Chapter Eighty-six: One Must Have Leverage

The protection of Lotus Village had reached Tang Zhong's ears, and she could hardly restrain herself from rushing over to bite him—this was simply shameless. He had clearly promised to hand over the deed if he lost, yet now he was going back on his word; it was utterly despicable.

“What’s wrong with your Great Valley Village? You’re supposed to be a big village, yet here you are playing dirty in front of everyone.”

“If you can’t afford to lose, you shouldn’t have set up this match. Now that you’ve lost, you want a rematch?”

“That’s right, it’s disgraceful. Who would have thought people from Great Valley Village would be such sore losers?”

The people of Great Valley Village, faced with these accusations from Lotus Village, had their thick skins turning red. Yet, Tang Zhong was highly esteemed in his village. So even if they felt this was underhanded, no one dared step forward to openly object.

“Bah! Who can’t take losing? Our village chief just wants to see what your village is really made of. How is that being a sore loser?”

“Exactly! I think it’s you who are afraid and don’t want another fight. You win once and want to run away!”

The men who had been battered by Gu Xiaoyao on the platform were filled only with rage, with no room left for shame. Each of them shouted at the Lotus Village folk, calling them shameless and saying they wanted to flee after winning—a far cry from being honorable men.

Both villages now hurled insults at one another. Great Valley Village, being on their own turf and greater in number, easily drowned out Lotus Village’s voices.

“We can have another match, but there needs to be a prize. If there’s nothing at stake, I won’t agree,” said Gu Xiaoyao after a moment’s thought, seeing Tang Zhong’s determination not to let things rest.

Tang Zhong, hearing her agreement, clapped his hands and shouted in approval, finding Gu Xiaoyao forthright.

“This young lady is indeed straightforward! Fine, if you want a wager, let’s bet land again!”

Gu Xiaoyao eyed him, suspecting that the land he was so quick to offer wouldn’t be any good.

“Let’s not use land. Let’s use money. How much will you stake?”

She needed both land and money at the moment, and with a trip to the city planned for the next day, there would be plenty to buy. All she had left were a few coins from her last doctor’s visit; there was much she would need in the city tomorrow.

“Money as the prize? Fine by me, I have no objections,” Tang Zhong replied with a sly, insincere smile. He took a silver tael from his breast and placed it on the Eight Immortals table.

“If anyone else wants to place a bet, you’re welcome to join—as long as you have the money!”

Seeing him rallying the crowd, Gu Xiaoyao jumped down from the platform to borrow some money, as she had barely any herself.

“Did anybody bring money? Lend me some, I’ll pay you back.”

Because of her great service to the village, everyone was happy to help. Soon, she scraped together a silver tael and placed it on the table as well.

The two of them stood on the platform once more. Tang Zhong loosened his neck and wrists, a confident, victorious smile on his face.

“Though it may not look good for a man to fight a woman, on the platform there’s no such thing as male or female, isn’t that right?”

He spoke lightly, then suddenly lunged forward, his fist swinging hard toward Gu Xiaoyao’s head.

Watching from below, Dahua called out, “Despicable!” It was obvious Tang Zhong was feigning a relaxed approach to catch her off guard and then attack without warning.