Chapter 74 It's even now
"Just you wait and see how you lose."
On the training ground, Song Jin dragged a heavy sword as long as a man. The iron sword dragged on the platform made of bluestone slabs, making a hissing sound that made everyone's hearts jump.
Of course, merely carrying a longsword could be considered pretentious, but once you actually wield it...
Song Jin tapped the sword, then with a light flick of her wrist, a clean and simple sword flourish was executed.
This move made those around them swallow hard.
It's important to know that although Song Jin did perform a sword dance at the last Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the sword she used was vastly different from this specialized heavy sword.
The standard heavy sword used by soldiers weighs 6.6 kilograms. It is powerful enough to easily kill weaker soldiers, and it is difficult for an ordinary person to lift with one hand.
The sword in Song Jin's hands was a heavy sword he trained with extra weight, weighing a hefty sixteen kilograms. Let alone wielding it, even lifting it required gritting his teeth and using both hands; otherwise, he would easily stumble and fall.
Her move was far more persuasive than any of the rumors circulating.
Song Jin saw the fear in the eyes of the onlookers. She nodded with satisfaction, then lightly raised her heavy sword as if wielding a wooden stick, pointing it at Qi Zheng opposite her, and arrogantly declared...
"If you admit defeat now, this matter can be considered over. But if you continue, don't blame me for losing face to a weak woman like me in front of so many people, you, the mighty chess king."
First, losing is not shameful.
Qi Zheng stood quietly on the other side, only half an arm's length away from the greatsword.
He raised the longsword in his hand, a sword that was not light enough for an ordinary person, but in front of the greatsword, it looked like a toy, utterly intimidating.
With the scabbard removed, the sharp blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight, leaving no doubt that it could easily sever hands and feet.
That day beneath the city walls, he single-handedly slew several highly skilled assassins, steadily protecting His Majesty.
It must be said that after that, the gossip and criticism he used to receive decreased significantly, probably out of fear that he might take the opportunity to slit his own throat.
That's overthinking it. Even江湖人人 (jianghu people) aren't that wild.
Qi Zheng stood ramrod straight, his long sword pointed horizontally, his handsome face expressionless, like a thousand-year-old cold stone.
Cold and hard
It still smells bad
Song Jin was half a head taller than him. She raised her chin, her eyebrows and eyes unrestrained and defiant, and said, "And second place?"
Qi Zheng: "Secondly, you are not a weak woman."
Song Jin: ...
Qi Zheng immediately raised his longsword and unexpectedly slashed at the heavy sword. With the combined internal force of both sides, the ordinary longsword shattered instantly, its fragments clattering on the ground, ending its short life.
He raised his eyes and tossed aside the short sword: "Thirdly, you saw that, right? You said before that we wouldn't use internal energy in this competition."
Song Jin's smile vanished: "When did I say that?"
Qi Zheng did not answer, but turned to look at the five Song brothers standing in the front row of the training ground.
Among them, Song Shunzhi, Song Anzhi, and Song Qingzhi are three
He gently helped them recall: "Roast chicken"
The three brothers' expressions froze.
Looking back now, that roast chicken was absolutely delicious.
But why drag them into this argument? Those three are just small fry; they wouldn't even be worth a single stab from them.
Under the calm gaze of Qi Zheng, the only parent he currently has, and on the other side, the angry and threatening glare of his younger sister.
Song Anzhi turned and left: "The fence over there seems a bit unstable. I'll go get it reinforced to prevent anyone from getting hurt."
He was from the Ministry of War, and his reasoning was perfectly reasonable.
Song Qingzhi, being in cahoots with him, quickly chimed in without hesitation: "Right, right, the Ministry of War is the foundation of military training. Every soldier and weapon needs to be made of the best materials to achieve its maximum effect. I'll go see if they need any funding."
The remaining second brother, Song Shunzhi, also wanted to follow, but Song Xingzhi, with bruises still visible around his eye, and Song Shenzhi, the third brother who had just been released from prison, were holding him down tightly, their expressions ambiguous.
"Second brother, you two get along really well!"
Feeling the pain in his shoulder and the stares around him, Song Shunzhi thought to himself that if this was considered good relations, then he'd probably be beheaded if he ever messed up.
He stood there silently, sighing softly at the two imposing figures: "It is true. Little sister, last time you said you wanted His Highness to guide you."
Song Jin slammed her heavy sword down, a forced smile on her face: "Really?"
Song Shunzhi nodded
He's not a liar, and it's obvious that even if he were, it wouldn't make a difference. Let the young people handle it themselves.
Another loud crash echoed from the training platform.
Song Shen, who had just been released from prison last night, stepped forward. He was dressed in all black, and his broad shoulders, honed from years of training, were covered by hand and shoulder armor. He exuded a commanding presence, and his smile carried the bold and heroic air of someone who had fought in battle.
"Little sister, how about your third brother spar with you? Although I'm not as skilled as Prince Qi, I happen to be proficient with a heavy sword, so I can give you a good fight."
Although he was in the Prison Temple during this time, his treatment was in no way inferior. None of the guards dared to treat him badly, and they told him quite a bit about Song Jin.
In just over a month, her deeds spread throughout the capital; truly, she embodied the spirit of the Song family!
Looking at Song Jin, who stood on the training ground wielding a heavy sword and exuding a murderous aura, Song Shenzhi's eyes were practically overflowing with admiration.
That was his father's child, with his father's looks, his father's fearlessness, and his father's charisma.
He's willing, he really is willing to be a live-in son-in-law!
Song Jin was in a bad mood, and looking at this person whose head looked like it had been hit by a door made her feel annoyed as well. She said rather irritably.
"What, you mean I can't beat him and can only fight you?"
Having never interacted with anyone before, Song Shenzhi naturally didn't expect her to react this way. Taken aback, he explained, "That's not what I meant. I meant..."
"All you do is talk, talk, talk."
Song Jin was in a terrible mood, so bad that she couldn't stand anyone, and naturally, she wasn't going to give anyone a pleasant look, especially the way Song Shenzhi was looking at her—it was just so disgusting.
It's all because the prison was too dark. If she had known he would be this annoying, she should have fed the things to the dogs that day.
Pooh
Thinking about what happened that day, Song Jin irritably flung away the heavy sword in her hand, her gaze returning to the solemn Qi Zheng. She raised her chin and gave a defiant sneer.
"Fine, I don't need it then. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
Although she could already foresee her defeat, she wouldn't lose face, and she still had to utter some tough words.
Yeah, thinking about it carefully still makes me so angry.
Song Jin pouted slightly, glared fiercely at Qi Zheng, and whispered through gritted teeth, "You stingy little thing."
Such a big man, being so petty, is really stingy to the extreme.
All she did was speak a couple of truths that day, and he got angry and ignored her, which was bad enough, but now he's coming back to 'settle the score,' just to embarrass her.
She's even more unreasonable than her.
It's good that she knows she can't be reasonable.
Seeing her furious expression, Qi Zheng didn't say anything. He bent down to pick up the broken sword from the ground, then went to the side and took out two identical longswords, handing them to Song Jin.
You choose first.
Song Jin looked down at the two identical swords, grinding her teeth: "You, surnamed Qi, don't go too far."
A smile flashed in Qi Zheng's eyes as he handed it over directly.
Song Jin reluctantly took the sword. If eyes could have a physical form, her gaze would be like a series of knives, turning someone into a hedgehog.
She stared at the nimble sword in Qi Zheng's hand, then looked at her own, suspiciously wondering if he had tampered with it. But after a careful inspection, she found nothing amiss.
She had just started to think this person was barely acceptable
He then asked, "Should we clear the area?"
Although no one knows what they said at the horse farm yesterday, they used the Ministry of War's training ground, and seeing that no one was stopping them, everyone crowded around, with officials and guards practically all squeezing in.
Qi Zheng's words could be considered 'thoughtful'.
Song Jin sneered and, without a word, drew her sword and thrust it forward.
They were using real, sharpened swords, their blades gleaming white, thrusting straight forward. Those around gasped in fear, terrified she would stab them in the back, leaving them in a bad way.
Fortunately, this didn't happen. Faced with Song Jin's sudden attack, Qi Zheng stood still without moving an inch. He lightly swung his longsword, easily blocking her attack, and then deftly flicked it away.
Song Jin instinctively wanted to use her inner strength, but then remembered the rules and suppressed it. She barely managed to grip the sword with all her might. She took a step back, the anger on her face disappearing, replaced by caution.
Although she hadn't practiced swordsmanship much and didn't think external strength was more important than internal strength, it didn't mean she looked down on them.
She's just plain lazy. She already has enough internal energy cultivation every day. Why would she want to practice sword techniques on top of that? How could she possibly get by?
The last time I asked Qi Zheng to compare myself to him, it was because I felt like I needed to improve.
Looking at it now...
She needs to replenish her body from head to toe.
Song Jin suppressed her personal grudges and became cautious, carefully observing Qi Zheng before unleashing another sword strike.
Just like last time, he easily caught it with a flick of his blade.
Song Jin narrowly dodged, but it was much easier than last time; at least her hand wasn't numb from the impact. Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Again"
Qi Zheng didn't stand there like a wooden statue. As she repeatedly changed her moves, he slowly began to move as well.
The two men retreated and yielded, their swords flashing and the sound of metal clashing against metal was crisp and piercing, making the hearts of the onlookers hold their breath.
Song Anzhi and Song Qingzhi, who had pretended to leave earlier, circled back and stood behind watching the two swordsmen duel.
No, to be more precise, it should be sword practice.
Song Anzhi rubbed the dagger in his hand, squinting at the two on the field: "Prince Qi, your martial arts are indeed superb. Third Brother is far from being in a hurry."
Song Qingzhi leisurely munched on a persimmon, saying, "Some people are going to be disappointed."
The Emperor's intentions couldn't be clearer. If those people wanted to retaliate, the only options were to have Qi Zheng commit an unforgivable crime or to eliminate him.
However, it's rare to make a big mistake. Qi Zheng is neither interested in women, nor in gold and silver, nor in socializing. Even if someone wanted to frame him, they wouldn't have the chance.
The only option left is to eliminate him, but given his martial arts skills...
Song Qingzhi clicked his tongue: "That's good too. Although he lacks etiquette, he understands the people's affairs and their hardships. The common people are fortunate."
Song Anzhi continued sharpening the crossbow, sighing, "Yes, it's quite good. It would be even better if Father were here."
This person was brought back by his father. He didn't believe his father wouldn't know what happened after he brought the person back.
Song Qingzhi asked wistfully, "Do you think Father is still alive?"
Two or three months of silence really makes it hard not to wonder.
Song Anzhi quietly watched the two on the field, while Song Xingzhi, standing behind him, let out a soft snort.
"Look at the boss."
Song Qingzhi looked closely, and after a while, he realized what was happening. He opened his eyes slightly and remained silent for a long time.
Song Anzhi simply nodded slightly, then changed the subject: "Those weren't our business. You should think about how to persuade Lao San first. I'm afraid he might get beaten to death one day; he'd be better off staying in jail."
Who can persuade him otherwise? To be honest, the third son has his problems too; given how much his younger sister resembles his father, he still wants to get married.
Song Qingzhi couldn't dissuade him; it was too strange. He coughed lightly and changed the subject: "Do you really have to sharpen your bow at this time?"
Song Anzhi nodded: "Of course, I'll give it to her after my little sister finishes making it, otherwise she'll cause trouble for everyone when she gets back."
His experience over this period has taught him that if he offends someone, it's best to apologize in advance to avoid endless trouble later.
Song Qingzhi, who hadn't prepared anything: ...
The brother's little boat capsized instantly.
**
The two on the training ground, however, competed from morning until afternoon.
As time passed, the people around did not disperse; instead, more and more people gathered.
If initially the majority of those in question were from the Ministry of War, later the majority were dukes, marquises, and officials, and even included several other princes.
Before Qi Zheng returned, Prince Jin considered himself the last of the three princes to be the most competitive.
His biological parents were from the main branch of the Qi family, with considerable influence behind them. His wife was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ying's family, and he himself was skilled in both literature and martial arts.
Even though Qi Ye disliked these princes, he was still a responsible emperor. If he were to choose a successor, he would certainly consider their abilities.
And among those princes, who could compare to him?
The Prince of Jin was full of confidence and ambition. He had previously brought up the matter of establishing a crown prince with the help of his court officials, but Qi Ye had been slow to respond.
He always believed that if it didn't work the first time, he'd try again; if it didn't work the second time, he'd try a third time. This position would be his sooner or later.
Who knew Qi Zheng would suddenly appear?
Now, let alone a third time, he didn't even dare to mention it a second time, for fear that his father would directly use this suggestion to establish Qi Zheng as his biological son.
Prince Jin stared intently at Qi Zheng gesturing on the stage, then asked the person beside him in a low voice, "How is it?"
The gray-clad man beside him said gravely, "Unfathomable."
Both players on the field were like this.
Song Jin appears impatient and impulsive, her sword strikes are haphazard and lack any discernible technique, leaving numerous openings. However, after making a mistake, she corrects it and continues to attack, showing remarkable progress.
Qi Zheng was even more formidable; his every move was light and smooth, seemingly harmless compared to Song Jin's bold and powerful strikes. Yet, each move was flawless, taking lives in the blink of an eye.
And this was without the two of them using their internal energy.
Watching the two exchange glances, the man in gray frankly admitted, "I'm not up to the task."
The Prince of Jin's heart sank: "Is there not even a sliver of a possibility?"
The man in gray did not speak.
The Prince of Jin's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth: "Add more money."
The gray-clad man's gaze fell upon Song Jin, his eyes blazing with a wild, almost predatory intensity as he watched her swordplay accelerate, becoming so fast that it was almost impossible for an ordinary person to follow.
With a clang, the iron sword broke in two again, flying straight towards the crowd and hurtling towards them.
The man in gray instinctively raised his hand to catch it, then looked at the Prince of Jin who had fallen in fright beside him, sighed softly, and a look of helplessness crossed his face.
"Do you think this is about raising the price?"
This is life-saving!
The Prince of Jin's face turned ashen, and he glared fiercely at Qi Zheng on the stage, convinced that he had done it on purpose.
It was definitely intentional.
But it wasn't him, it was Song Jin.
She suppressed the urge to burst into laughter, gently flicked the broken sword, broke off a small piece, blew on it lightly, and her eyes were full of cunning.
"How about it?"
Qi Zheng looked down at the broken blade in her hand and said honestly, "It was very dangerous."
Prince Jin is, after all, a prince. If he truly injures someone, even if she were a princess, she would still be punished.
Song Jin immediately scoffed, her face, flushed from sword practice, drooping. The word "boring" was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back.
She curled her lip: "Coward."
A smile flickered in Qi Zheng's eyes. He sheathed his broken sword and said, "I lost."
Song Jin rolled her eyes at him and waved her hand dismissively: "I lost, so I lost. I'm not that much of a sore loser. I really can't beat you without using my internal energy."
Qi Zheng snatched the broken sword from her hand, swapped it with his own, and said solemnly, "The sword is broken, I lost."
Instead of being moved, Song Jin became suspicious: "What do you mean?"
This man challenged her to a duel to force her to apologize, and now that she has lost and is willing to accept her defeat, he has changed his mind.
What, is it fun to mess with her?
Song Jin narrowed her eyes
Qi Zheng looked at her wary expression and suddenly smiled. He reached out and tugged at her loose hair, which was damp with sweat and sticky in strands.
He twirled his fingers together, then gently wiped her sweaty face as he put the cloth away.
He bent down slightly, looking directly at her; his dark eyes were filled with seriousness.
"Now we're even."
With that, he sheathed his broken sword and walked toward the Prince of Jin, who was standing to the side, startled and disrespectful.
Having just finished a duel, he carried a hint of murderous intent, accompanied by the sharp, broken sword and his cold, stern face...
Prince Jin didn't really need his concern.
Song Jin stood there, staring blankly at his retreating figure. She tugged at her hair, but felt nothing. She decided to try again.
She hissed.
Is this person crazy?
Song Jin looked at the intact longsword in her arms, trying hard to suppress the involuntary upward curve of her lips.
Well, she'll just have to reluctantly forgive him.
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