Chapter 5: Irresistible Delicacies of Fragrance

The young girl, filled with resentment, said: "Who will defeat this person to alleviate the hatred in my heart"

Pan Yan turned back and shouted to the onlookers: "Everyone, let's settle this fairly. He says that our appearance is shameless. Tell me, in this corner, where have I gained any advantage?"

Dong Caiqi felt a surge of joy, believing she had succeeded. Little did she know that the slippery force suddenly emerged from the winding hole, pulling her out as well. Dong Caiqi had no choice but to exert strength at her feet, pulling back with a sudden force. The winding creature, taking advantage of this moment, glided past her in a desperate situation and unexpectedly reached behind Dong Caiqi

His subordinates also found the situation tricky: "If we speak of true martial prowess, none among us is inferior to this person. However, this individual takes full advantage of the vastness of the arena, as if he is backed by a mountain of blades. The moment he disrupts us, if we take even a slight misstep, we will immediately meet our demise. At this point, unless one possesses martial skills far superior to his and can secure victory in a single move, otherwise, in a prolonged struggle, who can guarantee a win.

The young brother's surname and name are unknown to me, leaving me in the dark, akin to being blindfolded and facing execution, becoming a fool.

Xiong was drenched in sweat, only then realizing he had fallen into a trap. He exclaimed, "I have not been affected by your power, why is that?"

Dong Caiqi saw the disc lying outside and immediately felt relieved, smiling as he said, "You have lost." After a pause, he added, "Someone, arrest this bully who robs the weak and send him to prison."

Pan Yanxin thought: "I have come only for the gold, and I must act discreetly to avoid attracting the attention of my unknown enemies." He then said: "I am a distant relative of the Tai family, merely an insignificant person; a man who defaults on debts is not a true hero. Where is the gold?"

The girl felt dizzy and had chest tightness, her enchanting gaze swept through the crowd, and she saw her beloved among the people, looking sorrowful and evidently tormented. She knew that her suitor was of mediocre ability and was determined that he could not handle this Tai Yi. Meanwhile, this Tai Yi occupied a corner of the arena, causing opponents to fall, and it was a surefire tactic that left others with no way to counter it

Pan Yan laughed directly at him, his demeanor comical. Mei Yuan angrily said: "What are you laughing at? I respect you as a man, yet how can you make a fool of me? This is truly too much to bear."

The young girl smiled and said: "It is my stubbornness and recklessness that have caused your esteemed names to be tarnished. Now that matters have come to this point, how can I trouble you all again?" She was determined to test her own abilities, walking confidently towards the person lying on the ground, who was gazing up at her in a truly disrespectful manner.

Meiyuan, realizing his mistake, gritted his teeth and said: "Alright, then please switch places with me, and let us compete again"

The winding path: "I laugh at you for being a good man, yet somewhat confused. You do not realize that my true energy can be emitted outward, widely spreading illusions. In truth, you have already walked outside, yet remain completely unaware."

He values his reputation above all else, and at this moment, he is filled with anxiety, fearing that he might embarrass himself. His confidence diminishes sharply, and Pan Yan smiles and says, "Let's go," as he changes his stance. Wen Chao does not dare to exert himself and is directly pushed off the stage by Pan Yan.

Pan Yan said: "How marvelous my skills are, how could you possibly see through them?" His Illusory Spirit Palm technique could not only penetrate the meridians to take effect but also confuse the observer. Xiong Bo was only wary of the internal energy within Pan Yan's palm, feeling anxious in his heart, yet he was blinded by Pan Yan's extraordinary techniques.

However, the figure of the snake-like creature kept evading, its steps elusive and its movements agile. The bear, using all its skills, could not touch a single hair of this person. The bear grew increasingly anxious and thought to itself: "I have concealed my identity and served my lord. Over the years, I have eaten well, dressed warmly, and received great kindness, yet I cannot alleviate my lord's worries. How can I still consider myself human?"

The young girl gazed at her beloved, seeing the sorrow etched between his brows, yet feeling helpless. Her heart swelled with affection as she thought, "Even if this matter does not succeed, at worst, I will elope with him; in any case, in this lifetime, I shall marry no one but him." Upon reaching this conclusion, she felt a sense of relief instead, sweeping her sleeve and standing tall, she said, "I will compete with you."

The young girl leaned in closer and whispered in his ear: "My surname is Dong, and my given name is Caiqi. My father is the lord of Shebo City."

Then the little chubby boy recognized him, burst into tears, and shouted: "You stole my steamed bun and candy, and you also stole my chicken leg. I will not let this go with you."

The people of Shebo City greatly admire the hero, exclaiming: "Indeed, it takes courage to be in the shoes of this Brother Taiyi."

Pan Yan received a reward again. Seeing the girl in a state of exasperation, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction in his heart, secretly thinking: "This young lady is putting on a show, toying with these common folks. I must dismantle her stage and make her uncomfortable." He has always harbored animosity towards those in high positions, though he himself does not know the reason.

Brother Mei Yuan excels in lightness of foot, with swift hands and feet, and a keen mind. He often wins by employing delicate skills in critical moments. The young lady anticipates that he can gain the upper hand when entangled with the coiling serpent.

He heard the whispers of the people beside him, discussing in low voices, and felt a slight curiosity. Upon focusing his gaze, he realized that he had already arrived at the foot of the stage, looking exactly like the two individuals from before. The one he had thrown out was merely a bystander, while the plate of spirals was sitting on the arena, grinning at Xiong Bo.

The loyal subordinates, anxious for her, saw one person step forward and clasp his fists, saying: "I am Xiong Bo of the Heavenly Spirit Fist, here to learn the ultimate skills of the Tai family." Without further ado, he unleashed his punches, the sound of wind roaring, his fist power surging, and his techniques were tightly woven and continuous, indeed showcasing an exceptionally rare high-level skill. The practitioners in the audience could not help but admire him secretly, thinking: "This young man has remarkable subordinates, and this Heavenly Spirit Fist master must be a renowned figure from somewhere."

The young girl furrowed her brows and pursed her lips, saying: "Brother Meiyuan, you must be cautious when you go to face the challenge. He is using the Tai family's Illusory Spirit True Qi; a moment's carelessness could lead to a fall from the stage."

As he approached the plum garden, he saw the winding path lying obliquely at the edge, making faces at him and even pulling silly expressions, yet he felt genuinely uncertain. He said to the book: "Let us have a fair competition; you occupy the advantageous terrain, what kind of hero does that make you"

The audience erupted in cheers, vigorously waving their hands, twisting and shaking their fists, and said: "You flatter me, you flatter me, such praise is unwarranted, such praise is unwarranted. Everyone, get the food ready, this God of Wealth is coming to spend money."

Pan Yan said: "This is what you said; a man of honor must keep his word and cannot deny it"

The Tai family martial arts are renowned throughout the world, and the young girl’s family also has a significant connection to the Tai family. Upon hearing this, she was astonished and said: "You are a person of the Tai family"

She recalled the appearance of her beloved, who often spoke sweet words and exchanged meaningful glances. Truly, her feelings were overwhelming, causing her to blush and her heart to race. She thought to herself: "In this lifetime, I will marry no one but Yu Lang. Even if Tai Yi wins, I will simply find a maid for him, and that will suffice."

The winding path: "I would avoid such a hideous creature that dares not show itself in public. However, this one hundred taels of gold, I am determined to obtain it."

He was filled with rage and suddenly lunged forward, throwing a feint with one fist and a solid strike with one palm, just managing to grasp the corner of the robe. He was overjoyed and executed the move "Heaven High, Earth Far," throwing the robe down, causing the person to exclaim in pain and fall in a disheveled state. Xiong laughed heartily and said, "As the saying goes, when the going is good, take your reward and roll away."

Dong Caiqi came to her senses, her jade-like hand clenched into a fist, focusing her mind in anticipation. Although her internal strength was not on par with that of her ten subordinates, the exquisite techniques passed down through her family were truly remarkable, and when it came to combat, their power was not inferior to that of others

Pan Yan nodded and said, "Alright, as long as there is no shortage of gold and silver, I will not lack in courtesy either." He turned over and got up, bowing to her. The young girl carefully examined Pan Yan's appearance and noticed that his features were exceptionally spirited, resembling those of a celestial cultivator, but his face was dirty and disheveled, and his behavior was peculiar, which made him somewhat irritating.

In the Mei Garden, he turned around and saw that his feet were firmly planted on the ground; he had not actually stepped outside. However, his mind was agile and his thoughts were chaotic. He felt that the wooden grain beneath his feet was somewhat suspicious. Just as he was in a daze, a sudden jolt in his chest pushed him forward, causing him to stumble and fall out. He flipped several times in the air before landing smoothly, his posture elegant, showcasing remarkable lightness skills. Yet, despite the beauty of his landing, he still lost in the end.

It turns out that Wen Chao has a penchant for drinking. This morning, upon waking, he felt inspired and consumed quite a bit. Alcohol is a source of yang fire, which can cloud the mind and also lead to abdominal distension. The ethereal manipulation of the spirit through the power of the Illusory Palm disturbed Wen Chao's mental state, leaving him trembling and anxious, only feeling discomfort in his stomach. This is merely an illusion; in reality, there is no significant harm. However, Wen Chao is unable to discern the truth from the falsehood.

Pan Yan was taken aback, and just as he was in shock, the young girl unleashed her family's secret skill, "Cai Feng Shou." With a single palm strike, her internal energy coiled and struck towards Pan Yan's Dan Zhong acupoint. Caught off guard, Pan Yan was touched by the girl, let out a muffled groan, and fell backward.

The two individuals pressed their palms against each other, and Wen Chao let out a loud shout as his internal energy surged forth like a great river. He coiled his energy to counterattack, and for a moment, the two were locked in a stalemate. Wen Chao thought to himself: "This person appears weak in stature, yet possesses a solid foundation of internal energy, making it impossible to achieve victory in an instant. It would be better to take risks and launch a strong attack." He immediately urged his true energy, launching a frenzied assault, but at that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, and cold sweat broke out all over his back.

Although the crowd could not understand what he was saying, the citizens of Shebo City revered heroes. Seeing him continuously defeat formidable opponents, they all developed a sense of admiration and support for him

She said: "My ancestors have familial ties with the Tai family, as my grandmother is from the Tai family. Brother Tai Yi can indeed be considered my relative. Given this, why does Brother Tai Yi behave so outrageously? Does he not feel any shame?"

Meiyuan thought to himself: "With my back against the outside and facing forward, even if I fall into a trap with my lightness skill, I absolutely cannot fall outside." He immediately agreed and exchanged positions with Panyan. The two stood firm in a standoff, and Meiyuan took his stance, saying: "This is an overstep."

The subordinates all felt it was inappropriate and advised: "My lord, this cannot be, we are incompetent, yet we must share the burden for you, please allow us a moment to consider."

The guards rushed forward in a swarm, and Pan Yan wanted to escape but could not part with the eighty taels of gold. Hesitating for a moment, he found that his two fists were no match for four hands, and he was pinned down and bound up like a rice dumpling.

At that moment, Pan Yan turned his head and saw a small chubby boy in the audience holding a large piece of chicken leg, yet to take a bite, staring blankly at the arena. The aroma wafted over, and Pan Yan was instantly dazed, his cravings igniting, he let out a strange cry and pounced like a ferocious dog, snatching the chicken leg and swallowing it whole. His impulsive behavior was too sudden and inexplicable, reminiscent of when he had previously stolen food from the Lu siblings.

Seeing Dong Caiqi's remarkable skills, his subordinates could not help but feel astonished: "With his extraordinary agility, in a perilous and intricate situation, we truly cannot compare to him."

Wenchao had previously achieved continuous victories and was considered one of the best among the young ladies' subordinates, earning the respect of the audience and the admiration of the young lady. However, in an instant, he found himself outside the competition. Although the two were locked in a life-and-death struggle with no clear winner, according to the rules of the contest, it was deemed that Panyan had won. As Wenchao exited the battle, his stomach pain immediately subsided, and he realized he had been tricked. He angrily exclaimed, "You little thief, what kind of trickery is this?"

Pan Yan smiled and said: "This is the renowned Illusionary Spirit Palm technique of the Tai family. Brother, being defeated by me can be considered a worthy defeat."

The idle men and busybodies in the audience shouted loudly: "Brother, why not go all the way and marry this wealthy bride? From now on, you will have countless riches, so why bother with this small amount of money"

Young girl said: "If you can defeat me, I will promise my sister to you, and we will be one family from now on"

As a result, the young girl felt a chill run through her body and thought to herself: "I have put so much effort into devising this plan, yet not only was I deceived by this scoundrel and lost my money, but I also have to compensate with a maid. This is terrible. I referred to myself as her elder brother, so the maid who is getting married naturally becomes my sister. In the future, if I become related to this person, won't I become a laughingstock?"

He did not stop there, lying down by the wooden platform, propping his chin up with one hand, and lazily said: "Who else is coming to give money"