Lanzhou Tianchi is located on the Canglong Mountain in Lanzhou. In the northwest of the Han Empire, Canglong Mountain is a place with a special status and many legends. The most talked about one is that 700 years ago, Hai Cangyue, a great master of the Han Empire, practiced in Canglong Mountain and advanced to the Martial Emperor, shocking the world. Since Hai Cangyue, Canglong Mountain in the northwest of the Han Empire has become a place for countless masters and hermits to practice. After Canglong Mountain became famous, the Tianchi in Canglong Mountain has gradually become famous in the past few hundred years because masters often choose to duel here.
In November of the 14th year of the Yuanping reign of the Han Empire, Cai Yingwu, the elder of the Feitian Sect of Yunzhou and known as the best archery master of Yunzhou, was going to challenge Yan Liqiang of Ganzhou at Tianchi in Lanzhou on January 1st of the 15th year of the Yuanping reign of the Han Empire. The news that the battle would be fought in archery had already spread throughout the northwest. On the one hand, it was a well-known master from Yunzhou in the northwest, and on the other hand, it was a talented young man who rose from the capital of the Han Empire. As soon as the news of this battle came out, it caused a huge sensation.
As for the reason for the battle, the explanation given by Feitianmen was that one of their disciples died at the hands of Yan Liqiang, and Feitianmen must seek justice for their disciple. Yan Liqiang from Ganzhou has never refuted Feitianmen's statement, so everyone just acquiesced. As for the details of the feud between the two sides, there are some rumors saying that it is related to the Northwest Zhuanyan Yamen and Yan Liqiang's Manufacturing Bureau. As for the specific details, all kinds of rumors are flying around.
In such a competition, the reason is no longer important. What really attracts people's attention is the competition itself.
Needless to say, Cai Yingwu is an elder of Feitian Sect, a major sect in the northwest. His archery skills are well-known in the northwest. He is a celebrity in himself and has countless fans. Although Cai Yingwu himself did not say that he is the number one archery master in the northwest, many people in Feitian Sect and Yunzhou have already regarded Cai Yingwu as the number one archery master in the northwest.
Yan Liqiang was naturally not a weakling. The story of this mysterious young man who was said to be able to communicate with gods in dreams had also spread throughout the northwest in a short period of time. The "Han Empire Times" founded by Yan Liqiang in the Imperial Capital now led the trend of the entire Han Empire and set a precedent. His achievements in the study of things were obvious to all. There was a legend that Yan Liqiang was taught by gods in his dreams. As for Yan Liqiang's archery attainments, although not many people have seen them, a person who was favored by His Majesty the Emperor and wanted to be hired as the prince's archery instructor was definitely not a weakling. Moreover, Yan Liqiang opened a archery club in Ganzhou, claiming to have 3,000 disciples, and he was in the limelight in Ganzhou.
In this world where martial arts is respected, the duel between the two archery masters is just like the two superstars in Yan Liqiang's previous life who posted a message to challenge each other to a fight. Naturally, it attracted countless people. A month after the news spread, in late December, people had already started to arrive at the bank of Tianchi Lake on Canglong Mountain in Lanzhou, occupying good places to watch the fight. Many people even regarded this duel as a battle for the title of the number one archer in Northwest China. In many places, they even opened handicaps and bets on the outcome of this duel.
On January 1, the 15th year of Yuanping, heavy snow fell in Lanzhou. The mountains danced like silver snakes, the plains galloped like wax elephants, and Canglong Mountain was covered in silver. The Tianchi Lake, which covered an area of 7 or 8 square kilometers, had already formed a thick ice surface. On the hillside beside the Tianchi Lake, tens of thousands of people had already gathered. The originally quiet Tianchi Lake, as long as there was a place for people to stay, was already crowded with all kinds of people from all counties in the northwest. These people included people from all states and counties, and even local wealthy families. Even the people in the Ganzhou Governor's Mansion and the Yunzhou Governor's Mansion changed into casual clothes and hid in the crowd. This duel was definitely the most grand one here in the past fifty years.
The time of the duel was chosen at 15:30 today. The choice of this duel time is very particular, because noon is the time when the Yang energy is the strongest in a day. Choosing this time for the duel is like choosing this time to behead a criminal. According to legend, people who die at this time will not become evil spirits because the Yang energy between heaven and earth is too strong. Although no one said that the duel between Yan Liqiang and Cai Yingwu was a life-and-death battle, as long as you look at the time chosen by Feitianmen, everyone familiar with it knows that this duel is a life-and-death battle, and only one person from both sides can leave alive in the end.
Just after noon, under the gaze of countless eyes, a figure leaped out from the hillside where Feitian Gate was located like a goshawk, his figure was as fast as lightning, and he was flying on the snow-white ice, which was particularly eye-catching. In just a moment, this person came to the center of Tianchi, then stood solemnly, squinting his eyes and looking into the distance, standing on the ice, quietly waiting in the wind and snow.
This man was in his fifties, with a dark face and eyes as sharp as an eagle or a wolf. He carried a dark red horned python bow on his back. He just stood in the Tianchi Lake, and naturally exuded the aura of a master as still as a mountain.
"Yunzhou Arrow, this is Yunzhou Arrow Cai Yingwu..."
Seeing that man flying out, countless people in the crowd on the hillsides surrounding Tianchi recognized the man's identity and shouted loudly. The Tianchi area, which was already noisy and full of discussions, suddenly became even more agitated. Countless people had dry throats and stared with wide eyes at the situation in the center of Tianchi. Cai Yingwu had already entered the field, which meant that the time for the duel was almost here.
Cai Yingwu just stood quietly in the Tianchi Lake and waited for nearly half a quarter of an hour, but Yan Liqiang, who was going to duel with him, did not arrive. Then there was some commotion among the crowd around the Tianchi Lake.
"Where is Yan Liqiang? He's not coming, is he?" Jiang Tianhua, the Northwest Transport Envoy, who had changed into casual clothes and even wore a human skin mask, was standing among the crowd of Feitianmen. After seeing Cai Yingwu go up for a long time, but still no sign of Yan Liqiang, Jiang Tianhua couldn't help but become anxious and turned to ask the person next to him.
Jiang Tianhua came this time just to see with his own eyes how Yan Liqiang, the man who made him so humiliated, finally died in front of him. In order to facilitate this duel, he paid out 500,000 taels of silver and shed a lot of blood, just to let Feitianmen take action to kill Yan Liqiang. As long as Yan Liqiang is alive, he will feel uncomfortable.
The man next to Jiang Tianhua had a head full of silver hair, a lion nose and narrow eyes, and wore a purple gold crown of the founder on his head. His face was impressive at first sight, and he felt imposing yet scheming. The man stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a gorgeous blue brocade robe, and was surrounded by a group of people from the Feitian Sect. Zong Yi and He Tianhong, who had challenged Yan Liqiang more than a month ago, were also surrounding this man. This man was none other than the leader of the Feitian Sect, Guo Yifei.
"Don't worry, Lord Transport Envoy. If Yan Liqiang dares not to come, he will be courting death!" Guo Yifei showed a cold smile on his face, like ice. "I didn't deal with him personally this time because of the Zhong family and Lei Sitong. If he doesn't know how to appreciate it and wants to escape, then you can't blame me for using martial arts. The disciples of our Feitian Sect did not die in vain. Since he dared to attack our disciples of Feitian Sect, he must be prepared to pay with his life!"
Jiang Tianhua, who was wearing a mask, could not see the expression on his face, but after hearing what Guo Yifei said, his eyes quickly turned twice, then he leaned his head closer and whispered, "The Sect Master should know that Yan Liqiang had offended the Prime Minister in the Imperial Capital City, which made the Prime Minister very unhappy. The Prime Minister had originally arranged a blind match for him in the Imperial Capital City last time, wanting to kill him, but he took the opportunity to escape. Although the Prime Minister is in the Imperial Capital City, he is also very concerned about this duel. If Feitianmen can do a better job this time and let the Prime Minister know, the future of Feitianmen will be more than just the present..."
Guo Yifei's eyes flickered for a moment, and then he nodded gently, "Please rest assured, Master Fortune Teller. Even if Yan Liqiang can escape today, he won't be able to escape tomorrow!"
"That's good, that's good!"
As time passed, the atmosphere on both sides of Tianchi became more agitated and people began to talk about it.
"Why hasn't Yan Liqiang come yet? Isn't he a coward?"
"It's possible. I heard that Yan Liqiang is just a teenager. It would be strange if he didn't feel guilty to fight against a strong man like Cai Yingwu!"
"Damn it, isn't this a waste of our long journey? I even paid a hundred taels of silver to bet on Cai Yingwu to win within three arrows..."
"Could it be that Yan Liqiang had an accident?"
Just before half an hour, it was almost 3:30 in the afternoon. Many people even thought that Yan Liqiang would not come. They were full of disappointment and even cursed at the slope. Then the roar of iron hooves finally came from the mountain pass south of Tianchi. Amid the sound of iron hooves, Yan Liqiang, riding on the dark clouds and snow, took the lead, leading 500 students from the Kyudo Club, riding on rhinoceros horses, stepping on the wind and snow, and coming like flying...
The young men who followed Yan Liqiang, each carrying a bow, were full of vigor and charged forward with Yan Liqiang on horseback. As they arrived, their majestic singing also reached the ears of the people by the Tianchi Lake.
"The smoke of war rises from the mountains and rivers, looking north
The dragon rises and the horse neighs, the sword energy is like frost
My heart is like the boundless water of the Yellow River
Who can resist in the past 20 years
Hateful desire madly long sword
How many loyal brothers and sisters are buried in a foreign land
Why would you hesitate to die for your country
I can't help sighing and I'm speechless, tears in my eyes
The horseshoes go south and people look north
People look north, the grass is green and the yellow dust is flying
I want to defend the land and open up new frontiers
A great man wants to make all the people...
Come and congratulate... "
Just hearing this song, countless people were moved...
(End of this chapter)