Chapter 337: Suppression
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
When the surrounding soldiers saw this, they began to shout out loudly. Each of them expressed their support for General Tai and looked at Fang Zhengzhi with an expression of one looking at a man who was half dead.
"Little kid, choose your weapon!" The smile on the edges of General Tai’s mouth grew colder and colder as he looked at Fang Zhengzhi’s expression. He had been holding back his anger for an entire day. Now was finally the time he could vent it all out.
How could he not be excited!
The hand that held the huge black axe turned slightly white due to his over-excitement.
"Wait a moment." Fang Zhengzhi quickly focused his gaze and spoke towards General Tai who was closing in on him step by step.
"Why, do you want to beg for mercy?" General Tai smiled coldly.
"Why would a great man like me beg for mercy?" Fang Zhengzhi’s expression was filled with disdain. Then, he looked behind at Princess Shan Yu. "But, I feel that this competition isn’t very fair."
"Oh? Why isn’t it fair?" Princess Shan Yu smiled gently.
"A forty to fifty year old man who had trained for dozens of years bullying a pure and innocent fifteen to sixteen year old youth who had only trained for one to two years. How could this be considered fair?" Fang Zhengzhi scorned.
"It is indeed not very fair. Then, what is considered fair to you?" Princess Shan Yu nodded her head lightly and smiled again.
"If both parties suppress our states and fight purely based on techniques, I feel that it would be fairer!" Fang Zhengzhi suggested very quickly.
"Suppress states? Fight purely based on techniques? Hmm… General Tai, what do you think?" When Princess Shan Yu heard this, she nodded her head again and turned her jet-black eyes towards General Tai.
"I have nothing against this. If I really used my state to bully this little kid, it is indeed an insult to my great reputation as a Southern Mountain Range warrior. Today, I will do what he said and not use my state so that he would lose contented and convinced!" General Tai replied, his expression filled with confidence.
"Alright, I announce that both parties are not allowed to use their states in combat. If one party broke this rule, it would be considered cheating and punishable by military law!" Princess Shan Yu’s lips curled into a smile and announced loudly.
"Thank you Princess!" Fang Zhengzhi hurriedly thanked Princess Shan Yu. Even though he didn’t know how good were the techniques of the Southern Mountain Range, this was already the best idea he could think of.
"Little kid, stop talking nonsense and let’s start!" General Tai impatiently waved the huge axe in his hand around and then placed it back behind his shoulders.
"Wait a moment!"
"What is it now?"
"I haven’t chosen a weapon!"
"Ha ha ha… choose a weapon?" When General Tai heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, he burst out in laughter. He thought that Fang Zhengzhi wanted to compete with him using fist techniques. However, he had never imagined that Fang Zhengzhi would choose to take a weapon. Wasn’t that asking for death?
In this case, there was no need to keep this axe of his.
When the surrounding soldiers heard this, they also let out a wave of mocking laughter.
"The ignorant is indeed fearless!"
"Asking for death."
"Weapons don’t grow eyes, little kid."
The soldiers cried out one by one. She had already paved the path for Fang Zhengzhi. However, what was unfortunate was that Fang Zhengzhi had returned back to the origin by himself.
Asking for death!
Just as Princess Shan Yu felt that Fang Zhengzhi was a little too stupid, she saw Fang Zhengzhi looking at her with a bright grin on his face, rubbing his hands together furiously at the same time.
"Then… princess, can I borrow your bow to play around with?"
"You want to borrow my Fiery Rattan Bow?" Princess Shan Yu was clearly somewhat shocked. However, very quickly, her shock turned into mockery. "Can you draw it back?"
"I feel I can!" Fang Zhengzhi said confidently.
When the surrounding soldiers heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, they all began to laugh. They knew that in the competition between Fang Zhengzhi and Princess Shan Yu, he wasn’t even able to draw back an ordinary tough bow.
He could only use a soldier’s light bow.
Now, thinking of using the Fire Rattan Bow to defeat General Tai was simply indulging in fantasy.
"Ha ha ha…" Princess Shan Yu laughed out as well. Then, she waved her hand and the Fire Rattan Bow, steaming with heat, appeared in her hands. "Take it!"
"Thank you Princess for your reward!" Fang Zhengzhi instantly accepted the favour.
"Reward? What are you thinking? I am only lending it to you, you still have to return to me when you are done!" Princess Shan Yu was slightly taken aback, then, she immediately began to berate.
"Oh, then, no thanks to you." Fang Zhengzhi was somewhat disappointed.
"General Tai, you don’t have to give me any face. Today, if you want to beat this little kid until he becomes bedridden for five days, I will punish you for being too lenient with your soldiers!" When Princess Shan Yu heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, she instantly grew angry.
"Roger that!" When General Tai heard this, a delighted expression appeared on his face.
"Go to the drill ground, I want to take a good look at this fight!"
"Roger!"
…
Fighting on the drill ground was a military tradition. In the Southern Mountain Range, this tradition was even more widespread. Whenever there were conflicts within the army, it would settled in the drill ground. Whenever one wanted to be promoted in the army, they could challenge people in the drill ground.
By right, Fang Zhengzhi’s status meant that he was unqualified to participate in an open competition with General Tai in the drill ground. However, Princess Shan Yu had spoken.
Then…
He was now qualified.
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
Under the arena of the drill ground, the soldiers grew excited. Many soldiers also stood further away, craning their necks to spectate this.
"Begin!"
Following the sound of the order, General Tai raised the huge black axe in his hand as veins popped out from his arms. That steel-like strength was thoroughly displayed at this moment.
"Fall!" General Tai charged directly towards Fang Zhengzhi like a wild bull, holding the huge axe high up in his hands. His speed was as fast as lightning.
This battle strategy seemed somewhat silly on the surface. However, behind the surface was experience. Because, Fang Zhengzhi currently held the Fiery Rattan Bow in his hand.
Even though General Tai didn’t believe that Fang Zhengzhi could draw it back, close-combat would always be the most advantageous form of combat at such moments.
Fang Zhengzhi naturally predicted that General Tai would charge directly towards him.
There was no doubt about this point.
However, he never expected that General Tai’s speed would be as fast. Even under circumstances in which he had suppressed his state, he could still invoke a powerful gust of wind with his speed.
Princess Shan Yu’s big animal leather chair had already been carried to the drill ground. A golden animal skin covered the chair as Princess Shan Yu lay horizontally on it.
Revealing her snake-like waistline.
A pair of wheat-coloured legs propped themselves on the chair. It was filled with an air of wildness.
In front of her, there was a bowl of fresh fruits.
The trace of a smile appeared on Princess Shan Yu’s lips as she gently picked up a piece of fruit and placed it in her mouth. Her dark eyes were fixated upon Fang Zhengzhi, who was dressed in rattan armour with a quiver slung behind his back.
"Little kid, why aren’t you running? Are you too scared to move?" Princess Shan Yu laughed softly.
Suppressing one’s state.
Didn’t mean that both parties would have equal powers.
Especially when faced with a warrior from the Southern Mountain Range, just comparing muscular strength alone, the warrior from the Southern Mountain Range would greatly overpower that of a soldier from the Great Xia. Most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi’s opponent was General Tai.
A monster who could tear apart live beasts, one whose flesh and bones were as hard as steel.
When the soldiers witnessed the scene on the arena, they guessed that at this moment, Fang Zhengzhi should be running away. Because, only by moving continuously could he make use of his archery skills. Then, would Fang Zhengzhi choose to run to the left? Or run to the right?
Just as everybody attempted to guess which direction Fang Zhengzhi would run to, Fang Zhengzhi unexpectedly remained rooted to the spot without moving an inch.
Furthermore, his expression seemed extremely leisurely, shaking the leg that he placed on the arena…
"Is this little kid asking for death?"
The soldiers looked at one another. Nobody knew what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking.
"Die!" General Tai didn’t care what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking. Suppressing his power, the huge axe in his hand slashed towards Fang Zhengzhi’s head without a moment of hesitation.
Unable to dodge?
That wasn’t his problem!
At the most critical juncture, Fang Zhengzhi’s expression remained calm and leisurely. He didn’t even attempt to move his legs.
Next…
A scene that almost caused everybody to kneel down onto the floor occured.
"Shameless!"
This was the thought that rose in everybody’s heart.
In reality, all Fang Zhengzhi did was to raise the Fiery Rattan Bow and make a blocking attempt against the huge black axe that sliced down towards his head.
Naturally, everybody knew that this Fiery Rattan Bow was Princess Shan Yu’s treasure.
Who dared to slice it?
Princess Shan Yu’s expression suddenly changed. "You dare!"
Fang Zhengzhi dared.
But, General Tai really didn’t dare.
The huge black axe that was already halfway to its destination was forcefully stopped an inch away from the Fiery Rattan Bow. General Tai panted loudly and gasped for air. His initially dark face flushed red all because of this moment.
"You little kid…"
Just as General Tai prepared to curse, Fang Zhengzhi moved.
His entire body shot backwards into a corner of the drill ground’s arena. Immediately after, Fang Zhengzhi moved again. His body was like lightning, charging forwards with his two arms wide open, just like an eagle diving towards General Tai.
"Huh?"
General Tai had never seen such a fighting technique. If Fang Zhengzhi wanted close combat, then, the previous moment was actually the best opportunity.
However, if Fang Zhengzhi wanted to increase the distance between them.
Then…
He had clearly already done so. Why would he return again?
General Tai felt as if a question mark was spinning around in his head, so fast that he felt rather dizzy. However, Fang Zhengzhi had already closed the distance, hence, that was naturally in line with his own objective.
He didn’t use the axe again, instead, he punched out with his fist.
He had already decided that as long as Fang Zhengzhi used the Fiery Rattan Bow to block it off, he didn’t mind directly snatching off the Fiery Rattan Bow from Fang Zhengzhi’s hands.
However, just at this moment, Fang Zhengzhi’s movement changed. From a huge roc spreading its wings, he charged forward with his body crouched and staying low onto the ground. These two consecutive movements were indeed the technique of the Stabilisation Constabulary.
General Tai’s expression finally changed.
He simply had no way of pulling back the fist he lashed out. Right at this moment, Fang Zhengzhi was already in front of him. One palm, a very ordinary palm. However, it was directed towards his face, which he had no choice but to block.
"Good kid!" In his panic, General Tai raised his axe and blocked towards his face.
Fang Zhengzhi smiled, and smiled very brightly.
The profound technique of the Stabilisation Constabulary was indeed able to react to any different situation. The flexibility in combination of techniques was definitely first-class.
"Woosh!" Fang Zhengzhi’s hand posture changed and his leg stepped out. His other palm was already on its way. This palm was the real and hidden killing blow.
"Wham!" General Tai was struck by the palm and stumbled back.
This change in situation happened too fast.
So fast that the soldiers under the arena weren’t able to react completely.
But, General Tai retreated.
That was reality!
"Why would it be like this?!"
"General Tai actually lost a move?"
"What did he just do!"
The soldiers’ faces were filled with disbelief.
Princess Shan Yu’s initially angry expression froze at this moment. Because, even she hadn’t expected Fang Zhengzhi to win in one strike.
The colour of General Tai’s face turned from red to purple.
After losing to Fang Zhengzhi in one sneaky move, he was thoroughly discredited. Wasn’t he the great Tiger General of the Southern Mountain Range? Losing to a mere nobody from the Great Xia in a drill ground competition.
How could he bear with this!
Even if he only lost one move!
"Die!" General Tai roared in anger as his mood suddenly changed. Just as he prepared to counter-attack.
He saw that Fang Zhengzhi had closed in once again.
Or, it could be said that from the moment he stumbled back, Fang Zhengzhi had already calculated that he would move back, hence, this move intended to close the distance between them once again.
If one had to use one phrase to describe Fang Zhengzhi now.
That would be…
Moving like his shadow!
General Tai’s pulled back his fist and blocked!
But, Fang Zhengzhi’s technique seemed to have already seen through all his moves. The fist that initially punched towards him suddenly changed, directly grabbing towards his crotch.
"F…" General Tai cried out loudly.
He would never have imagined that Fang Zhengzhi’s techniques would sink to such a level. Under such helpless circumstances, he could only bend his entire body into a hunchback shape, squeezing his legs together tightly and defending his own lifeblood with his life.
Then, he felt a burning pain on his face.
Very clearly, the grab Fang Zhengzhi made towards his crotch was a feint. The punch that landed on his face was the real attack.
One’s muscles could be honed to become as hard as steel.
However, one’s face…
Had no way to be honed.
Hence, General Tai felt as if tears were streaming down his cheeks. Fresh blood danced around in his nose while a blissful feeling of experiencing the joys and sorrows of life filled his mind.
The soldiers under the arena were completely stunned at this moment.
Two moves.
General Tai lost two moves in a row?!
Furthermore, he was even punched in the face by Fang Zhengzhi!
How unthinkable was this!
Princess Shan Yu’s dark eyes were now completely widened. She suddenly had a feeling that Fang Zhengzhi’s technique was extremely strange.
However, this strangeness seemed to have overturned the nature of All Creation. Furthermore, she even had a strange sense of familiarity. She seemed to have heard of such a fighting technique in her memory.
However…
She couldn’t recall it at this moment.
"This kid… who is he?!" For the first time, doubt rose in Princess Shan Yu’s heart. Because, a person who could defeat General Tai based on technique and moves.
Simply couldn’t be any ordinary little spy from the Great Xia.