Bai Liang was awakened from his sleep when a certain man couldn't keep his hands to himself. Without opening his eyes, he hooked his arm to Huo Zhang's neck and pecked him a small kiss.
They had been indulging themselves for 5 days and nights in their bridal chamber since their wedding night. Without any martial art, Han Yi-Shen could do him for 10 hours straight, so he wasn't surprised Huo Zhang was even fiercer. Although he also wouldn't mind continuing, they still had things to do.
"The prince is waiting for you regarding the Heavenly Star Bow." He finally opened his eyes.
Huo Zhang pulled him to lay on top of him and combed through his silken hair. "He is not strong enough to use it. Whether it fell to my or his hand, in the end, he would need my help to wield it."
Bai Liang rubbed his legs against Huo Zhang's as he hummed. "How strong are you compared to the Northern War God?"
Huo Zhang's hand paused, and his eyes turned thoughtful. "Both of us are more or less equal, but I am stronger at swords while he is stronger at archery. Still, our skills in either are only second to one another."
"That doesn't sound to be in your favour."
Although it was best to stick to the revelation, Bai Liang had some reservations in this matter. The Heavenly Star Bow is a very powerful weapon. If the trajectory went differently when it was in the Northern War God's hand, things could get troublesome. He believed Huo Zhang could give him the same outcome with a lower risk.
Huo Zhang finally sat up, propping Bai Liang in his arms with him. "Let us see if the prince will be foolish enough to hire an outsider."
"And if he does?"
"I am not a pushover." Huo Zhang kissed a corner of Bai Liang's eye. His eyes glinted. "I am not someone he can afford to offend anyway."
The two of them went to take a bath and couldn't stop themselves from having one last round before finishing up. When Huo Zhang opened their wardrobe, Bai Liang saw it was full of matching robes of almost every colour. He lightly laughed, thinking it was cute, and picked a pair of matching dark blue robes for the day.
They dressed each other and combed each other's hair in leisure. Once they were ready, Huo Zhang unlocked the door, and they stepped outside with their arms linked.
Once the servants finally saw the master and madame coming out of their bridal chamber, they were blinded by their glowing happiness. They hadn't eaten breakfast yet, but they already felt bloated from the dog food.
The couple were enjoying their breakfast when a servant handed them a letter which was a summon from Tian Qing-Shan. The prince had been waiting for 3 days.
Huo Zhang skimmed through it and placed it down. He continued placing food onto Bai Liang's plate. "Accompany your husband in meeting the prince."
Bai Liang picked an eggroll with his chopsticks and offered it to Huo Zhang. "This wife will accompany his husband to wherever he wishes."
A smile graced Huo Zhang's face as he accepted Bai Liang's feeding and fed him in return. It was the same food he had eaten countless times in his life, but it never tasted so sweet.
With their constant feeding, they ate at a slow pace while messing around from time to time. Once they finished, their carriage was ready to take them to the imperial palace.
They arrived at Tian Qing-Shan's palace 40 minutes later and were led to the courtyard where he was practising his archery. Noticing their arrival, Tian Qing-Shan shot one last arrow which hit the inner ring of the target and handed his bow to his servant. He went to welcome them. "General Huo, Madame Huo, let this prince first congratulate you on your joyful marriage. May your household be blessed for 1,000 years."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Huo Zhang nodded. "What is it that Your Highness needs from me?"
Tian Qing-Shan was used to Huo Zhang's straightforwardness and also went straight to the point. "General Huo, what do you plan to do with the Heavenly Star Bow?"
"Of course, I will personally use it for the hunt. Or does Your Highness have a different intention?"
"General Huo must have heard of the Northern War God, have you not?"
"Yes, I encountered him once."
"This prince heard that his archery is unrivalled in the whole continent," Tian Qing-Shan carefully said. "It is said that he can accurately shoot as far as 2 li away."
Huo Zhang narrowed his eyes. "And what of it, Your Highness?"
Tian Qing-Shan tightly clenched his hands behind his back, hiding their trembling state. "General Huo, this prince is grateful for your contribution to gaining the Heavenly Star Bow and is willing to reward you handsomely. You may take it as this prince's wedding gift for you."
"I am afraid that a gift given under a condition is a gift no more, Your Highness. Does Your Highness truly plan on involving an outsider in the private matter of this country?"
"This prince only wishes to have reassurance." Tian Qing-Shan could only bite through. "Moreover, there is a chance that if we do not invite the Northern War God, the prime minister will."
Bai Liang also thought it was a possible effect. But Xue Liang had confirmed Huo Zhang's raw strength after their 'dual-cultivation' was already above any expert practitioners in this world. As long as that Northern War God didn't have any law-defying weapon such as this Heavenly Star Bow, Huo Zhang would never lose to him.
"If this one may speak, Your Highness." Bai Liang smiled. "How about we settle this with a duel?"
"A duel?"
Huo Zhang briefly glanced at Bai Liang and guessed what he was trying to do. He spoke up, "Since Your Highness is doubting my capability, a duel for this matter is indeed appropriate."
"Much to this prince's regret, I am certain that I do not hold a candle against your skill, General." Tian Qing-Shan shook his head. He then got an idea and suggested, "Rather than a duel, this prince would like to challenge General instead. If General can accomplish it, then the bow is all yours."
Huo Zhang nodded, signalling the prince to continue.
"Since the Northern War God can accurately shoot 2 li distance away, this prince wishes to see whether General can at least shoot accurately 2.5 li distance away."
Huo Zhang never shot that far and fell into thought.
"It's fine." Bai Liang touched Huo Zhang's arm in reassurance. "This wife believes Husband can shoot accurately as far as 5 li away."
Getting Bai Liang's confirmation, Huo Zhang didn't hesitate anymore. "If my wife said so."
Tian Qing-Shan almost thought he was hallucinating. Even though they were husband and wife, he didn't think the general could ever look at someone with such thick affection. His whole intimidation immediately vanished like a tiger retracting its claws when its owner wanted to pet its paws.
He wasn't ready for this explosion of dog food…
With Bai Liang's assurance, Huo Zhang accepted the challenge. Tian Qing-Shan brought them to a straight pathway inside the imperial palace which stretched as far as 3 li away without any obstacles or curves.
The prince ordered the servants to block anyone who wished to cross the path and set up the target 2.5 li away from where they were standing. Bai Liang thought it would be a waste of Huo Zhang's show of prowess to use such a boring target.
He asked a servant to bring him a piece of plum and she returned with it a few minutes later. He showed it to Huo Zhang and Tian Qing-Shan, "Your Highness, this one believes it will be more convincing to have the general shoot this instead of a big target."
"Madame Huo, you are not actually hoping for the general to lose, do you?" Tian Qing-Shan asked half-jokingly.
Huo Zhang frowned in displeasure at Tian Qing-Shan's words.
"Of course not," Bai Liang calmly said. "This one fully believes in General Huo's capability. To prove that, this one will personally hold this target for him."
Tian Qing-Shan was stunned.
Huo Zhang wanted to disagree but then he saw the unquestionable trust in him in Bai Liang's eyes. His fists tightened and loosened.
Since Bai Liang believed in him, he wouldn't disappoint him.
Once a servant from Huo Zhang's residence came with his personal bow and arrow, Bai Liang was already at the target point. He let his hair loose and placed the plum on top of his head.