Chapter 195: Must Make Someone Cry

The two Cavalry Commanders from the Northern Great Camp walked over together, saying, "They said to let the most skilled go over, said they wanted to have a match? Why so sudden?"

I don't know... They said the Marquis's Manor is marrying off a daughter tomorrow, so why are they suddenly holding a martial contest today!

Upon arriving at the main drill field in the center of the camp, I saw many people already gathered—even Marquis Wei and his son and a few regional generals had arrived.

What a grand formation—this is a real match!

Wasn't I supposed to bring only the top experts? Why are there so many people? I only called four!

I don't know, let's just come watch the excitement...

Inside the field, Wei Shen had already stepped forward to stir things up, shouting, "Why so many people? We want experts, experts! Those just watching, step back! If you're serious about signing up, stand here!"

Where's the Young Master?

He was being held by Marquis Wei, who cherished his little chubby hand, and said, "Just sit here with Grandfather, let Wei Shen cause a ruckus."

His close aides glanced at the Young Master, then at Wei Peng and Wei Huo, wondering, "Where did this big grandson suddenly come from?"

He looks seven or eight, even older than Wei Huo's sole legitimate son!

One look and you can tell he's a Wei—those big auspicious phoenix eyes are spot-on.

This child clearly grew up amid wealth and luxury, fair and delicate, dressed finely, and even carried a majestic eagle on his shoulder.

No matter how they racked their brains, they couldn't imagine he was the grandson from far in the Northern Border; they wondered if he might be an illegitimate child, but it didn't matter—the old master liked him so much that legitimacy seemed irrelevant.

The Young Master leaned against Marquis Wei's front, like a favored junior, and this experience was novel for him.

The Young Master stepped close and whispered to his maternal grandfather, "Do you believe your second cousin will win?"

Marquis Wei laughed, "I believe he's definitely improved; otherwise he couldn't be so arrogant. But Grandfather still wants to see him get a comeuppance—such arrogance needs to be taken down a notch."

The Young Master trusted Wei Shen's words, now brimming with confidence; hearing this, he announced to his maternal grandfather, "My second cousin and I have worked hard these past two years—just watch, it's not certain who'll have the last laugh."

Oh, you're still confident? You two work hard, but with no one supervising you troublemakers, of course you'd be diligent—how could he not believe it?

Just keep laughing for now—later, when my cousin and I sweep aside your elite troops, you'll lose face…" The Young Master glanced at Marquis Wei and added, "You won't take it out on a kid, will you?"

Marquis Wei burst out laughing, pulled him into his arms, and gave him a slap, saying, "Might as well strike first!"

Not bad, you've got spirit! Grandfather's just waiting to see how formidable you two become.

The Young Master: "... Hmph! Just wait and see."

Wei Peng, sitting nearby, reached out to the Young Master and said, "Come, come to Uncle—Uncle will make things right for you."

The Young Master happily leaned into his uncle's embrace, while Wei Huo vied for affection nearby, whispering, "Before your mother went north, you played best with the third uncle—you know what to do." After saying that, he reached out, but before the Young Master could respond, Wei Peng slapped his hand away, shouting, "Get lost!"

For the first time being such a hot commodity, the Young Master had already forgotten about his cousin, who was shouting himself hoarse organizing the event down below.

The nearby regional generals and colonels, hearing Wei Peng call himself uncle, all gaped and began to puzzle out the relationship.

It was known that Marquis Wei had a daughter who entered the palace as a consort.

One grandson is the feudal prince of the You Prefecture fief.

Taking another look at the Young Master, the age matched—this turned out to be the King of You!

Marquis Wei hadn't missed the shifting expressions of his close aides; when they hesitated whether to feign ignorance or step forward to greet him, he waved his hand, meaning just pretend not to know and treat him as a junior family member.

Soon the participants below were sorted; Wei Shen selected over thirty soldiers he had personally recommended, all acknowledged as skilled.

There were hundreds who signed up—after all, two fists can't fight four hands—and he wasn't stupid; he didn't want to drag out a war of attrition.

Marquis Wei saw that they were indeed the few talented ones in the camp; before heading to You Prefecture, the second-in-command wouldn't dare take charge of such a undertaking.

He and his eldest son exchanged a glance—this wasn't ordinary confidence; had they really worked hard?

They just lacked a sense of scale.

Those they selected had all been honed on real battlefields for several years.

Wei Shen ran back, pulled the Young Master from his father's embrace, and the two whispered together; soon the two troublemakers hit it off.

Grandfather, we and our retinue of guards, plus the thirty-plus from the camp and Wei Ke's group, have agreed that if the other side wins, the prize is a precious sword—but if we win, what's the reward?

The senior officers thought he was crazy—not to mention there's a child; altogether the guards and such come to about eleven, so how could three against one possibly win? Those thirty-plus, at a glance, all had some name in the military.

Wei Peng laughed, "Don't boast—if you really win, your father will personally come down to spar with you twice."

Wei Shen scoffed, "Unfair—we put up the prize, and you lot can't even think of something fitting to watch?" The Young Master nodded vigorously, "Exactly, exactly!"

Marquis Wei knew they'd already worked it out, so he said, "Go on, what do you want?"

Wei Shen raised his hand: "Let us block the gate at tomorrow's wedding procession."

The Young Master chimed in, "Exactly, just a little thing~"

Wei Peng stood up, pointing at them, and said, "Your sister's big day—"

Wei Shen immediately cut him off: "Father, you don't have confidence in Wei Ke and those thirty warriors below?"

Wei Peng: ……

Wei Peng choked on his words, Marquis Wei burst out laughing, and called his eldest son back: "You really believe they can win? You're just getting a free sword—any objections? Come back and sit properly."

"Fine, I'll just wait to pick up the sword—how do you want to compete?"

Wei Shen: "Of course we'll have a proper match."

Wei Peng: "What?"

The Young Master: "Cough cough!"

Wei Shen: "Oh, oh, it's fist and foot combat—archery and fist and foot."

Wei Ke, hearing that, found it fairly proper and finally showed interest: "Explain how it works."

Wei Shen: "For archery, we'll form teams of ten, excluding one super expert here so we have exactly ten, and we'll do mounted archery. For fist and foot, everyone goes at once—your thirty against our ten, or we'll exclude one super expert and let you have the advantage."

Wei Ke eyed the two troublemakers suspiciously, finally fixing his gaze on the Young Master and asking, "That super expert couldn't be you, could it?"

The Young Master, hands on hips, declared, "Of course not! It's him!" He pointed to Ling Yin, who had been standing silently at the side, clutching his sword.

Wei Ke sized up Ling Yin, then said, "Alright, I'll take your word for it—let's get started."

Once the preparations were done, the thirty-plus below didn't know the Young Master's identity; knowing the child was also competing, they assumed he was just a Wei relative. Used to casual banter in the camp, an outgoing centurion even called out, "Kid, if you lose later, won't you cry?"

Great King: "Hmph! Don't worry, I'll cry more softly!"

He turned and ordered Xiaoqi and Wei Shen: "Soon we must make that centurion cry!"

Xiaoqi: "Orders shall be carried out, prohibitions shall be observed!" "Yes!"

Wei Shen: ……

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