freenovelworld Chapter 852 "Heroes' Feast"
Chapter 852 "Heroes' Feast"
Inside the grand tent of the "Heroes' Banquet," the lights were bright, and the aroma of wine and meat filled the air, yet undercurrents were also swirling. Zhao Hu sat high in the main seat, with Qian Bin standing beside him, his sharp eyes scanning the performers below, including Lin Xiaowan.
I. A Test of Liquor Tolerance and Courage
Qian Bin, carrying a wine jar, walked up to Lin Xiaowan with a "warm" expression: "Miss Lin, you have done a great job leading the dance, I would like to toast you three cups!" As he spoke, he was about to fill three large bowls with strong liquor.
Lin Xiaowan smiled sweetly, but a hint of wariness flashed in her eyes. She knew this was the first hurdle. She didn't refuse, accepting the wine bowl with both hands and saying softly, "General, your kindness is too much for me. I am but a frail woman, unable to hold my liquor, and I beg your forgiveness. This cup is on behalf of my sisters to thank you for your hospitality!" With that, she covered her mouth with her sleeve, taking only a small sip, feigning weakness, and her cheeks flushed slightly (partly feigned, partly due to the alcohol's effect).
The other women followed suit, some feigning weakness, others claiming they were "not good at drinking" and only drinking a little. Bai Mei even "accidentally" choked, drawing a disdainful look from Qian Bin.
Zhao Hu judged that they seemed weak and handled things appropriately, without any flaws. However, Qian Bin felt that their "inability to hold their liquor" was somewhat deliberate, especially Lin Xiaowan, whose eyes showed no signs of drunkenness. The flaws of the six women were gradually exposed in Qian Bin's eyes.
II. A Test of Adaptability and Insight
During the meal, Zhao Hu deliberately spoke loudly with Qian Bin, saying, "Deputy General Qian, do you think the defenses at 'Black Wind Pass' should be reinforced by another 'team'? I always feel that it's a weak point." (Black Wind Pass was a real defensive point of the rebels, but Zhao Hu deliberately misspoke by saying "reinforce a team"; the standard deployment would be "reinforce a sentry post.")
Qian Bin chimed in, "General, you are wise! However, in my humble opinion, using the 'linked horse formation' might better utilize our army's advantages at 'Eagle Beak Cliff'." (The "linked horse formation" was equipment used by the government troops; the rebels did not adopt it.)
As they spoke, their gazes kept drifting towards Lin Xiaowan and the others. Lin Xiaowan and the others either smiled faintly, focused on their instruments, or whispered to the maids beside them, seemingly uninterested in these "military affairs," their faces showing no unusual expression. Lin Xiaoyan even gave Lin Xiaowan a reproachful look for her "inability to hold her liquor," as if concerned for a sister.
Zhao Hu deduced that they either genuinely didn't understand, or were deliberately pretending not to. If they were spies, they wouldn't remain unresponsive upon hearing terms like "Black Wind Pass" and "Chain Horses."
Qian Bin judged: Too calm! So calm it was suspicious. They were either rigorously trained, or they genuinely didn't know anything. But he leaned more towards the former.
III. The Test of "Unexpected" Disturbances
Just as Lin Xiaoyan's swordsmanship performance reached its climax, a series of hurried footsteps and shouts suddenly came from outside the tent: "Report—General! Something bad has happened! Unidentified cavalry have been spotted outside the camp!"
Two guards rushed into the tent in a panic, nearly bumping into Lin Xiaoyan.
The soldiers inside the tent stirred, and Zhao Hu and Qian Bin even stood up abruptly, their faces showing surprise.
At this moment, Lin Xiaowan and the other women reacted in different ways:
Lin Xiaowan and Lin Xiaohong were closest to each other. Lin Xiaowan subconsciously pulled Lin Xiaohong behind her and turned slightly to the side, making a protective and dodging gesture, with a perfectly timed look of panic in her eyes.
Bai Jie's flute fell to the ground with a "thud," and her face turned deathly pale.
Lin Xiaoyan instinctively sheathed her sword and held it protectively in front of her, her eyes sharply fixed on the tent entrance. But then she realized the situation was inappropriate and immediately relaxed, revealing a look of lingering fear.
Lin Xuan screamed and hid behind Bai Mei.
Bai Mei also paled and tightly grasped Lin Xuan's hand.
Zhao Hu judged that Lin Xiaoyan's reaction was quick, like someone who had practiced martial arts! But she quickly concealed it, probably an instinctive reaction from years of sword practice. The panic of the others all seemed quite genuine.
Qian Bin judged: Lin Xiaowan's protective movements and Lin Xiaoyan's sword-guarding stance were both too fast! That was instinct! An ordinary woman in this situation would only scream and run away. Their panic was somewhat genuine, but that instantaneous instinctive reaction revealed that they were not ordinary women! Especially Lin Xiaoyan, who was clearly a master of external martial arts!
IV. Challenges of Improvisation
Qian Bin clapped his hands and laughed: "False alarm! It seems the scouts were mistaken. Miss Lin Xiaoyan's swordsmanship is superb, and she remained calm under pressure. Excellent! How about I give the ladies a riddle to liven up the drinking?"
He called out, "Miss Lin Xiaohong, I've heard that you are a master of the guzheng. Could you please play a piece on the theme of 'Beacon Fire' so that we can also experience the smoke and fire of the battlefield?"
Lin Xiaohong composed herself, curtsied, and said, "General, your refined taste is appreciated; I have made a fool of myself in your performance." She took a deep breath, and her fingertips touched the strings. At first, the music was low and somber, like dark clouds gathering, foreshadowing an impending battle; then it gradually became more rapid, like the clanging of swords and the thunderous roar of war; finally, it returned to a state of sorrow, with cries of lamentation echoing across the land, prompting deep reflection. The entire piece was profound in its imagery and sincere in its emotion, yet it deliberately avoided any hints of specific tactics or military intelligence, remaining purely an artistic interpretation.
Next, Bai Mei sang a song titled "Breaking the Enemy's Formation." She did not sing anything related to military affairs, but instead adapted a fragment of the folk ballad "The Ballad of Mulan," praising the heroism of women and their yearning for peace. Her singing was both tragic and beautiful.
Lin Xiaowan and Lin Xuan's "Triumphant Return of Soldiers" dance is more about expressing joy through a cheerful rhythm, graceful movements, and the joy on their faces. It is full of the festive colors of folk art rather than a detailed depiction of the army's triumphant return.
Zhao Hu judged: Talented! Truly talented! This impromptu creation was emotionally resonant and technically superb, but it completely avoided any military details; they used art to evade the substantive content.
Qian Bin judged: Slippery! They cleverly used the literal meanings and emotional connotations of "beacon fires," "breaking through enemy lines," and "triumphant return" to avoid any possible exposure of their limited knowledge. This further demonstrates their insecurity, or rather, their extreme cleverness!
V. The Test of Swordsmanship "Asking for Instructions"
Zhao Hu stood up and said to Lin Xiaoyan, "Miss Lin's swordsmanship is exquisite. I am also a great lover of this art. May I offer some pointers?"
A barely perceptible hint of nervousness flashed in Lin Xiaoyan's eyes, but she quickly smiled and said, "General, you flatter me! I was just dabbling around, how could I dare to show off my limited skills in front of you?"
Without allowing any further explanation, Zhao Hu grabbed a wooden sword from a nearby guard and said, "It's alright, let's stop here." As he spoke, he used a basic military move called "slash," which appeared fierce but was actually reserved, intended to test the waters.
Helpless, Lin Xiaoyan had no choice but to pick up her performance wooden sword and cautiously parry the attacks. She used flashy sword techniques, avoiding direct confrontation with Zhao Hu, focusing instead on dodging and weaving, her movements graceful but lacking any real combat effectiveness. Zhao Hu pressed on relentlessly, unleashing several more practical military moves. Lin Xiaoyan gradually became flustered, her defenses crumbling. Finally, Zhao Hu lightly touched her chest with his wooden sword, and with a swift slash, Lin Xiaoyan's clothes ripped open, her top and undergarments falling down, leaving her upper body instantly naked. Lin Xiaoyan cried out "Ouch!" and was defeated, her cheeks flushed, unsure whether it was from shame or embarrassment.
"General, you are mighty! I have lost!" Lin Xiaoyan lowered her head, looking pitiful.
Zhao Hu concluded: It seems I was overthinking it. This girl's swordsmanship is indeed just for show, all style and no substance. My earlier wariness was probably just an instinctive reaction.
Qian Bin pondered: ...Could I really have misjudged? Lin Xiaoyan's flaws were too obvious; she didn't seem to have any real combat experience at all. Was she hiding her true abilities too well, deliberately feigning weakness? Or was she the only one among Lin Xiaowan and the others who was just a decoy?
Preliminary Conclusions:
After the banquet, Zhao Hu and Qian Bin returned to the main tent of the military camp.
Zhao Hu breathed a sigh of relief: "Qian Bin, I think they might really just be ordinary courtesans and geishas. Although I had some doubts during today's test, overall, there was no concrete evidence. Especially Lin Xiaoyan's swordsmanship, it was utterly ineffective."
Qian Bin frowned and paced back and forth: "General, I still feel something is wrong. They are too perfect, so perfect it seems fake. Lin Xiaowan's response, Lin Xiaohong's zither playing, and Bai Mei's singing are all impeccable. That 'unexpected disturbance,' Lin Xiaowan and Lin Xiaoyan's instantaneous reaction is definitely not something ordinary women would do. And their impromptu performance, avoiding the important points, is too deliberate."
He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "General, no matter what, the 'special mission' and 'undermining' plans will continue! We'll know the outcome within three days! If they are truly innocent, that's for the best; if not, I will make sure they are exposed!"
Zhao Hu pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Alright! We'll do it your way! I want to see how long they can keep up this act!"
When Lin Xiaowan and the others returned to their tents, the smiles on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by solemnity.
"Sisters, tonight's test was more dangerous than we expected," Lin Xiaowan said in a deep voice. "Zhao Hu and Qian Bin, especially Qian Bin, are very cunning."
Lin Xiaoyan was still shaken: "When Zhao Hu was testing his sword just now, I almost couldn't resist using my real skills! Luckily, I stopped in time."
Lin Xiaohong: "They deliberately talked about military affairs during the meal and created chaos, just to see our reaction."
Bai Mei: "And that impromptu creation was clearly meant to make us say things we didn't understand."
Lin Xiaowan: "The most dangerous part is yet to come. Now that they've become suspicious, they'll definitely have even more ruthless tricks up their sleeves. We must be even more careful and not give ourselves away!"
A silent contest, following the "Heroes' Banquet," has entered an even more tense phase. Lin Xiaowan and her companions, relying on their intelligence and superb acting skills, have temporarily passed the test, but Zhao Hu and Qian Bin's doubts have not been completely dispelled, and a greater crisis is brewing.