Chapter 61: Deceptive Strategy in Battle
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The gleaming edge of the blade was almost within reach, seemingly emanating a faint hint of bloodlust. This scene unfolded before the eyes of the spectators below, eliciting a chorus of astonished gasps.
Liang Ping couldn’t help but blurt out, “Be careful!”
Blade combat was different from spear combat. Spear duels were dangerous enough compared to archery contests, but blade combat was even riskier. One wrong move could lead to bloodshed, and considering Huang Xiong’s immense strength, any loss of control could result in a disaster.
This lad, who was usually so carefree, how could he let his guard down at a moment like this? Liang Ping felt anxious; distractions during blade combat were a grave mistake!
Seizing the opportune moment, Huang Xiong launched his attack, his blade sweeping diagonally. He Yan swiftly evaded, avoiding the menacing strike. Just as Huang Xiong’s blade seemed poised to point at her throat, He Yan suddenly lifted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Oh no, Huang Xiong thought, his heart sinking. He was about to pull back, but in the next instant, He Yan’s left-hand blade had already come into contact with his long blade, while her right-hand blade had managed to circle behind him. Flustered, Huang Xiong bent backward to avoid the strike, only to find the young lad’s smile had grown wider. In the blink of an eye, both of He Yan’s blades were back in her hands. The twin blades, Yuan and Yang, converged into one, aimed directly at Huang Xiong’s head. He attempted to raise his hand to block, but he was a step too late.
The blade halted just before his forehead, leaving a fine cut that oozed a trickle of blood due to the force of its passage.
The entire arena fell silent.
After a moment, He Yan sheathed her blades and handed him a crumpled piece of cloth. “Thank you for your concession.”
Huang Xiong looked at the cloth in her hand, not taking it, and asked, “Just now, you didn’t lose focus, were you pretending?”
“All’s fair in war.” He Yan grinned. “What do you think?”
After so many years of experience, He Yan understood that she couldn’t afford to let her guard down at any time, especially during a contest. Even if the Emperor himself were present, she wouldn’t waver. However, Huang Xiong’s blade skills were truly exceptional, and she wasn’t skilled with blades herself. Without using some tricks, how could she have won so effortlessly? She deliberately created a diversion to lure Huang Xiong in, like a praying mantis ambushing a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Speaking of which, she was quite clever. Xiao Jue probably wouldn’t have expected that the “foolish” person he once described had become adept at using strategy and cunning. Thinking this, He Yan looked down at the crowd with pride, hoping to catch a glimpse of Xiao Jue looking at her with admiring eyes. But to her surprise, there was no sign of Xiao Jue. Even Shen Han was gone, leaving only Cheng Lisu excitedly waving at her with his hairband.
Did he just leave like that? He Yan was momentarily taken aback.
Did he even notice my graceful display?
Before she could process this, a crowd had gathered around her, the excitement palpable. Her display today had left an indelible mark on the minds of half of the new recruits of Liangzhou Garrison. Her mastery of archery, spear techniques, and blade combat had set her apart. Yet, there were also those who disapproved of her arrogance, claiming, “Relying on tricks and deceit isn’t the right path. If you have the skills, fight fair and square. Using deception only shows that you’re not confident in your abilities.”
“That just means she’s smart!” someone retorted.
Wang Ba mingled among the new recruits as he left, his feelings a complex jumble. On one hand, he hoped He Yan would keep winning, showcasing herself as a true powerhouse. Losing to a strong opponent would be acceptable; after all, there was no one in Liangzhou Garrison who could defeat him.
But on the other hand, Wang Ba couldn’t help but feel discontented. Why did so many people have to lose to He Yan but no one else has to call her, and only he had to call her “Boss.”
Why?!
However, after a moment’s reflection, Wang Ba realized that Huang Xiong was already in his forties. Losing to a sixteen-year-old youth seemed somewhat more pitiable than himself. With this thought, Wang Ba felt somewhat relieved and let out a sigh of relief.
…
Beneath the trees in the forest at the foot of White Moon Mountain, two figures strolled leisurely.
The lush foliage in the woods shielded them from the sun, creating a sense of coolness and tranquility. The chirping of birds filled the air, and the scenery was simply exquisite, a testament to the beauty of White Moon Mountain.
“You’ve just watched the martial arts competition on the platform,” Xiao Jue spoke, “What do you think?”
Shen Han pondered for a moment, carefully considering his words before responding, “Liang Ping has recruited a good soldier this time, and He Yan is a promising talent. To excel in archery, spear techniques, and blade combat to this extent is truly remarkable. It’s not easy to be skilled in each aspect. Among the new recruits of Liangzhou Garrison, you won’t find a second person like him.”
“How about his blade skills?” Xiao Jue inquired further.
“From the looks of it, He Yan’s blade skills might not be as refined as Huang Xiong’s, but he compensates with agile footwork and quick thinking. He’s adaptable and employs cunning strategies.” Shen Han replied.
He Yan’s weaknesses were quite evident. If this contest had continued for another moment, she would have inevitably fallen behind. She was probably aware of this fact herself, so she pretended to be distracted, enticing Huang Xiong to act recklessly, which ultimately led to his defeat.
“Do you think he would be a good fit for the Nine Banner Battalion?” Xiao Jue asked absentmindedly.
“This young lad is not only resourceful and courageous, but he’s also skilled in archery and horsemanship, and his martial prowess is exceptional. I’ve heard he can even read. If we were to select from these new recruits, he would be an excellent choice.” Shen Han cautiously expressed his opinion.
“You also share the same view?” Xiao Jue turned around, his tone noncommittal.
Observing the youth’s expression, Shen Han glanced at the young commander of the Xiao family. Xiao Jue had always been composed and never showed his emotions on his face. At this moment, his demeanor was calm, making it hard to read his thoughts. However, Shen Han sensed that he might not entirely agree with his assessment.
“Commander… Do you have any concerns about him?”
“There’s something off about him.” Xiao Jue said.
Shen Han was taken aback.
“During the blade duel just now, He Yan’s technique might not have been as polished as Huang Xiong’s, but the footwork he employed was that of the Assault Battalion.”
When the Assault Battalion went into battle, they would be at the forefront, often risking their lives, so their footwork had to be incredibly agile. While He Yan’s blade skills might not have matched Huang Xiong’s, he managed to evade every one of Huang Xiong’s strikes. Xiao Jue recognized the instinctual backward dodging as a technique learned from the Assault Battalion. He guessed that He Yan had likely realized this as well and intentionally altered his technique to avoid detection. However, such subconscious actions were not always easy to suppress.
“This… this…” Shen Han said, “How is that possible? He’s only sixteen. Could he have already been on the battlefield before?”
“It’s precisely because it’s impossible that he’s with issue.” Xiao Jue stated.
Given the current tense situation, Shen Han also needed to exercise caution. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Commander, what should we do now?”
“I want to test this person.” Xiao Jue answered.
“How do you intend to test him Commander?”
“Didn’t he set up a challenge on the martial arts stage, winning every day? Tomorrow, you pick three instructors to compete with him in mounted archery.”
Shen Han was momentarily taken aback. “Isn’t this a bit inappropriate? If he wins…” If He Yan wins, how will the new recruits view their instructors? They won’t even measure up to a soldier.
Xiao Jue halted his steps and said calmly, “If he wins, then he definitely has a problem.”
“There’s no such thing as a genius like that in the world. Even if there were, they wouldn’t appear in Liangzhou Garrison.”
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