe had shown just a little of her hand, deterring the Guangning Army’s group of military generals, but it still wasn’t enough. She turned with a smiling face and said, “General Yang has fierce generals like the clouds under his command. Today, I’m bringing them to learn from you.”
For such an open and fair match, General Yang found it hard to refuse, so he had to agree: “I wonder how Sixth Sister you want to compete?”
Pei Qinghe smiled and said, “I’ll put out ten people here, and General Yang picks ten as well. One-on-one battles.”
This was indeed very fair.
General Yang nodded with a smile.
Pei Yan was eager to try, rubbing her fists: “I’ll take the first match.”
A hint of amusement flashed in Pei Qinghe’s eyes, and she nodded: “Alright.”
Pei Yan was the Pei Family Army’s number four… no, number three fierce general. Who would the Guangning Army send to meet her? Everyone’s gazes naturally fell on Yang Huai.
Yang Huai’s face was full of reluctance.
General Yang also looked over: “Yang Huai, you spar with Miss Pei Yan.”
Yang Huai extremely reluctantly stepped forward to get beaten.
Sure enough, Pei Yan had no intention of going easy on her own fiancé in front of everyone and beat him soundly. She at least remembered Pei Qinghe’s instruction and didn’t aim for his face.
General Yang hadn’t expected Yang Huai to lose so quickly and miserably either. He coughed and said, “Miss Pei Yan wins!”
Only then did Pei Yan stop her hand and smile at her disheveled and dejected fiancé, extending her hand.
Yang Huai took Pei Yan’s hand and flipped to his feet with a pull. Like being scalded by boiling water, he quickly let go and retreated behind General Yang.
The military generals looked over with sympathetic gazes. Yang Huai felt somewhat ashamed and angry, glaring back fiercely. What are you looking at? It’ll be your turn soon.
For the second match, Mao Hongling stepped forward. From the Guangning Army side, they sent a military general in his thirties.
Mao Hongling used a spear, and coincidentally, this general’s weapon was also a spear. The two long spears danced like roaming dragons, coming and going, intense and exciting.
Pei Qinghe thought to herself that the Guangning Army could not be underestimated.
After over a hundred moves, it was still a draw.
This was a friendly sparring match, and overly vicious moves were inconvenient to use to avoid accidental injury. If they kept fighting like this, they wouldn’t decide a winner even by nightfall.
Pei Qinghe smiled and said, “How about calling it a draw?”
General Yang kept a calm face, but sighed repeatedly in his heart. This unassuming military general was one of the top masters in the Guangning Army. Who would have thought he couldn’t defeat Mao Hongling.
In today’s ten matches, the Guangning Army was going to lose face.
As expected, in the next few matches, the Pei Family Army won one after another, while the Guangning Army only won three. Two of those wins were by Pei Xuan and Pei Feng. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng hadn’t even come of age yet, yet they could fight fiercely with military generals from the Guangning Army. There was nothing glorious about winning them.
The watching Guangning Army soldiers all fell silent.
For the ninth match, the Pei Family Army’s fighter was a girl of fifteen or sixteen. The girl had a slender figure, a small black mole between her brows, sparkling eyes, and was charming and lovely.
“She is Pei Zhi,” Pei Qinghe said with a beaming smile: “Her weapon of choice is dual swords.”
Yang Hu excitedly stepped forward two paces: “Uncle, I’ll take this fight.”
General Yang glanced at his nephew whose eyes were shining as if a peacock spreading its tail, and twitched the corner of his mouth: “Fight carefully.”
Don’t lose too miserably.
Yang Hu’s heart and eyes were full of the charming beautiful girl before him, completely ignoring his uncle’s advice. He excitedly drew his long saber: “You attack first.”
Pei Zhi pursed her lips in a smile, her voice like silver bells: “Then I’ll not hold back.”
Each hand twirled a sword flower, attacking like a storm.
Yang Hu dodged left and right in embarrassment, his long saber striking back fiercely, but soon he was suppressed again. Before fifty moves, his long saber was knocked flying.
Pei Zhi’s right sword pressed against Yang Hu’s chest, and she smiled slowly: “I concede!”
Yang Hu stared in a daze.
General Yang felt it was too embarrassing and directly had someone drag Yang Hu away.
For the last match, who to send?
Pei Qinghe raised her brow with a smile and walked into the field, cupping her hands.
Given Pei Qinghe’s current prestige and status, only General Yang himself could step up.
General Yang sighed in his heart and rallied his spirits to fight.
Pei Qinghe used a long saber, and General Yang’s weapon was also a long saber. The two sabers entangled, the snow-bright blade edges flashing cold light from time to time.
The watching soldiers each felt uneasy in their hearts, whispering quietly: “We’ve lost so many matches in a row; the general won’t lose to Sixth Sister Pei too, will he!”
“Shut your jinx mouth! How could our general lose!”
The one who said this wasn’t confident in his own heart either.
The atmosphere on the Pei Family Army’s side was much more relaxed.
Pei Yan glanced over and muttered softly: “Cousin Sister Qinghe is going easy today.”
During daily training, Pei Qinghe was always ruthless and showed no mercy. Today against General Yang, she was clearly much milder.
Mao Hongling coughed and gave Pei Yan a look.
Pei Yan then shut her mouth.
After over a hundred moves, Pei Qinghe suddenly retreated: “I’m evenly matched with General Yang, hard to decide a winner. Let’s call it a draw today!”
General Yang also sheathed his saber and chuckled: “Sixth Sister, I concede.”
The Guangning Army’s military generals quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It was fine if they lost, but if the general lost to Pei Qinghe, it would be too demoralizing and embarrassing.
No one knew that General Yang’s right wrist, hidden in his sleeve, was trembling slightly nonstop.
