"Are you going to have a blind archery competition with Shi Minzhang, the son of General Shi Tao of Anbei?" Li Hongtu, who had just walked out of the thatched hut and was still sleepy, heard Yan Liqiang's words. His eyes suddenly widened and his voice rose two octaves.
Today is July 28th. Early in the morning, Yan Liqiang came to the back mountain of the archery field. Before starting to practice, he told Li Hongtu about the blind competition that had been confirmed.
After struggling on the sixth floor of the Sword Cave Crystal Tower for a day, Yan Liqiang tried every possible means but could not find the unique beast core crystal. In the end, he had no choice but to take a fasting pill. After that, Yan Liqiang took a rest on the sixth floor of the crystal tower, then exited the Heavenly Dao Divine Realm and returned to reality.
The problems in reality are also imminent.
"Yes!" Yan Liqiang nodded. "Last night, Eunuch Liu informed me that the date has just been confirmed. It will be on August 15th of next month, and the location will be at the Xihe Camp of the Imperial Horse and Infantry Division."
"Why do we have to compete? Isn't it good for you to practice well here? Why are you creating trouble at this time?" Li Hongtu shouted.
"Master, you have to know that as the saying goes, one cannot decide one's fate in the world of martial arts. The capital city is full of undercurrents. Even if I am willing to practice here quietly, there are people who are unwilling to do so!" Yan Liqiang smiled bitterly and explained the causes and consequences of this blind competition to Li Hongtu.
"Damn it, why are those bastards so nosy..." After hearing Yan Liqiang's words, Li Hongtu also jumped up and started cursing, with a look of indignation on his face.
"I never thought that your majesty's love and favor for me would lead to so many things. If I retreat at this moment, not only will your majesty lose face, but people will also make a fuss about it, saying that your majesty has no ability to judge people. Even I will be laughed at!" Yan Liqiang said sternly, "If we cultivators retreat at this moment, then our so-called cultivation will be meaningless. Not to mention that I will let your majesty down, even I will look down on myself. So I will definitely participate in this blind competition!"
"Yes, Master supports you. At a time like this, we must not be cowardly and let those bastards laugh at us. We should lose the battle even if we lose the people!" Li Hongtu said loudly.
"I will definitely go to the blind competition, but after the blind competition, regardless of whether I win or lose, I am afraid that I will not be able to continue to stay in the Imperial Capital and continue to practice martial arts with you, Master. I have already resigned from His Majesty, and after the blind competition, I will return to my hometown in Ganzhou..."
"Ah, why is that?"
"I have an old father at home who has no ability to protect himself. Since I agreed to the blind competition, I have offended General Shi Tao of Anbei and a group of court ministers who do not agree with me being the prince's archery instructor. Regardless of the final outcome, I cannot stay in the Imperial Capital. Otherwise, if something happens to my father, I will regret it for the rest of my life. Moreover, the Imperial Capital is a place of right and wrong, not a good place to practice. By returning to Ganzhou, I can protect and take care of my father and continue to practice. Master, please understand and allow me..." Yan Liqiang said, and bowed deeply to Li Hongtu.
Li Hongtu's eyebrows twitched, he sighed to the sky, and quickly helped Yan Liqiang up. "You are so young and have to be involved in the disputes in the court. It's really hard for you. You advance for loyalty and retreat for filial piety. Master knows your difficulties. The water in the imperial capital is too muddy. It is indeed not a place where you can practice with peace of mind. You can go to the competition without worry, and go home after the competition. Just don't fall behind in your practice!"
"Master, don't worry. I won't stop until I have mastered the true skills of spearmanship that you taught me!"
"Does that Ji guy know that you want to compete blindly?"
"Master Ji doesn't know yet. I want to wait until I finish my training with you in the morning, and then report the situation to you at noon!"
Li Hongtu blew his beard and glared, "Did that Ji pass on his true Sanhe Kyudo skills to you? If not, I will go find that Ji and ask him if he wants to take his mediocre skills to his grave..."
Hearing Li Hongtu's words, Yan Liqiang could only smile bitterly in his heart. If Ji Xiaoyao's Sanhe Kyudo was just a mediocre skill, then all other Kyudo and archery training methods in this world could be thrown into the toilet. Ji Xiaoyao's Sanhe Kyudo was about the combination of the bow with the sky, the earth, and the human being. It was collectively called the Sanhe, and the mysteries were endless and difficult to describe in a few words. It directly brought Yan Liqiang's understanding of Kyudo into a brand new world. The "Feather-Plucking Technique" that Yan Liqiang saw for the first time, which could make the arrows turn, was just a trivial skill in the way of human harmony...
"Master Ji has already taught me the secrets of his Sanhe Kyudo, but I have only been practicing for a short time, so I still need more practice!"
After hearing Yan Liqiang's answer, Li Hongtu's expression eased. "What I teach you is not something that can be mastered in a day or two. You don't need to come to my place in the days before the blind competition. Just practice Kyudo and archery every day. If you have any questions, just go find that guy named Ji. You don't need to shake your gun this morning. Just do whatever you want..."
"Yes, Master!"
Li Hongtu looked around, then leaned over, his voice suddenly lowered a lot, and his face had a hint of mystery, "You can participate in the blind competition, you have a clear conscience, you can live up to everyone, don't care what His Majesty and that eunuch surnamed Liu think, Master has a most important thing to tell you, in the blind competition, if you feel that you can't win, don't continue to show off, even if you admit defeat, it's okay, you are not old now, it's not shameful to lose, you can try again, as long as you are given time, that guy surnamed Shi will definitely not be your opponent in the future, this competition is like a war Only those who can win and lose can last long. Those who can only win but not lose will be finished after losing once. People who practice cultivation must be able to withstand setbacks and setbacks, just like the gun barrel we shake. They can be hard and soft, soft and hard, and can bend and straighten. Only then can they become the king of all weapons. People who practice spears must learn this spirit of spears to be true heroes. Sometimes it is not shameful to run away after being defeated. Didn’t that Ji guy teach you how to run away at the beginning? This is the lifelong experience of your master. If you can’t win, run away. If you can win, come back. The one who survives to the end is the hero. Remember!"
Yan Liqiang didn't expect Li Hongtu to say such words. Listening to Li Hongtu's words, Yan Liqiang was moved. He knew that only someone who truly cared about him would say this.
"Master, rest assured. I've remembered this and I'll definitely survive!"
"That's good!" Li Hongtu let out a long breath and patted Yan Liqiang's shoulder heavily.
(End of this chapter)