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Chapter 30A: Stuck [Translator/Editor: otwentyfirst]

[June 9, 2019]
...

Shen Li entered the camp in a bad mood, but once she saw the familiar faces of her brothers her anger ebbed away. One by one everyone came to greet her. Shang Bei hurriedly jogged over when he saw her.

"Your Highness left without saying anything! It was very troublesome for General Mo!"

Shen Li laughed and patted him on the arm. "This lord was at fault. Later just pick a tavern, it'll be my treat. You can drink to your heart's content."

Another general to the side quickly chimed in. "Your Highness can't play favorites!"

"Yeah! I know! Everyone should get a share!"

"Alright! You are all invited!" Shen Li saw the training platform and remembered her reason for coming. She raised her voice and said, "This king is in good mood. I will practice with you all today! How about ten moves each! Then all the generals can go drinking!"

To fight and lose against the Azure Sky King was an honor for the soldiers. The atmosphere became boisterous and lively as the generals gathered up their recruits, selecting the most promising ones to spar against the Azure Sky King.

The soldiers used every trick up their sleeve, trying their hardest to best Shen Li, but none could land a second hit. Ten people tried in the course of two hours, but none were able to reach the ten move marker.

There was a glistening sheen of sweat on Shen Li's forehead and she was warm all over. Her eyes were bright and lively from the exertion. The current soldier sparring was the best, able to get in five moves. She praised him. "You have potential."

She immediately moved behind him after speaking. He was quick and sidestepped that attack but couldn't avoid Shen Li's next move. He lost his footing as she swept her leg under him. She grabbed him by the shoulder and pressed him against the platform floor.

He admitted defeat and quickly got off the training platform after Shen Li gave him some pointers on his defense.

"Next!"

A cool breeze burst through and Xing Zhi appeared in their midst laughing. "I would like to request a battle."

Those in the audience had no clue he was there until he spoke. It left everyone in an uproar. When he did arrive? To appear without anyone noticing, showed how powerful he was.

Shen Li's expression turned cold. She wiped at the sweat on her brow and looked at Xing Zhi. "Pardon? What does immortal high G.o.d wish to do?"

"The atmosphere is so lively and boisterous I wanted to join in and be a part of it. I've lived in solitude beyond the heavens for so long, it's rare for me to see such a crowd. Don't tell me Your Highness is unwilling to bear compet.i.tion?"

"I dare not put immortal high G.o.d's body at risk... "

As soon as she finished speaking Xing Zhi flashed over to her on the training platform. He used the same technique she used on the foot soldier earlier, limiting her mobility by grabbing her shoulder. Shen Li s.h.i.+fted his hold by pus.h.i.+ng against his hand with qi. Then she made an about face and slammed her lower palm into his face. But she missed. Xing Zhi had already turned his cheek away avoiding the hit. He took advantage of her forward moment and turned it against her, grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm behind her back, trapping her.

Xing Zhi grinned. "Your Highness was saying something about not daring to injure me?"

Shen Li was angry. She braced her feet and bent forward at the waist, raising her free arm up to grab his shoulder. With a yell she attempted to summersault him off her back. But her hand grabbed only air. Xing Zhi had already disappeared.

Shen Li heard soft footfall behind her. She swiftly turned around and forcefully jabbed her elbow at Xing Zhi's abdomen. The hit landed but it felt like she was. .h.i.tting fluff. The strength of her attack had been completely dispersed.

Their fight was reminiscent of her conversations with him. Every word she used to corner him would be deflected. She couldn't pin him down.

The more she thought about it the more stifled she felt, and the more reckless her attacks became. The more reckless her attacks became the easier it was for Xing Zhi to handle her.

She realized he was playing her like a fiddle in the palm of his hand. Along with this realization came another: she didn't have to play along. There was no reason for her to spar with him. She stood still and stopped attacking. Xing Zhi also stopped.

He hadn't attacked once since that first back hold. All along he had been defending, parrying everything she threw at him. He was just toying with her and she had played along, orchestrating a one man show the entire time.

As if on cue, Xing Zhi stared at her as he closed the distance between them. He cradled the nape of her neck with one hand while grabbing her wrist with the other.

She looked up at him expectantly at this.

"We pa.s.sed ten moves some time ago Your Highness."

Shen Li yanked her wrist out of his grip and retreated a few steps. "What does immortal high G.o.d wish?"

"Earlier I heard Your Highness say anyone who lasted ten moves would be invited for drinks with you and the generals, however I have no interest in drinking, so I would like to make a request of Your Highness instead."

Shen Li's face was cold, but because of the situation she acquiesced. "Immortal high G.o.d did defeat me, whatever G.o.d wishes, simply state it so."

"I wish to ask Your Highness three questions." Xing Zhi swept his gaze at the crowd around the training platform. He saw Mo Fang with Fu Rongjun on one side. He smirked. "My first question to Your Highness is, who is General Shang Bei to you?"

It was a shock to be called out by name. Shang Bei could only star blankly as those near him looked at him suspiciously, sizing him up. Shang Bei broke out in a nervous sweat. "Immortal high G.o.d! I'm a happily married man! Please don't ask such misleading questions!"

Shen Li frowned. "We are comrades."

"And who is this general to you?" Xing Zhi pointed at an older white haired general in the crowd.

"Also a comrade."

"And lastly, who is General Mo Fang to you?

Shen Li was silent. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Mo Fang and a little away farther away, Fu Rongjun. Then it hit her.

Xing Zhi was trying to expose her words from earlier. Mo Fang had confessed to her but she had firmly and clearly rejected his feelings, denying any possibility of reciprocation.

What she said to Fu Rongjun, about Mo Fang being hers, was just a lie to intimidate Fu Rongjun so he would stop hara.s.sing Mo Fang. But if she repeated the lie now it would give Mo Fang false hope. Not to mention all the soldiers and officers present…





CHAPTER DISCUSSION