Chapter 628: Let's Exchange a Few Moves

Zhang Wu'an turned his head to look at Xiao Er: "You're in pretty good spirits today! You actually want to go up too?"

But the soldiers all refused:

"Xiao Er! You spend all day with the Princess, and now you're competing with us?"

"Exactly! If Xiao Er goes up, what are we even fighting for? We might as well just admit defeat."

"No way! We don't agree!"

Lu Wu heard it and was overjoyed: Exactly! Don't agree to any of it!

How could I possibly beat that big black guy?

Xiao Er stepped forward, clasped his hands to the soldiers, and said loudly: "Everyone, rest easy!"

"This brother finally got drawn; if no one fights him, wouldn't that be a waste?"

"I won't fight you; whoever wins among you can still accompany the Princess tomorrow!"

He turned his head to look at Tuan Tuan: "Right, Miss?"

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands, lowered her head to look at Lu Wu: "Exactly!"

"This uncle, my second uncle doesn't lightly engage in sparring with people!"

"You look so strong, why not spar with my second uncle?"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers had no objections and all shouted at Lu Wu:

"Old Zhao! Fight well! It's not easy to get a chance to exchange moves with Xiao Er!"

"Exactly! He's a veteran of a hundred battles! Having him point you out will definitely benefit you greatly!"

Lu Wu was almost going crazy: Me? Benefit greatly?

"A veteran of a hundred battles? Are you trying to beat me to death?"

Zhang Wu'an pointed at the circle on the ground and shouted: "Listen up! Anyone knocked out of this circle loses!"

He then held up three fingers: "If you're knocked down and I count to three and you still haven't gotten up, that also counts as a loss! Understood?"

The crowd replied in unison: "Understood!"

Zhang Wu'an nodded satisfactorily, waved his big hand: "Everyone step back! Make space!"

He pointed at Lu Wu: "Old Zhao, you and Xiao Er will fight last! Let the other brothers go first!"

The soldiers scattered with a roar, clearing a large open space around the white circle.

Lu Wu hastily threw on his clothes and also retreated to the back.

Xiao Er's gaze swept over him lightly, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, as if looking at a prey that could not escape.

Being looked at by him made Lu Wu's back turn cold, his breath halting for a beat.

The sparring match began.

The first pair to step up were both in their early twenties, one broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, the other lean and wiry like a monkey.

The broad-shouldered one raised his fist and smashed it forward, bringing a howling wind.

The lean one did not meet it head-on; his foot slipped, he loached like a loach under the other's armpit, then struck with a backward palm to his back, nearly sending him flying out of the circle.

"Good!" The surrounding cheers thundered.

Lu Wu watched the two men exchange fists and kicks, each punch carrying wind, each kick kicking up dust, his heart trembling nonstop.

In the end, the broad-shouldered one still pinned the lean man firmly to the ground.

Zhang Wu'an shouted: "One, two, three! Stop!"

The lean man brushed off the dirt, grimaced as he stood, bowed to his opponent, and openly admitted defeat.

The soldiers burst into another round of cheers.

Lu Wu looked at the blue-and-purple marks on their bodies, his throat going dry.

This kind of sparring is clearly a fight for life!

He swallowed saliva, retreated another half step, and his back bumped into the chest of the soldier behind him.

That soldier grabbed him: "Old Zhao, it's not your turn yet, what's there to panic about? Xiao Er's skills may be good, but you shouldn't be scared like this!"

Lu Wu forced a tug at the corner of his mouth, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his throat.

"I'm not an idiot, how could I not be afraid!"

The second pair to go up were even fiercer than the first.

Both were towering like iron pillars, neither dodging, exchanging punch for punch, hard on hard, fist to flesh, making the onlookers' blood vessels surge.

In the end, one of them was blown out of the white circle by a single punch, fell to the ground and couldn't get up for a long while.

Lu Wu's face turned pale from watching; he glanced up at Xiao Er and thought: If I were to fight him, I probably couldn't withstand even one punch.

No, I absolutely cannot fight!

His eyes darted wildly; he had to think of a way to escape, at least avoid it for now.

Just then, the scorching sun overhead baked his neck until it felt hot.

He abruptly lifted his head, gazing at the bright, glaring sun.

Right, I could pretend to faint!

Standing under the big sun for so long, having worked all morning, fainting would be only natural.

He had just begun to lean back when he stopped himself.

Wrong, only two groups have just finished sparring, the third group hasn't even gone up yet; fainting now would be too fake.

If the camp's medic saw through the act, military discipline here is strict; this life might be over.

Wait a bit longer, then faint when it's almost my turn; anyway, I'm fighting that big black guy last.

Having figured out a plan, Lu Wu calmed down and began to watch the match with relish.

But after a while, a fresh, sweet fragrance wafted over.

Lu Wu looked up and saw several kitchen soldiers carrying a few big buckets, laughing as they walked into the Training Ground.

"Make way! Make way! The mung bean soup is here!"

Zhang Wu'an waved his hand, and the two fighters locked in a tough bout on the field immediately stopped.

"Hold on! Drink up, then keep fighting!"

The soldiers cheered and swarmed over in a rush.

Tuan Tuan sprang up onto the chair with a whoosh, and Lu Qi and Xiao Er each reached out a hand to steady her.

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand and shouted down at the crowd: "Uncles! I had the kitchen cook mung bean soup for you! I even added mint!"

"It's cool—drink it and you won't fear the sun! Drink plenty!"

The soldiers laughed even harder, shouting all at once:

"The Princess really looks out for us!"

"On such a scorching day, a bowl of mung bean soup is more comfortable than anything!"

"Thank you, Princess!"

The cooks ladled out the soup swiftly, handing over bowl after bowl.

Lu Wu stood there stunned, watching the soldiers gulp down their bowls, faces full of satisfied smiles.

"Well, how am I supposed to keep up the act now?"

He lifted his head and glanced at Tuan Tuan.

Under the blazing sun, he felt ice-cold all over—are you trying to play me to death?

Why does every escape route I think of get blocked dead by you?

Someone handed him a bowl: "Lao Zhao! What are you standing there for? Drink!"

Lu Wu took the bowl blankly and lowered his head to look.

The soup was a clear, bright green, with a few shredded mint leaves floating on top, its cool sweet fragrance drifting straight into his nose.

"Not drink? No way—that'd be giving myself away!"

He tipped his head back and gulped it down; the icy coolness slid from his throat to his stomach.

"Well, there's no way I can fake passing out now."

After finishing the soup, the soldiers wiped their mouths and started shouting again to continue the sparring.

"Come on! Next pair!"

"Hurry up! Don't waste time!"

Seeing each pair finish their bout, it would soon be his turn to face that big black guy.

Lu Wu felt dazed—why did I come here?

At last the sparring ended; Zhang Wu'an jumped down from the platform, raising a soldier's arm: "Today's winner of the prize! Old Cai!"

Tuan Tuan hopped down from the chair happily: "Uncle Cai! Will you help me bathe Xiao Feifei tomorrow?"

"Nngh—" Xiao Feifei gave a little grunt and drooped her head listlessly.

Old Cai was thrilled: "Good!"

The next moment.

Xiao Er took off his upper garment, jumped into the ring, and fixed his gaze on Lu Wu: "Come on, Lao Zhao, let's exchange two moves."

Lu Wu went rigid all over.