The following day, until after noon, the Luo family's seven-jeweled sedan chair did not appear at the gate of Prince Zhao's mansion.
While practicing martial arts in the small training ground behind the palace, Xiong Xiaoyi was distracted and ran to the gate of the mansion more than a dozen times, each time returning dejectedly with his big bear head hanging low.
His frequent back-and-forth movements made Yun Lie inexplicably irritable. When he stood dejectedly back by the weapon rack once again, Yun Lie couldn't help but throw the towel he was using to wipe his sweat onto his dejected face.
"Are you very free?" Yun Lie glanced at him coldly.
Xiong Xiaoyi took off the towel from his head and threw it to the waiter next to him, saying awkwardly, "I'm hungry."
Yun Lie scoffed lightly, "There was someone who ate half a bucket of rice at lunchtime."
"Too little meat..." Xiong Xiaoyi's dark face was filled with sadness and disappointment. Then, he angrily pulled a long stick from the weapon rack. "That Luo Cuiwei is so untrustworthy! I thought she was a good person!"
Yun Lie also took out a long staff and assumed a fighting stance. His long eyelashes drooped slightly, and a smile that revealed neither joy nor sorrow appeared on his lips: "She was just saying it casually. Who told you to take it seriously? You deserve it."
How wise he was, he didn't take it seriously at all, and therefore wasn't disappointed at all, humph.
Neither Xiong Xiaoyi, who hadn't eaten his fill of meat, nor Yun Lie, who was "completely undisappointed," exchanged any more words and immediately began fighting.
All the sparring guards on the small training ground felt that His Highness and General Xiong had put in an exceptionally strong effort in their battle today.
What started as a brief sparring match gradually escalated into a dazzling display of skill, causing the onlookers, including the guards, to become excited as well.
"...General Xiong! I'm betting two copper coins on General Xiong to win!"
"Bah! Look at His Highness's composed yet sharp, defensive yet cunning stance... I'll bet five copper coins on His Highness!"
While everyone was intently watching the battle unfold, they also started some harmless betting games to liven things up, making the scene even more lively.
Perhaps because Xiong Xiaoyi is more robust than Yun Lie, and his fighting style is more expansive and powerful, more people are optimistic about him.
The guard who ran the betting operation was a staunch supporter of Yun Lie. Seeing that the situation was quickly turning against him, he angrily added a new rule: "If His Highness wins, then all of you who bet on General Xiong must give His Highness the same amount of money separately!"
This new rule was different from the previous ones, leaving everyone dumbfounded: "Why?"
"So that you will reflect on how blind you were!" The guard who ran the gambling den waved his hand and made the final decision.
After thinking about it and looking at the situation on the field, everyone nodded and agreed to the rule.
Just then, a soft, sweet voice with a hint of laughter rang out from the bustling crowd: "Then I'll bet fifty gold coins on General Xiong. Here, this is the silver note."
Putting aside their respective financial resources, the gambling games at the Zhaowang Mansion's small training ground were merely for fun and excitement; such large stakes had never been seen before.
When the light silver note was placed in the hands of the guard who was running the gambling den, he suddenly felt that he might not have eaten enough at noon, and his hands felt weak.
Although Yun Lie and Xiong Xiaoyi were engaged in a fierce battle in the center of the small training ground, both of them were alert individuals who kept their eyes and ears open, and naturally they were not oblivious to the commotion on the sidelines.
Yun Lie was the first in the room to notice Luo Cuiwei's arrival.
He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt relieved and a smile inexplicably appeared on his lips. Even when he was distracted and almost got hit by Xiong Xiaoyi's stick, he didn't feel angry.
But when he vaguely heard what she said amidst the cacophony of betting voices, the smile that had just appeared on his lips froze instantly.
His handsome, bronze-colored face gradually darkened.
It's getting darker and darker.
They've become increasingly ruthless.
This Luo Cuiwei is not only treacherous and cunning, but also blind and incompetent!
Prepare to die, Xiong Xiaoyi!
8. Chapter Eight
The Linchuan Army's defense zone was located on the northwestern border of Dajin, and its main target was the Northern Di tribes.
This tribe does not engage in agriculture. For hundreds of years, they have made a living by nomadic herding and raiding the border of Dajin. They have no interest in attacking cities and invading territories. They always rely on their strong army and horses to rush across the border to attack every now and then. After winning, they will focus on robbing money, food and girls, and then turn their horses around and run back. If they lose, they will run back empty-handed.
The Northern Barbarians were a formidable enemy that caused the Dajin army endless headaches. They were known for their imposing physiques, but their tactics were extremely crude and they were completely ignorant of strategy. They fought entirely with brute force, and their fighting style was extremely brutal. They had been locked in a stalemate with the Linchuan army for over a hundred years, and although they lost more often than they won, they did have their moments of victory.
Because the Northern Di people had a custom of "abducting any girl they saw," the Linchuan army never considered female soldiers or generals when recruiting, thus avoiding such calamities from the outset.
This inevitably led to the Linchuan Army becoming a notorious "monk's temple".
Since the Linchuan army was full of hot-blooded young men, if they had nothing to do on weekdays, they would invite others to fight and practice in front of their comrades. The outcome of the match was just a bit of fun and laughter.
But if a delicate young woman or an innocent child suddenly appears among the onlookers, subtle subplots can easily arise in the minds of the two sides.
This subtle feeling may not necessarily be related to romantic love, and sometimes it may not even be confined to a specific object. It is more like a wild instinct that has been suddenly aroused, an inexplicable urge to show off one's strength, to rush to be the victor, and to win the admiration and attention of the petite onlookers.
Of course, this unspoken custom, which is only understood by themselves, seems rather incomprehensible to ordinary people.
From the moment Luo Cuiwei appeared at the edge of the training ground, the guards watching quickly noticed the change in the two people in the field.
Almost without any transition, Yun Lie and Xiong Xiaoyi quickly entered a state where they "couldn't wait to use all their skills."
Yun Lie's sudden outburst stemmed from hearing that Luo Cuiwei had placed a large bet on Xiong Xiaoyi. The feeling of being looked down upon was so frustrating that he immediately became determined to make her realize how absurd her judgment was.
Xiong Xiaoyi naturally heard Luo Cuiwei's bet and immediately became arrogant and unwilling to let down this "kindness" of discerning eyes.
Although the two had different thoughts at this moment, their ruthless tone, leaving no room for each other in every move, was very consistent.
The guards of Prince Zhao's mansion were mostly soldiers who had returned from the Linchuan army after their military service. They naturally understood the slightly strange change on the scene and began to wink, laugh, and jeer, adding fuel to the fire as if they didn't care about the excitement.