1415 Verbal Confrontation
To Zhai Sheng, the process of ambus.h.i.+ng was hard and tense. Most of the time, he would be able to take the enemy’s life in the ambush. Apart from his family, everyone who made him wait had to pay a painful price for it.
Zhai Sheng would not go to such extent with Peng Yu, but Zhai Sheng’s habit would not change because of him. In Zhai Sheng’s arrogant opinion, everyone who dared to make him wait was daring and reckless, not fearful of death.
Zhai Sheng did not care that Peng Yu had a smile on his face. He went to the training field, changed into comfortable clothes, and prepared himself as he waited for Peng Yu.
Although Peng Yu had his meal later than Zhai Sheng, he arrived at the training field soon after Zhai Sheng. He took less than the five minutes that he requested from Zhai Sheng.
“Do you need a few minutes to warm up?” Zhai Sheng looked very calm at the sight of Peng Yu. He was so cool and indifferent that it was as if they were having a friendly match to check out the other party’s fighting skills.
Peng Yu smiled as he took off his clothes and flexed his arms. “There is no need for that. I am always ready to fight you.” Zhai Sheng was so much better in planning military strategies than before. He was curious to find out if his skills were as good as his intelligence level, and people who sparred with him would be ashamed of their shoddy skills.
Zhai Sheng had given Peng Yu a chance to warm up, but he did not cherish it. Since Peng Yu said that he was ready, Zhai Sheng could not be bothered to repeat himself.
“Well, let’s get started.”
As soon as Zhai Sheng finished his sentence, Peng Yu, who had a smile on his face and looked like the boy next door, turned serious. His bright smile vanished and there was a sharp look in his eyes. He seemed like the leopard that licked his paws and was ready to battle. He performed a lethal hook, aiming at Zhai Sheng. He swung his hands in the air, and there was a fishy smell that followed.
Fortunately, Zhai Sheng was not to be trifled with. Peng Yu said that he was always ready ever since he regarded Zhai Sheng as his rival. In fact, Zhai Sheng was just as prepared as Peng Yu.
It was rare to see the two young and promising soldiers who were the future tower of strength in the army to compete with each other in a fierce fight. Many soldiers gathered to watch the fight. They were tensed up and cheered for their immediate superior respectively.
It was also right then that the new recruits who joined the army recently realized that since the day they joined the army, things were no longer the same. They played a special role now. They were soldiers!
“Great!”
“Marvelous!”
“Who do you think will win? Would it be Regiment Commander Peng or Deputy Brigade Commander Zhai?”
The two young superiors seemed to be well-matched in strength. It was hard to tell who would win.
“It had to be Regiment Commander Peng!”
“c.r.a.p. It’s impossible that a deputy brigade commander will lose to a regiment commander.” Zhai Sheng’s subordinates were unhappy. One could tell from the ranks that their deputy brigade commander was better than the regiment commander.
If the deputy brigade commander lost to Regiment Commander Peng, did it mean that he had to give up his position as the deputy brigade commander to Regiment Commander Peng? The two regiments did not get along well. Moreover, their regiment commander and the deputy brigade commander seemed to be at loggerheads.
No one could be calm and composed as they watched the match between the two men. It was all lies when people said that friends.h.i.+p must come first and compet.i.tion second. As a man, one had to maintain one’s dignity. n.o.body could afford to lose.
Right then, there was a ‘bang’ that sounded like something heavy fell to the ground. This marked the end of the contest between Zhai Sheng and Peng Yu. Zhai Sheng threw Peng Yu heavily to the ground. Zhai Sheng also locked the hands and feet of Peng Yu in the fastest speed, trapping him firmly and preventing him from making any movements.
If the two of them were real enemies and Zhai Sheng exerted more strength, Peng Yu would have died in his hands. If this was not considered as a win, then there would be no soldiers alive in Peng Yu’s regiment.
This was a private exchange between the two of them. There was no referee.
Since there was no referee, the party who lost in the contest must take the initiative to admit defeat so that the contest would be considered as coming to an end.
Peng Yu was thrown to the ground by Zhai Sheng. He had a heavy fall and his back was flat on the ground. He turned pale from the excruciating pain. If the ground was not covered with thick army green cus.h.i.+oned mats, Peng Yu might become disabled from the fall.
Peng Yu’s demeanor changed from the pain at his back. He was further upset that he lost to Zhai Sheng in front of so many people. It was difficult for him to accept defeat.
Fortunately, Peng Yu, who had turned green in pain, smiled grudgingly without waiting for someone to speak up. “Deputy Brigade Commander Zhai, my dad always told me to learn from you when I was a kid. Back then, I felt unconvinced that I had to learn from you. Now, it seems like not only did I have to look up to you when I was a child, but I have to do so even after I grew up. Deputy Brigade Commander Zhai, you are indeed capable!”
He sounded calm at the beginning, but his tone was somewhat different toward the end.
Since Peng Yu indirectly admitted that he lost, Zhai Sheng would not be so petty-minded to make things difficult for him and insist that he admit defeat. One had to have absolute capability in the army. Being formidable was the way to go.
However, if one was too aggressive, instead of earning respect, one would create trouble for oneself and push those that he wanted to rope in toward his enemies.
Zhai Sheng was shrewd and smart. He would not commit such a foolish mistake.
Zhai Sheng loosened his death lock on Peng Yu, letting him go. “You shouldn’t say that. We are exchanging blows and learning from each other. We seek to improve as we learn from each other.” He was certainly formidable. He was stronger than Peng Yu when they were kids. Peng Yu’s father even told Peng Yu to learn from him. So many years had pa.s.sed. Peng Yu had improved, and so did he.
Since they made progress at the same time, Peng Yu would always lose to him. He would not be able to bridge the gap and change the situation.
Zhai Sheng sounded as if it was a friendly match, but Peng Yu was the only person who understood the hidden meaning. “Well, let’s all work hard and improve together.” One did not state that he could only make the same progress as Zhai Sheng. It was alright that he lost to Zhai Sheng now. He was younger than Zhai Sheng by a few years. There was still a chance of him defeating Zhai Sheng in the future.