Chapter 1715 - 1708: The Knife Given by Lin Sisi
Chapter 1715: Chapter 1708: The Knife Given by Lin Sisi
Qi Xuan was the obstacle set by Lu Mian for the three of them, but one had to admit, this obstacle was indeed very realistic.
On the battlefield in the future, even if the opponent isn’t Qi Xuan, they will undoubtedly be aiming to take lives, with no room for mercy!
They must possess outstanding martial arts skills.
"But if they lose and cannot join the military, all the hard work from Daddy and you over the past three years will be in vain." Lin Sisi felt pained and regretted it deeply.
Chu Jinling comforted her, "Why not think about whether today’s situation can still be salvaged?"
Lin Sisi looked at Yang Xianhui on the martial platform, fighting against Qi Xuan.
Yang Xianhui was strong, agile, and quick-witted, able to respond to Qi Xuan’s overwhelming power. She might not lose to him in hand-to-hand combat.
"But when it comes time to use weapons, Yang Xianhui’s sword is definitely no match for Qi Xuan’s dual hammers." Lin Sisi frowned in distress.
As Yang Xianhui and Qi Xuan sparred, Lin Sisi led Chu Jinling to a place and returned carrying a large saber.
Lin Yu, who was originally lying off to the side, struggled to sit up because she wanted to watch Yang Xianhui and Qi Xuan’s match.
"Take it slow."
Ye Hongru was by her side, keeping watch.
Seeing her injured, Ye Hongru also felt troubled in his heart.
He handed Lin Yu the Heart Protection Pill previously gifted by Su Yingxue and carefully instructed, "This medicine was given to me by the empress. It can protect your heart’s meridians. Take it now and stay seated without moving."
Lin Yu stared at the small brown medicine bottle with wide eyes. "The Heart Protection Pill from the empress? It’s... it’s too precious; I can’t take it!"
Such a thing was surely capable of reviving the dead and prolonging life.
Though she had been stabbed once, it wasn’t fatal enough to warrant wasting Ye Hongru’s rare and valuable medicine.
Ye Hongru stuffed the medicine bottle into her hand. "Take it now! Stop arguing!"
As he spoke, he turned his head and pretended to watch the martial platform, concealing the faint blush on his cheeks.
Lin Yu tightly held the small brown medicine bottle, her chest swelling with emotion.
She didn’t know why, but she felt a deep sense of gratitude and even an urge to cry.
Yet she couldn’t cry publicly; she didn’t want Ye Hongru to look down on her.
Silently, she took the Heart Protection Pill.
As she raised her head to look at the martial platform again, two figures fell in succession.
Yang Xianhui and Qi Xuan had both fallen off the martial platform.
The match ended without a winner.
"Crown Prince, surely this round can’t be declared a loss for Yang Xianhui?" Lin Aotian stood up excitedly and pointed towards the viewing platform.
Chu Heng nodded. "The rule is that falling off the martial platform equals losing. Since both fell together, it’s a draw."
"Why call it a draw?" Lu Mian pointed to the fallen Yang Xianhui and Qi Xuan. "Crown Prince, you surely saw clearly—Yang Xianhui was struck down by Qi Xuan, while Qi Xuan merely slipped and fell."
"What nonsense!" Lin Aotian roared at him. "Do you even know martial arts? Do you understand what it means to spar? Go ahead and try slipping on a platform during combat—he simply couldn’t win! Both of them fell together!"
Lin Aotian’s blunt words held truth.
Yang Xianhui, realizing that continuing the fight stood no chance of victory, employed a clever technique and struck Qi Xuan’s rear ankle.
When Qi Xuan struck her down, he inevitably lost his balance as well and fell alongside her.
At least this ensured a draw!
But regardless of the cleverness of her move, Yang Xianhui did not lose to Qi Xuan in this round.
"This round is a draw."
Chu Heng announced the result of the match.
The civil officials’ faction fell into silence, while the martial generals erupted into cheers.
"General Lin, why celebrate so soon? It’s only a draw. None of them have managed to defeat Qi Xuan, not to mention using weapons." Lu Mian’s cold face remained scornful, as if the martial generals owed him something.
Lin Aotian, enraged, gritted his teeth, itching to punch him!
But he couldn’t deny that Lu Mian was not wrong.
No one had truly defeated Qi Xuan.
Qi Xuan sat at the resting area, grabbed a bottle of medicinal wine, and poured it roughly on his ankle, rubbing it forcefully.
After tending to his injury, he immediately knelt before Chu Heng. "Crown Prince, though I am injured, I can continue the fight! In the weapons round, I will certainly not lose to them!"
Qi Xuan’s expression was filled with determination.
His competitive spirit was directed at Lin Sisi but also at all women!
He absolutely refused to lose to a woman again!
Lin Sisi was well aware of his need to assert dominance. Carrying her saber, she told Chu Jinling to help Yang Xianhui to the resting area.
Yang Xianhui clutched her chest, her complexion pale. "General Lin, my rib is injured. In the next weapons round, I fear I won’t win."
She had fought hard to secure the draw in this match.
If she fought again, she wouldn’t mind risking her life, but she didn’t want to disgrace the women’s martial trials or ruin the opportunity for her three sisters to join the army.
Fu Yuan’s expression was cold, but her heart burned with passion. "Now that both of you are hurt, I’ll step up to face him."
"No!"
"No!"
Yang Xianhui and Lin Sisi both objected simultaneously.
Lin Sisi frowned, meeting Fu Yuan’s gaze. "Let me speak bluntly, and don’t be offended. Your martial arts aren’t as good as Lin Yu’s or Yang Xianhui’s. Your strength lies in clever tactics and skill in maneuvering against enemies;
But in physical combat, your power and stamina fall short. If you wield a weapon, you’ll lose even faster."
Lin Sisi had battled Qi Xuan before and knew that Yang Xianhui was the only one with a real chance of defeating him.
After all, she hailed from a family of warriors, was gifted in martial arts, and trained diligently.
In many ways, she resembled Lin Sisi when she was younger.
"But General Lin, if Fu Yuan doesn’t step forward, does that mean we’ll have to concede defeat?" Yang Xianhui coughed weakly a few times, her chest wracked with pain as though her ribs were cracking one by one.
But she couldn’t resign herself to it!
She had admired Lin Sisi since childhood and grew up in Father’s military camp. She had finally earned an opportunity to formally join the army!
She didn’t want to give up!
"There’s still Lin Yu."
Lin Sisi’s gaze fell on Lin Yu.
Lin Yu could hardly believe it.
Pointing to herself, she exclaimed, "Me?"
"General Lin! Lin Yu has injuries! The sword to her chest, though not deep, bled heavily. If her wound splits open again, her life could be in danger!"
Ye Hongru stood up in alarm.
Lin Sisi hefted the resounding saber on her shoulder. "I know, but this desperate gamble is the last hope for the three of them and the only chance to defeat Qi Xuan."
"I can defeat Qi Xuan?"
This time, it was Lin Yu who stood up.
She was exhilarated, even overly excited. "General Lin, I’m willing! What plan do you have to help me defeat Qi Xuan?"
She would follow her instructions to the letter!
"I have no special strategy. This is my father’s saber; take it and go face Qi Xuan."
Lin Sisi raised the towering saber upright.
Lin Yu stared at the saber, towering taller than herself, her mouth agape enough to hold two eggs. "This blade... you want me to use it against Qi Xuan?"