PFC Chapter 303 Dance Battle and Sparring
Chapter 303 Dance Battle and Sparring
As night fell, the halls within the camp were brightly lit. Li Cunxu sat at the head of the table, his expression solemn.
"Drag this assassin out and execute him!"
Li Cunxu's voice was cold and authoritative, echoing throughout the entire hall.
Qiu Ziyue stood aside, feeling sorry for him.
She saw that although the woman was in dire straits, she showed no fear, but rather a resolute expression.
Feeling pity, Qiu Ziyue stepped forward and said, "Prince Jin, please allow me to say something."
Li Cunxu frowned slightly, but still nodded: "Miss Qiu, please speak."
Qiu Ziyue turned to the woman and asked gently:
"Who are you? Why are you trying to assassinate us?"
The woman raised her head, looked directly at Qiu Ziyue, and spoke in a soft but firm voice:
"I am Zhu Wen's concubine, named Xiao Tao. My family was extremely poor when I was young, and I almost starved to death on the streets."
Later, I was fortunate enough to become a maid in Zhu Wen's mansion, where he took a liking to me and taught me dance and martial arts. This time, Zhu Wen sent me to assassinate you, but I…”
"Wait, you've studied dance?" Qiu Ziyue interrupted her, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"Yes, I've always dreamed of having a dance battle with you."
Xiao Tao said in a low voice.
"I have long admired your name. Your dance is so beautiful and moving, it has been my lifelong dream. Even if I die today, it would be worth it to have danced with you once."
Qiu Ziyue was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Li Cunxu:
"Prince Jin, why not give her a chance?"
Li Cunxu pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement:
"Okay, let her have a dance battle with you."
Qiu Ziyue nodded.
She understood that everyone has their own helplessness and predicaments, and this woman's story made her feel sympathy.
“Prince Jin, I would like to have a dance contest with Miss Qiu Ziyue. Win or lose, I will die without regret,” Xiao Tao replied.
“In that case,” Li Cunxu said in a deep voice.
"Then let me show you that our Jin army is not only stronger than your Daliang army in terms of martial prowess, but also equally outstanding in dance."
Li Cunxu stood up and gestured to Xiao Tao:
"I can give you a chance to dance, you can go on stage now."
Xiao Tao was extremely grateful and thanked him profusely.
Qiu Ziyue stepped forward and gently comforted him:
"Don't worry, I'll do my best."
As the music started, the atmosphere on the stage instantly became tense.
Xiao Tao took the lead in dancing, her movements full of power and grace.
Every movement showcased the skills she had honed through years of hard work.
The soldiers held their breath, watching the life-or-death dance with unwavering focus.
Qiu Ziyue then took the stage; her dance moves were as natural as flowing water, yet powerful.
Every turn and every leap is filled with emotion, as if taking the audience into a whole new world.
Her dance incorporates the essence of ancient dance, combining the elegance of the Han and Tang dynasties with the boldness of ethnic minorities, making it a truly eye-catching performance.
The dance battle between the two gradually reached its climax, and the soldiers watched with rapt attention.
Finally, after a series of intense spins, Qiu Ziyue landed gently and gracefully.
Xiao Tao was slightly out of breath, and a bitter smile appeared on her face:
“You are indeed better than me. Your dance is not only beautiful, but also full of power and emotion. I admit defeat.”
Li Cunxu looked at the two of them and nodded:
"It seems you've figured it out. In terms of martial prowess, your Great Liang is no match for our Jin army, and the same goes for dance."
Xiao Tao bowed her head and confessed her guilt.
After thinking for a moment, Li Cunxu finally decided: "Guards, take Xiao Tao out and execute her."
Qiu Ziyue hurriedly pleaded, "Prince Jin, Miss Xiaotao is also a pitiful person. Can you spare her life?"
Li Cunxu said:
"Miss Qiu, I can grant any other request, but we cannot be soft on the enemy assassins, otherwise there will be endless trouble. Men, drag Xiao Tao out and behead her."
"Yes, Prince Jin," the soldier replied and left.
Before Qiu Ziyue could say anything more, Qi Yuxuan tugged at her sleeve, urging her to sit back down.
Qiu Ziyue did not sit back down but said, "Prince Jin, I have another request, may I?"
"Please speak, Miss Qiu," Li Cunxu said politely.
"After this battle, please ask the Prince of Jin to govern Hedong well, stabilize the situation, appoint virtuous and talented people, punish corrupt officials, and reduce taxes and punishments."
“Good, this is a good suggestion. Give the order to govern Hedong as Miss Qiu suggested,” Li Cunxu said.
Then, the soldiers drank and enjoyed themselves immensely.
During the drinking session, Li Cunxu smiled and proposed to Qi Yuxuan:
"Brother Yuxuan, it's been a long time since we sparred. How about we have a match?"
Seeing that Li Cunxu looked relaxed, Qi Yuxuan didn't want to offend him, so he nodded and agreed: "Alright, I'll practice with Prince Jin."
The two stepped onto the arena, and Li Cunxu drew his long sword, his gaze sharp.
Qi Yuxuan also drew his sword, secretly on guard.
Li Cunxu was the first to draw his sword and thrust it at Qi Yuxuan. The two quickly clashed, their swords flashing and their shadows clashing.
At first, their moves seemed ordinary, and they went back and forth, neither giving an inch.
But gradually, Qi Yuxuan discovered that every move Li Cunxu made was extremely dangerous, as if he wasn't competing in swordsmanship, but trying to take his life.
Li Cunxu's swordplay was incredibly fierce, each strike aimed directly at vital points, forcing Li Cunxu to fight back with all his might.
Qiu Ziyue, standing to the side, keenly sensed something amiss.
A hint of worry flashed in her eyes, and she immediately gestured to Qiu Langyu.
Qiu Langyu understood immediately, drew his sword, stepped onto the stage, and shouted:
"stop!"
Li Cunxu and Qi Yuxuan simultaneously stopped their sword strikes. Li Cunxu smiled, seemingly unconcerned.
Qiu Langyu quickly walked between the two and said in a gentler tone:
"Both of you gentlemen are experts; this match was truly spectacular. However, it was just a friendly exchange, so there's no need to take it too seriously."
He deliberately emphasized the words "too serious," implying the danger involved.
Leng Feng and Zhao Wanqing also said:
"Yes, why take it so seriously? Besides, there are many important things to deal with."
Li Cunxu was slightly taken aback, then his smile faded, and he nodded: "Alright, since you put it that way, then forget it."
He sheathed his longsword, turned around, and sat back down in his seat, leaving behind a profound statement:
"Brother Yuxuan, let's fight again next time."
Qi Yuxuan breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew that a deeper conspiracy lay hidden behind today's competition, and he had to be even more careful in dealing with future challenges.
Back in her tent, Qiu Ziyue fell into deep thought.
She realized that there might be more complex motives behind Li Cunxu's actions.
Qiu Ziyue found Qi Yuxuan and asked softly:
"You sensed what happened just now, right? Changming lost control of his emotions. We need to be more careful in the future."
Qi Yuxuan nodded:
“I also felt something was wrong. His moves today were too dangerous; it didn’t seem like a normal sparring match at all.”
After a moment of contemplation, Qiu Ziyue said, "It's not safe to stay here any longer. Let's leave and go home in a few days."
Qi Yuxuan hugged Qiu Ziyue tightly and wouldn't let go.
The Battle of Chuzhou severely weakened the Later Liang dynasty, rendering it unable to launch northward raids on Hedong for several years afterward.
After this battle, the Jin army's military prestige greatly increased.
After returning to Jinyang, Li Cunxu followed Qiu Ziyue's advice and began to manage internal affairs and rectify military discipline.
Under his rule, the Hedong military group quickly took on a completely new look.
To be continued in the next chapter!