873 If a Fight is What You Want, a Fight is What You’ve Got II (2/2)

The rod was brought down; the fist shot out. They parted and met. Tang Xiaotang charged so many times that she lost count.

Although she had not managed to topple General Lebu, her feet never stopped to rest. Since the beginning of the battle, the general had not made a single step of headway.

The terrifying crashes echoed again and again. Many Divine Priests had now been forced to the floor, and ten or so junior students were now out cold on the ground. The unceasing quake was too much for them to handle.

All the skilled cultivators in attendance felt terror in their hearts. Tang Xiaotang was clearly no match for General Lebu but she never stopped charging forward. Her unwavering determination was a fearsome sight.

Ning Que stood in the crowd and thought about what he had seen outside the Chang'an city gates, years ago. Tang Xiaotang had been swindled of all her money. When she passed by the city, she thought about how Chang'an had a reputation to uphold for the Academy, so she decided to earn money performing on the streets. Her act was lying on a bench and breaking boulders on her chest.

The Tang Xiaotang he saw persistently charging today reminded him of that sight from years ago: a huge hammer hitting a rock over and over, and below the rock, a young girl. Her chest was not broad, so the rock rattled on an uneven surface, making it hard to break. Although the rock did not break easily, the hammer kept coming down – eventually, the rock would break.

Chen Pipi stood in silence on the altar. His brow was furrowed and his lips quivered, but a smile lit up his face.

He thought about the story Tang Xiaotang had told him about her time in the Wilderness. To protect the vulnerable women and children, she and her senior had kept all manner of beasts away. She once encountered a pack of huge wolves. Although she was scared, she charged at the wolves until she forgot how many times she had charged. He was shocked and asked her, ”But didn't you say that you were scared?”

She replied, ”When I'm about to enter battle, I forget that I'm scared.”

...

Before the dais of Peach Mountain, the battle between two strong cultivators continued. The peach flowers had long been decimated. Even the wind seemed to be shattered into a thousand pieces. It was as if it would never end.

Just as everyone thought that they could no longer hang on, that their hearts were about to give up, they realised that the battle had somehow ended.

The battle ended, not because Tang Xiaotang had stopped charging.

Rather, it was because Lebu had taken a step back.

The proud warrior, the best in the Golden Tribe, had silently retreated back into the crowd.

Tang Xiaotang's body was drenched with blood. It dripped from her lip and flowed onto the iron rod. Countless bones in her body were now broken but she stood at attention, as if ready to resume her attacks at any time.

General Lebu seemed unhurt. His face was a little pale and his right fist trembled slightly. It seemed not to want to be formed again into a fist anytime soon.

The battle ended because he chose to retreat by one step. This showed that the battle had stayed consistently under his control, allowing him to end it with a dignified retreat.

He still looked powerfully formidable.

Tang Xiaotang's braid had come apart. Her hair flowed wildly.

Her whole body was wounded. She was no match for Lebu.

Still, it was Lebu who had first retreated.

Although the battle seemed to reach no clear conclusion, the victor had been decided.

The winner on raw strength was undoubtedly Lebu, but he admitted defeat.

”I accept defeat.”

Lebu addressed Tang Xiaotang. ”I have seen those who do not fear death, but I have never seen anyone like you. Initially, I could not understand how you could be this crazy, but I remembered your background. Now I understand. I admitted defeat because I would like to kill you, but I do not want to carry on fighting with you. I'm not insane.”

Tang Xiaotang was a Wild Person, a follower of the Devil's Doctrine, a student of the Academy. That was her background.

In the eyes of many, Wild People were all crazy on the battlefield. Many followers of Devil's Doctrine seemed crazy. The Academy had produced the most famous lunatic of all, Maniac Ke.

It was only natural that she would seem crazy in battle.

After the end of the battle, Tang Xiaotang regained her composure. She cast her eyes over all the strong cultivators gathered at the altar and felt her hand tremble around the iron rod. Suddenly, she broke out in a smile.

She turned to Chen Pipi and said, ”Looks like I'm not taking you away after all.”

...