Chapter 18: Three Hundred Insults

This wasn’t just flattery. Li Zhi concentrated all the elixirs on his elite central troops; thirty elite soldiers repeatedly charging and slashing could crush an opponent of two hundred or more. But this method was cruel to the candidates who had their elixirs taken away, inevitably breeding resentment. Li Zhi didn’t care—they were merely stepping stones on his path to ascend; after the martial test ended, who would remember who they were?

Hearing the girl’s words, Li Zhi smiled and said, “I understand some military tactics, but don’t forget these are still children, far from elite soldiers. They can hold formation now, but once they advance, they’ll collapse—likely before reaching the north. So I’ll wait. I’ll wait for Bao Yun to charge in, and we’ll rest and strike with full advantage—we’ll win for sure!”

Several teenagers gathered around Li Zhi were thrilled. None of them could have devised such a plan. If they won this battle, everyone’s scores would rise significantly. Though they’d already secured spots in their respective sects, a higher score still brought great prestige—especially if they defeated Miss Bao. They could boast about it for years.

Li Zhi added, “But we can’t just wait. Wang Fang, lead your vanguard forward into the central zone. If you encounter the enemy’s main force, retreat immediately. If it’s only their vanguard, engage briefly to test their mettle. But remember—do not penetrate deep into enemy lines. Stay strictly within the central zone. Understood?”

Wang Fang, tall and broad-shouldered, replied solemnly, “Brother Li, rest assured!”

He bowed to Li Zhi, then turned and led thirty men sprinting toward the central zone.

Li Zhi picked up a branch and sketched the entire illusion’s terrain onto a square stone before him, then stared intently at the map.

North of the illusion.

The girl had somehow changed into a pale yellow dress, making her even more exquisitely beautiful. This dress wasn’t among the treasures in the chest, nor did it shift color according to faction. Amid the green-clad students of Qingshan, this single touch of soft yellow stood out starkly.

Before the girl lay a patch of sandy ground, shaped with mud into a detailed model of the illusion’s terrain—far more intricate than Li Zhi’s sketch.

The girl pointed her long sword at the central region on the map and said, “Li Zhi seems calm, but he’s the most impatient of all—he’ll surely send scouts to probe our strength. Tian Rong!”

A boy stepped forward. The girl said, “Take ten or so men to the central zone. If you meet their vanguard, lure them toward the prearranged position. Jiang Qun and Xu Yu will cover you from behind. Have you memorized Master Su’s ‘Three Hundred Insults of the Countryside’?”

“I know them backward and forward!” The boy scratched his head. “But Miss Bao, I have two concerns. First, those insults are so shameful—I can’t say some of them. Second, I don’t know how to string them together!”

The girl said, “No need to string them. Say whichever insult comes to mind. After three, they’ll chase you to the death.”

Tian Rong grimaced. “But everyone’s watching the evaluation. If I say those things, my reputation will be ruined.”

The girl laughed. “Don’t worry—whose reputation gets ruined is the one who gets insulted.”

Tian Rong relaxed, then led ten or so men toward the center of the battlefield.

Once Tian Rong was far away, the girl called out, “Jiang Qun, Xu Yu!”

Two boys stepped forward in response.

The girl pointed to the rolling hills on either side of the sand table. “Each of you take thirty men, hide in these positions first. When Tian Rong lures their vanguard here, you’ll encircle them with him and wipe them out in one strike.”

The two boys bowed in acceptance.

The girl then pointed to the southern flanking hills. “After wiping out their vanguard, advance along the flanking hills and attack Li Zhi’s wings. Oh—and after you’ve finished with their vanguard, smear their blood on your bodies and faces. As much as possible.”

Jiang Qun frowned. “When someone dies, they turn to light—where’s the blood?”

Before the girl could answer, Xu Yu said, “Idiot! If they’re not dead, they’ve got blood. Find a few alive ones, slash their arms and legs a few times—you’ll get plenty.”

“Xu Senior Brother is right,” the girl praised, then gently rolled up her sleeve, revealing an arm as white as a spring onion. She reversed her long sword and lightly drew it across her skin. Instantly, a wound opened, and blood welled forth!

The girl pressed hard on the wound, her brows tightening slightly from the pain.

Her face relaxed again. “Look—wounds hurt, and blood really flows. Li Zhi is just a paper tactician. He spent all this effort arranging a pretty formation and actually thinks his men are battle-hardened elites? Don’t forget—they’re just children. Big wounds scare them. Too much blood frightens them. Jiang Senior Brother, Xu Senior Brother—when you meet their flanking forces, slash wildly, cut recklessly. Remember: cutting off heads is less useful than breaking arms and legs. Your job is to pin down Li Zhi’s wings, drain his strength, until the last soldier falls!”

Jiang Qun and Xu Yu accepted their orders and each led thirty men away.

The girl stared at the sand table, thinking for a moment longer, then suddenly said, “Once I’ve wiped out their vanguard, if Li Zhi truly knows how to fight, he’ll see my flanking forces and send minimal troops to hold them, then launch a full assault on my center—that’s his only chance.”

The girl jabbed her sword at the sand table. “We’ll form a thick defense right here and wait for him to attack! I, Bao Yun, want to see if he’s worthy of being first!”

A nearby girl asked, “Miss Bao, what if Li Zhi doesn’t come?”

The girl smiled. “We already have numerical superiority, and we’ve already destroyed his vanguard. If he doesn’t come, we’ll advance after Jiang and Xu have worn them down.”

Another girl asked, “What if his vanguard doesn’t fall for it?”

Bao Yun laughed. “Don’t worry—anyone who can lead in the martial test is from a prominent family. Such people are arrogant. No one can endure those three hundred insults.”

A boy said, “I heard Li Zhi wants to build momentum through this exam, so he’s doing everything to take first place.”

Bao Yun’s lips curled. “I don’t care if he wants to build momentum—but using me as a stepping stone? That’s a fantasy. With me here, he’ll never take first place.”

Behind Bao Yun, a boy with a sword cradled in his arms, eyes half-lidded as if half-asleep, opened his eyes and said calmly, “Nor second.”

In the illusion, Xiang Weiyuan, clad in heavy armor and gripping his spear, stood atop a hill, having already overturned three or four foolish scouts. After this back-and-forth, no one dared approach the hill. But Xiang Weiyuan noticed a problem: his long spear and heavy armor were too cumbersome—he couldn’t chase down any scout who tried to flee.

As Xiang Weiyuan pondered a solution, he saw two groups arriving from north and south, meeting in the central zone—right before his eyes.

Finally seeing a large force arrive, Xiang Weiyuan raised his brows. The Heaven’s Reckless One activated, and faint black mist seeped from his armor plates. He stood with spear crossed, waiting for them to come forward and fight.

Yet both groups ignored the lone figure atop the hill and formed opposing lines.

From the green-clad side, Tian Rong stepped forward, drew a deep breath, and shouted: “I shit on Lei Lao Mu...”

The yellow-clad side instantly fell into chaos.

(End of Chapter)