After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 298: Chapter 297: Astonishing Odds

The crowd’s excitement was once again stirred up.

Skinny got even busier, but he still had a moment to ask Sunx Fuling, "Are you placing a bet?"

Hee Lingchuan quickly shot him a look, but it was too late. Sunx Fuling had already taken out another tael of silver. "Bet!"

She was still betting on the one with the higher odds.

"My dear lady, this guy looks even less reliable than a wild boar!" ’Why are you still betting on him?’ Hee Lingchuan pressed the back of her hand. "Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?"

"I know," Sunx Fuling said with a blink. "That’s why I’m only betting one tael of silver this time."

"..."

Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "A little gambling is just for fun. It’s no big deal."

A few minutes later.

Sunx Fuling grabbed Hee Lingchuan’s arm, her head hanging in dejection. "My money..." It was all down the drain.

Hee Lingchuan was amused. "With one tael of silver, you could have bought several hundred buns."

The words had barely left his mouth when he felt Sunx Fuling’s grip tighten on his arm, her grab turning into a pinch.

A smart person wouldn’t say "I told you so" at a time like this. Instead, they’d say, "Forget it. That bastard Meng Shan will get what’s coming to him sooner or later."

"Why wait for ’sooner or later’? There’s no time like the present." A voice suddenly chimed in from the side. Hee Lingchuan turned his head and was surprised to see Xiao Maoliang!

Hu Min laughed in surprise. "Boss, what took you so long!"

"The meeting ran long. I almost missed the good part." Xiao Maoliang looked at Ring Seven. "Is Meng Shan defending the ring today?"

"Yeah, the bastard’s already knocked down four people," Hu Min said, shaking his head. "Looks like Ring Seven is going to close early today."

Ring Seven was a public arena, and the common people could watch the entire event. As a popular form of entertainment, Ring Seven was open one day a week, with the possibility of extra days depending on the situation.

There weren’t many entertainment options in the city, and Xiao Maoliang didn’t want to miss out on this kind of fun either.

If no one went up to challenge Meng Shan for more than an hour, he would be declared the successful defender, and the day’s event at Ring Seven would end.

Skinny came over, bowing and scraping as he greeted Xiao Maoliang. He was still a Patrol Guard, so of course he was deeply respectful toward a commander of the Great Wind Army. But he also found it a pity. "If only a couple more people would go up." ’I haven’t made enough money today.’

Xiao Maoliang smiled at Hee Lingchuan.

He was usually so stern and serious. Hee Lingchuan’s heart suddenly tightened. ’Why is Commander Xiao smiling at me?’

"Broken Blade, how about you go up?"

"Me?" Hee Lingchuan pointed at his own nose. "Now?"

"You’ve challenged Meng Shan six or seven times already. You’re also the opponent he least wants to face." When Xiao Maoliang said this, Hee Lingchuan rubbed his nose. ’Is Mr. Xiao trying to say I’m a cockroach that just won’t die?’

"I’ve watched your fights twice. You’re not without a chance of winning." Xiao Maoliang pointed to the stage. "Today is a rare opportunity. Don’t you want to give it a try?"

The two Great Wind Soldiers behind him had also participated in the Battle of Yan River Valley. They both recognized Hee Lingchuan and had fought Meng Shan before. They chimed in, "That’s right, that’s right! Broken Blade, go up there and vent some frustration for us!"

"Show that fatty what ’there’s always someone better’ means!"

Skinny’s eyes lit up, and he nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. "Yes, yes! Broken Blade, your odds are high too. I’ll definitely bet on you this time!" ’If he wins, I’ll be rolling in money!’

Hee Lingchuan shot him a look. ’Some teammate this guy is.’

Losing to Meng Shan in the South Courtyard duels before wasn’t embarrassing, since the audience was all fellow martial artists. But down below this stage, it was all commoners.

Xiao Maoliang clapped Hee Lingchuan on the shoulder. "Why do we train for a thousand days? Sooner or later, you have to face a moment like this."

Sunx Fuling had been listening from the side. She suddenly spoke up, "If you go up there and fight, I’ll bet my entire year’s salary on you."

Her almond-shaped eyes were very, very bright, brimming with vitality.

Looking into her eyes, Hee Lingchuan suddenly found his worries melting away. Or perhaps it was that Xiao Maoliang’s words had struck a chord with him.

He looked at Sunx Fuling and said, "I have a condition. If you agree to it, I’ll go up and fight."

Sunx Fuling didn’t hesitate. "Name it!"

Hee Lingchuan let out a breath and suddenly leaned close to her ear, whispering, "Win or lose, you have to give me a kiss."

It was so noisy all around that almost no one could have overheard.

Sunx Fuling’s gaze froze.

But after saying it, Hee Lingchuan suddenly felt awkward.

’I don’t know why I said that so smoothly, without even thinking. Now I’ve hit a wall.’

"Never mind, never mind. Just pretend I was talking nonsense. The condition doesn’t count." He waved his hand. "I’m going up."

But to his surprise, Sunx Fuling suddenly held out her fist to him. "Fine, I agree. But you have to win!"

Hee Lingchuan was overjoyed. He reached out his own fist and gently bumped it against hers. "A promise is a promise."

Meanwhile, Meng Shan had already strolled to a corner of the ring and let out a huge yawn.

No one had come up for a quarter of an hour. In another quarter of an hour, he would be declared the winner.

’Boring. So incredibly boring!’

Just as he was complaining about the boredom, someone suddenly leaped onto the stage from below.

Applause erupted from all around, cheering for the fearless newcomer. Every person Meng Shan had knocked down had been gravely injured, just a breath away from death. That someone still dared to come up under these circumstances deserved applause for their courage alone.

Meng Shan sneered.

’Alright, let your granddaddy see which brat ate a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall to dare come up here and offer his... huh?’

’Eh?’

’How could it be?’

Meng Shan’s expression darkened, because the person who came up greeted him with casual familiarity, "Yo, Meng Shan, it’s been half a month!"

’Broken Blade!’

"You’re still coming to your death at a time like this?" ’How many times has this kid pestered me before? Seven? Eight?’ Although he’d been beaten off the stage every time, deep down, Meng Shan knew that Broken Blade was getting harder and harder to deal with.

The last time he’d defeated him, Meng Shan had been injured himself and had simply gone home to recuperate for several days.

In all of Panlong City, the person Meng Shan least wanted to see, aside from the Red General, was this pest right in front of him who was as persistent as sticky candy.

"I made a bet. I have to win my money back." Hee Lingchuan extended a hand toward him. "After you."

Even though he had prepared himself, the moment he stood on Ring Seven, facing thousands upon thousands of fervent spectators, all that enthusiasm transformed into a tidal wave of pressure!

The stares, the accusations, and the anger of a thousand people could converge into an almost tangible aura.

He had once read in a book about a handsome man who was surrounded by onlookers whenever he went out. One time, there were so many people staring at him that he was literally looked to death. Hmm... what was that delicate boy’s name again? Not important.

Hee Lingchuan used to read it as a joke, but now he couldn’t bring himself to laugh.

Losing on Ring Seven meant being humiliated in front of the entire city. He might even become the subject of gossip and jokes for all the uncles and aunties during their tea breaks for the next half-month.

’The pressure is immense.’

He secretly took a deep breath.

’I’ve walked the line between life and death countless times already. Am I really going to be afraid of a lively crowd? Xiao Maoliang was right. Sooner or later, you have to face a moment like this.’

Meng Shan snorted, walked over to the weapon rack, and chose a four-foot-long Wolf Fang Club with wooden spikes, as well as a round buckler.

Those familiar with his fighting style let out a sound of surprise. ’Meng Shan isn’t picking a heavy weapon?’

Commander Xiao said in surprise, "The bastard’s pretty smart." ’It doesn’t match his appearance.’

Skinny laughed. "He’s suffered at Broken Blade’s hands before. He’s not planning to rely solely on brute force anymore."

Hee Lingchuan also walked to the weapon rack. He reached out, picked up a Wooden Blade, and weighed it in his hand, inspecting it carefully. ’Hmm, the weight is decent, and there are no cracks.’

’Even for Ring Seven, the weapon quality is as poor as ever. Thankfully, the material of this Wooden Blade is passable. Otherwise, I’d really be afraid of it breaking after just a couple of swings.’

Both were wearing light leather armor, but against Meng Shan’s size and strength, a Wooden Blade would likely be unable to break his defense without some clever tricks. It might even explode into splinters.

The two had already fought six or seven times and knew each other’s basics. There was no need for probing attacks. Meng Shan strode forward, swung his club, and immediately followed up with a ground-shaking stomp.

Normally, no one dared to take his attacks head-on and would usually leap back to retreat. His ground-shaking stomp would then make them lose their footing.

As soon as Hee Lingchuan showed the slightest opening, the buckler would come smashing down.

Although this type of shield wasn’t as heavy as a Mountain Shield, it was still effective for bashing people.

However, Hee Lingchuan was familiar with his moves and refused to fall for it. As the Wolf Fang Club swung down, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he advanced, suddenly accelerating and ramming himself, blade and all, into Meng Shan’s chest!

This move was light, nimble, and swift. In the Swallow Returning Body Technique, it was called "Milk Swallow Flying into the Forest." Onlookers only saw a fleeting afterimage as the tip of the Wooden Blade poked directly into Meng Shan’s belly!

It was an extremely risky move. If he had been half a second slower, Meng Shan’s massive club would have smashed right into his forehead.

Below the stage, Xiao Maoliang let out a surprised "Huh?"

He had faced Meng Shan head-on in the Yan River Valley and knew very well that once the brute got going, a powerful aura surrounded his body, capable of pulling or slowing an opponent’s movements. This was Meng Shan’s magical treasure for dealing with nimble enemies.

Agile and nimble opponents were often lean and small, making them easy to be led astray by his aura. Not only would their original attacks be greatly diminished, but even their Body Technique and positioning would be distorted. That’s when Meng Shan would let them know what it felt like to be crushed by a mountain.

But Hee Lingchuan knew this trick of his all too well; after all, the lessons were paid for in blood.

But even the strongest aura has fluctuations. Having practiced his blade in the waves today, experiencing the formless yet tangible nature of water, he was now able to keenly sense the inconsistencies in Meng Shan’s aura. There was always a vacuum-like fissure to exploit, and he cut in right along its edge.

Hee Lingchuan’s strike was precise, aimed specifically at his opponent’s diaphragm. He wanted to make Meng Shan feel the same pain the wild boar had felt earlier.

Meng Shan was in the middle of an explosive shout, his abdomen bulging as he exhaled. The poke made him arch backward in discomfort, but his stance was so stable he didn’t even take a single step back.

However, Hee Lingchuan didn’t succeed either. His opponent’s belly swelled up like a balloon—it was hard to say if it was filled with True Qi or fat. In any case, it was very springy, and the Wooden Blade couldn’t get a good purchase.

At this moment, he dearly missed his Floating Life Blade. Meng Shan’s thick layer of fat definitely wouldn’t be able to withstand its sharp tip.

Unfortunately, this was a Dream Realm arena. He wouldn’t even use his Ghost Shadow Cicada Shell here—

It was too expensive!

However, almost no one noticed that the tip of the blade spat out a foot-long stream of Gang Qi.

Meng Shan’s counter was a bear hug.

His strength was even greater than a wild boar’s. If Hee Lingchuan were caught in that hug, he’d be squeezed until he shat himself. He had personally seen Meng Shan crush someone’s spine with that move.

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