"This..."
"Senior Brother, I've yielded to your skill." Zhao Ya clasped his fists together.
Miao Shaocheng sighed softly.
"I thought my Great Vajra Fist was quite well-practiced, but compared to you, it's as if I've just started learning."
"Senior Brother, you're being modest. Your Great Vajra Fist has its merits, it's just that your realm isn't sufficient, so the speed and power aren't there."
Miao Shaocheng smiled wryly, "Of course, I know that as well, but breaking through realms isn't something that can be achieved overnight, alas!"
Then he turned to Xu De, "It's your turn!"
Unthinkingly, Xu De waved his hand repeatedly, "Forget it, forget it, I know my limitations; I won't humiliate myself."
Upon hearing this, Miao Shaocheng became furious, "What do you mean by that? Are you implying that I don't know my limitations?"
"Hehe, Senior Brother Miao, if you choose to interpret it that way, there's nothing I can do."
"How dare you, Xu De, show such disrespect to your seniors!" Miao Shaocheng, enraged, charged forward, attempting to hit him.
Xu De smiled as he dodged away.
The two of them began roughhousing.
Zhao Ya watched from the side with a smile on his face.
The reason he engaged with Miao Shaocheng and Xu De wasn't to defeat them, to satisfy some craving for victory.
He was using this opportunity to demonstrate his progress to Meng Shiwen and Miao Shaocheng.
After all, his senior brothers and sisters had given up their own rations for his training.
If he didn't provide a satisfying result, it simply wouldn't be justifiable.
It was during the time Zhao Ya was sparring with Miao Shaocheng at the Martial Arts Hall that Sun Yingkui found himself facing a crisis at the government office on Lion Street.
This was the secondary hall of the government office, previously used for interrogating important prisoners.
Currently, it had been repurposed as a meeting venue for Wei Hongbin and his subordinate officers.
Wei Hongbin sat in the central high-backed chair, his face calm and expressionless.
Although Wei Hongbin was nearly forty this year, his years of luxurious living made him appear about twenty-eight or twenty-nine.
But the aura of one long accustomed to authority made him naturally intimidating.
So even as he sat there, no one in the main hall dared speak carelessly.
All deputy generals and captains turned their gaze to Sun Yingkui, who stood below.
These gazes contained sympathy, pity, and, of course, some schadenfreude.
Lin Shiguo, sitting first and bowed under Wei Hongbin, was one such person.
As the first deputy general under Wei Hongbin, he was often at odds with Sun Yingkui, the top-ranked captain.
This was mainly due to their significant status difference.
Lin Shiguo hailed from a noble family in the Capital City, and although not as prestigious as the Wei Family, the Lin Family was considered a well-regarded noble family.
Sun Yingkui, on the other hand, was from a humble background, having risen to his captaincy through his abilities.
As a result, Lin Shiguo often mocked Sun Yingkui as a "muddy-legged peasant."
Sun Yingkui never argued back.
In fact, he couldn't.
In this Great Yan Iron Cavalry, those in high positions were mostly born to noble families, with only him and a scant few others coming from common backgrounds, a gap immeasurable by any standard, so even if he wanted to resist, he lacked the means.
While Sun Yingkui wanted to avoid provoking Lin Shiguo, Lin Shiguo had no intentions of letting him be.
Especially since entering the city, the two had developed significant ideological differences.
Lin Shiguo believed Sun Yingkui was too soft, particularly in being overly lenient with these martial artists.
Sun Yingkui, meanwhile, thought Lin Shiguo condoned his subordinates in extorting shops and bullying others, behavior so brutish it was detrimental to the city's stability.
Their conflict intensified and eventually erupted today.
"What? You put in great effort, barely managed to persuade Lord Commander to send invitations, yet the people didn't pay you any mind, nor did they even show up – this is the opportunity you mentioned?" Lin Shiguo mocked relentlessly.
Sun Yingkui could only remain silent, for there wasn't much else he could say.
It was his idea, and failing to accomplish it, being reprimanded was to be expected.
However, the more Lin Shiguo spoke, the nastier his words became.
"In my opinion, the idea itself was insidious, pretending to be for the welfare of the city's residents to curry favor, but actually harboring hidden evil intentions. Am I right?" Lin Shiguo sneered.
This left Sun Yingkui with no choice but to speak up. If he accepted such accusations, his career as a captain would be over.
He cupped his fists and bowed, "Lord Commander, Deputy General Lin, I admit I didn't handle this matter well, but to say I sought to buy favor or harbored secret intentions, those charges I cannot accept."
"Still attempting to argue at this point? Claiming you cannot provoke these martial artists? I think you just fear battle and death." Lin Shiguo gave Sun Yingkui no room for respite, each word maintaining a killing intent.
Sun Yingkui took a deep breath and bowed again towards the silent Wei Hongbin sitting in the chair.
"Lord Commander, I have followed you for many years, through countless battles; when have I ever feared death?"