Chapter 152: Sparring
In the training field, Meng Shaoxia and Jiang Feng were practicing swordplay together.
Jiang Feng was using the sword gifted to him by Meng Shaoxia.
Meng Shaoxia was using a sword his maternal grandfather had given him. His grandfather, the greatest catcher in the world, had a sword named “Duo Fu” (Many Blessings) which he gifted to him.
The sword was sharp and excellent, but the name put a lot of pressure on him just by holding it.
The phrase went, ‘many children, many blessings.’
Meng Shaoxia felt the profound pressure of being urged to marry and have children, a whole process.
Jiang Feng’s sword was a gift from Meng Shaoxia.
He originally wanted to name it’Sword Gifted by Friend Shaoxia,’ but later felt the name was too long and awkward to say, so he named it “Wuxia” (Flawless).
He hoped this sword would remain flawless while following him.
Meng Shaoxia gripped “Duo Fu.” Jiang Feng gripped “Wuxia.”
Meng Shaoxia felt immense pressure. Back then, Brother Feng had knocked his sword out of his hand with nothing but a wooden stick.
Now that Brother Feng also had a sword, the pressure was even greater.
However, during this period, Meng Shaoxia had experienced life and death, and upon returning to the capital, he had been thrown into the military camp for training by his family. He had not wasted his time and had been diligently practicing his martial arts.
He felt he had made a qualitative leap in progress.
He was more than just a little bit stronger than before.
He, Meng Shaoxia, was no longer the Shaoxia of the past.
“Brother Feng, you must be careful. I have improved very quickly during this time and am no longer the person I once was,” Meng Shaoxia kindly warned.
After all, if he were to injure Jiang Feng, he would be injuring Jiang Yu’s brother, which meant his own future brother-in-law.
He still remembered his father sparring with Mother. Even though his father won, he came home to a head full of bumps from Mother’s beating. Fortunately, the Meng Family and the Zeng Family both had excellent herbal salves.
Sometimes, winning was actually losing.
Jiang Feng nodded.
“Brother Meng, since we parted last time, I have been practicing swordplay according to the Sword Manual you gave me, without stopping through winter or summer. I have also made great progress, so you must be careful too.”
Hearing Jiang Feng say this, Meng Shaoxia felt even more guilty.
At that time, he didn’t have any profound Sword Manual on him. What he gave was not a Sword Manual at all, but the simplest training moves used in the military.
Basically, everyone knew them.
If Brother Feng had really been practicing according to that, hadn’t he just delayed his progress?
Those moves were so simple even children knew them; they were easy to pick up and were the foundation of foundations.
Thinking of Brother Feng practicing these basic moves every day, and actually treating them as a martial arts secret for so long, Meng Shaoxia felt increasingly guilty.
He could only try to look at the bright side.
At the very least, the Jiang Family’s living conditions were much better than before.
Now they even had a dedicated place for martial arts training.
As long as life was getting better, that was good.
Having seen so many commoners displaced, the current Meng Shaoxia had become much more grounded.
For the common people, living their lives and being well-fed and clothed was already very good. In fact, whether they were rebelling or doing anything else, that was all they were seeking.
In the afternoon.
The two youths, who had moved each other so much when they first met years ago, picked up their swords again.
Fortunately, there was no need for a life-or-death struggle; they still had the opportunity to spar and practice swordplay.
Meng Shaoxia said, “My sword is faster.”
Jiang Feng said, “My sword is steadier.”
Jiang Yu stood by the side of the training field, shouting for her brother to do his best.
It was unclear whether she was cheering for Brother Meng or her own brother…
Mianmian was being held by Great-Aunt to watch the excitement.
Eunuch Duan followed along, carrying a tray for the little mistress with tea and snacks on it.
Only when he had brought it over did he realize, why was he being so attentive?
Being attentive in front of Grand Attendant Yan’s goddaughter was one thing, but why was he also being so attentive in front of this country Great-Aunt? He had done it subconsciously, just by reading her expression.
Tsk, he really was born with the fate of a servant.
Mianmian saw the tray placed in front of her, reached out to take the cup, and took a sip of tea. She said thank you: “Thank you, little Eunuch Duan.”
Eunuch Duan bowed humbly: “It is only my duty, it is only my duty.”
Then, like an attentive little honeybee, he set up the cushion and the small table.
He even placed a small round cushion under Mianmian’s bottom.
Aunt Yin looked at Eunuch Duan with approval; the young man had paved a wide road for himself.
Jiang Yu also sat down.
She ate chicken feet while watching the competition.
Mianmian was very expectant; this was a live performance.
Real sword fighting.
It shouldn’t be like what was shown on TV; it should be very interesting.
As a result, just after sitting down and shifting her bottom to get comfortable, the competition was over.
There were no dazzling sword moves, no spinning leaps, no aerial landings, and certainly no back-and-forth exchanges.
A ‘Clang!’ sound, and it was over.
It lacked any watchability.
Meng Shaoxia’s sword had once again been knocked out of his hand by Jiang Feng’s strike.
With a ‘Clatter,’ the sword hit the ground and bounced once, making a second sound.
Meng Shaoxia looked at his hand in disbelief, looking at “Duo Fu” on the ground.
The last time his sword was knocked away by Brother Feng’s wooden stick, it was because he wasn’t prepared.
This time, he had been very confident and had prepared for a long time.
People might not have a count on whether their literary talent had improved, but they certainly had a count on their martial prowess, as killing and fighting resulted in real injuries.
Meng Shaoxia felt that today’s version of himself could take on at least six versions of himself from a year ago.
Yet, he had still been disarmed by Brother Feng in one strike.
Jiang Feng also looked pleasantly surprised, feeling it was all thanks to Brother Meng. The Sword Manual he gave him was simply too profound; the more he practiced, the more energized he felt. At first, it was just a few unremarkable moves, but the more he practiced, the more he realized they held infinite possibilities.
Brother Meng was truly a good friend.
Now, he was truly a brother-in-law.
They were one family.
Meng Shaoxia, looking incredulous, said, “Again.”
He was knocked down again.
“Again.”
Knocked down.
“Come.”
Down.
Meng Shaoxia sat on the stone steps, feeling like life had no meaning.
The corners of his mouth twitched, and he actually wanted to cry.
He couldn’t understand it.
He really couldn’t understand it.
How was it possible?
He had improved so much, yet he still lost.
Brother Feng was still using those common, street-level sword moves. Brother Feng must have been going easy on him, just using those three ordinary moves.
Back and forth, three moves.
And he had been beaten until he had no power to fight back.
Jiang Yu, who had just been shouting for them to do their best, charged onto the field aggressively.
She chased after her brother to beat him up.
“Brother, you actually bullied Brother Meng! One hit wasn’t enough, you had to hit him several times!” Jiang Yu ran after her brother with the chicken foot in her hand. Not only did she hit Jiang Feng’s head with the chicken foot, but she also picked up “Duo Fu” from the ground and chased Jiang Feng all over the field.
Meng Shaoxia was a little frustrated at first.
Then, he was filled with emotion.
Little Yu’er liked him so much; she was actually avenging him. He was deeply moved and felt protected.
Little Yu’er was much better than Mother. Mother would chase Father all over the place to beat him up to avenge her brother.
But then, watching Jiang Yu chase Jiang Feng all over the field, moving so fast she was a blur, the brother and sister fighting back and forth—Jiang Feng running, dodging, and striking while Jiang Yu chased and struck—they were evenly matched???
Meng Shaoxia felt even more frustrated???
What was going on???
Jiang Feng must have been going easy on his sister.
On the field, Jiang Feng shouted while running: “Jiang Xiaoyu, you’ve gone too far! You’re even using sneak attacks! If you want to fight, just fight, but pulling my hair is wrong! You aren’t even married yet, and you’re already siding with outsiders! Jiang Xiaoyu, stop it! Jiang Xiaoyu… I surrender, ahhh, it hurts, I surrender!”
Meng Shaoxia watched with tears in his eyes as Little Yu’er pinned Brother Feng down, then she turned back and gave him a bright smile.
Meng Shaoxia wanted to smile, but couldn’t.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
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