Chapter 61: Deceptive Strategy in Battle
The gleaming edge of the blade was almost within reach, seemingly emanating a faint hint of bloodlust. This scene unfolded before the eyes of the spectators below, eliciting a chorus of astonished gasps.
Liang Ping couldn’t help but blurt out, “Be careful!”
Blade combat was different from spear combat. Spear duels were dangerous enough compared to archery contests, but blade combat was even riskier. One wrong move could lead to bloodshed, and considering Huang Xiong’s immense strength, any loss of control could result in a disaster.
This lad, who was usually so carefree, how could he let his guard down at a moment like this? Liang Ping felt anxious; distractions during blade combat were a grave mistake!
Seizing the opportune moment, Huang Xiong launched his attack, his blade sweeping diagonally. He Yan swiftly evaded, avoiding the menacing strike. Just as Huang Xiong’s blade seemed poised to point at her throat, He Yan suddenly lifted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Oh no, Huang Xiong thought, his heart sinking. He was about to pull back, but in the next instant, He Yan’s left-hand blade had already come into contact with his long blade, while her right-hand blade had managed to circle behind him. Flustered, Huang Xiong bent backward to avoid the strike, only to find the young lad’s smile had grown wider. In the blink of an eye, both of He Yan’s blades were back in her hands. The twin blades, Yuan and Yang, converged into one, aimed directly at Huang Xiong’s head. He attempted to raise his hand to block, but he was a step too late.
The blade halted just before his forehead, leaving a fine cut that oozed a trickle of blood due to the force of its passage.
The entire arena fell silent.
After a moment, He Yan sheathed her blades and handed him a crumpled piece of cloth. “Thank you for your concession.”
Huang Xiong looked at the cloth in her hand, not taking it, and asked, “Just now, you didn’t lose focus, were you pretending?”
“All’s fair in war.” He Yan grinned. “What do you think?”
After so many years of experience, He Yan understood that she couldn’t afford to let her guard down at any time, especially during a contest. Even if the Emperor himself were present, she wouldn’t waver. However, Huang Xiong’s blade skills were truly exceptional, and she wasn’t skilled with blades herself. Without using some tricks, how could she have won so effortlessly? She deliberately created a diversion to lure Huang Xiong in, like a praying mantis ambushing a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Speaking of which, she was quite clever. Xiao Jue probably wouldn’t have expected that the “foolish” person he once described had become adept at using strategy and cunning. Thinking this, He Yan looked down at the crowd with pride, hoping to catch a glimpse of Xiao Jue looking at her with admiring eyes. But to her surprise, there was no sign of Xiao Jue. Even Shen Han was gone, leaving only Cheng Lisu excitedly waving at her with his hairband.
Did he just leave like that? He Yan was momentarily taken aback.
Did he even notice my graceful display?
Before she could process this, a crowd had gathered around her, the excitement palpable. Her display today had left an indelible mark on the minds of half of the new recruits of Liangzhou Garrison. Her mastery of archery, spear techniques, and blade combat had set her apart. Yet, there were also those who disapproved of her arrogance, claiming, “Relying on tricks and deceit isn’t the right path. If you have the skills, fight fair and square. Using deception only shows that you’re not confident in your abilities.”
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Rebirth of a Star General (Legend of the Female General)
Romance[fast update] [good translation] The ancient saying goes: Most generals come from Guan Xi, while ministers come from Guan Dong. He Yan was born to be a Star General. She was merely a stepping stone for her family, and was used as her brother's subst...
