Chapter 106: Victory Decided in a Single Move (Two Updates, Please Vote)

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your orders!"

The moment Li Shimin spoke, the smile on Yang Lin’s face bloomed like fireworks, and his reply came as swiftly as a rabbit fleeing for its life.

Glancing at Li Yi standing nearby, Yang Lin hastily cupped his fists and urged with a forced smile, "Doctor Li, please, this way!"

Li Yi’s cheeks twitched slightly as he looked at the overly eager Yang Lin, struggling to suppress a smile.

From the moment Li Shimin issued his command to Yang Lin’s response, not even a moment had passed.

"This Yang Lin... he is far too impatient. So eager, wanting to use the excuse of a 'friendly spar' to teach me a lesson?"

Just thinking about it made Li Yi chuckle inwardly.

When Li Yi first employed this style of Tai Chi, he had easily handled even a master like Hong Fu Nu, let alone Yang Lin, a low-ranking royal guard with limited combat experience.

Using Tai Chi against Yang Lin seemed like overkill.

Yet when he saw Yang Lin’s eager, provocatively confident demeanor, Li Yi felt no pity.

One who invites trouble deserves it.

Moreover, Li Yi sensed another subtle meaning behind Li Shimin’s earlier words.

If even the emperor wanted to teach him a lesson, then it was no wonder at all.

Yang Lin was simply out of luck.

Taking a deep breath and pausing briefly, Li Yi finally raised his brow and faced the eager Yang Lin.

He first cupped his fists politely and bowed slightly before nodding and saying gently, "Captain Yang, this humble servant is slender of limb. If we spar later, I hope you will show some mercy."

Yang Lin couldn’t help but laugh, his confidence growing. Clearly, he thought Tai Chi useless, and Li Yi merely a flashy, superficial fighter.

Otherwise, why would Li Yi speak so cautiously?

It was plainly a lack of confidence.

"Rest assured, Doctor Li!" Yang Lin forced an insincere smile and returned the bow. "I know my limits. The emperor has commanded, so I will not harm you."

Though his words were disingenuous, there was no fault to find in them.

Yet his arrogance and pride were unmistakable.

---

Li Yi almost laughed.

"In that case, Captain Yang, please." He nodded slightly and gestured, moving to stand opposite Yang Lin.

"Please!" Yang Lin smiled brightly, his mood buoyant.

"Hmph, Li Bo’an, if it weren't for you, I wouldn’t have been demoted by the emperor. Now, knowing Wei Zichao is my nephew, you still let him be taken away."

"Today, I’ll teach you a public lesson and vent my anger!"

Yang Lin sneered inwardly, clenching his fist, ready to strike.

At that moment, Li Lizi, watching nearby, suddenly raised her fist and shouted encouragement, "Li Bo’an, knock him down! Let him truly witness the real power of Tai Chi! Hmph, how dare he underestimate Tai Chi!"

Everyone else was instantly speechless.

Li Shimin’s face twitched repeatedly as he shot her a sharp look.

Empress Zhangsun quickly pulled Li Lizi aside, feigning anger, patting her shoulder gently and whispering, "Xiao Wu, watch quietly and say nothing."

"...Yes, Mother..." Li Lizi pouted sadly, lowering her fist and obediently standing aside.

Yet Li Lizi’s encouragement sowed doubt among the royal guards.

"If even Her Highness the Princess favors Li Bo’an so much, could Tai Chi really be that formidable? Is Captain Yang destined to lose this spar?"

The guards whispered their speculations but dared not speak aloud, standing quietly and praying that Yang Lin would not lose through carelessness, lest their honor be tarnished.

Meanwhile, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun watched the two preparing to spar with faint smiles, their true thoughts inscrutable.

"Li Bo’an, are you ready?" Yang Lin suddenly called out.

"Thank you for the reminder, Captain Yang. I am ready." Li Yi smiled calmly, bowing politely with a nod. "Captain Yang, please!"

"Good. Watch this!" Without further ado, Yang Lin took a step forward and charged at Li Yi, clenching his fingers tightly and throwing a powerful punch.

Yang Lin made no effort to hold back — a single strike from him would seriously injure Li Yi.

A broad grin bloomed in Yang Lin’s heart as he watched his fist rush forward.

Yet Li Yi’s body remained still.

---

When Yang Lin’s fist was but a foot from Li Yi’s chest, Li Yi smoothly shifted his body to the side and extended his hand, skillfully applying Tai Chi to effortlessly neutralize the incoming blow.

At the same time, Li Yi’s left hand lightly struck forward, causing Yang Lin to stagger and almost fall flat on his face.

His powerful punch had struck nothing but air, without even a ripple.

Taking a few steady steps, Yang Lin forced himself to remain standing, his jaw nearly dropping in disbelief.

"This..." Yang Lin found it hard to believe. After only one move, he had already lost.

If this had been a battlefield, he would surely have been dead by now.

"Is this... really Tai Chi?"

Yang Lin exclaimed, turning slowly to face the serene and unscathed Li Yi.

A burning sensation crept from his neck to his cheeks, coloring them a deep crimson.

One move decided the outcome, the difference in skill glaringly obvious.

Flushed and speechless, Yang Lin wished he could vanish into the earth to hide his shame.

How humiliating...

He had sworn he would show mercy and not injure Li Yi, yet he lost after just one exchange.

And so easily!

The surrounding royal guards were stunned into silence.

Seeing Yang Lin’s embarrassed red face, their own cheeks tinged pink.

Such shame!

Yang Lin had brought disgrace upon the entire royal guard.

(The End)