Rong Shiming was startled. He saw the sharp arrow coming, and no matter how brave he was, he instinctively dodged.

At this moment, the fruit on his arm slipped off.

The sharp arrow also pierce the position where his arm was originally held flat. Although it avoided any vitals, it still cut his clothes and drew some blood.

If he hadn’t dodged, his arm would have been pierced at that moment. Rong Shiming’s expression changed greatly. He held his arm as his whole body shook uncontrollably. This was the first time he had been hurt by an arrow.

The onlookers around couldn’t help but exclaim. Even the First Princess stood up and called for the doctor to bandage him, then immediately held the leader of the guards accountable.

The guard was aggrieved and knelt down, crying out: “Your Highness, this servant is unjustly accused. Young Master Liu just asked General Huo to look at this servant. This servant only made a mistake after being disturbed. This servant……”

Rong Shiming was assisted back. When he heard this, his pale face turned red with anger. He was about to rush toward Liu Zhenqing, but when he saw the look on Huo Fenglie beside him, he froze.

“Young Master Liu, please explain!” The First Princess said angrily.

Liu Zhenqing said with an innocent expression: “I wanted General Huo to take a look at the guard’s shooting method. The distance was so close, the force was not strong, and he was very accurate. There must be something worth learning from, so I asked General Huo to take a look.”

Huo Fenglie answered directly: “I saw. There was nothing worth learning from.”

These words were so irritating that both the First Princess and Rong Shiming began to breathe heavily.

Bai Su taunted: “You can’t use this ridiculous excuse because you’re afraid of losing. If no one is allowed to watch your side shoot arrows, then everyone should stop watching. Is it possible that General Huo’s eyes can still hurt people with their internal strength?”

“If you think it’s unfair, then why don’t you send someone to watch General Huo later? It’s okay with me.”

Liu Zhenqing looked like a little white flower enduring a grievance, making it so that the First Princess could no longer pursue the case. She could only admit defeat.

“All right, I want to see how many General Huo and the young master can make!”

Liu Zhenqing saluted Huo Fenglie, and then was crowded by the two cousins on the way to the tree. The two of them chattered endlessly. After all, they still thought Liu Zhenqing would be timid, but now that he only needed to stick two, the pressure had been reduced by a lot.

The servant next to him was trying to help place the fruits. Liu Zhenqing would choose a position and then adjust his posture, fiddling endlessly. He looked completely uneasy and distrustful.

“It seems that Young Master Liu is still frightened, but I believe that the heavens are on his side, otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten so lucky just now,” Bai Su said, standing next to Huo Fenglie with a smile.

“Lucky?” Huo Fenglie murmured, weighing the bow and arrow in his hands.

“Wasn’t it good luck, ah? I had originally thought you should scare Rong Shiming, but I didn’t foresee that the guard would be even more disturbed. Why didn’t I think of this? If Young Master Liu hadn’t been anxious and wanted you to learn from the guard, there wouldn’t have been such a coincidence,” Bai Su said with a chuckle, shaking his head.

Huo Fenglie didn’t respond. He suddenly drew his bow and nocked an arrow, and the sound of the bowstring tightening shocked everyone’s nerves. The arrow flashed with a cold light as it aimed at Liu Zhenqing, who had finally finished standing in position.

Liu Zhenqing glanced out of the corner of his eye and instinctively wanted to shout that he wasn’t ready yet, but noticed something strange in his surroundings.

That instant, there was a powerful and imposing aura. The two brothers standing next to Liu Zhenqing took a step back speechlessly, and the people around him couldn’t help but suck in a breath and go quiet.

How frightening it was when Huo Fenglie picked up a weapon was something that Liu Zhenqing simply could not understand.

He was the God of War who commanded an army of millions, the master of unfathomable martial arts. Countless lives had been lost under his blade, and the evil aura of violent battle followed him like a shadow, unable to be restrained. A veteran of a hundred battles would be afraid, much less a wealthy and well-fed young master in the capital.

The onlookers could not help but move back. Some wondered if, as the one being targeted, Liu Zhenqing would regret it and cry in the next second.

“G-General Huo, the fruit hasn’t been placed yet,” Liu Zhenqing said in a trembling tone, continuing his performance.

Ten meters away, he couldn’t see his expression clearly, but he knew that Huo Fenglie’s posture hadn’t changed.

“Adapt in advance.” Huo Fenglie’s cold voice came on the wind.

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched.

The fruit was placed, and the servant stepped away. 

Before Liu Zhenqing could say anything, there was a whoosh like a thunderclap. The fruit on his head was shattered to pieces, the arrow stuck right above Liu Zhenqing’s head.

The people around him immediately exclaimed. Rong Shiming stood up at once and gave this scene a fierce look.

Liu Zhenqing froze and looked at Huo Fenglie with displeasure. This kid didn’t do it on purpose, right? But he had seen the arrow move to point right into Liu Zhenqing’s line of sight, and in that moment, it had seemed that the target was not the fruit, but Liu Zhenqing himself.

Liu Zhenqing put on a show and said with difficulty: “Y….you scared me to death. General Huo, could you please say something before acting?”

“The effect is better if you’re surprised. Young Master Liu’s cooperation just now was adequate,” Huo Fenglie said lightly.

Liu Zhenqing really wanted to scold Er-gou, and thought he might have done it on purpose. This sounded reasonable, but once it started, what about the second and third arrows? A timid person would be scared to death, always thinking about the next arrow.

Then, the second arrow was shot unexpectedly, and a fruit fell to the ground again.

It was that simple…..a draw.

When the others realized this, they finally dared to shout.

The two members of the Liu family were so excited that they danced in the audience area, and the breath hanging in their throats could finally be exhaled.

At this time, Rong Shiming’s face was completely dark. He hadn’t foreseen that Liu Zhenqing would really not move at all, and thought that it wasn’t that Liu Zhenqing was brave, but that Huo Fenglie’s move was effective. Because Liu Zhenqing had looked frightened just now.

Damn it, if that third arrow hit, he would lose. How could the dignified cousin of a princess be humiliated and punished? Absolutely not.

He saw that Huo Fenglie had fully drawn his bowstring, and would shoot the arrow at any time.

“General Huo, you really want to help the Liu family.” Rong Shiming thoroughly panicked, and spoke out to stop him at once. The attempt to provoke Huo Fenglie was his dying struggle.

Huo Fenglie glanced at Rong Shiming. He didn’t look like someone who would be shaken by words. Rong Shiming’s pupils quivered, and he immediately looked toward the First Princess for help.

“General Huo, it is already a draw. Will the third arrow still hit?” The First Princess no longer cared about the others, and openly threatened, “It seems that General Huo dislikes my cousin.”

If you find a way to spare others, you should spare them. It was time to take a step back.

But Huo Fenglie said directly: “I really dislike him.”

The First Princess’s breathing stalled. She instantly realized that Rong Shiming had provoked Huo Fenglie’s anger before, and the general had not yet forgotten it.

The First Princess could only glance toward Liu Zhenqing in the distance. Just as she was about to speak, Huo Fenglie cut in: “It’s useless to speak to him. Your Highness, it is better to watch the competition quietly.”

Having said this, he raised his bow to shoot the last arrow.

Bai Su knew that Huo Fenglie wouldn’t give the other party a chance. Moreover, it was tantamount to transferring their possible resentment from the Liu family onto himself. It was him, Huo Fenglie, who wanted Rong Shiming to be punished, and it had nothing to do with Liu Zhenqing.

But in this sure-win situation, Liu Zhenqing in the distance seemed unable to withstand this unforeseen pressure any longer. The moment the feathered arrow flew out, he whimpered, ah, and his body trembled.

The fruit swayed on his arm, and when it was about to slip off, Liu Zhenqing’s movements also became disordered as he tried to lift his arm to steady it. This was very dangerous, because Huo Fenglie had already taken aim. If he moved like this and the original trajectory of the arrow remained unchanged, not only would it miss the fruit, but it would also hit Liu Zhenqing’s arm.

Bai Su saw this and sucked in a cold breath.

Everyone also lamented that Liu Zhenqing had failed to live up to expectations, and didn’t dare watch the scene of Liu Zhenqing about to be hit by an arrow.

The First Princess and Rong Shiming were naturally overjoyed when they saw this.

It was just that no one’s eyes were fast enough to follow Huo Fenglie’s movements. Of course, they didn’t see that at the critical moment when Liu Zhenqing moved his arm, the tail end of the arrow was just about to leave the end of the bow. In an instant, Huo Fenglie’s sword-like eyebrows jumped, and his fingers nearly invisibly moved the departing arrow, which instantly changed its trajectory.

With a hiss, the arrow stabbed firmly into the fruit and stuck into the trunk of the tree.

Everyone was in disbelief as they looked at this position that was clearly higher than normal.

Could it be that General Huo made a mistake, and when the other person also made a mistake, he just…..hit the target?

What a coincidence, ah!

Everyone exclaimed at this miracle, and the First Princess and Rong Shiming’s expressions changed drastically at this moment. They were in a towering rage.

Although Liu Zhenqing was also stunned, he also fell to the ground in a rather embarrassing manner, his head lowered as if in great fright.

Bai Su frowned and looked at Huo Fenglie, saying: “You actually made it, and no one was hurt.”

“En.” At this time, Huo Fenglie had turned around and set down his bow and arrows. He didn’t seem to care much about the scene in the distance. Such indifference seemed a  bit absent-minded, lacking the concentration from when he was aiming at someone just now.

Bai Su raised his eyebrows in bewilderment. He felt that Huo Fenglie had suddenly lost his spirit.

And at the moment, Liu Zhenqing was being supported by his two younger cousins. The corners of his mouth raised slightly at an angle that no one could see, and when he raised his eyes, he saw Huo Fenglie’s back in the distance. 

Er-gou, no matter what you’re thinking, you’re still unskilled when going up against your gege.

That’s right, Liu Zhenqing deliberately let Huo Fenglie shoot him in order to take his attention off him. After all, Huo Fenglie’s abnormality put him on guard. Simply acting like a coward wasn’t enough. He had to pay the ultimate price.

The plan had already been made when Liu Zhenqing asked Rong Shiming what would happen in the event of a draw.

He must make sure that he didn’t lose, while also ensuring that Huo Fenglie believed that he and “Liu Zhenqing” had opposite personalities.

The only way was to lose a round to Rong Shiming. Even if the little trick he used to scare the guard aroused suspicion, it didn’t matter.

As long as he lost a round, and at the cost of possible injury, it would definitely make Huo Fenglie lose interest, and he would not suspect anything. And with a draw, there would be no need for humiliation. It was the perfect solution to the crisis.

But he didn’t expect Huo Fenglie to be so capable. Not only did he not hurt him, but he also allowed him to win. In terms of skill, perhaps Huo Fenglie had surpassed his older brother. But as long as Huo Fenglie no longer suspected him, his goal was achieved.

“We need to make him pay up!” The third cousin said excitedly. 

“I don’t think it’s appropriate. How about turning hostility into friendship?” The third cousin couldn’t help but say.

“Why? Just now, they bullied us with disregard for the Liu family’s face. It’s not easy…..”

“Do you really want to offend the First Princess?!”

The third cousin shut the second cousin up with just one sentence. The two of them glanced at Liu Zhenqing as they spoke. Although they disdained Liu Zhenqing before, now that the game had been won by him and Huo Fenglie, they had to listen to the leader’s words.

“I think…..it may not be our turn to consider this matter.” Liu Zhenqing motioned for the two of them to look ahead. Sure enough, they saw the already furious Rong Shiming rush in front of Huo Fenglie and shout.

“Huo Fenglie, are you crazy? You’re targeting me like this!?”

As soon as these words fell, everyone around stopped talking and didn’t dare to get close. No one had the courage to dissuade Rong Shiming. The First Princess looked on with a gloomy face, and it seemed as if she wanted to support Rong Shiming.

Huo Fenglie was already a head taller than Rong Shiming, but now he looked down at him condescendingly, as if he was a joke.

“Young Master Rong, as you said before, if one makes a bet, they must accept defeat. Everyone played fair according to your wishes. Don’t be a sore loser.” Bai Su stepped forward and said: “Moreover, Young Master Rong, can you call General Huo by his name like this? Who do you think you are? You’re only a commoner, and you don’t even have an official position. I don’t know who taught you discipline!”

Rong Shiming pushed Bai Su away and shouted as if he had lost his mind: “Huo Fenglie, you are so protective of the treacherous minister’s kinsmen, people not in the know would wonder what your relationship was with Liu Zhenqing! Weren’t you enemies? Have you forgotten your brother’s blood feud?”

Hearing this, Liu Zhenqing’s expression changed slightly as he approached. When he glanced at Huo Fenglie again, the murderous look on his face was already visible to the naked eye.

“Young Master Rong, watch your words! The Emperor has already said that this Liu is not the other Liu. If you continue talking about this, you are ignoring the Imperial decree!” Liu Zhenqing said quickly: “It’s only a game, no big deal. The bet was just for fun, so let’s let it go!”

He couldn’t let this fool provoke Huo Fenglie anymore. It would be terrible if he got implicated.

But now, it was not a matter of following through with the punishment or not. Rong Shiming’s eyes were a murderous red, and he shouted loudly: “Bah! Huo Fenglie, have you forgotten that Liu Zhenqing wanted to take away your sister-in-law by force? He killed your brother, implicated the Huo family army, and brought disaster to the entire Zhou Dynasty. If you were a man, you wouldn’t help his fellow clansmen. Or are you simply having an affair with Liu Xiaozhu and protecting your little lover!”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression suddenly shifted. Although he had long heard about it, he really didn’t know why the relationship between the three of them had been arranged like this. He felt that Er-gou was often by their side at that time, and even though he was young, he should understand the relationships between them as an adult. But after so many years, his reputation had been ruined. For Er-gou, who hated him so much that he dug up his grave, how would he re-examine what he saw and heard back then?

Liu Zhenqing didn’t dare think about it, and didn’t even want to speculate. Even at this moment, he couldn’t look Huo Fenglie in the face.

Rong Shiming’s words were so shocking that everyone around him became nervous, not to mention how Huo Fenglie felt.

“If your brother and those who died in vain at the hand of Liu Zhenqing knew about this, they would definitely feel betrayed by your forgetfulness…..ah!”

A clang was accompanied by a flash of cold light and a cry. Everyone gasped and saw the tip of the dark Chunjun sword dangerously close to Rong Shiming’s throat. The sharp blade had pierced the skin, and blood flowed down instantly.

“Who do you think you are! Are you worthy of mentioning them!”

The sound was like a sword, murderous and bone-piercing. The emotion in his voice made clear that Huo Fenglie was thoroughly angry and would take Rong Shiming’s life in the next second. 

In an instant, the guards of the First Princess’s palace surrounded him and the situation became fraught. The already frightened Rong Shiming fell to his knees, but the sword did not move away from his neck. “How can General Huo kill people indiscriminately! I want to appeal to His Majesty!” The First Princess knew that something very bad was about to happen and called out quickly.

Bai Su was also anxious. “Zhanyuan, calm down. Don’t forget the Emperor…..” Bai Su wanted to remind him that since the Emperor was investigating the Imperial Examination fraud, Rong Shiming was destined to have no good things in the future, so why bother to take things into his own hands and let those old officials get a handle on him? It wasn’t worth it.

But this did not diminish Huo Fenglie’s anger, and he was about to take action.

Liu Zhenqing was worried too. He didn’t want to cause trouble for Er-gou, ah! But at the moment, he didn’t know what to say to stop him without exposing himself, so he could only panic and choose another way: “General, your sword is for killing enemies, not this kind of person. Don’t dirty your sword!”

He remembered that in the past, Huo Fenglie loved his sword very much, and said that killing scoundrels was not worthy of his sword.

But after saying this, Liu Zhenqing regretted wasting precious time. How could he care about a sword when he was so angry, ah! He had simply picked the most useless reason.

But as soon as these words came out, Huo Fenglie froze.

At last, he sheathed his sword and said coldly: “You are indeed not worthy of my sword!”

Just when everyone had breathed a sigh of relief and thought the crisis was over, Huo Fenglie took the bow next to him with his backhand, and with a sudden swing, smashed Rong Shiming in the face. In an instant, the bow shattered to pieces, and with a shrill scream, Rong Shiming spat out half of his teeth with a mouthful of blood. The bridge of his nose was also directly broken. The screams resounded throughout the princess’s residence as he lay down on the ground, writhing in pain. 

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Chapter Twenty-Four << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-Six