These young women clearly held no low status in Xianyang. They dragged Fang Zheng away from the city gates, and the guards did not even dare ask another question. Laughing and chatting, the girls led Fang Zheng into the wilderness beyond the city. Then the leading girl leaped down and drew the longsword at her waist.
Fang Zheng also dismounted from White Deer, gently patting its side. The deer leisurely went to drink from a nearby stream, immediately drawing the attention of several girls. Quite a few ran over to gather around White Deer—apparently, deer were sometimes more popular than people.
"Someone, give him a sword."
After waving her longsword, the girl immediately gave the order. Someone quickly removed their own sword and offered it to Fang Zheng, but he waved it away.
"There's no need. Miss, you may attack directly."
"Attack directly?"
Hearing Fang Zheng's words, the girl froze, then frowned.
"Blades have no eyes. Aren't you afraid I'll hurt you? Heh, you're quite handsome. Wouldn't it be a pity if I chopped you into a cripple?"
"That depends on whether you have the skill, miss."
Fang Zheng knew that Qin women were mostly forthright by nature, so he merely chuckled. Then he raised his right hand and slowly extended it before him.
"What kind of stance is that?"
The spoiled girl stared at Fang Zheng. His palm faced upward, his right hand stretched forward, his left hand behind his back, his entire body standing still. This era was not without close-combat martial arts. Wrestling and pugilism, for example, were familiar methods of hand-to-hand fighting. Yet Fang Zheng's movements were exceedingly strange, unlike any fighting techniques she knew.
"It's something I came up with when I had nothing better to do. Please, miss."
Fang Zheng waved his hand and