Chapter 271: You speak

The challenge match between Ye Laixiang and Qingshouhui caused a huge sensation in Heishipo.

Before the match, Tang Peigong arrived grandly, waving flags, accompanied by reporters and over a hundred disciples, ready for the challenge.

On their way back, the disciples had to find stretchers and call for doctors, wailing and crying all the way to their mansion.

Tang Peigong was severely injured.

Qingshouhui suffered heavy losses.

The disciples went around complaining, claiming that Ye Laixiang had broken the rules by using force in a literary challenge.

Qingshouhui was closely affiliated with Dabangmen, which controlled a major newspaper. This gave Qingshouhui a significant advantage over Ye Laixiang in terms of publicity.

However, from a public relations perspective, Qingshouhui suffered a huge setback.

No matter how they tried to explain it, they had lost, and it was a humiliating defeat.

Furthermore, Martial Elder Wu Decheng never made a clear statement. He didn't clarify whether the agreement between the two factions was for a literary or martial contest, only suggesting there might have been a misunderstanding.

The prominent figures who witnessed the event also found it difficult to comment, as they too were unsure of the exact rules of the challenge.

Three days later, the entire Heishipo remembered only one thing: Ye Laixiang had won the match, knocking down Qingshouhui's elder, who was nearly beaten to death.

Cinemas everywhere began screening "Blood Gun Detective," and people completely ignored Qingshouhui's previous warnings.

"Ye Laixiang" (the publication) sold increasingly well, and the printing workload grew heavier. To print more copies, Ma Wu worked until 3 AM. After only two hours of sleep, he was startled awake by a tremendous roar.

"What happened!" Ma Wu exclaimed, startled, and quickly got out of bed.

He went outside and saw that everyone except Li Banfeng had been startled awake. The sound had come from the rooftop.

There was a siren on the roof, which the factory used to signal the start of work, mealtimes, and bedtime.

The boiler was broken, and there was no steam. How could the siren possibly have sounded?

As Ma Wu pondered the reason, Xiao Chuanzi, his face covered in coal dust, ran over. "Fifth Master, the boiler's fixed!" he announced.

"Which boiler?"

"The one in the courtyard!"

Ma Wu angrily retorted, "Why did you fix it?"

Xiao Chuanzi lowered his head, silent. He hadn't slept for three days and three nights, having finally managed to fix the boiler with great effort.

After a moment to compose himself, Ma Wu said, "Since the boiler is fixed, go buy a proper printing press. It'll save us so much hard work."

Xiao Chuanzi was delighted and happily went to buy the printing press.

Li Banfeng slept until noon and emerged from his portable abode feeling refreshed. After walking around the factory twice, he was about to head into town when someone reported that Qingshouhui Elder Wu Decheng had returned.

Li Banfeng had a clean factory room prepared, and the two sat down facing each other.

"Elder Wu, the tea is brewing and will be ready soon," Li Banfeng said. "The poison I've added this time is quite unusual; it's neither bitter nor astringent and has no discernible taste. You should try it later."

Wu Decheng shook his head with a smile. "Boss Ye, you were quite heavy-handed. Elder Tang probably won't be able to get out of bed for a year or so."

Li Banfeng replied with exasperation, "Elder Wu, why did you let him come to challenge? Wasn't he just asking for death? My people sparing his life was already a stroke of luck for him."

Wu Decheng nodded. "There's truth in that. The next match is scheduled for tomorrow night; don't forget our previous agreement."

Li Banfeng chuckled, "Don't worry, it's just sending a few people to go through the motions, I won't forget!"

Wu Decheng stood up to take his leave, and Li Banfeng escorted him to the door.

Watching Wu Decheng's retreating back, Li Banfeng tapped the Pendulum at his waist. "This time, I'll still need your help."

"Master, just tell me what you need."

Wu Decheng left the "Ye Laixiang" newspaper office and returned to his residence.

Four disciples sat upright in his study: a fifth-level martial cultivator named Wu Rongjin, a fifth-level literary cultivator named Rao Shaofeng, a fourth-level physical cultivator named Cheng Ziyan, and a fourth-level poison cultivator named Yue Qingsong.

These four were Wu Decheng's most formidable disciples.

Wu Decheng poured a cup of wine for each of them. "Gentlemen," he began, "you've followed me for many years and endured much hardship, especially at Tang Peigong's place, where you suffered considerable bullying."

Holding their cups, the four said in unison, "We are willing, Master!"

"Tomorrow's battle concerns our honor and disgrace for generations to come," Wu Decheng declared. "If we win, Heishipo will be ours. If we lose, we'll have no standing here. Before you step into the ring tomorrow, observe carefully: if the one named Ye goes up, I, your master, will also go up. If he doesn't, I will watch from below. We have an agreement that he is coming to concede defeat, so he'll surely send some lowlifes to go through the motions. Don't hold back! No matter whom he sends, use deadly force. If the one named Ye steps into the ring, kill him along with the others. If he doesn't, kill everyone in the ring, then rush down and kill him. Don't worry about his supporters; I, your master, will act with you then!"

With the plan settled, the eldest disciple, fifth-level martial cultivator Wu Rongjin, expressed a concern: "Master, if we directly kill the one named Ye, won't we face public criticism?"

"Criticism about what?" Wu Decheng chuckled. "That we were too ruthless? But who made them step into the ring? In a challenge match, how can one be so considerate? Tang Peigong was beaten to such a state; did anyone pity him? Even if a few people gossip for a few days, they'll forget about it in three to five days. People in this world only remember winners. No matter how pitifully the losers speak, it only serves as a joke for others. Remember this: bring back the head of the one named Ye, and Heishipo will be ours!"

The next day, at 5:30 PM, both parties arrived at the arena on time.

The factory workers had just finished their shifts and didn't even stop to eat, all coming to watch the challenge.

"Who do you think will win this time?"

"I heard this time it's a proper martial contest, and Elder Wu himself will be fighting. Boss Ye is in serious trouble."

"Last time you said he was in serious trouble, and didn't Boss Ye win anyway?"

"Last time was different..."

"Stop talking nonsense! I'll bet a hundred Huanguo banknotes on Boss Ye. Do you dare to take that bet?"

The onlookers had already started a betting pool.

Li Banfeng, looking somewhat sleepy, approached the ring and greeted Wu Decheng. "Elder Wu, should I just go up and concede immediately, or fight for a bit first?"

Wu Decheng frowned. "Boss Ye, please don't joke like that. Once we're in the ring, it's about our respective abilities."

"Alright, abilities it is. Taking a show seriously..." Li Banfeng yawned and called three people to the stage.

Just as Wu Decheng had anticipated, the one named Ye was indeed there to concede defeat, and his attitude was extremely casual.

None of his previous capable fighters had come; the three people he sent up were truly pathetic to behold.

One was a tall, stout man, but his build was very flabby, not at all like a martial artist.

The other two were short and scrawny, looking as if they hadn't eaten enough, and couldn't even walk steadily.

Their attire further confirmed it: they wore coarse cloth, were covered in oil stains, and their faces were smeared with coal dust.

This was far too perfunctory.

The one named Ye probably just hired a few workers who had just finished their shifts, intending to casually muddle through the match.

Wu Decheng lowered his voice and asked, "Boss Ye, are these your people?"

Li Banfeng grunted, "What's wrong? You're looking down on them? The ones you brought last time weren't much better!"

Wu Decheng glanced at Li Banfeng; he hadn't even brought a single aide.

Fine, young man, you're arrogant enough.

Don't cry later!

A siren blared, and both sides prepared for battle.

Wu Decheng's four disciples stepped onto the ring.

Li Banfeng frowned. "What's the meaning of this? I only have three people, and you're sending four. Is this bullying by numbers?"

His voice was quite loud, and the surrounding crowd began to murmur.

Wu Decheng remained silent, but his disciple, fifth-level literary cultivator Rao Shaofeng, stepped forward. "Boss Ye, aren't you here too? Why don't you come up and spar a little?"

Li Banfeng frowned. "What would I go up for? I'm going to lose anyway, just to make a fool of myself?"

Wu Decheng quickly cut off the conversation; if this continued, the one named Ye would reveal their secret. "Three against three is fine," he said. "Qingsong, you don't need to go up."

Fourth-level poison cultivator Yue Qingsong stepped down from the ring and stood beside Wu Decheng.

The second siren blared, confirming the number of participants for both sides, with no possibility of backing out.

The third siren blared, and the battle began.

Fifth-level martial cultivator Wu Rongjin was the first to charge at the stout man.

Among the three, it seemed only the stout man might be able to put up a fight.

The stout man, however, dared not fight and quickly retreated.

A scrawny man, crouching low, came up to Wu Rongjin, stuck out a foot, and tripped him, making him stumble.

Wu Rongjin swung back with a punch, aiming at the man.

The man easily dodged it and said with a smirk, "Can't hit me, huh? Why are you so clumsy?"

Wu Rongjin lifted his leg to kick the man again, but the man dodged once more. "Are you blind or something? Where are you kicking? I'm right here!"

The man's words were infuriating. Wu Rongjin chased after him, trying to hit him, while the man dodged and mockingly taunted:

"How did your mother give birth to such a good-for-nothing? A grown man who can't even walk straight! Look how clumsy your feet are, you can't even lift them apart. With that demeanor, you're trying to fight in a ring? You're so slow you wouldn't even get to eat warm shit!"

Wu Rongjin flew into a rage, striking wildly without restraint, his wide, sweeping movements leaving him open. The man seized the opportunity and kicked him in the calf.

The kick wasn't forceful, but it was precisely placed, causing Wu Rongjin's legs to tangle, and he fell flat on his face.

The scrawny man laughed, "See? I told you, you're so slow you wouldn't even get to eat warm shit."

The flabby stout man behind him advised, "Don't say that. There is warm stuff."

He then pulled a bucket from his clothes and placed it over Wu Rongjin's head.

Wu Rongjin immediately gagged. Before he could even remove the bucket, the man kicked and broke his leg, then stomped and fractured his arm, finally kicking him off the ring.

Who was this man? How could he be so strong?

It wasn't a man; it was the Street-Cursing Woman.

The Pendulum had a knack for makeup and had disguised the Street-Cursing Woman as a man.

Truth be told, the Pendulum's makeup skills had improved so much that even Li Banfeng hadn't recognized her at first.

While her face could be disguised, her figure could not. The old lady was so frail that disguised as a man, she only looked more gaunt.

Lying on the ground, Wu Rongjin swore loudly, "What are you waiting for? Why aren't you helping me!"

He was cursing his two junior brothers, who, in a three-on-three fight, had just stood by and watched him get beaten.

His two junior brothers wanted to help him, but they couldn't free their hands; they were held up by another scrawny man.

Fighting one against two, this scrawny man showed no signs of being at a disadvantage.

This was Aqin, a sixth-level physical cultivator.

Wu Rongjin had already been knocked off the ring and, by the rules, could not return. Now it was two against three.

If two couldn't even gain an advantage over one, how could they possibly fight two against three?

Fifth-level literary cultivator Rao Shaofeng roared angrily, "One cannot bully by numbers!"

It was the Technique of Common Rules.

The flabby stout man, holding the bucket, said, "Then I won't fight."

This stout man was Xiao Genzi, who only had second-level cultivation. If they said not to fight, he wouldn't, as he couldn't win anyway.

The remaining four, two against two, faced off for a moment. Literary cultivator Rao Shaofeng then bellowed, "Soaring Ninety Thousand Li!"

Ninety thousand li was impossible, but the Technique of Words Becoming Reality indeed made him fly quite high, at least seven or eight meters.

Aqin, whose true form was a katydid, spread her wings and leaped. She grabbed Rao Shaofeng's ankle with one hand, yanked him into mid-air, spun him around, and slammed him heavily onto the ring.

Aqin immediately landed, stepped forward, and stomped on Rao Shaofeng's chest, causing him to vomit blood instantly.

Only fourth-level Cheng Ziyan remained. He had kept a trick up his sleeve, but seeing Aqin and the Street-Cursing Woman walking towards him together, Cheng Ziyan suddenly spun around and released a cloud of smoke with a fluttering sound.

Aqin covered her nose.

The Street-Cursing Woman spat. "Damn it, he's a weasel! That kid just let out 'golden liquid,' and you're letting out stinking farts! Who the hell can stand this!"

With a kick each, the two sent Cheng Ziyan flying off the ring.

*Whoosh!*

The siren blared, signaling the end of the match.

Everyone covered their mouths and noses, and the arena fell silent.

It was quite a spectacle, but not a pleasant smell.

Wu Decheng roared angrily, "You cheated, you surnamed Ye!"

Li Banfeng retorted, "How did I cheat!"

"You dared to deceive me!"

Li Banfeng shouted, "What did I deceive you about? Tell me, say it loudly!"

"I said..."

How could he say it?