Chapter 138
"City Lord!" Cheng Bai pleaded.
Yuan Heng lowered his gaze, his light-colored eyes shaded by his long lashes, which concealed most of his inner thoughts. Only a faint trace of reflection showed through his downcast eyes, giving an impression of careful strategy and foresight.
"City Lord," Yuan Heng asked abruptly, "I once heard the elders in my family say that Haiqiong meat is exceptionally tender and fresh—a particular favorite among gers. Is that true for the ger as well?"
Xi Ning paused before replying: "Yao'er has never eaten Haiqiong before."
"Then it's settled," Yuan Heng said. "Our hunt for Haiqiong won't be for the betrothal banquet, but simply to let the ger sample its flavor. That way, it can't be considered a bad custom anymore."
"..." Xi Ning was silent.
Cheng Bai chimed in: "Right, let's just treat it as hunting for the little delicate one to taste. We are determined to win this contest, we beg the City Lord to agree."
"..." Watching these two, so full of fervor and fighting spirit, Xi Ning could only sigh: "Did you not hear clearly what I just said? Hunting Haiqiong is no trivial matter."
"Yuan Heng and I must have a life-and-death contest. Hunting Haiqiong is the best choice," Cheng Bai insisted stubbornly.
"..." Upon hearing this, a trace of mockery flashed in Yuan Heng's eyes. This Cheng Bai truly hated him, in Cheng Bai's view, perhaps this duel would only end with one of them dead.
Xi Ning looked at Yuan Heng and asked, "What do you say?"
"I think this duel is feasible," Yuan Heng stated decisively, his confident manner as if victory was easily within his grasp.
Xi Ning's heart shook. For a moment, he actually felt that this ancient beastman truly had the confidence to hunt and bring back Haiqiong.
But that was Haiqiong! Back then, his own father had led a team of strong beastmen to hunt one, and they all ended up buried in the mouth of an adult Haiqiong...
Over so many years in Ning'an City, there had been countless gers getting engaged, but the families that successfully hunted and brought back a Haiqiong were exceedingly few. Even if they did bring one back, it was always a young Haiqiong. How could a single beastman possibly...
"Absolutely not." Before Xi Ning could speak, a man's voice came from a distance. Cheng Li had hurried over.
Upon reaching Xi Ning, Cheng Li immediately knelt beside Cheng Bai, reached out, pressed Cheng Bai's head down, and forced it to knock against the ground. "City Lord, hunting Haiqiong is a matter of life and death, and success is far from certain. Cheng Bai is acting recklessly, I beg you to put a stop to this absurd duel."
"Elder Brother!" Cheng Bai struggled but couldn't break free from Cheng Li's grip, calling out in frustration from below.
Cheng Li's face was cold as he mocked, "You can't even break free from my suppression, and you still want to hunt Haiqiong?"
"Elder Brother, I have my own methods!" Cheng Bai struggled.
Cheng Li ignored Cheng Bai's struggles, keeping him firmly pressed down as he addressed Xi Ning: "City Lord, even among the Celestial Fox tribes, hunting a Haiqiong requires several dozen beastmen from two clans joining forces, and they only dare target the young ones. Even then, success is never guaranteed. For these two to go alone is nothing short of a suicide mission."
"Indeed," Xi Ning sighed, looking upwards. "Even I lack the confidence to single-handedly hunt and bring back a young Haiqiong, let alone these two who possess no prior experience. A simple misstep during the tracking process could easily lead to disaster."
Cheng Li added, "If a tracking error merely results in failing to locate the Haiqiong, that would be the lesser evil. The gravest outcome would be if they were to stumble upon an adult Haiqiong. An adult Haiqiong possesses immense destructive power, even mustering every beastman in the city would likely fail to inflict the slightest injury upon it. Should those two actually encounter an adult Haiqiong, there is absolutely no possibility of survival."
Xi Ning and Cheng Li spoke in tandem, seemingly intent on describing the situation in the gravest terms. The corners of their eyes kept glancing at the two beastmen, as if reminding them just how dangerous this venture was.
Hearing this, Cheng Bai gritted his teeth and said, "I know all of this. But this contest between Yuan Heng and me is settled, unless Yuan Heng admits defeat!"
"The word 'defeat' does not exist for me," Yuan Heng stated coldly.
"..." Just from their tones, one could feel the tension between them. Xi Ning and Cheng Li's eyes flashed with helplessness.
Cheng Bai said, "City Lord, even if you don't agree, the two of us will still compete."
"Bastard!" Cheng Li slapped Cheng Bai hard. "Everything in Ning'an City must obey the City Lord."
"But the City Lord cannot interfere in matters of beastman duels. I am reporting this according to the rules," Cheng Bai said in a low voice.
"If the City Lord can't control you, can't I control you?!"
"..." Cheng Bai fell silent for a moment, then said, "Elder Brother, I've been an adult for a long time. Adult beastmen have the right to decide their own duels."
"..." Cheng Li's face twisted with anger. If he weren't mindful of others present, he probably would have thrown a punch already.
Seeing this, Xi Ning quickly intervened, "Enough. Cheng Bai, you are an elite beastman of Ning'an City, and Yuan Heng is a rare ancient beastman. Losing either one would be a great loss. Moreover, one of you two will inevitably become the future husband of my younger brother. The matter of this duel must be carefully considered."
After speaking, Xi Ning thought for a moment and said, "How about this: I'll give you three days. Think it over carefully during these three days, decide how to compete. In three days, I will wait for you at the city gate."
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