“What the bird’s egg do you understand?”

Bu Liu’s body swayed unsteadily, profanity flying everywhere.

“Our old general said this is presence. With presence displayed, never mind people—even ghosts are afraid. Brother Xie!”

Brother Xie was dizzy: “Ah?”

“Dare to race horses with me?”

Bu Liu stood up, stumbling toward the door: “Whoever loses has to strip naked and run three laps.”

Xie Zhifei: “Why strip naked?”

Bu Liu leaned against the door, his gaze unfocused, not knowing what came to his mind.

Xie Zhifei supported himself on the table and stood up, trying to pull him back.

Bu Liu suddenly said: “To let the bird fly free.”

Thud!

Xie Zhifei fell back on his bottom.

…

Three people, three horses, rode out the city gate.

Zhang Kui jumped down from the carriage and drew the long blade from his back, swinging it forcefully down.

The two horses immediately shot forward like arrows released from bowstrings.

“Every time the boss drinks too much, he tricks people into racing horses and letting birds fly. Never gets tired of it.”

Zhang Kui shook his head with a smile and mounted his horse.

Third Master wasn’t one of those rough men from the army who could play along with anything. He was from a scholarly family—thin-skinned!

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui pulled the reins: I’ll take it slow then!

Xie Zhifei, blown by the cold wind, had half his drunkenness dissipate and immediately regretted it.

How did I agree to this?

What possessed me?

“Brother Xie, at your young age, how can you not make it?”

Bu Liu was exactly the opposite. The cold wind brought all his drunkenness rushing up, and he was having a wild time.

You disrespectful old fool!

“Cut your damn nonsense. I was just being respectful to my elders.”

Xie Zhifei cracked his whip, and in moments overtook Bu Liu.

Respect elders?

Bu Liu’s competitive spirit was immediately aroused.

“Hahaha, Brother Xie, today I’ll show you what it means to be vigorous in old age!”

The two horses chased each other, overtaking and being overtaken, evenly matched.

Xie Zhifei didn’t feel the cold. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

He looked at Bu Liu’s broad, upright back, and a huge exhilaration that could overturn everything swept over him.

He suddenly thought of his grandfather.

In his long career of iron horses and bronze spears, there must have been times like this joking with subordinates.

He thought of his father.

During those years trapped in the Begonia Courtyard, he too must have longed for the day he could ride freely with raised whip.

Xie Zhifei’s chest suddenly warmed. He raised his whip and easily passed Bu Liu, pressing forward without looking back.

“Whoa—”

Xie Zhifei pulled the reins and jumped down from his horse.

Bu Liu’s horse arrived right after.

He dismounted, then suddenly raised his hand and punched Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei was completely unprepared and was knocked straight to the ground.

“Damn it, I’ve bet my life on horseback my whole life, and you actually beat me.”

Bu Liu sat down beside him, panting like an ox: “Kid, not bad. Who taught you?”

Xie Zhifei simply lay flat on the ground, burped with wine breath, didn’t answer, just grinned foolishly.

Bu Liu was confused by the grin and looked down at him—eyebrows like mountains, eyes like stars, indescribably likeable.

Strange!

How could he find this kid so pleasing to the eye?

“What are you staring at? Strip!”

Bu Liu had mixed in the army for twenty years—he wasn’t afraid of this. He leaped up and reached to untie his clothes.

His hand had just touched his waistband when his expression suddenly changed.

Xie Zhifei thought the man was backing out: “General Bu, don’t be shy…”

Suddenly, Bu Liu drew the large blade from his back.

Only then did Xie Zhifei realize something was wrong. He scrambled to his feet: “What is it?”

“Killing intent.”

As his words fell, eight shadowy figures rapidly surrounded them from the darkness.

Xie Zhifei’s last bit of drunkenness was completely frightened away.

He never dreamed anyone would be bold enough to this extent!

Where was this?

Outside the capital.

What were he and Bu Liu?

One an official, one a general.

Xie Zhifei drew his long sword: “Who are they after?”

“Doesn’t matter who. We need to stay alive first.”

Bu Liu lowered his voice, speaking at maximum speed: “Back to back. We cannot separate even unto death.”

Xie Zhifei hadn’t yet grasped the meaning of these words when the black-clad men surrounded them.

Bu Liu’s fingertip pushed, and the large blade gave a clear “clang,” revealing its bloodthirsty edge while also making Xie Zhifei’s heart surge, all the blood in his body rushing up.

At that moment, the black-clad men’s swords thrust forward. With their backs pressed together, the two began fighting with the assassins.

After trying a dozen or so moves, Xie Zhifei discovered the brilliance of this position.

Behind me is you, behind you is me.

Life and death together.

The black-clad men never anticipated these two would use a lone wolf battle formation from warfare.

This formation was easy to defend and attack, and could also buy time.

Indeed, Bu Liu was buying time, waiting for Zhang Kui to arrive.

Once he came, three against eight—there was still hope of victory.

After the black-clad men exchanged glances, they also changed strategy, sending the person with the best martial arts skills to deal with Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei immediately felt the strain.

Just as the black-clad man’s sword was about to pierce him, Bu Liu, as if he had eyes in his back, suddenly thrust his large blade forward, striking the man’s arm.

The black-clad man let out a scream.

The scream made everyone pause slightly.

In that moment of distraction, Bu Liu shifted his footing and flashed to Xie Zhifei’s front, with lightning speed exchanging positions with him.

However, the black-clad man’s sword only paused without withdrawing, piercing Bu Liu’s shoulder. Blood gushed out.

Bu Liu didn’t even grunt, continuing to wield his large blade.

Blood splattered on Xie Zhifei’s face—it was hot.

He was injured.

Injured because of me.

Xie Zhifei, don’t you dare drag him down.

Behind him stood the thirty thousand men of the Bu family army!

Once a person has conviction, the power unleashed is limitless. Though these black-clad men had excellent skills, Xie Zhifei forcefully held his ground.

But Bu Liu’s side had developed problems.

That sword struck his right arm squarely. The right arm gripped the blade, the blade was very heavy, and the injured arm couldn’t exert force. The speed of wielding the blade slowed.

Large blades were good for killing enemies on the battlefield, but in close combat they weren’t as nimble as swords.

The blade instead became Bu Liu’s burden.

After several exchanges, he had been struck by swords in several places.

He immediately shouted: “Switch!”

Though only one word, Xie Zhifei’s mind instantly understood—Bu Liu wanted to exchange his blade for the sword.

His left hand reached back, and Bu Liu’s hand was waiting.

Two hands clasped, both men nearly simultaneously leaped up and retreated. In the instant they changed positions in mid-air, the weapons in their hands also switched over.

At this moment, the lead black-clad man made a hand signal, and the offensive instantly intensified, almost entirely focused on Xie Zhifei.

A sword-wielder had less strength in hand and absolutely couldn’t wield such a heavy blade—this was an excellent opportunity to kill.

Only now did Bu Liu realize his mistake. He’d subconsciously treated Xie Zhifei as one of his Bu family army men.

“Kid, switch back quickly.”

His moment of distraction, this shout—a long sword struck squarely into his lower abdomen.

Bu Liu cried out in great pain, his throat tearing.

This cry made all the blood in Xie Zhifei’s body rush to his head.

His form shifted, and the long blade thrust forward—not only fast but with sufficient force, directly severing the head of the black-clad man who had injured Bu Liu.

This sudden change came too abruptly. Everyone froze.

Xie Zhifei held the blade horizontal before his chest, his hand gripping it showing bulging veins, his eyes shooting out a bloodthirsty gleam like a wild beast’s.

“Grandsons, let your grandfather here meet you properly!”