Chapter 106: Size and the Martial Tournament

After breakfast that morning, Qin Cheng and Le Yi arrived together at Li Guang’s residence.

Upon entering the Governor’s manor, Qin Cheng discovered that he and Le Yi were not the only guests; Liu Mu was also present, currently engaged in a game of Go with Li Guang, while Li Gan and Li Hu stood by, observing the match.

It was a twelve-line board, and the game between Li Guang and Liu Mu had reached a stalemate.

In his previous life, Qin Cheng had never taken an interest in Go, so he was unaware of the legend that it originated with Emperor Yao as a tool for educating his son, nor did he know it had a history spanning nearly two thousand years. Seeing the two men so deeply engrossed, he signaled Li Gan—who was about to offer advice to Li Guang—to remain silent, then quietly stepped up to Li Guang’s side, feigning expertise as he inspected the board.

Li Guang held a black stone, his chin resting on his hand, his expression one of deep contemplation. Liu Mu, by contrast, looked completely relaxed; in the brief intervals between moves, he would glance up at Li Guang with the smug confidence of one who had already secured victory.

When Qin Cheng first looked at Liu Mu, he felt a sudden spark of surprise. Today, Liu Mu was not wearing his armor; instead, he was dressed in a robe of cyan silk, his hair tied back, giving him a refreshingly clean appearance.

This was the first time Qin Cheng had seen Liu Mu out of armor. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but without the cold weight of steel, the usual pallor of Liu Mu’s complexion seemed to have vanished, replaced by a faint, rosy flush. It was only then that Qin Cheng realized Liu Mu was, in fact, quite handsome. His skin was fair and seemed remarkably smooth, and his facial features were sharp, possessing a delicate, feminine beauty rarely found in men of the military.

Qin Cheng thought to himself that if this were his previous life, Liu Mu would easily fit the image of a young celebrity.

Perhaps because Qin Cheng had been staring for too long, Liu Mu sensed his gaze. He looked up inadvertently and, seeing Qin Cheng looking at him with such an unusual expression, his already rosy cheeks deepened in color. Just as Qin Cheng assumed Liu Mu was merely shy, the young man’s expression shifted dramatically into one of annoyance. He glared at Qin Cheng and said coldly, "Have you seen enough?"

Qin Cheng offered a sheepish smile, feeling somewhat foolish. He didn't say anything, but gestured toward the board with his chin, signaling him to focus on the game. Liu Mu shot him another glare before turning his attention back to the pieces.

Qin Cheng, who had been indifferent to Liu Mu’s reaction, glanced over and caught Le Yi wearing a meaningful smile. His heart suddenly tightened, and he felt an immediate wave of awkwardness.

Could it be that Liu Mu thought he had a penchant for men?

If that were truly the case, the situation would be quite spectacular.

Once this thought took root, images of every "inharmonious" moment he had shared with Liu Mu flashed through his mind. Upon reflection, Qin Cheng realized a distressing fact: every time he and Liu Mu had been physically close, the man’s reaction had been exactly like today's!

Following this line of reasoning, Qin Cheng became certain that Liu Mu had definitely misunderstood him.

Compared to the rugged soldiers of the army, Liu Mu’s features were indeed more delicate. Was it because of this that he suspected Qin Cheng had... inclinations toward him?

Qin Cheng felt his head begin to ache.

Looking back at Le Yi’s insufferably meaningful grin, Qin Cheng suddenly felt the urge to give him a sound thrashing.

"General, if you don't make your move, this game will never end," Liu Mu urged, impatient after Li Guang’s long delay.

Li Guang glanced at Liu Mu, his stone still hovering in the air. With an air of worldly wisdom, he drawled, "Young man, don't be so impulsive. One must be steady in all things, do not rush..."

As Li Guang spoke, he still hadn't placed his piece. When he looked up and spotted Qin Cheng, his eyes brightened immediately. He turned to Liu Mu and said, "Since you complain that I am too slow, I shall find you a worthy opponent."

He beckoned to Qin Cheng and said, "Come, Master Qin, take my place and finish this game. Teach this fellow a lesson—you are only permitted to win, not to lose. My reputation rests with you."

Without waiting for Qin Cheng to respond, Li Guang stood up with a chuckle and ceded his seat.

Qin Cheng found it amusing to see the usually stern Li Guang resorting to such ruses, but he couldn't bring himself to laugh. As Li Guang rose, Qin Cheng quickly waved his hands. "I don't know how to play, General. You should continue; I would only lose and cause you to lose face."

"Truly?" Li Guang didn't believe him. "Young man, don't be so modest. A little modesty is fine, but constant humility is misplaced. Look at how arrogant Master Liu is—don't you want to teach him a lesson and take him down a peg?"

"I can manage on the battlefield, but I have truly never touched a Go board. Please, General, do not make it difficult for me," Qin Cheng said firmly, ignoring Li Guang’s persistent coaxing.

"Hmm..." Li Guang mused, rolling his eyes. He noticed Liu Mu’s undisguised look of disdain, then looked at Li Hu and Li Gan, who were standing quietly as if they had seen nothing. His eyes suddenly lit up again. "It is true that your battlefield skills are excellent; I know your martial arts are formidable. Since Li Hu’s skills are also passable, why don't the two of you spar?"

"We've been playing chess all morning, and it’s become quite stifling. Why don't you two have a bout so I can see who is truly the better man? Besides... Li Hu has been wanting to challenge you for a long time. Ever since you killed the Xiongnu Left Gudu Hou, he hasn't been convinced of your prowess. Now that you're both here, it’s a perfect opportunity. You two have no objections, do you?"

Qin Cheng and Li Hu exchanged glances, both seeing deep resignation in the other’s eyes. It was a strange sight: Li Guang, knowing he was losing the board game, had resorted to such a tactic, completely unconcerned with ruining his own dignified image.

Just as Qin Cheng and Li Hu were about to cup their hands in agreement, Liu Mu spoke first, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction: "Since ancient times, great generals have valued strategy over individual martial prowess. If you possess great talent, why focus only on comparing your fighting skills?"

"Oh?" Qin Cheng raised an eyebrow. "And in your opinion, what should we do?"

"Go is a matter of strategy. It originated with Guiguzi and is an essential intellectual discipline for the strategists and military thinkers of old. To play Go is to treat stones as cities and lines as roads; the entire board is a strategic map of two nations warring for territory. Therefore, strategy is paramount, and martial arts are secondary; the game represents the state, while martial arts represent the individual. As a general, to be ignorant of strategy and only know how to brawl—do you not feel that is beneath you?"

Hearing this, Qin Cheng was rendered speechless. He had known Liu Mu was well-versed in military tactics and possessed broad knowledge, but he had underestimated him. The logic in Liu Mu’s words made Qin Cheng feel ashamed; he had never realized Go held such depth. Though he knew that not knowing how to play Go wasn't a disgrace, he still felt a flush of embarrassment.

Unexpectedly, Li Guang burst into laughter. "It seems Master Liu is serious today. Can you not spare this old man and leave me some dignity? Must you hack my pieces to shreds until I have no choice but to surrender?"

Chastened by Li Guang’s teasing, Liu Mu realized his words had been too harsh. He apologized, saying, "General, that is not at all what I meant."

"Enough, enough. I have lost this game. But Master Liu is correct; Go is indeed highly beneficial for military strategy. Master Qin, you should study it in the future; I guarantee you will find it rewarding," Li Guang said with a relaxed smile. "Master Liu’s skill is exceptional; you should ask him for guidance."

"Since the General says so, I shall learn it in the future," Qin Cheng replied, though he failed to notice the playful glint in Li Guang’s eyes.

As Qin Cheng spoke, Liu Mu seized the opportunity to glare at Li Guang, who simply ignored him.

Was there actually a hint of resentment in Liu Mu’s gaze?

At the time, Qin Cheng only knew that Liu Mu had previously been Li Guang’s personal guard and had been promoted to his own deputy commander after being transferred to the cavalry. Regarding the relationship between Liu Mu and Li Guang, Qin Cheng knew they were close, but hadn't thought much of it. However, based on their behavior today, it seemed their bond was far deeper than he had imagined.

The group moved to the courtyard, and the sparring match between Qin Cheng and Li Hu finally began.

Back when Qin Cheng was still a leader of eighteen men, he and Li Hu had agreed to a proper duel after the major battle. Later, during the selection for the new cavalry camp, they had nearly fought, but an incident in the training grounds interrupted them. Now, as the top-ranked candidate in the military trials, Qin Cheng was finally going to face off against Li Hu, the "Tiger of the Army," fulfilling their earlier promise.

They stood ten paces apart. Neither wore armor, but they carried genuine steel longswords—ring-pommel sabers.

Li Guang stood to the side with Le Yi and the others, watching the two men in the open space. Their martial arts represented the highest standard in the Shanggu camp; even Li Guang knew he might not be a match for both of them at once.

As the blades were drawn, Qin Cheng and Li Hu spoke in unison: "Please!"

The moment the word was spoken, Qin Cheng pushed off the ground and lunged toward Li Hu. Covering the ten-pace distance in a flash, he struck with his saber directly at Li Hu’s chest.

There were no flashy movements. Military combat was always direct, aiming to defeat the opponent with the most efficient methods possible. If there was any technique to speak of, it was speed, precision, and ruthlessness!

Qin Cheng’s blade thrust in a straight line. As the steel neared his body, Li Hu remained calm. Only when the blade was three inches away did he twist his body, simultaneously thrusting his own saber toward Qin Cheng’s ribs.

Li Hu’s counterattack was perfectly timed and positioned. He struck just as Qin Cheng was between movements. Though the action was simple, it required vast combat experience to pull off, and it posed a grave threat to Qin Cheng.

Qin Cheng had never expected his first strike to land, so he had kept his defense in mind. Seeing Li Hu’s blade closing in on his ribs, he was shocked by the unbelievable speed, yet he managed to pull his saber back to parry, twisting his body away.

The sound of clashing steel rang out—a sharp, fleeting chime.

Qin Cheng’s style was cold and vicious, focused entirely on killing, combined with the agile footwork he had learned in his previous life, making his strikes both firm and fluid. Li Hu’s style, by contrast, was orthodox; it was born from the military—simple and plain, yet in his hands, it possessed a raw, overbearing power and a speed that reached the absolute limit of human capability.

The two were locked in a stalemate, both in grave danger.

Li Guang and the others remained still, but Le Yi, watching from the sidelines, was too stunned to speak. He was shocked that their martial arts had reached a level far beyond the reach of ordinary men, and even more shocked at Qin Cheng’s prowess. Having known Qin Cheng so well, Le Yi marveled at when he had mastered such terrifying skills.

If Qin Cheng’s performance at the military trials had been enough to surprise Le Yi, the level he displayed today against Li Hu was beyond his comprehension.

How much suffering had this man endured to hone such skills?

This was the question that haunted Le Yi.

The fight lasted for two quarters of an hour. Both men were drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Li Guang had watched with interest at first, but eventually, his expression turned somber. Finally, he gave up watching altogether, sat to the side, and closed his eyes to rest.

Liu Mu and the others were puzzled. Could a duel of this caliber not catch his eye?

The sounds of combat continued, but Li Guang remained quiet.

*I am truly old,* he thought. *If I had encountered such warriors in my youth, I would have been unable to resist joining the fray myself. Was that not the very urge I felt just moments ago? But now, I am old. How could I possibly compete with the youth of today?*

This was Li Guang’s state of mind, one that none of the young men present could understand.

By the end of the duel, unable to determine a winner, they discarded their swords and began to fight with their bare fists.

In truth, they simply had no strength left to hold their weapons.

Later, they didn't even have the strength to throw punches.

So, they resorted to using their teeth.