Chapter 407: Door-to-Door Challenge

Chapter 407: Door-to-Door Challenge

Chapter 407: Door-to-Door Challenge (5k)

As the year draws closer, the temperature in the capital drops again and the city has completely fallen into the depths of winter.

Zhao Duan's waking time became later and later.

Early morning, in the bedroom.

"Huh." Zhao Duan crawled out of the warm bed, exhaled deeply, raised his palm to gather a ball of clear water and covered his face to drive away the remaining sleepiness.

Then he turned over and sat cross-legged on the bed. He was stunned for two seconds and suddenly put his hands on his chest to make a gesture.

A Buddhist symbol of "卍" surrounded by a faint glow quietly emerged from the air.

Zhao Duan spread out his right hand, letting the "卍" character fall on his palm like a fallen leaf. He felt the green lotus in his sea of ​​consciousness quickly dim, and the corners of his mouth slowly rose, spreading into a smile:

"It's done."

More than half a month had passed since the Western Regions monks left. During this period, apart from daily practice, Zhao Duan devoted a considerable part of his energy to studying the Azure Lotus of the Sea of ​​Consciousness.

Finally, through continuous attempts, he learned the first Buddhist technique - "Demon Sealing Spell"

That is: he can use the Blue Lotus in the Sea of ​​Consciousness to transcend the differences in practice systems and release Buddhist spells.

The ability of the Demon-Sealing Spell, according to the book introducing Buddhist magic in his hand, can confine the enemy to different degrees according to the level of mastery from low to high.

"My current mastery is still shallow, and I can probably tie up the enemy. If I master it more deeply, or if my realm is higher, I can try to seal the opponent's magic power, or even the five senses."

"Huh, I couldn't unleash my full power yesterday, but I can this morning. Does this count as an upgrade in proficiency? If I had a training panel system, I'd probably hear the 'ding ding' sound of a new skill upgrade..."

Zhao Duan suppressed the urge to make a "ding" sound with his mouth, and slowly released the maintenance of the "Demon Sealing Spell", causing the spell to dissipate and disappear in his palm.

……

Inner hall!

When Zhao Duan walked in, a sumptuous breakfast was already on the table.

"Good morning, auntie, good morning, sister, good morning, dog."

Boss Zhao Duan casually greeted the two women and a dog at the table, then sat down and started to eat heartily.

Eugene Hua spat and kept mumbling as she served him food:
"Da Lang, you are an important person now. You should pay more attention to your words and manners. Why are you still acting like a child?"

Tsk, after nearly a year, the stepmother has successfully walked out of the shadow of being bullied by her stepson, and now she even dares to nag.

He just said the "critical" words, but he couldn't stop smiling.

It seemed that in her opinion, such a casual stepson was lovable. If he was really like those "masters" in the court, putting on airs, then the family affection would be chilled.

"Yawn..." Zhao Pan yawned continuously. He had long since abandoned the enthusiasm he had in learning martial arts. He even looked sleepy.
"Brother, why did you get up so early today..."

In the past, Zhao Duan got up late, so she would also stay in bed, under the pretext of having dinner with her elder brother.

Today, Mr. Zhao got up early, which was unusual. The girl had no choice but to get up early. Without the excuse of staying in bed, she was pulled out of the warm bed by her mother.

Zhao Duan held the bowl of porridge, sucked a mouthful of the fragrant white porridge with his lips, and waited for the hot stream to slide into his esophagus before saying:
"The Duke of Zhenguo will return to the capital today, and a group of military officers have been ordered to line up outside the city to welcome him. I can't hide away."

Eugene Hua was surprised and said nervously:

"It belongs to the young master who has a grudge against you..."

"It's okay, the misunderstanding will be resolved if you explain it." Zhao Duan said soothingly with a smile. He quickly finished his breakfast, changed his clothes, and walked out the door.

……

The time for Zhenguogong Tang Daren to enter the city is scheduled in the morning.

Zhao Duan went to the yamen first, and as agreed, he and Ma Yan represented the yamen to welcome the emperor.

"Brother, the Shenjiying didn't even ask me to go, so why did our Zhaoya think of taking me there? This is against the rules."

As soon as Zhao Duan walked into the Governor's Hall, he complained to Ma Yan who was handling official documents.

Ma Yan sat in the main hall, his long and thin face expressionless.

As the year draws to a close, all the major government offices in the capital have a lot of affairs to deal with. The major halls of the imperial yamen have basically stopped all tasks and hurried to prepare "reports" and summarize them to the Governor's Office.

Ma Yan has been so busy these days that his eyes are surrounded by dark circles.

"When you're working, you call it position."

Ma Dugong put down the seal in his hand, picked up the blue and white teacup to moisten his throat, and then glared at him:
"Why should I take you with me? Don't you know?"

Zhao Duan smiled and pulled a chair to sit down: "It's not that you want me to show my presence in front of the Duke."

Ma Yan was no longer surprised by the strange expressions that popped out of his mouth from time to time, and said helplessly:
"Back then, you established your authority in the Shenji Camp and severely humiliated Tang Ping. Even though you later reinstated him, you still have to explain this matter to Duke Tang in person to clear up the misunderstanding. Otherwise, if Duke Tang hears some bad rumors and causes some misunderstanding, it will be bad."

Zhao Duan didn't care much about it. After all, he had seen a lot of storms in the past year. He grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the fruit bowl on the table and said curiously:
"No matter how slow the news from the border is, a Duke should know this."

Ma Yan said seriously:
"Don't be so playful. Based on my understanding of that young master, he would never mention these things to the Duke given his character. Duke Tang, as a general guarding the border, would not take the initiative to inquire about the affairs of the Beijing camp in order to avoid suspicion. Even if he has heard about your improvement of firearms and the overthrow of the traitor in the Privy Council, he would not know the details.

Besides... Your Majesty has covered up a lot of the Shenjiying incident in order to reduce the impact and avoid leaking secrets. Even officials in the capital who are not high-ranking don't know how much you have done in it. How can the Duke know if the young master doesn't take the initiative to mention it?
On the contrary, those who dislike you, or those like the King of Hejian in Xipingdao, are likely to deliberately pass messages to the border, using the conflict between you and Tang Ping as an excuse to sow discord between Duke Tang and Your Majesty...

Anyway, I have already sent someone to deliver a letter in advance, saying that you will go to meet him today. It is better to explain the matter to him face to face later than to leave it alone. Do you think you have not made enough enemies?"

Zhao Duan could tell that his cheap senior brother was thinking about him, and said innocently:
"I didn't say not to go either."

The two chatted for a while, and seeing that the time was almost up, Ma Yan and Zhao Duan rode their horses straight to the west city gate.

At this moment, a group of civil officials and military generals have also taken their positions.

A large group of people stood in the cold wind, chatting and waiting for the Duke's team.

However, everyone was anxiously waiting for a long time, until the sun rose high and the time had long passed the agreed time, but there was still no sign of the team on the official road.

"Did something happen on the way that delayed the trip?" someone wondered, "Or did they copy the wrong time for delivery?"

Ma Yan also frowned, and at this moment, an official rode in from the city gate behind everyone, dismounted breathlessly, and waved to everyone:

"Don't wait any longer. The Duke and his entourage have already entered the city from the north gate and are now back at the Duke's Mansion!"

Many officials were stunned, not knowing what was going on, and some even looked dissatisfied:
"The letter said to enter the city from the west gate, why did you suddenly change the route? You made us wait in the cold wind for nothing? Are you trying to make fun of us?"

The official looked hesitant, glanced cautiously at Zhao Duan in the crowd, and explained:
"The Duke's intention seems to be that because he knew in advance that General Zhao was coming to greet him, he..."

Everyone was silent for a moment and the atmosphere became strange.

Zhao Duan, who looked like a lazy boy, was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "So that's why?"

The official's forehead was covered with sweat, and he stammered, "So, we changed the route."

Ma Yan's face suddenly turned ugly, and then he felt a headache. He felt the strange atmosphere, coughed lightly, and said:
"In that case, follow me back to the city and go to the Duke's Mansion to meet the Duke."

A group of officials looked at each other, tacitly not mentioning the previous conversation, and echoed:

"Alright."

Be it Zhao Duan or Duke Tang, they didn't want to provoke them for no reason.

Zhao Duan glanced at Ma Yan and smiled:
"Please take the others there, Lord Governor. I will not go, so as not to displease the Duke."

Ma Yan took a deep breath, pulled him aside, and said:

"It seems that the situation is more troublesome than expected. I will go to explain it to Duke Tang later. You go back to the government office first and wait for my news. Don't wander around."

Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"What are you talking about, Governor? How could I be someone who doesn't know the overall situation? Don't worry, it's just a misunderstanding. I'm waiting for you at the government office and I'm not going anywhere."

Ma Yan's cold and lanky face twitched slightly. He felt that the smiling face of his subordinate was a little creepy. He was silent for a moment and said:

"There's no need to mention my position in private. It's awkward."

……

The unexpected episode caught everyone off guard.

Everyone turned back to the city, and Ma Yan led a group of officials who had resentment in their hearts but dared not show it, and went straight to the residence of the Duke of Zhenguo. Zhao Duan rode alone, slowly returning to the imperial court, and fell into thought on the way:

Although he has made some preparations, Duke Tang, who has always been very protective of his own people, is likely to be dissatisfied with him because of the young master's affairs.

But Zhao Duan originally thought that with his current reputation and the favor of the empress, at least the attitude of Duke Tang would not be too bad on the surface.

But it seems that the situation is a little worse than expected.

However, unlike what outsiders worried about, Zhao Duan himself knew that his bad relationship with Tang Ping had been reconciled as early as that night when he personally invited Tang Ping to return to the Shenji Camp.

However, only the two parties involved knew about this reconciliation, and outsiders had no way of knowing it. Bao Kuai and Ma Yan still believed that Zhao Duan reinstated Tang Ping because of the empress.

After that, Zhao Duan seldom went to the Shenji Camp, which was also interpreted as that he and the young master were tired of each other.

But Zhao Duan wanted to say: You think too much...

Therefore, in his opinion, this matter was not that complicated. As long as Duke Tang returned home and summoned Tang Ping in person, the father and son could talk things out, and the misunderstanding would be resolved.

Outsiders all think that Lord Zhao is vindictive, but the real Lord Zhao is a broad-minded person.

Shaking his head, Zhao Du'an put the matter aside and didn't take it to heart. However, just as he turned into the street where the imperial yamen was located, he saw a familiar figure running out hurriedly leading a horse.

"My Lord?! You're back!"

The anxious Hou Ren, who was holding the horse, was stunned for a moment, "I was just about to leave the city to look for you."

Zhao Duan looked surprised: "What happened?"

Hou Renmeng spoke very quickly and said:

"You should go back to the hall and take a look. A fierce woman just came. She didn't say her name, but you can see that she is quite powerful and has a military air. She wanted to find you, sir. Qian Kerou said she was not there, but she insisted on waiting. Old Zheng saw that this person had bad intentions, so he asked me to come out to find you."

Zhao Duan looked strange: "The other party didn't reveal his identity? Then how did he get into the government office?"

You can't just enter the imperial court casually.

Hou Renmeng said: "The other party has the badge of the lieutenant general in the army."

"Take me over to have a look." Zhao Duan dismounted and followed the old marquis straight to Lihua Hall.

As soon as he entered the yard, he saw Zheng Laojiu, Shen Juan and a group of Jinyi gathered in the outer courtyard. They were all shocked to see him coming:
"grown ups……"

Zhao Duan asked calmly: "Where are the people?"

"In the main hall, Ke Rou is with her."

Zhao Du'an nodded, pushed aside the crowd, and led the crowd into the courtyard. They walked around the big pear tree which had been bare and only had branches left, and saw that the door of the hall was open.

The main seat at the long table in the hall, which was originally used as a meeting room and belonged to Zhao Duan, was now occupied by a female general.

His skin color is slightly red and dark due to years of exposure to the sun, but he has a murderous aura that he has acquired in the army. He is not wearing a military uniform, but only a simple neutral outfit, and the soft armor lining can be vaguely seen.

At this moment, he was sitting upright with his legs crossed and his eyes slightly closed. On the table in front of him was a long lance with a cold light flashing at the end.

"grown ups!"

Qian Kerou, who was standing nearby, came over quickly, a look of joy on her round face, and immediately explained:

"I didn't let her sit in your seat, and she wouldn't listen."

Tsk, it's just you, Xiaorou. If it were the other troublemakers, they would have taken action long ago... Well, no wonder Old Zheng asked you to stay to accompany the guests and let the most brainless Hou Ren Meng come out to find me... Old Zheng really knows how to use people...

Zhao Duan complained in his heart.

When Tang Zhao heard the voice, his slightly closed eyelids suddenly opened, and this rouge-painted horse actually had a pair of cold eyes with distinct black and white.

Tang Zhao looked into Zhao Duan's eyes. After seeing his handsome appearance, he was slightly stunned. An idea flashed through his mind:
Such a good-looking man couldn't possibly be the one who bullied me.

"I don't know which army you are from, but you suddenly come to Lihua Hall to look for me. What advice do you have?"

Zhao Duan looked at the face which looked familiar but he had definitely never seen it before and asked in a deep voice.

"Are you Zhao Duan?" Tang Zhao raised his eyebrows.

Wait for him to nod.

Tang Zhao suddenly felt that this person looked hateful. She snorted, stood up and said:
"You don't know my identity, but you should know that Tang Ping has a second sister."

The young master's second sister? The female general from the Duke's Mansion who had practiced martial arts since childhood and served in the frontier army? Tang Zhao?
Zhao Duan was slightly stunned, and the corresponding information emerged in his mind. When he investigated Tang Ping, he naturally checked the personnel situation in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Suddenly it dawned on me!

No wonder I always felt that this person looked familiar. His face was clearly somewhat similar to that of the young general in white robe, Tang Ping.

Wait... Shouldn't the second sister of the Tang family have entered the city with Duke Tang today? Why did she come here directly? Judging from the time, she couldn't have come to see me directly after entering the city without even going home...

Of course, he didn't know that Tang Zhaocun's intention was to help his younger brother vent his anger first, and then go back home to see his younger brother.

This would be glorious and would make her feel proud, and it would also prevent her family from stopping her from taking action.

"So she's the daughter of the Duke's Mansion, Miss Tang Zhao." After Zhao Duan realized the other party's identity, he smiled and revealed her origins.

The Duke’s daughter?

The group of royal-clad men behind him were stunned, looking at each other, and suddenly felt relieved - fortunately they did not rush into battle with the other party and cause trouble for the adults.

Daughter? Miss? When Tang Zhao heard these two titles, his expression suddenly turned unfriendly, and he said coldly:

"Then you should know why I am here."

Zhao Duan pretended to be confused, smiled and said:
"Miss Tang and I have never met before. We have no grudges in the past and no hatred in the present, but I can't figure out why."

Tang Zhao was furious when he saw his frivolous appearance:

"I don't want to waste time talking to you. I just want to ask you one question. When you took up your post at the Shenji Camp, did you strip my little brother of his official robes and drive him out of the camp? Did you do that?"

Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows and said calmly:

"So what? As a fourth-rank official, I should not be judged by others when dealing with my subordinates."

Tang Zhao was so angry that she laughed. She was always quick-tempered and protective of her shortcomings, but suddenly she pulled out her badge from her waist and threw it forward:
"Okay, just admit it. The country has its own laws, and the army has its own rules. I really can't control the affairs of your Shenji Camp. So I came to you today to practice martial arts with you according to the rules of the army. Do you dare to accept the challenge?!"

"Pah." Zhao Duan raised his hand and grabbed the flying waist badge. He glanced at the words on the bronze badge and the shaking tassels below, and said slowly:
"What if it shouldn't? What if it should?"

Tang Zhao said as a matter of course: "If you agree, let's fight. If you don't agree, I will leave immediately."

So simple? Zhao Duan knew that it was not that simple.

Today, he is no longer the newbie he was when he first traveled through time. He knows that in the Yu army, there is a rule of martial arts competitions between generals.

As long as the ranks of both sides are equal, they can invite each other to fight, or they can refuse to fight. But if this gets out, it will become a laughing stock. The army has always been ashamed of those who dare not fight.

Tang Zhao was at the border. The rank of the border troops was somewhat different from that of the inland military headquarters such as the Beijing Camp, and their rank was a little higher, so Tang Zhao was of the same rank as him.

"Don't worry, I won't bully the weak. I heard that you have entered the Shenzhang realm a few months ago. I am also in the Shenzhang realm, so I won't be bullying you." Tang Zhao looked down on you.

His tone was extremely confident.

After Zhao Duan was promoted to the Divine Chapter, the only public battle record he had was the Buddhist-Taoist competition.

But that time he used the Taia Sword to "cheat", so it didn't count as a real result. In everyone's eyes, he was just a newcomer who had entered the divine realm a few months ago.

Even the number of people who know that he has reached the middle level of the Divine Chapter is very limited.

However, Tang Zhao was a top-grade Divine Chapter warrior who had been honed in the army. Whether in terms of the solidity of his martial arts foundation or his martial arts skills and awareness, he was among the strongest among the Divine Chapter warriors.

In the eyes of almost anyone, as long as there is no cheating, this is a battle of unequal strength and the outcome is almost certain.

"Sir..." A group of men in brocade clothes looked anxious and wanted to speak.

But Zhao Duan raised his hand to stop, looked at Tang Zhao with a strange look, and smiled: "Okay."

(End of this chapter)