Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Zhou Chengquan's large hand, which was gently caressing Du Shiniang's lips, suddenly stopped, because he saw a woman's pity for him in Du Shiniang's eyes. He frowned, grabbed Du Shiniang's chin, and forced her to raise her chin and look up into his eyes.

"Don't look at me like that! Shi Niang, I don't need your pity, I don't need your gratitude, I want your heart. Stay with me tonight, consider it a final farewell, okay?" Zhou Chengquan licked his upper lip and said to Du Shiniang in an almost pleading tone.

Before Du Shiniang could answer, Zhou Chengquan had already bitten the beauty's lips hard and sucked on them, while his large hand gripped Du Shiniang's slender waist tightly. Du Shiniang was shocked. Having experienced several forceful encounters with men before, she thought Zhou Chengquan wouldn't force himself on her again and would respect her wishes. Unexpectedly, tonight this scoundrel was in a hurry and wanted to force himself on her. She was no longer the naive young girl she used to be in the Yangzhou brothel.

"No! General Zhou, please don't force Du Shiniang to die in front of you!" Du Shiniang bit Zhou Chengquan's lip until it bled, and forcefully pushed his face away. Then, she quickly pulled a silver hairpin from her hair and pointed the sharp end at her throat. This hairpin was the same as Chen Jinhuan's; it was specially made for Du Shiniang by Lin Chong when he was studying Ning Zhanyan's hidden weapon manual, for her self-defense. Unexpectedly, it came in handy today.

Seeing Du Shiniang's defiant stance, Zhou Chengquan sat up from the bed, turned and walked to the table in front of the bed, picked up a cup of cold tea and quickly took a sip. The chilling cold tea cleared Zhou Chengquan's head somewhat, and he sat down in the chair in front of the table, looked at Du Shiniang, and said coldly, "Du Shiniang, I've done so much for you, but I still can't move you!"

“I am the General Who Guards the North, whose background and power are superior to Lin Chong and Gao Can. Why can’t you rely on me? Is it so difficult for you to submit to me?”

Seeing the bitterness and honesty in Zhou Chengquan's questioning behind her, Du Shiniang softened a little. After putting the hairpin back into her hair, she frowned and replied, "General Zhou, what Shiniang wants is a lifelong, monogamous relationship. You already have wives and concubines in your household, so Shiniang dares not even dream of it!"

Ha! What a perfect example of "one man, one woman, for life." Du Shiniang wanted other things, whether it was money or power, Zhou Chengquan could provide them all, but this was something he truly couldn't give her. His wife was chosen for him by his parents to consolidate their position in court, while his concubines were found for him by his wife. He had never taken those women seriously, because they all fawned over him, willing to fight to the death for him in the inner quarters. Yet Du Shiniang consistently rejected him, showing him no respect whatsoever.

“It’s not that you, Shi Niang, dare not dream, but that I, the general, am too presumptuous! Only today have I realized that Shi Niang and I are ultimately not destined to be together.” After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Chengquan looked at Du Shi Niang and admitted his failure to win her heart.

“This general will be setting off for the border tomorrow, so you don’t need to be afraid of what I might do to you. This time, I’ve truly given up on you. However, I have a request, and I hope you will grant it, Shi Niang.” Zhou Chengquan cupped his hands to Du Shiniang and said sincerely.

"What request?" Du Shiniang asked Zhou Chengquan suspiciously. She couldn't believe that Zhou Chengquan, who had been so devoted to her before, had changed his mind in just one night. Wasn't this scoundrel always so self-righteous and obsessed with her? Was Zhou Chengquan up to some kind of scheme?

Seeing Du Shiniang's doubtful expression, Zhou Chengquan said loudly, "This general wishes to become sworn siblings with Shiniang. What do you think?"

"Sworn siblings?" Du Shiniang wondered if she was truly drunk and had misheard Zhou Chengquan's request. However, Zhou Chengquan spoke again, repeating, "Shiniang, I want to become sworn siblings with you. Will you agree?"

"To become sworn siblings with the General is a blessing that I, Du Shiniang, have accumulated over a hundred lifetimes. I am willing!" Du Shiniang readily agreed to Zhou Chengquan's request. After saying that, she immediately got up from the bed and shouted loudly outside, "Chuntao, have someone prepare an incense table. I want to become sworn siblings with General Zhou!"

Chun Tao, who had been standing outside the room for a while, quickly agreed and turned to have her maid prepare the sworn brotherhood items. Zhou Chengquan's lips curled into a smile, and he gave Du Shiniang a reassuring look.

Du Shiniang didn't invite anyone else from Zixiang Pavilion; she only had Xu Guan, the head steward of Zixiang Pavilion, witness her sworn brotherhood ceremony with Zhou Chengquan. After the ceremony, Zhou Chengquan and Du Shiniang drank wine, while Chuntao served them drinks and snacks.

Looking at the half-moon outside the window, Zhou Chengquan solemnly said to Du Shiniang, "Shiniang, I will not be in the capital from now on. If you encounter any trouble, you can go to Shen Daoyuan. We are good friends in private, but in court we pretend to dislike each other, which is just an act for the emperor and other officials."

“Brother, I can tell that Lord Shen is on good terms with you. I’ve confided in Sister Chai, and Lord Shen will surely help me too. You can focus on protecting our territory!” Du Shiniang gently patted Zhou Chengquan’s shoulder and said.

Just then, a deep male voice came from outside the door: "Congratulations, General Zhou! It's such a blessing for Shi Niang to become sworn brothers with you! It's truly enviable." Zhou Chengquan and Du Shiniang both looked towards the door and saw Lin Chong, dressed in a white robe, slowly walking towards them.

Zhou Chengquan knew that Lin Chong must have found out about his sworn brotherhood with Du Shiniang, and had rushed over to mock him for his failed pursuit of her, hence his shameless attempt to become sworn siblings. Unexpectedly, Lin Chong congratulated him and Du Shiniang, which made Zhou Chengquan a little embarrassed. However, he still wanted to tease Lin Chong, so he looked at him seriously and said:

"Instructor Lin, you don't need to envy my sworn sister. If you're so inclined, you can also recognize Shi Niang as your sworn sister. Wouldn't I then be your sworn brother?"

Lin Chong's face darkened immediately upon hearing this. Was Zhou Chengquan mocking him? He had no intention of becoming sworn brothers with Du Shiniang; he wanted to be her man. Since Zhou Chengquan had already sworn brotherhood with Du Shiniang, why didn't he just publicly declare that he and Du Shiniang were lovers? Thinking this, Lin Chong took Du Shiniang's hand, pulled her into his arms, and then looked at Zhou Chengquan defiantly, saying, "General Zhou, what are you saying? Can't you see that my heart belongs to Shiniang? We are lovers; how could we possibly become sworn brothers?"

Seeing that Lin Chong was being pressured, Zhou Chengquan quickly sighed and said, "Alas! This general admits that I have lost to you in the matter of pursuing Shi Niang. Don't show me any more affection, it's too cheesy to watch."

After overhearing Zhou Chengquan and Lin Chong's conversation, Du Shiniang looked at Lin Chong and said coquettishly, "Brother Lin, General Zhou sincerely wanted to become sworn brothers with me. He won't blame you for what happened between us, so please don't be angry with my sworn brother." Lin Chong breathed warmly on Shiniang's ear and whispered "okay" in her ear.

Seeing Lin Chong and Du Shiniang so intimate, Zhou Chengquan could only lower his eyes and silently drink a sip of his now-cold tea. Inadvertently, Zhou Chengquan noticed a yellow scroll Du Shiniang had placed by her bedside; he guessed it was the imperial edict appointing the Song Dynasty's women's Cuju (ancient Chinese football) team. After pondering for a while, he decided to share his concerns with Lin Chong and Du Shiniang.

Zhou Chengquan warned Du Shiniang and Lin Chong to be wary of Gao Can. Although Gao Can had been pushing for a match between Lin Chong's women's Cuju team and the Jin Kingdom's women's Cuju team and had recommended them to the Emperor multiple times, Zhou Chengquan felt that Gao Can was colluding with the Wolf King. This matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface, and there might be a conspiracy brewing for power and profit.

Lin Chong thought Zhou Chengquan's concerns were reasonable. He had just analyzed it with Wu Song, Shen Daoyuan and others at the victory banquet. Mohat represented the style and skills of the Jin people in Cuju. If this person was so good, it would be a tough battle if a Jin women's Cuju team came to play against them. Apart from Du Rushuang, who knew martial arts and could compete with the Jin women in terms of stamina, it was estimated that Chai Nianci, Du Shiniang and others would lose to the Jin women in terms of stamina.

Zhou Chengquan suggested that Lin Chong strengthen the physical training of female Cuju players such as Chai Nianci and Du Shiniang so that they would not lose to the Jin women's Cuju team due to physical limitations in the future. Lin Chong was truly moved that Zhou Chengquan could speak so frankly with him and Du Shiniang about the Song women's Cuju team that evening.

Before leaving, Zhou Chengquan deliberately sent Du Shiniang away and solemnly said to Lin Chong, "Lin Chong, I entrust my sworn sister to you. You must treat Shiniang well!"

"I will treat Shi Niang with all my heart! General, please rest assured." Lin Chong patted his chest and assured Zhou Chengquan.