Chapter 66 – An Accident in the Martial Contest

The Day of the Military Exercise

The Training Grounds

Under a clear blue sky, two armies faced each other in formation — banners and flags brilliant in the sunlight. One side wore cyan robes and iron armor, numbering a full ten thousand men; the other wore red robes and black armor, exactly three thousand strong. Nine drumbeats thundered out, and warhorses whinnied and neighed.

“Commissioner Fang, I invited the local wealthy clans and distinguished families to observe the ceremony — you don’t mind, do you?” Tang Xian warmly pulled at Fang Heng’s arm, gesturing toward a nearby viewing platform.

“Commissioner Tang did not seem to have mentioned this beforehand,” said Fang Heng, a trace of displeasure flickering across his lean face. It wasn’t because commoners were getting involved in military affairs, but because Tang Xian had acted on his own authority, making it clear he did not regard them seriously at all.

Relying on negotiation alone, it seemed, would not be enough to subdue Huangzhou.

Tang Xian laughed awkwardly and waved it off. “The people of Huangzhou have long wanted to witness the might of the imperial court — I’m sure Commissioner Fang wouldn’t be so petty about it.”

“Naturally not,” said Fang Heng, murmuring a few instructions to the attendants behind him before gripping Tang Xian’s wrist. “Commissioner Tang, you and I entered the palace examinations in the same year. To think that you are now the governor of an entire province, while I hold nothing but an empty title — truly, I am ashamed.”

Tang Xian replied, “Commissioner Fang, please do not sell yourself short. You hold the esteemed position of censor — how could that be an empty title?”

“Ha ha ha!” Fang Heng clapped him on the shoulder. “I must guard against treacherous ministers seizing power and petty men forming factions, as well as corrupt officials ruining official discipline. Yet look around — where are there no treacherous ministers? Where are there no petty men? The world is in too much turmoil; I simply cannot keep up with it all. I truly envy Commissioner Tang, able to stay far from the court and serve as an official in peace and quiet.”

“You jest, you jest.” Tang Xian was sweating profusely from the shoulder-clapping and hurriedly said, “Shall we head up to the commander’s platform to observe the exercises?”

As they climbed the steep wooden stairs, Tang Xian noticed several servants removing the tables and cushioned seats that had been arranged there, carrying up a gilded folding chair in their place. “Commissioner Fang, what is the meaning of this?”

“Didn’t Commissioner Tang invite the local gentry to observe the ceremony? If I didn’t invite someone of my own, wouldn’t I be wasting Commissioner Tang’s goodwill?” Fang Heng gripped his wrist. “Commissioner Tang, do you still remember whose land Huangzhou is?”

Tang Xian could not stand his relentlessly pressing tone, and his heart began to pound, though his mouth replied, “Naturally, it belongs to the Yin Dynasty.”

“Then today, I would trouble Commissioner Tang to stand beside me and attend upon this seat of honor. What do you say?”

“Of course, of course — it is my honor to attend upon the Imperial Princess, Your Highness.” This man surnamed Fang had launched quite the opening show of force, leaving Tang Xian feeling deeply unsettled. He could only hope that Yue Kun would display exceptional ability and send these people slinking back where they came from.

The exercise was divided into two parts. The first was the “Flag Cutting” competition.

Each side sent out one hundred and eight men, carrying the Five-Direction Flags of the Prenatal realm, to engage in combat with the goal of cutting down the opponent’s flags. The side with the most flags remaining at the end would win.

Three drumbeats rolled out.

Both teams spurred their horses out from their respective formations. All of them held Five-Direction Flags, the tops of which bore three-pointed, double-edged blades.

The golden horn sounded.

Instantly, dust billowed across the training grounds, battle cries and the thunder of hooves intertwining, leaving Tang Xian clutching his sweat in a cold fist.

The Crimson Blood Army led by Zero-Two immediately demonstrated an overwhelming superiority — how could ordinary soldiers possibly match one hundred and eight Postnatal realm warriors?

“Your opponent is right here,” Zero-Two deflected the Five-Direction Flag with which Yue Kun had been lunging at one of the soldiers.

Yue Kun’s heart shook. He had anticipated that this “Flag Cutting” round might be lost, but he hadn’t imagined the defeat would be so crushing. He had clearly already replaced most of his soldiers with Postnatal realm warriors.

Fortunately, the strongest fighter on their side was the person standing before him right now. As long as he could eliminate this one, the plan would be half accomplished.

“Let me see just what you are made of!” Yue Kun actively engaged Zero-Two in close combat.

The flags on the field were a dizzying blur. In the blink of an eye, Fang Heng saw Zero-Two surrounded. “Watch out!”

Two bursts of aura erupted abruptly. The pressure of the Prenatal realm sealed off Zero-Two’s avenues of retreat.

It was the two Prenatal realm experts of the Yue Family!

Zero-Two was instantly thrown into a disadvantage.

Yue Kun had played a cunning game — the true objective of this “Flag Cutting” round was to gravely injure the commander of the Crimson Blood Army!

Zero-Two had always relied on the Lightness Technique; mounted combat combined with the steady suppression of two Prenatal realm experts meant that her advantage was completely lost, and she nearly suffered internal injuries from the onslaught.

“Commissioner Tang, the Dabi Army’s flags have all been cut down — shouldn’t you declare a ceasefire?”

“Who said so? Aren’t there still three flags left?” Tang Xian said shamelessly.

“Commissioner Tang, stop struggling! According to the rules, once one side’s flags fall below half, that side loses!” Fang Heng shouted at the drummer, “Cease battle!”

The drummer hesitated and glanced at Tang Xian, not moving.

At that moment, one of the Prenatal realm experts struck Zero-Two from her horse, raised his horse’s hooves and was about to bring them stamping down — with no intention of holding back whatsoever.

Zero-Two rolled to dodge, but was caught off guard when Yue Kun stabbed her in the shoulder with his three-pointed, double-edged blade. Blood gushed out in torrents.

“How dare you!” From among the Crimson Blood Army observing at the edge of the field, a figure flew out, kicked away the drummer with a heavy thud — the dull sound carrying far into the distance.

“The General’s skills are truly remarkable — you nearly made us all forget ourselves,” said Yue Kun, slapping his forehead as if suddenly coming to his senses. “Congratulations to your honored army on your victory. In the martial contest to follow, we will not be so accommodating!”

“Withdraw!”

The second son of the Yue Family laughed loudly. “So what if they have more Postnatal realm fighters? They don’t have a single Prenatal realm expert. The way I see it, there was no need for First Uncle and Second Uncle to even make a move!”

These two Prenatal realm experts were from the elder generation of the Yue Family — named Yue Lie and Yue Song.

“It’s not over yet. Don’t be arrogant,” Yue Kun rebuked him, then turned and respectfully addressed Yue Lie and Yue Song, “Two uncles, the martial contest that follows — I’ll leave it to the both of you.”

“Don’t worry. For the sake of the Yue Family, we will not slacken.”

Zero-Two’s deputy helped support her. “This Yue Kun loses with his chin held high — his treacherous intent is already plain to see. Looking at his methods, he wants to eliminate the strongest among us one by one.”

Zero-Two pressed her hand to her wound. “The Yue Family’s Prenatal realm experts have already shown themselves. They will certainly take the stage in the martial contest to come.”

In the end, she had been careless. The imperial family’s Prenatal realm experts had all been transferred to Yi Shang’s side; currently there were none stationed with the army. Asking others to step up on her behalf was something Zero-Two was somewhat reluctant to do, but now was not the time to act on pride. “In the martial contest coming up — if they continue to field Prenatal realm experts on their side, we will have those few recruited Prenatal realm seniors take action.”

The martial contest was divided into nine bouts, following a defending-champion format. Whichever side held the platform at the end would be declared the winner.

As the host, Huangzhou defended first.

Just as Zero-Two had anticipated, the very first fighter they sent up was a Prenatal realm expert — with a clear air of intending to hold the platform from beginning to end.

“Which of the seniors would be willing to go up and meet him?” Zero-Two looked toward the several Prenatal realm experts.

“This man excels in fist techniques, while I excel in palm techniques. Let me go see whether his fists are more formidable, or my palm method!”

“I am grateful, Senior Jing.”

An Eagle swept across the sky and landed on the back of the gilded folding chair, its sharp eyes fixed intently on the martial platform in the training grounds.

“Shoo, you wretched feathered beast!” Tang Xian waved his sleeve and shouted.

“Commissioner Tang — watch the match!” Fang Heng stepped between him and the chair. “Ha — that man from the Yue Family is about to lose.”

“What!” Tang Xian no longer had time to fuss over the Eagle that had intruded, and hurriedly looked toward the field.

He saw Jing Chu send Yue Lie flying off the platform with a single palm strike!

“How can this be!” the second son of the Yue Family raged. “These treacherous, cunning people were hiding a final trump card!”

Yue Kun turned to ask Yue Song beside him, “Second Uncle, can you defeat him?”

Yue Song’s strength was a cut above Yue Lie’s — he had reached the peak of the Prenatal realm, and was the person in the Yue Family with the best chance of achieving Foundation Establishment.

Yue Song said, “This man is evenly matched with me. Without the aid of external means, it is difficult to say who would defeat whom — unless… it is a fight to the death!”

Anyone who had cultivated to the Prenatal realm valued their life greatly. Without a deep and bitter enmity, they would not engage in a fight to the death.

Nor could Yue Kun allow the hope of his family to die on the martial platform.

He said in a low voice, “Second Uncle, go ahead — I will make the necessary arrangements.”

As he spoke, he made a subtle hand gesture toward the direction of the viewing platform.

Third Update

(End of Chapter)