General Feng's old face turned beet red with anger. He roared, "You little brat, you were still drinking milk when I was charging on the battlefield! How dare you spout such nonsense here now?"
"The young push out the old, General Feng. Is it interesting to always bring up your age? By your logic, we could dig up my old marquis from his grave, and he'd be worth a hundred of you."
Dig up who from his grave?
Li Nian's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Don't talk such nonsense."
Li Man'er chuckled, "Third Uncle, I was just using an analogy. Don't take it seriously."
General Feng was so enraged he nearly died. This girl was clearly looking down on him, utterly disregarding him, to even bring up the old marquis in conversation, comparing him to a dead man. It was an absolute disgrace.
General Feng slammed his palm on the table, making Lord Ji sitting beside him's ears buzz. "Nonsense! How can a mere girl be allowed to shout in this important military camp!"
"In literature, there's no number one, but in martial arts, there's no number two. Since General Feng is unconvinced, why don't we settle it with our fists? If General Feng wins, I'll pack my bags and leave without a word, taking my stroke-ridden father with me. But, if General Feng loses?"
The general surnamed Feng's eyes flashed with a shrewd glint. "If I lose, I'll give my position as general to you."
"Good! A true man's word is his bond. Li Man'er cupped her fists and bowed. "I request all you generals to be witnesses. If anyone goes back on their word, step forward and speak a word of justice for this weak woman, won't you, General Luo?"
Luo Sheng smiled. "Miss Li, you wish for this general to be your witness."
"Yes, after all, you are now the head of the army. Your words carry the most weight, don't they?"
"Good!" Luo Sheng laughed heartily. "In that case, this general will bear witness for you and General Feng. If Miss Li loses, she and the marquis will immediately leave Mobei and not interfere in military matters; if General Feng loses, he will cede his position, and Miss Li will become the general. Is that acceptable?"
"Exactly! General Feng, it's not too late to back out now."
General Feng could naturally sense Li Man'er's mockery. He said, "You're not old, but you have a wild temper. I, Feng Wuyun, keep my word and will never go back on it. I swear to heaven. Don't worry, when we fight, I'll go easy on you out of respect for the marquis."
Li Man'er sneered, "Wild temper? If I had a wild temper, I'd tell you, 'Let's decide the victory and the death.'"
Feng Wuyun was nearly suffocated by this classic line from a certain film and television drama.
"Save your strength for the match!" With that, the general flicked his sleeve and stomped out of the courtyard.
Li Man'er said in a neither light nor heavy voice, "So petty." She then followed him out.
No one else could sit still and everyone followed them out.
Jia Er looked like he was enjoying the show and nudged Li Nian. "Your niece is something else!" She could curse without using profanity and had some skill in battle. It remained to be seen if she could beat Feng Wuyun.
Li Nian glared at him and strode towards the courtyard.
Jia Er remained unconcerned, still smiling, and followed them.
The two had fought side-by-side before, and any unpleasantness between them had long since vanished.
In the courtyard, Feng Wuyun and Li Man'er stood facing each other.
"Miss Li, considering your youth and your status as a woman, would you prefer to fight with fists or weapons?"
Feng Wuyun had an arrogant demeanor, as if he were bestowing a favor.
Li Man'er had long found him disagreeable. Originally, out of respect for him being Li Shu's subordinate, she had wanted to spare him some face. But this fellow was not only arrogant but also looked down on women, which she could not tolerate.
"General Feng, you seem to look down on women quite a bit."
Feng Wuyun did not reply, but his expression spoke volumes. He was too disdainful to even discuss the matter with Li Man'er. *A sheltered woman, long hair and short sight.*
"My great niece is about to unleash her big move," Jia Er said, grinning broadly, as if he wanted to see the man surnamed Feng embarrassed.
Li Nian said calmly, "She is my niece."
"Hey, you and I are brothers, so she's my niece too."
Li Man'er reached up and tied her ponytail, then took two silver hairpins from her waist and secured it. She then said, "General Feng despises women, yet he was born from a woman, and raised by one. Does General Feng have no mother or sisters at home? Or no wife or daughters? Did the general perhaps pop out of a rock?"
"You're going too far!" Feng Wuyun lost all reason at this moment, and without bothering with any weapons, he lunged at Li Man'er with his bare hands.
Li Man'er said indifferently, "Then I'll show you what true 'going too far' means."
As they spoke, the two engaged.
When masters spar, there's no need for words, no need for probing, and no need for fancy moves. Feng Wuyun attacked viciously, relying on his height, reach, and strength advantage, targeting Li Man'er's upper body. His large hands repeatedly tried to grab Li Man'er's arms and throw her, but she skillfully dodged every attempt.
Her strength was not insignificant either; at least not inferior to Feng Wuyun's. However, what she enjoyed most was slapping people's faces, and doing so hard enough to make them utterly ashamed.
Li Man'er used his own force against him. She suddenly leaped into the air, then with a spinning side kick, sent Feng Wuyun flying.
"Well done!" Jia Er exclaimed carelessly, feeling a sense of pride. The other onlookers, though silent, were all astonished by Li Man'er's displayed power.
They knew Feng Wuyun's martial arts skills well. After fighting Li Man'er for four or five rounds, he hadn't gained any advantage and had been kicked. This was a clear humiliation.
The man surnamed Feng was indeed skilled. An ordinary person who took that kick from Li Man'er would have been sent flying seven or eight meters, and would have broken at least two ribs. However, Feng Wuyun only retreated four or five steps, stopping himself with some difficulty.
Regardless, he hadn't fallen.
Even so, Feng Wuyun's face was burning as if he'd been slapped a dozen times. Everyone was watching.
Li Man'er sneered and beckoned to Feng Wuyun with her hand.
This was an overt challenge, and anyone with eyes could see it.
The man surnamed Feng was enraged. He roared and charged at Li Man'er again. His arms were like gale-force winds, and his fists, as large as bowls, swung towards Li Man'er's face seven or eight times.
Li Man'er dodged nimbly, using her small size and light weight to her advantage, slipping under Feng Wuyun's arm. She then suddenly leaped up from behind him and executed a flying shoulder throw, sending the 170-180 pound Feng Wuyun flying.
With a clang, the ground seemed to tremble. The hearts of the watching generals trembled along with it.