Iron Powder and Spellcasters Chapter 365

   Chapter 365 Another Hunt (End)

  [hunting ground]

  The silver horse knight is skillfully teasing the prey on the east side of the hunting ground, and those with sharp eyes have already noticed the strangeness on the other side of the hunting ground:

   "Look! That golden boy is still alive!"

"what?"

   "Heh, this isn't dead? He's lucky."

   "No! Why is he still walking towards the middle of the hunting ground?"

  The noble men and women who watched the ceremony thought that even if Earl Harlan didn't die, at least he was seriously injured.

   So they were shocked beyond words when they saw the blond fighter stagger to his feet and walk alone to the bison again.

   Seeing Siegfried returning to the stage, a faint smile appeared on the corner of little Hernan's mouth.

   He waved the flag lightly, and immediately eight more gladiators entered the paddock. Four of them were on horseback and four were on foot, each holding a flag-hung spear or a cloak.

   Little Hernan's eight assistants stood scattered around Siegfried, keeping a distance of more than ten meters from the latter.

   Seeing that everything was ready, little Hernan on horseback took off his hat with huge feathers, and gracefully waved his hat to the audience.

   Then little Hernan led the bull to where Siegfried was.

   But he didn't let the bulls go straight to Siegfried.

   When the bull was less than twenty meters away from Siegfried, two assistants of Little Hernan took the initiative to "take over" the bull.

  Among them, the horse-riding assistant was tall and kept hitting the stirrup with the tip of the spear. The short walking assistant let out a loud, short roar.

   The actions of the two assistants successfully diverted the attention of the Bulls.

   Confused by the sudden noise and the enemy, the bulls stopped chasing little Hernan, nor pounced on Siegfried.

   After a brief hesitation, the bull attacked the walking assistant.

   The short assistant who was attacked was not surprised but delighted, only to see that there was no trace of fear on his face, he spread his cloak with both hands, and ran around the bull with great strides.

   But how can two legs outrun four? It didn't take a few steps for the bull to catch up with the short assistant.

   Just when the horns were about to pierce the short assistant, the short assistant's high cloak made the bull delusional, making it mistakenly think that he was about to hit something huge.

   Then the bull waved his horns violently.

   The short assistant seized the flaw of the bull's deceleration when it was going up, and waved the cloak to guide the bull to his side, avoiding the horns in a thrilling way.

   At the same time, he strode to the side of the bull, put away his cloak, and quickly retreated into the distance.

  The bull lost his aim all of a sudden, he stood there, panting continuously.

   With this set of smooth movements, the short assistant won the applause of the audience. He also took off his hat and waved his hat to thank the applauding noble men and women.

  Just like that, the bull stopped about ten meters away from Siegfried, and little Hernan's assistants retreated quietly and made room.

   Most of the nobles who watched this performance did not understand the undercurrents surging underwater, and thought that little Hernan was the rescuer arranged in advance.

   But when they saw that the "resurrected" Earl of Harlan was still fighting, many people applauded sincerely.

   Siegfried, standing in the middle of the hunting grounds, understood—this was "Little Hernan's Help".

   Until now, for the first time, he had the time to look at his opponent.

  The bull's tongue was drooping, and white saliva was constantly pouring out of his mouth. This wild creature was exhausted at the moment, and the shiny black fur under its neck had changed color from soaking in blood.

   It was badly wounded, and the wounds Siegfried left on it were still bleeding, especially the last stab.

   But his expression was calm—as if he was calm from beginning to end.

   Siegfried looked down at the rapier and the burqa in his hands, no matter what the cause of this gladiatorial fight started, it could only end with the death of one side.

   Siegfried slowly raised his rapier and waved his burqa.

  The bull charged again.

   Looking directly at a huge beast of nearly 700 kilograms slamming into him head-on at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, being able to not turn around and escape at the first time is a worthy act of bravery.

   But Siegfried had to do it harder, and he had to put a slender curved sword into the heart of the bull.

   Siegfried was topless—his clothes were cut and ripped off by Farnan—and stood up straight, waving his burqa lightly with his right hand only.

   He believed in Fanan's judgment, and Fanan did not live up to him.

  The bull really went straight for the burqa, not the humans hiding at the edge of the burqa.

  The spectators did not know what Siegfried was doing, they only saw the bull galloping towards Siegfried, who stood motionless.

   Seeing that the blond "beauty" was about to die in the next moment, people in the stands and fences couldn't help screaming.

"what!"

   However, the sharp horns brushed past Siegfried's waist by an inch, and at the same time Siegfried jumped up and stabbed the bull's back with the sword in his left hand.

The tip of the    curved sword meets the bull's back at a slight angle, and eventually slips off, leaving only a blood groove in the bull's back.

  The people who witnessed this scene couldn't help but let out a long sigh of regret again:

"Oh…"

  The rushing bull turned around quickly and aimed his horns at Siegfried again.

   At this time, the two assistants who had just retreated stepped forward, shouted, knocked, and waved their cloaks to provoke the bull, leading the bull away from Siegfried.

  [outside the paddock]

  Fannan clenched the hilt of the sword with one hand and the fence with the other, watching the situation on the field intently, as if he would rush into the hunting ground to save people in the next second.

   came off the field, and little Hernan, who had just tied his horse, trotted to Fanan with his hat all the way: "Did I miss something?"

   "No." Fanan bent down deeply, still looking at the field: "Thank you for your help, Your Excellency Little Hernan."

"Are you tired of always being so polite?" Little Hernan hooked Fanan's shoulder affectionately: "But that's the only thing I can help him. The sword that can really kill the bison must be stabbed by himself. .But well...if Earl Harlan gets off the hook, you can come and do it under me! How about it?"

  Farnan deftly took a half step back, keeping an arm's distance from little Hernan.

Little Hernan shrugged regretfully and turned his eyes to the paddock: "You don't have to worry too much, Earl Harlan has consumed a lot of stamina and blood of the bison. I led the bison to run for a while. The strength and speed of that bison is now far from what it was at the beginning, so I think Count Harlan may have a chance..."

   Little Hernan gave an optimistic judgment: "Half."

  Fannan silently held the hilt.

   "So to be honest, if Earl Harlan screwed up, you might as well be my adjutant." Little Hernan patted his chest with great pride: "My father is the imperial marshal!"

   [in the paddock]

   Siegfried is temporarily unaware that someone wants to poach his lieutenant.

   He was gradually entering a state of ecstasy.

  Each round of dogfighting and confrontation made him more and more "familiar" with this bull.

   Siegfried at this moment knows his opponent just as he knows his friends and his enemies:

   The width and direction of its horns, how it reacts when attacked, how fast it turns, its usual movements…

   Siegfried raised his curved sword and unfolded his burqa.

   Little Hernan's assistants originally wanted to give Earl Harlan a little more time to breathe, but seeing that Siegfried was ready again, several assistants looked at each other and led the bull to Earl Harlan again.

   is another thrilling confrontation, and the horns are closer than the last time.

   Siegfried leaped up and drew his sword.

Or not!

   This time, the sword was deeper than the last time, but after only piercing less than a foot, it could no longer go down. It must have been stuck in the bone seam.

   Siegfried endured the pain in his palms and drew his curved sword as the bull turned.

   The assistants quickly stepped forward and led the bull away again.

  [outside the hunting ground]

   "Oops!" Young Hernan exclaimed suddenly: "[continuous cast of violent amazed Castile profanities]!"

   Farnan turned his head sharply.

   Little Hernan asked with wide eyes, "Is Earl Harlan left-handed?"

   "Yes." Farnan answered without hesitation: "What's the problem?"

Little Hernan put his two hands on Fanan's chest and explained quickly: "The heart of the bison grows on the left side, understand? The gladiator has to use his right hand to insert it! Earl Harlan is left-handed, and he The robe is held in the right hand, he can only hide to the left, and there is no way to enter the sword in that position!"

   Fanan heard the words and immediately looked into the hunting ground.

   Little Hernan was extremely annoyed: "I said just now that Earl Harlan has a 50% chance of winning, and now there may not even be a 10% chance..."

  [in the hunting ground]

  The assistant led the bison away, and Siegfried was ready again.

   There was a shallow wound oozing blood under his right rib, which was a memorial left by the Bulls in the confrontation just now.

  If Siegfrid's shirt had not been completely cut and taken off by Farnan just now, this attack from the bison would be enough to fly him away.

   Siegfried didn't miss a second, as if he didn't want to rest for a moment.

   He threw off the glove, and the blood accumulated in the glove was thrown out.

   He stood on tiptoe slightly and stretched out his left arm holding the sword. The tip of the sword pointed directly at the bull, and his eyes followed the direction of the sword and aimed intently at the back of the bull.

   Sweat fell from his forehead all the way down, across his eyebrows, and finally fell drop by drop from the tip of his nose, hitting the dust.

   Siegfried did not move, as if his heartbeat and breathing had completely stopped.

   He has entered a state of extreme concentration, and there is nothing in the world except his opponent.

   He just stood in the middle of the hunting ground, his naked upper body showing a special luster due to blood, sweat and mud.

  He stood there like a bronze statue, with arms, chest and every muscle line being ingenious.

   He has not only been able to control the emotions of the audience, he just stood there and already made everyone hold their breath.

  The bull came, and Siegfried waited silently. This time, he did not let go to the left.

   He put the cloak across his face and lowered it.

  When he could already feel the heat of the bull's breath, he suddenly raised his burqa, covering the bull's eyes, without even jumping or taking a step.

   With his feet firmly fixed, the curved sword in his left hand pierced from the front between the bull's high shoulders, all the way to the hilt.

  The bull's huge horns now turned into a disadvantage, for the horns were just wide enough to accommodate Siegfried's body.

   At that moment, many people had an illusion—the images of humans and cattle seemed to be one, inseparable and integrated.

   But that scene seemed to be an illusion, because when he closed his eyes and opened them again, the blond man was knocked out by the bull.

   But that scene was so impressive that the noble men and women watching the ceremony saw the same thoughts from the eyes of others.

  In the paddock, the bull stood majestically in the middle of the hunting ground, and the blond man lay on the ground, not knowing whether he was alive or dead.

   Outside the paddock, there was silence.

  The bull took a few more steps towards the blond man, and suddenly fell to his knees and bent his hind legs.

  This wild creature slowly lay on the ground and collapsed.

   And in the smoke and dust raised by the corpse of the bull, a blond figure stood upright with difficulty.

   In an instant, thunderous cheers went up to the sky.

  The royal hunting ground was conquered at this moment by the man standing in the middle of the hunting ground.

   Witnessing the earth-shattering sword, the nobles of the Castile Peninsula fell into madness.

  The men cheered until their cheeks flushed, and the ladies threw handkerchiefs, veils, scarves, everything that could be thrown into the paddock, throwing off all rules and restraints. There are also many young men jumping into the fence, scrambling to hug the new legendary gladiator.

   The happiest person in the crowd was little Hernan. He shook Fanan's shoulders desperately, screaming with excitement: "It really works! It really works! Hahahaha..."

  Royal Stand, Duke Lothair is elated.

Looking at the cheering Castilians inside and outside the hunting ground, he laughed and said to his nephew: "This scene is really a bit like the grand occasion when you fought the bear, thorn and lion and the three beasts. I remember Cass at that time. The Tyrians are crazy too! God, almost deafened me!"

   "I am not as good as him, he is more difficult than me." Although the emperor did not show any joy, he was obviously in a good mood, as can be seen from the title he used: "Uncle."

   Duke Lothair was moved, and pretended to joke casually: "Isn't Earl Harlan really your illegitimate son?"

  The royal stand became extremely quiet in an instant, but the hunting ground under the stand was like a sea of ​​joy at this moment.

   Comparing the two, the atmosphere in the royal stand seemed extremely strange—a question raised by Duke Lothair was absolutely taboo even within the royal family.

  The emperor suddenly laughed, leaning back and forth. People have not seen the emperor laugh like this for a long time.

  Even when the glass bottle containing the water and sand from the north was delivered, even when the Imperial Navy defeated the Freymans and recaptured Rhode Island, even when the native emperor of the Far West colonies bowed their heads and bowed before him, the emperor never laughed like this.

  The emperor smiled and waved his hand: "No."

   His voice was not too loud or too small, just enough to be heard by everyone.

  The Royal Stand has returned to its former atmosphere - cheers, laughter, celebration for Count Harlan.

   In an atmosphere of joy, only the emperor sitting at the front was a little lonely.

  The emperor propped his jaw and reclined on the throne, with a hint of tenderness and regret in his eyes—Duke Lothair seemed to see once again the boy who was not lacking in humanity.

   "If only I could have such a son," the emperor said softly.

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   [In fact, even in ancient times, being able to kill a beast alone was considered a commendable ability. For example, when complimenting some brave warriors, they will say that he can 'tear apart tigers and leopards', 'fight bears and stab tigers', etc.]

   [Liu Xu, the fourth son of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, is "carrying a cauldron with strength, fighting a bear and beast with bare hands", but because he played too wild, "the movements cannot be controlled, so he cannot be the heir of Han"]

   [However, cows were an important means of production in ancient my country, so even fierce people would not be singled out with cows]

   [And more progressive moral systems, such as Confucianism and the Church of the Dark Ages (after the fall of Western Rome, the Church is indeed a beacon of civilization) are very opposed to "humans and animals fighting each other for fun"]

[There is a piece of historical material, but I forgot who the person involved was, and I couldn't find it... Specifically, the emperor went out hunting and saw a tiger, he said to the general, "I heard that you are very brave, can you fight the tiger with your bare hands?" He said, "If I do this, I'll be stupid; if you let me do this, you're not too smart." Then he shot the tiger on horseback, and told the emperor a reason.]

   [Back in the day, by today's standards, bullfighting was indeed a bit cruel. There is also a push for legislation to ban bullfighting in Spain. Maybe in the future, if you want to watch this cruel and unique performance live, you can only go to Mexico and other Central and South American countries]

   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end