Volume 3: Beijing Storm Chapter 23 - Gap
On the second day, early in the morning, Tang An and Na Mo Da Yong arrived together, only to find that the school grounds were packed with people, as far as the eye could see, a sea of bobbing heads stretching out endlessly.
Ten thousand miles of blue sky, today is a great sunny day. The dark-colored banner under the blue sky, rustling in the wind. But on the high platform, Tang An suddenly saw a bright yellow imperial carriage, his heart suddenly shocked, could it be that the emperor had arrived?
It's said that the Emperor of Great Yan is extremely fond of martial arts and is a great master himself, but it's unknown what level he has cultivated to. With some interest, today I'll come to watch this Tiger Leopard Army competition, which isn't impossible.
Mo Da Yong also saw the bright yellow ceremonial instruments on the high platform in the distance, and said to Tang An: "This is the Jin Wang Palace. His Majesty attaches great importance to this martial arts competition and has specially dispatched Jin Wang to watch the game. If anyone wins the final duel, the imperial edict in Jin Wang's hand will definitely be rewarded. Brother Tang, you must work hard. Even if you can't get first place, there will still be rewards within the top three. I guess this time, at least it will be a fifth-grade scattered riding school lieutenant, which is equivalent to the size of a thousand households in the general military. Although you are young and promising, Brother Tang, being a 16-year-old fifth-grade official is quite impressive."
Tang An didn't care about the size of the official position, his eyes were fixed on the person beside King Jin under the high platform. It was an old man with a warm and gentle face, smiling like a spring breeze, wearing a large red official robe, sitting beside King Jin. On the other side of King Jin was a middle-aged man with a dark complexion, a steady face as solid as a rock, wearing a crimson qilin-embroidered national guard uniform, it goes without saying that this person was none other than Taizi Taibao, Guanjun Dajiangjun, Zhen Guo Gong, the true master of the Tiger and Leopard Army, Yue Wu, Yue Yuan Shuai.
Today is the martial arts competition of the Tiger and Leopard Army, the strongest military under Yue Wu's command. With a great victory, this martial arts event is a grand competition in a prosperous era, and he will naturally come to show off his military might. As for the King of Jin, it's just an excuse to win over the great generals on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, so it's understandable. But what about that civil official standing beside him?
Tang An couldn't figure it out and asked Mo Dajun, "Older brother Mo, who is the person next to King Jin? To be able to sit on an equal level with the imperial son, he must not be a trivial character?"
Mo Daxiong snorted coldly: "That person is Qin Qingxiang, the greatest sycophant of the current dynasty! The imperial court has been messed up by him. If it weren't for him, our Great Yan wouldn't be in such a state of turmoil. He's sitting on the platform today, probably to watch the excitement. Duoluo is his subordinate, if he gets first place this time, I, Mo, will be the first to disagree. Unfortunately, Yuan Gong has taken command and can't take action, humph!"
Mo Dàyǒng said, suddenly turning his head to gaze intently at Tang An, with an expression of boundless hope in his eyes. But after looking for a while, he suddenly lost heart again.
"I didn't think Lao Mo and Qin Qing would get along, but... sigh... it's fine, that Du Luo indeed has the ability."
Tang An knew that Mo Daxiong was worried about his own strength being insufficient, afraid of getting himself killed or injured. It seemed he indeed regarded Tang An as a friend and could consider things from his perspective.
Ke Tang An has never been one to easily admit defeat, let alone when he has a must-win reason!
"Don't think too much, Lao Ge Mo, just look at it!"
Tang An finished speaking, made a fist at Mo Dajun, and squeezed into the crowd, striding towards the stage.
The arena is very large, but there are only sixteen people around it. Yesterday's preliminary round said that each arena would produce 7 names, and the ten arenas would have 70 names, but many people were injured in the competition and withdrew from today's final. The two arenas where Xie Shi Yi and Duo Luo were located were even more exaggerated, as they knocked down everyone else, and when it was time to advance, only the two of them were still standing.
"Dong" "Dong" "Dong"......
The dull big drum beat heavily one after another, with the passage of time, the drum beats faster and faster, until all hearts are lifted up.
Bang!
The heavy drum suddenly stopped with a loud thud.
Just then, a majestic military officer walked out and shouted loudly at the bottom, saying: "The martial arts competition officially begins!"
"First round, Yanbei Renzhong, Zhongzhou Tang'an, start!"
Tang An took a step forward, his body lightly rising as he sprang onto the stage. His movements were elegant and refined, and with his tall stature and handsome appearance, he immediately won over the applause of the entire audience. From below, someone exclaimed: "Is that really Tang An, the Heavenly Sword? He indeed has a great presence! I heard he's not even sixteen yet, what a terrifying young talent!"
Tang An stepped onto the stage, his hand grasping the Frost Sword, and with a single swing, a chill emanated from the scabbard, causing even the crowd gathered below to feel a hint of coolness in the air.
Tang An bowed his head slightly towards Ren Zhong and said in a loud voice: "Tang An of Zhongzhou, please instruct me!"
That Ren Zhong was a master of the spear, claiming to be unbeatable in all of Yanbei. He was also considered one of the more famous masters in the capital. As a master, he naturally had an air of arrogance about him. Although he didn't have Tang An's record of defeating a hundred opponents at once, he wasn't afraid of Tang An either. At this moment, Ren Zhong puffed out his chest and thrust his spear into the ground with a "thud". The spearhead instantly sank three inches into the marble floor.
"The weight of responsibility is heavy, I have practiced gunplay for twenty years, today I still ask for Heavenly Sword's guidance!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his wrist lifted and the long spear returned to his hand.
Tang An took one look at him holding the gun, and his entire demeanor underwent a drastic change. His eyebrows furrowed: "Man and gun as one. It seems this heavy responsibility is indeed a master."
Thousands of people watched this battle, but at this moment, the field was silent as a cicada.
A loud clang
Tang An drew out his treasured sword. The sword light rippled and under the bright sunlight, only flashed a cold glow for an instant.
…………
On high platform
"Congratulations, General Yue. It seems that the Tiger and Leopard Troop will have another tiger general." Qin Qing smiled and said with a bow.
Yue Wu still had a gloomy face and said: "He's just a sixteen-year-old boy, he still needs to be honed, can't be called a tiger general."
Qin Qingsheng didn't take what Yue Wu said to heart, and just smiled as he looked down at the stage. Du Luo, who was below the stage, raised his head and saw his master's inquiring gaze, and slightly nodded in response. Qin Qingsheng's face suddenly broke into a smile. Looking at Yue Wu, he coldly sneered in his heart: "What can this Tiger General do? In the end, all that will be left for you is a corpse. Even if he is brave, he can only show off his bravery in the underworld!"
…………
Tang An held the Frost Sword in his hand, standing calmly on the spot, quietly sizing up his opponent. But Ren Zhong thought that Tang An was looking down on him, and suddenly became furious.
"Look out for the gun!"
A loud and fierce cry, the long spear in his hand suddenly danced. The black giant spear seemed like a black dragon rushing out of its lair, swallowing towards Tang An.
The gun muzzle transformed into multiple shadows in an instant, covering Tang An's head. Fast and ruthless!
However, Tang An let out a sudden sigh in his heart at the sight.
"Although the unity of man and gun has been achieved, the path taken is wrong... If your gun were a straight line, like lightning striking towards me, I would still be wary of you. But to waste energy making the gun tip tremble, even if you create seventy-two plum blossoms, if they don't hit the person, what's the use?"
Tang An's long sword wrapped around it, and his wrist shook immediately, with a shock.
"Brush!"
The Frost Sword touched the opponent's black great spear in an instant, as if it had turned into a swimming snake, and with that momentum, it simply made a slight turn, easily deflecting the opponent's spearhead force to one side.
Then Tang An took advantage of Ren Zhong's momentary shock and stepped forward, arriving in front of him.
Pong!
Tang An kicked out with one foot at the heavily burdened waist, and in an instant, the heavily burdened person was like a worn-out sandbag, directly thrown into the air, and fell to the ground with a "thud" amidst the crowd.
Tang An shook his head, this gap was too big, and even let him truly use the sword intent didn't have the qualifications.
For some reason, as he watched Ren Zhong disappear into the crowd, he suddenly felt a sense of loss in his heart.
That feeling, it seems like loneliness.
When he turned around and saw Xie Shi Yi and Ming Xiao nodding at him, the feeling of loss disappeared, replaced by a surge of fighting spirit.
"Next time, if nothing unexpected happens, it will be me against Xie brother! Divine Sword, what kind of appearance will you have then?"
