Chapter 51: One Person Troop
“Third Younger Brother, come and compete together.”
With this sentence from Xie Jing Xing, Xie Chang Chao in the audience was also stunned.
Previously when he saw Xie Jing Xing suddenly appear, he thought that Xie Jing Xing purposely did so to rescue Shen Miao from a difficult situation, since this Di older brother could not be inferred from a normal person’s perspective. But Xie Jing Xing’s words stunned him. The one who went up the stage to challenge was that one person, Xie Chang Wu so what did it got to do with him?
But now that Xie Ding was not present, Xie Chang Chao could only look at Xie Chang Wu and asked softly, “Second Older Brother, what is going on?”
Xie Chang Wu was normally shrewder than Xie Chang Chao and could hear that there was some anger in Xie Jing Xing’s words. Xie Jing Xing wanted to challenge but then said that he alone was not enough and to also include Xie Chang Chao. What was the meaning of this? It could only be to humiliate them two brothers. It was just too arrogant of Xie Jing Xing to naturally think that both brothers combined were also not his opponent!
Xie Chang Wu who was irritated by Xie Jing Xing, had long lost his usual calm. His expression was not good at all and there was some anger in his frown, “Eldest Brother is full of confidence to say it like this and not even care about us Younger Brothers.”
On the stage, Xie Jing Xing, who was playing with the fruits that were taken from the examiner’s hands, squinted his beautiful eyes and lazily said, “Exactly, this general does not care about you two at all.”
“Since young when both of you were learning martial arts, you have never exchange notes with this Eldest Brother. Hearing from others speaking of how striking and brilliant it was, why not let this Eldest Brother broaden one’s horizon today?” He continued speaking.
The entire audience seemed to have heard the discord between the Xie brothers. One had to know that the news of the residence of Marquis of Lin An had already spread out to the entire Ming Qi. Everyone had been speculating about the relationship between the brothers, and with Xie Jing Xing’s indifferent attitude towards the residence of the Marquis of Lin An and that he not even spoke to the two Shu younger brothers. To talk down like this, it seems that it did not make any waves.
Today was the first time that Xie Jing Xing thoroughly discredited his own two Shu brothers in front of everyone. Everyone in the arena started discussing, some had the intention to watch the commotion but were also full of curiosity and were looking forward to the results.
Shen Miao looked at that casual attitude of the handsome youth. Xie Jing Xing, this person was actually somewhat strange. Seemingly capricious and indulgent but there was also a clear and straight line directed to him. Now, that two Xie family brothers were led around the nose by him and they were not even aware of it. One was afraid that after this examinations were over, no matter if it was reputation or rationale, there would not be a trace left in them.
When Xie Chang Wu heard this, he suddenly laughed grimly and said word for word, “Just exchanging notes, why not?” He looked at Xie Jing Xing and a variety of moods flashed across the pair of shrewd eyes before he continued, “Since Older Brother want it so, Third Young Brother would also come up. One would be afraid that at that time Older Brother must not say that Younger Brothers are bullying.”
For him to say this much, it meant that if Xie Jing Xing lose to them brothers, then it was Xie Jing Xing who first provoked and had nothing to do with them, so much so that Xie Jing Xing made a joke of himself.
Xie Chang Chao was somewhat hesitant but seeing Xie Chang Wu giving him a look, he immediately recovered his senses and said, “Younger Brothers will definitely accompany.”
The ‘challenge’ round in the academy examinations, the most refreshing thing was that no matter which topic, no matter how many people, even regardless of male or female, there was freedom. Therefore Xie Jing Xing’s request did not violate anything. Xie Jing Xing smiled widely and that evil smile attracted a number of young ladies’ eyes. He jokingly said, “Want to also establish a life and death agreement?
Xie Chang Chao’s and Xie Chang Wu’s bodies stiffened and their facial expressions were somewhat ugly but Xie Jing Xing lazily said, “It is just a joke, it is just an exchange between brothers. There is no need to fight till one dies and the other lives.”
Shen Miao’s lips also gently rose up as Xie Jing Xing words were truly sinister. Since the two Xie brothers were already up on stage, there was nothing else for her here. She tidied up her skirt and stepped down herself.
Upon reaching the female side of the banquet, Shen Yue and Shen Qing did not come up from afar to speak but it was Feng An Ning that quickly ran over. She said, “Your archery skills were actually this good, could it be to inherit father’s mantel?”
Waves started to slightly formed in Shen Miao’s heart. Currently towards the Shen family, the Imperial family was glaring like a tiger watching his prey. Not to say her, even her own Eldest Brother’s situation was extremely dangerous. Initially Eldest Brother’s entire life was destroyed by a female and now the Shen family have yet to collapse and fall apart so she want to use her own methods to protect the Shen family. Just like at the stage a moment ago, those who dare not give the Shen family face, she would not hesitate to give it back hundred times back!
“But between the three people on stage, who do you think will win?” Feng An Ning suddenly changed the topic and rambled on, “Even though the little Marquis of the Xie family has a reputation outside, but we have not witness it before and it could be that the rumors are not trustworthy. That Xie Chang Wu and Xie Chang Chao got the first rank last year. With two people against one, it would be little Xie Marquis who is in a disadvantage.”
Xie Jing Xing would suffer a disadvantage? Shen Miao broke into laughter in her heart and just shook her head lightly.
And Xie Chang Wu up on stage also said, “It would difficult to appraise if it was two of us against one of you, so we choose lancing.”
This time, Shen Miao really laughed out.
Xie Jing Xing raised his eyebrow, “Lancing? Can!”
The examiners quickly found three horses. That high stage was extremely big, thus with good control, it could accommodate the galloping of horses. Three lances were also thrown into the hands of three of them.
“That Xie Chang Wu and Xie Chang Chao had the skill of double lancing.” Feng An Ning exclaimed. The two brothers Xie Chang Chao and Xie Chang Wu were very well coordinated with one another and could combine two lances to one and with this method, they were able to obtain the first rank in lancing. It was also this reason that Xie Chang Wu picked this, hoping that they would be able to severely crush Xie Jing Xing.
But in fact in Shen Miao’s eyes, others did not know but she knew. In the memorials of the Ming Qi Imperial family, there was a record of Xie family tactics in the battlefield. Xie Jing Xing was not a simple person as he was a one person troop.
One battle array, one lance, one horse, one person. With these three, the enemy would be utterly defeated by him. This kind of tactic was only suitable combating a high ranking military officer and Xie Jing Xing had never once lost before.
How could the two Xie brothers contend with a nation’s high ranking military officer? Afraid that they would make themselves a laughing stock.
How can the two brothers and the generals contend with a country? Afraid that one would laugh out today.
When the drummer made the first strike down to the drums, the competition started.
Xie Chang Wu and Xie Chang Chao glanced at one another before their horses, which were side by side, started galloping. They had undergone rigorous trainings thus their horses’ galloping pace were almost exactly the same. Thus when their lances were exactly the same that if one were to look from afar, it was as if one person was split into two making it somewhat fearful.
That purple clad youth lazily raised his hand and the black horse he was on suddenly kicked but started running towards the opposite direction. Everyone was in an uproar but one could see he horizontally raised the lance in front and his clothes were like a purple lighting cloud, as if it was a storm. His aura of death was overflowing, taking advantage of those handsome features, as if he was a jaded face Asura.