Chapter 30: Chapter 29: Another Bet
Ma Long's assessment of the two individuals' strength wasn't wrong, indeed Huang Yaping was stronger!
Theoretically, the stronger party usually has the upper hand. However, the issue was that although Chi Dao was slightly weaker, his defensive power was terrifyingly strong, to the extent that Huang Yaping's attacks were ineffective!
Hundred Flowers Fist is characterized by its complex and ever-changing movements, making the opponent dazzled and at a loss for how to defend, with no choice but to receive the punches. But because of its variability, a lot of energy is spent on feints, resulting in dispersed power and reduced striking force.
This usually is not a problem, but it becomes a major issue when facing someone like Chi Dao, whose physique is monstrously strong!
He couldn't breach the defense!
There is a limit to human endurance; even though Huang Yaping was in fact in the Middle Mahayana realm, his endurance was only slightly better than that of the Lesser Mahayana realm, just enough for a few more minutes of fight, and he would still be exhausted!
Strength is fundamental for a martial artist, and without defense as terrifying as Chi Dao's, once his strength was exhausted... his only choice would be to concede!
Huang Yaping lost and was humiliated, something that had nothing to do with Ma Long, but he had bet on Huang Yaping's victory in his wager with Chu Hao!
Damn it! This is so infuriating!
Huang Yaping also realized this and he wanted even less to lose! He let out a long howl, his fists flying in quick succession, aiming for the same spot on Chi Dao—he simply couldn't believe that continuous bombardment wouldn't break through Chi Dao's defense.
"Hahaha, I've been soaking in medicinal baths since I was a child, my body as tough as dead wood, how could you possibly hurt me?" Chi Dao sneered, countering with a punch.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Once again, the two clashed with full force. Although Chi Dao was sent flying by Huang Yaping every time, his strong physique meant the blows were nearly harmless, gradually draining Huang Yaping's strength.
Huang Yaping never conceded. He was a direct descendant of the Huang Family! People from the Huang Family might be defeated, but they would never admit defeat until they had exhausted their last bit of energy!
But after more than 20 minutes, he was pushed to his limits, and with a punch to the abdomen from Chi Dao, he violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fell to the ground, unable to get up again.
"This battle, Chi Dao wins!" The referee made the decision at the right time.
The arena immediately filled with jeers, as most people had bet on Huang Yaping's victory, with only a few placing their bets on Chi Dao, and even fewer who guessed the right timing, essentially contributing to the profits of the Beast Fighting Arena.
"Wow!" Chi Dao also spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning pale as he sat down on the ground.
Clearly, although his physique was powerful, the continuous bombardment from Huang Yaping had injured him! Strictly speaking, the fight was damaging to both, and had both been able to use weapons, the victor might likely have been Huang Yaping!
After all, how could the destructive power of fists compare with that of bladed weapons?
Chu Hao also breathed a sigh of relief. Chi Dao's defense wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined! Thus, when facing Chi Dao, attacking with Triple Wave, he felt fairly confident that he could break through the defense.
Though Hundred Flowers Fist and Mad Wind Fist were both advanced martial techniques, their properties were completely different. Against someone with exceptionally strong defense like Chi Dao, Triple Wave could be remarkably effective!
He looked at Ma Long and said with a smile, "Thank you for giving me money, although ten thousand taels of silver isn't much, since it's for free, I'm not picky!"
Ma Long's face, already quite ugly, now twitched uncontrollably. If possible, he really wished he could gobble Chu Hao up.
"Chu Hao, don't push your luck too far, remember, you can't keep winning forever!" Lin Yuqi spoke up. She too harbored deep resentment towards Chu Hao, coveting the Sword Manual he had "snatched" and being his discarded "fiancée," she wished she could devour him as well.
"Ow!" Flying Fire, awakened by their argument, poked its little head out from Chu Hao's arms and growled at them unhappily, but being so small, the growl was more cute than fierce.
Lin Yuqi's eyes immediately lit up. Little creatures have an unmatched destructive power on young girls. She quickly whispered a few words into Ma Long's ear, who first shook his head, but after a moment, he nodded.
"Chu Hao, dare you bet once more?" Ma Long said.
"Bet on what?" Chu Hao asked casually.
"We just had a human fight, so now let's have a beast fight!" Ma Long pointed at Flying Fire and said, "My family also raises a White-footed Wolf, not even a ferocious beast. How about it, let's have your beast pet fight it. If I win, this beast pet will be mine!"
"Tsk!" Tang Xin and Xu Sheng all snorted. The White-footed Wolf was indeed just an ordinary wild animal, but what about Flying Fire? It was just born, not even teeth grown yet! How could they even fight?
It's like a peerless warrior who, when just born, could still be face-pinched and spanked by anyone, right?
Completely unfair!
Only someone as shameless as Ma Long could propose such a shameless fight!
"Flying Fire is a Fire Cloud Leopard, can your household's White-eyed Wolf even compare to it?" Chu Hao laughed, and Flying Fire very human-like held its little head high as if in agreement.
Ma Long was somewhat tempted. A mature Fire Cloud Leopard was a fifth-tier Middle Mahayana realm ferocious beast, and with good luck, it might even advance to the Great Mahayana realm! Owning such a beast pet would be not just a powerful aid but also incredibly prestigious!
But what he didn't know was that Flying Fire was no ordinary Fire Cloud Leopard; having just been born, it had survived deadly snake venom on its own and absorbed the power of the Cloud Mist Stone, making it a rare exception!
Gifted and exceptional!
If Ma Long knew this, he certainly would have salivated even more, but he probably wouldn't have dared to gamble.
"It's the White-footed Wolf, not the ungrateful wolf, who are you calling names?" He paused before realizing that Chu Hao was still insulting him indirectly. Lin Yuqi's face turned pale with anger because Chu Hao looked at her when he said "ungrateful wolf"!
He was clearly beating around the bush!
However, Lin Yuqi didn't talk back, maintaining her gentle and ladylike demeanor in front of others—how could she ruin such a fine image!
Chu Hao smiled faintly and said, "If you want to bet, that's fine, but if you lose, you must crawl a lap around the Beast Fighting Arena!"
Ma Long nearly jumped up, but he immediately calmed down, how could he possibly lose! This Little Leopard hadn't even grown teeth yet, even if it were a Fire Cloud Leopard, it would just be adorable!
"Fine, let's bet! However, if you lose, not only will you give me this Beast Pet, but you will also crawl a lap around the Beast Fighting Arena!" Ma Long said coldly, seeing this as a sure win.
"Chu Hao!" Tang Xin persuaded, believing Chu Hao had no chance—couldn't anyone see that?
Chu Hao smiled slightly and said, "Just be a witness then, and if someone tries to deny the debt later, you, Young Master Tang, will have to intervene!"
Tang Xin couldn't help but roll his eyes, you're destined to lose yet you want me to be the officer of justice? What am I supposed to do then? Should I really follow behind with a whip, and if you crawl too slowly, give you a lash?
Can't we just have fun anymore?
"Everyone knows you and Tang Xin are good friends; we need another officer of justice!" Ma Long quickly added.
"Sure, find whoever you want!" Chu Hao said indifferently.
Others might not know, but wasn't it clear to him, even though Flying Fire was young, it already possessed the strength of a thousand catties. Just a single swipe of its paw—how many ordinary beasts could withstand that?
The White-footed Wolf might be ferocious, but it couldn't possibly reach a Thousand Catties of Strength! It was nowhere close!
"I'll be the other officer of justice!" A calm voice sounded, and Liu Yang walked down from a high spot, composed and unhurried.
This cousin is still alive!
Chu Hao observed carefully, only to see a fresh scar on Liu Yang's cheek, which had almost healed. That must have been from his exchange with Ba Houyuan, but who knew how Ba Houyuan was now.
This cousin, self-professed to be very astute, had been severely tricked by him, and must be raging with the desire to devour someone!
Chu Hao revealed a smile and said, "Cousin, are you well?"
"Thank you for your concern, cousin. I am in great health! But you need to be more careful, it's very dangerous outside the city now, you better not go out!" Liu Yang also spoke with a smiling face.
His plotting was indeed deep, he had been severely tricked by Chu Hao, and yet he could still smile so gently! Compared to him, Lin Yuqi was completely outmatched, not even close in caliber.
But even someone like Ma Long could feel the murderous intent in his voice, his seemingly caring words were actually filled with threats.
Isn't this Chu Hao's cousin? Why does it seem like they are mortal enemies?
Lin Yuqi nodded towards Ma Long, signaling that he could agree. Having lived with the Chu Family for a year, she knew exactly what kind of person Liu Yang was—they were cut from the same cloth! Therefore, Liu Yang would definitely not favor Chu Hao.
"Alright, let's bet!" Ma Long finally made up his mind, confident of his victory, only worried that Chu Hao would deny the loss.
Naturally, Ma Family's servants went back to bring the White-footed Wolf while after Chi Dao and Huang Yaping's match ended, most students returned separately. Only a very few who knew that Chu Hao was going to have a second fight with Ma Long stayed behind.
The Ma Family was quick in action, taking less than half an hour for a servant to bring a large brown wolf with snow-white paws. This wolf was almost as big as a leopard, not even in the same league as Flying Fire.
"What, this White-footed Wolf is going against such a small Beast Pet?"
"This is completely a one-sided slaughter!"
"Yes, I just saw the little creature open its mouth; it hasn't even grown teeth!"
"This small, not to mention the White-footed Wolf, even a slightly bigger cat could kill it!"
"Has Chu Hao gone mad again? Otherwise, why would he do such a foolish thing?"
"Definitely!"
The crowd was abuzz, even Tang Xin's group felt that Chu Hao was destined to lose. It was unequivocally clear; no matter how you looked at it, Flying Fire stood no chance.
"Chu Hao, come on down for the fight!" Ma Long urged, looking supremely confident. This time he was certain to win! Even if the Lord of the City were to come in person, the result couldn't be changed!