novelThe Imperial Duel
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Book 6 Chapter 4 - The Imperial Duel
Thousands of people gathered at the huge square next to the hall in Xianyang Palace. It was like a marketplace, with everyone waiting impatiently to see the grand duel that's about to be held.
On one side there were the Qin's most famously invincible and fierce warrior.
On the other side is a rising star with great military merits, a swordsman from Zhao.
Everyone wants to witness how these 2 are going to fight to win.
The sun was shining brightly and 3 tall platforms were erected near the main hall with seats neatly arranged on them. The middle platform is naturally the seats for King Zhuangxiang, the Crown Prince and the Empress.
The platform on the left was filled with major officials and military generals who were on Lord Yangquan and Wang He's side.
On the platform on the right, besides Lu Buwei, Meng Ao and the major officials closer to Lu Buwei are already seated. Li Si is one of them. Actually he is not qualified to have a place there at all but because of his concern for Xiang Shaolong, he managed to talk and persuade his way into getting a seat.
Others who were of a lower status can only stand at the circumference of the square to view the duel.
With the mail armors and helmet gleaming, the Qin soldiers who were taller and bigger built than people from the other 6 states, stood guard on the long stairway leading to the main hall and around the 3 viewing platforms. Their long halberds shone under the sun, giving the soldiers a dignified and serious air.
At this time Lu Buwei and Xiang Shaolong has just arrived in their carriage and they walked towards the right after they alighted. Immediately there was a commotion as people pointed and shouted at Xiang Shaolong.
Lu Buwei exhaled and whispered in Xiang Shaolong's ears, "The Qins love a good fight and hold heroes in high regard. You can only win and not lose in this duel."
Xiang Shaolong has already meditated according to the instructions on the Mohist scroll this morning and at this moment he's feeling very energetic so he said with confidence, "Premier Lu, do not worry!"
Lu Buwei commented, "That person dressed in black warrior outfit on the left platform is Qiu Risheng, don't forget his face." His tone revealed a deep hatred.
Xiang Shaolong looked over that direction only to see the eyes of almost a hundred people on the platform were all focused on him and hurriedly smiled and nodded in response. He took a glance at that Qiu Risheng and then looked away.
Lu Buwei led him up the platform and sat down after introducing him to the other people. He asked Tu Xian who was at the back, "Is Wang Jian here yet?"
Tu Xian replied, "Should be here! But I wonder where he is?"
The sound of the horn was heard.
Under the escort of the imperial guards, King Zhuangxiang who was dressed in his dragon robes, leading Xiao Pan, Zhu Ji, Lady Xiuli and Prince Qi Chongqiao as well as a bevy of concubines, walked out from inside the hall towards the platform in the middle.
All the soldiers stood at attention while the rest of the people both on and off the platform knelt down to welcome them. For a moment the atmosphere in the whole square was solemn and silent.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly complimenting, on seeing this situation he can see the nobility of the King of Qin and how much importance the Qins place on compliance and discipline.
It's only after King Zhuangxiang and the Princes and Concubines were seated and the attendant declared everyone to rise and be seated did the atmosphere returned to what it was previously. However, everyone stopped talking and quietly waited for King Zhuangxiang's announcement.
The attendant cried out, "Where is Xiang Shaolong!"
Xiang Shaolong hurriedly rose and at the same time removed his outer robe to reveal his perfect physique. He left the platform to come to the front of the main platform and bowed his acquiesce to the King.
King Zhuangxiang looked at Xiang Shaolong happily and kept on nodded his head to show his approval.
He has lived abroad for many years and basically he can be considered an outsider, therefore he feels a special affinity to this young swordsman from Zhao who rescued his wife as well.
The attendant cried out again, "Where is Wang Jian?"
He has just finished his sentence when the sounds of hooves were heard only to see a steed running in from the palace gates like a gust of wind.
The crowd cheered thunderously as they all gave way to let the steed past unobstructed.
When it comes to flaunting, Xiang Shaolong has obviously lost greatly.
Wang Jian's horsemanship is astounding. In such a short distance, he has already executed several difficult poses and just as he is about to stop, he miraculously curled under the horse's belly and mounted onto the horse's back on the other side before leaping off the horse to kneel at the ground as he cried out loudly, "Your soldier Wang Jian! Paying his respects to your Majesty!"
Once again everyone cheered deafeningly, pushing the whole atmosphere into a high.
Lu Buwei and the rest of the people on the platform, including Wu Yingyuan and Tao Fang who were full of confidence for Xiang Shaolong, started feeling a little shaken after seeing his astounding horsemanship. The confidence of Lu Buwei and the others who have not truly seen the ability of Xiang Shaolong were even more affected.
King Zhuangxiang revealed a look of surprise and kept nodding his head.
Because Zhu Ji has a special liking for Xiang Shaolong, she grabbed Xiao Pan's hand anxiously only to realize Xiao Pan's palm is sweating as well.
Everyone on Lord Yangquan's platform looked ecstatic instead as if Xiang Shaolong's defeat is a sure thing. Wang Jian stood up and looked at Xiang Shaolong.
At the same time Xiang Shaolong looked across with a smile and they saw each other directly.
Both of them revealed a look of surprise at the same time, both shocked at the other's physique and charm.
This Wang Jian is indeed as Wu Yingyuan described, fair and delicate looking but it's not enough to really describe him.
He's only about half an inch shorter than Xiang Shaolong and he wore a red and black warrior's outfit with an armor vest. His arms and shoulders were wide and his build robust, giving out a heroic air.
His nose is high with deep set eyes which looked unfathomable, his jet black hair combed into a small bun at the top and secured tightly with a red rope with its 2 ends dropping down to the back of his neck which made him appear even more powerful.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly admiring him and smiled in return, thinking that with such a capabilities, no wonder he could help Xiao Pan conquer the world and unite the 6 states in future.
Wang Jian saw that Xiang Shaolong looked friendly and his countenance relaxed as well and politely returned the greeting but his eyes was still filled with enmity.
At this point in time the attendant from the main platform read out the purpose of the duel this time and naturally at the same time offered encouragement to the contestants and emphasized the importance of maintaining good sportsmanship.
Towards the end, the attendant announced loudly, "The duel today will be split into 2 parts, with horse riding and archery first followed by swordplay."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly lamenting and thought that although he has improved greatly on his riding skills recently, but if he were to compare with Wang Jian, he won't be able to catch up even if he goes back and train for a few more years.
Wang Jian accepted the orders loudly so Xiang Shaolong can only follow him and agree as well.
With a 'whoosh!', Wang Jian leapt up the horse in a graceful motion and rode off. When it looks as if he's almost knocking into the spectators standing at the corner of the square, he pulled his horse back with a stand and the horse turned around gracefully and came to a sudden stop.
Naturally another round of applause and cheers sounded.
2 soldiers took out a target board from the side of the square and placed it right in the middle of the broad square.
At this time Lu Buwei ordered his man to lead Jifeng out. Xiang Shaolong smiled calmly and jumped up the horse's back from its rump and clasped his legs around the horse's belly. Jifeng galloped around the square with astonishing speed and came to another corner of the square and they also received many cheers.
Wang Jian took out his steel bow from the side of his saddle and held it high above his head, which immediately caused another uproar of admiration.
Xiang Shaolong knows that he is very confident and was prepared to display his archery skill. He recollected his feelings and shouted to Wang Jian from afar, "How can a still target be compared to a live target, why don't Brother Wang shoot 3 arrows at me? I guarantee that I won't use my shield to block."
Silence immediately spread through the square but everyone has an incredulous look in their eyes, as if thinking whether this person is seeking death?
But Xiang Shaolong is the only one who can understand the difficult position he is in. Instead of waiting to be defeated, he might as well take the risk and make use of his own swordsmanship and agility to deal with the other party's arrows. If he succeed, then he'll be able to pass this stage.
Wang Jian is not one who likes to take advantage of others and he shouted back, "Arrows have no feelings, has Brother Xiang thought clearly about this."
Xiang Shaolong bowed to King Zhuangxiang from afar and cried out, "Would your Majesty please approve!"
King Zhuangxiang hesitated for a moment before signaling with his hand his approval.
The almost 2000 odd people at the square held their breath, waiting for that heart stopping scene to appear.
Wang Jian lifted his bow with one hand while he pulled out 4 long arrows from his back with his other hand, holding them between his 5 fingers, his stance showing his familiarity and making others feel that it's as easy as breathing for him to shoot these 4 arrows.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly lamenting in his heart. It turns out that this person is so unfathomable, making others think that he can only shoot 3 arrows at once but only now did he reveal his true ability.
Silence.
Wang Jian laughed loudly, "My steel bow and arrows can pierce through any shield, so it doesn't matter even if Brother Xiang uses a shield. Be careful!" He clasped his horse's belly lightly and his warhorse sped forward.
Xiang Shaolong looked heavenward and laughed as he clapped his horse and dashed forward but towards the direction of King Zhuangxiang's side, trying to intimidate him as he will not dare to release the arrows towards King Zhuangxiang's direction and to put him down a little.
The 2 steeds got closer then further away, their positions exchanged.
Wang Jian pulled his horse's head back and immediately turned back.
Xiang Shaolong's mind went into the Mohist's technique of calmness. Heaven and earth seems to have gone totally quiet in this instant and there's nothing else besides Wang Jian.
At the same time he hurried his horse towards Wang Jian.
As long as he can stick close to Wang Jian and avoid the 4 arrows, he can consider this horse riding and archery contest a closed deal.
The 2 steeds got closer and closer, from over 1000 steps away to about less than 700 hundred steps away.
'Twang!'
Wang Jian pulled his bowstring and without knowing how, one of the arrows have landed outside the bowstring.
Instantly the arrow flew out.
Xiang Shaolong has never seen such swift arrow, as if they have just left the bowstring and in the next instant they're at his face.
Luckily his reflexes are 10 times more agile than the average person and with a shout, he drew Bloodwave from his back and hacked diagonally at the arrowheads.
The crowd, regardless of friend or foe, all cheered.
Xiang Shaolong reined in his horse, pulled out his sword and blocked, the few movements all done in one fluid motion like flowing water, the angle and timing executed appropriately and exhibiting an extremely splendid pose of movement and strength. Everyone who saw this were moved and cheered for him.
From this one can see that the Qins are straightforward and sincere people.
With a crisp 'dang!', the steel arrow landed on the ground.
Wang Jian cried out loudly, 'Good' and in an instant he was missing and it turned out that he has flipped under the horse's belly.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly stunned. His opponent's arrows earlier were filled with power and the impact cause his whole right arm to become numb and he almost dropped his precious sword Bloodwave. And now he can't even see Wang Jian at all, which means that he did not even know how he fired the arrow, so how can he not be shocked.
The square is now so quiet one can hear a pin drop, and it seems as if everyone stopped breathing as well.
What are left are only the thundering hoof beats of the warhorses.
Both parties drew nearer, from 700 steps away to 500 steps away.
Without hearing the bow twang at all, Xiang Shaolong saw from his angle 2 arrows shooting out at the same time from beneath the horse's belly from the right at an angle, one aimed at his heart while the other speeding towards his thigh, calculated with absolute certainty the precise point when Xiang Shaolong falls, his expertise making others pause in awe.
Xiang Shaolong knows that they are now 200 steps closer to each other and his arm has still not recovered from the numbness yet so there's no way he can use his arm strength to counter his opponent's powerful arrows so he made a risky decision and forcefully used the hilt of the sword to hit down on the incoming arrow and at the same time with his innate reflexes, his leg kicked out like lightning towards the other arrow.
Before the crowd can worry for him, he has already knocked the arrow off target with is sword hilt forcefully while he felt a sharp pain near the tip of his shoes as he kicked the other arrow. Because of the impact, the arrow flew off tangent and flew diagonally up past the front of Xiang Shaolong's body to the highest point in the air before falling down.
By now the 2 steeds are only 300 steps away from each other.
Xiang Shaolong suddenly felt that something was amiss. It turned out that the last arrow has flown out quietly from the side of the horse's neck at a very difficult angle and unless he can flip down to the horse's belly, there's no way he can avoid the arrow. But by now it's too late.
Xiang Shaolong's arm is aching so much by now that he can't even lift or put it down and it's pure luck that he can still hold on to Bloodwave. He roared and his left hand drew out the wooden sword on the side of the horse and attempted to sweep his opponent's last arrow away.
"Puff!"
The steel arrow was swept aside.
The crowd cheered thunderously. Even Wang Jian can't help but cried out, 'Excellent' as he hung his bow back on his horse's back and pulled out his sword to charge towards Xiang Shaolong.
Xiang Shaolong dare not let down his guard. He put Bloodwave back across his back and waving the wooden sword with his left hand, urged his horse forward.
The two of them brushed past each other and the continuous ringing of wood against metal rang throughout the square.
Xiang Shaolong could feel that his opponent's arm strength is the same, if not better, than his own and was secretly startled. He deliberately rode to the edge of the square before turning his horse back so that he can gain more time for his right arm to recover.
All the spectators felt as if their hearts are now in their throats.
Wang Jian raised his long sword high up and sped forward in his horse.
Xiang Shaolong transferred the wooden sword to his right hand, took a deep breath and rode towards this strong opponent.
The 2 steeds came closer and closer at lightning speed and when they're 50 steps away, Xiang Shaolong suddenly increased his speed as he sat on the handsome steed which his bosom confidante Ji Yanran gave him like an arrow on full speed, looking as if he was riding on a cloud and speeding towards Wang Jian's horse.
Xiang Shaolong executed one of the 3 killer moves of using defense to attack in the Mohist swordplay, 'Whirlwind Style'. The wooden sword sprang up halfway into the air and turned one round, extremely forceful as it swept across.
Because of his opponent's horse sudden surge, Wang Jiang's estimation was thrown awry. His plan to use his horsemanship to win came to naught, followed by he was confused by his opponent's strange moves. Only when the danger is almost in his face did he manage to barely block it with his sword.
Xiang Shaolong came up with such a strange plan precisely because he was wary of his horsemanship. If he can figure out Jifeng's speed and his own sword style, he'll definitely lose if it's going to be a long drawn battle. To Wang Jian, he is even more agile on the horse than off.
There was a loud 'Clang!', and Wang Jian almost fell off his horse together with his sword from the upper hand slash because Xiang Shaolong's attack made use of the force of nature's gravity to increase the strength of his attack. The wooden sword is very heavy in itself, that's why he was able to achieve such an accidental upper hand.
Wang Jian leaned low on his horse's back to defend against Xiang Shaolong's attack.
Xiang Shaolong's wooden sword was a whirl of movement on his top right and at the same time when the 2 horses burshed against each other, he took the opportunity to use his feet to point at 2 spots on Wang Jian's thigh. However the spectators were all focused on his wooden sword and the horses' bodies blocked most of the view from the spectators, therefore only the two of them knew in their hearts what happened and not a third person was aware.
Naturally Wang Jian knew that he was being lenient.
Xiang Shaolong knows that the time is now ripe and he waved their prearranged signal with his wooden sword towards Lu Buwei who was on the platform.
By now the 2 steed have exchanged places and looking at each other from afar.
Wang Jian looked totally dejected. He is a valiant hero, so a loss is a loss and he will not attempt to deny it. Just as he was about to abandon his sword and admit defeat, Lu Buwei stood up forcefully and cried out, "Stop!"
Everyone looked at him in astonishment.
Lu Buwei walked to the side of the stage and knelt towards King Zhuangxiang and said, "Regardless of swordsmanship or horse riding and archery, both Xiang Shaolong and Wang Jian are on par with each other. Your subordinate would not wish to see any of them injured. I beseech your Majesty to declare that there's no winner or loser in this duel and both of them will have the honor of bring the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor and bear the heavy responsibility of guiding the Crown Prince."
Half of those people seated on Lord Yangquan's side looked flabbergasted as they did not expect Lu Buwei to be so magnanimous. Although they did not see the 2 light kicks Xiang Shaolong gave to Wang Jian earlier, everyone saw how Wang Jian almost fell off the horse due to the impact of Xiang Shaolong's sword and knew that he has lost his advantage.
King Zhuangxiang nodded his head slightly and asked Xiang Shaolong, "What does my beloved subject Xiang think of this, are you willing put a halt to this!"
By saying that, naturally it's because he could tell that Xiang Shaolong has a higher chance of winning.
Anyone with some sense, on seeing Wang Jian's expression, will not feel optimistic for him.
Xiang Shaolong returned his sword to his sheath and replied respectfully, "General Wang's horse riding and archery skills are astounding and his swordsmanship extraordinary and I am very impressed. Premier Lu's suggestion is like the fresh water after a long drought and I am most willing to accept it."
King Zhuangxiang chortled and stood up as he announced, "From today onwards, both Xiang Shaolong and Wang Jian will both be the Crown Prince's Grand Tutors and will both serve the prince as equals."
Cheers erupted thunderously.
The most grateful person is Wang Jian. The post of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor is too important to him, otherwise there's no way he can use his abilities even though he is full of aspirations.
But the happiest person is Lu Buwei. This idea that Xiang Shaolong taught his is most beautiful indeed, winning him the cheers of almost everyone present and this sweet feeling is something he has never experienced before in Qin.
Zhu Ji is so excited that she clutched Xiao Pan's hand tightly and whispered in his ear, "Fresh water after a long drought, is there anyone in this world other than your Tutor who can speak so beautifully in this world?"
Xiao Pan's eyes gleamed as he looked at his only family and kept nodding his head.
Amidst the continuous cheers, Xiang Shaolong and Wang Jian both rode towards the main platform and dismounted to express their gratitude.
Just as everyone was sending King Zhuangxiang off, Wang Jian said quietly, "Thank you!"
Xiang Shaolong replied in a low voice as well, "This is our secret, Brother Wang can just invite me for a drink!"
Wang Jiang was just getting worried that he will boast about this matter and now he is so grateful that he immediately agreed.
By now all the royalty and officials have clamored down the platforms to hurry and offer their congratulations to the both of them.
Xiang Shaolong took this opportunity to move to Wang He and thanked him sincerely for giving him this opportunity and this made Wang He immediately feel proud, as if he was really the one who helped Xiang Shaolong get a leg up.
Lu Buwei and him are already in agreement over this so naturally he won't blame him for being so nice to Wang He. Instead he turned to offer his congratulations to Wang Jian in order to gain his trust.
On seeing such a splendid ending, Kiang Zhuangxiang beamed as well.
Besides Lord Yangquan and a few of his hardcore followers who looked somber because they've failed to defeat Xiang Shaolong, everyone else was in a cheery and festive mood because they've witnessed such a magnificent duel.
They managed to pass a thunderstorm safely.
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