Chapter 694 – The Overprotective Lord (Part 4)
“Who’s fighting with the little angel Han Mei over there? Seriously, they look so ugly, it’s an eyesore!”
“Eyesore? Please! That’s a handsome mature uncle with more charm than you’d know! Look at those muscles and that healthy complexion! Even his Adam’s apple has a sexy wiggle… If you call him an eyesore, you better provide your home address so I can send you a love letter in the form of a knife! Anyone who dares to go shirtless in this frosty winter is a real man!”
Jiang Pengji also shifted her gaze to Li Yun’s opponent.
Feng Zhen chimed in, “That’s Yang Jian.”
“So, this is Yang Jian? I’ve heard others call him ‘the handsome bearded gentleman’ for his beautiful beard… but where’s the beauty in that?”
She couldn’t comprehend such aesthetics; to her, facial hair was little more than excessive body hair.
Feng Zhen, oblivious to her thoughts, remarked, “What others say is true.”
Yang Jian, unwilling to pressure his opponent with a war of attrition, instead had Dian Yin and Li Yun take turns, but they ended up getting slapped back and forth.
Dian Yin was not only ruggedly handsome and tall but also possessed extraordinary strength, making Yang Jian suffer quite a bit.
However, Dian Yin had obvious shortcomings as well: his movements were lacking in agility, and his techniques were too rough and full of openings.
When facing a seasoned veteran, he was bound to take some sneaky hits.
Li Yun, on the other hand, had Xie Qian teaching him hands-on. He was a natural talent, hardworking, and eager to learn.
After over twenty years of relentless practice, he had finally honed his exceptional marksmanship, far exceeding others.
If it weren’t for his youth and inexperience, it would be hard for anyone present to give him trouble.
Teaming up with Dian Yin, they left Yang Jian embarrassed. Yang Jian had initially planned to spectate and let them settle their grievances, but now he couldn’t sit idly by any longer. He had to step in and reclaim some dignity; otherwise, rumors would spread that his subordinates were a bunch of softies, easily overthrown by two young pups, and it would be quite the blow to his reputation, making his troops’ morale plummet.
It was still the heart of winter, but Yang Jian barely noticed the chill as he stripped off his shirt, revealing a strong, muscular torso crisscrossed with old scars. Some of those injuries looked particularly fatal; just looking at them made one imagine the life-and-death battles he had faced.
“Apologies, Yang Duwei.”
Li Yun clasped his fists, focusing entirely on the upcoming confrontation, even forgetting that his lord was watching from the crowd.
Yang Jian appeared calm and collected, with no trace of aggression, but Li Yun didn’t dare let his guard down. “I respect young men like you, full of courage and spirit—that’s commendable. Don’t worry about my age; give it your all. You mentioned your marksmanship was taught by your master, so let me see how much you’ve learned from Xie Qian. This isn’t a life-or-death match; just a friendly challenge.”
Li Yun brandished his spear while Yang Jian wielded a large knife.
This knife was specially made, wide and long, with a blade so sharp it glimmered coldly.
As the saying goes, with greater length comes greater strength; in terms of weapons, Li Yun held an advantage.
However, as their weapons clashed, Jiang Pengji quickly perceived the outcome.
She clicked her tongue, “Ah, Han Mei’s really met his match.”
Feng Zhen asked, “Do you mean… Han Mei will lose?”
“Not only will he lose, but he will lose spectacularly.” Jiang Pengji replied, “The gap between them is not just in experience… Han Mei’s rhythm is entirely dictated by Yang Jian, drawing him into a pitfall. Yang Jian is a generation older, yet his body remains at its peak. Han Mei’s marksmanship is excellent, with tricky angles and the power to crack bones, but to Yang Jian, it probably appears flashy but lacks real momentum.”
Feng Zhen’s sword skills were still at the beginner level; he could hardly discern the intricacies of their duel.
He simply thought Li Yun was faster than Yang Jian, and with a longer weapon, he must surely have the advantage!
Jiang Pengji noted his expression and asked, “You really think Yang Jian is slow?”
Before she finished speaking, the seemingly suppressed Yang Jian unleashed a counterattack.
Not only did he evade Li Yun’s long spear, but he also struck Li Yun’s wrist with the knife’s hilt, forcing the spear from his grip while the back of the knife pressed against Li Yun’s neck. The speed was as sudden as lightning, the power so overwhelming it was awe-inspiring.
“The faster you are, the less effective it is if you can’t pin down your enemy or slay them; that’s just a flashy performance. Yang Jian appears to be at a disadvantage, yet he is searching for Han Mei’s opening. He doesn’t need to be faster; he just needs to ensure the moment he attacks Han Mei is quicker than Han Mei’s evasion, and then he wins.”
On the other end, Li Yun was drenched in cold sweat.
Even though Yang Jian showed no intent to kill, Li Yun felt as if he had barely dodged the Grim Reaper’s pen.
If Yang Jian had desired it, Li Yun’s life could have been forfeit at that moment.
“Thank you for your guidance, Yang Duwei.”
Yang Jian sheathed his knife with warmth in his words, “Being young and impetuous isn’t a bad thing, but hard work is the true path. I could defeat you merely because I’ve eaten more meals than you for several years. Ultimately, your skills far surpass those of my useless son. He’s really not cut out for it, but you… you’re already a mighty warrior. What a pity, Xie Qian’s son has made a name for himself, unlike my boy!”
That little bout was less of a duel and more of a lesson, with Li Yun as the student.
Feeling embarrassed, Li Yun soon realized he and Dian Yin had stepped on Yang Jian’s toes a bit too much.
Old grievances should be settled privately; they shouldn’t taint official business or jeopardize the relations between their factions.
“Han Mei.”
While lost in thought, a familiar voice cut through the crowd, sending a chill down his spine as he looked over in disbelief.
“Paying respects to the Lord!”
He and Dian Yin immediately bowed, their hearts racing with anxiety.
Who called the Lord here?
“Stand up.” After that, she turned her gaze to the handsome bearded Yang Jian, “I am the County Magistrate of Xiangyang, and I pay my respects to Yang Duwei.”
Feng Zhen leaned in close to Li Yun and Dian Yin with a mischievous grin, “In case you got hurt, I called the Lord over.”
Li Yun and Dian Yin shot him a look that screamed “You little brat, you nearly got us killed!”
If the Lord found out they had been brawling with Yang Jian’s subordinates and almost jeopardizing their relationship, there would definitely be a reckoning.
Yang Jian looked at Jiang Pengji and said, “So, this is Liu Zhongqing’s son. Truly a talented youth, with good looks!”
After speaking, he gave Jiang Pengji three friendly pats on the shoulder with his large hand like a paddle.
His initial tap was light and controlled; Jiang Pengji maintained her composure.
But upon sensing her unyielding nature, Yang Jian tested further, increasing the force with the second and third pats.
For an ordinary person, not only would they struggle to stay upright, they might even dislocate their arms.
Yet Jiang Pengji remained as unfazed as ever, with a shy smile that screamed pure obedience.
After experimenting, Yang Jian’s heart sank as he mentally tore off Jiang Pengji’s “delicate scholar” label.
