As Jiang Pengji was about to push her way in, Feng Zhen anticipated her actions and expended all of his strength to block her path.

“The lord is different from others. How can a prestigious and noble person like you engage in a fight with common, boorish men?”

Although Feng Zhen’s words were crude, he’d taken Yang Si’s advice.

“What’s in an invaluable body? It is merely made up of flesh, blood, and bone. Your lord isn’t made of glass. I am not so brittle that I will shatter easily.” Jiang Pengji knew he meant well, but his concern wasn’t necessary. She hadn’t revealed her gender to him because she wanted any special treatment. “Please tell Jing Rong as well that there is no need to be so caring towards me. It makes me feel uneasy… Just treat me as you did in the past.”

Feng Zhen acknowledged this with his eyes but still used his body to shield her from the others. Only then did he have the additional energy to focus on the commotion at the drill grounds.

There were two familiar faces at the drill grounds. One was Li Yun and the other was Dian Yan. She knitted her brows out of confusion. Why was Dian Yan here? What did this have to do with him?

Feng Zhen explained, “My lord, you might not believe what I say, but it was them who picked the fight.”

Jiang Pengji was so surprised she could not respond.

Feng Zhen explained in detail what had happened.

Dian Yan was a good student who loved learning. Ever since he’d joined Jiang Pengji’s loving squad, he’d felt deeply that he was lacking compared to the others, even though he seemed to be adept at certain subjects from martial arts to literary knowledge. He was determined in his learning. He learned to read and write and never once neglected his martial arts practice.

Following their daily schedule, he should practice martial arts every day for two hours.

But the drill ground was yet to be set up, so he found a secluded place to practice his martial arts without thinking outsiders would discover him.

That man was Yang Jian’s subordinate. He valued talent and found Dian Yan to be outstanding and valiant. He also noticed that Dian Yan wore ragged hemp garments. He initially thought that he was an insignificant soldier who was of no use. However, he soon decided to poach Dian Yan.

Yang Jian’s troops were adept at water battles. Their combat on land wasn’t inferior, but ultimately, they were at a disadvantage on land compared to in the water.

If Dian Yan joined them, they would become stronger.

He just made known his purpose for visiting when this honest child, Li Yun, arrived.

When the man saw Li Yun’s face, he looked like he’d been upset by something important. He’d initiated their fight without any exchanging of words.

What was the matter?

Li Yun knew the seriousness of this matter. They were at the campsite of the alliance army. Haphazardly killing someone would bring trouble to the lord.

The angelic Hanmei displayed his spear moves with splendor. Even Jiang Pengji had to pay him due respect.

Even if he only defended himself without attacking, he could subdue his opponent with confidence.

The two men had different states of mind. Li Yun was calm as the waters, nothing could make him waver. In contrast, his opponent was irascible and anxious, his weakness evident.

Li Yun sought for an opportunity to cause his opponent to drop his weapon. Then he’d use his long spear to slide through his underarm and restrain his hand behind his back.

At that moment, his opponent’s personal guard gathered reinforcements. The person leading the team was none other than the county military chief of the eastern gate, Yang Jian.

When he studied Li Yun’s face, Yang Jian was momentarily in shock.

He suddenly asked, “What is your relationship with Xie Qian?”

Was he the master’s old enemy?

Li Yun sneered in his heart. He lowered his head to glance at his unrelenting opponent. With the spear in his hand, he forcefully pushed and pinned him down, thereby firmly trapping his adversary.

“Xie Qian is my teacher.”

Yang Jian was a middle-aged man over 40 years old with an evidently strong and muscular physique. He possessed proper facial features. There was a golden, shimmering light in his eyes. With one glance, one could tell he was an upright, awe-inspiring man of character. Endowed with a tall and sturdy stature, every stride he took was longer than an average man’s.

After hearing Li Yun’s explanation, he asked in return, “Are you not father and son?”

Li Yun pursed his lips as he focused his eyes on Yang Jian.

These familiar words had once been said by the lord’s father. He’d heard them from Liu She who also believed him to be Xie Qian’s son.

“Do Yun and my master look so alike?” Li Yun asked out of curiosity.

Yang Jian answered, “You look like him in his youth. It’s as if you both were made from the same mold. Your appearance is very much like his.”

Then again, they did not look exactly alike.

Xie Qian’s appearance leaned towards being brawny. Even when he wore scholarly garments, he exuded the strong aura of a swordsman.

Li Yun’s facial features were likened to Xie Qian’s gentler version. Immeasurably handsome, his beauty did not overshadow his manliness. He more than fulfilled what the average man considered as aesthetically beautiful.

“Are you and my master well-acquainted?”

Still, Li Yun refused to let go of the man he subdued. This guy was struggling with all his might. He looked towards Li Yun with both eyes filled with heightened maliciousness.

Since Li Yun had never met this man before, no enmity should exist between them. Thus, he concluded that this grievance must be directed at someone else.

“In the past, we were considered friends… Meeting a friend through a fight… After all, friendship is kindled through an exchange of blows.”

Yang Jian smiled magnanimously. It seemed he didn’t mind Li Yun’s impoliteness at all.

Were they friends in the past?

In other words, were they now enemies and no longer friends?

No wonder why, when Yang Jian’s subordinate identified him, he’d taken his weapon and started the fight without any warning.

If not for Li Yun’s good foundation in martial arts, there would have been no guarantee that he wouldn’t have sustained severe injuries upon meeting eyes with this man.

Yang Jian asked, “What happened to your parents? You seem rather young. Are they at ease with you roaming the world?”

Since he couldn’t sense any malicious motives, Li Yun was baffled.

Had Yang Jian assumed that his parents were his teacher and his wife?

Li Yun answered, “My teacher has traveled to Zhongzhao with an important task on hand. My teacher’s wife passed away to a difficult pregnancy. She is no longer alive.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian was taken aback.

A manly person like him could express such melancholic eyes as if he were still a youth.

“She has passed on?” Yang Jian sighed, regaining his composure. “Oh yes, I have yet to ask for your respectable name. How do I address you?”

“Your junior’s surname is Li, with a single character, Yun. My courtesy name is Hanmei.”

Since Yang Jian had no evil intentions, Li Yun accorded him due respect and did not embarrass him.

“Li Yun?” Yang Jian was appalled. The surname wasn’t correct.

Surprisingly, Xie Qian’s son didn’t carry the surname Xie.

His vision was so focused on his subordinate that Li Yun had subdued. It was extremely embarrassing.

It didn’t matter that he’d lost to Xie Qian and couldn’t win the affections of the goddess. Now that he was aged, he couldn’t emerge victorious against Xie Qian’s son. What an utter humiliation.

“This man, is he your subordinate?”

Li Yun signaled with his mouth for Yang Jian to identify the person he’d subdued.

Yang Jian’s face reddened. Coupled with his captivating beard, if the viewers in the live stream saw this, they might think he was role-playing as Second Master Guan Yu.

“For anything my subordinate has done to offend you, I apologize on his behalf.”

Having finished his speech, unexpectedly, Yang Jian bowed subserviently, his attitude immensely sincere.

Without minding the silver spear in his hands, Li Yun quickly let go of it. He stepped forth to help him rise.

Freed of any restrains, that man immediately rebounded, attempting to ambush him from behind. He’d forgotten that Dian Yan was watching him closely from the side.

Dian Yan lifted his foot and aimed it at the person’s buttocks. He tipped over and fell forward.

“What rubbish! How are you an upright hero if you backstab someone?” Dian Yan’s voice was thunderous. He made no effort made to cover this up. The faces of Yang Jian and his men reddened, feeling very guilty.

With a look of displeasure, he directed his question at Yang Jian. “Do you know the reason this man tried to sneak an attack on me countless times?”

Yang Jian’s face turned another a shade redder than before. He was ashamed.

He was rather awkward and embarrassed, whispering as he explained himself. “He was mesmerized by your mother’s wits. He poured his heart out to her at first sight, not knowing that your mother and father had already been married for months. She was also at her initial stage of pregnancy. He expressed his love for her impulsively. Obviously, it was inappropriate. Eventually, his love confession failed. Moreover, he was walloped by your father mercilessly… His wish not being granted, coupled with being beaten up by another man, hurt his pride severely. Many years have passed, but he is still unable to let go of this incident.”

His shattered heart could not be pieced together anymore.

Li Yun had no reply.