Book 14: Chapter 75
Slimeball Among Slimeballs Among Slimeballs (Part 11)
Accounting for the fact that Tang Ye had the superior horse, it was only a matter of time before he caught up to Bai Yumo. Unfortunately, his horse wasn’t in the best shape. Su Xiao did expel the drug from the horse’s body using Yijin Jing, but it lost its energy once Su Xiao was off, and the fact that it carried both of them for a while also added to its fatigue. If Bai Yumo wasn’t the worst rider in her team, she’d have already crossed the finish line.
Though it took a while, Tang Ye caught up. Once he was within range, he started flicking stones at Bai Yumo and shooting qi darts from his fingers to hinder her horse. Following a few successes, he managed to reduce the gap between them to ten metres. At that important juncture, Tang Ye frowned and mumbled, “Flying Snow?”
Tang Ye extended his hand out to catch a snow-white pigeon descending that instantly flew off again upon perching.
Liu Shan Men’s information transmittance couldn’t hold a candle to Emperor’s Entourage’s and lacked the speed of the Qilin Guards’ horse-back messengers. It was during Orange Prince’s insurrection that Shen Yiren saw the need for a means of transmitting information in times of battle. Bai Yeshuang had been training Flying Snow for the last six months to fulfil the duty, and Flying Snow made its long-awaited debut today. Liu Shan Men used Flying Snow to deliver information on the battlefield. Flying Snow was handpicked from among several superior pigeons and, after undergoing training, could identify its target from among a hundred people, land safely and then depart with haste to avoid being caught or slain.
Tang Ye was aware Su Xiao brought Flying Snow into the academy, so he assumed it was Su Xiao who dispatched Flying Snow. He unrolled the note to see the following message: “Bai Yumo is Bronze Mask.”
Although Su Xiao was negligent, Tang Ye knew he kept things simple for himself. Since Su Xiao was certain Bai Yumo was Bronze Mask, it indicated that he had verified Ling Shaoxuan was innocent. Armed with this new knowledge, Tang Ye couldn’t help suspecting if the maiden riding in front was lulling him into a false sense of security. Ever since he lost to the excessively-equipped Yi Wangyou in Huzhou, Tang Ye learnt two important lessons: there would always be someone stronger out there, and anything could happen in the pugilistic world. So, who could guarantee Bai Yumo wasn’t just acting innocent and pure to conceal a murderous personality?
Bronze Mask was able to resoundingly crush Dugu, so Tang Ye would be risking his life if he passed Bai Yumo, thereby exposing his back, not to mention Bronze Mask beheaded his targets from a hundred metres away. As Tang Ye weighed his options whilst maintaining his distance, he heard a horse closing in fast from behind.
“I’ve finally caught up with you cheaters!” Despite not having any reins or stirrups for his feet, the rider who was said to be superior to Shen Yiren caught up to the two leading even though he got lost on the second time through.
Tang Ye and Bai Yumo’s stood still as they watched Che Gulu speed in between them.
“You played dirty, so don’t blame me! Have these knuckle buns!” Che Gulu launched himself up and above his horse to throw a windy punch at Tang Ye.
Che Gulu wasn’t familiar with scholars’ ideals; he didn’t even intend to place in the academic events. Su Xiao, however, gave him a chance, so he dragged himself through them for the archery and chariotry events. He went in believing he’d crush everyone except maybe Xun Feng. Time after time, though, he was played. Everyone had a tolerance limit, and his had been breached.
Based on the sting of the gust from above, Tang Ye knew that the punch would split rocks if it landed. If he didn’t block, though, he’d lose his steed. If only he knew that Che Gulu wouldn’t ever hurt a horse in spite of his brash attitude.
Tang Ye hastily stripped his jacket and thrust his arms forward. As his jacket drifted off to his rear, two iron darts flew out from the sleeves. The two darts plunged into the neighbouring tree trunks on either side, suspending the jacket as the attached strings received tension. Tang Ye followed his jacket and then back tucked out of the way.
Considering how fast and powerful Che Gulu’s punch was, Tang Ye might’ve lost if he advanced into it, let alone backing off. As a consequence of his decision, Che Gulu managed to bridge the gap enough to be within striking distance of Tang Ye’s chest, yet, to his Che Gulu’s surprise, he missed.
Tang Ye propelled himself higher up using his suspended garment after back tucking instead of landing. Due to him positioning the makeshift springboard at the back, Che Gulu passed by the horse, effectively leaving the horse in safe territory.
“What’s the point of all this flashy, slippery stuff?! Give me your head!”
Tang Ye didn’t just launch himself up to avoid Che Gulu’s punch; he used it to close in on Bai Yumo, as well.
Startan scared Bai Yumo’s horse stiff, while she covered her eyes as she thought Che Gulu’s punch would make a bloody mess out of Tang Ye, never expecting the taciturn youth to show up in front of her in a single jump.
Upon landing on Bai Yumo’s horse, Tang Ye politely expressed, “Long-time no see, Miss Bai.”
Bai Yumo was going to rebuke Tang Ye until she realised Tang Ye was sitting less than an inch away from her.
“Be careful.”
Bai Yumo flapped her eyelids in confusion until she felt a violent gale inching closer from behind.
Che Gulu would’ve been a fool if he didn’t immediately attack again when Tang Ye paired himself together with Bai Yumo into a buy-one-get-one-free package. Howbeit, since Tang Ye and Bai Yumo sat face to face, with the latter having her back facing Che Gulu, she was the only one who couldn’t dodge.
Bai Yumo didn’t expect to be dragged into the battle out of the blue, and she wasn’t as quick as Tang Ye. Hence, her only option was to follow her uncle’s teaching and swing back with her hand. Her interception looked effortless.
Che Gulu didn’t get moved, but the area around his feet split into a circular shape, sinking him into the ground. Bai Yumo, on the other hand, went reeling due to the shockwave produced from the collision. While she did stagger upon landing, she wasn’t hurt.
Tang Ye deliberately lured Che Gulu over to force Bai Yumo into showing her true skill, never expecting her to intercept the attack with an ordinary chop. People said Valley of Yearning was famous for complexity, so he didn’t expect something so simple that it might as well have been called a stroke of internal energy.
Notwithstanding the might of Che Gulu’s punch, he needed to load up and use a run up in order to produce that much force. In contrast, Bai Yumo intercepted his punch without needing any of that. One was sent reeling, while the other sank into the ground, but the fact that Bai Yumo didn’t need any prep work indicated that her internal energy was more potent than his even though she was only seventeen years old. Though Che Gulu didn’t put everything behind the punch, the outcome was enough for him to recognise the fact. Che Gulu and Tang Ye now were both wary of Bai Yumo.
Tang Ye dismounted.
All three of them could’ve quickly reached the finish line considering where it was, but it was up to their skills now.
Bai Yumo took a few breaths to check for injuries. Once she confirmed she was sound, she shot Tang Ye a glare. “You slimeball! Why did you set me up?!” she exclaimed, as she picked up a tree branch to swing at Tang Ye.