Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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The camp outside the capital was occupied by some stragglers recruited recently, who were stationed there awaiting assignments from the General’s Office and the Ministry of War. As a result, these soldiers were not well-trained and were rather disorganized, with tents scattered everywhere and some unburnt campfires burning outside.
Lu Huan composed himself and, after making sure the person beside him was still with him, followed the Second Minister to the archery range.
Although the purpose of this visit was ostensibly for inspection, Lu Huan knew that it was probably not that simple.
The appearance of the Minister of War’s daughter outside the city was no coincidence; it’s likely that the Minister of War himself must have come to this place. So, what was his purpose?
Lu Huan raised his dark eyes, seemingly casually, and glanced at the high platform and pavilion not far from the archery range. There was clearly a screen on the high platform and pavilion— he wondered who was behind it.
The Second Department Minister asked him to wait a while at the archery range. He was then called away by a soldier and returned shortly after. He was followed by four burly men dressed as military leaders in dark robes.
Three of them carried quivers and bows on their backs. They were reserved and taciturn. Although Lu Huan had never seen them before, he could tell at a glance that the three men wore black robes embroidered with leopards, bears, and wolves respectively. Their military ranks should be those of a third-rank commander, a fourth-rank guard, and a sixth-rank bodyguard.
The other man was of imposing stature and was also a skilled fighter; he was a fourth-rank general.
These people were already considered the core of the Zhenyuan Army, and today they were all sent here. Lu Huan’s eyes held an inscrutable meaning— the Zhenyuan General and the Minister of War really thought too highly of him.
The four men stared intently at Lu Huan, lined up in a row at the archery range. Then the Minister smiled and said to Lu Huan, “These people heard that you, sir, are a young prodigy who hunted down the Snow Wolf King in Qiuyan Mountain a month ago and received a reward from the Emperor. These four soldiers would like to ask you for some pointers. We wonder if you dare to have a contest of archery and spearmanship?”
Before Lu Huan could respond, Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, was already stunned. Wasn’t this just bullying?
These four burly men were so big they almost popped out of the screen; they could easily kill a kid with one punch. Although three of them weren’t even as tall as the cub but he looked incredibly thin next to them! Thirty-something men trying to compete with teenagers in horseback riding, archery, and marksmanship? Have they no shame?!
Although Su Xi knew she could help the cub from behind the screen, the Minister hadn’t explained how the comparison would be conducted, so she couldn’t help but worry and subconsciously hooked the cub’s finger.
Today’s trip to the military camp was a trap to test her little one.
Lu Huan felt her gripping his hand, as if she was nervous and worried about him. Just now, outside the camp, the melancholy in his heart had eased a little.
He smirked and said to the four people, “Please.”
Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, kicked her legs. Well, there was no escaping this competition.
The three men who challenged him to a mounted archery contest brought their own soldiers, who brought horses and carried fine phoenix-feather bows. Their arrows were also exceptionally sharp.
However, Lu Huan did not anticipate that the person behind the screen would have such considerations for him, so he only brought horses, not bows and arrows and swords.
The Minister smiled and said, “It’s alright, I was prepared.”
After he finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and soon two soldiers brought him three arrows and a longsword.
Su Xi and the cub looked at the three arrows and the longsword, and immediately fell silent: “…”
This competition seems far too difficult.
If it were truly meant to test him, why would only one of the three arrows sent be a perfectly intact and sharp arrow, while the other two were missing feathers at the tail and had extremely blunt and heavy arrowheads, likely to fall to the ground due to their weight before traveling even fifty meters?
The longsword was more like a flat stick without a blade or sheath than a true longsword.
Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, was getting anxious. How could he possibly compete?!
The four military officers standing opposite, eyeing the boy menacingly, kept their eyes fixed on him. One of them, a fourth-rank lieutenant general, scoffed and said, “Most of the young masters in the capital are delicate and frail, so it’s understandable that they don’t dare to compete with us. However, since you were born so pampered, don’t meddle in the army’s crude affairs. Go straight to the court and be a useless civil official!”
This burly, imposing general seemed to hold scholars in utter contempt.
These arrows were arranged by General Zhenyuan, and even the Minister from the Second Ministry of War hadn’t expected them to deliberately make things difficult. It seemed the rumors about General Zhenyuan’s dislike of the Ning Wang’s residence weren’t unfounded.
Seeing the three crudely made arrows, he felt a bit of a headache. He opened his mouth, intending to smooth things over. After all, Lu Huan was one of his capable subordinates, and he would lose face if he were to lose face here today.
But before he could find a way out, Lu Huan beside him had already taken the three arrows and the long sword.
Lu Huan’s sharp gaze, almost tangible, fell upon the four people, and he asked directly, “How do we compete?”
The four men were also somewhat surprised that this kid showed no fear at all, and they couldn’t help but exchange glances.
One of them said, “The three of us will compete with you in archery. We must be on horseback and shoot while moving. Whoever hits the bullseye first will win. This general will use a silver spear, and you will use a longsword. The two of you will compete in martial arts.”
“If you can win two out of the four matches, then you win.”
After saying this, the burly general walked to the side, picked up the heavy silver spear from the soldier’s hand, and swung it around impressively a couple of times, making the Second Department Minister next to him wipe a cold sweat for Lu Huan.
“Okay, let’s do it this way.” Lu Huan nodded and went to lead his horse.
Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, was a little worried. After thinking for a moment, she redeemed some items from the store.
This included medicine for external injuries, darts, and concealed weapons, just in case.
At this very moment, the youngest daughter of the Minister of War, who had just appeared in the carriage outside the city, also appeared outside the archery range. Behind her, two maids held up her skirts and held up an oil-paper umbrella as she walked towards the high platform in the distance, seemingly intending to watch the battle.
Su Xi glanced at the youngest daughter of the Minister of War and saw that she was still biting her lip with her cheeks flushed, clearly intending to watch a wonderful competition.
…Su Xi, the elderly mother suddenly became dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law.
What kind of time is this? Why don’t you go and persuade your father, the Minister of War, to stop him? Do you think it’s easy for my son to take on four people at once?
She felt uncomfortable, as if her little one was working himself to the bone in this competition while the people on stage were just watching the show with ease, and her little one was being treated like a monkey.
Well, the Minister of War’s daughter is just a girl named A, without a name, so it’s clear she’s not the right person the game has arranged for our little one.
There will definitely be more people who will wholeheartedly care for the baby in the future.
With that in mind, Su Xi focused her attention on the upcoming competition between the cub and the other two.
Lu Huan couldn’t help but notice the daughter of the Minister of War walking towards the high-rise viewing platform— not that he wanted to, but because the girl was followed by several servants and was walking in a very high-profile manner.
He frowned, feeling the wind beside him had stopped, wondering what she was thinking.
Could it be that she has turned her attention to the daughter of the Minister of War again, and is still thinking about how to make a match?
Lu Huan was displeased, and a hint of gloom flashed in his dark eyes.
He pursed his lips, walked to the side, took the arrow quiver from the officer, adjusted the three arrows, placed the quiver on the side of the horse, then picked up the longbow, lifted his robe, and leaped onto the horse, his sleeves fluttering, his face somber.
Although he could restrain himself from showing excessively obsessive feelings for her, he feared that if she continued to casually find other women for him, he would eventually lose control.
The wind beside him suddenly tugged at his finger.
What Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, wanted to say was, be careful, your mother will always be there for you.
But the cub seemed lost in thought and suddenly lowered his voice and said to her in a deep voice, “I understand what you mean, but don’t mention it again. I will not settle down and start a family; I will grow old alone.”
Su Xi, off-screen: …Huh???
The author has something to say:
Su Xi: Oh no, my little one is a staunch non-marriage advocate, and I suspect he has… impotence.
The cub: …I hate that you’re such a blockhead.
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