Chapter 271: The Martial Arena

Elders of the Qing Shou Society are divided into two categories: literary elders and martial elders.

Tang Peigong is a literary elder.

Wu Decheng is a martial elder.

The main difference between the two is that the martial elder, Wu Decheng, has cultivation.

Wu Decheng is a sixth-layer thought cultivator; in the city of Black Stone Slope, he is a top-tier expert.

Li Banfeng had Ma Wu conduct a detailed investigation into the Qing Shou Society. He knew that the Qing Shou Society in Black Stone Slope had a figure like Wu Decheng and had made full preparations against him, but he didn't expect Wu Decheng not to show up in front of the cinema.

There were some hidden reasons for this that Li Banfeng didn't know.

At the beginning of the year, some friction occurred between Tang Peigong and Wu Decheng. Tang Peigong reprimanded Wu Decheng in public. Wu Decheng couldn't save face and had been recuperating in a mansion outside the city for a period of time.

As fellow elders of the Qing Shou Society, why could Tang Peigong reprimand Wu Decheng, who had cultivation?

This is a special tradition of the Qing Shou Society.

There is a difference in status among elders. What determines an elder's status is not cultivation, but virtue and talent.

Although Tang Peigong had no cultivation and no other special skills, he was virtuous and talented, and his status was above Wu Decheng's. Reprimanding Wu Decheng a couple of times was appropriate.

He didn't expect that smashing a cinema would result in being doused with night soil. Tang Peigong had no choice but to beg Wu Decheng to come forward and deal with the "Night Fragrance" newspaper office.

But asking, since so many newspapers and magazines published the same news, why did Tang Peigong determine that the mastermind was "Night Fragrance"?

Because only this newspaper published the news about the movie screening.

Following this clue to investigate, Tang Peigong found a mysterious figure—Boss Ye.

"It's this person surnamed Ye who bought the Sanfu Cinema, showed that indecent movie, and spread rumors in the newspaper to slander me.

We were ambushed in front of the cinema; it was clearly instigated by this scoundrel behind the scenes."

Wu Decheng didn't act coy. After asking about the ins and outs of the matter, he went to the "Night Fragrance" newspaper office alone.

Arriving in front of the newspaper office, Wu Decheng first had a worker go in to pass the message: "Wu Decheng of the Qing Shou Society, here to see Boss Ye."

Ma Wu reminded him: "The martial elder is here."

Li Banfeng said: "How many people did he bring?"

The worker replied: "Just one."

Li Banfeng nodded: "The rules of the underworld emphasize fairness. Since he came alone, I will receive him alone.

You all hide in the dark; watch me move, and then you all attack together. Don't let him say we are bullying the few with the many."

Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang didn't understand: "We attack together, and you don't let him say we are bullying the few with the many?"

Li Banfeng said: "I'm saying don't let him speak, not that we shouldn't bully him!"

Ma Wu had someone specifically clean out a factory building, and Li Banfeng and Wu Decheng sat in the room for a face-to-face talk.

"Boss Ye, I heard you just arrived in Black Stone Slope?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "The business just opened; I haven't had time to pay a visit to Elder Wu."

Wu Decheng smiled: "I don't think you look like someone in this line of business."

Li Banfeng froze: "Where does this come from?"

Wu Decheng felt his mouth was dry, picked up a teacup, smelled it, put it back on the table, and looked at Li Banfeng: "This tea is poisoned."

Li Banfeng explained: "The medicine was just added; it wasn't stirred well."

Wu Decheng sighed: "I came with sincerity."

"Shame, shame, this matter was the junior's fault. I will change a cup of tea for Elder Wu right now."

Not long after, a waiter brought up another cup of tea.

Wu Decheng said to Li Banfeng: "Boss Ye, I came here today to discuss two things with you, and I can only discuss them with you alone."

Li Banfeng's tone was very frank: "There is only me here."

Wu Decheng sighed lightly: "I am a thought cultivator."

Literary cultivation, virtue cultivation, and thought cultivation are three very close paths, but the perception of literary and virtue cultivation isn't considered strong, while thought cultivation's perception is extremely good.

Wu Decheng could clearly perceive the thoughts of those around him: "Boss Ye, I truly came with sincerity and will absolutely not harm you."

Li Banfeng shouted to the surroundings: "Did you hear? Elder Wu came with sincerity. Everyone hide further away, hide to a place where you can't hear us talking!"

Some movement came from around the factory.

Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang outside the wall left.

Ah Qin on the rafters left.

The scolding woman pretending to clean also left.

Perceiving that the distance of others was far enough, Wu Decheng lowered his voice to Li Banfeng: "The first thing: can you stop showing the movie 'Blood Gun Detective'? Can you stop running this newspaper 'Night Fragrance'?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "The movie must be shown, and the newspaper must be run. There is no room for discussion on this."

This was within Wu Decheng's expectations.

"Then let's discuss the second thing: let's fight three rounds."

Li Banfeng asked in surprise: "What does fighting three rounds mean?"

"It means fighting in a martial arena, best of three. We will exchange blows three times.

In the first round, let me win the opening; in the second round, I'll let you win; in the third round, we will fight to a draw.

I earn enough face in the Qing Shou Society, and you earn enough substance in Black Stone Slope. Do you think this is negotiable?"

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment: "It's negotiable, but I must win the first round."

Wu Decheng frowned: "We are making a gentleman's agreement; why must you be so calculating?"

Li Banfeng said: "Since you aren't calculating, just let me win the first round."

Wu Decheng said: "I requested to fight in the Qing Shou Society. If I fail to win the opening, it won't be easy to explain to others."

Li Banfeng said: "My momentum is just right. If I suddenly suffer a miserable defeat, my morale will be severely damaged!"

Wu Decheng looked displeased, remained silent for a long time, and said: "Fine, as you wish. In the first round, you win."

Li Banfeng nodded: "Shall we sign a contract?"

Wu Decheng waved his hands repeatedly: "No need to sign a contract."

Li Banfeng knew he couldn't sign a contract. Fighting in an arena, making a tacit agreement beforehand, and throwing a match—these things couldn't be known by others.

"Then let tea replace wine, and the matter is settled." Li Banfeng raised his teacup.

Wu Decheng also raised his teacup: "Gentleman's agreement, gentleman's tea, drink it all in one gulp."

Li Banfeng drank the cup of tea in one gulp.

Wu Decheng drank the tea and then spat it out.

"This tea is still poisoned?"

"That can't be!" Li Banfeng was very surprised.

Wu Decheng sneered: "I've crawled through the underworld for decades and have seen every scene. I could taste it, yet you still won't admit it?"

Li Banfeng was still very shocked: "When I bought the poison, they said it was odorless and colorless. Logically, you shouldn't have been able to taste it!"

"I..." Wu Decheng was so angry he didn't speak for a long time.

Li Banfeng comforted him: "Don't be angry. I'll have someone change a cup for you. Taste this cup and see if it's poisoned."

Wu Decheng laughed in anger: "Young man, I really like your temperament. We can't go back on what we've decided."

"Rest assured, I will absolutely not go back on it." Li Banfeng stood up to see him off.

Leaving the "Night Fragrance" newspaper office, Wu Decheng went to Tang Peigong's mansion.

"Peigong, I met with the manager of the 'Night Fragrance' newspaper office and exchanged two moves with him. I beat him up.

I had the heart to beat him to death directly, but I was afraid others would say I was bullying the young, ruining my reputation.

I softened my heart and left him a breath. He still wasn't convinced, saying I was bullying the weak, and insisted on arranging a martial arena with us—a literary arena at that."

"When does the battle start?" Tang Peigong was very excited.

The Qing Shou Society is a moral model, emphasizing fairness and openness in doing things. They generally don't play dirty, and arranging a martial arena is their common method for resolving conflicts.

But Tang Peigong had no cultivation; what was he excited about?

Because Wu Decheng said that the two sides agreed on a literary arena, which is equivalent to a debate.

Wu Decheng said: "Peigong, you know my eloquence is poor. This young man surnamed Ye is eloquent. I'm afraid I'll suffer a loss in the arena and lose face."

Tang Peigong got off the bed.

Having been bedridden for several days and unable to get up, he finally got off the bed today.

"Decheng, you're being too distant saying this. Does fighting in an arena require you to take action? Is Tang afraid of him!"

When saying "afraid," Tang Peigong sprayed some saliva, which drifted with the wind onto Wu Decheng's face.

Wu Decheng endured the urge to vomit, adjusted his footsteps, tried to stand in an upwind position, and sighed: "Then this matter will have to rely on you."

"What kind of relationship do we have? Why be so polite!"

Wu Decheng smiled and nodded.

He was right; his eloquence was indeed poor.

He was helping Tang Peigong settle a matter, but in a few words, it turned into him begging Tang Peigong to do him a favor.

He had suffered such grievances countless times.

Now he didn't have to suffer them anymore.

He agreed with Boss Ye to fight in the arena, but he didn't agree to a literary arena.

Tang Peigong was arrogant and wouldn't lower himself to take the initiative to contact Boss Ye.

The things inside this were quite interesting.

Tang Peigong found four disciples with the best eloquence, totaling five people, preparing to fight in the arena.

This was a good opportunity to turn things around. Tang Peigong specifically had his disciples contact the newspapers to build up momentum.

Black Stone Slope became lively again. Someone was going to fight in the arena with the Qing Shou Society!

"Do you know what this Boss Ye does?"

"I heard he runs a newspaper office. That 'Night Fragrance' is run by them."

"A newspaper runner fighting in the arena with the Qing Shou Society? How bold!"

"We have to go see this. That bunch of bastards from the Qing Shou Society beat up an old lady in the street. I don't think they have real skills either!"

"No, don't talk about skills first. Are they fighting in a literary arena or a martial arena?"

"The newspaper didn't say. Regardless of whether it's a literary or martial arena, 'Night Fragrance' is in for more misfortune than luck..."

One day before the start of the competition, Wu Decheng took a list and gave it to Tang Peigong.

This group of people were all famous scholars in Black Stone Slope and also witnesses to the arena.

For a literary arena, the significance of witnesses is very important because, unlike a martial arena, the outcome isn't so obvious. Witnesses often act as judges.

Tang Peigong looked at the list. He knew all these people, and they were all respectful when they saw him. As long as the scene looked decent, the result would definitely be judged in Tang Peigong's favor.

"Ma Lao Wu, you did a good job. I don't need to greet these people individually, right?" Tang Peigong was quite satisfied with the list.

"No need, the greetings have all been made."

"Fine, I'm still at ease with you doing things."

Wu Decheng smiled bitterly in his heart.

The situation changed so quickly.

Before, he was begging me to settle the matter.

Now it's become me doing things for him.

And I even got two words of praise from him.

How shameless can this person be?

Fine, tomorrow in the arena, let's see if you can hold up!

The next day, the arena battle began.

Tang Peigong held the banner of the Qing Shou Society and led four disciples to stand on the arena first.

Li Banfeng didn't quite understand the rules.

Five people going up together—is this a group fight?

The key was that the arena wasn't big, and it didn't seem like there was room to maneuver.

Bai Qiusheng felt the situation was wrong and lowered his voice to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, this is a literary arena, right?"

"What is a literary arena?" Li Banfeng was confused.

"A literary arena is about comparing mouths, not fists!"

Comparing mouths?

Li Banfeng hadn't prepared for this.

While they were talking, Wu Decheng had someone sound the first whistle, which was to remind both sides to prepare for battle.

Bai Qiusheng asked: "Seventh Master, what should we do? Who should we send up!"

Li Banfeng said: "Follow the previous preparations. The people we chose also have good eloquence."

On the "Night Fragrance" side, Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang went up, and Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and the two new experts added by Ma Wu all went up.

Bai Qiusheng was very nervous: "Seventh Master, are these people material for a verbal battle?"

Li Banfeng said: "They are all material for a verbal battle, especially Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang, who is particularly good at verbal battles."

Bai Qiusheng was still worried on this side when the second whistle sounded in the arena.

The second whistle meant the personnel were selected, and no one could go back on it.

Bai Qiusheng was so anxious he kept turning around. In the blink of an eye, the third whistle sounded.

According to the rules of Black Stone Slope, this was the official start of the battle.

Tang Peigong was the first to step out, standing in the center of the arena, glaring at Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang: "Rampant brat, spouting nonsense, spreading rumors, shameless..."

Look at his eloquence; four words per sentence, it was so neat.

The witnesses under the stage all covered their noses and praised:

"The elder speaks well."

"It's just that the smell is too big."

A series of words left Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang stunned. He turned his head to look at Li Banfeng and asked: "Has the fight started?"

Li Banfeng said: "It has started!"

Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang turned his head and saw Tang Peigong still cursing angrily: "Red-mouthed poisonous snake, how sinister your intentions are, extremely fierce and cruel, how is your conduct..."

Bang!

Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang hammered Tang Peigong's mouth with a punch, knocking his front teeth flying.

Tang Peigong, with his missing teeth, looked at Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang and then looked at Wu Decheng.

Wu Decheng's expression was wooden; he didn't speak.

The disciples were all stunned and shouted loudly: "Literary arena, why are you hitting people?"

A group of witnesses were stunned for a long time and looked at Wu Decheng, asking: "Elder Wu, is today a literary arena or a martial arena?"

Wu Decheng's expression was complex.

A bit of astonishment, a bit of confusion, as if some mistake had occurred in the middle.

Tang Peigong didn't want to fight anymore; he felt he couldn't stand anymore.

"You lot..." He wanted to argue a few more words with Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang, but Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang backhanded him with a punch to the face, followed by two kicks to the chest and stomach, directly knocking him off the arena.

This hit was ruthless.

Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang could have knocked him down with one punch, but he was annoyed by his talking, so he used some methods to make Tang Peigong take two extra kicks.

"The smell is so big, yet you keep blabbering!" Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang spat at Tang Peigong.

Tang Peigong lay on the ground, his jaw broken, his sternum broken, and his ribs broken, unable to speak.

The remaining four disciples were still arguing: "Literary arena, you can't hit people!"

Cheers erupted under the stage, drowning out the voices of the four disciples.

"Good, hit well!"

"This bunch of birds deserves a beating!"

"Elder Tang, share a few of your concubines with me; you can't use them anyway!"

Amidst the cheers, Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and the others pinned down Tang Peigong's disciples and gave them a beating, every punch hitting the mouth.

Li Banfeng said to Bai Qiusheng: "See, these are all people who know how to fight a verbal battle."

Bai Qiusheng didn't know how to evaluate this.

Li Banfeng cupped his hands slightly toward Wu Decheng.

Elder Wu is a good person; he let us win the first round just like that.

It's just that this letting go was too obvious. At least find a few who can fight; what's the point of sending these trash up?

Wu Decheng also cupped his hands toward Li Banfeng.

Young man, are you satisfied this time?

First battle, let you win.

Second battle, it's my turn to win.

As for the third battle.

There is no third battle.

Young man, you are still too young; don't blame me for being ruthless.

PS: This Elder Wu is very insidious, but Banfeng is a loyal and honest person, so he shouldn't hold a grudge against him.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 272 =====