Chapter 199: A Man’s Dignity
Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Haoran, who had heard the latter half of what she said, burst out laughing. Blushing slightly, Shu Wanniang felt that her daughter had embarrassed herself in front of the Little General. She pushed her out and said, “Alright, I’ll take care of things in the kitchen. Hurry up and leave.”
Qi Haoran pulled Mu Yangling out and said with a smile, “Anyway, since your mother is still cooking, practice a few moves with me first. Teach me the moves you used to beat up the thieves at your door last time.”
“Were you there?”
Qi Haoran nodded. “Zijin and I came to join in the fun. What’s the name of the move you used?”
“Quick Snatching.”
“It’s even better than the grappling technique I’m using now. Come, let’s spar?”
“Let’s go to the grass at the back. It’s spacious there.” Mu Yangling pulled Qi Haoran to the grass at the back. Seeing that Fan Zijin did not follow them, she whispered to him, “Let’s make an exchange.”
Qi Haoran sat cross-legged on the grass and listened. “Speak.”
“I also know many moves that are suitable for group training. I’ll teach you all of them later. Most importantly, I have an entire systematic training plan that can help you train an outstanding scout team. How about in exchange, you teach me your internal cultivation techniques?”
Qi Haoran looked at Mu Yangling in surprise. “Didn’t you say that internal energy is useless to you?”
“That was before.” Mu Yangling held a stone and crushed it. “Look, that was me exerting just a little force. You’ll have to use 50% of your internal energy to catch up to my strength. When I was young, it took me nearly six years to control my strength so that I wouldn’t easily hurt people or smash things again. However, after exchanging blows with you, I realized that although my strength could keep up, my endurance couldn’t.”
Qi Haoran nodded. “Your endurance is more than twice that of an ordinary man in his prime.”
“But it’s still far inferior to martial artists like you who have internal energy.” Mu Yangling lowered her voice and said, “Although you said that it’s impossible, I still want to try. Perhaps I can master qinggong.” Mu Yangling held her chin as she said dreamily, “When the time comes, perhaps I can fly in the sky too.”
Qi Haoran touched her forehead. “Hmm, no fever. If such a qinggong exists, please inform me. I wish to learn it, too. Didn’t I tell you before that qinggong simply means having light footsteps and a graceful figure? There’s also a need for bounce off something when you leap. Have you ever seen anyone fly in the sky? Do you think you’re a bird who can soar into the sky simply by spreading open your arms?”
“Just tell me if you want to trade or not,” Mu Yangling asked.
Qi Haoran asked, “You said you know how to train scouts?”
Mu Yangling nodded. “Actually, hunters are all natural scouts. It’s just that no one has organized the techniques into a system like me.” Mu Yangling had already found an excuse for this. “I’ve read some military books. If the scouts are well-deployed, it can determine the outcome of a battle. Qi Haoran, tell me honestly, did you transfer my father to be a scout? A scout spy who went deep into the enemy’s territory?”
Qi Haoran looked at her with a deep gaze. “Your father told you?”
Mu Yangling shook her head. “I guessed it.” Mu Yangling wasn’t lying. Before Mu Shi told her, she had already guessed most of it right. She said, “My father has been away from the military camp for so long. Other than scouts and messengers, which soldier would leave the camp for so long? With my father’s ability, he won’t lose to anyone even if he’s placed in the 1st or 2nd Division. You wouldn’t waste his talents by making him send letters, right? Coupled with the huge trouble you caused in Hanzhong Prefecture last time, it’s not difficult to guess where my father went.”
Qi Haoran’s expression changed slightly. “It’s so easy to guess?” Did that mean that others could easily guess it too?
Mu Yangling patted his shoulder. “Only the few of us can easily guess it. How many people know my father and are aware that he hasn’t been in the military camp recently? How many people know about what happened to you last time?”
Heaving a sigh of relief, Qi Haoran rolled his eyes and said, “Individual combat is crucial for scouts. Can you really train them?”
“How would you know if you don’t try?” Mu Yangling leaned into his ear and said, “But you have to hide this from Fan Zijin.”
Qi Haoran frowned. “Why?”
“I’m worried that he’ll say that you’re playing around. If he finds out that you handed the scouts to me for training, won’t he come to settle scores with me? You won’t be able to escape the scolding, too.”
Qi Haoran nodded. “No problem. Then it’s a deal.”
The corners of Mu Yangling’s lips curled up slightly. The scouts of ancient times were equivalent to the special forces of modern times. Mu Yangling was not unfamiliar with these trainings, but there were still differences between modern times and ancient times. This was also the reason why Mu Yangling suggested being in charge with Qi Haoran. Qi Haoran would definitely have knowledge in areas which she did not understand. The duo could train an outstanding scout team by taking advantage of their strengths and making up for their weaknesses. At that time, wouldn’t her father be able to return?
The two of them discussed the arrangements and venue for this matter. When Xiuhong came over to call the two of them back for dinner, she saw them whispering with their heads leaning together.
Xiuhong was instantly infuriated. In her eyes, it was Little General who was seducing and teasing her cousin. She was so angry that she spun around and picked up a stick to hit Qi Haoran.
When Qi Haoran heard the sound of the stick swinging, he pushed Mu Yangling away and nimbly rolled to the side. At the same time, he kicked the attacker. Mu Yangling’s sharp eyes saw that it was Xiuhong and she hurriedly stretched out her leg to offset the force of Qi Haoran’s kick. She quickly pulled Xiuhong to the side with her right hand.
“Xiuhong, what’s wrong?”
Xiuhong was so angry that her face turned red. “Cousin, Little General is a bully.”
Qi Haoran glared at her. “When did I bully you? I haven’t said a word to you since I entered the house.”
“You bullied my cousin. Why are you so close to my cousin for no reason? You lecher, you deserve a beating.”
Leaning against the fence leisurely, Fan Zijin said leisurely, “They were whispering secrets. Miss Xiuhong, it’s better not to disturb them. Otherwise, you might lose an arm or a leg.”
Qi Haoran instantly blushed.
Mu Yangling glared at Fan Zijin and said, “Why are you everywhere? Go away. Xiuhong, don’t let your imagination run wild. I’m talking to the Little General about something. He didn’t bully me.”
Xiuhong looked at Qi Haoran suspiciously. Mu Yangling whispered in her ear, “I’m talking to him about something big which concerns my father. Don’t interfere in this matter. You have to hide it from our family and Fan Zijin. Don’t let them know.”
Xiuhong nodded repeatedly and turned around to block Fan Zijin’s gaze. She glared at him and said, “Cousin, Aunt is asking you to go back for dinner. Also, that pot of corn should be ready. I’ve tried it and think it’s quite delicious and sweet.”
Fan Zijin snorted and said coldly in Mu Yangling’s ear, “Your cousin is quite protective of you. I wonder if you treat her equally well.”
Mu Yangling’s hand itched. In the end, she couldn’t help but twist Fan Zijin’s ear and say, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time…”
Stunned to see her twisting his ear, Fan Zijin jumped up with a red face and pointed at Mu Yangling for a long time. He was so angry that she could not speak.
Equally stunned, Qi Haoran jumped up and pushed Mu Yangling away, shouting, “How dare you pull Zijin’s ear!”
When Fan Zijin heard Qi Haoran’s voice, his eyes instantly turned red. Even his parents didn’t dare to pull his ears. Yet today, his ears were actually pulled by a little girl. How humiliating!
Qi Haoran was also furious. How could a man’s ears be pulled so easily? How would Zijin establish his dominance in front of others in the future?
Looking around, he realized that there were only the four of them here. He immediately bared his teeth and threatened Mu Yangling and Xiuhong. “If you dare to tell anyone about this, I’ll beat you to death!”
Mu Yangling and Xiuhong looked at each other. “All I did was pull his ears. Does that warrant such a threat?”
Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin glared at the two of them. “This concerns a man’s dignity.”
The corners of Mu Yangling’s lips twitched. She tugged at Xiuhong and nodded. “We definitely won’t tell anyone.”