Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 185 Discussion
Since we're already here, we might as well show off our skills.

Pei Qinghe readily agreed and turned to select more than ten people, including Pei Yan, Mao Hongling, Pei Zhi, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng. These direct descendants of the Pei family were the backbone of the Pei family army.

General Yang led a group of military officers to watch. The soldiers also quietly gathered around to see what was going on.

The Pei family army had defeated the Xiongnu barbarians, and now they had inflicted a crushing defeat on the Fanyang army. The fearsome reputation of the Sixth Miss Pei resounded throughout Youzhou. Among the Guangning army, only Yang Huai had truly experienced the Pei family army's might. The others had only heard of them; today was their first time witnessing it firsthand.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Pei Qinghe took out his usual longbow, drew an arrow from his quiver with his right hand, drew the bow and shot the arrow. The arrow flew out like lightning and hit the target a hundred meters away.

Pei Yan and a dozen others drew their bows and shot arrows together. The arrows, like shooting stars chasing the moon, all hit the bullseye of the same target.

General Yang, who knew its value, was immediately moved.

Before he could even utter a sound of surprise, Pei Qinghe fired a second arrow. The others followed suit, shooting arrows in unison, all hitting the same target.

If you were on the battlefield and encountered such a group of archers, how would you defend yourself?

General Yang's expression turned serious. The military officers behind him also changed their expressions.

Only Yang Huai wore a proud and self-satisfied expression. While everyone else was admiring Pei Liu's heroic bearing, his gaze was fixed on Pei Yan's face.

Pei Yan was exceptionally focused when shooting arrows, her gaze fierce and menacing. To be her enemy would surely be terrifying. Such a formidable woman as Pei Yan would become his fiancée.

Admiring strength is human nature and instinct. The last trace of unease in Yang Huai's heart vanished, leaving only a heart full of pride.

Pei Qinghe displayed a skill that intimidated the generals of the Guangning Army. Still not satisfied, she turned around with a smile and said, "General Yang has many fierce generals under his command. Today, I will bring them to learn a thing or two from them."

It was a fair and square competition, and General Yang found it difficult to refuse, so he could only agree: "I wonder how Sixth Miss would like to have the competition?"

Pei Qinghe laughed and said, "I will send ten men, and General Yang will also choose ten. We will fight one by one."

That's really fair.

General Yang nodded with a smile.

Pei Yan was eager to try and rubbed her hands together: "I'll go for the first match."

Pei Qinghe smiled and nodded, "Alright."

Pei Yan is the fourth... no, the third fierce general in the Pei family army. Who should the Guangning army send to fight? Everyone's eyes naturally fell on Yang Huai.

Yang Huai's face was full of resistance.

General Yang also looked over: "Yang Huai, you spar with Miss Pei Yan."

Yang Huai reluctantly stepped forward to be beaten.

As expected, Pei Yan showed no mercy to her fiancé and gave him a sound beating in front of everyone. Thankfully, she remembered Pei Qinghe's instructions and didn't hit his face.

General Yang hadn't expected Yang Huai to be defeated so quickly and so miserably. He coughed and said, "Miss Pei Yan has won!"

Pei Yan then stopped, smiled at her disheveled fiancé, and reached out her hand.

Yang Huai grabbed Pei Yan's hand and used the pull to turn over and stand up. As if scalded by boiling water, she quickly let go and retreated behind General Yang.

The generals looked at him with pity. Yang Huai was somewhat embarrassed and angry, and glared back angrily. What are you looking at? It'll be your turn soon.

The second person to step forward was Mao Hongling. The Guangning Army sent a military officer in his thirties.

Mao Hongling wielded a spear, and coincidentally, this military general also used a spear. The two spears moved like swimming dragons, their attacks fierce and spectacular.

Pei Qinghe thought to himself that the Guangning Army should not be underestimated.

After a hundred moves, neither side could gain the upper hand.

This is a friendly sparring match; overly ruthless moves are not advisable to avoid accidental injury. If this continues, the fight could go on until nightfall without a clear winner.

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "How about a draw?" General Yang remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he sighed repeatedly. This unassuming military general was one of the top fighters in the Guangning Army. Who would have thought that he couldn't defeat Mao Hongling?

The Guangning army is going to embarrass themselves in today's ten matches.

As expected, the Pei family won one match after another in the following contests, while the Guangning army only won three. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng won two of those matches. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng were not yet adults, yet they were able to fight fiercely against the generals of the Guangning army. Their victories were hardly anything to be proud of.

The soldiers from Guangning who were watching all fell silent.

In the ninth match, the Pei family's army fielded a girl of about fifteen or sixteen. The girl was slender and graceful, with a small black mole between her eyebrows, and bright, sparkling eyes; she was charming and lovely.

“She is Pei Zhi,” Pei Qinghe said with a smile, “and her preferred weapon is a two-handed sword.”

Yang Hu excitedly stepped forward two steps: "Uncle, I'll fight this battle."

General Yang glanced at his nephew, whose eyes were shining with anticipation, as if he wanted to spread his tail feathers like a peacock, and twitched the corner of his mouth: "Be careful in your response."

Don't lose too badly.

Yang Hu's mind was completely occupied by the pretty girl in front of him, and he didn't take his uncle's instructions to heart at all. He excitedly drew his long sword: "You make the first move."

Pei Zhi smiled, her voice like a silver bell: "Then I won't be polite."

With a sword flourish in each hand, he attacked like a raging storm.

Yang Hu dodged left and right in a sorry state, desperately retaliating with his longsword, but was quickly overwhelmed again. Before fifty moves were even up, his longsword was knocked away.

Pei Zhi pressed her right sword against Yang Hu's chest and smiled slowly: "You flatter me!"

Yang Hu was stunned.

General Yang felt it was too embarrassing, so he ordered his men to drag Yang Hu away.

Who should we send for the final match?
Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and smiled, walked to the center of the field, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Given Pei Qinghe's current prestige and status, only General Yang could personally intervene.

General Yang sighed inwardly and rallied his spirits to fight.

Pei Qinghe wielded a long saber, as did General Yang. The two sabers clashed, their gleaming blades flashing coldly from time to time.

The soldiers watching were all on edge, whispering among themselves: "We've lost so many matches in a row, could it be that even the general will be defeated by Miss Pei?"

"Shut your jinx! How could our general lose!"

The person who said that is not at ease with himself.

The atmosphere on Pei Jiajun's side was much more relaxed.

Pei Yan glanced at it and muttered under her breath, "Why did my cousin Qinghe go easy on me today?"

Pei Qinghe was always ruthless and merciless when training them daily. But today, in her battle against General Yang, she was noticeably more lenient.

Mao Hongling coughed and winked at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan then shut up.

After a hundred moves, Pei Qinghe suddenly retreated: "General Yang and I are evenly matched, it's hard to tell who's better. Let's call it a draw today!"

General Yang also sheathed his sword and chuckled, "Sixth Miss, you flatter me."

The generals of Guangning Army breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It was one thing for them to lose, but if their general had been defeated by Pei Qinghe, it would have been too demoralizing and humiliating.

Unbeknownst to anyone, General Yang's right wrist, which was tucked into his sleeve, was trembling slightly.

(End of this chapter)