Chapter 31: A True Commander |
Yuan Gang stood unmoving. It was as if he couldn't care less who stepped forward to challenge him.
Niu You Dao cried out: "Monkey, stop messing around. This is no place for your games!"
"I'm not playing around. If I lose, I will accept punishment from the Prince." Yuan Gang pledged.
Shang Chao Zong secretly rejoiced. He had just been looking to bring Yuan Gang under his command. Back near the village, he had already noticed Yuan Gang's operational capabilities. He had managed to lead simple villagers and train them to resist banditry. Was this not the best proof of his abilities?
Yuan Gang looked at Cheng Shu Lin standing before him and said: "What if you lose?"
Cheng Shu Lin replied: "If I lose, I will do whatever you wish!"
Yuan Gang replied indifferently: "You... the Prince's soldier. Do your words hold any weight?"
Cheng Shu Lin looked helplessly at Shang Chao Zong.
Shang Chao Zong laughed: "Good!"
Shang Chao Zong waved his hand: "Good!"
Niu You Dao cried out again: "Monkey, don't talk nonsense!"
However, Monkey was no longer listening to his words.
Everyone eagerly drew closer in anticipation of the fight. The march had been dull, and now things had become lively. Many started to retreat, creating an open space. Two horses were brought forward, and the bodyguards presented zhanmadao.
Cheng Shu Lin mounted his horse, took his zhanmadao, and rode away to one side.
Niu You Dao did not retreat. As soon as the horses were brought and the zhanmadao was presented, he walked up to Yuan Gang and scolded him, saying:
"Are you blind!"—and then whispered:
"Can you even do this? Why show off your abilities?!"
Yuan Gang also whispered in reply: "I fended off bandits for several years in the village near the temple. Besides, what you said about Hard Qigong was correct. My cultivation here has progressed a lot!"
Hearing this, Niu You Dao calmed down. In any case, there would be no point in saying anything more. So he turned around and walked over to Shang Chao Zong and the others.
In the distance, Cheng Shu Lin swung his zhanmadao, provoking Yuan Gang.
Yuan Gang looked at him, then mounting his horse and striking the horse's rump with the zhanmadao, he instantly galloped towards Cheng Shu Lin.
Then Yuan Gang sharply turned and threw the zhanmadao towards the Prince.
"Clang."—the zhanmadao pierced the ground in front of the Prince.
Many people exchanged bewildered glances. "What does this mean? Is he really going to fight Cheng Shu Lin with his bare hands? If so, Cheng Shu Lin would immediately have the upper hand. After all, a zhanmadao in a rider's hands becomes a powerful and dangerous force. How could one not fear a mounted swordsman!"
Shang Chao Zong intently watched Yuan Gang. Yuan Gang increasingly inspired admiration in him. He liked Yuan Gang's temperament.
As for Niu You Dao, holding the zhanmadao, he looked quite calm. He himself was curious to see how strong Yuan Gang had become.
Under curious gazes, Yuan Gang galloped at full speed towards Cheng Shu Lin. He suddenly raised a hand, clenched his fist, and extended his thumb downwards!
Although among everyone present, only Niu You Dao understood and knew this sign, the others were not stupid and guessed that this sign clearly was not praising Cheng Shu Lin.
Cheng Shu Lin, meanwhile, sneered at Yuan Gang's actions, but inwardly he was seething with rage. This madman dared to face him unarmed?!
"Charge!"
Cheng Shu Lin struck his horse with the zhanmadao and instantly galloped towards Yuan Gang. The horse's hooves moved so fast it seemed to fly above the ground. The rider and horse had merged into one.
Yuan Gang, meanwhile, stood like a mountain. He tensed his lowered arms, his entire body tightening so much that a cracking sound could be heard. He stared intently at the horse charging towards him. Then, Yuan Gang suddenly leaped forward like a cheetah, meeting his opponent!
Many people were surprised. Had he gone mad?
Seeing the "madman" Yuan Gang charging at him, Cheng Shu Lin gripped his zhanmadao and flipped it to its blunt side. Yuan Gang seemed to be favored by the Prince, so he didn't want to kill him. A single lesson would suffice.
Maneuvering, Cheng Shu Lin swung his zhanmadao, attacking Yuan Gang. But Yuan Gang dodged downwards, moving to the horse's left side. He seemed to stick to the horse's hooves, and just as Cheng Shu Lin's horse galloped past him on the left, Yuan Gang grabbed one of its hooves.
Neeeiigh!
Cheng Shu Lin's horse neighed, as if lassoed, and immediately toppled over.
And Cheng Shu Lin, sitting atop it, was also instantly flung from his saddle.
"Ahh—" many guards exclaimed.
Cheng Shu Lin hadn't even managed to get up when Yuan Gang, who had galloped past him, sharply stopped his horse, turned around, and charged back towards Cheng Shu Lin.
Cheng Shu Lin was an experienced soldier and immediately rose to his feet. He intended to face him on foot, standing on the ground. He had barely managed to stand properly when he heard a shout.
"Watch out!"
He had only just turned his head when Yuan Gang was already galloping past him and kicked him in the back.
*Thud*. Cheng Shu Lin flew from the impact once more.
He flew for more than 2 zhang (1 zhang = 3.3 m) and only then fell to the ground, his zhanmadao flying off as well.
Yuan Gang dismounted his horse at that moment and used his foot to toss Cheng Shu Lin's zhanmadao up to himself. He continued walking towards Cheng Shu Lin.
Shang Chao Zong, seeing the situation, cried out: "Surrender!"
Thrown twice, one could already say he had lost. Blood was already flowing from Cheng Shu Lin's nose and mouth. He shook his head, wanting to continue fighting. Only when he lifted his head, he felt something cold on his neck. It seemed to him that two people were standing before him. But it turned out it was only Yuan Gang, standing there, holding the zhanmadao to his neck!
Ah...
Cheng Shu Lin let out a heavy sigh, lay on the ground, and smiled bitterly.
Yuan Gang tossed the zhanmadao aside and, without a word, walked back with a stone-faced expression. His body was perfectly fine and unhindered. Nothing had affected him.
Niu You Dao smiled faintly. It turned out Yuan Gang had indeed made considerable progress with his Hard Qigong, since he was able to grab a horse's hoof with his bare hand.
"A true commander!" Shang Chao Zong murmured softly and looked at Yuan Gang with admiration. He gazed at him as if at the most peerless beauty. As he understood it, such a person not only possessed martial arts but could also conduct himself so calmly after a battle. And restrained emotions meant a great deal.
Guan Tie, standing nearby, looked at the Prince and saw that the Prince was greatly pleased with Yuan Gang. At this, Guan Tie smiled bitterly.
Shu Qing and Lan Ruo Ting couldn't help but exchange glances. "What does a true commander mean? During battle, acquiring one true commander was far more important than a guardian-mentor. Guardian-mentors appeared naturally, but a true commander was hard to find. You could search, but you wouldn't find one. They could only appear through luck and could not be begged from others. No one would give you such a person!"
The bodyguards to his left and right were speechless. To seize a galloping horse by its hooves with bare hands and make it stumble? Anyone else in his place would have been trampled to death by the horse. Yet Yuan Gang had managed it. How immense was his strength!
Previously, many had been angry at Yuan Gang. They thought he was merely boasting. But now it was clear that it was the Wuli and Yinyang Guards who had been boasting!
A group of people ran to the fallen horse and began examining it. Was medical assistance needed? Someone ran to Cheng Shu Lin and helped him up. In troubled times, horses were a valuable resource.
Yuan Gang walked up to Shang Chao Zong and looked him in the eye. And then, ignoring Shang Chao Zong's admiring gaze, he immediately took his place behind Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao, however, said with a smile: "We simply tested our strength, that's all. Prince, there's nothing to settle here."
He had only just reminded Shang Chao Zong when the latter, looking at Yuan Gang, said:
"I keep my word. Brother Yuan may choose any of the 500 bodyguards!"
Yuan Gang said indifferently: "When the time comes, I'll say."
"Nonsense!" Niu You Dao spoke with displeasure and then, cupping his hands in greeting, said with a smile to the Prince: "Prince, you are busy. We won't trouble you!"
After that, he grabbed Yuan Gang and left, moving away from everyone's attention.
Shang Chao Zong, watching them leave, could only sigh:
"Such an outstanding commander. He didn't go into the world of glory; instead, he went with him. What a pity!" Shang Chao Zong would truly have been willing to take a group of people and exchange them for Yuan Gang. It was just that he currently had nothing with which to negotiate with Niu You Dao.
Shu Qing and Lan Ruo Ting also exchanged glances and sighed. They understood Shang Chao Zong's mood well. Currently, Shang Chao Zong lacked riders, commanders, and mentors. He lacked everything. And Niu You Dao had even decided to leave them. They just didn't know when they would leave them!
Two days later, most of the rafts were ready. They sent a small number of people to cross to the opposite bank, assess the situation, and report their movements to Kuangai County to avoid misunderstandings.
As soon as they received permission, they immediately blindfolded the horses and led them onto the rafts.