Tang Dynasty Hidden Guards

Xue Wei is not wearing the silver-threaded armor yet—no! The silver-threaded inner armor—he will wear it for the polo match. Right now, he is fully focused on preparing to make it into the top twenty.

Yuan Min added three more female guards: Zuo Qingling's younger sister, Zuo Baiyun; Zhong Luming; Yu Xiangzi; and a little maid named Xiao Luo'er, who was only eleven years old, very clever and capable, to take care of Xue Wei's daily life.

Yu Xiangzi is skilled in hidden weapons and poisons. She can hit the target every time within three zhang with a single golden needle. Of course, there is medicine on the golden needle, but it is not poison, but anesthetic.

Although Zhong Luming was a woman, she had developed a body of iron and superhuman strength, making her incredibly strong, even stronger than Xue Wei.

Zhong Luming's weapon was a thirty-pound bronze shield with a sharp blade, which could be used for both thrusting and blocking.

Zuo Baiyun is skilled with two-handed swords, and her swordsmanship is much better than her sister's. Compared to swordsmanship, Zuo Qingling is more skilled in light footwork.

Gan Ning soon discovered a secret: these four female guards were all female Taoists, and they came from the same place, Wuji Palace on Mount Song, which belonged to the Quanzhen Longmen Sect, and the palace was full of female Taoists.

He couldn't worry about the relationship between Yuan Min and Songshan Wuji Palace for the time being; the final elimination match was tomorrow morning.

That evening, Yuanmin sat at the table and analyzed tomorrow's tactics for him. "Tomorrow we'll be playing set pieces while mounted on horseback. It's 90 paces to hit 20 balls, and the top 20 will be selected based on points. The drumbeat will be 120 beats per minute. Have you ever practiced playing set pieces while mounted on horseback?"

Xue Wei nodded. "Of course I've practiced. It involves running back and forth, which is very difficult. I'm worried that I won't have enough time."

"So you're stupid, you don't know how to use the rules."

"What rules should be used?"

Yuan Min laughed and said, "The rule is to play stationary balls while riding a horse, not to run on horseback while playing stationary balls. As long as you are on horseback, you are in compliance with the rule."

Xue Wei's eyes lit up. "You mean, shooting stationary balls while riding a horse?"

"Yes! Many people did this last year because you didn't know, and I was afraid you wouldn't be prepared and would suffer a great loss on the spot."

"What are you preparing?"

"First, the horse should be gentle and able to stay still. The Flame you're riding now isn't suitable; it's too fierce. I'll get you a white horse that's been specially trained for stationary shots and has very accurate positioning. Second, it's best to use long clubs, but I'm worried that if you switch clubs at the last minute, you might not be used to them."

Xue Wei shook his head. "I really can't get used to changing clubs so soon, let's not change them for now!"

Yuan Min added, "Also, it would be best if we could make it into the top three tomorrow. There's a reward for the top three in the final."

"What's the reward?"

"The reward is that you don't have to participate in the draw during the finals and can freely choose your opponent. This is very important and can ensure that you enter the second round of the finals."

There's another reward: you'll be received by the emperor before the competition, which is very important to you.

Xue Wei was completely confused. "What do you mean by choosing an opponent? What's this second round? Can you explain it in detail?"

Yuan Min patted his hand and laughed, "Don't worry about the finals for now. Focus on playing well in the current match, and I'll explain the rules of the finals to you later."

...........

The following morning, Yuan Min took Xue Wei to the Grand Polo Field in Jishanfang. This field was the largest in Luoyang, capable of holding tens of thousands of people, and it also had special stands for dignitaries, where the emperor would also be present.

The club's three-day tournament will also be held here, including the individual final on the evening of March 15th.

Today is the competition to enter the top 20. There are 120 drumbeats, 90 steps, and 20 balls on horseback. Xue Wei got off the carriage, and Zuo Qingling led a white horse over.

"This is a specially trained horse, designed for set pieces. You may give it a try, young master."

Xue Wei mounted the horse and rode it around for a while. He immediately realized that this horse was different from others. It was gentle, did not recognize its master, and could keenly sense the rider's intentions and make accurate judgments.

"It has been trained for set pieces for a long time. You just need to stop it at the starting line, and then it will walk by itself. You don't need to worry about it. You can just focus on playing the ball."

Xue Wei nodded. "Thank you!"

"Wishing you success, young master!"

Xue Wei glanced at Yuan Min and the carriage waiting not far away, smiled, and urged his horse toward the polo field.

Yuan Min silently watched Xue Wei enter the stadium. The success of the final lies in the details, and the importance of today's final knockout match lies in the competition for those details.

"Miss, will the young master make it into the top three?" Zuo Baiyun asked in a low voice.

Yuan Min nodded. "He will definitely succeed!"

..........

Today's ranking order was still determined by drawing lots, and Xue Wei drew the 32nd place.

He stood aside with his horse, observing the game. Those who made it into the top 100 were all experienced veterans. Almost everyone was playing while mounted and stationary, which was no different from the previous standing game. The biggest difference was that they hit 20 balls, each ball with six drumbeats, which was equivalent to four seconds, a little more lenient than the last time.

On the 25th, Xue Wei saw Liu Jingren enter the arena. Liu Jingren was known as the number one polo player in Wuzhou. He had won the individual championship for four consecutive years, and all of them were by absolute scores. In the official rankings, he had also been ranked first for three consecutive years, like a god.

Xue Wei, the predecessor, was a top ten finisher in two individual competitions, finishing eighth and tenth once. Xue Wei inherited his predecessor's ball sense, but also possesses the honed ability to seize opportunities, as well as the precision and speed to hit the target with a single strike, and composure.

These are qualities that Xue Wei of the Tang Dynasty did not possess at all. Therefore, after Xue Wei scored 98 points and ranked second in the previous game, no one believed it and thought that he was just lucky.

Indeed, it's hard to believe that someone could improve their skills after a year of inactivity.

As the drumbeats began, Liu Jingren started. He rode a black horse, which moved with great composure to the beat of the drums. He swung his club with precision, calmness, and fluidity. After eighty drumbeats, Liu Jingren had finished his round, sinking every single shot. It was like a robot playing ball, his accuracy was unbelievable.

Xue Wei quickly judged that it was either 198 or 199 points.

Soon, the scores were released, and Liu Jingren unsurprisingly scored 199 points.

Xue Wei's heart sank to the bottom. Only then did he understand the meaning of Wu Zetian's words, "It is impossible for you to win the championship." One of the meanings of these words was that there was a formidable obstacle in front of him: Liu Jingren.

But Wu Zetian's next words were, "I hope you will turn the impossible into the possible."

The conditions were clear: he had to defeat Liu Jingren to win the championship in order to receive the sword given to him by Wu Zetian…

"Number 31, enter! Number 32, get ready!"

Finally, it was his turn. Xue Wei took a deep breath and slowly urged his horse forward.

.........

"Number 32, enter! Number 33, get ready!"

Xue Wei held up the number plate and handed it to the confirmation official. He then spurred his horse slowly toward the starting line.

Standing at the red line, he tightened the reins. At that moment, the referee waved his flag, and the drums rang out, "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" He gently urged his horse forward, and the white horse trotted towards the polo ball.

Upon reaching the first polo ball, the white horse suddenly slowed down, moving forward with a steady pace. Xue Wei leaned forward and struck the ball with his mallet, sending it flying. He didn't even look, and struck the second ball with his mallet again...

Unbeknownst to Xue Wei, Liu Jingren was also squinting at him. Liu Jingren, the forty-year-old Right Thousand Bull Guard General, had always thought of himself as the god of polo. Until the day before yesterday, his arch-rival Xue Shao's son was only one point behind him. How could that three-time master who was obsessed with beauty possibly do that?

Coincidence, or fate?

When Xue Wei hit the last ball, Liu Jingren's heart sank to the bottom; it was no coincidence.

One hundred and ninety-eight points, still one point lower than Liu Jingren.