Chu Fan and Zhang Xiong assumed their fighting stances amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd.
Chu Fan had a normal build, considered sturdy but not particularly burly, and looked quite insignificant compared to Zhang Xiong opposite him. In comparison, it was like a cat sitting in front of a dog.
The two clasped hands; Chu Fan's hand was only half the size of Zhang Xiong's.
Martial artists can greatly enhance their physical functions by infusing their muscles with internal energy.
Both of them do this before they begin.
The internal energy of the two ninth-rank martial artists in the arena rose like mist around their arms. The light was affected by the heated and expanded air, causing subtle distortions.
There were no stakes in this competition, but everyone knew it was a contest for the future leadership of the Chu family army.
Although Zhang Hu had the advantage of timing and location, he was not good at strategy and lacked popular support. If he was also weaker than Fan Zi in terms of martial prowess, then many of the former members of the Chu family army present should consider this Miss Fan.
Zhang Hu clenched his fist slightly, while Zhou Ping remained silent. Ruobao's brows furrowed with worry, and Xiaoxiao also frowned.
He Yunxiao was initially full of confidence, but when he saw Xiaoxiao's expression, he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.
He Yunxiao knew that compared to his confidence in the protagonist, Xiao Xiao, the world's number one martial artist, also possessed a profound understanding of martial arts that couldn't be ignored. He didn't care what others thought, but if even Xiao Xiao sensed something was amiss…
Before He Yunxiao could think it over, Zhou Ping shouted, "Begin!"
As soon as the arm wrestling match began, Chu Fan and Zhang Xiong immediately engaged in the most intense battle.
Both of them had flushed faces and bulging veins, clearly having used all their strength.
The tabletop beneath their arms was made of bluestone, but this normally incredibly hard mountain stone was now showing signs of cracking. The bluestone directly in contact with their elbows had long since shattered into tiny fragments, which, with the kneading of their elbows, turned into fine ash. It would dissipate with a single breath.
Chu Fan is going to lose!
He Yunxiao stared in astonishment at the situation on the field.
Chu Fan was clearly at a disadvantage; his arm was being severely restrained by Zhang Xiong. If this continued, it wouldn't be long before Chu Fan's arm was firmly pressed against the bluestone slab. He was going to lose!
He Yunxiao was filled with disbelief.
Will the protagonist lose?
While strictly speaking, the protagonist usually wins, it doesn't mean that every contest will end in a narrow victory. Sometimes, lasting longer is also a victory.
This viewpoint was something He Yunxiao had just gleaned from the reactions of the onlookers.
"Holy crap, can Chu Fan last this long?"
"He's too strong! How could he last so long against someone with Zhang Xiong's superhuman strength?"
"I am ashamed to say that, as a fellow ninth-rank official, I could not last a single breath against Zhang Xiong."
Despite the praise from many former leaders of the Chu family army, Chu Fan ultimately lost the competition.
Chu Fan bowed to He Yunxiao with embarrassment, "Brother He, I have failed you."
He Yunxiao smiled calmly and said, "We're all family, no need for formalities. Losing is losing, it's no big deal."
Family? Xiao Xiao glanced at He Yunxiao discreetly.
After Chu Fan lost his duel with Zhang Xiong, the morale of Zhang Hu's troops, which had been shaken by Fan Ziruo, stabilized. In the end, the majority of the minor leaders still sided with Zhang Hu. After all, Zhang Hu had a large and powerful force, and everyone ate and slept in his stronghold, so they naturally had to give him some face.
To He Yunxiao's surprise, although his old acquaintance Sun Qiang voted for Zhang Hu, Wu Jian, who had always been at odds with him, cast his vote for Fan Ziruo.
This vote meant that he planned to follow Fan Ziruo from now on.
Wu Jian, an eighth-rank cultivator, was a centurion in a garrison in the south before coming to Black Tiger Stronghold. Although he didn't bring all his men, he took about half of them—five or six hundred soldiers. (www.cascoo.net)
Ruobao and Zhang Hu have different ideologies. Ruobao wants a genuine Chu family army, while Zhang Hu seems to be planning to organize a "coalition of former Chu family army members".
This was a point of contention that neither side could compromise on. Fortunately, the Chu family army still had some influence. Ruobao and Zhang Hu discussed it and decided to stay temporarily at Black Tiger Stronghold, with He Yunxiao paying for their expenses. They would then choose a day to lead the Short Sword Army and Wu Jian's five hundred soldiers away from Black Tiger Stronghold and start another "Chu family army" elsewhere.
...
He Yunxiao and Chu Fan returned to their house to rest.
As the protagonist, Chu Fan's diligence in training goes without saying. Upon returning, he didn't even sleep but immediately began meditating and practicing. This action put He Yunxiao, who was used to lying down, under immense pressure.
"Brother Chu, I'm going out to practice my swordsmanship," He Yunxiao said.
Chu Fan nodded, thinking to himself: Brother He's achievements in martial arts today must be inseparable from his hard work in the past. I am older than Brother He, so I should work even harder!
Chu Fan calmed down and practiced his skills with double the effort.
He Yunxiao, who had gone out to practice his swordsmanship, took a long detour and ended up in Ruobao's room.
It was late at night. Ruobao took off her clothes and went to sleep, and He Yunxiao consciously crawled into Ruobao's bed.
Fan Ziruo has always been a light sleeper and is easily awakened by the slightest noise.
She looked at He Yunxiao with sleepy eyes, slightly surprised and delighted, and said, "Husband?"
"Aren't you going to sleep?" He Yunxiao put his arm around her slender waist.
Fan Ziru shook her head, then looked into He Yunxiao's eyes and said, "Thank goodness you came with me. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do by myself."
He Yunxiao said matter-of-factly, "I am your husband. If my wife is in trouble, I will definitely do my best to help! Besides, won't your 'Chu Family Army' also become my 'Chu Family Army' in the future? Helping my wife is helping myself. There are still many old members of the Chu Family Army who haven't come yet, and not everyone has Zhang Hu's idea. We still have a chance."
Ruobao rested her head on He Yunxiao's arm and nodded gently, "Mmm."
Before, when he hadn't crossed that line, He Yunxiao didn't dare to have any ulterior motives towards Ruobao. But now that he's crossed that line, he feels no guilt about going through it again.
He Yunxiao touched Ruobao's little belly, "Ruobao, are you pregnant?"
Fan Ziruo's cheeks flushed slightly, and she was too embarrassed to speak. She seemed to feel guilty about not being pregnant.
He Yunxiao thought to himself, "How could she possibly get pregnant? Her starting point is wrong," but he comforted her by saying, "It's normal to not get pregnant the first time. There are many women who get pregnant after a year of marriage."
Fan Ziruo didn't know much about these things, but she trusted He Yunxiao completely and believed whatever he said. So she hummed in agreement.
"Let's try again."
"My husband..."
"What's wrong?"
Unlike last time, He Yunxiao is no longer in mortal danger, and Ruobao's willingness to take the initiative is not strong. She still has a traditional personality and hopes to do these things after marriage.
"After the wedding..."
He Yunxiao lowered his head, making it impossible for her to refuse.
In the quiet of the night, the stunningly beautiful woman blushed, her brows furrowed, her eyes half-closed, and she gently bit her lip…
He Yunxiao's internal energy barrier, used for soundproofing, quietly unfolded, enveloping him and preventing even a trace of the winter breeze from escaping.
The cool breeze of December nights swayed the tree branches, tirelessly until dawn.
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