Chapter 245: Come Fight
With such a wonderful show, how could the generals still have the mind to listen to the young Son of Heaven’s nonsense.
In the end, it was nothing but empty praise and co-opting, with no real benefits at all. On the contrary, the majestic and dominant General Zhang had more deterrence than the Son of Heaven.
General Zhang’s gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Pei Qinghe’s face.
Amid the hall full of rough martial men, such a spirited delicate and pretty girl suddenly appeared. It was just like a female eagle suddenly appearing among a group of wild boars baring their fangs.
Not only General Zhang, but the gazes of the ruler and his subjects all frequently drifted toward Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe was calm and composed, showing no sign of unease.
After the audience ended, Emperor Jian’an wanted to grant a lunch banquet. General Xie, who had been holding back for half a day, finally could not restrain himself. He stepped forward two paces, his voice rough and bold: “Your Majesty, your subordinate wants to first seek instruction from General Pei today, so he will skip the imperial lunch.”
The good show was here!
The generals’ spirits each rallied.
Emperor Jian’an was somewhat astonished and subconsciously said: “How can General Xie bully the weak with his seniority…”
“As martial generals, martial arts sparring is a common occurrence.” Pei Qinghe’s voice clearly transmitted over: “If Your Majesty has interest, why not go to the training ground to watch the match. See whether it’s General Xie’s mouth that’s powerful, or my Pei Qinghe’s sharp blade!”
The generals burst into loud laughter.
General Xie, bristling with anger, pointed at Pei Qinghe: “Today I will definitely give you a lesson!”
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth and looked toward Emperor Jian’an.
Looked at by those sharp and bright black eyes, Emperor Jian’an felt his blood surge. He rose from the dragon throne: “I will go watch the match. Whoever wins today, I will reward with a fine horse!”
With a prize, the atmosphere became even more heated.
General Zhang’s gaze flickered, and he smiled: “Since Your Majesty has such elegant interest, everyone go watch the excitement. This general will also offer a prize, rewarding the winner with a precious saber, how about it?”
Emperor Jian’an smiled and silently permitted General Zhang’s majestic and dominant.
Meng Liulang sneered inwardly, but managed to hold back on his face.
“There is a training ground in the palace,” under Emperor Jian’an’s gaze signal, Imperial Guards Commander Gao Yong stepped forward: “Please follow me, generals.”
The palace training ground was not large, just enough for two or three hundred guards’ daily training. It was more than sufficient for two generals to spar.
The guards moved over two wide chairs. Emperor Jian’an invited General Zhang to sit, and General Zhang sat down without any politeness, side by side with Emperor Jian’an.
The generals saw it in their eyes and inwardly complained each.
What was this?
It was only natural for them to bow their heads in submission to the Son of Heaven, but now did they have to kneel to General Zhang too?
“Eunuch Shen, go fetch another chair.” Emperor Jian’an smiled and turned to instruct: “Invite General Meng to sit.”
Meng Dalang had inconvenient legs and feet and rarely attended court. The General Meng in Emperor Jian’an’s mouth was precisely Meng Liulang, who had risen to fame after the great battle with the rebel army.
The generals cast envious gazes.
If Meng Dalang were here, he would definitely advise Meng Liulang not to stand out and anger General Zhang. But Meng Liulang did not care about these things and cupped his hands to thank the Son of Heaven’s grace.
General Zhang sat on the Son of Heaven’s left side, Meng Liulang on the right. The rest of the generals had no qualification to be seated and stood divided on both sides.
The imposing General Xie strode to the center of the training ground, drew the long saber from his waist, and with the advantage of his height, looked down on Pei Qinghe: “The long saber has no eyes, General Pei must be careful, don’t get accidentally injured.”
Pei Qinghe sneered coldly, drew her long saber with a clang: “Come at me!”
The snow-bright blade edge flashed dazzling light under the blazing sun.
The chilling killing intent instantly spread.
General Xie was startled inwardly. Flashes of Pei Qinghe’s various terrifying legends crossed his mind, and his contempt finally converged a bit. His age was twice Pei Qinghe’s, and as a man, he had no face to strike first. He twirled his long saber into a defensive stance.
Pei Qinghe was not polite at all. She wielded her long saber, charging straight at General Xie’s chest.
General Xie wielded his saber to block.
Pei Qinghe raised her saber to chop again, and General Xie blocked horizontally again.
Clang clang clang!
In an instant, the two sabers clashed over ten times. Pei Qinghe’s saber momentum was swift, each strike faster than the last, each more fierce than the previous.
General Xie’s face quietly changed color in the cold saber light, faintly turning green. His feet retreated in scattered steps.
Emperor Jian’an, watching the match, felt his heart suddenly beat fiercely.
Even those who had never practiced martial arts could see that in this match’s exchanges, Pei Qinghe completely held the upper hand.
Pei Qinghe wielding a saber was fiercer than a tiger, swifter than a cheetah, firmly capturing his gaze and mind, making him intoxicated.
Laymen watch the excitement, experts watch the technique.
General Zhang’s face darkened, his right hand unconsciously gripping the chair arm.
Meng Liulang was also watching Pei Qinghe. A few years ago, he went to Pei Family Village and had sparred with Pei Qinghe. He had also personally witnessed Pei Qinghe’s ferocity when killing mountain bandits. After over three years apart, Pei Qinghe’s strikes were even more fierce and ruthless now. Not to mention General Xie with his wax spearhead of silver, even if it were him, he probably could not last a hundred moves.
The other generals all showed unusual expressions, with two already unable to hold back from whispering.
“Who would have thought this Pei Qinghe is so powerful! General Xie is probably going to lose!”
“More than lose! I think he won’t last thirty moves!”
Pei Yan standing at the edge of the training ground grinned, clenched her fist and waved it, disregarding the Son of Heaven and others present, and shouted loudly: “General, don’t hold back, beat him till he shits and pisses himself!”
The crowd could not help but glance at the bold-mouthed Pei Yan. This dark and sturdy girl had a fierce appearance and very vulgar speech.
Pei Yan did not care at all about the crowd’s strange gazes and continued waving her fist and shouting to cheer for Pei Qinghe.
The crowd turned their heads again and was shocked.
Pei Qinghe’s saber momentum changed, becoming even faster and fiercer. General Xie was like a fish caught in a net, struggling desperately before leaving the water, but helplessly inferior in skill, soon scooped out of the water.
With a clang, General Xie’s long saber fell to the ground.
Pei Qinghe’s long saber swished to General Xie’s chest.
With a slight push, this sharp long saber could pierce through General Xie’s chest, making him splatter blood on the spot!
General Xie’s face was reflected white and ghastly by the saber light, just like a dead fish thrown on the bank. His lips moved a few times, unable to squeeze out a word.
“General Xie has lost!” Pei Qinghe had not even a bead of sweat on her forehead, and unhurriedly spat out a few words: “Does General Xie concede?”
Faced with the long saber that could pierce his chest at any time, even the hardest mouth had to soften.
General Xie’s pale face turned pig-liver colored, and he gritted his teeth to concede: “General Pei is powerful! I concede wholeheartedly?”
“How are the Pei Family Army’s female soldiers?” Pei Qinghe asked coldly.
General Xie was extremely embarrassed and squeezed out a few words: “Before, I was talking nonsense and offended General Pei. Please calm your anger, General Pei!”
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth, her long saber unmoving.
Cold sweat kept dripping from General Xie’s forehead.
