A True Tiger General

Yuan Gang still stood there without moving, clearly looking as though it made no difference who they sent out.

Niu Youdao also shouted, "Monkey, don't act recklessly. Come back! This isn't a place for you to fool around!"

"I'm not fooling around. If I lose, I'll leave myself to the Prince's disposal." Yuan Gang gave his word.

Shang Chaozong was secretly delighted when he heard this. He had been thinking of taking Yuan Gang under his command, and from what he had seen and heard of Xiaomiao Village's mountain forests, the fact that Yuan Gang had been able to lead the villagers in resisting bandit soldiers' raids was enough to prove that he possessed a certain degree of military command ability.

Yuan Gang raised his chin slightly toward Chen Shulin opposite him. "And what will you do if you lose?"

Chen Shulin said, "If I lose, I'll leave myself to your disposal as well!"

Yuan Gang said calmly, "You're the Prince's soldier. Do your words count?"

"..." Chen Shulin was rendered speechless and could only look toward Shang Chaozong for help.

Shang Chaozong threw his head back and laughed. "Granted!"

Yuan Gang turned his head toward him. "I don't want to dispose of anyone. It's just that we've been traveling all this way, and I want to find someone to run errands and handle odd jobs. If I win, Your Highness can allow me to pick anyone I want for the job. What do you think?"

Shang Chaozong waved his great hand. "Granted!"

Niu Youdao shouted again, "Monkey, stop fooling around!"

But his words seemed to be of no use. How could the personal guards listen to him? Even Yuan Gang remained unmoved, so the others naturally had even less to say.

Once the wager for the contest had been settled, everyone perked up. Long-distance travel was indeed dull and tasteless; at least there was now some excitement to watch. They scattered to either side, clearing out a broad space. Two horses were led over in front of the two men, along with the standard Zhanmadao issued to the personal guards.

Chen Shulin vaulted onto his horse and caught the Zhanmadao tossed to him. He seized the reins and galloped away before stopping and turning around to look back this way.

But Niu Youdao did not retreat. After the men who had delivered the horse and weapon withdrew, he instead stepped forward and scolded Yuan Gang. "What are you fooling around for?" Then he added in a low voice, "Can you do this? Don't force yourself!"

Yuan Gang also replied in a low voice, "I fought bandit soldiers in Xiaomiao Village for several years. Your guess was right. The cultivation speed of Hard Qi Cultivation here is far beyond imagination!"

After hearing this, Niu Youdao relaxed. As long as Yuan Gang was confident, that was enough. He pointed at Yuan Gang and gave him another thorough scolding, but it was useless. In the end, he flung his sleeve and turned away, joining Shang Chaozong and the others to watch.

In the distance, Chen Shulin swaggered about, waving the Zhanmadao in his hand and making all sorts of provocative gestures toward them.

Yuan Gang glanced over, tossed the reins in his hand back onto the saddle, and slapped the Zhanmadao against his warhorse's rump. The horse cried out in pain and galloped off to the side, where nearby personal guards seized it.

The spectators on both sides were stunned. Even Chen Shulin, who had been swaggering at the other end, froze in bewilderment, unable to understand what Yuan Gang meant.

Yet Yuan Gang's next action shocked them even more. He casually flipped the Zhanmadao in his hand and tossed it to the side.

Whoosh! The Zhanmadao flew over and plunged into the ground right in front of Shang Chaozong.

Everyone looked at one another. What was going on? Could he be planning to fight Chen Shulin on horseback with his bare hands? If so, he would suffer an absolute disadvantage in terms of strength during the confrontation. The impact of a warhorse was terrifying. Anyone struck by one would either die or be crippled, while a person riding a horse and borrowing its momentum to wield a blade was even more frightening!

Shang Chaozong stared intently at Yuan Gang's every move. He saw in Yuan Gang the calm and unhurried bearing of a man facing battle, quite like a great general. His admiration grew even stronger.

Niu Youdao leaned on his sword like a crutch, his expression calm, though a faintly interested look showed in his eyes. He also wanted to see what Yuan Gang's current strength was like.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yuan Gang suddenly raised one arm and gave Chen Shulin a thumbs-up with his clenched fist. Then he turned the fist over, pointing his thumb downward!

Although Niu Youdao was the only person present who knew what the gesture meant, no one was stupid. They could all tell it was some incomprehensible provocative gesture.

A cold smile appeared on Chen Shulin's face, and anger flared in his heart. He actually dared to provoke him with his bare hands? He was taking him far too lightly!

"Hyah!" Chen Shulin struck the horse's rump with the blade and tapped its belly with both heels. The warhorse beneath him immediately charged over at full speed, all four hooves flying. Mud and grass sprayed into the air, and horse and rider came rushing forward like a gale.

Yuan Gang lowered his arm and stood as immovable as a mountain, his legs planted wide apart. His naturally hanging arms gradually tensed into fists, while his bones gave off faint, muffled cracking sounds. His eyes locked onto the charging warhorse. Then he suddenly sprang forward like a leopard, charging straight toward the horse's head!

Quite a few people sucked in a cold breath, all thinking in secret, Has this man gone mad?

As man and horse were about to collide, Chen Shulin, dragging the blade along with one arm, flipped the weapon in his hand, turning the edge into the back of the blade. He swung it down at the charging Yuan Gang. This could be considered showing mercy. Having served beside the Prince, he had seen how much the Prince admired this man. Since this was only a contest and not a fight to the death, he had hidden the blade and chosen to strike and teach him a lesson with the back instead!

Using a feint to lure the enemy, Yuan Gang drew Chen Shulin's blade to the right. Then, borrowing his momentum, Yuan Gang suddenly scraped his foot along the ground and slipped left, dodging Chen Shulin's attack. He passed almost flush with the horse's flying hooves, his body skimming the ground, and with the motion, he swung one hand out and scooped at the horse's left forehoof.

"Neigh—!" The warhorse screamed. As though it had encountered a tripwire, it instantly toppled over and rolled across the ground.

Chen Shulin was flung bodily into the air from the horse's back. "Ah!" The personal guards watching from either side cried out in alarm.

Before Chen Shulin had finished rolling after crashing to the ground, Yuan Gang, who had charged forward, used the force of the horse's stumble to halt himself, lifting his entire body in the process. Then he reversed his momentum and charged back, going straight after the tumbling Chen Shulin.

Chen Shulin had fought for years while galloping across battlefields and was rich in experience when facing danger. After being thrown from his horse, he knew how to protect himself. He rolled across the ground with the momentum to disperse the force, and just as he managed to rise, before he had found his footing, he heard his comrades cry out in alarm. "Look out!"

He had only just turned his head when it was already too late to react. Yuan Gang came flying in with a side kick that struck Chen Shulin squarely in the back.

With a bang, Chen Shulin was sent flying again. He sailed two zhang through the air before crashing to the ground, and the Zhanmadao in his hand was knocked away as well.

Yuan Gang charged over. He flicked the tip of his foot against the ground, hooked up the Zhanmadao that had fallen beside Chen Shulin, caught it in his hand, and continued charging toward the rolling Chen Shulin.

Seeing this, Shang Chaozong shouted urgently, "Hold back!"

After being thrown twice and taking a heavy kick, Chen Shulin was completely dazed. Blood seeped from his nose and mouth. When he shook his head and struggled to rise, he felt a chill at his neck. He saw two figures swaying before his eyes, but in truth his vision had been shaken blurry. There was only Yuan Gang, holding the blade in one hand and pressing its edge against his neck!

"Ha..." Chen Shulin let out a muffled breath, then spread his limbs and lay on the ground with a bitter smile.

Yuan Gang moved the blade away and casually drove the Zhanmadao backward into the ground with a sharp swish. Without changing expression, he silently turned and walked away. His tall figure and steady stride remained completely unruffled, and the astonished gazes around him had no effect whatsoever.

The corners of Niu Youdao's lips lifted slightly as he stood leaning on his "crutch." He discovered that Monkey's Hard Qi Cultivation had indeed become astonishing. He had actually dared to reach out and scoop at a galloping horse's hoof.

"What a true tiger general!" Shang Chaozong murmured. The admiration in his eyes as he looked at Yuan Gang was indescribable, as though he had seen an incomparable beauty. With his discerning eye, he could tell what kind of power a person could unleash on the battlefield. It was not merely a matter of martial strength; remaining calm when circumstances changed and adapting to the situation were both extremely important on the battlefield.

Guan Tie, standing nearby, turned his head to glance at the Prince. He could see that the Prince was more than ordinarily smitten with Yuan Gang, and he could not help secretly smiling bitterly.

Shang Shuqing and Lan Ruoting could not help exchanging another glance. They naturally understood what it meant to gain a fine general. When two armies clashed on the battlefield, having a fine general was far more useful than having a mage attendant. Given the right conditions, mages could naturally be attracted over, but a fine general was something one could only encounter by chance and could never seek. No one would give away the talent in their hands!

The personal guards on either side clicked their tongues in amazement as they watched Yuan Gang approach. An ordinary person who reached out barehanded to touch a galloping horse's hoof would likely have been kicked into a bloody mess, with the bones in his palm crushed. Yet this man had actually tripped the horse. His strength was simply frightening!

Many of them had been furious at Yuan Gang's words earlier, but their anger had eased considerably. It was not for any other reason than that he truly had the qualifications to boast. Perhaps he did not understand Yingyang and the Wulie Guard's battle record!

A group of men ran over. Some led away the horse that had fallen and risen, checking whether it was injured so it could be treated promptly. In this war-torn era, horses were an important resource. Others helped Chen Shulin, who had fallen to the ground, to his feet and carried him away with an arm on either side.

Yuan Gang walked over and met Shang Chaozong's eyes directly. Ignoring the Prince's blazing gaze, he quietly walked behind Niu Youdao and stood there in silence.

Niu Youdao, however, chuckled at Shang Chaozong. "It was only a contest, Your Highness. Don't take it to heart. The wager needn't count."

Shang Chaozong was reminded of it and looked toward Yuan Gang. "This Prince keeps his word. Among the five hundred personal guards, Brother Yuan, just say who you want to run errands and handle odd jobs!"

Yuan Gang said calmly, "We'll talk about it later."

"What nonsense!" Niu Youdao turned back and shouted at him, then smiled at Shang Chaozong. "Your Highness, you carry on with your business. We won't disturb you any longer!" He cupped his hands, then led Yuan Gang away, swaggering off and drawing everyone's attention.

As Shang Chaozong watched them leave, he suddenly could not help smacking his thigh and sighing. "Such a tiger general! Instead of making a name for himself on the battlefield, he actually follows that man around as an errand boy and attendant. What a waste. What a pity!" He truly wanted to trade a whole pile of people with Niu Youdao for Yuan Gang, but unfortunately, he had no capital with which to negotiate. Niu Youdao already looked down on him.

Shang Shuqing and Lan Ruoting both sighed softly. They understood Shang Chaozong's feelings. Shang Chaozong was currently short of men, horses, and battle generals. Of course, he was also short of mages—not merely mages, but everything. Unfortunately, they could all see that Niu Youdao had probably already made up his mind to leave. They simply did not know when he would bid them farewell!

Two days later, a large number of Wooden Rafts had been lashed together. They first sent people across the river on small rafts to notify the forces of Guangyi Commandery on the opposite bank, lest they misunderstand.

After receiving permission from the forces stationed on the opposite bank, they blindfolded all the warhorses, led them onto the Wooden Rafts, and rowed across in groups.

P.S. Throwing tantrums, rolling on the ground, and begging for recommendation votes!