Chapter 30: Allow You Three Moves. . . .
"I will wager with you!"
As Wan Yuan made his entrance, an air of authority accompanied him, leaving Tang Yu breathless in its wake.
"Fine!" Tang Yu didn't beat around the bush and promptly accepted the challenge.
"Since we are wagering, let's play a little bigger!" Wan Yuan's cold smile hinted at the success of his scheme.
"How do you want to play?" Tang Yu, with gritted teeth, inquired.
"One thousand pills! Transcendent-grade Essence Qi Pills! How about it? Do you dare to play?" Wan Yuan, sensing Tang Yu's hesitation, grew more self-satisfied.
Tang Yu, displaying a hint of difficulty, seemed to reconsider the sizable figure proposed by Wan Yuan.
"Although Ye Yuan is disappointing, his father Ye Hang is an Alchemy Grandmaster that everyone looks up to. It can't be that you can't even take out this bit of Essence Qi Pills, right?" Wan Yuan, noticing Tang Yu's expression, took the opportunity to taunt him.
"Fine! One thousand then! Do you think I'm scared of you?" Tang Yu, with determined resolve, finally agreed.
"Hahaha! You got guts! Now, everybody heard that? If the time comes, and one goes back on his word, everyone will go to the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion together to find Ye Hang," Wan Yuan declared loudly.
In response to Tang Yu's expression, many decided to join the wager, assured that Ye Yuan wouldn't renege on the bet, especially with his reputable father, Ye Hang.
"I will bet too. 100 high-grade Essence Qi Pills!"
"I will bet too."
"Me too!"
...and so on.
After invoking Ye Hang's name, the participants felt confident that the wager was secure. Over 200 people signed the paper, committing an extensive quantity of Essence Qi Pills to the bet.
Tang Yu, observing the signatures, felt a surge of joy. He envisioned a prosperous future for the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion, fueled by the Essence Qi Pills won in the bet.
Not everyone dared to participate, but the stakes involved a considerable number of Essence Qi Pills. If Ye Yuan lost, it would be a substantial blow to the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion. However, Tang Yu harbored doubts about the likelihood of such an outcome.
After this business was settled, night had fallen. Fei Qingping made his way into the combat arena.
"Yii? Fei Qingping is actually already at the Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm!"
"It's true! Ye Yuan is definitely doomed now!"
"Hahaha! That wager of 100 high-grade Essence Qi Pills just now was really a great haul!"
Amidst the growing skepticism surrounding Ye Yuan's chances, the sight of Fei Qingping's Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm heightened the prevailing pessimism among the onlookers.
"Listening to the public opinions, Fei Qingping felt very refreshed. The initial trace of worry in his heart was already wholly forgotten."
Fei Qingping, propelled into the spotlight, savored the attention, anticipating admiration and, perhaps, love letters from admirers after the anticipated victory.
"What time is it already? Why isn't Ye Yuan here yet?"
"He probably didn't dare to come and ran away already. Hahaha . . ."
"Losing face is better than losing his life. After all, he will die even if he comes. At least he can save his life by finding his father to shield him."
Impatience spread among the spectators as they awaited Ye Yuan's arrival. The prevailing sentiment assumed Ye Yuan's reluctance, suggesting he might have chosen to avoid the impending duel.
At a private viewing stand in the combat arena, two young men, Long Tang and Zuo Bugui, ranked first and second in the Martial Roll of Honor, observed the unfolding events.
"To think that the great Martial Roll of Honor's rank one would actually stoop to come watch this sort of small fight," Zuo Bugui expressed surprise at Long Tang's presence.
Long Tang, number one in the Martial Roll of Honor, remained silent, disregarding the mockery. The laidback-looking Zuo Bugui, ranked second, hinted at an impending shift in rankings due to the competitive threat posed by Junior Apprentice Sister Feng.
"It isn't just the two of us. Su Yishan, Xu Qingfeng, those guys came too. Look at the grandstand opposite. After all, it's been two years since a deathmatch has occurred. Even if it's only two rookies, it isn't strange to attract everyone over, right? Thinking back, weren't we also rookies back then?" Long Tang shared a nonchalant observation.
"Hehe. That's true. Who wasn't a rookie before? But that fellow Su Yishan and Wan Yuan have common interests. Is he here to watch a joke? After all, the Su Family and the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion don't get along. With his personality, watching Ye Hang's son get killed will definitely make him derive pleasure from others' misfort
"Tsk. I knew you were like this! I know that you came here today because you wanted to see if the Stacking Waves Layered Palm that even you couldn't master can be mastered by a rookie, right?" Zuo Bugui displayed a keen understanding of Long Tang's motives and bluntly voiced the purpose behind Long Tang's presence.
Long Tang did not evade the observation. Instead, he acknowledged it with a nod and explained, "Stacking Waves Layered Palm might be an incomplete martial technique, but it's publicly acknowledged within the academy to be the hardest to master, as well as the martial technique with the greatest might. These past few years, virtually no one dared to touch it. I want to see if this Ye Yuan is here to be a joke, or does he really have the confidence to master Stacking Waves Layered Palm."
Zuo Bugui, with a hint of disdain, commented, "I think that you are thinking too much. Even a sicko like you spent a month's time to master only the first layer. How can Ye Yuan that last place possibly master it? Even if he mastered it, what's the use of the First Layer Wave? The difference between Fei Qingping and him is two whole cultivation realms!"
"Perhaps," Long Tang responded nonchalantly, dismissing the need for further debate with Zuo Bugui.
"Hey hey. What kind of attitude is this? Is there a need to put on a cool appearance all day?"
". . . . . ."
"I think you won't be able to see it anymore. Ye Yuan that punk probably ran away already. What time is it already, and yet he still hasn't appeared." Zuo Bugui continued to chatter, but Long Tang remained indifferent to the comments.
. . . . . .
"Make way! Make way!" Ye Yuan's voice echoed at this moment, drawing attention as he struggled to enter, caught in the crowd.
"It's Ye Yuan! He came!"
"He actually dared to come!"
"Quickly make way for him; don't delay me from collecting my Essence Qi Pills!"
Amidst the mixed reactions, the crowd parted for Ye Yuan.
Rather than entering the combat arena immediately, Ye Yuan approached Tang Yu, inquiring slyly, "Is it done?"
Tang Yu grinned. "Don't worry, Junior Apprentice Brother Ye. Luckily, I didn't fail you."
"Hahaha! Then that's good, that's good." Ye Yuan, with both arms raised in a gesture of gratitude, addressed the crowd, "Many thanks to all Senior Apprentice Brothers and Sisters that gave these Essence Qi Pills. I, your Junior Apprentice Brother, thank you here, and kindly accept them."
Confused by Ye Yuan's display, onlookers exchanged perplexed glances. Was Ye Yuan boasting or had he lost his senses during training?
Undeterred by the audience's confusion, Ye Yuan instructed Tang Yu, "Senior Apprentice Brother Tang, take care not to lose the name list. After the match, I have to go and claim from each person."
With these words, Ye Yuan confidently entered the combat arena.
Fei Qingping, observing Ye Yuan's display, wore a cold smile. "You are about to die, and yet you still dare to ask for Essence Qi Pills?"
Ye Yuan smiled back, "Fei Qingping, did you wager? Since I'm about to die, why don't you bet some more?"
"Don't worry. I've already wagered everything! Now, I will send you to the western paradise!" Fei Qingping unleashed the power of his Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm, aiming to seize control from the very start.
"Yo. Momentum's not bad. Yii? You are actually at the Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm?!" Ye Yuan's expression betrayed astonishment.
Fei Qingping, seeing Ye Yuan's reaction, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. "Humph! Anyhow, we are apprentice brothers after all. How about this; I will allow you three moves. Make your move!"
Ye Yuan's face lit up with delight, and he asked with amazement, "Do you really mean it, Senior Apprentice Brother Fei?"
"Of course!"
"Then that's great!" Ye Yuan smiled and addressed the crowd, "You all heard it! He was the one who said he will allow me three moves!"