The Dragon Cavalry was the army that guarded the many commanderies and cities of the Great Qin dynasty. It could not compare to the Xuanwu Army, but it was by no means easy to deal with. Back then, the words "Dragon Cavalry" had been forcibly snatched from the Supreme Emperor by the previous Dragon General, who had accomplished the unparalleled feat recorded by the Historians forty years ago: "Subjugating two lesser states, one hundred and twenty-two counties, capturing two kings, three ministers, and six generals."
Xu Ziyang was the Dragon General of Wangxian County. His strength was absolutely no weaker than that of the so-called first-rate experts in the county. Even with his Internal force sealed, he might have been caught off guard and underestimated his opponent... Yet no matter how many excuses the young man below found for this unrestrained and upright general, the scene before them was still as real as could be—more real than the earth beneath their feet.
A mere youth had forced a renowned expert of equal cultivation to defend himself, even forcing him to launch an explosive defense.
If it had been thirty years ago, could this Shaolin disciple, Wang Anfeng, have truly defeated the Dragon General, who had also been a youth back then, or even...
Killed him!
Then thirty years from now, would the blue-robed youth before them become another renowned hero who shook the martial world?
When they realized that their thoughts were sliding uncontrollably toward a certain abyss, every scion of the great families looked at Wang Anfeng with a trace of solemnity and a hidden flicker in their eyes.
"Hahahaha, excellent skill! Excellent skill! What a thrill!"
Xu Ziyang looked at the Ink Dragon Strength coiling around his body, then threw back his head and laughed. He seemed to have discovered something extraordinarily delightful. Smacking Wang Anfeng on the shoulder, he laughed aloud:
"Your Fist techniques are pretty good. But what martial art did you use to attack my hand?"
Wang Anfeng's body was aching all over, and he staggered slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.
"It was merely a medical technique for controlling needles into acupoints..."
Xu Ziyang was slightly taken aback, then laughed in disbelief.
"Controlling needles? Where did you get a needle, kid?"
Wang Anfeng shook his head. "Indeed, I had no needle. But since one can chop wood with an axe or with one's fist, so long as the wood is split, what does it matter? Controlling needles is merely a way to transmit Internal force into an acupoint. If so, what difference is there between a needle and a fist?"
The Dragon General chewed over these words. His eyes brightened slightly, and then he slapped his palm and laughed heartily, as if he could not contain his delight.
"Excellent, excellent!"
"If you do not fall in the slaughter of the martial world, in thirty years, I will be inferior to you!"
"Dear nephew, come over quickly and drink! Otherwise, this Old Man will gladly take your concubine. Tonight, an eighty-year-old groom will marry beneath a pear tree in bloom."
Just then, an aged voice suddenly came from afar. It flowed on and on, dense and lingering, its echo stretching endlessly, yet it was impossible to tell where it came from. Xu Ziyang's smile stiffened, and he tapped his forehead with a headache, laughing bitterly.
"Little brother, the old man is calling again. His seniority is too great, so Old Xu will take his leave first... If fate brings us together another day, we shall drink together again!"
With that, he casually stepped into the air. Dragons roamed wildly across his body, shaking the surrounding air until it turned viscous. Like a divine dragon treading waves, he broke through the air and vanished in an instant. Only his bold, unrestrained laughter remained in the air.
"Hahahaha, Old Man, wait a moment! We agreed—you're not allowed to touch Old Xu's beauties!"
The laughter drifted far away. The middle-aged man serving as referee looked gloomily at the distant sky and cursed under his breath twice. Only then did he swing his bare, pale arm and climb onto the arena, glaring down with a dark expression.
"Who else wants to fight?"
As his voice fell, the entire arena fell deathly silent.
That lightning-fast exchange just now had been utterly marvelous. Nine battles, nine consecutive victories. Perhaps Wang Anfeng had now expended most of his strength, but everyone below was still young.
Young scions were young scions—the hearts of the young were always proud. Challenging someone while he was in danger might bring victory, but it would still make the winner nothing more than a macaque wearing a crown, a smug clown who would become a laughingstock and earn everyone's contempt.
Only then did Wang Anfeng slightly relax. His body was indeed already terribly exhausted, and he could probably defeat only a few more people. With his heart eased, he turned his head toward Xue Thirteen and the others, but he saw only the dashing Xiahou Xuan and the bleary-eyed Huangfu Xiong. That familiar face was nowhere to be seen, and his expression froze slightly.
"Anfeng, stop looking. That kid's gone."
Huangfu Xiong noticed his gaze, swallowed a mouthful of wine, and shouted cheerfully, "That kid was caught by his own people after they saw through his original plan. They dragged him away just now and said they were locking him up for three years, only releasing him when he turned seventeen. Hahahaha, what a thrill! What a thrill!"
Wang Anfeng froze slightly. Though he was still standing on the arena, he could not help crying out, "What?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
Young Master Xiahou gently shook his folding fan, his face also carrying a trace of schadenfreude.
"He was afraid it would affect your fight. After all, that punishment is no light matter."
Wang Anfeng opened and closed his mouth. He felt somewhat irritated, yet did not know what to say. Just then, a young man suddenly leaped onto the arena from below. He had handsome features and lively brows—it was Wang Bai, whom they had seen before. The scions of the great families below were slightly stunned, while the youth who had been the first to challenge Wang Anfeng suddenly flew into a rage and shouted curses.
"Wang Bai, you filthy bastard! Get your ass down here!"
"Taking advantage of someone's weakness—what kind of thing are you?"
The wave of curses was even more furious than the earlier condemnation of Wang Anfeng. Only now, the target was Wang Bai, who was also a scion of a great family. He pursed his lips, then suddenly drew a long sword from his waist. Releasing his grip, he let it sink, scabbard and all, directly into the bluestone floor, leaving only the hilt exposed. Cracks spread across the stone. Clearly, the Sharp Metal Qi was so keen that even the scabbard could not fully contain it. Such terrifying sharpness caused the curses below to falter.
The corner of Wang Bai's mouth lifted slightly as he looked toward Wang Anfeng and cupped his fists.
"I know I am no match for you, but my family's Lightness Skill should at least allow me to exchange a few moves with Brother Wang."
"If I lose, this Dragon Roaming Moon Gazing Sword will belong to Brother Wang."
"If I am fortunate enough to win a move or half a move, we can consider ourselves friends."
Wang Anfeng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You heard what was just said, didn't you..."
A pleased look flashed through Wang Bai's eyes. Even if I can't beat you, I'll at least place a bet on you. The corners of his mouth rose as he deliberately pretended not to understand.
"What did Brother Wang say?"
"My friend is leaving. I have to see him off."
Wang Bai smiled and spread his hands into a stance. From his earlier observations of Wang Anfeng, he had decided that this was a gentleman. Gentlemen could be deceived through principle, so he spoke and acted with great courtesy, even wearing a polite smile.
"That is why I came to make friends with Brother Wang as well. It amounts to the same thing."
"Please instruct me!"
Wang Anfeng glanced at him. His expression returned to its former calm, but his lips pressed together faintly as he spoke softly.
"What are you, that you think you are worthy of being my friend?"
Crash!
His sleeve swept out. The peaceful, composed youth had no attachment to victory or defeat. He walked straight past the stiff-faced Wang Bai and down from the arena. Xiahou Xuan's expression shifted slightly as he looked at him.
"With you acting like this, are you planning to accept that punishment too? Besides, Xue Thirteen was carried away after your second exchange. That Old Man's Lightness Skill is frighteningly strong. You cannot catch up with him."
"His speed is his concern. Whether I pursue him or not is mine."
Wang Anfeng let out a soft breath and cupped his fists.
"May I ask which direction they went?"
Xiahou Xuan hesitated, but Huangfu Xiong had already cut in.
"Go north from the county city. You should be able to find them at the ferry crossing there."
"Thank you, Brother Huangfu."
Wang Anfeng cupped his fists in salute and strode away. Everyone was cowed by his might and opened a path for him. Xiahou Xuan watched him with a complicated expression.
"Why did you tell him?"
"Because I admire him. He is worth befriending."
"But with that Old Man there, he may not catch up. Even if he does... it probably will not end well."
Huangfu Xiong's expression shifted several times before he shrugged indifferently.
"Then that is no longer something we should worry about." With that, he waved his right hand. The empty wine jug in his hand shot through the air and struck Wang Bai's hand just as he tried to pull out the long sword, knocking it upward. Then Huangfu Xiong leaped forward, took several steps through the air, and landed on the arena, his boot firmly planted on the sword's hilt.
Wang Bai's expression changed slightly.
"What are you doing?! I'm not competing anymore..."
Huangfu Xiong laughed.
"Who said you weren't? You just said you wanted to make friends with Wang Anfeng. He is my friend, and I have always believed that a friend's friend is my friend. For trash like you to want to be my friend—isn't that insulting me and my friend? If I don't vent the anger of my friend and my friend's friend, I'll feel terribly uncomfortable."
Wang Bai was left dizzy by the torrent of words and shouted:
"You're clearly just twisting words to force your argument!"
Huangfu Xiong's expression stiffened slightly. He sighed in frustration.
"I really am not suited to debating..."
Wang Bai's heart eased slightly, only to see the youth before him raise his fist with a sigh.
"That is why I have always felt that if you can settle things with your hands, you should not bother with verbal sparring."
The roar of dragons and the bellow of tigers suddenly thundered forth.
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