A Clash of Gods - Chapter 209

Chapter 209 An Accident

Qi Ning looked at the two people on the stage. In all fairness, they fought with a series of skills, and they punched and kicked, which showed that they had practiced martial arts for years. The dark-skinned big guy fought with more powerful strength obviously, but his movements were not as flexible as his opponent’s.

At the moment, the dark-skinned big guy apparently gained the upper hand, and his opponent had to dodge depending on his flexible movements. The crowd under the stage were noisy. Some of them supported the dark-skinned guy, and some supported the refined man.

“Zhanying, who do you think will win?” Qi Ning glanced at Ximen Zhanying next to him and asked with a smile. Ximen Zhanying turned away and craned her neck. Qi Ning murmured, “I thought that you are powerful in martial arts, yet it turns out that you can’t find who is more powerful. It’s so disappointing.”

Ximen Zhanying gritted her white teeth and clenched her fists.

Duan Canghai laughed and stated, “The dark-skinned big guy has a much more solid foundation, and the other one is not his opponent but will be defeated within ten movements at most.”

Qi Ning knew that Duan Canghai was a warrior from the Black Scale Camp with a lot of practical combat experience, which was got from the battlefield with his sword. Although the two men on the stage were in a stalemate, since Duan Canghai said that the dark-skinned big guy would win, it must be true.

As expected, the dark-skinned big guy punched several times in succession, while the opponent dodged successfully but had sweat all over his body. All people could see that the dark-skinned guy punched ferociously and seemed to get impatient. As long as his opponent was punched, he would probably be seriously wounded.

“This big guy is really powerful.” Somebody next to them heard Duan Canghai’s guess and said at once, “The contestants have been fighting for three days successively, and it was not worth watching on the first day, but it was splendid in the morning yesterday as they fought fiercely. One of them defeated four opponents in succession and I thought that he would surely win, yet this big guy suddenly showed up yesterday afternoon. This is his eighth opponent since yesterday.”

“Yes, this big guy is really awesome. His last seven opponents were convinced after being defeated, and two of them couldn’t get up in the end before being carried away.” Another man interrupted and seemed to show that he knew well about this competition. “If this one is beaten down and falls on the floor, perhaps nobody else dares to compete with the big guy.”

At this time, a howl could be heard suddenly. Qi Ning turned his head, to see that the dark-skinned big guy seized the chance to grasp the opponent’s waist. He put forth strength all of a sudden and raised his arm, lifting that man to be above his head. All people around exclaimed, and they saw that the big guy roared again, smashing the opponent downward with much strength, while the opponent was thrown to the floor heavily. Qi Ning stood in the front and could even hear the sound of bone fracture.

That man was smashed to the floor and struggled several times as expected. He spat fresh blood, which splashed in the arena, and he whined in pain. One of the three old men who supervised got up and waved his hand. Some servants dressed in cyan clothes with hats ran out and went to the stage to carry that man away.

In order to fight conveniently, the dark-skinned big guy just wore a thin unlined garment. As he defeated the opponent, he was so excited that he even howled and took off his garment, revealing the dark and solid muscles all over his body. He patted his chest and shouted, “Anybody else?”

The crowd fell into silence in an instant.

Although one hundred taels of silver and the secret gift did attract many people, they would pay a huge price after entering the arena. According to the rules of the competition, after they came up to the stage to fight, as long as they didn’t lose their lives, even if they were seriously wounded, they should pay all the medical fee by themselves.

On the first day, only some rascals fought. Even if they were injured, they just had flesh wounds, which were not serious, but since yesterday afternoon, four or five people who came to the stage had been seriously wounded, and some had bone fracture or even had internal injuries. Once they were wounded so severely, it would take at least three or five months before they recovered, not to mention the expensive medical fee.

This dark-skinned big guy’s figure was like a dark tower, and the muscles all over his body twined like dragons. In addition, he had much flesh on his face and looked ferocious, so his momentum scared many people.

“Anybody else?” The big guy shouted again and clenched his fists. “If you are capable, just come up.”

After a long time, nobody answered. Qi Ning thought that this big guy was too arrogant, yet he certainly wouldn’t come to the stage.

The old man dressed in cyan clothes with a hat who sat in the middle got up and coughed twice. He came to the stage and cupped his hands, saying, “Everybody, this heroic man has won for eight times in succession, and he is really brave. Which hero is willing to come up and have a try?”

Somebody under the stage shouted, “Butler Tian, under the situation, nobody will compete. This dark-skinned warrior is the most powerful among them and the winner of this martial arts competition.”

For a moment, a lot of people kicked up a fuss.

Qi Ning thought, “They are so thick-skinned. When did he become the most powerful? There are many great masters in martial arts hidden in the capital, and the real hero won’t come to this stage because of merely one hundred taels of silver.”

Not to mention others, even if Duan Canghai next to him came to the stage, he would surely beat this big guy to lose his teeth within ten movements.

Butler Tian glanced at the crowd under the stage and coughed twice before saying, “It’s almost three o’clock in the afternoon. According to the rules of this competition, after three o’clock, the one who still stays on the stage is the final winner. We will give him one hundred taels of silver, and he can go to see our madam, getting the secret gift prepared by her.”

“Butler Tian, don’t be wordy. What’s the secret gift? You have kept us in suspense for three days.” Somebody under the stage shouted, “It’s said that the secret gift is a lady, and the winner can marry her. Is it true?”

“Butler Tian, who wants to marry?” Another man asked, “Is it Mrs. Tian? If it is her, I will go to the stage to try my luck. If I lose, I will admit my destiny, while if I win, perhaps I can marry Mrs. Tian.”

There was cachinnation under the stage.

Butler Tian’s face darkened, and he responded, “Don’t talk nonsense.” He looked around again and then turned around, looking at the big guy, with a frown.

However, the big guy laughed loudly. “I have won. You take me to see your madam now. If she wants to marry me, I won’t take one hundred taels of silver.”

“Sir, please keep calm.” Butler Tian forced a smile. “We will know what the secret gift is after seeing Madam. Don’t believe the bullshit.” He glanced at the crowd under the stage and asked, “No hero dares to come up?”

Qi Ning knew that it was decided. The people who wanted to come to the stage were under it, and the ones who didn’t want to were not here, so there would be nothing worth watching next. He prepared to turn to leave but suddenly felt that his waist tightened. He turned his head, to see that Ximen Zhanying was looking at him with a strange expression in her eyes. He felt that something bad would happen, and then he asked, “What are you…”

Before he finished his words, he felt that his waist tightened again. Then he was lifted like flying. He thought that this woman had endured for a long time, and she couldn’t control herself but wanted to beat him in the end. He was in the air and reacted quickly. Then he turned around and fell freely.

At this time, he heard an uproar around. Many people shouted, “Great. Another hero has come.”

Qi Ning was stunned and lowered his head, to find that he fell on the stage.

He looked down and saw that Ximen Zhanying was staring at him with a cold smile.

He understood this woman’s intention in an instant and wanted to walk forward and lose temper. Then he heard the dark-skinned big guy’s thunderous voice. “Good. I think that I haven’t fought to my heart’s content. Another man who is not afraid of death has come. Yoho, this is a young man. Come on. Let me see how bold you are.”

All people just saw that Qi Ning flew up under the stage and then fell on it freely. Except Duan Canghai who found something wrong, nobody noticed that Ximen Zhanying had lifted Qi Ning to the arena.

All people saw that Qi Ning was dressed in luxurious clothes and looked handsome. He was young and merely as tall as the big guy’s chest. So some people thought that Qi Ning was courting death, while some thought that this young man might have a chance as they saw that he entered the stage with a free style.

Ximen Zhanying had restrained her anger for long, and this time, she finally found a chance. She sent Qi Ning to the stage when he didn’t notice it, so she vented a lot of anger, thinking, “You are arrogant. Now I have sent you to the stage, and I am going to see if you will swagger.”

The family of the Marquis of Honor was on good terms with the mansion of Divine Marquis, and Qi Jing and Ximen Wuhen were good friends, so Ximen Zhanying knew something about the family of the Marquis of Honor.

Although she had never seen the heir of the Marquis of Honor before the misunderstanding that night, she had heard about him. It was said that the heir was slow in thought like an idiot, so she thought that such a stupid man wouldn’t learn superb martial arts even though he was from an aristocratic family of military officers.

After she saw Qi Ning, she found that he was different from the idiot in the hearsay, but she had never seen him fighting, and she just saw him like an idle man, the same as most playboys she had seen. She thought that after she sent him to the stage, she could see this bad man make a fool of himself today.

She wasn’t afraid that Qi Ning would be injured by the big guy, as she could see Duan Canghai’s martial skills, and he was much more powerful than the big guy. If Qi Ning was in danger, Duan Canghai wouldn’t look on.

However, as the Marquis of Honor, he came to the stage under the watchful eyes of all people yet didn’t dare to compete with the opponent. Instead, he needed his bodyguard to save him, which was something humiliating. When Ximen Zhanying thought that Qi Ning would be embarrassed soon, she felt happy and didn’t look cold as before.

Qi Ning glared at Ximen Zhanying and naturally understood the intention of this girl with big butts at once. Hearing the big guy’s noise, he turned to him and said with a frown, “I am not going to compete with you.”

“Aha…” The big guy burst into laughter. “You won’t compete with me, so why did you come up? Will you play the braggart?”

In the big guy’s eyes, this young man didn’t know himself well enough. He would probably step on this boy before he started a move.

Meanwhile, Duan Canghai was prepared and would take actions as soon as Qi Ning was in danger.

Qi Ning ignored him and prepared to go down the stage. Then he would find a place with nobody around and teach this girl a lesson. He took only two steps, and then many people around shooed him before he went to the edge of the stage. The big guy walked to him in haste and put his hand on Qi Ning’s shoulder, sneering. “You want to go away? Since you have come to this stage, you should compete with me. Don’t you know the rules? If you want to leave, you can do it after you beat me down or let me beat you and tell some people to carry you down.”

Qi Ning glanced at the big guy’s hand on his shoulder and frowned. “Take your hand off me!”

However, Butler Tian came over with a smile and said in a gentle tone, “Young Master, are you going to compete on the stage? It’s before three o’clock now, and it’s the right time.”

Qi Ning replied, “I don’t want to compete on the stage.”

The smile on Butler Tian’s face disappeared at once, and he furrowed his brows. “But…the rule is the rule. It’s improper if you come to the stage but go down before fighting.”

“He turns out to be afraid of death.” Somebody under the stage mocked.

Another man said, “If I know that I can come up without fighting, I should have come to show my face. Anyway, we don’t need to fight, and I can pose as a hero.” There was a ripple of mirth around again.

Duan Canghai frowned and stepped forward, about to say something. Qi Ning saw that and shook his head slightly. Then he sighed and tilted his head, looking at the big guy. “I won’t compete with you, and nobody will do it, so you are the final winner and will get one hundred taels of silver as well as a secret gift. Won’t it be better?”

The big guy giggled. “I want to defeat ten people before being awarded, but since yesterday, only eight people dared to compete with me before you showed up, so I feel unhappy. After you are added, although the number is less than ten, nine is better than eight.”

“So you think that you will surely win?” Qi Ning sighed. “If you don’t brag, you won’t die. Do you know what it means?”

The big guy put forth more strength on his hand and said in a deep voice, “Kid, let me see who will die after bragging today.” As soon as he finished his words, all people saw that Qi Ning suddenly bent over. Before many people realized what was happening, they saw that Qi Ning put both his hands on the big guy’s arm, and then with a crack, he retreated in a flash.

Everything happened in an instant, and a lot of people didn’t see clearly what had happened.

The big guy looked confused and then lowered his head, to see that his left arm hung feebly and swayed. Soon severe pain spread from his left shoulder. He screamed “Ah” in agony. It turned out that Qi Ning had broken his arm instantly.

Although Qi Ning couldn’t use the internal force in his body for now, his fistfight skills didn’t fall behind but were still adept.

Among the fistfight skills, attacking the enemy’s joints was the most important. The dark-skinned big guy put his hand on Qi Ning’s shoulder behind him, and this posture was a movement that could cause his death most for the great masters in fistfight. Qi Ning didn’t need to take a lot of trouble. He just used his most familiar and basic skill to break the big guy’s arm easily.

Qi Ning did it quite quickly. After the big guy’s arm was broken, he didn’t even realize it, and the arm hung weakly, but he didn’t feel the pain.

It was silent around. With the big guy’s whine, the noisy crowd under the stage fell into silence at once, and nobody could expect this scene.

Ximen Zhanying opened her big black and bright eyes wide, with disbelief in them.