THE LEGEND OF SHENLI

CHAPTER 30

Shěn Lí entered camp in a bad mood, but once she saw the familiar faces of her brothers her anger ebbed away. One by one everyone came to greet her. Shàng Běi hurriedly jogged over when he saw her.

“Your Highness left without saying anything! It was very troublesome for General Mò!”

Shěn Lí laughed and patted him on the arm. “This lord was at fault. Later just pick a tavern, it’ll be my treat. You can drink to your heart’s content.”

Another general to the side quickly chimed in. “Your Highness can’t play favorites!”

“Yeah! I know! Everyone should get a share!”

“Alright! You are all invited!” Shěn Lí saw the training platform and remembered her reason for coming. She raised her voice and said, “This king is in a good mood. I will practice with you all today! How about ten moves each! Then all the generals can go drinking!”

To fight and lose against the Azure Sky king was an honor for the soldiers. The atmosphere became boisterous and lively as the generals gathered up their recruits, selecting the most promising ones to spar against her.

The soldiers used every trick up their sleeve, trying their hardest to best Shěn Lí, but none could land a second hit. Ten people tried over the course of two hours, but none were able to reach the ten move marker.

There was a glistening sheen of sweat on Shěn Lí’s forehead, and she was warm all over. Her eyes were bright and lively from the exertion. The current soldier sparring was the best, able to get in five moves. She praised him. “You have potential.”

She immediately moved behind him after speaking. He was quick and sidestepped the attack but couldn’t avoid Shěn Lí’s next move. He lost his footing as she swept her leg under him. She grabbed him by the shoulder and pressed him against the platform floor.

He admitted defeat and quickly got off the training platform after Shěn Lí gave him some pointers on his defense.

“Next!”

A cool breeze burst through and Xíng Zhǐ appeared in their midst laughing. “I would like to request a battle.”

Those in the audience had no clue he was there until he spoke. It left everyone in an uproar. When he did arrive? To appear without anyone noticing showed how powerful he was.

Shěn Lí’s expression turned cold. She wiped at the sweat on her brow and looked at Xíng Zhǐ. “Pardon? What does Immortal High God wish to do?”

"The atmosphere is so lively and boisterous I wanted to join in and be a part of it. I’ve lived in solitude for so long, it’s rare for me to see such a crowd. Don’t tell me Your Highness is unwilling to bear competition?”

“I dare not put Immortal High God’s body at risk . . . ”

As soon as she finished speaking Xíng Zhǐ flashed over to her on the training platform. He used the same technique she used on the foot soldier earlier, limiting her mobility by grabbing her shoulder. Shěn Lí shifted his hold by pushing against his hand with qi. Then she made an about face and slammed her lower palm into his face. But she missed. Xíng Zhǐ had already turned his cheek away avoiding the hit. He took advantage of her forward moment and turned it against her, grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm behind her back, trapping her.

Xíng Zhǐ grinned. “Your Highness was saying something about not daring to injure me?”

Shěn Lí was angry. She braced her feet and bent forward at the waist, raising her free arm up to grab his shoulder. With a yell she attempted to summersault him off her back. But her hand grabbed only air. Xíng Zhǐ had already disappeared.