Chapter 345: Cricket Fighting Match

After Qiu Xi finished speaking, Hongguo Li and Xiao Yan began clearing the venue and chasing people away.

Because many spectators would affect the crickets' mood.

Some of the insects were even afraid of the noise and voluntarily withdrew.

He Zuming did not leave, because he was a specially invited guest of Qiu Xi.

So he had the right to watch the match.

People had mostly left,

leaving more than ten inside.

The man wearing sable also stayed, and he was accompanying Young Master Li to watch the insects.

No need to ask; he is with Young Master Li.

I looked at the Black Head General in the jar,

and whispered, "Hey buddy, don't sleep, the match is about to start, you're up."

But the Black Head General remained lying there motionless.

Since I had never watched a cricket fight,

I placed the jar on the seat,

to first get familiar with the match.

The opening match was Qiu Xi's cricket, as per the rule.

Because Qiu Xi is the host, he must use his own cricket to start.

Everyone sat around the natural-colored white- stubble table, holding their breath, silent.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the fighting basin on the table.

At this moment, Hongguo Li first placed a red-headed cricket into the basin,

and as soon as that cricket entered the basin, it raised its red little head and looked around,

Hongguo Li took a thin needle,

about three cun long.

He Zuming once told me this needle is mouse whisker, and it's best if it's from a male field mouse.

It can stimulate the cricket's fighting spirit.

At this moment Qiu Xi looked at that red-headed cricket,

and then said to us, "This one is called Red Boy; everyone can come challenge it. Who wants to bet?"

Li Tian said: "Qiu Xi, two packs of tea, let my Southern Overlord challenge Red Boy first."

"Alright, Young Master Li, please." Qiu Xi said.

Li Tian took his jar to the front of the table,

then carefully used the needle to draw the insect out of the jar.

into the basin.

This Southern Overlord is a bit bigger than Qiu Xi's Red Boy, with a slightly purplish hue.

It appears to be a top-grade cricket.

After the Southern Overlord entered the basin, it first smoothed its whiskers.

This is similar to how actors on stage used to like to smooth the gold feather plumes on their heads.

Actually, cricket fighting mainly looks at its intelligence, vision, courage, strength, leg strength, and tooth strength.

Seeing these insects angry and vigorous, whiskers bristling, teeth clashing, head to head, tooth to tooth, whisker to whisker, leg to leg, they cross blades together.

Once the cricket is placed in the basin, the owner can no longer participate, only able to watch from the side and shout encouragement.

The basin's affairs are left to the referee; Hongguo Li is the referee, similar to a notary judge.

Red Boy stayed still on one side of the basin, while Southern Overlord shook its head and swayed its body on the other side.

Southern Overlord had already entered a fighting state.

At this moment, Hongguo Li flicked the needle on Red Boy's whiskers,

and Red Boy seemed to be electrified,

immediately charging forward,

quickly leaping toward Southern Overlord.

Southern Overlord suddenly lowered its head,

then like a bull,

lying prone on the ground, ready to await Red Boy's impact.

Soon the two crickets were fighting together.

As the crickets fought, the spectators' eyes went wide.

Li Tian clenched both hands into fists,

vigorously waving them,

not daring to shout loudly, he could only suppress his voice and call out: "Come on, come on, baby."

Likewise Qiu Xi also got down from the bench,

gritting his teeth, glaring,

and pressed both hands hard on the table, as if giving his Red Boy extra strength.

The two crickets were evenly matched, pecking at each other with their heads, their teeth locked together, both twisting their bodies without letting go.

It was very exciting.

The first round ended in a draw between the two insects.

After the brief gong signaling the end of the round, the second round began again.

The insects fight just like people; a winner must be decided.

It was my first time taking part in a cricket‑fighting contest,

and I watched it with nervous excitement, even more thrilling than watching a boxing match.

The second round started quickly; this time Nan Batian took the initiative to charge at Hong Haier.

It forced Hong Haier into a corner of the basin.

Hong Haier had no way to retreat.

He could only face Nan Batian.

Nan Batian relied on his large size,

preparing to suppress Hong Haier with force,

but now it came down to the crickets' wits.

If a cricket possessed intelligence,

it would seize the attacking opponent's weakness and launch a fatal strike.

The insects truly fight like humans.

At this moment Hong Haier lowered his head to the very bottom of the basin, as if about to sink into the yellow earth inside.

Nan Batian's whole body pressed down on Hong Haier.

Li Tian's face broke into a smug smile,

while Qiu Xi's face flushed bright red,

at the critical moment, Hong Haier summoned all his strength,

and a hissing sound rose from the bottom of the basin,

Hong Haier's head jerked up sharply, flipping Nan Batian onto the ground.

Nan Batian lay on the ground, his legs kicking upward.

I thought the battle was over then,

but unexpectedly, Hong Haier leapt quickly to Nan Batian's head and neck,

and bit down hard on Nan Batian's neck.

Nan Batian's legs stopped kicking soon after.

Nan Batian was finished.

Hong Haier strutted around the basin like a boxing‑ring victor, flaunting his triumph.

Qiu Xi finally shouted,

Li Tian, seeing his Nan Batian defeated,

became very angry and pulled Nan Batian out of the basin,

then threw him onto the ground and crushed him with his foot.

Thus a cricket's life ended,

and that cricket was worth a hundred thousand yuan.

Li Tian lost and could only pull out two tea‑leaf cards and hand them to Qiu Xi.

"Qiu Xi, I just can't believe it, I can't raise one that defeats your Hong Haier cricket."

Qiu Xi replied, "Brother, you have to be willing to stake it; my Hong Haier is valued at five hundred thousand."

Hongguo Li said at this moment, "This round is over, Hong Haier wins.

Now whose insect is willing to step up?"

As soon as Hongguo Li finished speaking, He Zuming gave me a look, the meaning being that I should take the stage.

I hurriedly grabbed the jar,

"Mr. Li, I am willing to let my Wu Tou Da Jiangjun compete in a match."

"Alright, Mr. Zhao's Wu Tou Da Jiangjun wants to join the competition. Is anyone willing to challenge Wu Tou Da Jiangjun? May I ask how many tea packs Mr. Zhao is willing to wager?" Hongguo Li asked.

"I am willing to put up three packs; is anyone up for a match?" I said.

At that moment, the man in a sable coat walked up to me,

"I am willing to face Mr. Zhao's Wu Tou Da Jiangjun; three packs aren't enough, how about five? Mr. Zhao, are you interested?"

"Hello, Qiao San, let me ask Mr. Zhao if he will raise the stake," Hongguo Li said, then turned to me: "Mr. Zhao, this Qiao San is offering five tea packs; will you accept? If not, withdraw from the match and let others step in."

At that point, how could I withdraw,

"I am willing, five packs it is."

After saying that, I placed the jar in front of the fighting basin,

and then released my Wu Tou Da Jiangjun from the jar.

The Wu Tou Da Jiangjun looked as if it had just woken up,

and, upon entering the basin, moved at a leisurely pace.

I stepped aside, and He Zuming whispered in my ear, "This guy is called Qiao San, an old veteran of Sijiucheng. He now hangs out with Li Tian's gang. They're a group."

I nodded.

At this moment Qiao San took a porcelain jar from his bosom,

He didn't release the insect immediately; first he lifted it to the top of his head and muttered incantations.

What he said is unknown, probably a prayer for a deity's blessing.

After finishing, he held the jar and bowed toward the east, south, west, and north.

The sense of ceremony was quite nice.