activa-t Chapter 27 The Gao Family
Chapter 27 The Gao Family
Gao Yang drew his sword and charged forward, abruptly silencing the laughter and chatter that filled the arena.
Without uttering a single wasted word, Gao Yang suddenly charged forward, his longsword whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Dugu Xin's chest! This sword strike was swift and ruthless, its path unpredictable, completely devoid of the disciplined rules of Gao Jiong's aristocratic swordsmanship. Every move was aimed at vital points, carrying a fierce courage honed through years of combat. It even forced Dugu Xin's expression to change slightly, causing him to retreat rapidly and parry with his sword.
"Zheng—!"
The clanging of metal against metal was so loud it hurt people's eardrums; it was several times louder than the sound of Gao Jiong and Dugu Xin's fight earlier.
After blocking the attack, Dugu Xin remained confident: "Brother Gao, your brother has already finished his turn. If you want to come up and continue, you'll have to put up another wager."
Gao Yang completely ignored him and continued his fierce sword attack. His movements were swift, forcing Dugu Xin to hastily respond.
The audience erupted in chaos!
"Who goes there! Isn't this the one who ambushed Dugu Lang?"
"This young man lacks martial ethics! He should know better!"
"Dugu Lang isn't ready yet! This sword strike is unfair!"
Some were amazed by Gao Yang's sword strike.
"Good heavens! This Gao Yang looks unremarkable, but his swordsmanship is so ruthless?"
"My God, that sword strike forced even Dugu Lang to retreat! He's far stronger than his brother!"
"No wonder he dared to come up here; he's been hiding some real skills! This is going to be good!"
The onlookers instantly erupted in excitement. No one had expected that this man, who had been publicly mocked for his ugly appearance and dullness, would possess such astonishing swordsmanship.
Gao Zidan narrowed his eyes slightly, tapping his palm lightly with his fingertips, and sighed inwardly, "As expected." How could someone who could carve out a foundation in chaotic times be an incompetent and mediocre person? Even though he had not yet made his fortune, the ruthlessness and sharpness in his bones could no longer be hidden.
"Gao Yang's swordsmanship is completely different from Gao Jiong's style," Han Xin said in a low voice, his tone tinged with surprise. "His swordsmanship is ruthless, every move is a life-or-death struggle, all based on practical combat techniques honed on the frontier battlefield, without a trace of fancy moves."
Gao Zidan nodded slightly, thinking to herself that Gao Yang in history was the kind of person who would not speak until he made a name for himself, so she must not underestimate or humiliate him, otherwise he had a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
The match on the field had already reached a fever pitch.
Dugu Xin dared not underestimate Gao Jiong any longer. He completely abandoned his previous casual attitude towards Gao Jiong and stopped mentioning the prize. It seemed he had met a true opponent. With a flick of his wrist, his longsword danced with a cold light, each move revealing the foundation of the world's number one wandering swordsman. He was already a top figure among the borderland's wandering swordsmen. His swordsmanship possessed both the agility and versatility of renowned martial arts and the ruthlessness honed through years of life-and-death battles. Once he got serious, his sword aura would immediately become overwhelming.
But Gao Yang was not afraid at all.
His swordsmanship was devoid of any frills; each strike was simple and unadorned, yet cunning and ruthless. He could always block Dugu Xin's attacks at the last second, and then counter with a thrust, forcing Dugu Xin to retreat and defend. His breathing was remarkably steady; even against a top-tier opponent like Dugu Xin, he showed no sign of panic. His footwork was solid, and his sword moves were seamlessly linked, allowing him to fight Dugu Xin to a standstill.
Two figures, one in green and one in white, darted across the open field, their swords flashing and the clanging of metal echoing incessantly. In the torchlight, only the clashing of two cold lights could be seen, sparks flying everywhere. The cheers from the audience had long since ceased; everyone watched the duel with bated breath, not daring to miss a single moment of the spectacle.
Thirty rounds passed in the blink of an eye.
Gao Yang's fierce offensive gradually subsided, and he retreated step by step, completely switching to a defensive stance. Thirty consecutive rounds of all-out attacks had severely depleted his stamina, inevitably weakening his sword speed and power. More importantly, Dugu Xin, having immersed himself in swordsmanship for over a decade, possessed far superior experience in combat, sword techniques, and responses. While the initial onslaught forced Dugu Xin to react hastily, he gradually gained more ease and began to launch counterattacks. In terms of pure raw strength, he was ultimately no match for this renowned Northern Frontier's number one wandering swordsman.
Gao Yang was fierce in attack and even more thorough in defense.
The longsword danced in his hand, forming an impenetrable iron curtain, steadily blocking all of Dugu Xin's cunning and fierce swordplay. His defense was flawless, like a stubborn rock submerged in water—unremarkable in appearance, yet utterly unmoved by any attacks. Dugu Xin changed his sword style several times in succession, employing fast swordplay, slow swordplay, feints, and real attacks in turn, and for a time, he was unable to defeat him.
Anyone with eyes in the audience could see that this competition was no longer an ordinary sparring match.
Gao Yang's swordplay carried a ruthless, relentless edge, while Dugu Xin, spurred on by his competitive spirit, adopted increasingly dangerous sword techniques, each strike grazing vital points, a far cry from his previous restraint. The blades of both men were now gleaming with a cold light; if this continued, blood would inevitably be drawn, and a victor would be decided.
"Young lord, these two are about to get serious." Han Xin frowned and whispered to Gao Zidan, "Dugu Xin has a very high reputation among the wandering knights in the north, and we can't afford to lose to him; Gao Yang may seem dull on the surface, but he is very stubborn. Once he's on stage, he will not easily admit defeat. If we continue fighting, something terrible might happen."
Gao Zidan nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the arena, and remained silent. To be honest, as an outsider, he could only watch the spectacle. Only after Han Xin's explanation did he realize that the competition had spiraled out of control. However, this was a feud between the Gao brothers and Dugu Xin, and as an outsider, it was not appropriate for him to interfere rashly.
Meanwhile, Gao Jiong, standing on the sidelines, was already sweating profusely with anxiety.
He stared intently at the two fighters on the field, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew his brother's temperament better than anyone; though seemingly taciturn, he was stubborn to the core, and once he made up his mind, nothing could sway him. He had only wanted to seek justice for his brother; even if he lost, it would only be a loss of face, nothing serious. But he never expected his brother to personally take to the field and fight Dugu Xin to this extent.
Who is Dugu Xin? He is the number one swordsman in the North, with superb swordsmanship and countless lives on his hands. What if he loses his temper and hurts his brother in a fight?
He wanted to call for a halt, but his lips moved while he couldn't utter a sound.
He was the one who started this whole thing; he was the one who took the initiative to go on stage to demand justice from Dugu Xin, and he was the one who drew his sword first. Now that his elder brother was standing up for him, and the fight had reached a critical juncture, if he were to call a halt, he would not only lose face for the Bohai Gao clan, but also break his brother's spirit. However, if he didn't call a halt and the fight continued, and something happened to his brother, he would be filled with even greater regret.
Gao Jiong paced anxiously, his gaze sweeping across the field before suddenly landing on Gao Zidan and her group not far away.
The young man was dressed in a brocade robe, exuding an extraordinary air. Beside him stood a capable guard with a sword at his side, and four elite Xiongnu soldiers, their hands on their sword hilts, stood guard around him without leaving his side. It was clear at a glance that he was of extraordinary status. Moreover, Xihe County was now the territory of Liu Yao, the Xiongnu Chanyu Yongming. The fact that this young man had elite Xiongnu soldiers as his guards spoke volumes about his status and position.
If he were willing to step in, he could definitely stop this competition!
As if grasping at a straw, Gao Jiong immediately strode over, stood before Gao Zidan, and bowed deeply in a respectful manner, his tone urgent yet polite: "I am Gao Jiong from Bohai, greetings to you, sir. I apologize for disturbing you, but it was truly unavoidable, and I hope you will forgive me."
Gao Zidan snapped out of her daze, looked at Gao Jiong in front of her, raised her hand slightly to support him, and said in a calm tone: "Gao Zidan from Bohai, we are of the same clan, there is no need for formalities. Please speak frankly."
Gao Jiong was taken aback at first, but given the urgency of the situation, he didn't dare ask too many questions. He pleaded, "Young master, you've seen it yourself. The one fighting Dugu Lang on the field is none other than my elder brother, Gao Yang. This whole affair started because of me; it was just a friendly spar. But now the two of them are fighting so fiercely that if they continue, it could damage their relationship and even lead to someone's death. I am but a lowly person, and if I rashly try to stop it, neither side will be satisfied, and I will only lose face. Young master, you are of noble status and have guards under the Xiongnu chieftain's command. I beg you to step in and stop this match for me. Gao Jiong and my cousin will be eternally grateful!"
After saying that, he bowed deeply again, bending his waist very low, his attitude extremely sincere.
Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan exchanged a glance with Han Xin beside him, both seeing a hint of understanding in each other's eyes. He had already been quite interested in Gao Yang and Gao Jiong, and now that they had taken the initiative to come to him, he was naturally willing to do them a favor. Moreover, he didn't want to see his kinsman Gao Yang fall to Dugu Xin's sword here because of a dispute over pride.
"You're too kind." Gao Zidan nodded slightly, her tone composed. "Brothers of the same clan should look after each other. This is nothing to worry about."
Gao Zidan turned to the leading Xiongnu guard beside him and whispered, "Go up and persuade the two of them to separate. Tell them that the Chanyu has ordered that private fights and killings are prohibited within Zhongyang City. Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with according to military law."
"promise!"
Four Xiongnu guards immediately responded, their hands on their ring-pommel swords, and strode to the edge of the open space. The lead guard took a deep breath and shouted in a loud voice, "Stop! Chanyu Yongming has ordered that private fighting and killing are strictly prohibited throughout the entire Xihe Commandery! Anyone who disobeys will be arrested and punished!"
This shout, carrying the murderous aura of the Xiongnu soldiers, instantly drowned out the clanging of metal on the field.
The two fighters paused upon hearing this.
Dugu Xin's sword tip stopped just an inch in front of Gao Yang's shoulder, while Gao Yang's sword was less than half a foot from Dugu Xin's waist. Both men were slightly out of breath, with a thin layer of sweat on their foreheads, and their eyes still held a sharp edge and fierceness. They stared at each other, neither of them sheathing their swords first.
But they all knew in their hearts that Xihe Commandery was now Liu Yao's territory, and the Chanyu's edict mentioned by the Xiongnu guards was no joke. They were all people who had established themselves in the north, and under no circumstances could they clash with the newly established Xiongnu regime in Xihe.
After a brief stalemate, Dugu Xin sheathed his sword, flipped his wrist, and returned the sword to its sheath. He then cupped his hands to the Xiongnu guards on the sidelines, acknowledging the call to stop.
Gao Yang slowly sheathed his longsword, his hand still gripping the hilt tightly, but he didn't attack again. He knew in his heart that his strength was already inferior, and if the fight continued, he would undoubtedly be defeated in another twenty or thirty rounds. Now that the Xiongnu had intervened to stop the fight, it was as if they had given him a way out.
The crowd breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the two swordsmen stop fighting, and then erupted into a deafening murmur of discussion, all marveling at the brilliance of the duel.
Seeing this, Gao Jiong finally breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ran to Gao Yang's side, looking him up and down anxiously, asking, "Brother, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Gao Yang shook his head, said in a hoarse voice, "It's alright," then turned and walked towards Gao Zidan. He bowed deeply to Gao Zidan, his voice still hoarse but full of sincerity: "Thank you for coming to my rescue, sir. I am deeply grateful."
Gao Jiong quickly followed, bowing again to Gao Zidan to express his gratitude: "Thank you so much for your righteous help, sir! I am deeply grateful!"
"There's no need for you two to do that," Gao Zidan said with a smile, raising her hand in a gesture of support. Her tone was gentle. "Gao Zidan from Bohai, my ancestors moved to Shanggu."
Upon hearing this, Gao Yang was naturally taken aback, and even though Gao Jiong knew the truth, a look of surprise and delight instantly appeared on his face.
They naturally knew about the Shanggu branch of the Bohai Gao clan, which was a major branch of the same lineage as the Jinyang branch. However, the Shanggu branch had suffered from war before the New Year, and its members had been scattered and lost contact long ago. They never expected to encounter members of the Shanggu branch here!
"So you're a brother from the Shanggu branch!" Gao Jiong was both surprised and delighted. He quickly bowed again, his tone instantly becoming several times more intimate. "We both come from the Bohai Gao clan, so we are brothers of the same lineage. I was truly rude for not recognizing you earlier!"
Even the usually taciturn Gao Yang showed a genuine smile, cupped his hands to Gao Zidan again, and softened his tone: "I didn't expect that we were brothers from the same clan. No wonder I felt so close to you at first sight. I have been neglectful before, and I hope you will forgive me, brother."
They all knew that the Shanggu branch had suffered a great calamity, and its members had been scattered. Gao Zidan, as a descendant of the Shanggu branch, was all alone in this chaotic world, which was truly difficult. As fellow members of the Bohai Gao clan, they naturally felt more care and closeness towards each other, and the previous politeness and distance instantly vanished.
Just as the three were chatting happily, Dugu Xin bent down and stuffed the hundred taels of bet money into his pouch. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of undisguised disdain flashing across his face. He glanced at Gao Zidan indifferently, then cupped his hands to the crowd of onlookers, turned around, gripped his long sword, and squeezed out of the crowd without looking back, leaving on his own.
Han Xin watched his departing figure, frowned slightly, and whispered to Gao Zidan, "Young Master, Dugu Xin has left just like that."
Gao Zidan smiled nonchalantly, her gaze still fixed on the Gao brothers, Gao Yang and Gao Jiong, in front of her, and said softly, "It's alright. It's already a great stroke of luck to run into two fellow clansmen today."