Chapter 102: Boiling Blood
Chapter 102: Boiling Blood
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“Hmph, hiding under the horse’s belly, such a cheap trick.”
Although Xianyu Bao felt that this Lei kid’s horsemanship seemed decent, he did not appreciate it. He, Xianyu Bao, was of the grassland bloodline after all. He was born with a talent for riding and grew up on horseback. Which of the various complex and fancy riding techniques could he not do?
For this kid to dare use this move in front of him was simply like showing off a broadsword in front of Guan Shengye. It was not putting him, a man of the grasslands, in his eyes at all.
He pulled the horse’s head and turned around to continue the next charge.
Mounted combat was far more dangerous and difficult to control than foot combat. It not only tested martial power and horsemanship but also courage. When that imposing murderous aura rushed head-on, the slightest timidity would give the enemy an opportunity to strike one off the horse with a single slash.
Clearly, Lei Qing did not want to get too entangled either; he likewise reined in his horse to turn back and charge. With this slash, Xianyu Bao madly hacked directly at the Wuzhui warhorse. He thought to himself that this Lei kid could play the trick of hiding under the horse’s belly, but let’s see if he had the ability to make the horse vanish into thin air.
“Ah, despicable and shameless!” Li Baobao watched with her heart pounding, filled with anger. Although Wuzhui had been taken by Lei Qing, she still had quite an attachment to it.
Seeing this, Lei Qing merely sneered at the corner of his mouth. His wrist shook violently, and the silver spear burst into a series of spear flowers, meeting the blade head-on.
Clang, clang, clang! Amidst the clashing of metal, sparks shot out in all directions, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Xianyu Bao cultivated Flame Fighting Qi, which was innately domineering, making the scorched air feel faintly hot.
Lei Qing’s Heavenly Thunder Fighting Qi, however, was used to drive his moves; it was extremely fast, vicious, and tricky. The spear tip was like a snake’s tongue, darting out rapidly and striking the blade seven or eight times.
The powerful impact made Xianyu Bao’s arm feel numb, and what was worse, the lightning formed by the Heavenly Thunder Fighting Qi traveled along the metal long handle and instantly attacked his arm. Fortunately, he used his Fighting Qi to block and neutralize it in time; otherwise, he wouldn’t even have been able to hold his broadsword.
Naturally, the blade stance was broken, and the heavy long-handled broadsword was knocked aside.
The two horses continued to gallop past each other. Lei Dong didn’t have it easy either; Xianyu Bao’s strength was immense, and he used a heavy weapon. The recoil force caused the blood in his body to churn, and his tiger mouth felt faint pain.
But at this moment, Lei Qing still put on a dashing appearance, holding up two fingers to him—the second move.
Since the opponent wasn’t attacking him, Xianyu Bao hadn’t gained the upper hand in two moves, so he was ashamed enough for his dark face to feel hot. Hundreds of brothers were watching him; if he lost this fight, wouldn’t he lose face big time?
This time, Xianyu Bao rode his horse and began to gallop into the distance, wanting to open up some distance. With the powerful impact speed of the warhorse, he would strike again.
Once the speed increased, the power of Xianyu Bao’s long-handled broadsword would become extremely fierce. Lei Qing could no longer deal with it as easily as before. But he had thought things too beautifully.
Was Lei Qing his father, that he had to comply with this young master’s every wish? To deal with an enemy, one must do what the enemy least wants. At this moment, Lei Qing displayed his powerful horsemanship, reining in the horse and chasing directly after Xianyu Bao.
Xianyu Bao ran to the edge of the drill ground, and Lei Qing chased him to the edge of the drill ground. At this moment, Lei Qing’s excellent horsemanship was displayed. Mounted combat had always been about seizing position; if one seized a position advantageous to oneself and disadvantageous to the enemy, the odds of winning increased greatly.
But this advantageous position also depended on the on-site environment, the enemy’s dominant hand, weapon type, and the horse’s posture at any given moment. It could be said to be ever-changing and elusive.
Take Xianyu Bao for example: if Lei Qing occupied the position to his left rear, he would be in a difficult spot, finding it extremely hard to wield his blade and exert force. On the contrary, if Lei Qing was at his right front, he would be asking for trouble.
Next was his right rear, where Xianyu Bao would also be extremely uncomfortable.
Once mounted combat involved seizing positions, it became a test of horsemanship, warhorse quality, intent, and other comprehensive aspects. Xianyu Bao wanted to open up distance to execute his final, hard-to-resist move.
Lei Qing, however, was like a maggot on the bone, either sticking to his left rear or reining his horse to his right rear.
Amidst his rage, Xianyu Bao dared not swing his blade randomly; one swing would use up his last move. Given the position Lei Qing currently occupied, once he launched a continuous offensive, he would likely lose more than he won.
Thus, a battle that should have been a lively exchange of blows turned into a contest of horsemanship. Xianyu Bao was clearly also very skilled in horsemanship. Sudden stops, darting left and right, changing speed—displaying his exquisite horsemanship and the near-telepathic understanding between him and the Yellow warhorse.
But Lei Qing had also ridden horses since childhood and came from a family with a tradition of it; various horsemanship techniques were his favorites. However, his greatest advantage at this moment lay in Wuzhui’s excellence.
That was a monstrous warhorse; traveling a thousand miles a day was no issue for it. Moreover, a Black Iron-rank warhorse was already highly intelligent; as long as it was a master it recognized, their coordination doubled in power.
Xianyu Bao was miserable; no matter how he maneuvered his horse, he couldn’t secure a favorable position. Occasionally, he could seize one, but he hesitated, not daring to use his final move.
As for opening up distance, that was simply wishful thinking. Wuzhui’s speed was absolutely above that Yellow warhorse.
But Lei Qing was also uncomfortable; that guy refused to use his final move, and despite frequently gaining the upper hand thanks to his lighter load and superior horse, he frustratingly couldn’t attack.
The onlookers, while marveling at their superb horsemanship and the brilliant contest, which was like a textbook, wanted to see a bloody close-quarters fight. There was a chorus of boos for Xianyu Bao’s behavior.
Li Baobao shouted the loudest, dragging Zuo Qianqian and running around the drill ground. She taunted and cursed, “Xianyu Bao, you dirt leopard, do you still have guts? Are you even a man? If you have the guts, turn around and slash!”
If this were the Li Family, Li Baobao would never be like this. Back then, she was a dignified, virtuous, clever, and capable woman.
Now, she really seemed like someone who had been suppressed for too long, turning into a wild horse off the reins. Anyway, everyone around was shouting and cursing.
Moreover, the fiery and wild atmosphere here made her let go completely.
“Qianqian, this dirt leopard is too gutless, shoot him with a crossbow.”
Zuo Qianqian had a black line on her face.
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Neighhhh~
Suddenly, the Yellow warhorse let out a painful scream. It raised its front hooves and reared up, nearly throwing Xianyu Bao off. A wound appeared on the Yellow warhorse’s rump.
It wasn’t that Lei Qing broke the rules and attacked first, but Wuzhui really couldn’t stand such a cowardly opponent. Taking advantage of the opponent’s unpredictable movements, it found an opportunity and bit the Yellow warhorse’s rump.
“Wuzhui, well done! Bite it to death! Bite! Kick! Yes, kick it!”
Seeing Li Baobao so excited, Zuo Qianqian helplessly rolled her eyes. Sister Baobao was supposed to be a dignified Eldest Miss, but once she went crazy, she was wilder than anyone.
Could it be that all Eldest Misses in the world were this crazy?
However, Wuzhui had indeed gone mad, chasing and biting the Yellow warhorse. Although the Yellow warhorse tried its best to fight back, like kicking back with its hind hooves, it was no match for Wuzhui, this Demonic Beast. A contest between humans turned into a fight between two horses.
Xianyu Bao was so depressed; was the kid raising a horse or a wild beast? If this went on, his beloved horse would be tortured to death. Helplessly, he had to find a not-so-good opportunity to turn and slash out.
Lacking the boost of a charging horse, the attack speed and power of the long-handled broadsword were worrying. Lei Qing’s eyes lit up; he thrust out his silver spear to block, holding the long blade.
Three moves had passed; Lei Qing raised three fingers high.
“Roar, roar, roar~”
On the drill ground, a roar of cheers erupted instantly. The atmosphere had been dull for a while. Three moves had passed, and the climax would begin immediately. Most importantly, the way Lei Qing held up his fingers just now was too arrogant, too cool.
Three moves—two strong fighters of the same level in a duel, and he really let three moves pass. Arrogant, simply too arrogant. But he had the capital to be arrogant.
Some people who originally regarded Lei Qing as an overestimating fool now secretly felt some admiration for him.
Indeed, Lei Qing was deliberately showing off, displaying his style and strength. He knew that in any army, there would be some exclusion and contempt for newcomers.
Only by displaying one’s power, style, and charm could one quickly integrate into the group, be accepted, and be worshipped. To be truly regarded as one of their own.
Lei Qing had high expectations for his development after joining the Iron Cavalry Regiment. In this world, to truly become a local hegemon, one could not rely solely on outstanding personal martial power.
Martial power, reputation, charm, and so on were all indispensable.
This world was a stage. To become famous, to command a hundred with a single call, one had to display one’s style on this stage to the fullest. Lei Qing believed that after this battle, he would quickly establish a firm foothold in the Iron Cavalry Regiment.
And this place was the starting point for him to set sail.
“Roar!” Three moves were over, and Lei Qing held back no longer. Using his spear as a blade, the silver spear slashed through the air. Amidst the rumbling thunder, it was strikingly a domineering move, the Clear Sky Thunder Clap.
But Xianyu Bao was no pushover either; his Fighting Qi burned to the limit, as if covering him in a faint layer of flame. He looked like a vajra walking out of a raging fire.
He flicked his long-handled broadsword, and a fierce fire attached to the blade. After knocking back the long spear, its momentum remained undiminished as it slashed towards Lei Qing’s neck.
“Well done!” Seeing Xianyu Bao so tenacious, Lei Qing was pleased rather than alarmed. Battle intent surged in his chest. He felt a surge of energy vibrating in his chest; his blood, boiled.
The silver long spear, under Lei Qing’s control, burst into a series of brilliant fireworks. Without dodging or flashing, it completely shrouded Xianyu Bao’s upper body.
Crazy…
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