Princess Yu did not understand the meaning of these four words, nor did she know how much affirmation and praise these four words were for Luo Zhiheng's performance this time! To receive these four words from the old war spirit of the Grand Marshal of the Army and Cavalry was definitely enough for Luo Zhiheng to proudly announce to the world.
The casualty figures for both sides show that the White Army lost 1,300 infantry, 1,100 cavalry, and 800 seriously wounded, totaling 3,200! This means the White Army lost more than half its men in the first battle, leaving only 1,800 usable soldiers. Meanwhile, Luo Zhiheng's side had 3,000 infantry intact, but lost 700 of their 2,000 cavalry! Their remaining fighting force was a staggering 4,300!
This number absolutely astonished everyone! Although Luo Zhiheng's command was effective, it wasn't very precise. Such a result was definitely due to good luck, because Zhuge Hualuan hadn't made any strategic deployment whatsoever. But regardless, Luo Zhiheng won the first battle, that's undeniable!
Logically, this match should have ended, because judging from the losses suffered by both sides, Zhuge Hualuan had already lost.
But Zhuge Hualuan defiantly challenged her, saying, "I refuse to accept this! The two generals haven't even fought yet, so the other side can't be considered the winner! I want to have a one-on-one battle with Luo Zhiheng. If she can beat me, then she wins; if I beat her, then I win this match! Luo Zhiheng, do you dare to accept the challenge?"
Before the competition organizers could react, Luo Zhiheng had already spurred her horse forward and stood still. The wind blew golden sand onto her delicate cheeks, but she didn't even blink. Confident words, emanating from her red lips with a smug smile, slowly spilled out: "What's there to be afraid of? Today, I'll make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
220. A clash of titans, full of twists and turns, culminating in a ruthless final blow! (Seeking monthly votes)
Updated: 2013-07-31 13:23:51 Word Count: 7780
The sun slowly sank, now hanging obliquely in the western sky, its fiery red color dyeing the entire sky crimson. The blood-red sky resembled a vast, all-encompassing net of blood, shrouding this ancient battlefield in sand and dust. In an instant, people seemed to be engulfed in a storm of blood and carnage; the atmosphere was tense and oppressive, a battle about to erupt!
Two women, one in a silver-white battle robe and the other in a black-gold battle robe, rode forward slowly to the center. The two armies faced each other. The white side's morale was declining, while the black side's morale was overwhelming. The black side's elite soldiers shouted their support, their voices rising higher and higher, like the roar of an angry dragon from the heavens echoing across the desert: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Zhuge Hualuan was actually shocked by the scene before her, but she was not afraid of Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiheng could command thousands of troops, but she might not be able to defeat her in a one-on-one fight. She was confident that she could make Luo Zhiheng look disheveled and defeated today!
Luo Zhiheng also looked at Zhuge Hualuan. As they drew closer, she naturally saw the smug and ruthless provocation in his eyes. Her expression remained calm yet serious. When they stopped about ten meters apart and looked at each other, the wind blew up the yellow sand, which, like a light veil, obscured their view.
"This time I will not show any mercy," Zhuge Hualuan coldly declared.
Luo Zhiheng spoke sharply: "Do you have a chance to show mercy?"
"Hmph! Stop with the empty talk, let's see who's the real deal in terms of skill!" Zhuge Hualuan scoffed, gripping his long sword and spurring his warhorse toward Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng's gaze turned cold. Without another word, she shouted and her warhorse galloped forward. The wind suddenly became sharp, as if steel knives were piercing her face. It hurt, but it also stimulated Luo Zhiheng's blood to boil, and her fighting spirit was burning!
With her golden iron rod at her side, the distance of a dozen meters was covered in the blink of an eye as the two attacked simultaneously on their galloping horses. In the instant they passed each other, they drew their weapons, and with a clang, the sharp sword and the fine gold rod clashed in the air, producing a crisp sound and dazzling sparks.
Their first encounter was a swift brush past each other, before they turned their horses around and began a second round, once again locked in a stalemate. Zhuge Hualuan's expression now held a fierce and tyrannical air, unlike that of a gentle woman from the Southern Dynasties. Her attacks were ruthless, all aimed at Luo Zhiheng's vital points. There was absolutely no restraint whatsoever!
Luo Zhiheng knew that this must be the wild spirit of the grasslands that Zhuge Hualuan's mother possessed! It was truly unexpected that Zhuge Hualuan, who seemed so weak, was so extraordinary! Each move made Luo Zhiheng look at her with new respect, and she even felt a little tense.
Although she was powerful in her past life, Luo Zhiheng's body in this life is really weak. It's true that she can persevere, but if her opponent is too strong, she will probably suffer. Moreover, Zhuge Hualuan is getting stronger and stronger as he grows older, and he seems to have the momentum to crush Luo Zhiheng to the ground so that she can never get up again.
Luo Zhiheng swallowed her anger and swung her iron rod fiercely, forcing Zhuge Hualuan, who had been fighting at close range, to retreat, giving her a chance to catch her breath.
"I didn't expect you to be so skilled." Luo Zhiheng was slightly out of breath; she was exhausted from dealing with the situation. After all, she hadn't received much professional training, and her style was far removed from that of this era. Zhuge Hualuan's swordsmanship was clearly a complete set, with each move tightly linked, capable of leaving the enemy breathless and possessing great power. Such swordsmanship was practically a nemesis to Luo Zhiheng, who knew nothing about swordsmanship.
"Hmph, scared now? Too late," she said arrogantly and contemptuously. Once Zhuge Hualuan mounted her warhorse and picked up her sword, her gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a dark, murderous aura and arrogance—she was completely different from before!
Luo Zhiheng laughed heartily, performing a beautiful flourish with the iron rod in her hand. She shouted, "I, Luo Zhiheng, have never been afraid of anyone in my life, and you, Zhuge Hualuan, have no right to make me afraid! I originally thought you were weak and didn't want to bully you, but now it seems you are very cunning and scheming, so I don't need to be polite to you anymore!"
Luo Zhiheng was genuinely cheering herself on, her words sounding impressive and domineering, but deep down she knew that in a one-on-one fight, she was no match for Zhuge Hualuan! In a prolonged battle, she would find it difficult to defeat Zhuge Hualuan; the woman's martial arts were indeed formidable. If she hadn't been seriously injured earlier, perhaps she might have had a chance to defeat Zhuge Hualuan, but now, after this exchange, the intense movements had aggravated the wound on her left shoulder blade, causing her excruciating pain. She was already sweating profusely, her sweaty palms even making the iron rod slippery!
The reason she danced so slowly and gently before was partly because she was thinking about her wound. After all, her shoulder blade was a bloody hole that had been pierced. Every time she smiled and told Mu Yunhe that it didn't hurt, she didn't know how many times her eyes had reddened from the pain.
But she would never give up, even if she lost! She would persevere as long as she could, and she couldn't give up today either. Victory was within her grasp, and she would use any means necessary to defeat Zhuge Hualuan and save Mu Yunhe! So she had to win today no matter what!
Belief can be a terrifying thing sometimes; it can make a person strong, tough, and unstoppable!
"Then come on!" Zhuge Hualuan sneered. After the exchange, she no longer took Luo Zhiheng seriously. She knew that Luo Zhiheng had a hard time dealing with her and was no match for her. So why should she be afraid or polite?
Zhuge Hualuan attacked again. This time, Luo Zhiheng did not passively wait to fight back. Instead, she took the initiative and struck out with her stick. By using the length of the stick, she not only kept Zhuge Hualuan at a safe distance, but also looked for an opportunity to seriously injure her!
Just as the stick was about to strike her shoulder, Zhuge Hualuan quickly leaned back, barely dodging the blow. But just as she breathed a sigh of relief, Luo Zhiheng's strength shifted, and the stick, which had been hurtling to the side, swiftly returned, striking Zhuge Hualuan squarely in the chest guard as she was about to get up!
With a clang, the indestructible iron rod shattered Zhuge Hualuan's protective mirror, causing it to fall to pieces in the blink of an eye.
Zhuge Hualuan's expression changed. She deflected Luo Zhiheng's staff with her sword, spurred her horse back several steps, and glared defensively at Luo Zhiheng. Her chest was throbbing with pain, making her heart race with fear! She hadn't expected Luo Zhiheng to be so formidable, injuring her first! Damn it!
Zhuge Hualuan steadied himself and rode forward again, his sword flashing in various patterns, its aura sharp and intimidating.
Luo Zhiheng's pupils constricted. He's using this trick again!
She stood quietly in place, her eyes fixed on the ever-changing sword flowers, but she could not find a way to break through them. As the buzzing sword energy grew closer, Luo Zhiheng felt her scalp tingle and swiftly chopped out with the iron rod in her hand.
Ding ding ding!
The only sounds in the air were the clanging of metal against metal, and sparks flew everywhere!
The two warhorses seemed startled by the huge sparks and sword energy, neighing and pacing back and forth in fear. This caused the two riders to get even closer in an instant. Luo Zhiheng was inevitably injured by the sword energy, her clothes were torn in places, but it was also because of this close proximity that she saw a flaw in the rapidly changing sword.
Luo Zhiheng's eyes gleamed, and she suddenly thrust out her staff, stabbing it directly into the center of the opponent's sword flower.
"Haha! Luo Zhiheng, you've fallen for it! Die!" Zhuge Hualuan suddenly let out a sinister laugh. Her swordplay instantly changed, the blade becoming blindingly bright in the blink of an eye. The swordplay vanished, the tip hurtling straight towards Luo Zhiheng's throat, fast and fierce! 16478510
"Aheng!!" Mu Yunhe, who was watching from the sidelines, was terrified. When he saw this, he couldn't help but stand up abruptly and let out a low roar.
The hundreds of thousands of people in the audience were completely engrossed and on edge, and now they couldn't help but scream along with the crowd. This sword strike was simply too sharp, too merciless; it showed no sign of slowing down, instead growing faster and faster, and it looked like it was about to pierce Luo Zhiheng!
Luo Zhiheng's pupils also constricted, but fortunately she remained calm and composed. In the nick of time, she abandoned her warhorse, fell backward, and jumped off its back. After rolling several times on the desert, she endured the pain from the impact and aimed at the enemy's warhorse. She swung her iron rod hard, striking the horse's hoof.
The warhorse neighed violently in pain, instantly becoming agitated. It bounced back and forth, and before Zhuge Hualuan could react to this sudden change, he was thrown off his horse and landed awkwardly on the desert.
"You're despicable!" Zhuge Hualuan roared. She thought she had knocked Luo Zhiheng off her horse, and before she could even feel happy, she herself had fallen from her horse right after. How could she not be furious?
"Likewise, didn't you also cheat?" Luo Zhiheng said with a cold laugh, panting.
"Hmph! I can still win beautifully even after dismounting!" Zhuge Hualuan said angrily, standing up nimbly and charging towards Luo Zhiheng with his long sword in hand.
Luo Zhiheng was also furious. Zhuge Hualuan was clearly determined to kill them all. Where was the semblance of a martial arts contest? Since that was the case, why should she hold back?
"Then bring it on!" If they want to fight, how could she be afraid? Luo Zhiheng stood up, holding her breath. This time, the two of them were fighting in close combat, with real swords and spears, relying on strength and skill.
Ke Luo Zhiheng's good luck seemed to have run out. In terms of strength and skill, she was no match for Zhuge Hualuan at this moment!
"Hmph! I didn't expect the Zhuge family to be so secretive. Look at this! They start by surprising everyone. Isn't she supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the world? I think she's more like the most ferocious and stinking old woman in the world!" General Murong really disliked Zhuge Hualuan. He had never heard of this seemingly weak girl knowing any martial arts. Who would have thought that such a girl was so powerful? Hiding her true strength was really strange and suspicious.
"Grand Ancestor! Grand Ancestor! What happened? The two of them are fighting. Who is more powerful, Luo Zhiheng or that Zhuge? Tell Yu'er quickly!" Princess Yu shouted anxiously, shaking General Murong's arm.
General Murong was in a bad mood, but he still doted on his great-granddaughter, so he softened his tone and said, "See? Miss Zhuge is attacking the girl with fierce and ruthless moves, not giving her a chance to breathe. I would applaud her if she fought so hard on the battlefield, but in a competition like this for girls, I'm not blind. Do you think I can't tell whether it's intentional or accidental?"
"Huh? So that means Zhuge Hualuan is deliberately targeting Luo Zhiheng?" Princess Yu exclaimed, angrily shouting, "You villain!"
Zhuge Huahun could also see that his granddaughter's motives were impure, but the fact that his granddaughter practiced martial arts in private was never known to outsiders was indeed a source of criticism. In this way, he couldn't say too much, but in the end, he couldn't bear to hear anyone say anything about his child. Zhuge Huahun said, "Who doesn't have secrets? Wasn't Luo Zhiheng infamous before? Isn't she amazingly talented now? What's there to say? Hualuan is a sensible child and won't hurt Luo Zhiheng."
"That would be for the best! Luo Zhiheng is our Tong family's granddaughter-in-law. If she is really harmed in the slightest by someone with malicious intent, then this old man will not stand idly by and do nothing." Old Master Tong's seemingly casual words contained sarcasm and warning.
The fact that these old friends could have such a falling out over two kids shows that they really are like children in their old age.
Luo Zhiheng barely dodged Zhuge Hualuan's sword strike that came crashing down on her head, but a strand of hair near her ear was severed by the sharp blade. She fell to the side, glancing at the stray hair, her eyes swirling with turbulent emotions. Her heavy breathing was abnormally rapid; she was almost out of strength. Her chest and back were soaked, sticky and reeking of blood.
Luo Zhiheng smiled bitterly to himself. Damn it, the wound had actually reopened!
However, Zhuge Hualuan saw Luo Zhiheng's weakness and not only refused to let go, but pressed her even harder, slashing at Luo Zhiheng with his sword once more. A ferocious smile appeared on his face.
Luo Zhiheng's pupils contracted, but she was not afraid. Since she couldn't fight head-on, she would outsmart her!
She tumbled rapidly across the desert, and Zhuge Hualuan, as if possessed, unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, each one plunging deep into the sand just as the nude photograph had rolled away. The force of each strike was so great that the blade pierced the desert to the very bottom, demonstrating the immense power and ruthlessness she employed!
"What exactly is she trying to do?" The King's lips curled into a chilling smile, his face displeased. The martial arts competition of the World Tournament forbade any harm, and he was so skilled that he could tell at a glance that Zhuge Hualuan's strength was truly deadly. The King could no longer remain calm, and he gave Madam Song a cold, sweeping glance.
Madam Song was extremely nervous, but since no major harm had been caused and Luo Zhiheng had managed to dodge each attack, they couldn't call a halt now.
Everyone in the audience was on edge, holding their breath, because of this thrilling and tense scene.
Luo Zhiheng rolled more than ten meters away. Zhuge Hualuan seemed tired, or perhaps impatient; in any case, the speed of her sword strike slowed slightly. Luo Zhiheng, however, acted decisively, grabbing a handful of yellow sand and hurling it at Zhuge Hualuan's face. Zhuge Hualuan didn't react immediately, his eyes narrowing, his composure shattered. Luo Zhiheng then swung her staff fiercely, striking Zhuge Hualuan's ankle heavily.
"Ah!" Zhuge Hualuan cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
Luo Zhiheng immediately flipped over and pounced on Zhuge Hualuan. Instead of using her weapon, she punched Zhuge Hualuan hard in the shoulder, avoiding vital areas and the heart. She didn't intend to seriously injure Zhuge Hualuan, but Luo Zhiheng was still very angry if she didn't beat her up.
When Zhuge Hualuan tried to resist, Luo Zhiheng was one step ahead of her, pressing an acupoint on Zhuge Hualuan's wrist. A tingling sensation spread throughout her body, and Zhuge Hualuan was in so much pain that she couldn't hold her sword properly. Luo Zhiheng grabbed her neck and restrained her. If this were really on the battlefield, Luo Zhiheng could kill Zhuge Hualuan with just one forceful movement.
"Great!" Murong Qianxue exclaimed, shouting happily, "Well done, Luo Zhiheng!"
Mu Yunhe's tense heart finally relaxed upon seeing this scene.
"Hmph, see? This is what they call 'all's fair in war,' and also 'wisdom and courage.' Your granddaughter resorted to underhanded tactics, so don't blame others for retaliating in kind." General Murong's smug face was filled with pride.
Zhuge Huahun remained silent, after all, it was Hua Luanxian who hadn't been careful. But in his heart, he cursed: These old bastards, they've become arrogant as soon as the Mu Dynasty won.
The King's expression softened, and a slight smile appeared on his face. Luo Zhiheng had won this round, so the Hundred-Year Golden Toad Pearl was now his. "Good job, little girl, well done."
"Do you submit?" Although it was afternoon, the scorching sun still made the heat unbearable, but Luo Zhiheng's face was covered in cold sweat, not from exhaustion but from pain. She asked, her voice calm, without any smugness.
Zhuge Hualuan looked closely at Luo Zhiheng, feeling truly indignant. How could she accept that Luo Zhiheng had won through trickery? Her head was already bowed in anger.
"You are truly despicable and shameless. You actually used such a low-down method, but I am not convinced!" Zhuge Hualuan said angrily.
"Heh, it's fine if you're not convinced, but do you think I'll let you go now that you're in my hands? Do you think you still have a chance to turn things around? Don't dream about it. Stand up, you're my prisoner now!" Luo Zhiheng grabbed her arm with one hand and restrained her neck with the other, pulling her up.
But when she exerted force suddenly, Luo Zhiheng aggravated her torn wound and couldn't help but groan.
Zhuge Hualuan narrowed her eyes and approached Luo Zhiheng before suddenly smelling a strong stench of blood. Seeing Luo Zhiheng like this, she realized that she was clearly injured and weak. Her frantic struggle was replaced by excitement, and her eyes suddenly fell on Luo Zhiheng's chest. The black gold battle robe could not hide her sweat and... blood!
Blood beads had already seeped into Luo Zhiheng's battle robe on her left shoulder blade!
She had injuries! And they must have been serious!
When Zhuge Hualuan confirmed this fact, she was overjoyed, but this was followed by overwhelming jealousy and hatred! She couldn't help but think that Luo Zhiheng had been fighting her while seriously injured, and she knew very well that she hadn't stabbed Luo Zhiheng with her sword for so long, so the wound was not what she thought it was.
Despite being severely injured, she managed to hold on for so long and even capture him alive. Zhuge Hualuan didn't have the magnanimity or courage to praise Luo Zhiheng. Instead, she would find Luo Zhiheng pretentious and shameless, even thinking that Luo Zhiheng looked down on her. She would only despise Luo Zhiheng more.
With a quick glance, Zhuge Hualuan, seemingly unaware of what was happening, stood up with Luo Zhiheng's help. Her back was pressed against Luo Zhiheng's chest as she took a few steps forward. But after a few steps, she suddenly raised her elbow, which had been gripping Luo Zhiheng's arm, and slammed it hard into Luo Zhiheng's left shoulder blade. She used all her strength in that blow, her expression faintly contorted with rage.
"Ugh!" A sharp pain swept over her instantly! Almost reflexively, Luo Zhiheng released her hand, arched her body, and staggered backward.
Before she could react, Zhuge Hualuan, who was prepared, turned around and kicked Luo Zhiheng hard in the left shoulder blade!
With a thud, Luo Zhiheng's body collapsed heavily into the desert. Her face was pale with pain, and she curled up on the ground. For a moment, her mind went blank. Her whole body was numb with pain, and she couldn't control her body or thoughts. Like a lamb to the slaughter, she curled up on the ground, clutching her left shoulder blade, her teeth chattering with pain! 178.
Zhuge Hualuan, however, felt extremely satisfied! She had finally found a chance for revenge, and she had finally seen Luo Zhiheng in pain! Wasn't she arrogant and rude in front of her? Wasn't she powerful and flamboyant in front of her? Let her be powerful and arrogant on her own!
Zhuge Hualuan didn't care about anything else. In short, Luo Zhiheng had stolen her thunder, offended her, and just now made her lose face. She would never let Luo Zhiheng off the hook!
She walked step by step toward Luo Zhiheng, her haughty arrogance like that of a victor, looking at Luo Zhiheng's pale face without any pity. In that instant, she even felt that Luo Zhiheng's pale face and disheveled hair possessed a breathtaking beauty! Even... surpassing her!
Zhuge Hualuan instantly felt a tense sense of danger, as if her position was threatened. All the old and new grudges surged up at once. Enraged, Zhuge Hualuan's gaze turned vicious as she looked at the fallen iron rod beside her. Luo Zhiheng had just hit her with that rod; now she wanted Luo Zhiheng to taste the same iron rod!
Zhuge Hualuan picked up the iron rod and raised it towards Luo Zhiheng.