xymnovel Chapter 47: Agreeing to the duel, fighting 1 against 3
Chapter 47: Agreeing to the duel, fighting 1 against 3
Dozens of steps outside the tent, beneath a snow-covered withered poplar, Taichu Cangye stood silently like a statue carved from black jade.
He was clad in matte black lamellar armor, the plates of which were closely fitted and gleamed with a cold metallic sheen under the snow.
The Azure Dragon Netherworld Halberd in his hand, entirely black except for a sliver of light shining from its blade, was over nine feet long. At this moment, the halberd's shaft was deeply embedded in the frozen soil and snow, as steady as a rock.
He exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay, as if even the falling snowflakes would quietly melt or drift away from him within three feet.
He had sensed Jin Peng's arrival long ago and deliberately chose this secluded and sheltered corner far from the royal tent to stand guard, just so he wouldn't get entangled with this "martial arts fanatic".
Unexpectedly, the other party not only came, but also went even further, bringing two strong men who were obviously powerful, creating a "three-man challenge" formation.
"Noisy." With a slight movement of his thin lips, he uttered two words as sharp as ice crystals. Tai Chu Cang Ye's fingers, gripping the halberd shaft, tightened almost imperceptibly, and the pale blue veins on the back of his hand bulged slightly.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and even the snow on the withered poplar branches seemed to have hardened further. He felt only impatience.
It's troublesome, pointless trouble, a pure waste of time and energy.
Seeing that things had come to this point, Mu Yun Lingyuan inside the tent knew he could no longer refuse, so he could only smile wryly as he rose and bowed to the Green Lion and White Elephant, saying:
"Brothers, please forgive me. Cang Ye is just like this. He is not good at socializing and does not like to publicize what happened today. I'm sorry you two had to laugh at me. Let's go out and take a look together. Let's not let Jin Peng make too much of a fuss and disturb others."
The three of them went out of the tent together, and in the dim morning light, Jinpeng stood a few steps in front of Taichu Cangye with his hands on his hips and his head held high.
He wasn't wearing full armor today, but his gold and red embroidered roc-patterned outfit was eye-catching enough, and the "gilded roc halberd" in his hand was pointing diagonally at the ground.
The exquisite relief of a soaring roc on the halberd shaft shimmered in the light, while a cold glint flickered at the tip, perfectly complementing his flamboyant and fiery temperament.
He raised his chin slightly, his face full of provocative expression, as if he was determined to force you to take action today.
But the primordial darkness remained as still as a pine tree, as if Jinpeng's shouts were merely a passing breeze.
He held the Azure Dragon Netherworld Halberd firmly in his hand. A thin layer of fresh snow had settled on his black armor, but it did not diminish his upright and spear-like posture, nor his icy and condensed aura.
The two, one hot and one cold, one noisy and one quiet, formed a stark contrast, and an invisible tension filled the air, as if a sudden gust of wind would rise at any moment.
"The Primordial Azure Night!" Jinpeng raised his voice, his halberd tip pointing towards the sky.
"Will you fight or not? If you dare to fight, we'll go to that abandoned pasture to the east where we usually train horses. It's open there, and the snow has been compacted by horses and men, perfect for a battle! If you dare not..."
He deliberately drew out his words, "Then just admit defeat. From now on, when I come looking for the prince again, you'll automatically stay away. How about that?"
Tai Chu Cang Ye finally raised his eyes, his gaze like two icy spikes, coldly piercing Jin Peng. Then, his eyes slightly shifted, sweeping over the green lion and white elephant that followed behind him.
Qing Shi had already taken off the thick-backed mountain-chopping knife he was carrying. The blade was broad and thick, and the edge of the knife gleamed with a cold light. He casually slung it over his shoulder, and his rugged face was full of fighting spirit.
Bai Xiang held a thick iron spear, as thick as a bowl and over twelve feet long, level in his hand. The spearhead was as steady as a rock. His eyes were calm yet scrutinizing. He was fighting three opponents at once, and judging from their aura, none of them were ordinary.
A faint, almost imperceptible sneer flashed across his eyes. His tone remained flat and even, yet carried a sharp edge: "To bully the few with the many is not a honorable victory."
"Hey! That's not right!" Jin Peng immediately retorted, his tone confident and unashamed.
"It's precisely because you're one of Brother Ling Yuan's top experts that we feel it's fair for the three of us to team up! If it were just me alone, wouldn't you easily defeat me? That would be so boring! We're doing you a favor by fighting three against one!"
He was a bachelor, and he readily admitted that he was no match for the opponent in a one-on-one fight, which only fueled his competitive spirit.
Green Lion also stepped forward with heavy steps, slammed his machete into the ground with a clang, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a booming voice:
"Brother Cangye, we have absolutely no intention of relying on numbers to win or to humiliate you! We have long admired your name and are itching to personally experience your skills."
If you feel it's unfair, we can make an agreement, such as taking turns or limiting each other's moves. The point is to have a good fight and determine the winner!
The white elephant also spoke calmly, its voice like a muffled drum:
"Brother Cangye, this is just a friendly spar. We will stop here once we've made our point. We will all hold back and will not hurt each other."
If you can withstand our combined attack without defeat, or even emerge victorious, I await your arrival. I will be utterly convinced of your superiority and will never again cause you such trouble.
His words were sincere, offering a seemingly respectable way out: as long as Tai Chu Cang Ye performed strongly enough, he could get rid of Jin Peng's future challenge once and for all.
Tai Chu Cang Ye's gaze passed over the three of them and landed on Mu Yun Ling Yuan, who was a little further away.
Mu Yunlingyuan nodded slightly, a hint of apology in his eyes.
A silence lingered in the cold air for several breaths. Tai Chu Cang Ye's mind raced, and he resolutely refused. Knowing Jin Peng's temperament, he knew that future entanglements would only escalate, disturbing his peace.
If we agree, and all we need to do is act swiftly and decisively to eliminate these three people, we might truly be able to secure long-term peace.
Moreover, that horse-training pasture was indeed remote, rarely visited by people, and not easily noticed.
"Yes." He finally spoke, his voice still cold, but carrying a resolute tone.
"Just this once. That's enough. You've lost, so stop arguing."
"Good! Great! It's a deal!" Jinpeng was overjoyed upon hearing this, forcefully swinging his halberd and turning to the Green Lion and White Elephant excitedly.
"Brothers, follow me! Today, let us see for ourselves what the Three Heroes of the Hu tribe truly are!"
Green Lion laughed heartily, shouldered his machete, and strode after him.
The white elephant nodded steadily, holding its iron spear upside down, its steps firm and powerful.
Tai Chu Cang Ye said no more. With a slight tremor of his arm, the Azure Dragon Netherworld Halberd, which was embedded in the frozen earth, emitted a low hum and suddenly lifted off the ground, kicking up a cloud of snow dust.
Holding the halberd in one hand, without any apparent movement, he moved swiftly and gracefully towards the eastern grasslands like a silent black lightning bolt.
The black armor and the black halberd almost blended into the still lingering morning mist and shadows. Only a sharp killing intent, which was becoming increasingly concentrated and held back, was like a peerless, deadly blade that had been drawn half an inch from its sheath. Although it was not fully revealed, it already sent chills down the spines of those with keen senses.
Mu Yun Lingyuan stood still, watching the four figures rapidly disappear into the distance: the Golden Roc's fiery heat like the sun, the Azure Lion's ferocity like thunder, the White Elephant's imposing weight like a mountain, and the Primordial Azure Night's cold, profound darkness that seemed capable of swallowing light.
His lips finally curled up slowly, revealing a helpless yet expectant smile.
The wind and snow had completely stopped at some point, the leaden clouds dispersed, and the sky revealed a cold, azure blue.
The vast grassland in the east, usually used for horse training and now covered by thick snow, is about to become a stage for an unknown but destined-to-be-spectacular showdown.