Double Axes vs. Single Axe: Heroes Unleash Their Secret Weapons in a Battle of Horse Spe

Chapter 155 Double Axes vs. Single Axe: Heroes Unleash Their Secret Weapons in a Counterattack

How capable was Li Kui in the original novel?

If I had to say something, Li Kui was actually a very special person, because he really only relied on brute force. If he was unarmed, he could bully Zhang Shun with his strength, but when he encountered Yan Qing and Jiao Ting, who had solid basic skills, he could only be beaten!

But Li Kui with double axes is completely different from Li Kui without them!

Not to mention that Yan Qing and Jiao Ting combined were no match for him, he even had a record of killing more generals than Wu Song!

On the battlefield, Li Kui charged recklessly, wielding his two Ghost King Axes indiscriminately. Although his movements were haphazard, they were remarkably effective, much like a tortoise's wild, chaotic punches that yielded extraordinary results. In short, it was like a madman beating a master!

In fact, Li Kui's moves were not particularly sophisticated. He would charge into battle, cut off the legs of enemy generals and horses, and then chop off their heads with an axe. For example, Zhu Long, Duan Pengju, and Gao Keli were killed by Li Kui using this move!

Even Shi Bao was caught off guard and had his horse's leg cut off by Li Kui. But Shi Bao was so clever that he hid in the cavalry, making it impossible for Li Kui to kill him!

Although Li Kui's fighting style doesn't require much skill, it is indeed very effective. More importantly, this style can boost the morale of his own side and intimidate and frighten the enemy!

Of course, this Li Kui was not the same as the original Li Kui. He trained hard every day and his martial arts skills improved. In addition, Song Jiang forced him to read and write. Although he did not improve much, he was still not comparable to the bully in the original story!

Li Kui, holding two Ghost King Axes, said, "Brother Mi Sheng, please give me your guidance!"

Mi Sheng did not underestimate Li Kui. Although he had not joined Liangshan before, he had heard of the name of the Black Whirlwind of Liangshan. Although Mi Sheng was rough, he took every competition very seriously!

Li Kui gripped the Ghost King Axe tightly, and swung the two axes like wheels. When Mi Sheng swung his axe, it was as powerful as splitting Mount Hua, as fast as lightning!

Li Kui hurriedly used his double axes to parry the attack, and with a loud clang, the sound made everyone present feel a slight pain in their ears!

Even with Li Kui's innate strength, his hands were numb at this moment, and he secretly thought that Mi Sheng was incredibly strong!

Seeing his full-force axe strike blocked by Li Kui's double axes, Mi Sheng muttered, "Interesting. Let's try again!"

After saying that, Mi Sheng took two steps back and then swung his axe. Because Mi Sheng did not retreat too much, the angle of the blow was very tricky. It was clear that Mi Sheng had also seen that Li Kui's axe skills were not solid and had some flaws, so he used this attack!

Mi Sheng's attack was fierce, and Li Kui had no choice but to bite the bullet and block it. Li Kui held his axe with both hands, using the axe blades to block Mi Sheng's axe blade, and then pulled it to the side. However, his two Ghost King Axes were too short, and he could only pull it a little. Fortunately, Li Kui knew Mi Sheng's strength and used both hands to block the power of the axe with all his might. Even so, Li Kui still took advantage of the moment to strike at Mi Sheng!

"Clang!" Another clanging sound of metal clashing rang out!

Li Kui's double axes had the advantage of being close to the target, and Mi Sheng's single axe couldn't be withdrawn in time, so he had to defend passively and block Li Kui's attacks twice!

Seeing that he had failed to achieve anything in two consecutive attempts, Li Kui frowned, and his dark face turned red with embarrassment!

Mi Sheng shifted left and right, creating distance before launching several more fierce attacks. Li Kui hurriedly parried with his double axes, and fortunately, he managed to block them again!

Mi Sheng thought to himself, "This black-clad fellow's martial arts are not bad, and his strength is no less than mine. However, in terms of the sophistication of his moves, he is indeed inferior. How can he lose his edge in the first battle on Liangshan?"

However, Li Kui's double-axe defense was quite methodical and difficult to break through in a short time. Mi Sheng also changed his strategy and decided to fight head-on!

Thinking of this, Mi Sheng's attack suddenly became more rapid, like a storm, with his axe sweeping wildly at Li Kui!

Faced with Mi Sheng's rapid and relentless attacks, Li Kui struggled to defend, and his hands went numb from the impact!

But Li Kui was fierce and brave. Even though he couldn't lift his hands, he gritted his teeth and persevered. Although his defense was not airtight, it was still solid and unbreakable, making it impossible for Mi Sheng to break through!

After thirty rounds, the two were evenly matched in the eyes of others, but in the eyes of Bian Xiang and others, Li Kui's defeat was becoming increasingly apparent, and if he continued, he would only lose to Mi Sheng!

After thirty rounds of fierce attacks, Mi Sheng's offensive slowed down considerably, no longer as ferocious as before!

Li Kui felt a sense of unease. Mi Sheng's strength shouldn't be like this. But then he saw Mi Sheng turn around and cleave the opponent in two with a single axe strike, leaving him vulnerable all over!

Upon seeing this, Li Kui instinctively dodged, and his hand moved swiftly, sweeping towards Mi Sheng's opening!

Seeing a slight smile on Mi Sheng's face, Li Kui knew he was in trouble. How could a master of Mi Sheng's caliber make such a mistake, leaving such a large opening for him!

However, it was too late to put the axe away at this point. If he put the axe away, his axe would be too short, and he would be doomed to defeat no matter what. He had no choice but to take a gamble!

Having made up his mind, Li Kui brandished his two Ghost King Axes, which swirled like black whirlwinds, tearing apart the surrounding air!

Li Kui's men had never seen him use this move before, and they were secretly looking forward to it!

Ji Shanjun was unfamiliar with Li Kui, but he had seen Mi Sheng's skills. He was worried about whether Mi Sheng could dodge Li Kui's move.

However, Ji Shanjun's worries about Mi Sheng were obviously unnecessary. Mi Sheng's martial arts skills were indeed a level above Li Kui's. Facing the double axes that were like a black whirlwind, Mi Sheng's eyes also became serious!

Seeing the black whirlwind about to tear him apart, Mi Sheng roared and swung his single axe down, trapping the black whirlwind like a cage.

The clash of a single axe and two axes produced a series of clear, ringing sounds, much like musical instruments being played in a royal palace!

With a deafening boom, the black whirlwind vanished completely. Li Kui, seeing the mountain-splitting axe still three inches from him, sighed deeply and said, "I've lost!"

In the final moments, Mi Sheng's move "Fishing for the Moon from the Bottom of the Sea" attacked from below, ultimately breaking his double axes. This made him realize that there was a wide chasm between him and Mi Sheng. If he wanted to cross that chasm, he could only practice martial arts even harder!

Mi Sheng put away his axe and laughed, "Brother Tie Niu, don't be discouraged. You've only been training for half a year, and you've already achieved such skill. That's truly remarkable!"

Li Kui wasn't one to back down from a loss. He put down his Ghost King Axe and said, "Brother Mi Sheng's axe skills are truly remarkable. You must give me, Tie Niu, some pointers later!"

Mi Sheng laughed and said, "Of course, of course!"

The two men smiled at each other, and Wu Yong stepped onto the stage and announced, "The winner of the first round is Mi Sheng!"

Soon someone came to clear the area. Mi Sheng walked to the winner's seat on the left, while Li Kui walked to the loser's seat on the right!

Song Jiang was also impressed. Li Kui had made remarkable progress and had actually managed to hold his own against Mi Sheng for so long!

The soldiers nearby were also whispering among themselves, discussing the competition that had just taken place!

The soldiers were all sitting on the ground, while the leaders were sitting on chairs not far away!

Song Jiang sat in the second row. In the first row sat four beauties and other leaders who had not participated in the competition. To Song Jiang's left and right sat Li Jun, Yue He, Wen Huanzhang, and Jiao Ting, among others. Everyone knew that although Li Jun had just joined Liangshan, Song Jiang trusted him very much. As for Yue He, it goes without saying that Song Jiang would ask Yue He for his opinion on many things, clearly treating Yue He as a key confidant to be cultivated!

In the third row, behind Song Jiang sat Li Zhu, Gongsun Sheng, and Ma Ling, his three bodyguards. Of course, there was no safer place than Liangshan, but the three of them still stayed close to Song Jiang!

Among the four beauties, Chen Liqing was the most skilled in martial arts, but the one who enjoyed watching the most was Liu Huiniang. Song Jiang couldn't understand why a woman who knew nothing about martial arts was so interested in the contest!

Many people were not familiar with the game of Mi Sheng, so naturally many people bet on Li Kui to win the first round. Since they were willing to accept their losses, Song Jiang accepted their money without hesitation. Of course, those who bet on Mi Sheng and won had to pay their dues. The winners were naturally overjoyed, while the losers did not complain and waited for the second round of the competition!

Soon, Xu Ning rode his horse and arrived at the training ground, holding a hook-and-sickle spear. Feng Tai also rode his horse and arrived at the training ground, holding double maces.

This is a fierce battle. Xu Ning is among the top three in the Eight Tigers, but Feng Tai is also capable of killing Shan Shiqi in ten rounds. It's really hard to say who will win if they fight!

Soon, with the sound of gongs and drums, the second competition began!

Xu Ning roused himself and single-handedly stormed the enemy's stronghold, as if entering an empty field!

Feng Tai was not to be outdone. He parried the hook-and-sickle spear, and his single mace moved like a tiger entering a mountain stream, his imposing aura overwhelming!

The two were evenly matched, like two equally matched generals. One was like Luo Cheng reincarnated, wielding his hook-and-sickle spear to thrust, stab, sweep, stab, block, and entangle!

One was like Qin Qiong reborn, wielding his double maces to smash, chop, roll, press, spin, or flick!

After testing each other's skills for a few rounds, the two realized each other's abilities and decided to go all out without holding back!

The two were like two dragons fighting for a treasure, or a pair of tigers vying for a mountain. The hook-and-sickle spear swept across the four seas like a dragon's tail, while the steel-edged mace pounced on the heavens and earth like a tiger's claw. Suddenly, the sky collapsed and the earth crumbled, and black mist swirled in the battle clouds. Fierce and valiant, thunder roared and wind howled, and golden light flashed within the killing intent.

The two fought back and forth for fifty rounds without a clear victor. Xu Ning grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. It wasn't that he was no match for Feng Tai, but before joining Liangshan, he thought that while he couldn't guarantee first place, he was certain of being in the top three. Little did he know that anyone who joined the mountain was just as skilled as him. He had even witnessed the duel between Mi Sheng and Li Kui, and Xu Ning knew that if he were to face Mi Sheng, victory wouldn't be so easy! Liangshan truly was a place where hidden talents lurked.

My admiration for Song Jiang grew stronger. I wondered where he had gathered so many heroes with such great skills!

While thinking this, his hands did not relax their movements; instead, they became even more ferocious!

The two fought for another forty rounds. Feng Tai was secretly lamenting his predicament. Before joining Liangshan, he had sparred with Yuan Lang. He was confident that he could defeat the other four of the Five Tigers of Jishan, except for Yuan Lang, whom he was slightly inferior to.

But after meeting Xu Ning today, he realized that his vision was still too narrow in his small area of ​​Mulan Mountain, and that he had underestimated the heroes of the world!

It should be noted that the person Feng Tai admired most in his life was his elder brother Du Xue, who had defeated him in thirty rounds. However, Du Xue disappeared after entering Kaifeng and no one knew where he had gone. When Feng Tai came to Liangshan, he sent people to look for Du Xue, but they could not find him. They could only leave a letter and then bring Wei He to join Song Jiang!

After another twenty rounds, Feng Tai was running out of energy. Each swing of the double maces was indeed more strenuous than the hook-and-sickle spear. Feng Tai knew that if the fight dragged on any longer, he would surely lose!

He made up his mind to use his trump card: if he couldn't defeat Xu Ning, he would simply admit defeat!

The duel between the two drew cheers from the crowd. Luo Zhong looked at Xu Ning and said to Luo Yanqing, "Young Master Sun, this Instructor Xu also uses a hook-and-sickle spear. Although it's not as ruthless as our Luo family's spear technique, it's exquisite. If you watch closely, it will improve your understanding of spear techniques in the future!"

Luo Yanqing nodded thoughtfully, watching the competition in the arena without moving!

Yang Zhong also said to Yang Zaixing, "There are so many heroes in the world, but Instructor Xu and the heroes of Fengtai are rare rivals. It's a pity that such talents have been overlooked!"

Yang Zaixing sighed and said, "To do such a thing for a mere suit of armor and a sword, it seems the Song Dynasty's fate is truly sealed!"

Song Jiang was surprised that Yang Zaixing could say such things at such a young age, and patted his little head!

Yang Zhong stared at the two players on the field and said, "The outcome will be decided in this round!"

Feng Tai picked up his single mace, feigned an opening, and then threw the iron mace—the famous "Scattering Mace" move from history!

Upon seeing this, Xu Ning quickly turned his horse around to dodge, and Feng Tai, seeing this, picked up his single mace and chased after him!

Little did Feng Tai know that Xu Ning's return attack was a feint, a display of skill. His return was followed by a powerful spear thrust, catching Feng Tai off guard. His single mace was struck by Xu Ning's hook-and-sickle attack.

The gun flew out.

"A surprise attack!" Yang Zaixing and Luo Yanqing exclaimed in unison!

Yang Zhong shook his head and said, "It's not a counterattack, but it's similar!"

It turned out that Xu Ning had been very impressed with Lin Chong's Dragon Turn when they sparred before, and after thinking about it day and night, he came up with a move similar to the Dragon Turn!

Looking at the hook-and-sickle spear that was still inches from his throat, and now that he was unarmed, Feng Tai said with a bitter smile, "I've lost!"

Xu Ning smiled slightly and said, "Brother Feng Tai, you flatter me!"

The two dismounted. Feng Tai picked up his weapon and led his horse to the center of the training ground. Xu Ning did the same.

Wu Yong stepped between the two and announced, "The victor is Xu Ning!"

Xu Ning walked to the winner's seat on the left and sat next to Mi Sheng, while Feng Tai sat next to Li Kui on the right. The competition was now between Mi Sheng and Xu Ning, and between Feng Tai and Li Kui!

Time flies, and the two matches in the morning left everyone wanting more, but it was lunchtime, so the matches were put on hold!

Because everyone was familiar with Xu Ning, more people bet on him to win, and Song Jiang ended up losing a lot of money in this round!

Song Jiang didn't care. With a wave of his hand, Jiang Jing and the others happily paid the money!

Note: Regarding Song Jiang's appearance, many people have a deep impression of Li Xuejian's portrayal of Song Jiang due to the popularity and classic status of the 98 Water Margin!

Li Xuejian's portrayal of Song Jiang is indeed superb, but the Song Jiang in the original novel is not the stereotypical image of someone carrying a broadsword and a hoe. The original description of Song Jiang's appearance is as follows: "His eyes were like phoenix eyes, his eyebrows like silkworms. His earlobes were like pearls, his bright eyes like black lacquer. His lips were square and his mouth straight, his beard and chin light and graceful; his forehead broad and his crown flat, his skin and flesh full and plump. When seated, he resembled a tiger; when walking, he resembled a wolf. At thirty years old, he possessed the magnanimity to care for ten thousand people; his body was six feet tall, and he harbored the ambition to sweep away evil spirits from the four seas."

"Eyes like phoenixes, eyebrows like silkworms" is the same as Guan Yu in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Guan Sheng and Zhu Tong in "Water Margin".

He also possessed a remarkable temperament, resembling a tiger in appearance and moving with the gait of a wolf. At the age of thirty, he had the magnanimity to care for and help ten thousand people; he was six feet tall and harbored the ambition to sweep away evil spirits from all corners of the world.

That is to say, apart from being short, Song Jiang was an excellent choice in terms of appearance and temperament. Of course, being short is only relative. People like Yan Qing and Xu Ning were also not tall, but it did not affect their charm and popularity at all!