Chapter Eighteen: Thinking Alike with Me
At a certain corner, the Martial Emperor glanced at the young knight who was facing off against Li Wenxuan, gently stroking the dragon-shaped mustache on his lips before casting a sidelong glance at Chief Steward Li.
Chief Steward Li immediately sprang into the role of a dutiful commentator.
“This man is Tang Qi, eldest son of the former general, serving as a Zhechong Captain in the Northern Camp. All of his martial skills come from the former general, especially his mastery of long fist techniques, which has already reached about thirty to forty percent of the former general’s proficiency!”
The Martial Emperor was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. “The former general was reputed to be invincible throughout the Northern Camp. What level does thirty to forty percent proficiency represent?”
Chief Steward Li replied, “Your Majesty, thirty to forty percent proficiency corresponds to the level required to officially attain the rank of Zhechong Captain in the army’s public competitions.”
Hearing this, the Martial Emperor withdrew his gaze and glanced at Chief Steward Li. “You know how to speak well.”
Chief Steward Li, feeling complimented, was about to smile happily but inexplicably felt a chill down his spine.
Ahead, Tang Qi leapt forward, dismounting his horse and lunging toward Li Wenxuan’s chest collar.
Li Wenxuan sidestepped, and at the same moment their single-handed strikes crossed five or six times, with neither able to gain the upper hand.
Tang Qi’s foot landed, splashing through the black, melting snow water on the street. He looked at Li Wenxuan with some surprise.
Li Wenxuan, equally surprised, said, “I know who you are now. Among the men who ambushed me this morning, one exchanged a few moves with me. His punching technique was identical to yours!”
“That was my younger brother!” Tang Qi gritted his teeth and swung a heavy punch.
You scoundrel, beating people is one thing, but why do you always kick my little brother so viciously?
He stuffed a sesame cake into his bosom and shouted angrily, “Do you really think I have no temper?”
The two immediately clashed into a fierce brawl.
The Martial Emperor, curious, asked, “Old Li, who do you think will win between these two?”
“No matter who wins, aren’t they both soldiers under Your Majesty’s command?” Chief Steward Li replied wisely, earning the Martial Emperor’s delight.
“Tang Qi is tall and robust, while Li Wenxuan is still a minor. I fear that in a prolonged fight, he will tire out.”
Seeing the emperor pleased, Chief Steward Li offered his analysis.
“Hmm, what style is Li’s? It looks strange—why does he draw circles with his punches?” The Martial Emperor’s interest was piqued.
“I’m not sure!” Chief Steward Li admitted awkwardly. “This is not the secret technique of the Western Pacification General!”
“He’s an illegitimate son; how could he have learned the Western Pacification General’s secret techniques?” The Martial Emperor expressed some disdain toward his commentator.
Chief Steward Li thought to himself, if he can’t learn it openly, perhaps he learned it secretly.
But the dazzling moves exchanged between the two left the Martial Emperor momentarily forgetting to reprimand Chief Steward Li, fearing that speaking might cause him to miss a brilliant moment in the fight.
On the street, Li Wenxuan felt the force behind Tang Qi’s fierce punches and immediately understood that only by using softness to overcome hardness could he survive. Otherwise, within twenty exchanges, he would fall to the ground.
Since ancient times, to overcome hardness with softness, nothing is more fitting than Tai Chi.
“Four ounces to move a thousand pounds!”
“Wild Horse Parts the Mane!”
“White Crane Spreads Its Wings!”
...
After more than thirty rounds, Tang Qi was panting heavily and sweating profusely.
Yet his opponent appeared calm and composed, growing more spirited with each exchange.
“What sorcery are you using? My punches feel like they’re hitting cotton!” Tang Qi shouted angrily.
Li Wenxuan sneered, “The path of martial arts is not something a frog at the bottom of a well like you can comprehend.”
“I’ll kill you!” Tang Qi roared in fury, striking with even greater force. However, something strange happened.
He felt his strength instantly drained, then received a fierce kick to the calf from Li Wenxuan.
This kick was cunningly timed, striking just as Tang Qi’s strength emptied and his balance faltered.
What followed was a hailstorm of punches on the back of Tang Qi’s head.
The brave and fearless Captain Tang was knocked unconscious by the flurry of blows, collapsing onto the street.
Not far away, the Martial Emperor’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Tang Qi was defeated?
Chief Steward Li’s eyes also widened; he instinctively glanced at the emperor and stammered, “Your Majesty, I guarantee that the Northern Camp’s martial contests are absolutely fair. It’s just that this Li Wenxuan fellow is... extraordinarily formidable!”
The Martial Emperor pondered briefly before nodding, “Indeed, it is extraordinary. His strange style dissipates raw force, and Tang Qi, like a raging bull, completely fails to realize he’s been trapped. Once his strength is spent, defeat is inevitable...”
“Your Majesty, I have a bold idea—perhaps we should...” Chief Steward Li’s eyes suddenly gleamed.
The Martial Emperor cast a cold glance at him. “Put away your bold ideas!”
Chief Steward Li could only smile sheepishly.
Li Wenxuan withdrew his aching fists, some even scraped raw.
He looked at the unconscious Tang Qi and kicked him, cursing, “Damn you! Are you a turtle? So tough you hurt my hands!”
The Martial Emperor and Chief Steward Li, hidden in a distant corner, both wore awkward expressions upon hearing this.
“But...” Li Wenxuan reached into Tang Qi’s sleeve and pulled out a small pouch.
Opening it, he found a gold ingot, some scattered silver coins, and several silver notes—altogether worth at least five hundred taels of silver!
Nearby stood a well-fed, chestnut horse.
This was even better, worth at least a thousand taels of silver!
“Kid, this is the price you pay for openly provoking me!”
Li Wenxuan withdrew a silver note and patted the bruised Tang Qi.
Then, pulling on the reins, he soothed the restless chestnut horse with gentle pats on its head, whispering into its ear, “Good horse, good horse, let me ride you. I’ll find you a little mare another day!”
Hearing this, the restless chestnut horse neighed loudly, almost trying to break free from Li Wenxuan’s grip.
It even seemed tempted to kick him a few times.
“Strange...” Li Wenxuan held tightly to the reins and looked underneath the horse’s belly.
Strangely, he saw nothing.
No wonder...
“Good horse, good horse, let me ride you. I’ll find you a little stallion another day!”
The chestnut horse immediately lifted its head and neighed joyfully, allowing Li Wenxuan to mount without resistance.
The Martial Emperor’s eyes widened; both he and Chief Steward Li were versed in lip-reading.
They clearly heard Li Wenxuan’s whispered words.
Curious, the Martial Emperor asked, “Is there really such a way to tame horses?”
Chief Steward Li shook his head. “Never heard of it. That method is wild indeed...”
On the long street, Li Wenxuan vaulted onto the horse’s back, deliberately tugging the reins as the chestnut horse stomped through the half-melted black snow water, splashing it onto Tang Qi’s face.
Tang Qi, dazed from the beating, suddenly woke to see Li Wenxuan’s laughing figure riding away.
“You bastard! I swear we will never be at peace!”
Tang Qi leapt up and chased after him for a few steps, but pain all over forced him to gasp for breath and grit his teeth, stopping.
Touching his face to find it cold and wet, he realized the black snow water was from his beloved little chestnut horse’s hooves.
Little Chestnut, aren’t you the wildest of horses? Not supposed to be ridden by just anyone?
How could you let him ride you like that?
And so fast too?
Little Chestnut, you’re not that kind of horse!
A carriage slowly pulled up beside Tang Qi.
He turned angrily to look, but his pupils suddenly constricted, his legs weakened, and he nearly fell to his knees.
Yet from the carriage came a voice devoid of emotion.
“Get in and report back.”