Chapter 86 Dawn Sniping (3) I am the butcher, she is the fish...
A cocky, bearded man arrived at the Eighth Casino, boasting that he would take down the Colosseum. The winners from the Seventh Casino became interested and took their seats early in the stands, eagerly anticipating the scene below.
They were already tired of seeing beasts fight each other, but now a young man had suddenly appeared, recklessly challenging a ferocious beast. They lifted the curtains separating them and gathered together to discuss the matter enthusiastically.
"Brother, should we bet on the human or the beast to win?"
"Let's see what this kid looks like before we decide!"
"Shh, come closer. I've heard that some of the beasts in the arena have been drugged by Lord Tan. Think about it, how can an undrugated wild animal compare to a raging beast? So, whoever the Lord Tan wants to win always wins. Whoever comes to the Eighth Casino loses... How about it, are you afraid of betting on the wrong thing and losing everything?"
The man scoffed, "What's there to be afraid of!"
Amidst the clamor of voices, Tan Yinyin led his distinguished guest to the highest stand, which also offered the best view of the arena's matches. He chuckled and said, "Second Master, didn't you lose your daughter? How come you still have the leisure to watch the competition?"
Inside the arena, many gamblers were still smoking drug-laced cigarettes. The swirling smoke outside was blocked by a specially made water-red curtain, while inside, smoke curled from the perforated lid of the Ge kiln gray-blue glazed begonia-shaped incense burner, like the ever-present mist rising from a fairy mountain. Xiao Yinshi's expression was shrouded in mist, making him difficult to see clearly.
He remained silent, but Tan Yinyin became more interested in teasing him. He stroked his chin and glanced at him sideways, saying, "Second Master is older than me. Isn't it said that older men are more caring? My father has long said that Second Master's methods are ruthless and unmatched by ordinary people... But one cannot use such iron-fisted methods on a young lady. What woman doesn't like a gentler husband? If Second Master likes her, he cannot simply follow his own personality."
After rambling on and on, something caught Xiao Yinshi's attention. He looked down at the thin, bearded figure in the center of the arena, his thin lips revealing a cold, disdainful expression. "Like? Not quite."
Tan Yinyin realized that Xiao Yinshi was treating people like playthings. That unfortunate girl must be to his liking for him to spend some effort teasing and controlling her. As for any other feelings, Xiao Yinshi probably didn't have any.
That makes sense. Xiao Yinshi was a vicious and ruthless thug, even more ferocious than the beasts in the arena. Back then...
Back then, Tan Yinyin was still young, and the city lord of Huanyan Liuguang City was still his father, Tan Shuo. Tan Shuo was good at using the method of controlling the people in the city, both winning them over and restraining them. The city became richer and richer under his rule, until a young man came who claimed to want to take back the sovereignty of the royal Luosha Army, which completely broke this balance.
The Raksha Army was secretly stationed in Huan Yan Liu Guang City, and one day they would welcome their commander. However, in order to command a thousand troops, in addition to satisfying the bloodline of the Xiao family royal family, one must also possess extraordinary bravery to subdue them. Therefore, even though Xiao Songyun successfully usurped the throne, she still failed to reclaim the Raksha Army.
He wasn't qualified, and neither were his sons.
The arena does not allow weapons to be brought into the arena. The young man in black, who had come from afar, was all alone and spoke sparingly. The red palace lanterns shone down, and one could clearly see him tearing open the tiger's mouth with his bare hands, knocking out its teeth, and ripping open its belly to carve out a bone from the flesh that suited his taste, which he would use as a weapon to fight the black bear.
His ruthless and iron-blooded fighting style exuded a wild and untamed arrogance and sharpness, even more untamed than a ferocious beast. However, after years of tempering in the officialdom, this feeling became deep and restrained, while the sense of oppression also became heavier.
Recalling the horrific scene of the massacre that day, Tan Yinyin shuddered violently, touched his smooth chin, and said, "Since you don't like her, why are you still keeping her locked up?"
The roof of the palace opened with a rumble, and the large red palace lantern gathered at the very center rose into the air, with starlight and moonlight pouring down, falling through the curtains onto the cold indifference in Xiao Yinshi's eyes and brows. "When you were in charge, did you like everyone?"
"..." Tan Yinyin was a little taken aback. "When I'm soliciting someone, why would I need to go to such lengths to catch them? Just give them some money and that's it. But Second Master chased after a girl all the way, expending so much energy. If you still don't like her, that really doesn't make sense!"
Xiao Yinshi lowered his eyes for a moment, and through the curtain he saw the bearded man's eyes warily observing his surroundings. He said, "Then I only like her."
Tan Yinyin seemed to be deep in thought when his personal servant leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Lord of the City, the King of Dahuang Chu has arrived and invites you to a gathering."
Tan Yinyin raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Yinshi sitting in the shadows, saying, "Another distinguished guest has arrived. I must excuse myself from the first match. Please bear with me, Second Master! Of course, if Second Master wants to play something more ruthless, so be it. After all, no one knows the various games in the arena better than Second Master."
After Tan Yinyin left, Zhu Qi, clutching his leg injury, spoke, the burning pain making him grimace as he tried to redeem himself, "Master, I think Lord Feng... ah, Miss, can't have gone far. Should we send a team of scouts to chase after him?"
A shot of strong liquor went down his throat, and Xiao Yinshi chose to lie low in the shadows, thinking, "I am the butcher, she is the fish, I will wait until she is exhausted."
......
Feng Tan, standing in the center of the arena, was unaware that she had been made prey. She stood in the center of the magnificent arena, tightening her hands and cuffs, while staring at the trembling eyes of the water coffin mermaid.
She comforted her silently, "Don't be afraid, Aunt Shang."
As the starlight shifted westward and the ugly card was about to be played, the master of ceremonies glanced at the sundial, cleared his throat, and said, "Esteemed guests, please take your seats! Our gambling game will begin immediately. This game consists of three rounds. If the beastman wins all three rounds, the beastman wins; if he fails, the beast wins! Esteemed guests, please place your bets. Once placed, there is no going back!"
"Now, let's begin the first match: the Northern Tiger."
The gamblers started discussing again. They looked at the rough, thin man standing in the middle of the arena. He didn't seem like a strong fighter, but they were also afraid that the city lord might let this kid win by surprise, which would mean that they would lose both their money and their men.
The tiger was unleashed, its massive size several times larger than the beastman's. The gamblers realized why it was called the Giant Tiger of the Northern Sea, derived from the line "In the Northern Sea there is a fish, its name is Kun." The city lord probably didn't intend to let this kid live.
The giant tiger's eyes were fierce, staring at Feng Tan with the same drooling gaze it had for a piece of meat. After being released from its cage, it pounced on him. Feng Tan leaped back, using the strange ice coffin behind him as a springboard to land behind the tiger, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
The white tiger that Feng Tan had tamed was already considered one of the largest tigers in the world. He never expected that there would be such a huge tiger in the world. When it exerted its strength, the ground shook several times.
Was it fed drugs to grow up? Fighting it head-on is definitely out of the question; she doesn't have the strength to punch a tiger to death, and she doesn't have any sharp weapons. Slitting its neck would be too difficult, so that won't work either.
While he was pondering, the tiger once again opened its blood-red mouth and raised its sharp claws to pounce on Feng Tan. Fortunately, Feng Tan had excellent lightness skills and was able to dodge it without any problem.
But this is not a solution. Taming beasts is a slow process, but killing them requires speed. Without a weapon, one must rely on something... Feng Tan's gaze swept around the arena and locked onto the golden pillar made of white marble, which was supported by an openwork roof and connected to hard stone floor tiles.
A cool and sassy air emanated from her brows. She put her index finger to her lips and whistled to provoke the tiger. Then, as it charged toward her, she retreated to a pillar. Just as the tiger was about to reach her, she flipped herself upside down, causing the tiger's head to slam into the golden pillar, splattering blood all over Feng Tan.
As the rugged-looking youth slowly landed, all the gamblers were astonished. The master of ceremonies struck the golden gong with a resounding clang and announced, "The first match, the beastman wins! The second match, the hyena leads the sheep!"
Hyenas have thick, strong jaws that can crack bones. Their hunting methods are very unique, employing a "pull-out" tactic, which involves attacking the prey's buttocks or anal area, sometimes even pulling out the intestines along with the prey. This method of attack is obviously much more painful and cruel than strangling or biting off the spine.
What about leading a sheep? What exactly is leading a sheep?
As the master of ceremonies finished speaking, a group of women dressed in sheepskins crawled out of the opened gates, their upper bodies bare. Their hands were bound, and they were led by thugs like sheep to the center of the arena. Then the thugs withdrew, and a huge cage filled with spotted hyenas was slowly lowered from the top of the hollow hall. It was roughly estimated to be twenty or thirty of them.
Is the plan to use the woman leading the sheep as bait to provoke the hyenas' bloodlust, and then have them collectively attack the boy?
The gamblers realized that the city lord intended to torture the boy to death!
Feng Tan also realized the city lord's purpose. He looked up at the back of the curtain and said in a clear voice, "Since it is me fighting the beast, wouldn't it be breaking the rules to involve them?"
The person behind the scenes said, "This kind of game happens every day in the arena. Whether you're here or not, this game will still take place today. Besides, I set the rules, and you can only follow them. You have no right to say no."
Feng Tan clenched her fists as she looked at the trembling figure of the woman in the arena. Besides the shame of her exposed body, she also felt panic about what was about to happen.
Once the hyenas in the cages are released, the scene will be horrific.
Feng Tan's eyes turned red, and the voice of the person behind the scenes rang out again, saying, "Tsk, playing like this every day is boring. How about this, I will release the monsters from the coffin, and if you can stop them from opening the hyena cage door, that will also work."
Feng Tan was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay."
Lantern ghosts, spider demons, human-wooden figures, red-haired monsters, mermaids, pig dragons, mountain spirits, peacock princesses, witches, snake demons, soul-hiding altars... all the coffins of the supernatural were opened, but they were completely unaware of it after being opened, still mechanically performing slow movements in their coffins to conform to their own image, until the master of ceremonies began to ring the bell, and the worms inside their bodies heard the call, and they walked out or crawled out of the coffins in ferocious postures.
Their modified, non-human appearance made them extremely aggressive. Feng Tan was exhausted from fighting against several opponents. Fortunately, they were only strong in brute force, and their martial arts skills were not at the level of high-level martial artists like Feng Tan's. Feng Tan was so exhausted that his face was soaked with sweat.
The pig dragon attacked Feng Tan's arm from behind, biting her forearm hard. As the pain shot through her, Feng Tan gritted her teeth and used her other elbow to strike its forehead, exuding a savage and ferocious aura.
Seeing her in pain, the lantern ghost and the witch followed suit, biting Feng Tan's arm as she moved. The snake demon and the peacock princess were not to be outdone, using all their strength to hold down Feng Tan's legs, their sharp teeth piercing into her flesh as they opened their mouths.
Feng Tan was tightly surrounded and bitten by the monsters. She let out a whimper in pain, and the other monsters that had trapped her grinned and opened the cage that was holding the hyena.
The hyenas broke free of their cages and immediately charged at the female slave in the arena, who was dressed in sheepskin, her hands bound, and kneeling on the ground. Instantly, howls of agony filled the air, and the horrific scene was a shocking sight.
A note from the author: The school is currently undergoing undergraduate evaluation, and I also had evening classes yesterday. I got home after class around 10 PM, and after finishing revising teaching materials, I was still busy until the early hours of the morning. I didn't finish writing, so I forgot to ask for leave. I'm sending a small red envelope to all my readers to express my apologies!
But I posted it as soon as I finished writing it! ^o^
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