Chapter 174: As Expected, the Hai Family Arrives [Thank You All for Your Support

Then, before Xu Xu Zaijing's eyes, darkness fell again, and another figure stood before him.

"Brother, don't argue with me; I want to be a Captain of Ten! Among us, he's the shortest."

"But Wei Xiao told me to fight him."

"Your Grace, I dare to ask: if we win, who becomes the Captain of Ten?"

After hearing this, Xu Minghua smiled and said, "One each."

"Thank you, Your Grace!"

"Thank you, Your Grace, for your bounty!"

Seeing this scene,

Xu Xu Zaijing was somewhat bewildered.

But Jing Biao Ge, Zhu Zhu Qinghu, had already started leading the chant:

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

The personal guards who had served Xu Minghua for a long time on the side cast incredulous looks at Di Jing's choice.

Then, with expressions like they were watching a show, they joined in the shouting.

The soldiers of the Tianwu Army in the arena, hearing the guards' shouts, also joined in the fun and shouted along.

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

Xu Xu Zaijing stepped back and bumped into the command platform behind him.

The Tianwu Army soldiers nearby in the training ground thought he was frightened.

After a single "Fight," a burst of laughter followed.

"Shhh~~~"

"He's scared!"

"Is he going to surrender?"

A chorus of hisses filled the arena.

But it was unclear whether they were hissing at Xu Xu Zaijing or at the two elite soldiers challenging him.

Leaning against the command platform, Xu Xu Zaijing adjusted his helmet, climbed onto the platform, and said, "Hey, you two, come up as well."

The elite soldier standing before Scar-Face looked utterly surprised.

"Bravo!"

"What courage!"

"Could this be giving up in despair?"

"This way, he'll lose faster!"

"Four people, and there's nowhere to hit him!"

"Bravo!"

Hearing the soldiers' shouts, the other two elite soldiers looked at the Tianwu Army Commander Xu Minghua; seeing him nod, they said, "Four is the same!"

These two elite soldiers exchanged glances, their eyes full of joy.

If the four cooperated and won, they would all become Captains of Ten.

Scar-Face, delighted, handed his unsharpened blade and sturdy iron round shield to Xu Xu Zaijing with both hands.

Gripping the blade and shield firmly, Xu Xu Zaijing shouted loudly, "Sound the drums!"

Beside the command platform, the drummer, seeing Xu Minghua nod, began beating the great drum: dong, dong, dong.

Xu Minghua walked to the back and sat in the large chair atop the command platform.

Di Jing, Feng Feng Dabao, and the other two elite soldiers muttered a few words before stepping onto the platform; after they ascended, Xu Xu Zaijing discovered the four had actually arranged themselves in a single-file formation at the front.

Seeing this formation, Brother Qingyun and Scar-Face below the platform suppressed their mischievous smiles.

Clearly, these four intended for three to use their shields to clamp Xu Xu Zaijing, while the fourth would find a way to trip or shove Xu Xu Zaijing down.

The elite soldiers who had advanced to the third round were none to be trifled with; seeing Xu Xu Zaijing standing motionless in the arena, the four-man formation closed in quickly with tight spacing.

Just as the other two prepared to flank him, Xu Xu Zaijing moved.

Seeing Xu Xu Zaijing charge forward with his shield, the burly Feng Feng Dabao chuckled inwardly, gathered his strength, and prepared to let Xu Xu Zaijing test his iron shield.

But after he had gathered his strength, he saw Xu Xu Zaijing pull back again.

This caused the elite soldier beside him, who was preparing to clamp him together, to collide with empty air.

Then, taking advantage of the momentary confusion of the three in front, Xu Xu Zaijing ducked low and dodged Di Jing's leaping charge.

He swiftly followed up, colliding with Di Jing just as he landed, rolled, and began to rise!

Watching Di Jing, who was launched into the air by the momentum of his own roll and rise combined with Xu Xu Zaijing's charge, Feng Feng Dabao shouted:

"Bird!!!"

Below, the observing personal guards hurriedly gathered where Di Jing was about to land, catching him together so he wouldn't fall off the platform and injure himself.

"Bravo!"

The soldiers who had clearly seen Xu Xu Zaijing's move shouted out one after another.

Below, Di Jing remained in a dazed state, not knowing how he had ended up flying down.

With the greatest threat knocked flying, Xu Xu Zaijing continued to hold his shield and watch the other three.

"Attack!"

With a loud shout, Feng Feng Dabao led the charge forward.

"Crash."

The two shields collided; Xu Xu Zaijing exerted force with his arm to push Feng Feng Dabao back a distance, then swiftly raised his shield to deflect a blade slashing from the left, while delivering a side kick with his right leg against the shield to send the elite soldier on the right flying.

"Ha!"

Feng Feng Dabao charged again!

"Damn!"

The elite soldier on the left, whose blade had been blocked, had already discarded his sword and shield, intending to use Feng Feng Dabao as a buffer while he went to grab his legs.

Then, mid-leap, watching Feng Feng Dabao collide at high speed only to be sent flying two zhang away even faster, he painfully closed his eyes.

Seeing this scene, the personal guards below the platform all broke into wicked grins.

In less than thirty breaths, four elite soldiers from the Tianwu Army, each one chosen from a hundred, lay twisted on the platform, defeated four against one.

Feng Feng Dabao, still clutching his dented shield, stood stunned; he had been defeated head-on in the very attribute he prided himself most on: strength.

Below the platform, Di Jing turned to Zhu Zhu Qinghu beside her and asked, "Commandant, who is this hero?"

Zhu Zhu Qinghu smiled slightly and replied, "My cousin."

Di Jing gasped, inhaling a whiff of sweat odor: "With such a skilled fighter for daily sparring, wouldn't your martial arts improve immensely?"

Zhu Zhu Qinghu patted the naive Di Jing, thinking silently, My cousin only used thirty percent of his strength.

After everyone had cleaned up and Xu Minghua distributed the precious blades, he ordered the various armies to return to camp.

By evening, he returned to Quyuanjie with his personal guards.

It was the last day of the sixth month.

Just after the Wei hour (1:00 PM).

Gu Gu Tingyu, the legitimate eldest son of the Lady Ningyuan Hou Fu, had requested leave the day before to accompany Xu Xu Pingmei to Quyuanjie.

The chief examiner for this year's imperial examination was the head of the Hai family.

Gu Gu Tingyu counted as a disciple of this gentleman.

Since they were visiting his parents-in-law's home, Gu Gu Tingyu naturally had to accompany them; after all, the Gu family had cultivated deep roots in the military for years and possessed little support among civil officials.

Gu Gu Tingye and the Xu brothers, who had been studying, were also dragged along, just in case conversation lagged, allowing the head of the Hai family to offer some guidance.

Xu Minghua had assumed that civil and martial paths diverged, fearing the couple from the Hai family might be difficult to communicate with, but he had worried unnecessarily.

The head of the Hai family was a scholar thoroughly versed in worldly affairs, holding no prejudice against martial generals or nobles.

As they chatted, the topic turned to the incident with the banner pole that day; the head of the Hai family said, "When they returned home that day and my wife and I learned of this matter, we were utterly panic-stricken."

The Hai family's Da Da Niangzi also frowned and nodded, recalling her feelings from that day.

"Thanks to Jing-ge'er's righteous act, the consequences would have been unthinkable otherwise."

Xu Xu Zaijing rose, cupped his fists, and said, "Both elders overpraise me. In truth, on that day I also witnessed righteous acts no less than my own."

"Oh? Why do you say this, Little Five?" asked Gu Gu Tingyu from the side.

Not only Xu Xu Zaijing's parents, but the Hai couple also looked at him with surprise.

"When I looked back that day, I saw parents shielding their children in their embrace; able-bodied youths protecting their elderly parents; and even servants and maids of the Hai family standing before the Hai family's Miss. It must be that the Hai family treats their serving staff and maids so well that they would perform such thoughtless, self-sacrificing acts to protect their masters."

"What Jing-ge'er says is true!" Sun Shi said with a smile.

Xu Minghua and his son-in-law also nodded in agreement.

"Jing-ge'er, you flatter us!"

The Hai family's Da Da Niangzi looked happily at Xu Xu Zaijing; these words sounded most comforting.

After staying at the Xu home for an hour, before the Hai couple took their leave, knowing that Xu Xu Zaijing and Gu Gu Tingye were studying, they invited him to visit the Hai family whenever he had time to exchange ideas with Hai Chaojie.

Xu Xu Zaijing and Gu Gu Tingye naturally agreed repeatedly.

After seeing the Hai couple off and passing through the night,

On the first day of the seventh month,

Xu Xu Zaijing had to suspend his daily morning training and, bringing Brother Qingyun, arrived at the Sheng family's gate at two ke into the Mao hour.

If there are any typos or awkward passages, respected readers are invited to point them out without hesitation!

(`) Sending love.

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(End of Chapter)