Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1591: Chapter 1533: Xiang Zhuang Wields His Sword

”Aren’t you going to make some arrangements?” Hua Xiong said expressionlessly to Su Puyan.

”I am arranging things. Even though we’re revealing the cards tonight, we still need to prepare for the banquet.” Su Puyan completely misunderstood the context, thinking it was about the banquet.

”I’m not talking about the banquet; I’m asking if you’re not planning to set a fire?” Hua Xiong inquired.

”I’d like to set a fire, but the smell of tung oil, though slight, is still noticeable. The Hun people are sensitive, and once they detect it and investigate, they might discover us. This would expose both our intentions and ourselves—it’s not worth it,” Su Puyan explained.

”The smell of tung oil is not very strong. Just mix it with alcohol,” Hua Xiong said, his face rigid. This technique of arson was researched by Gan Ning, who naturally had a knack for setting fires. Although, speaking of which, it’s unclear if Gan Ning is still alive these days.

Su Puyan was stunned, turned his head to look at Hua Xiong, and immediately nodded, feeling that Hua Xiong made sense. Mixing tung oil with alcohol could work.

After the sun set, Su Puyan’s trusted aide pulled three full carts of wine to the Northern Huns Camp. Just as always, the Northern Huns were wary, but after Su Puyan’s aide explained the situation, the Northern Huns Camp Guards did not stop them.

”Our leader said that this barrel of wine can be shared among you, and so can the meat. But the wine in these two carts is not to be drunk. You have to guard the camp and can’t get drunk. Just let us carry the wine to your rear camp,” the leading trusted aide said to the leader of a hundred responsible for camp defenses, who nodded in satisfaction.

”You can just take the wine inside yourselves. We’ll finish this wine and go on patrol.” The leader of a thousand in the Northern Huns Camp nodded contentedly, patting the barrel of wine under his foot. From the aroma, it was clearly good wine.

Had Su Puyan’s trusted aide not mentioned that only this barrel was to be drunk and that they needed to guard the camp, the Hun patrol leader might have been more cautious. But with such words, the patrol leader was assured that these people had no designs on them.

If they got drunk, wouldn’t they be easier to deal with? Why add that last part?

”Leader, this wine is strong. You and the patrolling brothers must not sneak a drink,” Su Puyan’s trusted aide reminded them again as they were leaving, while the Northern Hun leader waved impatiently, signaling them to hurry back to the camp with the remaining wine.

After Su Puyan’s men left, the Northern Hun leader immediately opened the barrel. A rich wine aroma wafted out, and the patrolling Hun soldiers gathered around.

The leader scooped a ladleful, gulped it down joyfully, had two more sips, then reluctantly passed it to the others. ”Drink up quickly, finish it, and patrol quickly so as not to be discovered.”

Su Puyan’s trusted aide spread the wine all the way inside, and after reaching the inner camp, casually spilled barrels of the mixed wine and tung oil in the rear camp, particularly pouring a lot near the stables. But by then, the Hun camp was filled with the smell of alcohol, and another scent wouldn’t stand out.

The tung oil mixed within, not too intense in odor, was completely masked by the smell of alcohol.

”We’ve placed the wine in the rear camp,” Su Puyan’s trusted aide called out to the Northern Huns Patrol, ”We’re heading back.”

”Hey, your wine is good. Bring us more if you have it next time,” the patrol leader of the Huns said with satisfaction, even rarely waving to those Wuhuan people.

By this time, Su Puyan’s tent was already filled with songs and dances, but in Hua Xiong’s view, such dances were entirely low-grade, lacking in beauty and skill. Next to Hua Xiong’s family was Chen Xi’s family. Occasionally, when Chen Xi was bored, he would hold song and dance gatherings at home, monopolizing the performances for himself. If Hua Xiong was around then, he would fly over.

Yet the several Hun leaders seemed quite enjoying it, while Su Puyan clearly had his mind elsewhere, repeatedly offering toasts.

Tadu had also arrived. Although he didn’t know Hua Xiong, he didn’t doubt Hua Xiong’s identity. The Supu Tribe and their tribe weren’t very familiar, and he only knew the top officials of the Supu Tribe. As for martial force, he had achieved Inner Qi Manifestation for years, always dominant, how could he recognize any other Wuhuan heroes?

Lou Lu was killed because, in Tadu’s view, he threatened his unique position among the Wuhuan.

No matter the reason before, even if each tribe had its own Chanyu, Tadu, with his far superior martial prowess, securely held the top spot, and no one could shake it, not even when the Huns tried to win him over.

Now that there was another with Inner Qi Manifestation, Tadu became intrigued. However, before he could act, upon entering, he was warned by the Northern Hun leader Xubo Lou, so he sat on the side, watching the seated Hua Xiong with a somewhat somber expression.

”What’s this sound?” With sharp ears, Tadu sensed a slight tremor before the Xiliang Iron Cavalry had truly approached and automatically spoke despite his drink-induced gloom.

At that moment, Hua Xiong slowly stood up and said to Tadu, ”I don’t know what sound it is, but what do you say we spar with some martial arts moves?”

Tadu frowned but indeed was interested in testing Hua Xiong’s depth, so he nodded and stood up, no longer concerned with the slight tremor.

”Swords and blades are dangerous; how about the two of you spar with your fists?” Su Puyan offered with seeming concern for both, and Xubo Lou laughed as he said, ”Both of you are fighting for our Kunlun Deity Descendant; a spar with fists is enough to test your skills.”

Hua Xiong nodded noncommittally, as did Tadu, and then both placed their weapons aside on a small table, walking down to the center of the camp.

Both were tall and strong, and as they reached the center, they slightly bent at the waist, lowering their centers of gravity. Suddenly Tadu struck out, his left hand pressing heavily on Hua Xiong’s right shoulder, forcing Hua Xiong down half a foot. Then with his right hand, he swung past Hua Xiong’s neck, exploiting the direction Hua Xiong turned to amplify his force.

As Tadu pushed Hua Xiong down half a foot, lowering his head and keeping his expression hidden, Hua Xiong sensed Tadu’s force direction and suddenly reached to grip his opponent’s neck, pulling downwards along with the exerted force. Then, his right leg’s knee joint rose towards Tadu’s abdomen, while his right elbow retracted, joint striking out towards Tadu’s temple.

In the next instant, as Tadu swung Hua Xiong away, his abdomen and chest suffered a sudden heavy strike, his body reflexively leaning backward. At the same time, Hua Xiong’s right elbow joint had already fiercely targeted Tadu’s vital spot.