NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Getting Paid to Get Beaten Up
Chapter 14: Getting Paid to Get Beaten Up
To be honest, there was an element of impulsiveness when Wei Changtian said those words.
But he knew he had to do it this way.
Otherwise, he might never find anyone willing to fight him, or if he did, they would probably just flatter him like Fan Hong did.
It was also a way to force himself.
Xiao Feng was still alive, and the threat remained.
He needed to rapidly improve his strength in as short a time as possible.
As for the goal of “a hundred victories”, Wei Changtian wasn’t actually worried about being able to achieve it.
He had the backing of the Wei family and the system’s power. If he still couldn’t do it in this situation, what was the difference between him and that useless former host? He might as well just kill himself.
Although his ultimate goal was to live a carefree life of indulgence in this world, a person still needed some ambition.
Thinking of this, Wei Changtian paused and scanned the silent crowd below before asking again:
“Now, who is willing to come up?”
…
“Young Master Wei, are you serious about this?”
“Forget it. I think this matter will become the biggest joke of the Mirror Division.”
“Getting fifty taels of silver is like making a great contribution. If it’s true, it’s too easy to make money!”
“Brother, why don’t you go up and try first?”
“Not me, you go first if you’re going.”
“Heh, like I’m dumb enough for that.”
“So you think I’m dumb then?”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“Well I think you did! The 4th Arena is empty now, you dare fight me there?!”
“…”
It was clear most people didn’t believe Wei Changtian’s promise just now.
The monthly salary of an ordinary official in the Mirror Division was one or two taels of silver. With some gray income, they could probably earn another one or two taels more.
Two taels of silver per month puts them squarely in the high-income group, even in the capital.
It’s enough to ensure they don’t lack food or clothes, can eat meat every day, and occasionally drink good wine at Pingchang Alley.
Aside from the difficulty of buying a house, it’s already a very comfortable life.
So it’s no wonder no one dared believe Wei Changtian when he casually offered two years of their income as a reward.
But as the old saying goes, with great reward comes brave men willing to take risks.
Under such huge temptation, someone was bound to give it a try.
“Um, Lord Wei…”
A rather thin commoner man suddenly raised his hand from the crowd, looking somewhat anxious.
“This humble one is from the Spying Department, may I come up and have a try?”
Wei Changtian nodded to him. “Of course!”
“Thank you, my lord…”
Visibly nervous, the thin man didn’t know what to say after getting on stage, so he simply gritted his teeth and took a stance.
“I am Shi Yue, an Eighth Rank official. I dare to ask for your advice.”
“Seventh rank, Wei Changtian.”
Wei Changtian formally introduced himself and also took a stance.
Swish! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Soon the two were engaged in close combat, a far cry from the “one move decided all” of the previous match. This one seemed more evenly matched.
However, this wasn’t because Wei Changtian had suddenly improved, but because Shi Yue’s skills were quite poor.
The Spying Department was under the Mirror Division and responsible for intelligence gathering. Their agents weren’t skilled at direct combat.
Moreover, Shi Yue was only ranked eighth, an entire level below Wei Changtian.
So the fact that they could actually trade blows only highlighted how far Wei Changtian had fallen behind.
From the looks of it, he was even about to lose.
Bam!
Wei Changtian barely blocked one of Shi Yue’s elbows, staggering back two steps with his forearm numb.
If not for his internal energy being one level higher, there’s no way he could have blocked that elbow strike.
Inwardly sighing in relief at the close call, before he could regain his stance, another fist was suddenly flying at his face.
Wei Changtian didn’t expect the strike to come so fast. Coupled with being distracted just now, he failed to dodge in time – Shi Yue’s first hit landed on him.
And that one blow decided the outcome. There was no comeback as Wei Changtian went down.
“Lord Wei!”
There was not a hint of victory on Shi Yue’s face. He immediately dropped his stance and hurried over to carefully help Wei Changtian up from the ground. “Are you alright, my lord?”
“Cough! Pah!”
Wei Changtian leaned on Shi Yue’s shoulder with one hand while rubbing the spot he was hit with the other, wincing as he spat out a mouthful of blood. “I’m…”
“Young Master!”
A shout cut him off. Wang Er rushed onto the stage, giving Shi Yue an unfriendly look.
Wei Changtian glanced at him and ordered, “Get the silver.”
Wang Er was taken aback but retrieved a silver note from his pocket. “Young Master, here…”
“Mm.”
Wei Changtian took the note and placed it in the disbelieving Shi Yue’s hand, patting his shoulder firmly.
“You’re Shi Yue from the Spying Department, right? I’ll remember your name and explain the situation to my father tonight to have an achievement recorded for you!”
“Lord…Lord Wei, this…”
Clutching the unquestionably genuine 50 tael note from the Shunchang Bank, Shi Yue felt like he was dreaming, forgetting when he even got off the stage.
A few of his colleagues immediately crowded around, some telling him to treat them to drinks, others wanting him to take them to brothels…even strangers were looking at him enviously now, regretting not being bold enough earlier.
Meanwhile, ascertaining he was largely unharmed, Wei Changtian straightened up and loudly asked, “Second round, who’s next?”
“…”
The crowd fell silent for two seconds before erupting.
“Me!”
“Young Master Wei, look at me!!”
“Pick me, pick me!!”
“Money doesn’t matter, I just want to trade a few moves with Lord Wei!”
“…”
…
“Argh!”
The Wei manor was serene under the night, save for the occasional pained cry coming from one brightly lit room.
“Young Master, does it hurt much…”
Qiu Yun held the ointment with a pained look, having no idea where the Young Master had gotten so beat up.
She and Yuan’er had asked several times, but Wei Changtian only said he went to spar.
She didn’t know who would dare rough up the Young Master like this.
Plop.
A teardrop fell as the prone Wei Changtian let out another wail of pain.
“Hey! Um, Qiu Yun…could you not cry while applying the ointment?”
“It didn’t really hurt that much before, but then your tears kept falling into my wounds…”
“Ah?”
Qiu Yun froze upon hearing this, hurriedly wiping away her tears with reddened face. “My…My apologies, Young Master, it was this servant’s mistake…”
Wei Changtian sighed helplessly with a wry smile.
“It’s fine, just continue applying the medicine.”
“Yes…Madam!”
Qiu Yun suddenly let out a soft exclamation, then Lan Jingyao’s voice came from beside her.
“Qiu Yun, you can go now. I’ll apply the medicine for…for my husband.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Soon, Wei Changtian felt that soft touch on his back again. Though still lying face down, he knew Lan Jingyao had taken over applying the medicine.
Eyes closed, he casually asked, “Why did you come?”
Lan Jingyao’s hands trembled slightly. After a long pause, she stammered, “You…You’re my husband…”
“But our marriage is a sham, isn’t it?” Wei Changtian cut her off mercilessly. “What, have you changed your mind now?”
“I…”
Lan Jingyao didn’t know how to answer that. She didn’t understand why her heart was so full of Wei Changtian now, to the point of actively coming to treat the wounds of the man she once despised.
Was she trying to curry favor with him…?
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, that did seem to be the case.
As Lan Jingyao grappled with her inner turmoil, the long silence made Wei Changtian lose interest in the topic. After a moment’s thought, he suddenly changed the subject. “By the way, would you like to hear a story?”
Lan Jingyao was taken aback. “Hear…a story?”
Wei Changtian replied matter-of-factly, “Yeah, since you’re just idling at home, I could tell you a long epic story. If you think it’s decent, you can write it out and we can take it to a publishing house to print and earn some money.”
Lan Jingyao hesitated in a daze. “Is…that allowed?”
“Whether it’s allowed or not, you can just listen first. At worst, you can just treat it as entertainment.”
“Alright, I’ll listen then…”
Though confused by the abrupt topic change, Lan Jingyao still nodded in agreement.
Then she heard Wei Changtian clear his throat before slowly beginning:
“Once upon a time long ago, there was a proud nation by the sea, with a Flower Fruit Mountain by the shore. At the peak of this mountain was a Spirit Rock…”