Chapter 125: Not Leaving, Huh?

The time for the challenge in the wild lands had arrived. Song Jiasen was nowhere to be seen, and Song Zhiyi’s whereabouts were also unknown.

Song Zhigang, Song Jiasen’s eldest son, was sweating profusely. He sat before Ni Ruiliang, pleading, “Uncle, please help us. It’s already one o’clock. If our family doesn’t send someone to the wild lands soon, we’ll have to forfeit in another hour.”

Ni Ruiliang was Song Jiasen’s retainer, typically addressing him as a brother. He was the Song family’s only dependable fourth-rank cultivator, a fourth-level Body Cultivator.

However, dependable didn’t mean compliant.

Ni Ruiliang had been poor since childhood and had received help from Song Jiasen when he was young. After reaching the fourth level of cultivation, he typically resided with the Song family. Song Jiasen provided him with two hundred silver dollars monthly, plus additional gifts for holidays. In essence, he was kept to serve as a deterrent.

When trouble arose, Song Jiasen had to consult him if he wanted Ni Ruiliang to take action.

Not even Song Jiasen could order Ni Ruiliang around, let alone his son.

Ni Ruiliang took a sip of tea and said, “Zhigang, where exactly are your father and brother? How can they be so unconcerned about such a major family matter?”

Song Zhigang said anxiously, “I truly don’t know where they’ve gone, Uncle. Today’s challenge determines whether the Song family can remain established in Lanyang Village. You can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Ni Ruiliang put down his teacup. “Zhigang, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but if I do, it goes against the rules. Your father and Ma Junyang agreed yesterday that your younger brother would participate in the challenge. If you ask me to step in now, what will become of the Song family’s prestige?”

“We can’t worry about prestige now, Uncle. I beg you, please fight this match for our family.”

Ni Ruiliang sighed. “Wait a little longer, just wait.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help; he didn’t dare to.

He vaguely suspected that something had happened to Song Jiasen.

No one else was to blame but Song Jiasen himself, for not knowing when to advance or retreat. Of all people to offend, he chose the Fifth Young Master Ma.

Although Ma Wu was down on his luck, he was still a member of the Ma family. If the Ma family truly decided to wipe out the Song family, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.

As for the families above the Song family—the Liu family, the Si family, and even the Lu family—they were never ambiguous about accepting money, but their willingness to intervene was questionable.

Furthermore, Ni Ruiliang’s point was valid. It was the Song family that was challenging Ma Wu, and while the "Clear Sky Arena" allowed for substitutions, Ma Wu himself had shown up.

If the Song family brought in an outsider to fight for them, couldn’t Ma Wu also substitute someone?

Did they even know what caliber of person Ma Wu could bring in as a substitute?

Seeing that time was running out, Song Zhigang gritted his teeth. “Uncle, fine. Remember this. I won’t ask you again. I’ll go myself!”

Song Zhigang strode out, and Ni Ruiliang half-heartedly offered a couple of words of advice: “Zhigang, don’t rush. Let’s think this through carefully, think it through carefully!”

When Song Zhigang arrived at the wild lands, Ma Wu was still giving a speech to the crowd of onlookers.

Too many people had come today. The Song family was taking personal action, a sight not seen in many years. All the curious residents of Lanyang Village had turned out.

“I, Ma, have been waiting here for two hours. According to the rules of our Lanyang Village, two o’clock is almost here. Two hours have passed, and the opposing party hasn’t shown up, so I win this challenge!

You, my fellow villagers, are all witnesses today. I, Ma, didn’t play any tricks or renege on my word. I defeated the Song family fair and square. Isn’t that right?

Earlier, at my doorstep, Elder Master Song threatened with knives and guns, harmed my brother Ma Wu, spoke of gouging out eyes and dislocating thighs.

He even threatened to attack me then. I, Ma, wasn’t afraid of him, and I will never be afraid of him. But since I, Ma, came here for this challenge today, shouldn’t there be an outcome, a winner and a loser?

What did Song Jiasen say back then? All you villagers heard it: in the Clear Sky Arena, whoever loses gets out of Lanyang Village! He made that declaration; he needs to uphold his word and honor his promise! Will anyone from the Song family show up, or will this matter be settled?”

Originally, the onlookers were afraid of offending the Song family, so no one dared to make a sound except Li Banfeng, Xiaochuan, and a few road construction workers.

But Ma Wu continuously used his inspiring rhetoric to rouse the crowd. Combined with his "down-to-earth" and exciting words, the more people listened, the more thrilled they became, with cheers rising in waves.

As two o’clock approached, the cheers abruptly stopped.

“The Song family is here!”

“Silence, everyone. Just watch.”

Song Zhigang entered the wild lands, followed by over twenty attendants. “Ma Junyang, don’t speak so wildly. Let’s settle this in the arena first.”

Ma Wu paused, surprised. “Song Zhigang, your father said your younger brother would come for the challenge. Why the change?”

“Zhiyi has urgent matters and can’t make it. I’m a member of the Song family, and I’m also a first-level Martial Cultivator. One level against one level, I’m not bullying you. Let’s fight!”

Song Zhigang was a man of courage. Although he was injured, he still stepped into the arena.

Were there no other Song family members who could fight?

Yes, Song Jiasen still had two second-level cultivators under his command.

These two had arrived much earlier. They had received Song Jiasen’s orders yesterday afternoon to seal off the wild lands that morning.

They could represent the Song family in the fight; the Clear Sky Arena allowed for substitutions.

But these two second-level cultivators weren’t fools.

The head steward went out to find Ma Wu and didn’t return.

The master went out to find Ma Wu, cornered him, but didn’t make a move.

Now the master’s whereabouts were unknown, and this Ma Wu was clearly not easy to deal with.

If Ni Ruiliang, a fourth-level cultivator, wouldn’t act, how could they dare?

Their job was to seal off the area, and once it was sealed, other matters were none of their concern.

Moreover, the master had specifically ordered Song Zhiyi to challenge Ma Wu, so it would be against the rules for them to participate. With this excuse, they also refused to obey Song Zhigang’s instructions.

For this match, only Song Zhigang himself could fight Ma Wu.

Glancing around the arena, Song Zhigang spotted a peculiar tile and immediately understood its purpose.

Unlike Song Zhiyi, Song Jiasen was very fond of Song Zhigang and had shared many secrets with him.

Song Zhigang spent most of his time practicing martial arts at home. He had seen this type of mechanism before, specifically this tile, which was a trap left by his father, back when he had witnessed a challenge with his father.

Knowing his father had made prior arrangements, Song Zhigang felt a surge of confidence. Pointing at Ma Wu, he declared, “Enough talk. Let’s just fight!”

Ma Wu nodded. “You’re a man of your word. Let’s see who’s stronger.”

The two stood with their backs to the iron fence, one on each side. As soon as the drum sounded, they both moved.

Song Zhigang, a Martial Cultivator, charged at Ma Wu, engaging in close combat immediately.

Ma Wu’s gaze swept over Song Zhigang’s eyes. Song Zhigang felt a sudden palpitation, inexplicably thinking that Ma Wu looked particularly handsome today and that his handsome face shouldn’t be disfigured.

He had been charmed, and his attack faltered slightly. Ma Wu flung a dagger that flew straight towards his chest.

Song Zhigang quickly dodged, the dagger grazing his shoulder and leaving a bleeding cut.

By the time he regained his balance and attempted to pursue, Ma Wu had retreated five meters away, "kiting" him.

This fighting style was somewhat underhanded, but it was how lower-level Joy Cultivators fought.

What followed was even more despicable. After they had maneuvered for a few minutes, Song Zhigang suddenly felt waves of numbness throughout his body. Ma Wu’s dagger was poisoned.

“Ma Junyang, you damn son of a bitch!” Song Zhigang cursed, though it was just a single curse. In a wild lands challenge, there were no rules; any means were permissible.

Song Zhigang glanced at the tile’s location, then feigned exhaustion, attempting to retreat.

Ma Wu stepped forward in pursuit, coincidentally stepping directly onto the tile.

Song Zhigang smiled, waiting for the mechanism to trigger. Once Ma Wu was trapped, the challenge would end. If Ma Wu didn't concede, he would simply keep fighting until he did.

Who cared if he was a fallen young master or how powerful his backing was? The priority was to win the challenge, to preserve the Song family’s assets. First...

Strange, why wasn’t the mechanism activating?

Ma Wu had been off the tile for a while now; why hadn’t the mechanism triggered yet?

Was the mechanism faulty?

Had he misjudged?

Something like this had never happened before.

Ma Wu was getting closer and closer.

What was there to fear? Wasn’t it a good thing that he was closing in? He was a Martial Cultivator; why should he be afraid of a Joy Cultivator?

They began close combat. The longer they fought, the more flustered Song Zhigang became.

Ma Wu’s fighting skills were quite good; he had also trained in martial arts.

Song Zhigang was injured and poisoned. He worried he wouldn’t be able to hold out in prolonged close combat.

But if he didn’t engage in close combat, wouldn’t he be even less likely to win?

In truth, Song Zhigang wasn’t at a disadvantage in close combat. The reason for all these confusing thoughts was Ma Wu’s unique abilities.

Under Ma Wu’s gaze, Song Zhigang’s thoughts grew increasingly chaotic; he had fallen victim to Ma Wu’s Confusion skill.

He felt as if everything he did was wrong. Ma Wu forced him back, step by step, until he suddenly stepped on a stone.

*Crack!*

The sound from this stone was unusual.

Beneath the stone was a pit, not deep, but enough to trap half a leg.

Song Zhigang fell into the pit and immediately crashed to the ground.

Ma Wu stepped forward and kicked Song Zhigang in the face, asking, “Do you concede?”

Before Song Zhigang could react, Ma Wu kicked him again. “Stone-boring silkworms, good for setting traps. Did you think only your Song family had them? That I couldn’t find them?

These things are available in the new lands, but they’re hard to raise, and I’m usually too lazy to catch them.”

Last night, Li Banfeng went to the wild lands to set an ambush. Using the Threaded Earring, he overheard Song Jiasen and Song Zhiyi’s conversation, thus learning about the mechanism.

After killing the two men, Li Banfeng initially intended to destroy the trap. However, Ma Wu said he knew how to use it, so he rushed to the new lands overnight, caught two stone-boring silkworms, and modified the trap.

He did this to have an advantage in the wild lands challenge.

Song Zhigang didn’t know the full story, but he already knew the outcome.

The result was that the Song family had lost, and lost decisively.

Even Song Jiasen’s most skilled trap could be altered, which proved one thing.

The Song family had been wrong from the start; they had chosen the wrong opponent.

When encountering someone like Ma Wu, they should never have fought him from the beginning.

If he wanted to hunt, they should have let him hunt. If he wanted to make money, they should have let him make money. The Song family wasn’t short of a few coins; why did they have to clash with Ma Wu to the very end?

What were they to do now?

Song Zhigang conceded.

The villagers of Lanyang who were watching were dumbfounded.

“The Song family’s eldest son conceded?”

“What does that mean? They lost the challenge?”

“Elder Master Song said that if his family lost, the Song family would move out.”

“What? Lanyang Village won’t be named after the Songs anymore?”

“Does it mean it’ll be named after the Mas?”

Ma Wu stood before Song Zhigang, grinning maliciously. “Your word is your bond. Go back and tell your father to pack up and get out immediately! Move out today!”

Song Zhigang and his people returned to the mansion in disarray.

Would he move?

Of course not.

As long as his father didn’t give the word, he absolutely wouldn’t move!

He instructed the guards to secure both the front and back gates and to keep a close watch on his entire family, preparing to outlast Ma Wu.

By seven o’clock, it was completely dark, and there was no movement from the Song family.

Li Banfeng said to Xiaochuan, “Brother, lend me the road roller again. Brother Ma, bring all those stone-eating insects.”

“Song Zhigang, you’re not moving, are you? I’ll go tear down your house then!”