After completing the task of delivering Lin Mi's party to the village temple, Jiang Xiu and his friends were about to enter as well when someone shouted from inside, "Move aside, move aside!"
A group of youths came out carrying a bloodied man with broken limbs. A woman attended to him at the side with a face full of grief, "His hands and feet are broken. Even if he heals, he'll be a handicapped person."
Emotions stirred up inside Jiang Xiu when he saw this woman. She was around 50 years old but looked quite healthy. He called out to her, "Sister Xiang!"
It was none other than Jiang Xiu's nanny, Chu Qiancheng's mother.
Sister Xiang turned around, her wrinkled face lighting up in surprise, "Little Xiu!"
Even though she hadn't seen him for 3 years, Sister Xiang could recognize him in a single glance.
Her amazed face turned cold in an instant as she turned towards Chu Qiancheng and lashed out, "Little brat. How come you brought Little Xiu to such a place? Leave with him right now."
A robust man to the side asked, "Is that the child who was sent to live at your home?"
Jiang Xiu still remembered him. He was the old village chief of the Southern Mountain Village. Everyone called him Old Ironhead. He used to roam around everywhere with a tobacco pipe in his hand.
"Yes, Village Chief still remembers me."
A few of the village's best fighters were standing beside the village chief.
"You're called Jiang… Jiang Xiu, right?"
"Yes!'
"Move aside, move aside!"
A disturbance arose within the crowd again when another bloodied youth got brought outside.
"What? Did we lose again?"
Sister Xiang didn't even have the time to lesson her son and Jiang Xiu.
Jiang Xiu asked, "What happened?"
Chu Qiancheng answered him, "During the past two years, the conflict between our village and the Northern Mountain Village had become too vicious due to the business during the Myriad Dao Festival. Several lives were even lost. To settle his matter, both villages agreed to the Crime World Supremacy Contest as the medium. Whoever loses will lose the qualifications to participate in the Myriad Dao Festival. This matter is related to the livelihood and also our enmity, so everyone's doing their best."
The local customs of Dongzhou were very valorous. An armed confrontation between villages was a common occurrence right from the 1970's, and it was normal for someone to die.
"Move aside, move aside…"
Jiang Xiu glanced at the person as the others carried him; his cheekbones were twisted, and that man had already fainted.
"Sigh. Three men are injured already."
Sister Xiang sighed helplessly, "Our village isn't that well-off to invite an expert."
She realized that the target of her rants was actually Jiang Xiu after she said that, "Little Xiu, how come you're here? Do your parents know?"
"They don't know."
If he said that they knew and just in case Sister Xiang called home to ask, it'd create trouble, so he spoke the truth.
"You…"
"Also, you stinky brat. You actually brought Little Xiu to this place. Wait till we return home."
Chu Qiancheng said, "Mom, I just wanted to help Jiang Xiu win some money."
Sister Xiang muttered to herself. She understood the circumstances of Jiang Xiu's home the best. They were a wealthy family but declined so much that they sell fruits in the city now and their income was limited too. She said helplessly, "Go in together, okay?"
Tsunami-like yells resounded within the temple grounds.
A new match was going on the arena right now.
Jiang Xiu was unaffected, but Chen Xue's complexion turned pale. She had already come here yesterday, and just a look at this scene of slaughter had given her goosebumps. She ran at the first view of blood. But today, she had come to make money, her tiny hand holding the money was trembling.
The fighter invited by the Southern Mountain Village was already on his last straw. He was lying on the ground, receiving one punch after another to his head until it started to bleed.
The scene was bloody!
"We're going to lose again!"
Sister Xiang stated helplessly when she saw this scene.
"Is the effect large if we lose?" asked Jiang Xiu.
"Big?" Chu Qiancheng's eyes opened wide, "Ever since the Dao Soldier Meet changed into the Crime World Supremacy Contest, its nature had also changed. Influential families, gangs, sects as well as several underworld powers take part in it. Let alone money, some even bet their lives on it by betting their entire fortune."
"Although the conflict between our villages hasn't reached the point of betting all our livelihoods, it's almost reaching that point now."
"Do you think the effect would be small?"
The reality was indeed cruel. This was completely different from the peaceful laws of society. These hadn't come up recently, but it was the result of the Heavenly Dao Religion emerging during the time of calamity and influencing the local people.
"Move aside, move aside…"
The man who lost was brought outside on a stretcher.
Chu Qiancheng asked, "Mom, isn't the next fighter Chen Yibing?"
"Right, it's Chen Yibing."
"Is he strong?"
"Our Southern Mountain Village spent a huge sum of money to invite him. Though he's quite arrogant, we can only rely on him this time and hope that he'll win."
Jiang Xiu spoke to Sister Xiang, "If you don't feel confident, this D… I can help."
Sister Xiang was frightened, thinking about what crazy things this child was saying. "I appreciate your kindness, but lives are bet on the arena. You saw the people who left the arena, right? You'll be lucky if you end up with only broken limbs. If your luck's bad, you can even die on the scene. Just look at your small figure. Take care of your parents instead of having such thoughts, okay?"
Jiang Xiu's hair fluttered, his gaze turned sharper and voice deeper as he spoke in a lofty tone, "Sister Xiang. I'm powerful and can fight quite well."
"This trivial contest, I can end it with a single blow."
Sister Xiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Okay. Don't make trouble now. Act a bit obedient."
"Sister Xiang…"
"Really…"
Deity Xiu felt gloomy and even a bit moody. Why don't you believe this Deity's earnest words. Do you think this Deity is telling lies to cheat you?
Unbelievable. This is simply unbelievable.
"Brother Bing! Brother Bing!"
Chen Yibing's height was around 180 cms. His body was quite ripped, and he had a tattoo of a tiger's head on his body with a noticeable scar on his forehead. It gave him a baleful look.
He seemed to be around 20 to 30 years old.
His eyes weren't that big but had an ominous glint in them.
One look at him was enough to determine he was a fierce person.
Jiang Xiu asked in a bad mood, "Sister Xiang, how much did the village pay to invite him?"
"Three million!"
Jiang Xiu sucked in a cold breath. He felt it was really unbelievable. The grand Deity Xiu was ready to appear for free, yet they refused him, but they were willing to spend three million for such a person. Jiang Xiu felt his teeth ache.
Chu Qiancheng fished out all the money on him. It came to around 10,000 RMB, and he bet it all on Chen Yibing.
Chen Xue clenched her teeth and also planned to bet the 3000 she had.
However, a hand suddenly stopped her. It was Jiang Xiu's. "You must not bet!"
"He'll lose!"
Jiang Xiu had taken a look at the expert invited by the Northern Mountain Village. The other party was an Inner Strength expert, and Chen Yibing hadn't even cultivated Inner Strength. It was evident that Chen Yibing will lose.
"Bah!… Stop saying rubbish."
The fight is about to begin, and you're saying such demoralizing things.
"I'm speaking the truth…"
He hadn't even finished speaking when Chen Xue covered his mouth with her hand, "Baby, don't say such things again or else I'll hit you."
Deity Xiu was quite angry as the consequences were quite grave. This Deity wants to help you, but you actually don't believe this Deity."
The people from the Southern Mountain Village got nervous after the fight began.
"He'll win. He has to win."
Chu Qiancheng and Chen Xue mumbled to themselves. They had bet all they possessed on this match.
"Brother Bing, you can do it…"
Jiang Xiu's gaze fell on the arena. He said indifferently, "7 moves!"
Inner Strength martial artists were different from ordinary martial artists. When an average martial artist slashes at a huge rock with a blade, no matter how strong he is, he will damage it a bit at most. But Inner Strength martial artists, especially those with deep cultivation, could use the blade to split open that huge rock.
The disparity in strength was clear from this example.
Bang!
Force met with force as their fists collided with each other, followed by a snapping sound. Chen Yibing retreated a step back with a face full of pain. The arm with which he punched was trembling fiercely. At that moment their fists met each other, he had felt as if the opponent's power was invading his arm like a wave, causing his bones to tremble.
"AAAHHHH!"
The opponent shouted as he leaped towards him. Chen Yibing rushed to dodge sideways and also kicked out towards the opponent simultaneously. The opponent didn't avoid it and directly elbowed his thigh. Chen Yibing screamed in pain.
"2 more moves!"
Jiang Xiu didn't even take a look at the arena after that.
The people from the Southern Mountain Village turned silent. Their confidence from before disappeared completely. Even a blind person could make out that Chen Yibing wasn't the opponent's match.
"Brother Bing… no… He won't lose, right?"
Chen Xue's voice quivered a little.
"O-Of course."
Chu Qiancheng wanted to cry. He had bet all his money on this.
"ARRGGHHH!"
Followed by a scream, Chen Yibing was kicked several meters back, losing consciousness on the scene. His limbs were broken, life and death unknown.
It ended in seven moves.
"Quick, lift him."
"Move aside…"
The village chief of the Southern Mountain Village and the others were left stupefied. Their final hope was gone now. Everything had ended.
The old village chief's legs failed him as he fell to the ground.
The side of the Northern Mountain Village cheered crazily.
"Old Ironhead, your Southern Mountain Village has lost. You're not allowed to get involved in the Heavenly Dao Religion business from now on. Otherwise, we won't stay idle and beat the crap out of you."
"It's not like you have any money left to do business though."
"Hahaha…"
All of the people from the Northern Mountain Village laughed wantonly.
"Smash all the stores that Southern Mountain Village has set up. Don't even leave one of them and carry off all the useful things."
"Yeah!"
The people from the Southern Mountain Village wore a dismayed expression. Sister Xiang said helplessly, "Southern Mountain Village has done its best. We can only blame that we don't have the money to invite a true expert."
Many of the men wanted to cry but endured it.
Chu Qiancheng and Chen Xue also despaired. Their money was gone, and so was their livelihood.
It was unknown how they the Southern Mountain Village would fare from now on. Perhaps they might have to go outside the village to look for work. However, it was evident that the Northern Mountain Village will grow prosperous and the Southern Mountain Village will become poorer.
During such a time of despair, a voice came through, "Who said that the Southern Mountain Village hasn't anyone left?"
"Jiang Xiu!"
He walked over towards the arena in large strides.
Sister Xiang and Chu Qiancheng shouted in alarm, "Has he gone mad or what?"
"Hmm? Mimi, it's that brat who guided us."