Chapter 66

"Scholarly debate and martial contest? It sounds quite interesting. I wonder what the rules are. Tell me quickly!" The city lord, Kao Zhen, asked with great interest, and the people around him also turned their gazes to the elder of the Tang family.

"This martial contest is simple; both sides will have a match. However, since it is the city lord’s banquet, we cannot disrupt everyone’s enjoyment. We will engrave poems on green stones. Both sides will stand three zhang apart, with a large stone behind each. After the start, both sides must engrave a poem on the green stone behind the opponent. The poem can be chosen freely, of course. If both sides complete the task within the specified time, the one with more characters wins. During the process, both sides can interfere with each other, using any means, but outsiders cannot help."

"Hmm? This is quite interesting. What about the scholarly debate?"

"The scholarly debate is about cultural refinement. We will have a competition of playing the zither. Everyone here will be the judges, and they can naturally distinguish the better performance."

"Hmm! This is quite interesting. Mr. Lin, what do you think?" The city lord looked at Lin Zheng with an inquiring expression.

"Of course, no problem!"

"Good! Someone, prepare the necessary items and refresh the food and drinks!" The city lord gave the order, and instantly, a group of servants appeared to start preparing.

Lin Zheng and his companions gathered together to discuss quietly. Lin Qin listened for a while and then ran off to watch Pi Zie Lang and Tie Mu Zhan compete in drinking. Lin Qin had already expressed her view: during the martial contest, she would find an opportunity to take out another member of the Tang family, and the scholarly debate would be handled by her.

Everyone was quite speechless. It was not proper for a young lady to engage in such violent activities; she was truly a violent goddess!

Lin Wen thought for a moment and said, "It seems this old man has some ulterior motives. The martial contest will definitely be risky, so the third brother must be careful. There will also be danger in the scholarly debate. I will warn Lin Qin later, but there’s no need to worry too much. I believe the Tang family will definitely have more demands, like a bet!"

"Yes, that’s inevitable. Don’t worry, if they want to bet, we’ll make them pay dearly." Lin Zheng was quite relaxed. No matter what the plot was, since it was out in the open, it would be easier to deal with than hidden actions.

Soon, the servants cleared a space in the center of the banquet hall, and the surroundings were re-arranged with delicious food and fragrant wine. In front of the empty space, two martial artists used their abilities to lift a high platform. The city lord and several members of noble families sat on the platform, including An Miaoyi, who had appeared again and was chatting with the city lord.

Thud! Thud! Thud! The ground shook from a distance, and the dishes on the table jumped. Suddenly, Tie Mu Zhan’s father jumped up from the stands, his hands like giant hammers, and with a fierce swing, the ground stopped shaking. The crowd parted, and two large men, each carrying a green stone as big as a small hill, walked into the field. They placed the green stones on the ground and bowed before retreating.

"Since everything is ready, both sides please send your representatives to the field!" The city lord announced from the platform.

"Qinghui! You go! Don’t let the Tang family down, and show your best in front of the city lord and the other officials." The elder of the Tang family shouted to the crowd, and a tall, thin man stepped out. He had prominent cheekbones, hands as gray as iron, and eyes that showed no emotion.

"Lin Zheng, be careful. This is a famous expert from the previous generation of the Tang family, known as Iron Brush and Silver Hook. Look at his hands; that’s where his abilities lie. His strength is no less than that of the Tang Lao Ba you killed!" Wen Tianqing warned.

"Yes, I will be careful. I hope you will take care of Ruoshui and the others, Brother Zhangzhi."

"Don’t worry, even if you don’t say it, Zhangzhi will do his best!"

"Ha! Thank you!"

On the other side of the field, Tang Qinghui was already standing, watching Lin Zheng walk over. At the elder’s signal, he said, "Lin Zheng, right? How about a bet?"

"Heh, sure, what’s the stake?" Lin Zheng smiled inwardly; it was as expected.

"If you lose, bow and apologize, and leave your hands. How about that?" Tang Qinghui said calmly, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

The crowd was in an uproar, and An Miaoyi frowned but said nothing.

"Sure, what will you give us if your Tang family loses?"

"A million gold coins!" Tang Qinghui said proudly.

"Heh, the Tang family is truly bold! You might as well keep the gold for your family’s graves!" Lin Zheng retorted.

"What do you want?" Tang Qinghui’s face turned red.

"The stakes are too small, I’m not interested. If we lose either of the two contests, we will be at your disposal. As for your Tang family, you need to offer a stake that satisfies everyone!" Lin Zheng said calmly, his voice clear and loud.

Everyone was stunned. This young man was indeed bold, his calm tone exuding a heroic spirit. How could Lin Zheng have such confidence to be at the other side’s disposal? When they looked at Lin Zheng and his companions, their eyes showed a mix of admiration and doubt.

"Good boy, I didn’t expect such courage!" The people from the Tie and Wen families whispered, and everyone’s eyes turned to the elder of the Tang family, waiting to see how he would respond. The Tang family either needed to give a satisfactory answer or lose face forever.

"Good! If the Tang family loses, we will offer a million crystals, a hundred thousand pure essence pills, and I will personally renounce my cultivation and never step out of the Tang family again!" The elder of the Tang family announced loudly, his voice echoing around.

"Wow!" The crowd gasped. Was the third elder of the Tang family going all out, or was he forced into a corner by Lin Zheng? Regardless, the upcoming contest was no longer a simple match!

"Ah... Really, I just invited everyone for a meal, and you insist on competing. This is really disturbing the mood! Since that’s the case, let’s play a bit!" Pi Zie Lang howled, holding a large wine jar and standing up, shouting loudly.

"Come on, place your bets! If we lose, I’ll pay a hundred to one, no matter how much you bet! Only crystals accepted! Ah..."

The crowd’s eyes lit up, but no one stepped forward, all looking at Pi Zie Lang with suspicion. The meaning was clear: can you afford to pay if you lose?

"Damn! You guys don’t trust the integrity of Wolf Lord! You two, come out and guarantee the bet!" Pi Zie Lang raised his head and pointed at Wen Tianqing and Tie Mu Zhan, implying they were all in this together.

"Everyone, place your bets, the Wen family will guarantee it!" Wen Tianqing waved his fan and said to the crowd.

"Right, right, the Tie family will also guarantee it!" Tie Mu Zhan, who had learned Li Ruoshui’s identity from Wen Tianqing, was chatting with Li Ruoshui.

"Ah! What are you waiting for? If Lin Zheng loses, you’ll get rich! Now, I’m changing the odds to a thousand to one! Minimum bet is ten thousand crystals! Ah!" Pi Zie Lang got excited and shouted loudly.

"Huh?" The crowd was stunned. A thousand to one? Even if the Wen and Tie families could afford it, it would be a huge loss!

Wen Tianqing and Tie Mu Zhan were also stunned. A thousand to one, did Lin Zheng and his companions have some hidden plan? If they lost, the Wen and Tie families would suffer greatly!

"Hehe, everyone, place your bets, Miaoyi will also guarantee it with the Wen and Tie families, so you can be assured!" An Miaoyi suddenly said from the platform.

The more she said this, the more people hesitated. If they were offering such high odds, did Lin Zheng have some surefire plan? Ten thousand crystals were not much to the crowd, but there was no need to throw them away.

"Ha, good, very good! Can I place a bet?" The elder of the Tang family suddenly laughed loudly.

"Ah... How much?"

"Still a hundred thousand crystals! Dare to take it?"

"Taken, taken! Anyone else? Hurry up, hurry up!" Pi Zie Lang shouted loudly from the chair.

"I, ten thousand crystals, take it!"

"Me too, twenty thousand crystals, give me a receipt!"

"Me too..."

Finally, the crowd stood on the side of the Tang family. No matter what, the Tang family was an old noble family in Wushuang City. Placing a heavy bet of a hundred thousand crystals, the Tang family must have been well-prepared! After much thought, the crowd decided to trust the Tang family!

"Ha! Anyone else? Anyone else?" Lin Qin was excitedly collecting the crystals, the pile behind her growing into a large mountain, dazzling everyone. She was putting the crystals into her spatial ring and shouting excitedly!

"Zhangzhi, this is already three hundred thousand crystals. If we lose, we’ll have to pay three hundred million crystals. My God!" Tie Mu Zhan was trembling, while Wen Tianqing remained calm, though his palms were sweating.

After a while, the crowd dispersed, and Lin Zheng and Tang Qinghui stood on their respective sides. Lin Qin, with a smile, shouted to Lin Zheng, "Ha, nearly five hundred thousand crystals, third brother, go for it!"

The people from the Wen and Tie families on the platform were sweating coldly; they didn’t want to think about the compensation if they lost!

"Since both sides are ready, I declare the contest begins!" The city lord announced from the platform.

Lin Zheng and Tang Qinghui bowed to the platform and stood in front of their respective green stones. The crowd moved back, giving them enough space.

"Begin!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Tang Qinghui’s gray hands flashed with a dark light, and his hands, like hooks and sickles, darted at Lin Zheng like lightning!

The air currents created by his hands surged forward like waves. Lin Zheng stood still, one hand extended and pushed forward, the air currents scattering to the sides like hitting a wall. Tang Qinghui’s hands moved inward and outward, like tearing paper, and his body twisted in an arc, striking Lin Zheng. His hands formed two iron hooks in the air, and the air shattered, releasing a strong bloody smell!

"Crack!" Tang Qinghui made the first mark on the green stone behind Lin Zheng, but Lin Zheng seemed unperturbed, still standing in front of the green stone, not in a hurry to engrave.

Tang Qinghui’s eyes changed, a cruel smile on his lips. His hands transformed again, no longer gray but with a golden luster, appearing even more resilient and sharp!

PS: I discussed the path to success with a group of authors, and after a long discussion, it fell apart, and we all went back to writing. Hehe, it was quite fun! By the way, here’s the second update! Everyone, please collect and support with red tickets! I’m preparing to burst out!