Chapter 2035 - 2033: Xiang Zhuang Wields the Sword

At this moment, looking at Xiang Zhuang, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but feel a sense of absurdity about the world line shifting.

How did Xiang Zhuang become a woman?

Wait a minute, could it be like that game I played in my previous life, which turned famous generals into women?

For example, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Cao Cao... I wonder if Cao Cao will become a blonde twin-drilled loli this time?

As for Diao Chan...

Thinking of that pitch black muscular figure, Fang Zheng shivered all over.

Forget it, forget it, don’t think about it, don’t think about it.

"Oh, Young Master Fang hasn’t seen it yet."

Seeing Fang Zheng in a daze, Xiang Yu hurriedly introduced.

"This is my sworn sister Little Ying, and we’ve sworn brotherhood, later I named her Xiang Zhuang."

"Oh, so that’s it..."

Upon hearing Xiang Yu’s explanation, Fang Zheng understood somewhat. He initially thought Xiang Zhuang might be someone’s daughter on Xiang Shaolong’s side, but now it seems she is only a sworn sister. However, in this era, sworn brothers are common, while sworn sisters are rare, surely there was trouble among them—but Fang Zheng wouldn’t be dumb enough to ask.

Then Xiang Zhuang made a bow to everyone and started performing the sword dance.

In the original story, someone should have come out to dance with Xiang Zhuang to stop her from assassinating Liu Bang. But in reality, that’s not the case. Fang Zheng simply held his wine glass, smiling at the dancing girl before him. He could feel Xiang Zhuang’s intent towards him, wanting to kill him, though Fang Zheng didn’t care.

If you have the ability, go ahead and strike.

Can you, though?

Indeed, it was a question for Xiang Zhuang.

Historically, Xiang Zhuang was sent in by Fan Zeng to assassinate Fang Zheng, with a heart set on the kill. But when Xiang Zhuang began the dance according to plan, she was shocked to find... there wasn’t any flaw in the opponent!

Yes, no matter what path of swordsmanship she took, she couldn’t find even a tiny flaw in the opponent. Moreover, whenever she wanted to strike, her body wouldn’t listen, as if unwilling to follow Xiang Zhuang’s own intentions. This made Xiang Zhuang anxious and angry, yet helpless, only able to grit her teeth and continue the dance, trying to seize a chance for an ultimate attack against Fang Zheng.

This scene was in Fang Zheng’s view, and Xiang Yu’s too, causing him to sigh secretly. He had heard quite a lot about Fang Zheng from Xiang Shaolong, including the incident where Fang Zheng broke through Jixia Academy with a single sword, and at that time, even the top swordsmen from Six Kingdoms couldn’t draw their swords before Fang Zheng. Now, Xiang Zhuang wanting to strike at Fang Zheng was like an old mouse trying to pull a turtle without a place to start.

Of course, Xiang Yu didn’t know that Xiang Shaolong told him these things hoping he could live freely like Fang Zheng, without constraints. Xiang Shaolong envied this aspect of Fang Zheng particularly, but alas, at the time he already had the Wu Family, numerous wives and beauties, so was unable to live freely, thus hoping his son wouldn’t follow history’s old path but act freely like Fang Zheng.

Unfortunately, his weak resistance was trivial in the course of history, like an ant trying to block a cart.

Therefore, Xiang Yu could say nothing, seeing Fang Zheng not only not angry, but watching Xiang Zhuang as if enjoying a show, he continued to drink and eat in silence.

Xiang Yu remained silent, but Xiang Zhuang was extremely frustrated. Since she was able to be Xiang Yu’s sworn sister, her skills were undoubtedly outstanding, otherwise Fan Zeng wouldn’t have asked her to come in for a sword dance assassination. However, because Xiang Zhuang was highly skilled, she was all the more aware of the exceptional young man named Fang Zheng before her. At first glance, his every move seemed completely natural and unguarded, yet he left no openings for her to strike.

This feeling made Xiang Zhuang almost want to vomit blood from frustration, ultimately exhausting all her energy without being able to find even half a flaw. Helplessly, she finished the last move of her dance, then stopped, panting.

"Miss Xiang’s sword dance is very beautiful, I appreciate it very much. If honed, I believe Miss Xiang can become a top-tier expert."

Just then, Fang Zheng also chuckled and raised his glass towards Xiang Zhuang in a mock toast, making the young girl gritted her teeth in anger but helplessly had to return the gesture by clasping her hands.

"Well then, Xiang Zhuang will retire."

After uttering this, Xiang Zhuang turned around and left the camp. Outside the camp, Fan Zeng was waiting there with a sullen face, and upon seeing Xiang Zhuang retreating out, he quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

"Why not kill the fellow?"

"Sounds easy when you say it, is that person so easy to kill?!"

Hearing Fan Zeng’s complaint, Xiang Zhuang bluntly gave him a glaring look. She never really liked this Fan Zeng, who was merely Xiang Yu’s strategist. Xiang Yu respected his wisdom, calling him "Yafu," and as a result, Fan Zeng became arrogant, as though he really was Xiang Yu’s father, treating her like a daughter with advice... But from Xiang Zhuang’s perspective, just who do you think you are!

"I was looking for his flaws while I made my move earlier, but couldn’t find any throughout, not even a bit at the end! What could I do?!"

Looking at Fan Zeng’s expression, Xiang Zhuang was also internally annoyed, it was a sense between top martial artists, Fan Zeng was merely a strategist, never went to war, nor wielded weapons, naturally knowing nothing about this. Now hearing Fan Zeng speak, his face exposed disbelief. After all, Xiang Zhuang’s narrative seemed too exaggerated from his perspective.

"Fang Zheng is but mortal flesh, what makes him special? Even if he possesses divine power, with hundreds of blade and axemen at my disposal, could we not take him down?"

"If you don’t believe, why not try yourself, just don’t implicate eldest brother."

To Fan Zeng, Xiang Zhuang had zero patience, this old man’s words didn’t believe her, in Xiang Zhuang’s view, arguing with such an outsider was pointless. Hence, leaving dissatisfied with these words, she turned to leave.

It was only after that Fang Zheng withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiang Yu.

"An interesting woman."

"My sister is mischievous, please don’t take it to heart, Young Master Fang."

Facing Fang Zheng’s teasing words, Xiang Yu could only wryly smile and clasp his hands, then, as if resolving himself to something, sighed.

"Young Master Fang, I, Xiang, have thought about it. The affairs of the world are not the matter of one person, yet I, Xiang, have walked this path..."

"I understand, just like your father, you act against your will."

Fang Zheng of course understood what Xiang Yu meant. The current Xiang Yu is a Grand General renowned across the land, with the Great Rupture at Julu defeating the main force of the Qin Army, achieving a mythic status. It can be said that Xiang Yu is now the ’hope of all.’

However, this so-called ’hope’ is not from the common people. To the common people, whoever rules the world has little to do with them.

"Since that’s the case, how about I give the Grand General a chance."

Fang Zheng put down his wine cup with a chuckle.

"We shall wager on the Hangu Pass. If the Grand General can break through Hangu Pass, I, Fang, will hand over Xianyang willingly and will no longer concern myself with worldly affairs, continuing to travel and live my life as an immortal. Of course, for the sake of fairness, I will not employ the technique of killing with Kotone, nor will I use any Divine Skills. I will only dispatch my students to lead the army. How about it?"

"That... sounds good."

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Xiang Yu’s initially tense expression relaxed considerably. What he feared most was Fang Zheng’s technique of killing with Kotone. Now Fang Zheng confirmed that he will not use Divine Skills, which relieved Xiang Yu’s tense and anxious mind a great deal, though he soon had doubts.

"But... according to reports from scouts, Young Master Fang, you have under ten thousand men, while we have an army of four hundred thousand, well-equipped and high in morale after defeating Qin. Hangu Pass is certainly a natural barrier, but does Young Master Fang believe that mere tens of thousands of men can withstand my four hundred thousand troops?"

"Forty thousand."

Fang Zheng shook his head, extending four fingers.

"As the Grand General said, I don’t have that many troops under my command. Most of my soldiers are currently settling affairs elsewhere. Against your four hundred thousand troops, I can only field forty thousand soldiers."

"Only forty thousand?"

This time Xiang Yu couldn’t contain the astonishment on his face.

"Young Master Fang, are you truly not going to use any Divine Skills or extraordinary techniques?"

"Hehe."

Facing Xiang Yu’s inquiry, Fang Zheng chuckled, poured another cup of wine, and then looked at Xiang Yu to ask.

"Does the Grand General know how our ancestors fought long ago?"

"... I do not know."

"At that time, our ancestors were barely clothed, only draped in animal skins, with weapons made of wooden stone axes. Such foes, could they pose any threat in the Grand General’s eyes?"

"Of course not."

Xiang Yu shook his head. According to Fang Zheng, if the ancestors were only wearing animal skins and wielding stone axes, they could not even cut through his armor, so where would the threat be?

"I have heard that the Grand General lifted a cauldron weighing thousands with his own strength, lifting it three times. May I ask, Grand General, could you lift the Hangu Pass?"

"Naturally, no."

Xiang Yu shook his head, while Fang Zheng chuckled, finished his wine, and stood up.

"Precisely, human strength has its limits, while the power of wisdom is limitless... Then Grand General, let us meet on the battlefield. Oh, by the way, there is a saying that if people respect me a foot, I respect them ten feet. Respecting the old and cherishing the young is indeed a virtue, but if some people take advantage, the Grand General should teach them a lesson."

After saying this, Fang Zheng cupped his hands to Xiang Yu, then turned and left.

Xiang Yu looked at Fang Zheng’s receding figure in silence. After a moment, Fan Zeng hurried in, looking at Xiang Yu.

"Grand General, why didn’t you order the arrest of this man?"

"It’s not that I didn’t want to, but that I couldn’t."

"Alas!"

Hearing Xiang Yu’s response, Fan Zeng stomped his foot in frustration.

"Youth is not to be conspired with! Such a great opportunity, yet the Grand General let it slip!"

Who are you scolding?

Facing Fan Zeng’s words, Xiang Yu kept silent, though he felt annoyed inside, yet he raised his wine cup.

"Yafu, don’t be concerned. I have made a wager with Young Master Fang; as long as we can break through Hangu Pass, he will immediately hand over all the territory he occupies."

"Oh? There’s such a thing?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Zeng’s expression immediately changed. Xiang Yu nodded, watching Fan Zeng, who fell into contemplation again, reminding him of Fang Zheng’s words before he left.

Perhaps... his Yafu was indeed too indulgent?