Chapter 19: Pushed Too Far!

"Just you? And you want to bet a million taels of silver with me? Do you even have that much?" Zhou Yan was at a loss for words. She had seen how Xiao Yang lived his life before—he would split a single tael of silver into two just to make ends meet.

She reached out, tugged at his sleeve, and quietly slipped a banknote into his hand. "Senior Brother, I still have ten thousand taels here. Let's just bet that much."

Seeing that even Zhou Yan didn't trust him, Xiao Yang had no choice but to unfold a slip of paper and pass it to her. Zhou Yan took the paper with a puzzled look and saw words written on it. She read it aloud: "Wager agreement: If Xiao Yang comes out of the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects alive, he will receive one million taels of silver."

Below was a name—Zhao Youcai.

"Senior Brother, is this real?" Though she saw it with her own eyes, she still found it hard to believe. If this was true, it meant one million taels of silver—a fortune enough for an ordinary person to cultivate all the way to a Grand Martial Master.

"Xiao Meng, do you want to take a look?" She waved the slip in front of Meng Changsheng.

The sudden turn of events left Meng Changsheng completely unprepared. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect that a good-for-nothing who had been a menial worker for ten years could possess such wealth.

A million taels of silver! Let alone himself—even the Second Elder would struggle to produce that sum in one go.

"Tagalong, don't tell me you don't have it. Then again, as a mere core disciple, how could you possibly own that much?" Xiao Yang smiled cheerfully.

At once, Meng Changsheng gritted his teeth and pulled the sword from his waist. "Who says I don’t? I’ll wager this Icepierce Sword!"

Zhou Yan was a little surprised. "That sword cost the Second Martial Uncle a million and a half taels when he bought it, if I recall."

Seeing her astonishment, Meng Changsheng lifted his chin in pride, glancing provocatively at Xiao Yang, who simply ignored him and turned to Zhou Yan with a smile. "Do you like it?"

"Mm, mm!" Zhou Yan nodded eagerly, but quickly caught herself and shook her head. "No, I don’t! I like a million taels of silver more."

At that, Xiao Yang gave a helpless smile. What a little miser, he thought.

"I’ll win it for you, Senior Sister," he promised.

Zhou Yan was so moved her eyes turned red with emotion.

Xiao Yang looked to Meng Changsheng, his tone nonchalant. "Snot-nose, I won’t bully you. You may choose the martial technique; that way you can’t accuse me of picking on someone weaker."

"Hmph!" Meng Changsheng knew he was in the wrong and chose not to argue further. Besides, he stood to gain from this.

He quickly recalled a suitable technique—a set of leg strikes he’d bought just the day before, having only glanced through it twice. It would make a perfect challenge.

"You said so yourself—I choose the technique. Don’t regret it," Meng Changsheng said coolly.

But Xiao Yang shot back, "Quit dawdling, little tagalong. Hurry up, I want to go home and sleep."

Meng Changsheng felt his chest about to explode with anger, but he held it in. He was determined to use his talent to thoroughly humiliate Xiao Yang, showing him the true gap between them.

He took out the valuable martial scroll. "Mid-grade Yellow Rank martial technique, Gale Howl Strike. Achieve mastery, and every use is accompanied by the sound of the wind howling." Meng Changsheng gave a brief introduction.

"You’re getting more and more underhanded, you know. You must have already studied this technique," Zhou Yan grumbled.

Before Meng Changsheng could answer, Xiao Yang cut in, "Enough, don’t be upset. He’s just a child—let him have his way."

At that, Zhou Yan couldn’t help but laugh aloud, while Meng Changsheng’s face darkened considerably, his resentment towards Xiao Yang only deepening. It was because of his presence that Zhou Yan didn't like him.

"Xiao Yang, you go too far!"

"All right, all right, whatever you say," Xiao Yang replied lazily, unwilling to waste time on someone so eager to stir up trouble. Engaging with such a person was nothing but a waste of words.

"Enough talking. Let’s begin."

"Fine! I will definitely beat you," Meng Changsheng declared, taking out the martial scroll and preparing to study it alongside Xiao Yang.

"Senior Sister Yan, keep time for us," he requested.

Though Zhou Yan didn’t want to, seeing Xiao Yang nod, she reluctantly agreed. "Fine, I’ll keep time. Fair and just! We’ll read together!"

Meng Changsheng arched his neck, brimming with self-importance, not sparing Xiao Yang a glance.

"Very well," Xiao Yang replied calmly, unmoved by Meng Changsheng’s attitude.

"Since you agree, let Senior Sister start the count," Meng Changsheng said.

Xiao Yang nodded, stifling a yawn. He felt so sleepy.

Zhou Yan grew worried at his demeanor. "Senior Brother, you just came out of the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects—your spirit must be depleted. Why not postpone the contest?"

"Why change the time? This—Senior Brother Xiao already agreed; the contest must go on," Meng Changsheng retorted. He knew that even if the contest was postponed, he would still win, but by then, who could say if Xiao Yang would still have a million taels? As long as he won that sum, it would last him years.

"You—" Zhou Yan fumed, ready to argue.

Seeing his junior sister upset, Xiao Yang could no longer sit idly by. He leaned in and whispered reassurance, "Don’t worry, Junior Sister. I can handle a little brat like him. Just watch how I trounce him."

Zhou Yan was speechless at that.

"Who are you calling a brat?" Meng Changsheng protested.

"Whoever agrees is the brat," Xiao Yang replied.

"You—" Meng Changsheng’s lips trembled with rage, but recalling the lumps he’d suffered at Xiao Yang’s hands, he shuddered and abandoned any thought of a physical confrontation.

"I won’t stoop to argue with a menial. It would be beneath me," he huffed, turning away.

"Are you both ready?" Zhou Yan, resigned, began her duties as referee. She quickly fetched the martial scroll and unrolled it with care.

Seeing both of them close their eyes, she sighed softly. "I’ll count to three. Open your eyes together."

"All right!"

"All right!"

"Three, two, one—begin!"

Almost instantly, Meng Changsheng’s eyes snapped open, a flash of brilliance in his gaze as he quickly scanned through the Gale Howl Strike technique. He finished the first read-through in a hundred breaths, ready to close his eyes and begin comprehending the technique.

But as he glanced aside, he noticed something odd. Xiao Yang was sitting with his eyes tightly shut. At first, he thought Xiao Yang had finished reading and was already meditating on the technique. But soon, Meng Changsheng sensed something was amiss—a faint snoring sound could be heard.

Zhou Yan noticed it too, and reached out to gently nudge Xiao Yang. At once, his body slumped to the ground.

"He’s... he’s fallen asleep?" Zhou Yan stared, dumbfounded, at Xiao Yang snoring away. The contest was still ongoing—a million taels of silver at stake.

Realizing this, she forgot about the rules entirely, reached out, and gave Xiao Yang a sharp pinch.