Chapter 264.2: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 264.2: That is His Highness’s Marksmanship
Fang, the senior instructor, blocked again.
After five or six exchanges, he was steadily pushed backward. He quickly realized that the girl seemed to anticipate his moves—every attack she launched suppressed any chance for him to counter, giving him no opportunity to strike back.
So… her earlier purely defensive stance had been to probe his sword techniques, mapping out his patterns?!
Everyone knows the saying, know yourself and know your enemy, but truly achieving that is no small feat—especially when the duel itself is already heart-stoppingly intense. How could one observe and analyze from a calm, detached standpoint? There was only one possibility:
The one “who knows the enemy” had a mind and skill far surpassing the person being tested.
This realization struck Fang like a bolt of lightning. As the girl’s attacks grew faster, he found himself retreating, his sword technique starting to falter under the pressure.
The spectators were astonished.
Unlike the mounted archery earlier, which involved circling the training ground, this duel was happening right in front of them. Even so, many couldn’t comprehend how the tide of battle had suddenly turned.
And it had all shifted within just a few moves!
Murmurs spread, and one deputy commander couldn’t help but exclaim: “…Such nimble and striking skill in such a young body!”
Sweat formed at Fang’s temples.
He could no longer remain purely defensive—he needed to break free from this predicament.
In a desperate move, he thrust a punch toward the girl’s forehead while blocking her horizontal strike.
Caught off guard, Chang Suining’s gaze sharpened and she tilted her head to evade.
Fang intended to seize this opening, but she was faster. With a single leap, she moved to his rear flank. Her horizontal sword swept from behind to strike across his chest, slicing through his robe!
Fang froze, staring down at the blade now resting before him. A chilling realization struck him—he had already lost.
“Senior Instructor Fang, my apologies.”
The girl withdrew her sword, flipping it to a reverse grip behind her, and stepped back.
For a moment, silence fell—then cheers erupted.
Xiao Min was stunned.
He had never doubted Miss Chang before, because he had witnessed her kill Li Yi. But this was the first time he saw her full skill in action.
In that instant, he suddenly understood General Chang’s calm demeanor.
He shifted from questioning General Chang to understanding him.
“The first match, second round—sword duel, Miss Chang wins!”
The first match consisted of three rounds. Having won two, only the spear duel remained. No matter the outcome, she had already won the first match.
“He just now broke the rules!” Ah Dian pointed at Fang. “This was a weapons duel, yet he threw a punch at her—he was in the wrong!”
Fang’s expression shifted.
“It doesn’t matter,” Chang Suining said. “The duel is with weapons, but weapons are wielded by a person. As long as one can overcome the opponent, it counts.”
Fang said nothing.
Chang Suining asked, “Shall we proceed to the final round, Senior Instructor Fang?”
“Fang, continue!” a senior instructor called out.
“Yes, continue!”
Many instructors echoed in agreement.
Although the first match’s victory was settled, to forgo the final round would be tantamount to admitting defeat.
Besides, compared to swordsmanship, spear technique was the senior instructors’ daily strength—Fang would not lose here.
Some instructors, prideful, scowled at the thought of a girl’s defiance, wishing they could take the field themselves.
Without a word, Fang took up the long spear, holding it upright at his side, fixing his gaze on Chang Suining.
She set aside her sword and picked up a spear in response.
This time, Fang said nothing and offered no warnings.
At the drumbeat, he lunged like a powerful, agile tiger.
Chu Xing, still recovering from his earlier amazement, watched Chang Suining’s movements closely. He had seen her spearplay before, when she practiced with her companion—then he marveled at her innate skill.
Now, her spear technique was refined and precise, but her strength was limited compared to Fang’s solid foundation, and subtle weaknesses began to appear.
Sure enough, during one evasion, Fang’s spear grazed her shoulder, piercing her robe.
“Well done, Old Fang!” called an instructor holding a wine jug.
Chang Suining glanced down at the tiny hole in her robe.
Fang did not attack recklessly but held his spear, watching her closely. “Do you wish to continue, Miss Chang?”
His tone was that of the assured victor.
“Until the target is struck, it’s not over,” she replied. “Again.”
Fang gripped the spear tightly, letting out a hoarse shout: “Good! Come!”
The moment he finished, the girl moved with sudden speed. Her spear whistled like the wind, and her technique shifted dramatically.
Had he not seen it himself, he would not have believed the spearplay before and now could come from the same person.
Earlier, her technique had been impressive yet conventional; now…
Fang blocked desperately and glimpsed the fierce martial energy in her eyes—like a deep abyss, a cold pool, containing infinite peril and silent killing intent.
She moved rapidly, hair streaming behind her. Her spear’s motion left afterimages in the firelight, resembling a golden dragon. Spear and wind merged, producing a sound like a dragon’s roar.
In that instant, everything else seemed to slow. Only the roar, only the image existed.
Then Ah Dian blurted in shock:
“This… this is His Highness’s spear technique!”
He grabbed Chang Kuo’s arm. “Uncle Chang, look! That’s His Highness’s technique, right?!”
Chang Kuo patted his hand gently, eyes fixed on the duel.
Spectators saw the girl wield the spear with one hand. Their spears clashed, but she did not rely on force. Instead, she spun and twisted her spear like a dragon, wrapping and encircling Fang’s weapon, inching ever closer with lightning speed.
Fang’s face froze in terror. He felt his spear beginning to crack, the fissure splitting into two, then more, as if the shaft might be shredded alive.
Under this tremendous impact, he forgot to react.
“Senior Instructor Fang!” an instructor shouted. “Watch out!”
The girl twisted her spear, no longer pressing forward, but deflecting Fang’s.
The spear fell to the ground.
Fang stared at the empty hands, still frozen in his stance.
The crowd fell silent.
Thud!
The girl recovered her spear, holding it by her side.
She had proven the instructors’ earlier mockery wrong—her body did not exceed the spear’s height, yet her skill surpassed all expectation.
Battle concluded.
This scene establishes Chang Suining’s emergence in the army, showing her tactical brilliance and martial talent in vivid detail.
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