After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 15

In the center of the drill ground, Pei Er and Centurion Jiang stood facing each other, their eyes fixed on one another. One was calm, no emotion visible in his dark eyes; the other sinister, a trace of contempt flashing in his gaze.

Suddenly, Centurion Jiang charged first, swinging his fist toward Pei Er’s face.

Pei Er leaned back and turned sideways, easily evading. At the same time, his five fingers curved like iron claws, seizing the opponent’s thick forearm and fiercely dragging him toward himself. His other hand rose high, intending to drive his elbow into the opponent’s back, while lifting his leg to strike his abdomen.

“Good!” Outside the railing, the wounded soldiers led by Chen Qing burst into cheers.

Li Chansiu stood to the side, his gaze also tightly fixed on the center of the field.

But after being yanked forward, Centurion Jiang suddenly twisted around, facing upward. The arm that hadn’t been seized jerked back sharply, and his elbow drove straight toward his side, directly targeting the arrow wound on Pei Er’s chest.

Pei Er hurriedly turned sideways to dodge. Centurion Jiang landed on one hand and followed with a sweeping kick, striking straight at the blade wound on Pei Er’s leg.

Pei Er retreated again and again, and the situation on the field instantly reversed.

Centurion Jiang launched moves one after another, his actions swift and each strike ruthless, all aimed directly at Pei Er’s injured spots. Because he was wounded, Pei Er was not as fast as usual. Even if he dodged in time, there were still moments when he was struck, leaving him constrained for a while.

On the platform, General Chen frowned. Seeing that Pei Er only dodged for the moment, seeming to have concerns and fighting with difficulty, he could not help but sigh inwardly.

It seemed his earlier guess was correct. This Pei Er indeed had injuries and had not yet fully recovered, which was dragging him down. He was likely to have a hard time winning this match.

Outside the drill ground, Chen Qing could no longer hold back and cursed, “D*mn it, there must be a spy in our wounded soldiers’ camp who told Jiang Chong where Pei Er is injured!”

The other wounded soldiers and Aunt Xu and the others, upon hearing this, could not help but grow tense, looking worriedly toward Pei Er on the field.

Li Chansiu continued watching the field calmly. Only the hand hidden in his sleeve could not help but clench its fingertips tightly.

According to his plan, Pei Er had to first win first place in the first event, the unarmed combat contest. Otherwise, unless the other party could truly hit the mark at a hundred paces in mounted archery, with no arrow missing, there would be no chance.

But Li Chansiu had never personally seen Pei Er shoot arrows and did not dare to gamble.

He stared fixedly at the two fighting on the platform. Although Pei Er was at a disadvantage at the moment due to his injuries, he had seen before how Pei Er disciplined Centurion Jiang’s two subordinates, his techniques and the explosive swiftness in that instant.

In his view, if Pei Er were not injured, he would definitely be able to defeat Centurion Jiang. Even if he was wounded now and had also lain unconscious for too long before, losing somewhat in stamina and endurance, if he followed what he had said earlier, using technique and clever force, there might not be no chance of winning.

But up until now, Pei Er had not done as he said. Li Chansiu’s brows could not help but knit slightly, and the hand he clenched tightened further.

On the field, Pei Er was still suppressed by Centurion Jiang. He was kicked in his injured spot and fell to the ground. Centurion Jiang turned sideways and dropped down, his elbow pressing straight against Pei Er’s chest.

If that blow landed heavily, his breastbone would likely break.

Pei Er could not roll away in time and raised his hand to block the elbow strike. He clenched his teeth, his face flushed red, his five fingers gripping the other’s elbow tightly, pushing upward in resistance, exerting so much force that the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

From the corner of his eye, he saw outside the drill ground.

Li Chansiu suppressed the anxiety in his gaze and made a hand signal toward him.

Pei Er gritted his teeth and suddenly twisted both hands sharply, using the technique of clever force from the small booklet Li Chansiu had given him, and with one motion flipped Centurion Jiang over. Then with a side roll, agile as a wolf, while breaking free from the suppression, he struck back with a reverse elbow straight at the opponent’s throat. The force was so heavy that it could likely shatter the throat bone.

Centurion Jiang hurriedly leaned back, but Pei Er seized another opportunity. With a spin, his lower body leapt into the air. Ignoring the injury to his leg, he lifted his leg and swept toward the opponent’s neck. Centurion Jiang quickly raised his arm to block, yet he was still heavily kicked on the side of his face. His vision went black at once, his head dizzy and ears ringing, and he fell hard to the right.

Immediately after, Pei Er flipped over and pinned him down tightly, heavy punches falling like raindrops. Centurion Jiang was still in a daze, instinctively raising his leg to try to kick him away, but the kick struck empty air.

Pei Er’s expression was fierce. After dodging one kick, he pressed him heavily against the ground again, punching one blow after another, beating him until the corner of his mouth split open and blood streamed from his nose.

Enduring the severe pain, Centurion Jiang still tried to reach up and seize the neck of the man above him to counter once more, but his arm also took several heavy punches. In the end, in pain, he could only shield his face, completely losing the chance to fight back.

Seeing that he was beaten to the point of having no strength to retaliate, Jiang He on the platform suddenly stood up and shouted angrily, “Enough!”

The others on the platform could not help but look at him, and General Chen also cast him a calm glance.

Jiang He’s expression stiffened. After moderating his tone, he said again, “In this grand competition, it should stop at the point of contact.”

Everyone looked at each other, thinking: When Jiang Chong was beating others just now, he didn’t stop at the point of contact.

But Jiang He was a military commandant in the camp, and one with backing, one who dared to oppose General Chen. Everyone tacitly kept silent.

General Chen, however, smiled at this moment and said, “In that case, it seems this round is won by the young man called Pei Er.”

Physician Hu beside him, upon hearing this, quickly echoed first. The others, hearing this, also followed suit.

Jiang He said nothing and sat back down with a dark expression.

Only then did General Chen signal to the herald. The herald quickly struck the bronze gong.

Below, Pei Er heavily smashed another punch into Centurion Jiang’s face before finally standing up, panting as he stepped back, his gaze still fixed on the opponent.

Centurion Jiang lay on the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth, already in too much pain to move.

At this time, the herald loudly announced, “First event of the grand competition, first place in martial combat, Pei Er!”

There was first a moment of silence on the field, as if everyone had not yet reacted. The wounded soldiers outside the railing were the first to erupt into cheers.

Chen Qing shouted especially loudly, his expression excited. “Well done, Pei Er! You’re truly something, you really won!”

Erzi beside him could not help but remind him, “Brother Qing, you bet on Centurion Jiang to win, fifty coins in total.”

Chen Qing: “……”

His smile vanished in an instant.

The other wounded soldiers were still cheering. Aunt Xu kept saying “Amitabha,” repeatedly saying, “Heaven bless.”

Li Chansiu also pressed his lips together, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.

The cheers reached the center of the field, and the soldiers there instantly burst into rounds of applause as well.

Zhang Hu and several other companions who had been eliminated earlier rushed forward first, nearly lifting Pei Er up to shout in celebration.

There was still blood on Pei Er’s face, and one eye was bruised black and blue, yet it did not diminish his handsomeness. His skinned fist was raised high in response to the cheers around him, but his gaze passed through the crowd, looking straight toward Li Chansiu’s direction.

Li Chansiu was also looking at him, a faint smile in his clear, elegant eyes.

Pei Er’s previously stern expression melted like ice and snow in an instant. The corner of his bruised mouth could not help but curve up as well, but the pain made him hiss, his brows knitting slightly.

Li Chansiu could not help but laugh, thinking that one moment he had been cold-faced, and the next he seemed a bit foolish.

There were still two mounted archery events to compete in the afternoon. Before that, the soldiers could first go back to eat a meal.

Although the camp only provided two meals a day, today was a special situation. The soldiers who had just participated in the grand competition in the morning grew hungry quickly; it wouldn’t be right to have them compete in the afternoon on empty stomachs.

Surrounded by a crowd, Pei Er walked out of the drill ground railing. When his gaze met Li Chansiu, who was waiting nearby, he unconsciously stopped and stared steadily at him.

Li Chansiu gave him a knowing smile and said, “Go back first. I’ll apply some medicine for you and bandage the wounds.”

There was a glimmer hidden in Pei Er’s eyes. He nodded awkwardly, and the corners of his pressed lips unconsciously lifted again.

A group of people crowded around him, cheering as they headed toward the wounded soldiers’ camp.

Behind them, Centurion Jiang, being helped off the field, had a bruised and swollen face, yet his eyes looked sinisterly toward Pei Er’s back.

Xu Hong, who was supporting him, hurriedly tried to ingratiate himself. “Why should Centurion be discouraged? That brat only won by luck, just a coincidence. When it comes to mounted archery this afternoon, he certainly won’t match you.”

“Hmph, do you need to tell me that?” Centurion Jiang shoved him and Niu Feng aside and limped to a horizontal beam at the edge of the drill ground to sit down.

Xu and Niu did not dare be careless and quickly followed.

Centurion Jiang’s expression was gloomy. Seeing no one around, he lowered his voice and said to the two, “Even so, we cannot be careless. There’s no easy way to tamper with the target shooting, so forget that. But the final event must be won.”

If he won the next two events in a row, then the final first place of the grand competition would still be his.

“You mean…”

Xu and Niu exchanged a glance and quickly understood.

.

Wounded Soldiers’ Camp.

Zhang He, because his wound had not healed and he could not move around, had not gone to the drill ground. Seeing everyone finally return in high spirits, he could not help anxiously asking, “How was it? What happened? Did he win?”

Zhang Hu burst into laughter and slapped the back of his younger brother’s head. “Just look at how happy everyone is, you’ll know Pei Er definitely won.”

Zhang He’s eyes lit up at once. “Really? I saw Chen Qing smiling one moment and pulling a long face the next, so I thought…”

“Chen Qing? He bet on Centurion Jiang to win, and fifty coins at that, hahaha!”

Everyone burst into laughter; only Chen Qing wore a bitter expression.

Li Chansiu was also infected by the laughter, the corners of his lips slightly curved as he helped Pei Er apply medicine.

“For the mounted archery this afternoon, are you confident?” he asked while applying medicine to Pei Er’s skinned areas.

Enduring the stinging pain, Pei Er nodded.

Li Chansiu said, “There’s wind today; it may affect the accuracy of the targets. But it’s alright, the third event…”

Mid-sentence, he suddenly paused and looked around.

A young wounded soldier met his gaze and suddenly looked somewhat evasive.

Pei Er sensed his change and raised his head to ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Li Chansiu smiled at him, yet thought to himself: What Chen Qing said outside the drill ground today was right. Centurion Jiang knew where Pei Er’s injuries were, there was likely someone in the wounded soldiers’ camp acting as his informant.

Thinking this, he said no more and continued applying the medicine.

When everyone was eating, he went outside to find Zhang Hu. After pondering, he lowered his voice and said, “Zhang Hu, when I saved your younger brother before, you said that if I ever needed anything, I could ask you for help. Does that still stand?”

Hearing this, Zhang Hu immediately grew solemn. He stopped eating and hurriedly said, “Miss Shen, whatever you need, just say it. I, Zhang Hu, absolutely…”

“Shh.” Before he could finish, Li Chansiu interrupted him, then glanced around before continuing in a low voice, “In the third event this afternoon, Centurion Jiang will surely resort to tricks. I hope that when the time comes, you can help Pei Er and hold up Centurion Jiang’s men.”

In the third event, cooperation was originally allowed, or within the permitted range, one could even fight and obstruct opponents. This was a good opportunity to use tactics. Li Chansiu did not think Centurion Jiang would let this chance pass.

Coincidentally, Li Chansiu thought the same way.

In his plan, as long as Pei Er won the first event, then in the third event he would ask Zhang Hu to help, assisting Pei Er to win that as well. Then no matter what the result of the second event was, Pei Er, having won at least two out of the three, would be the final first place.

And since Li Chansiu had helped Zhang Hu before, he was certain the other party would agree.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Zhang Hu immediately assured him, “Miss Shen, even if you hadn’t said anything today, I would definitely help Pei Er in the third event. Rest assured, I will never let Jiang Chong’s schemes succeed.”

Li Chansiu slightly relaxed upon hearing this and finally felt at ease.

When he returned to the tent, he saw that Pei Er was not eating but was staring at him with a pair of dark eyes, quiet and deep.

Li Chansiu found it strange and went over to ask, “What’s wrong?”

Pei Er hesitated, pressed his lips together, and asked, “Just now you and…”

Li Chansiu reacted quickly and covered his mouth with his hand. Under Pei Er’s puzzled gaze, he lowered his voice and said, “Don’t ask. Eat.”

“……” Pei Er blinked, and the tips of his ears suddenly turned somewhat red.

Only then did Li Chansiu realize his palm was pressed against the other’s lips. For no reason, he felt a sudden heat and hurriedly withdrew his hand.