He was so smug and focused solely on defeating Wushuang that he didn't even hear anyone approaching. For someone like him, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and possessed hearing far superior to that of ordinary people, such a mistake could be fatal.
The thought of this made Gesang's legs go weak, and he almost wanted to admit defeat to Chu Yao and run away. He dared not repeat what he had said before.
But now that things have come to this, there's no point in running away. As long as Chu Yao and Wu Shuang can get out of the forest alive, his plot to insult the Prince of Ying's fiancée will be exposed, and all his plans will come to naught.
Gesang looked around, but it was pitch black everywhere and he couldn't hear any noise. It didn't seem like Chu Yao's helpers were lying in wait.
Looking at the scene before us, Wushuang's combat strength is zero. As for Chu Yao, he is said to be extremely remarkable. It is a well-known fact that men from Qi Kingdom are weaker than those from the Northern Frontier. They are just cunning. In a one-on-one fight, the outcome is really uncertain.
Thinking this way, his confidence soared, and he became even more determined.
"Your Highness, I have taken a liking to your fiancée. According to custom, you and I shall have a contest, and the winner shall win the beauty's heart."
After making his boastful remarks, he drew the long sword hanging on his saddle and attacked Chu Yao like lightning.
Chu Yao was faster, drawing his longsword from his waist to meet him.
A sword and a blade clashed in mid-air, ringing out and sparks flying as they collided.
Gesang's knife skills are ruthless and fierce, but influenced by the lifestyle of the grassland people over the past few hundred years, they are mostly straightforward and rely mainly on physical strength.
Chu Yao's swordsmanship was extremely exquisite. To put it bluntly, it was what Gesang called "cunning and treacherous," and to put it nicely, it was "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds."
Humans are made of flesh and blood, and physical strength has its limits. Gesang's brute force only leads to exhaustion and eventual decline, until he is increasingly unable to continue. In contrast, Chu Yao deftly and effortlessly deflects the broadsword with his thin, flexible longsword. As Gesang's strength wanes, Chu Yao becomes increasingly relaxed and at ease.
Not only that, but it also frees up time to appease Wushuang.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."
"He scared you. I'll get revenge for you."
"Don't cry yet, wait until you win and then cry in my arms."
...
A series of gentle words brought Wushuang back to her senses. She no longer doubted that the dashing Chu Yao before her was an illusion, and was certain that she had truly been rescued by a hero. She had confidence in Chu Yao's abilities. Whether it was a real fight or a "scheme," she had no doubt that he would lose. Therefore, she sat comfortably with her knees drawn up, watching the two fight.
Gesang was furious.
Chu Yao's actions clearly showed he didn't take him seriously. Disregarding an opponent was called arrogance when losing, but contempt when gaining the upper hand. As a prince of the Northern Frontier, always high and mighty, he couldn't tolerate such humiliation and was instantly provoked to become even more ruthless.
When facing an enemy in battle, the worst thing you can do is let anger get the better of you. When you're not calm, you're more likely to make mistakes, which means you'll create more openings for yourself.
This ruthless move not only failed to help Gesang turn the tide, but instead caused him to fall even faster. In just a few moves, Chu Yao knocked him to the ground, and then the tip of the long sword was pointed directly at his neck.
"Didn't you say that this vein is the thickest, and if you poke it, blood will gush out and you'll die instantly? I'll let you taste that wonderful feeling, how about it?"
The cold tip of the sword pressed against his skin, and Gesang was so frightened that he dared not move his eyes, fearing that he might be pierced by the sword and that even a god could not save him.
However, being a young prince, he still possessed some pride. He did not weep and beg for mercy, but instead forced himself to be intimidated and said, "Chu Yao, don't forget, my mother is the Grand Princess of your Qi Kingdom, the most respected elder sister of your emperor. If you kill me for personal grudges, your emperor will certainly not let you off!"
Chu Yao hadn't actually intended to kill him. When it came to revenge, killing someone meant the end of all suffering, the lightest and most wonderful punishment—of course, he couldn't let Gesang off so easily. (Download full txt file at )
He stepped on Gesang's chest with just the right amount of force, enough to make him feel tightness and pain in his chest, making it difficult for him to exert force and struggle.
The longsword slid down smoothly, passing over Gesang's chest, then veering to his right arm, before mercilessly piercing his flesh with a slash and a flick.
Gesang couldn't hold back any longer and cried out in pain, "You're despicable!"
A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated. To have one's tendons severed is to become a cripple for the rest of one's life, which is more painful than death.
Chu Yao chuckled and said, "Don't you highly advocate 'all's fair in war'? So what's wrong with being so despicable?"
Wu Shuang, who was watching from the sidelines, chuckled. Chu Yao turned his head and raised an eyebrow at her, but his long sword did not stop for a moment. It swiftly slid to Gesang's left arm and skillfully severed the tendons in his left hand.
The most despicable thing to do to ruin a woman's life is to defile her virginity.
The most despicable way to ruin a man's life is to destroy his beautiful vision of achieving great things.
Gesang had meticulously planned to marry the daughter of a nobleman from the Qi Kingdom, clearly preparing for a future struggle with his elder brother for the throne. Now, with the tendons in both hands crippled, he could no longer wield swords or spears, draw a bow and arrow, or even grip the reins of a horse—he was practically useless. Even if he eventually married all the princesses from neighboring kingdoms, the fierce people of the Northern Frontier would never submit to him. The gleaming throne, once so close, was now forever out of reach, unattainable in this lifetime.
As long as he is alive and can think, that resentment will continue to torment him, which is much more interesting than taking his life with a sword.
This time, Gesang was in so much pain that he lost his voice; he opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out.
Having achieved his goal, Chu Yao had no more patience for him. He kicked the man unconscious, then threw away his longsword and went to Wushuang's side.
"After seeing so much blood, you can still laugh?" He squatted down, gently wiping away the tears on Wushuang's cheeks, and teased, "Aren't you afraid? Are you still a little girl?"
If you add her age from her previous life, she's definitely not a young girl.
Wushuang curled her lips. She had already died, so a little blood was nothing to her.
But he couldn't say any of these things to Chu Yao.
"He's so wicked," Wushuang sniffed, "he deserves it!"
No punishment is too much for a villain who plots to harm others!
Chu Yao laughed and pinched her chubby cheek: "You are really interesting. Otherwise, we can get engaged and make it a done deal."
"You...you're just as bad as him!" Wushuang said angrily.
A private engagement wasn't a problem; their marriage was arranged by the emperor, their fates were sealed long ago. But a fait accompli… even if Wushuang had never been married and didn't understand the true meaning of this "fait accompli," her innate intuition told her it must be extremely shameful, and she absolutely didn't want it!
Wushuang's face was flushed, and she reached out her small hand to push Chu Yao's chest.
I need to push this jerk away, hmph!