Chapter 52: Gun Challenges Little Liang King (Part 1)

  Zhang Bangchang heard Zong Ze's two stories about "Moving Mountains and Shaking Tigers", and he wanted to vent his emotions, but was afraid that others would say he was jealous of talented people and had a narrow mind. It was indeed 'daring to be angry but not daring to speak'.

  "Yue Fei, let's not talk about your literary skills for now. Let me see how good your martial arts are! I'm not a narrow-minded person either. If you're really skilled and can defeat everyone else, this champion title is yours, and I won't say anything more. But if you're not as skilled as others, or get injured or killed, don't blame me for not warning you beforehand." Zhang Bangchang said calmly to Yue Fei in order to save his own face.

  "Yue Fei humbly follows your instructions, everything depends on your decision." Yue Fei said politely.

  "That's good, you first compare your archery skills with Little Liang Wang and see who is better," said Zhang Bangchang.

  "Yes! Yue Fei obeys the order." Yue Fei readily answered.

  Zong Ze saw Yue Fei and Little Liang Wang competing in archery, and he secretly rejoiced. He had seen Yue Fei's archery skills before, which were truly unparalleled. Little Liang Wang was no match for him in a competition of bows and arrows.

  "Yue Fei, what can you do? Just let it all out, the gentlemen present can bear witness for you," said Zong Ze.

  Yue Fei understood the intention of Zhang Bangchang and proposed: "Sir, place the arrow shields two hundred meters away, so that shooting will be more effective."

  Zhang Bangchang thought to himself, "How arrogant is Yue Fei! Ordinary people can shoot a bow and arrow at most 100 meters, and those with good archery skills are known as 'hitting the willow leaf at 100 paces'. You actually propose such a requirement, I'd like to see what you're capable of!"

  "Go and set up the target two hundred meters away." Zhang Bangchang ordered.

  He listened to both sides and immediately took action.

  Xiao Liang Wang saw that the target was set so far away, and reported to Zhang Bangchang: "Sir, the arrow of Chai Gui is too soft, let Yue Fei shoot first."

  Zhang Bangchang thought to himself, if Yue Fei didn't hit the target, then Chai Gui wouldn't need to compete again and would be the winner. In order to prevent Yue Fei from hitting the target, Zhang Bangchang secretly instructed his trusted aide to move the target to a distance of 300 meters away, thinking to himself that it would be strange if Yue Fei didn't lose face in front of everyone this time.

  "Yue Fei, you shoot first. If every arrow hits the target's heart, there is no need to compare, and you win. If not, there is also no need to compare, and you lose. What do you think?" Zhang Bangchang said.

  Yue Fei clearly knew that this was a trap set by Zhang Bangchang. In order to prove his own strength in front of the various dignitaries, he readily agreed.

  "Zhang Xian, bring me my iron bow," Yue Fei shouted at Zhang Xian.

  Zhang Xian listened and immediately took the bow and arrow from Yue Fei's horse and handed them over.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, please watch closely." After Yue Fei finished speaking, he calmly stood up straight, in front of the heroes from all over the world, drew his bow and nocked an arrow. His eyes fixed on the target ahead, he took a deep breath, and with a whooshing sound... shot nine arrows in a row. It was truly "the bow opening like a full moon, the arrow flying like a shooting star".

  Only heard the heroes under the stage cheering together. Zhang Xian, Tang Huai, Wang Gui and Niu Gao were even more enthusiastic in their cheers.

  The supervising official brought up the nine arrows and the target that had been hit, and placed them on the ground for Zhang Bangchang and the various chief examiners to inspect.

  Zhang Bangchang was originally nearsighted and had no idea that Yue Fei had hit the target, so he asked: "What's on the ground, hurry up and move it away."

  The supervisor listened, what does it mean? He reported truthfully: "This candidate's archery skills are indeed fierce. These nine arrows all hit the target and were shot from one hole, which is truly amazing." Several chief examiners heard this and were sincerely convinced of Yue Fei's archery skills, but only Zhang Bangchang was unhappy in his heart, yet he didn't dare to show it.

  Xiao Liang Wang couldn't help but look at Yue Fei with new eyes.

  "Yue Fei, your archery skills are indeed formidable. I, the Little Prince Liang, concede defeat. Why don't we engage in a martial arts contest to determine the winner?"

  "As you wish." Yue Fei said calmly and respectfully.

  Xiao Liang Wang thought to himself, "This Yue Fei is from a poor background, why not use good words to persuade him? Let him pretend to lose during the martial arts competition, and I'll buy his championship with money and status. What's there for him not to be happy about? If he doesn't listen to my advice, I'll severely defeat him during the competition. As a prince, even if I were to kill him, no one would dare say anything. In a martial arts competition, swords and spears have no eyes, how can we avoid harming each other?" Xiao Liang Wang thought of this and said, "Yue Fei's archery skills are indeed formidable, but the true test is in the heat of battle. Why don't we compete and see who wins or loses?"

  Zhang Bangchang heard this and was overjoyed, immediately ordering Yue Fei and Little Prince Liang to engage in a martial arts competition.

  Liáng Wáng listened, walked down the martial arts hall, came to the drill ground, adjusted his saddle and horse, held up a golden-backed large chopping knife, stood on the drill ground, opened up his stance, with a majestic and powerful appearance, shouted: "Yue Fei, come quickly, take a look at this king's knife skills!"

  Yue Fei did not dare to slack off, riding a horse and holding a spear standing there. His heart was very conflicted: "He is the dignified Prince, if I hurt him, Zhang Bangchang and the other three examiners will certainly take advantage of the situation and drive me out of the arena. If I show mercy and let Little Liang Wang win, what should I do?" Yue Fei's heart was hesitant, although his martial arts were strong, he felt very uneasy about competing with the prince.

  "Yue Fei, come and take a horse." Little Liang Wang shouted with disdain.

  Yue Fei had no choice but to turn around and walk away slowly with his spear held upside down.

  In the arena, thousands and thousands of martial artists taking exams and soldiers watching the excitement all cast their eyes on Yue Fei and Little Liang King. They see Yue Fei's weak appearance and think to themselves: "Looking at him like that, he must be afraid. Little Liang King is heroic and majestic, with a powerful and imposing manner. It's said that he has the bravery of facing ten thousand enemies alone. This martial artist is young and walks slowly, I'm sure he's no match for Little Liang King."

  Zong Ze saw this side of Yue Fei and thought to himself: "Yue Fei has never experienced such a situation, he must be timid in the face of battle. If he's so useless, I wasted my efforts on him from the start."

  Xiao Liang Wang saw that Yue Fei was hesitant and didn't dare to confront him. When Yue Fei approached, Xiao Liang Wang whispered: "Yue Fei, I have something to discuss with you. If you pretend to lose today, I will heavily reward you and in the future, wealth and status will be yours for the taking. But if you refuse, your prospects will be bleak and your life will be in danger. I'm offering you a good opportunity, hoping you understand."

  Yue Fei listened and said, "Your Highness's orders, Yue Fei should follow. However, Your Highness, look at the martial arena where heroes from all over the world have gathered. Each of them has practiced for ten years to achieve their skills, each wanting to win the champion title, gain fame and honor, and bring glory to their ancestors. Even if I wanted to yield, others might not be willing to yield. But you, a dignified prince, a king of a nation, with wealth, nobility, and all the honors and benefits, why do you still want to compete with us humble scholars for the title of martial champion? What is your intention in doing so?"

  Xiao Liang Wang's face turned red with rage, and he shouted: "You dare to lecture me, Yue Fei! I was trying to advise you kindly, but you repay me by listing my faults and speaking nonsense. You don't know how to show respect. It seems that if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't understand my power!" With that, he swung his sword at Yue Fei's head.

  Yue Fei calmly and unhurriedly took his spear and parried to the left, deflecting the sword.

  Xiao Liang Wang struck again with a horizontal chop, but Yue Fei calmly used the shaft of his spear to deflect it from the right side.

  Xiao Liang Wang saw the arrogant look on Yue Fei's face and didn't take him seriously; he was so angry that his seven orifices were smoking, he raised his big chopping knife 'dang dang dang' and chopped six or seven times, each chop wanting to put people to death.

  Yue Fei made a move with "Embracing Heart Posture", coming from the east he countered with an eastern stance, coming from the west he parried with a western stance.

  Xiao Liang Wang couldn't move him at all, and he thought to himself: "It seems that Yue Fei is quite skilled. Why not pretend to retreat and take advantage of his unguardedness, then suddenly launch a surprise attack and finish him off with one stroke? Even if someone were to speak ill of me, I could just talk my way out of it. After all, 'a good general never despises deceit.'" With this thought, Xiao Liang Wang sheathed his sword and rode back towards the martial arts hall.

  Yue Fei followed closely, just as Little Liang Wang was about to make his move. Suddenly, a military officer appeared out of nowhere and separated the two men. Who do you think this officer was? He was one of Zong Ze's personal bodyguards. Having witnessed Yue Fei's martial arts skills, he also knew his character and held him in high esteem. When he saw Little Liang Wang trying to play a trick on Yue Fei, fearing that Yue Fei would get into trouble, he hastily stepped forward.

  。