Chapter 356: Chapter 218: Sky Expedition vs. Wolf Teeth (Part 3)
It tells a story about a minister named Tian Ji who raced horses with the Emperor of their country.
The rules of horse racing were best of three rounds, and every round he raced, he would lose.
Because nobodyâs horse could ever surpass the Emperorâs horses.
In the end, under the advice of a strategist at home, Tian Ji adopted an even more ingenious method.
The competition was still best of three rounds, with both sides sending out three classes of horses: top-grade, medium-class, and low-class horses.
In past competitions, Tian Ji would always lose.
But this time, he changed his strategy, pitting his low-class horse against the Emperorâs top-grade horse, his medium-class horse against the Emperorâs low-class horse, and his top-grade horse against the Emperorâs medium-class horse. With this approach, he truly achieved two wins and one loss, securing victory.
Yun Sheng used the story of Tian Jiâs horse racing as a metaphor for the current strength between the Sky Hunting Corps and the Wolf Fang Hunting Corps.
Yun Canglang and Cang Lang are both top-grade horses, and in terms of strength, itâs very likely thereâs no clear winner between Yun Canglang and Cang Lang. Since the competition ends when a point is scored, Yun Canglang is not absolutely confident of winning.
Yun Sheng and Huo Nu are both medium-class horses, and the strength of a Mage can only be determined after the competition.
Zhou Quan and Liu Hao are low-class horses, and it seems that Liu Hao is slightly stronger than Zhou Quan.
In the three rounds of competition, if it proceeds as everyone expects, the result is likely to be a draw for Yun Canglang, a loss for Zhou Quan, and Yun Shengâs outcome to be determined.
In this scenario, the chances of winning are very low.
However, if they follow Yun Shengâs arrangement, the situation becomes a loss for Zhou Quan, a win for Yun Canglang, and Yun Shengâs outcome to be determined.
With this, Yun Sheng only needs to strive for a draw, and Sky Expedition can ensure to remain undefeated. If she wins, then Sky Expedition will have achieved a complete victory.
From Yun Shengâs narrative, Yun Canglang realized a completely new tactical military strategy, which deeply shocked him.
Yun Sheng, however, was secretly saying in her heart, Sunâs Military Strategy, no blame is strange, junior is borrowing your strategy for use.
Thus, the current battle strategy was set.
Even though he knew that Yun Sheng and her team had played a trick, Cang Lang was helpless.
After all, their Deputy Captain had already declared before the competition that they would arrange the order and personnel of their appearances themselves.
"Fine, letâs compete then. Just with this young man alone, I, the Commander, could shatter your spine with a single punch," Cang Lang hadnât been so infuriated by someone in a long time.
He vented his anger on Zhou Quan. They had agreed that the competition should stop once a point was made, but the other side had shown him such disrespect. If thatâs the case, donât blame him for being merciless. As long as he doesnât kill his opponent, itâs still considered stopping at a point.
"Cang Group Leader, how could I possibly fight with you? The Deputy Captain said that I just need to go through the motions for this first round. I surrender; I forfeit," said Zhou Quan as he pulled out a white handkerchief seemingly by magic and waved it.
Our young master said, if we canât win, we can forfeit. Sometimes, running away is also a victory.
Cang Langâs face looked like it was splashed with ink, both black and blue. He pointed at Zhou Quan, then at Yun Sheng, and it took him a while to choke out a sentence: "Good! Very good indeed!"
"Since thatâs the case, I hereby announce the result. The first round goes to Commander Cang Lang, and this is indeed the fastest competition I have ever seen," Ye Beiming suspected that Commander Cang Lang had already suffered a "serious internal injury".
"Letâs proceed to the second round of competition, the second round is..." Ye Beiming glanced at the line-up of both sides.
From the Gray Wolf Hunting Corps, Liu Hao stepped forward.
From the Sky Hunting Corps, Yun Canglang helplessly walked out.
"Commander Yun, Liu Hao knows well that his cultivation is insignificant, and itâs unlikely that heâll be your match. But as a member of the Gray Wolf Hunting Corps, our motto is that we can die, our heads can be severed, and our blood can flow, but our dignity must not be lost. Therefore, this battle is unavoidable for Liu," Liu Hao was indeed a man, fully aware of the vast difference in strength between himself and Yun Canglang, yet he still braced himself to enter the fray.
Upon hearing Liu Haoâs words, the two commanders of the Gray Wolf Hunting Corps felt extremely satisfied inside.
Look, this is what a true Hunter Soldier is like, a world of difference compared to Zhou Quan.
Zhou Quan, however, muttered to himself on the side: "Psh, like the young master says, as long as you keep Green Hill alive, thereâs no fear of running out of firewood. Giving up your life for nothing is idiotic. Wait another twenty years, and this Cang Lang will have become a lame wolf, and thatâll be when I truly shine."
If Yun Canglang had overheard those words, he probably wouldâve foamed at the mouth, not knowing that his niece had already thoroughly brainwashed the hunters of the Sky Hunting Corps.
Liu Haoâs persistence, however, caused some difficulties for Yun Canglang.
In principle, Yun Canglang was taking Tang Yuqiangâs side this time and owed Liu Hao for it; emotionally, he, Yun Canglang, had been famous for over a decade, and to clash with Liu Hao, even if he won, would still come off as unjustifiable.
"How about this: Iâll have a match with you. But as you are the junior, and thereâs a sequence to honor, I will not truly fight you. I see that you are quite adept at using Hidden Weapons. Our match will be based on Hidden Weapons," Yun Canglang approached Liu Hao and pointed at the dagger fastened to his waist.
"Use all of your moves. I will stand here without budging. You can shoot all the Hidden Weapons strapped to your waist at me. I wonât take a step back, nor will I use my hands or feet to block. If you can hit me, or force me to take a step back, then youâll be considered the winner," Yun Canglang proposed, and Liu Haoâs eyes, which had been lacking in confidence, suddenly lit up.
The two commanders of the Wolf Fang Hunting Corps, who had previously been frustrated despite defeating Yun Sheng, couldnât help but beam with joy.
"You said it, Commander Yun," Liu Hao immediately gritted his teeth with fervor, flipping open his soft armor to reveal a full row of daggers strapped to his waist.
Liu Hao was known for his proficiency with Hidden Weapons, specifically his hand-thrown daggers. In one mission, without any support, he relied solely on the row of dagger Hidden Weapons on his waist to kill more than ten hunters whose skills were comparable to his own.
It was for this reason that he was exceptionally promoted to a B-class Hunter Soldier by the Wolf Fang Hunting Corps.
Yun Canglangâs strength was indeed formidable, but if he could not move his hands and feet, nor even take a step, then he would be like a dead post.
Liu Hao didnât believe that under these conditions, he would still fail to hit Yun Canglang.
"Uncle!"
"Commander!"
While one side rejoiced, the other side was anxious. Yun Sheng was almost infuriated to death by her own uncle; the advantage she had barely gained was quickly nullified by his words.
It wasnât that she didnât trust her uncle, but accidents can happen. If he was careless and got hit, they might as well not bother with the next round.
"Shengâer, Zhou Quan, trust me," Yun Canglang gave them a light smile, exuding confidence.
Yun Sheng cast a glance at her uncle, noticing that in that moment, her uncle seemed to have regained the heroic spirit of his youth.
If this match could completely free her uncle from his past and restore his former self, why not take the risk? After all, itâs just accompanying Tang to his doom.
With that thought, Yun Sheng eased her worries.
"Then I hope you wonât take offense, Commander Yun. Please instruct me," Liu Hao and Yun Canglang each took up their respective stances.