Chapter 122: This Is Tai Chi

The next morning, Qin Cheng rose early as usual. He gazed at the still-grayish sky and inhaled the fresh air, feeling a sense of inner calm. Pushing open his door, he descended the stairs to the inn’s backyard. Compared to the front, the rear courtyard was clean and uncluttered. At this hour, most people were still deep in slumber, leaving the space entirely to him. Qin Cheng wore no sword and was not bundled in thick furs; his simple, light attire made him look refreshed and sharp. Despite the morning chill, he stood with his back as straight as an arrow. Having spent nearly half a year in the Shanggu military camp, he had cultivated the bearing of a disciplined soldier—upright, poised, and radiating a sense of masculine vigor and integrity.

Standing in the center of the yard, Qin Cheng assumed the starting posture of Taiji and began to practice. While he had not specialized in Taiji in his previous life, he was no stranger to it. Unlike those who treated it merely as a means for health and longevity, Qin Cheng focused on its practical application. His movements were not sluggish; rather, they combined stillness with motion, alternating between speed and grace. He flowed with ease when storing energy and struck with explosive swiftness when unleashing it. True combat Taiji emphasizes the balance of hardness and softness, borrowing an opponent's force to strike back. Consequently, power remained an indispensable element. By the time he finished, he was covered in a light sheen of sweat.

As he finished his set and lowered his hands, he noticed Qin Qingzhi and the others standing behind him, watching with curious expressions. Seeing him conclude, Qin Qingzhi asked, "General, what style of boxing is this?"

"This art is called Taiji," Qin Cheng replied with shameless invention, "and it is something I created by synthesizing the strengths of a hundred different martial arts."

Qin Qingzhi’s expression shifted to one of sudden realization. "So that is why I have never seen it before!"

"There are many things you have yet to know," Qin Cheng laughed, instructing them to start their own practice before heading back upstairs.

Once Qin Cheng had left, a personal guard remarked with admiration to the others, "Is it any wonder our General is so formidable? To think he could create such a profound martial art himself—I am truly in awe!"

"Is it profound?" Qin Qingzhi stroked his chin. "Well, if we cannot make heads or tails of it, it must be profound indeed!"

After exchanging a few more words without reaching any real conclusion, they began their own training. Having left the Shanggu camp, the three had not expected to maintain their regular drills, but Qin Cheng had insisted that they practice every morning. In his words, to make no progress is to retreat; physical conditioning was not something to be taken lightly.

Half an hour later, after Qin Cheng and his men had finished breakfast, Gongsun Ce arrived at the inn on a tall horse, ready to invite Qin Cheng for a sparring match.

"Brother Qin, shall we depart now?" Gongsun Ce approached with a broad smile, showing no intention of pausing.

"You were the one who made the appointment, Brother Gongsun. We set off whenever you say," replied Qin Cheng.

"Excellent! You are a straightforward man, Brother Qin. Let us leave immediately, then; it would not do to keep the ladies waiting, heh heh!" Gongsun Ce rubbed his hands with barely contained excitement, clearly eager for the day's sparring.

Qin Qingzhi brought Qin Cheng’s horse over, and the two men rode off together.

"What a magnificent steed, Brother Qin! I rarely see such a fine horse." Gongsun Ce’s eyes kept darting toward Qin Cheng’s mount, filled with envy. He had previously thought his own hard-won horse was a rare prize, but after seeing Qin Cheng’s, he felt his own mount was little more than a mule.

Qin Cheng smiled with a touch of pride. In this era, a superior mount was the equivalent of a luxury car in his past life—a symbol of status and taste. Unable to resist a moment of vanity, he boasted, "It is a warhorse from the military camp, so of course it is spirited."

"That goes without saying," Gongsun Ce agreed, nodding. "Have you given it a name, Brother Qin?"

"Well..." Qin Cheng hadn't actually thought about it, but he answered as naturally as if he had been planning it for weeks. "It is called ‘Flashy’."

"Flashy?" Gongsun Ce looked taken aback for a moment, then nodded as if he understood. "A... truly fitting name!"

"Naturally."

The two rode for a while until they reached a secluded area. It had no other virtues save for its vast, open space—the perfect place to spar without being treated like street performers. Beside the area flowed a small stream, clearer and narrower than the one they had seen the day before. The water was shallow, and small fish could be seen swimming freely along the bottom. Across the stream lay a dilapidated settlement with houses of various sizes and ages, arranged in a somewhat orderly fashion.

A row of willow trees lined the bank, their leaves long gone, leaving only bare branches swaying gently in the breeze. Two or three patches of weeds grew scattered beneath them.

They had not been waiting for more than a cup of tea’s time when the Guo sisters arrived on horseback. Both were dressed in the style of wandering swordswomen, looking heroic and agile, their figures as captivating as the stream and willows themselves. They greeted the men from their saddles, tethered their horses, and walked over.

"Brother Qin, Brother Gongsun!" Guo Xixi cupped her hands with a smile. Guo Dongdong did the same but remained silent. Guo Xixi continued, "Please forgive us for keeping you both waiting."

"Not at all, not at all. We just arrived," Gongsun Ce replied with a polite bow.

Both sisters wore light makeup, and as the breeze caught them, a faint, delicate scent drifted toward Qin Cheng and Gongsun Ce.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the sisters noticed Gongsun Ce’s fervent, hand-rubbing anticipation. Knowing this martial arts fanatic could wait no longer, Guo Xixi asked, "Which of us would Brother Gongsun like to spar with first?"

"You are both willing to cross blades with me?" Gongsun Ce’s face lit up. Seeing them nod, he grew so excited he became incoherent, repeating "Good, wonderful!" several times before gesturing to Guo Xixi. "Shall we begin with Little Sister Xixi?"

*Little Sister Xixi...*

Qin Cheng was genuinely stunned by the endearment. Seeing Gongsun Ce vibrating with uncontrollable excitement, Qin Cheng suddenly thought he looked exactly like a patron entering a brothel for the first time, fumbling with his hands, unsure of which lady to choose first.

As Qin Cheng entertained these wicked thoughts, his gaze drifted toward the sisters. He didn't notice Guo Xixi, but when he looked at Guo Dongdong, he found her staring directly at him. His lecherous gaze was caught red-handed.

Though Guo Dongdong didn't know exactly what he was thinking, she could tell his expression was far from innocent. When his lascivious look met her pure, naturally alluring gaze, Qin Cheng offered an embarrassed smile, feeling that his lewd thoughts were truly deplorable. How could he compare such pure, flower-like sisters to a brothel? He should have considered himself the patron instead...

...

Gongsun Ce and Guo Xixi stepped into the center of the clearing, drew their swords, exchanged formal bows, and took their stances.

The moment his sword left its scabbard, the excitement vanished from Gongsun Ce’s face, replaced by a cold focus. The trembling of his body ceased, as if he hadn't drawn a blade, but rather his own soul...

*Hmm, that thought was a bit dark again.*

In short, once his sword was drawn, Gongsun Ce barked a low, "Watch yourself!" and lunged at Guo Xixi.

Guo Xixi had not expected such a rapid shift in his demeanor, nor such an aggressive opening. Caught off guard, she was forced into a defensive position the moment his blade reached her.

Once they engaged, the fight became intense. Watching them, both Qin Cheng and Guo Dongdong had the same thought: *Gongsun Ce is being far from a gentleman!*

He showed no restraint and no inclination to go easy on a lady. His moves, while not malicious, were sharp and relentless, as if he were fighting a deadly rival. Qin Cheng sighed, realizing that Gongsun Ce was a man of pure devotion to martial arts; when he faced the blade, he was his most authentic self, devoid of any pretense.

Eventually, overwhelmed by Gongsun Ce’s relentless waves of attack, Guo Xixi began to falter and was forced to concede. She stood panting heavily, sweat beading on her face, proving that the bout had been anything but easy.

"Phew! I'm exhausted!" she sighed as she stepped back.

With her defeat, it was Guo Dongdong’s turn. As she stepped forward, Qin Cheng’s eyes lit up—not because of her swordplay, but because of her alluring figure. Unlike her younger sister, Guo Dongdong was more mature and curvaceous. Beyond her sister’s purity, she possessed a natural, innate sex appeal that seemed to radiate with every move she made.

While Gongsun Ce had been aggressive with the younger sister, he found himself matched by Guo Dongdong’s even more fierce and domineering blade. Her movements were broader and more powerful, which, to Qin Cheng’s eyes, only served to showcase her captivating form. The spar felt less like a contest and more like a performance of her personal charm.

Facing such a view, it was a visual feast, and Qin Cheng, being a perfectly healthy man, was completely engrossed.

So focused, in fact, that he forgot about the other beauty standing right beside him. Guo Xixi was not pleased.

"Brother Qin! Brother Qin!" she called out, stepping closer.

Qin Cheng reluctantly dragged his eyes away from Guo Dongdong and turned to look at her with a natural, charming smile. "Yes?"

"I have long admired your skill, Brother Qin, though I’ve never had the chance to learn from you. Might we spar now?" she asked.

Qin Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. He offered a smile that looked perfectly normal, and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Guo Xixi, either fearless or simply not thinking, nodded vigorously. Having some shred of reason left, she added