Chapter 101: Dragon vs. Tiger

Boo~

Surrounded by soldiers who had already been swept up by Lei Qing’s bold and heroic spirit, a chorus of boos began to rise.

“Little Leopard, do you have no shame?” Shentu Xue cursed directly. “Lei Qing is younger than you, just promoted to Silver, and was injured yesterday. He offered to let you have three moves, and you actually had the nerve to accept that? You’ve completely lost face for our Iron Cavalry Regiment.”

Shentu Xue’s words caused many neutral onlookers to switch sides, joining in the boos. The Iron Cavalry Regiment had always valued fierce bravery and bloodshed; they would rather have their heads cut off than be called cowards.

This was also the reason why the prestige of the heroic and bold Mad Blade Xiahou Huan in the regiment far exceeded that of the Little Spear Saint Qin Wei.

Xianyu Bao’s stubbled, dark face turned red. He had originally intended to bluff his way through with thick skin. He hadn’t expected Shentu Xue to expose him so mercilessly. Aside from the embarrassment, he was also quite angry. “Shentu Xue, we’re on the same side after all. You’re actually helping an outsider scold me and make me look bad? Do you still consider me a brother or not?”

“Xianyu Bao, has your conscience been eaten by a dog? Last time you were surrounded and about to die, wasn’t it I who charged in alone to save you?” Shentu Xue looked like a total Shrew, hands on her hips, cursing incessantly. “You dare say I don’t treat you like a brother? Did I block those two slashes for you for nothing?”

Xianyu Bao looked sheepish and nodded hurriedly. “Yes, yes, I spoke without thinking. I was just so angry. Please calm down, calm down.”

“Hmph, furthermore. Lei Qing has officially joined our Iron Cavalry Regiment. He’s one of us now, a brother. If you both want to compete for the position of Regiment Commander, I won’t object. Lay your cards on the table, fight with real weapons, and whoever wins or loses will be clear at a glance. Don’t play those tricks, or I’ll just end up looking down on you.”

“Yes, yes.” Xianyu Bao owed Shentu Xue his life, so he hurriedly turned around and said, “Brother Lei, I don’t need you to let me have three moves. Let’s compete fairly.”

Lei Qing, still bare-chested, mounted the Wuzhui horse led over by a soldier and shouted boldly, “Brother Xianyu, a real man doesn’t go back on his word. I said three moves, so it’s three moves. For these three moves, you can attack all you want; I’ll only be responsible for defending. Be a man and stop dilly-dallying. Do you want me to break my promise?”

“Fine, you said it.” Xianyu Bao also mounted his beloved horse, a strong and beautiful Yellow Sorrel. As for his weapon, it was a fourteen-foot long-handled broadsword with a swallow-mouth blade. A single soldier struggled to carry it; the weapon likely weighed over a hundred catties.

Mounted and holding his broadsword, Xianyu Bao looked imposing and majestic. He seemed to specialize in strength; holding the heavy long-handled broadsword in his hand, it felt light and effortless.

“Clang!” Lei Qing was fearless. With a clang, he drew his Treasure Sword, Lian Zhan. The Treasure Sword Lian Zhan was about three feet two inches long and weighed no more than ten catties.

The contrast between their weapons was stark. Seeing this, Xianyu Bao felt a bit embarrassed himself and shouted, “Brother Lei, your sword is too short; you’ll be at a disadvantage in mounted combat. Are you good with any long weapons? I’ll have someone bring one for you.”

“Alright, then give me a twelve-foot long spear.” Lei Qing didn’t stand on ceremony. The long sword was too light and short, indeed unsuitable for mounted combat. As a member of the Lei Family, naturally he couldn’t have not learned mounted combat, and the most common weapon for mounted combat was the twelve-foot long spear.

Short spears didn’t work; there was no reach. If the spear shaft was too long, it would easily break and be hard to maneuver. Twelve feet was just right. Lei Qing had put in quite a bit of practice with the long spear.

Moreover, some of the Lei Family’s Heavenly Thunder Combat Code, when executed with a long spear, had power not to be underestimated. This was because many sword techniques were originally derived from spear techniques.

Just as Xianyu Bao was about to order his subordinate soldiers to fetch a long spear, a voice loud as a bell suddenly said, “No need to fetch one. Young General Lei Qing, use mine. It happens to be twelve feet long.”

The voice belonged unmistakably to the Vice Regiment Commander of the Iron Cavalry Regiment, the Little Spear Saint Qin Wei.

While everyone watched in stunned silence, Qin Wei flicked his wrist, and a silver long spear flew out like a meteor cutting across the sky, arcing straight toward Lei Qing. The distance of nearly twenty zhang was covered in an instant.

“Good.” Lei Qing also gave a shout, refusing to yield. His voice vibrated outward as his Fighting Qi surged. His posture was calm and composed. He spread his five fingers and struck out like lightning, firmly seizing the flying twelve-foot silver spear.

Feeling the powerful impact of the silver spear, his arm went slightly numb. Gripping the cool shaft, he flicked his wrist, and the long spear danced into a magnificent flourish. Feeling the vibration transmitted back from the trembling spear tip, Lei Qing couldn’t help but silently exclaim what a good spear it was. Lei Qing calmly projected his voice: “Thank you, Regiment Commander Qin, for lending the spear.”

Qin Wei smiled from a distance and secretly nodded.

Seeing this, the others also erupted in cheers. Everyone was an expert and could tell that this Lei fellow had some solid foundation in mounted combat.

“Old Qin, I told you this nephew of mine isn’t bad, right?” Seeing this scene, Xiahou Huan laughed and patted Qin Wei on the shoulder. “How about it? My recommendation wasn’t wrong, was it? Tempted? Want to take him as a disciple?”

“We’ll see how fate decides.” Qin Wei said calmly. “But if he is to be taken, it won’t be by me.”

“What? Is there still hope for you to accept a disciple on behalf of your Master?” Xiahou Huan’s eyes lit up. He clumsily threw his arm around Qin Wei’s shoulder and hurriedly said, “That’s a good thing. Later, I’ll buy enough gifts, and we go visit the old man?”

“What are you rushing for?” Qin Wei angrily swatted away his thieving hand. “Cut the act, too. You know our Spear Saint Sect is extremely strict in taking disciples. Since you intend for him to join the Spear Saint Sect, he naturally needs to pass my test first. I don’t want anyone ruining my Master’s reputation in the future.”

“Don’t worry about that. Intelligence shows that although Lei Qing was a bit of a hedonist before, hasn’t he turned over a new leaf?” Xiahou Huan said with a fawning look. “Besides, one who isn’t romantic in youth wastes his years. Who didn’t do some absurd and romantic things when they were young?”

“I never did.” Qin Wei said in annoyance. “What, brother-in-law, you were romantic when you were young?”

Xiahou Huan had to cough twice and say, “Watch the match, watch the match. Looking at my nephew’s stance, our Iron Cavalry Regiment is about to gain another fierce general.”

…

At this time, Lei Qing, riding Wuzhui, had begun to gallop around the large clearing of the drill ground. Wuzhui’s four hooves were powerful, stepping on the hard earth of the drill ground neither too fast nor too slow, making “da-ge-luo,” “da-ge-luo” sounds. Amidst the crispness, there was a sense of heaviness. The rhythm was very strong.

As for Xianyu Bao, he also started to run around the field to warm up his beloved horse. Although his Yellow Sorrel had an impressive stance and was considered an excellent and rare warhorse, compared to Wuzhui, it was far inferior.

Just as the match was about to begin, seven or eight hundred people had already gathered near the drill ground. In the distance, people were still calling their friends to come over. Even many cooks and auxiliary soldiers had rushed over, forming a massive black crowd.

Most of them were men, and all were in the military camp, so naturally, they liked to fight and show off their bravery. Moreover, word had spread that the famous strongman in the army, Xianyu Bao, was fighting a newcomer one-on-one.

Who was Xianyu Bao? He was an Early-stage Silver expert, the majestic Captain of the Second Brigade of the Elite Regiment. Whoever dared to duel him definitely wasn’t weak. This was going to be a battle between a dragon and a tiger.

Roar, roar, roar~

A series of cheering and roaring sounds rose and fell with a boom. The atmosphere on the drill ground gradually heated up. Li Baobao never went to the drill ground back in her family. She had seen similar scenes at Fierce Tiger Ridge, but compared to here, the momentum was far inferior. Those wild roars seemed to pierce her eardrums.

However, she heard that most people were shouting Xianyu Bao’s name. Clearly, they were familiar with Xianyu Bao and knew he was formidable. A sense of unwillingness to admit defeat rose spontaneously. Since everyone around was shouting, it didn’t matter if she shouted too. She cupped her hands around her mouth like a trumpet and yelled, “Lei Qing, you must win.”

But her voice was weak; how could it cover hundreds or thousands of men? Fortunately, Lei Qing’s previous performance had won him some supporters. Although their voices were faint, they could vaguely be heard.

…

Lei Qing stopped his horse at the other end of the drill ground. From a distance, he pointed his silver spear at Xianyu Bao on the opposite side. As if by telepathy, Xianyu Bao also stopped. He made a slashing provocative motion with his long-handled broadsword at Lei Qing.

Lei Qing smiled in understanding and gently nudged his horse’s belly with his legs. The divine steed Wuzhui beneath him began to trot toward Xianyu Bao. The opponent made the same movement.

The distance between the two was about several dozen zhang, and the speed of the warhorses beneath them grew faster and faster. Lei Qing felt the wind whistling past his ears. His body rose and fell rhythmically with the galloping horse.

At that moment, the shouting erupted once more with a boom. It was as if his blood had been ignited in an instant. His strong heart beat violently, pumping blood in waves to every limb and bone.

Fighting Qi filled his entire body, burning like a raging fire. Crackling and popping, arcs of electricity flickered incessantly over the surface of his body.

Just as the black and yellow warhorses were about to collide head-on at top speed, each rider turned their body slightly, and the warhorses changed direction a little.

Xianyu Bao’s face was ferocious and savage. With his long-handled broadsword, he delivered a horizontal slash with no fancy moves, aiming unstoppable for Lei Qing’s chest. Utilizing the horse’s speed, he brought the power of this slash to its limit. He was confident that if Lei Qing dared to block with his spear, he would be smashed away along with his horse and spear. His long-handled broadsword weighed over a hundred catties. At this speed, it would kill ghosts and slay gods.

Lei Qing indeed did not block. But suddenly, he, who had looked imposing and ready to risk his life, vanished. Wuzhui galloped past, with the horse’s back empty.

The domineering blade swept past two feet above the saddle, creating a sharp whistling sound as the air was slashed apart.

With the combined speed of the two horses, the exchange lasted only an instant. After passing each other, Xianyu Bao looked back, only to see Lei Qing hanging from the horse’s belly, raising a single finger toward him in a very arrogant manner. One didn’t know if he was being disdainful or telling him that one move had already passed.

…