FIMA Ch92: Tiger Trouble

Gu Siyuan lightly tapped his toes, and his body soared like a flying swan, leaping towards the top of the battle platform.

Rising to about seven or eight meters, he used the side of the wooden frame for a brief moment and then quickly reached the top of the platform, moving with incredible speed.

The Northern Border warriors targeting the same platform only saw a black shadow flash before their eyes.

The next moment, the bright yellow flag representing Da Liang was already planted on the platform.

The ten Northern Border warriors were initially stunned, then confirmed again:

“Just one person, there’s only one person?”

“Really, only one person?”

“Hmph, this seems like our opportunity?”

“Hmph, this flag-planting battle isn’t about who climbs the fastest but who can defend it.”

The leader of the ten warriors sneered, “Arrogant to the extreme. Let me experience the skills of Da Liang’s number one expert.”

They had all witnessed Gu Siyuan’s prowess in the previous martial arts competition, but they themselves were elite warriors. One-on-one might be tough, but ten against one surely wouldn’t lose, right?

Moreover, they didn’t necessarily have to defeat him.

According to the rules, once the flag-planting battle started, anyone who fell off the platform would be immediately eliminated.

At worst, they could have nine people rush up together, each grabbing a part of him. Couldn’t they drag him down? Even if all nine were eliminated, the last one could still plant the flag.

With that thought, the ten warriors exchanged glances and quickly charged up the platform.

They were also agile fighters, soon standing at the top, each taking a corner, surrounding Gu Siyuan in the center.

Gu Siyuan, with his hands behind his back, squinted slightly, his gaze sweeping over the fierce-looking group.

Since their fighting spirit is so high, I hope not to disappoint them too much.

“Come on!”

The ten Northern Border warriors immediately charged together.

Ten fists came crashing like rolling waves, one after another, finally converging in a rush, producing an astonishing roar.

It was like an explosion, with an incredibly impressive force.

Xie Xuan stared intently at the platform, unblinking.

The spectators below also fixed their eyes on the high platform, eager to see how Gu Siyuan would handle it.

At that moment, Gu Siyuan moved, lightly shifting his right foot and slightly tilting his body.

In the next instant, everyone saw figures flying on the high platform, as if ten Gu Siyuans had appeared at once.

The Northern Border warriors quickly realized that their fists hadn’t hit anything solid. The strike they thought would surely land had missed.

But at this moment, they couldn’t distinguish which one was the real Gu Siyuan.

The crowd below erupted in a frenzy.

“Is this…”

“Is this the same movement technique Batu used earlier?”

“How does he know it too?”

“How does General Gu know Batu’s movement technique?”

Listening to the discussions around her, Xie Xuan narrowed her beautiful eyes, recalling that during the earlier fight against Batu, Gu Siyuan had spent the first half of the match observing.

Could it be that he learned it then?

On the high platform, a Northern Border warrior suddenly felt a sharp pain in his body. “Ah…”

The next moment, like a fish falling into water, he toppled backwards uncontrollably.

The high platform was narrow, and falling off meant immediate elimination.

In an instant, their encirclement was broken.

While the others were still reacting, Gu Siyuan struck again.

A series of screams and cries followed, with nearly ten figures falling from the platform.

In no time, only Gu Siyuan was left standing on the high platform.

The ten Northern Border warriors, now standing on solid ground, were still in shock, looking at each other in disbelief. Was it over just like that?

They had been effortlessly dealt with by one person?

These weren’t ordinary guards.

They were the elite soldiers handpicked by The King of Northern Borders, forged on the battlefield.

The audience was equally stunned, the fight had ended too quickly.

Then, they glanced at the other four platforms, still locked in fierce battles, and thought silently: it wasn’t us that had the problem, it was him that was extraordinary.

Soon, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers: “General Gu!”

“Ahhh, General Gu fought ten by himself!”

“This is truly one man holding a pass against ten thousand.”

“He actually captured a flag just like that!”

Gu Siyuan remained calm, glancing at the firmly planted flag behind him.

With his hands behind his back, he leapt off the platform, swiftly heading towards another distant platform.

In the flag-planting battle, falling off the platform meant immediate elimination.

But after securing a flag, the victorious side’s survivors could go to other platforms to help their teammates.

Gu Siyuan had divided his teams evenly: twelve in three groups and thirteen in the last group, while he alone defended one platform.

The battles on the other four platforms were still undecided.

Although the Northern Border warriors were slightly stronger in one-on-one combat.

Once Da Liang had the numerical advantage, the fights became fiercely contested, with Da Liang even slightly gaining the upper hand.

Except for one platform, the one Gu Siyuan was heading towards.

That platform had twelve Da Liang fighters, but eight had already been eliminated; the Northern Border had only lost four.

This was almost unbelievable.

It was because Batu was on that platform, participating in the flag-planting battle despite his injuries from the first match.

Most of the eliminated Da Liang soldiers had been taken down by him.

“Rest for a while, I’ll handle this!”

A cold male voice sounded.

A familiar tall figure quickly leaped up from below.

The imperial guards were delighted: “General Gu.”

Batu, seeing Gu Siyuan, was first stunned, then realized something and narrowed his eyes, “So you weren’t using your full strength when fighting me.”

Gu Siyuan slightly smirked.

Then, with a cold and resolute demeanor, he mercilessly started fighting.

This stark contrast again drew screams from the crowd.

Xie Xuan clutched her wildly beating heart, pouting disdainfully: Fighting is one thing, but smiling like that is definitely on purpose, trying to charm everyone…

Soon, the situation on this platform became one-sided.

Under Gu Siyuan’s punch, Batu fell again; the other Northern Border warriors were no exception. No matter how they struggled, they couldn’t withstand even one punch from him.

The flag on this platform was now also Da Liang’s.

The remaining imperial guards on the platform, though somewhat frustrated by their own uselessness, knew that victory was most important.

Meanwhile, the group of thirteen from Da Liang had also secured a victory.

Although the Northern Border warriors were slightly stronger, thirteen against ten was enough.

Though they lost nine men, they ultimately won.

Their group leader planted the flag of Da Liang on the platform!

Three flags.

They won!

The Da Liang citizens below erupted in fervent cheers!

They won!

They won the last match!

So, Da Liang had won this exchange event.

Gu Siyuan’s expression was stern as he led the participants back to the center of the field.

From beginning to end, his expression hardly changed, as if nothing mattered to him. Yet, the more he acted this way, the more people were drawn to him.

The King of Northern Borders looked at Gu Siyuan, reluctant to take his eyes off him. “The Emperor is truly fortunate to have such a formidable general. I am envious.”

Emperor Jianzhao also set aside his concerns temporarily and laughed heartily. “I am very proud of him.”

The exchange event concluded, and it was now nearing dusk.

Being close to the mountains and forests, prey had been continuously brought in by the guards. Emperor Jianzhao ordered everyone to rest for a moment and then hold a bonfire banquet on the spot.

In light of Gu Siyuan’s outstanding performance during the day, Emperor Jianzhao greatly rewarded him and granted him a few days of leave, exempting him from guard duties tonight.

Gu Siyuan accepted the decree and the rewards.

As he turned to return to his tent, he happened to encounter a group of people also heading back to rest, including several princes.

“General Gu truly shone today, I admire you greatly,” a lazy, clear voice rang out.

Gu Siyuan looked up at Xie Xuan and said indifferently, “Yet I haven’t seen the Sixth Prince with a pleasant expression all day. I doubt these words are sincere.”

Hearing this, the other three princes couldn’t help but laugh.

Even this cunning Sixth Prince, no matter how pleased with himself he usually was, couldn’t gain any advantage over Gu Siyuan.

“…” Xie Xuan.

Even if it’s a pretense, does he have to be so shameless?

Xie Xuan gritted his teeth and said to Gu Siyuan, “General Gu, you must have misunderstood me. Why not come to my tent for a cup of tea to clear things up?”

Gu Siyuan shook his head. “No need. I am very tired, and His Majesty has allowed me to rest.”

“…” Xie Xuan’s eyes glared at Gu Siyuan.

You’ll regret this.

He had been captivated by Gu Siyuan’s heroic demeanor all day and couldn’t resist wanting to be hugged and kissed by him.

The other three princes saw this and immediately pretended to advise Xie Xuan, “Sixth Brother, although we know you and General Gu have always had your differences, General Gu has indeed worked hard today. Even if you want to find fault, choose another day…”

Gu Siyuan nodded indifferently.

Xie Xuan ignored them and said arrogantly, “Gu Siyuan, this prince wants to see you, and you dare to refuse? I will attend the banquet at the Xu hour; you’d better come to my tent before then.”

With that, he swung his robe and left haughtily.

Xie Huan watched Xie Xuan’s departing figure and sighed, “Sixth Brother’s temper… General Gu, you might have a hard time ahead despite your merits.”

Gu Siyuan’s cold gaze swept over his face, and he said lightly, “I take my leave.”

“…” Xie Huan.

This guy really doesn’t know how to interact with people. He can’t even respond with a polite word. No wonder Xie Xuan dislikes him.

Hmph, if I ascend the throne in the future, I certainly won’t employ someone who disregards his superiors.

Gu Siyuan, naturally unaware of Xie Huan’s thoughts after he left, was only thinking about Xie Xuan’s intense and lingering gaze during the earlier fight and his recent command to go to his tent.

He thought to himself: The two-month period has long passed. He can’t wait any longer; he’s about to burst.

In broad daylight, he was no longer hiding his feelings.

After returning to his tent, Xie Xuan quickly removed his soft armor.

Although dealing with those people during the day didn’t take much effort, he was still covered in dust and sweat.

He quickly washed up, changed into more comfortable clothes, and started walking outside.

A lieutenant from the neighboring tent had just returned and, seeing this, asked curiously, “Siyuan, aren’t you off duty tonight?”

Gu Siyuan casually replied, “Going to admire the moon.”

The lieutenant was stunned and blinked.

He never would have guessed that this cold-faced person has such leisurely pursuits?

After a long while, after Gu Siyuan had walked far away, the lieutenant stopped his actions of lifting the tent flap, looked up at the dark blue sky with its faint crescent moon, and muttered, “Wait, isn’t today the second day of the eighth month? Where’s the moon to admire? Mid-Autumn Festival is still ten days away, right?”

A single person wouldn’t understand.

Admiring the moon isn’t just about the moon in the sky, but the one in his heart.

With Gu Siyuan’s skills and the new light-footed techniques he learned today, slipping past the layers of guards to enter Xie Xuan’s tent was even easier than before.

Xie Xuan, holding a fan, sat cross-legged on the couch, pouting at him. “I said I really wanted to see you, so why did you take so long to come?”

Gu Siyuan ignored his usual antics, walked over, pinched his cheek, and said softly, “Guess why?”

Xie Xuan suddenly pounced on him, clinging tightly to his broad chest. He finally got his hug.

He had wanted this all day.

With his head buried deeply in Gu Siyuan’s shoulder and neck, smelling the fresh, watery scent, Xie Xuan looked up with a grin, “So, General Gu went to bathe and change clothes, huh? Are you hoping this prince will favor you tonight?”

Hearing this, Gu Siyuan raised his eyes and glanced at him lightly, saying nothing.

But in the silence, countless waves were stirred.

“…” Xie Xuan.

What’s with that look? Are you looking down on me?

Thinking this, Xie Xuan angrily pressed his lips against Gu Siyuan’s, kissing him fiercely.

Gu Siyuan hadn’t expected the little prince to be so impatient, but since the person was already in his arms and he was prepared, there was no need to push him away.

He took the lead, instantly seizing control, and began a rough plundering with his lips and tongue, his hand tightly gripping the slender waist of the person in his arms.

After who knows how long, the two gradually shifted positions.

Xie Xuan lay on the bed while Gu Siyuan, fully dressed, stood on the ground, bending down to kiss him bit by bit, from his forehead to the tip of his nose, and then to his already excessively red lips.

Outside the tent, the moonlight was sparse, while inside, two dim yellow lamps flickered.

Their shadows were cast onto the side curtains.

At that moment, the sudden sound of drums and gongs erupted outside.

However, neither of them paid any attention.

At a time like this, even if the world were collapsing, what did it matter to these two innocent lovebirds?

The next moment, a familiar loud voice rang out from outside the tent. It was Wang Chengying, the head eunuch by Emperor Jianzhao’s side.

“Sixth Prince, the banquet has started, and everyone is present except for you. His Majesty has asked several times and sent this old servant to invite you!”

The two little piggies, busy nibbling on each other, were forced to lift their heads.

“…” Xie Xuan.

“…” Gu Siyuan.

A few moments later.

Xie Xuan quickly changed into a new set of clothes, re-tied his hair crown, and stepped out of the tent.

Gu Siyuan sat on the bed, looking down at his still-excited little brother, feeling for the first time a bit pitiful.

Tsk, the weather is cooling down; perhaps Emperor Jianzhao shouldn’t remain emperor…

After a while, recalling Wang Chengying’s words, he sensed that Emperor Jianzhao’s attitude today was a bit off, so he stealthily slipped out.

When Xie Xuan sat down in his seat, he unsurprisingly received some sarcastic comments from his elder brothers.

Things like being presumptuous or having a big attitude.

However, he was currently quite unsatisfied and didn’t even have the energy to retort.

His slender body languidly leaned on the chair, holding a cup of wine, sipping it lightly from time to time.

Gu Siyuan, sitting in the treetop above the banquet area, watched those lips moistened by the wine and thought: I wonder if the wine is sweet; maybe I can taste it later?

Not long after the banquet began, the people under The King of Northern Borders pushed over an iron cage covered with a black cloth.

Emperor Jianzhao asked curiously, “What is this?”

The King of Northern Borders laughed heartily. “Last winter, there was heavy snow on the mountains. This creature, likely starving, came down from the deep mountains and attacked several villages at the foot, causing nearly a hundred casualties. I personally led a team to capture it in the forest. I brought it to Daliang as a gift for Your Majesty. However, the journey was long, and it became somewhat lethargic, so we nourished it for a few days. Today, after a round in the forest, it seems fully recovered.”

As he spoke, he lifted the black cloth.

When they saw what was in the cage, several people gasped.

Inside the iron cage was none other than a tiger, much larger than those typically seen in the Central Plains. Its limbs and body were naturally more robust, and perhaps having just returned from the forest, there were remnants of blood and meat on its whiskers. Its golden eyes, tinged with blood, glared fiercely, exuding a palpable killing intent.

Several faint-hearted individuals even trembled with fear.

However, Emperor Jianzhao seemed very pleased, his eyes gleaming.

Given this, some brave souls approached to feed and admire it.

Xie Xuan fiddled with the wine cup in his hand, his delicate fingers appearing as flawless as jade against the black porcelain, and said nonchalantly, “This fur would be very warm wrapped around oneself in winter, wouldn’t it?”

Beside him, Xie Huan glanced at him.

The next moment, as if the tiger had understood Xie Xuan’s words, it suddenly roared angrily in his direction.