Chapter 61
The sharp edge of the blade was right in front of his eyes, and there seemed to be a faint smell of blood. This scene fell into the eyes of the audience, and they all burst into exclamations.
Liang Ping couldn't help but blurt out, "Be careful!"
Saber techniques were different from spear techniques. Spear techniques were more dangerous than crossbow techniques, and saber techniques were more dangerous than spear techniques. If he wasn't careful, he would bleed. Moreover, Huang Xiong was too strong. If he couldn't hold back his saber, he would be in trouble.
This kid was usually careless, but how could he be distracted at a time like this? Liang Ping was anxious. Being distracted during a saber competition was a big taboo!
Huang Xiong saw this opportunity and immediately slashed at He Yan. Seeing that he couldn't dodge and the saber was about to reach his neck, the youth suddenly raised his head and revealed a sly smile.
Oh no, Huang Xiong thought to himself. Just as he was about to withdraw his saber, He Yan's saber in his left hand had already reached his long saber, and the saber in his right hand had already circled behind him. In a panic, Huang Xiong bent his body to avoid, but he saw the youth's smile widen. When he withdrew his hands, both sabers were in his hands. The Mandarin Duck Double Saber slashed at Huang Xiong's head. Huang Xiong wanted to reach out to block, but it was too late.
The blade stopped in front of his forehead, but because of the sharp edge, a small wound appeared on his forehead, and a trace of blood flowed out.
The audience was silent.
After a while, He Yan withdrew his saber from his side, took out a wrinkled handkerchief, and handed it to him, "Thank you for letting me win."
Huang Xiong looked at He Yan's handkerchief, but didn't take it. Instead, he asked, "Just now, you weren't distracted. Was that a trick?"
"All's fair in war." He Yan smiled, "What do you think?"
She had been doing things for so many years, so of course she knew that she couldn't let her guard down at any time. She had to be even more focused during a competition. Just now, even if the Emperor came, she wouldn't have been shaken, let alone Xiao Jue. However, Huang Xiong's swordsmanship was exquisite. She wasn't good at using swords. If she didn't use some tricks, how could she win so easily? It was just a deliberate distraction to lure Huang Xiong into the trap, but it turned out to be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Speaking of which, she was quite smart. Xiao Jue probably wouldn't have thought that the person he called "stupid" back then had already learned how to use his wits and wit. Thinking of this, He Yan proudly looked down the stage, wanting to see if Xiao Jue was looking at him with adoration. However, when she looked around, Xiao Jue was nowhere to be seen. Even Shen Han was nowhere to be seen. Only Cheng Lisu was waving at her excitedly, waving his hair band.
He left just like that? He Yan stared blankly.
Then did he see her charm or not?
Before she could figure it out, a large group of people surrounded her with a "whoosh" sound. She had been in the limelight again today. Half of the Liang Province Guards' recruits were completely convinced by her. Her bow, spear, and swordsmanship were all so exquisite. She was like a crane in a flock of chickens. However, half of the people couldn't stand her arrogance. They only said, "Only using schemes and tricks isn't the right way. If you have the ability, fight fair and square. It's because you know you can't beat your opponent that you have to resort to trickery."
"That only shows that she's smart!" someone retorted.
Wang Ba mixed in with the recruits and walked out. His heart was filled with complicated feelings. On one hand, he hoped that He Yan would keep winning. This would show that He Yan was a true powerhouse. It was understandable that he lost to a powerhouse. After all, no one in the Liang Province Guards could beat him.
However, on the other hand, Wang Ba wasn't satisfied. Why did so many people lose to He Yan? Why did he have to call He Yan "Boss"?
Why?!
However, when he thought about it, Huang Xiong was already in his forties. Losing to a sixteen-year-old youth seemed to be a bit worse than losing to him. When he thought of this, Wang Ba felt a bit better. He temporarily let out a breath of turbid air.
In the forest at the foot of Liang Province's White Moon Mountain, two people were walking slowly.
The vegetation in the forest was dense, blocking out the sunlight. It was cool and refreshing. There were also birds chirping. White Moon Mountain was the best in terms of scenery.
"You just watched the competition on the martial arts stage," Xiao Jue said. "What do you think?"
Shen Han thought carefully for a moment, thought again and again, then opened his mouth to say, "Liang Ping took in a good soldier, He Yan is a good seedling. To be able to reach such a level in bow, spear, and saber techniques, one must be a rare talent. It's really not easy for him to be like this. You can't find a second person like him in this batch of recruits. "
"How's his swordsmanship?" Xiao Jue asked again.
"From the looks of it, He Yan's swordsmanship isn't as skillful as Huang Xiong's. His advantage lies in his nimble footwork, lively mind, and flexible mind. He knows how to use tactics," Shen Han answered.
He Yan's shortcomings were very obvious. If this competition had been dragged on for another fifteen minutes, He Yan would have been at a disadvantage. He probably knew this himself, so he pretended to be distracted and caused Huang Xiong to impulsively attack. In the end, he defeated Huang Xiong.
"What do you think of him joining the Nine Flags Battalion?" Xiao Jue asked carelessly.
"This youth is so young, but he's already scheming. He doesn't show off his bravado. He's also skilled in archery and horse riding. His martial arts are outstanding, and I heard that he can read. If we were to choose him from this batch of recruits, he would be the best choice, "Shen Han said carefully.
"You think so too?" Xiao Jue turned around. Her tone was noncommittal.
Shen Han observed the young man's expression. Xiao Family's young commander-in-chief had always been expressionless. At this moment, his expression was calm and nothing could be seen. However, Shen Han felt that he didn't seem to agree with his opinion.
"Commander-In-Chief … do you think there's something wrong with him?"
"There's something wrong with this person," Xiao Jue said.
Shen Han was stunned.
"Today, he competed with swordsmanship. His swordsmanship wasn't considered skillful, but the footwork he used was trained by the infantry of the Assault Battalion."
When the infantry of the Assault Battalion entered the battlefield, they would rush to the front at any time. Because they might die, their footwork was extremely flexible. When He Yan competed with Huang Xiong, his swordsmanship wasn't as good as Huang Xiong's, but he dodged every one of Huang Xiong's attacks. He could tell at a glance that his subconscious dodging and retreating was from the Assault Battalion. He Yan probably noticed it himself. He was afraid that others would find out, so he deliberately changed it. However, sometimes, one wouldn't remember every subconscious move.
"This … this …" Shen Han said, "How is this possible? He's only 16. Has he already been on the battlefield before? "
"It's because it's impossible that there's something wrong with him," Xiao Jue said.
Now that the situation was tense, Shen Han had to be cautious. He hesitated for a moment and asked Xiao Jue, "Commander-In-Chief, what should we do now?"
"I want to test this person," Xiao Jue replied.
"Commander-In-Chief, how do you plan to test him?"
"Didn't he set up an arena in the martial arts arena? One match a day, and he'll win every match. Tomorrow, pick three instructors and compete with him in riding and shooting. "
Shen Han was stunned. He hesitated for a moment, "That's not good, right? If he wins … "If He Yan won, what would the recruits think of their instructors? They couldn't even beat a soldier.
Xiao Jue stopped in his tracks and said calmly, "If he wins, there's definitely something wrong with him."
"There's no such genius in the world. Even if there was, it wouldn't appear in the Liang Province Guards."
Chapter 62
On this day, He Yan was surrounded by the new recruits who came to befriend her until midnight. She had promised many people to teach them her swordsmanship, but she was only able to do so in the middle of the night. Because it was too late, she did not plan to go to the martial arts field to train at night.
Xiao Mai lay facing her with one hand behind her head. Her eyes were bright as she said to her, "A He Ge is so impressive today!"
"Tell me," He Yan muttered to herself for a while, then said, "when I was sparring with Uncle Huang today, did Military Governor Xiao finish watching?"
She was still thinking about Xiao Jue during the day. How could Xiao Jue leave without watching her exquisite swordsmanship? Wouldn't that be a waste of her efforts? Perhaps Xiao Jue thought that her swordsmanship was so ordinary that it was not worth her attention?
"Huh?" Xiao Mai did not expect He Yan to ask about this. She tried hard to recall, then said, "The Governor came for a while, then left. But you were too nervous at the end of the sparring session. We were all watching you, so we didn't see when he left. He should have … finished watching, right?"
He Yan turned over worriedly.
"A He Ge, do you really want the Governor to see it?" Xiao Mai asked.
"Of course, I want to learn martial arts and sell it to the imperial family. I have to sell it first. He didn't even watch it. How would he know that I'm the best in the Liang Province Guards? "
Hong Shan's slow voice came from the other side. "Now that your reputation as the best in the Liang Province Guards has spread far and wide, don't worry. In a few days, there will be people looking for you to compete in this and that. There will be countless opportunities like this. Military Governor Xiao will see it one day."
'That's good,' He Yan thought to himself, then closed his eyes.
Hong Shan was right. Early the next morning, right after the weight-bearing run, before he could go to the martial arts field to practice his crossbow, Liang Ping walked in front of He Yan. "Come here."
He Yan didn't know what was going on, so he followed them. When he reached the long path behind the training field, he saw two people leading three horses towards them. He Yan also remembered their faces. They were both instructors of the Liangzhou Guards Institution. One of them was called Du Mao, and he often came to talk to Liang Ping. The other was a short old man with grizzled hair. His name was Ma Damei.
"Liang Jiaotou, this is …" He Yan did not understand. Could it be that he wanted her to be a coach because she was very outstanding? How could a recruit be an instructor? This wasn't the way to get promoted. Besides, she didn't want to be an instructor in the Liang Province Guard!
Fortunately, Liang Ping's words put her at ease.
Liang Ping said, "Didn't you say on the Martial Arts Platform a few days ago that you could accept any challenge from the Liang Province Guard, and that you would win every single one of them?"
Although He Yan did not understand what he meant, he still nodded and replied, "That's right."
"Then today, the three of us will compete with you in horseback archery." Du Mao stepped forward and handed the reins to He Yan. "Let's compete now!"
"Huh?" He Yan was slightly surprised. "You want to compete with me?"
She had set up this arena to make a name for herself among the recruits. She had never thought about becoming an instructor. 'What's wrong with these instructors? They're not young men. Why are they so hot-headed that they want to compete with me? Are they plotting something? '
Her wary gaze fell into their eyes. That thin old man with grizzled hair, Ma Damei, smiled and said, "What's wrong? Young man, are you afraid to compete with us instructors? I thought you had guts. You're scared just because of this? "
Ma Damei's face was full of wrinkles when he smiled, but it was not ugly. Instead, it was as amiable as a family elder. However, He Yan knew that this person was not as amiable as he appeared to be. From what he heard, every word and sentence was meant to provoke her. However, since she had already said so much, if she really didn't go, she would be known as a coward. Xiao Jue was someone who couldn't tolerate sand in his eyes, so he probably wouldn't let her go to the Nine Flags Battalion.
Thinking of this, she laughed heartily. "How could that be? I'm just afraid that I'll embarrass myself in front of you instructors, so I'm a bit hesitant. Since you instructors are willing to teach me, how could I not appreciate your kindness? Let's compete. One match it is. "
Liang Ping and the other two looked at each other and nodded. "Okay!"
He Yan was now a famous person in the Liang Province Guards. Whenever there was a disturbance, everyone would know about it. Once the news that the three instructors wanted to compete with He Yan in riding and archery came out, all of the recruits immediately went crazy. They wanted to go and watch, but were stopped by their instructors and only allowed to train in the martial arts field.
Naturally, this was Shen Han's arrangement. Although Xiao Jue only said that they wanted to test He Yan, they could not use the reputation of all of the Liang Province Guards as a test. It was better to be safe than sorry. If He Yan won, then in the future, would the recruits obey He Yan or their instructors? It was hard to say.
Therefore, it was better to hide.
The recruits could not go and watch this show. Cheng Li Su, who was not a recruit, could not either. He was locked in a room in the Liang Province Guards. There were also guards outside, so he could not go out.
He did not know that He Yan was going to compete in riding and archery. When he was suddenly locked up, he thought that something had happened to the Liang Province Guards. He pounded on the door and said, "What happened? Is there a riot? Why can't you let me go out? Uncle, why are you locking me up? "
The emotionless voice of the guard came from outside. "Young Master, the Governor said that you have to finish copying the 《Zhao Ming Wen Anthology》 three times before you can go out."
"I think you want me to die! Why don't you just kill me? "Cheng Li Su sat down in front of the table angrily. Three times? He would not be able to finish copying in a month!
Outside, Shen Han and Xiao Jue were walking out.
Shen Han looked behind him and said, "Young Master Cheng seems to like He Yan a lot. If He Yan really has a problem, is it possible that he has other motives for approaching Young Master Cheng? "
"It's very possible." Xiao Jue said, "Cheng Li Su was the one who told him about the Nine Flags Battalion."
Shen Han was silent for a moment before saying, "If that's the case, then it's really bad."
There were actually people with ulterior motives among the recruits of the Liang Province Guards. He Yan was one of them, but he was definitely not the only one. If there were other people, they would be in a very passive position. What was even more frightening was that they did not know anything about this. If Xiao Jue did not happen to be here this time and saw that He Yan's movements were different, the entire Liang Province Guards would have become someone else's property.
As the two of them spoke, they had already reached the side of the horse path in the martial arts field. He Yan and the other three people were standing at the end of the path, each holding a horse. First, it was Liang Ping, then Du Mao, then Ma Damei, and finally He Yan. They all mounted their horses.
He Yan stood at the furthest side, and her horse was also the smallest. Probably to take care of her figure, she flipped onto the horse. Her movements were skillful. She held the reins in one hand and carried a quiver and longbow on her back. Her majestic appearance did not seem like the weak young man that they usually saw.
He Yan did not even have a riding suit. The sunlight shone on his red clothes, gilding his delicate features with a layer of special heroic spirit. He Yan had a smile on his lips. His appearance of a golden saber and armored horse actually resembled the stunning charm of a young general.
Shen Han stole a glance at Xiao Jue beside him. The latter's expression was lazy and indifferent. He did not know what she was thinking, but Shen Han knew that for a moment, He Yan was actually a little similar to him.
Chapter 63
"Liang Jiaotou, you still haven't told me, how do we compete in horseback archery?" He Yan looked at Liang Ping, who was beside him. "Do we compete in who has more game, or who can reach the end of the track first?"
Before Liang Ping could speak, Ma Damei spoke first. He smiled and said, "Young man, in the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, we will run a lap around here. This is the starting point and also the end. There is a grass target at the bend of the track ahead. The four of us have different feather arrows, so we will shoot at the bend. Whoever finishes shooting and returns to this point first will win. "
He Yan listened and nodded. "Okay."
Liang Ping couldn't help but look at him. The sentence this young man said the most was "Okay." Whether it was to Wang Ba, Jiang Jiao, or Huang Xiong, or now to these instructors, he still said "Okay." They didn't know when he would say "No."
"Then let's start." Du Mao pulled the reins. Someone behind him blew a horn. The four horses were like arrows leaving the bowstring. In the blink of an eye, they were more than ten meters away, leaving only billowing smoke behind.
He Yan's horse was much more obedient than the one she had at the capital's drill ground. He Sui must have been specially trained by someone. She only needed to give a few instructions, and the horse would understand. She also noticed that among the other three instructors, although Liang Ping and Du Mao's equestrian skills were good, they were not as good as the ordinary-looking Ma Damei. Ma Damei's equestrian skills were on par with hers. Perhaps she was better, but she didn't show it.
She observed the three instructors, and the others were also observing her. Du Mao glanced over and his eyes almost popped out. He Yan didn't use a horsewhip?
She wrapped the horsewhip around her arm and commanded the horse to gallop. However, she used her hand to gently pat the horse's body. This wasn't the capital's young master going on a scenic tour. What was he doing? The most surprising thing was that he was so casual that he didn't fall behind the instructors. He was running neck and neck with Du Mao. He even had the mood to smile at Du Mao.
Du Mao immediately turned his head away.
The steed galloped like a shooting star and arrived at the bend in the blink of an eye. He Yan reached for the quiver on his back, took out several arrows, and was about to shoot at the grass targets on both sides.
This target was not as big as the one at the training field. It was only the size of a palm and was not obvious. If one used a crossbow, it would not be easy to hit it. It also depended on the person's eyesight and movements. Just as He Yan was about to shoot, Liang Ping and Du Mao looked at each other. One in front, the other behind, they suddenly exerted their strength. The two horses squeezed toward He Yan's side, pushing He Yan's horse to one side, so that the arrow in his hand could not be shot.
He Yan was jolted a few times by the frightened horse, and hastily pulled on the reins to steady himself. She looked at Liang Ping and Du Mao. The two of them were shooting arrows as if nothing had happened. Du Mao even said to her, "He Yan, you have to be careful. Don't fall!"
It was as if they weren't the ones who had just touched her.
He Yan raised his eyebrows. Really, on the competition field, she never understood the word 'forgive'. They disturbed her archery, how could she just let it go like that?
Liang Ping and Du Mao had already shot their arrows, but they saw a green arrow shoot out from the side. With a 'dong' sound, the arrow was cut in half. The arrow changed direction and fell to the ground.
The two of them looked at He Yan at the same time. He Yan shrugged and said, "Instructor, why do you look like you're not very skilled?"
Liang Ping: "…"
This young man was too vengeful. His mouth was also unforgiving. He was really arrogant.
He Yan was about to shoot again, but before she could pull out the arrow, her body jolted again. The old man, Ma Damei, had already caught up from behind. He smiled at He Yan and said, "Young man, don't be anxious. Take your time."
He Yan couldn't draw the bow. As soon as she moved, the three of them would follow from behind, from the front, from the left and right, and "touch" her as if nothing had happened. The horses were frequently frightened, so she couldn't aim at the bull's eye.
After a few times, He Yan could see that the three instructors were deliberately opposing her. Although she didn't understand why, it was probably part of the competition. If they wanted her to be unable to shoot, even if she returned to the end of the track first, it wouldn't be considered a victory.
She was outnumbered. Moreover, this was a competition of archery. She couldn't fight with these instructors. However, He Yan couldn't just let it go like this.
He Yan's eyes moved slightly. She muttered, "Want to scheme against me? No way! "
She suddenly raised her arm. The horsewhip wrapped around her arm uncoiled and fell in the wind, making a crisp sound.
"He is …" Du Mao frowned. From the beginning to the end, He Yan hadn't used the horsewhip. It was rare to see someone who could skillfully ride a horse without a horsewhip. But now that He Yan was doing this, could it be that she couldn't handle it and had to use the horsewhip again?
He Yan was thinking when suddenly, she raised her head and smiled at him. Du Mao had a bad premonition. The next moment, he saw the horsewhip flying towards him. Du Mao was shocked and instinctively dodged. He Yan actually dared to hurt people!
When he moved sideways, the quiver behind him was exposed in front of everyone.
The horsewhip didn't fall on Du Mao's body. Instead, it wrapped around the arrows in the quiver. He Yan stretched out her hand and pulled. The horsewhip loosened in mid-air, and the arrows fell into the wind.
Liang Ping, who witnessed the whole process, was stunned. Before he could react, He Yan's horsewhip was aimed at him. He was shocked and hurriedly urged his horse to dodge. But this time, it was He Yan's turn to attack. How could he escape? With a pull and a hook, all the arrows in his quiver were thrown to the ground.
"He Yan!" Du Mao's face was livid.
"I think the instructors don't want me to shoot." He Yan didn't seem to see his ugly face. She smiled and said, "But I don't want to lose. There's no other way. Let's stop shooting. Whoever runs faster wins, right?"
"Hahahaha!" Ma Damei's laughter came from behind. He didn't have a trace of nervousness or anger. Instead, he was full of interest. "You're quite smart. I wonder if you'll take my arrows?"
He Yan smiled. "How can I? I don't intend to take your arrows. "
Ma Damei's equestrian skills were excellent. It was difficult for her to touch his arrows. But it didn't matter. As long as there was no target to shoot at, he could only compete with her to reach the finish line first.
She and Ma Damei went side by side. When she shot an arrow, Ma Damei shot an arrow to block. When Ma Damei shot an arrow, He Yan shot an arrow to block. The two of them had left Liang Ping and Du Mao behind. No one was faster than the other. Thus, in a stalemate, they passed the last bend.
No one hit the target. Now, they could only compete to reach the finish line first.
Ma Damei looked at He Yan and smiled. "Young man, you're really good." He waved his horsewhip. Suddenly, the horse rushed forward. Just now, he didn't use all his skills.
He Yan looked at his back and praised, "There's really someone better than you." He squeezed the horse's belly and followed.
Chapter 64
The horse was agile, its hooves stirred up the wind, and as fast as lightning, it galloped straight to the finish line.
He Yan and Ma Damei were neck and neck. If this continued, it would be hard to tell who would reach the finish line first.
Liang Ping and Du Mao had already given up. They knew that their equestrian skills were not as good as the two in front of them, and they could not catch up. They simply strolled slowly behind them. Anyway, they had already done what Chief Instructor Shen asked them to do.
Chief Instructor Shen called them out last night and asked them to compete with He Yan in equestrian archery today. At first, Liang Ping and Du Mao both refused. They were not recruits, so why should they compete with He Yan? But Chief Instructor insisted that they do this. He also asked them to create trouble for He Yan as much as possible during the equestrian archery journey, and not let He Yan win.
Liang Ping felt very uncomfortable. They wanted to compete with He Yan, but they could not let He Yan win. Wasn't this deliberately unfair? Comparing their instructor and the recruits was already bullying, and the three of them teamed up to deal with He Yan. It was simply the worst kind of bullying.
Who knew that man proposes, God disposes. Not to mention the three of them, he and Du Mao did not bully He Yan. Instead, they were bullied by He Yan. Fortunately, the recruits did not see it. If they saw it, where would they put their old faces?
But among the three of them, Ma Damei was an expert in equestrian skills. How would He Yan compare with her?
From afar, they could see the red silk cloth on the flagpole at the finish line.
He Yan pulled the reins, and the horse moved forward, half a step ahead of Ma Damei.
She wanted to rush to the finish line, but at this time, Ma Damei shouted "little guy". He Yan subconsciously looked at him. She saw the little old man standing upright with his two feet on the horse's back. He was very stable. She praised him in her heart. Then, the old man smiled at her, turned his body, and swept toward He Yan.
He Yan was startled, he urged his horse to evade, but the old man was like a bat with wings, half of his body was already hanging on He Yan's horse. He even pursed his lips and reprimanded He Yan for urging the horse to avoid him. "Young man, how can you be so unkind at such a young age? Do you want me to fall to my death?"
He Yan wanted to push He Yan down, but this man had already taken over the magpie's nest, holding the reins firmly in his hand. He struck his palm toward He Yan, intending to knock him down.
This person … was really full of confidence in her. Wasn't he afraid that something would happen to her if she fell? He Yan cursed in his heart. He exchanged two more moves with him, but neither of them was able to gain an advantage.
Ma Damei was also surprised. The dozens of instructors of the Liang State Guard all had their own strengths. Some of them were proficient in bows and crossbows, while others were proficient in foot encirclement. However, he was most proficient in horseback archery. Yesterday, Shen Han had asked him to compete with He Yan today. At first, he thought Shen Han was crazy, but now, it seemed that this young man named He Yan had greatly exceeded his expectations.
His riding skills were exquisite, and his mind was nimble and decisive. He knew that it would be difficult for the three of them to hit the grass target, so he simply knocked away all of the other people's arrows. At this moment, the two moves he exchanged with him were not chaotic at all. It was as if he often exchanged blows with others in critical situations, he was very calm.
He Yan, on the other hand, was not as calm as he appeared. The instructors of the Liang State Guard weren't people who only knew how to eat and not do anything. This old man was truly difficult to deal with. Seeing that the finish line was too close, her goal was not to exchange blows with him, but to cross the finish line first. If this continued, even if the horse reached the finish line, with both her and the old man on the horse, who would win?
How treacherous.
When she raised her head, her face was also full of smiles, without a trace of displeasure. "Although I am young, I know how to respect my elders. You are already so old, yet you are still riding with me. If you fall, even ten thousand deaths would not be enough to absolve me of the blame. I'd better switch horses. "As she spoke, she leaned forward and grabbed the iron ring on the horse's saddle with both hands. She leaned against the horse and let go.
This move was truly beautiful. Ma Damei's eyes couldn't help but light up. He Yan grabbed the iron ring with one hand and used the whip in his other hand to wrap around Ma Damei's empty horse not far away. When the two horses drew closer, He Yan let go and half of his body jumped onto the other horse. He grabbed the reins and flipped himself onto the horse again.
"Good! Good! Good! " Ma Damei said "good" three times in a row. She looked at He Yan with undisguised admiration. However, he smiled and said, "But if you think you can win like this, you're still too inexperienced."
Before she finished speaking, the horse under He Yan's body violently struggled and refused to move forward. Instead, it stood on the spot as if it had gone mad.
"This is my own horse. It recognizes its master. Young man, your horsemanship is not bad. But if the horse recognizes its master, you won't be able to control it."
He laughed loudly, as if He Yan's move was exactly what he wanted. He was just waiting to see He Yan make a scene.
The young man smiled slightly. His voice was not nervous at all. He calmly replied, "I'll still try. What if I can control it again?"
After she finished speaking, she leaned over and put her lips close to the horse's ear. She didn't know what she was whispering, but the horse under her gradually calmed down after she tossed and turned.
Ma Damei was stunned. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had seen thousands of horses. He also had simple communication with horses. However, he had never seen a horse that recognized its master obediently listen to just a few words. There were myths and legends in ancient times. There were people who understood the language of hundreds of animals. He Yan … was he one?
He had lived for so long, but he had never believed in myths and legends.
The young man pulled on the reins and the horse galloped away. Ma Damei hurriedly followed. However, he had already missed the best opportunity while he was in a daze. The young man's words were still ringing in his ears. He had a smug expression on his face. "Instructor, your chance to beat me ends here!"
At the end of the horse path, Shen Han and Xiao Jue sat in a pavilion in the forest.
Shen Han didn't touch the tea in his teacup at all. Xiao Jue, on the other hand, drank half a cup. He had a panoramic view of He Yan's fight with Ma Damei just now.
Shen Han closed his eyes. A chill rose in his heart.
Xiao Jue was right. It was impossible for such a genius to appear in the Liang Province Guards. She was first in every event and had surpassed all of his instructors. This wasn't a good thing. It was too strange. It was as if … as if it was specially prepared for the Liang Province Guards.
The red silk fluttered in the wind. The young man and his horse were like a gust of wind as they swept across the finish line. He reined in the horse and shouted for it to stop. Smoke and dust rose. Behind him was Ma Damei. She had a serious expression and didn't look relaxed.
The two of them stopped one after the other.
He Yan got off his horse first. After he got off, Ma Damei also got off her horse. She walked towards Ma Damei and stopped in front of her.
"I didn't mean to tease you just now. I was forced by the situation. You won't hold it against me, right?" The young man looked anxious.
Ma Damei was stunned for a moment. Then she smiled. "Young man, what are you talking about? It's a competition."
A big smile appeared on the young man's face. She wiped the sweat on her forehead and thought for a moment. Then she said, "Then this time, thanks for letting me win."
Thanks for letting me win. In other words, she won again.
Chapter 65
Liang Ping and Du Mao, who were behind him, finally rushed back. The two of them got off their horses at the finish line and saw He Yan happily drinking water while Ma Damei stood to the side, deep in thought.
It didn't look like Ma Damei had won.
The two of them thought at the same time, it can't be, right? Even Ma Damei couldn't beat He Yan?
Liang Ping walked to Ma Damei's side. Ma Damei didn't wait for him to speak and said, "I lost."
She really lost?
Liang Ping was surprised, "How can that be? How could you lose to him? "
Ma Damei was the best equestrian archer among their instructors. If Ma Damei couldn't beat He Yan, then didn't that mean that no one in the entire Liangzhou Guard was better than He Yan in equestrian skills? Then why would He Yan come to learn equestrian archery? He could be his own instructor.
"Did that brat trick you?" Du Mao asked in a low voice. "Did you fall for his trick?" He Yan had just used his whip to deflect all of his arrows. Du Mao was angry just thinking about it. Look, was this really something a new recruit could do?
Ma Damei glared at him, "I'm not as good as him, okay?" She walked to He Yan's side and asked He Yan, "Little girl, I have something to ask you."
"Instructor, do you want to ask me what I said to your horse at the end so that it stopped going crazy and listened to me?" He Yan tightened his water bag, "If you want to ask about this, then forget it. It's an ancestral skill. I can't tell anyone." She winked at Ma Damei, then turned to Liang Ping and said, "Liang Jiaotou, if there's nothing else, I'll leave first. I still have to go to the practice field to train."
Liang Ping waved his hand, "Forget it, out of sight, out of mind."
Du Mao looked at her back and felt that it was strange, "She's still quite energetic after this run. She actually still has the strength to go to the practice field to train. What kind of person is she?"
"He's different from you and me," Liang Ping answered grumpily.
"I've made a fool of myself in front of you." Shen Han was a little embarrassed. All of his instructors had been defeated by He Yan, and this was under the condition that he had used some tricks. If the three of them couldn't defeat him even after joining forces, it would be somewhat inexcusable.
"It's nothing. You did well." Xiao Jue lowered her eyes and sipped her tea. "We didn't ask you to compete in equestrian archery. We just wanted to test the candidates. Now, the candidates have been tested."
"Does the Commander in Chief still think that there's something wrong with him?" Shen Han asked.
"Yes."
"Because He Yan is too outstanding?" If it was because of this, it could only be regarded as suspicion. There was no evidence.
Xiao Jue put down the teacup in her hand. "The way he rode the horse at the end is from the Barbarian Tribe."
"Barbarian Tribe?" Shen Han suddenly stood up.
The barbarians included the Western Qiang, the Southern Barbarians, and the current Wutuo Kingdom. When the Western Qiang Rebellion was quelled by General Feihong, Xiao Jue personally expelled the Southern Barbarian Tribe when they invaded. Now, Uto was ready to make a move. The Barbarian Tribe and Da Wei had always been like fire and water. Even the Western Qiang and Southern Barbarian Tribe had a subtle relationship.
"Could she be a Barbarian?"
"Not necessarily." Xiao Jue shook her head. "Did you bring the military registry?"
Shen Han presented the registry. "He Yan's is here."
"Since this person is different, we can't act rashly and alert him. Pay attention to his every move and be careful."
"Commander in Chief, are you thinking of …"
"Casting a long line to catch a big fish. We have to catch the person behind it," he replied calmly.
After Shen Han left, Xiao Jue flipped through the registry in her hand. Her gaze lingered on He Yan's page for a long time. After a while, she said, "Fei Nu."
Someone quietly appeared behind her like a shadow and said in a low voice, "Young Master."
"Send someone to check if there is a son called He Yan in the He Family of the Capital's Gate Guard."
Fei Nu accepted the order and was about to leave when Xiao Jue called him again.
"Check again. See if the He Family and Xu Jingfu have any secret dealings."
When He Yan returned to the Martial Arts Practice Field, a large group of people who had been waiting anxiously surrounded him.
"How was it? How was it? What was the result?"
"Why don't I see Instructor and the others? Did you win or did Instructor win? "
He Yan smiled and said, "It's a secret."
This answer obviously did not satisfy everyone's curiosity. However, He Yan's lips were sealed tightly and no one could pry open his mouth. Everyone left resentfully and speculated among themselves.
"He should have won, right? He Yan doesn't look like he lost. "This was someone who believed in her.
"Since he won, why didn't he say it openly? If he didn't say it, he must have lost and was afraid of losing face! "
This was someone who did not believe in her.
"You won't get a result even if you argue. If He Yan doesn't want to say it, you can ask the Instructor!" This was someone who thought it through calmly.
Therefore, when the instructors arrived, everyone swarmed towards the instructors like a swarm of bees. The instructors were confused at first, but when they heard that they were being asked about the results of the competition, they all looked towards He Yan at the same time. They thought that this kid was kind and knew to leave some face for the Instructor and did not expose him. The Instructor waved their hands and said, "Don't ask anymore. Disperse!"
In the end, they did not say anything.
When He Yan went to bed that night, Xiao Mai was still thinking about the result. She asked He Yan, "A He Ge, so what was the result?"
"The result is not important." He Yan patted Xiao Mai's head and said, "The important thing is that I'm going to bed now."
She turned over to face the wall and pointed the back of her head at Xiao Mai. Xiao Mai could not get an answer from her and could only give up.
He Yan could not sleep. He kept thinking about what happened on the horse path during the day. No matter what, it was too strange for three Instructor to suddenly challenge her to a riding and archery competition. The three of them teamed up to fight her. If she was a normal recruit, she would not be able to handle it. But they did not seem to consider whether she could withstand this kind of competition. It was not like a challenge, but more like … a test, or to prove something.
In the end, she subdued Ma Damei's horse. She used a horse taming technique that she learned from a barbarian captive when she was in the army. That captive was a horse trainer. His horse taming technique was superb and made them suffer a lot. After He Yan captured him, the captive was afraid of death. He wrote down his tribe's precious horse taming technique and gave it to He Yan.
But that horse taming technique was too complicated. He Yan only learned a little. Even so, it was enough to stop a normal horse. If she did not do that today, she would not have won against Ma Damei.
But if it was really a test, the only person who could command the Liang Province Guards Institute's Instructor was either the Head Instructor or Xiao Jue. If it was Xiao Jue, what was his purpose? Could it be that he wanted to pick someone to go to the Nine Flags Battalion, so he hurriedly ordered the Instructor to test her qualifications and skills?
Was that so? He Yan faintly felt that she might have thought wrongly, but she could not find any other way to think about it. After thinking for a while, she decided not to think about it anymore. Since she was already here, she might as well take things as they came. After all, she did not lose this round.