The Song Family's Dominion and Li Banfeng's Rules

Song Jia Sen returned to his residence and gave Song Zhiyi two pills. "These pills can increase your strength. Take them and go to sleep."

Song Zhiyi said, "Dad, this is my first time performing. I'll stretch my muscles and practice my skills in a bit."

Song Jia Sen frowned and said, "The fight starts tomorrow, what's the point of practicing?"

Song Zhiyi scratched his head. "Dad, my master said, 'Even last-minute sharpening of the spear may not be quick, but it will still shine!'"

He learned his craft outside from a young age, spending more time with his master than with his father, and he always said, "My master said..."

Song Jia Sen utterly despised this catchphrase. "Stop spouting nonsense, just go to sleep!"

Song Zhiyi dared not disobey. After lunch and taking the pills, he went to bed early.

The medicine worked quickly, Song Zhiyi slept until 1 a. m. before being woken up by Song Jia Sen.

After getting up, Song Zhiyi felt an inexhaustible energy. "Dad, what kind of pill is this? I've never taken it before?"

Song Jia Sen snorted and said, "I'm reluctant to eat these pills myself. I wouldn't have taken them out if you weren't going into battle tomorrow."

Song Zhiyi was in a great mood after hearing this.

Song Jia Sen was indeed reluctant to consume this elixir.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear to part with the elixir, but that he couldn't bear to part with himself.

This is the Marrow Poison Pill. After consuming it, one's combat power can be increased by one level in a short period of time. Song Zhiyi is a first-level martial artist. In the next two days, his combat power can barely match that of a second-level martial artist.

But this comes at a price.

After the pills lost their effect, Song Zhiyi would lose two whole years of cultivation. His talent was already poor, so advancing to the second level would be even more distant.

"Pack your things and come with me." Song Jia Sen led Song Zhiyi out the door without any attendants. Instead of using the main gate, the father and son secretly left the mansion through the back door.

Song Zhiyi asked, confused, "Dad, where are we going?"

"Don't speak, just follow me."

The two walked along a side path until they reached the north side of the village. They heard the road rollers making a whooshing sound, indicating that road construction was still underway. Song Jia Sen deliberately took a detour and entered a pile of ruins on the other side of the road.

Little Chuanzi added a shovelful of coal to the road roller and licked the wound on his lips.

Once deep within the ruins Song Jia Sen looked around and, seeing no one, turned to Song Zhiyi and said, "Look carefully, this is the venue I've chosen for you. I've already arranged for people to come and seal it off first thing tomorrow morning. Before that, nobody will know that you and Ma Wu are playing this game."

The area was littered with broken bricks and tiles, and many sections of the wall had not been completely demolished. Song Zhiyi was not very satisfied with this combat environment.

"Father, why did you choose this place? I'm a martial arts practitioner, Ma Wu is Joy Cultivator. I have the advantage in close combat."

"This place is so chaotic, I shouldn't get too close. If he manages to get me into trouble, I'll be the one who suffers."

"Bullshit, would I let you suffer a loss?" Song Jia Sen took out a silkworm cocoon from his pocket and placed it on a piece of broken tile.

A white silkworm emerged from its cocoon.

Silkworms were spinning silk on broken tiles, and Song Jia Sen was watching from the side.

After estimating that the silkworm had spun enough silk, Song Jia Sen placed the white silkworm on a pile of wood next to the broken tiles.

There were dozens of pieces of wood in this pile, all taken from the house. They were stacked haphazardly, so it's normal that they collapsed.

The silkworm gnawed a hole in one of the logs, then crawled into it and began to devour it.

After waiting for nearly two hours, until the most crucial part of the wood was hollowed out by the borers, Song Jia Sen finally collected the plump white silkworms, put them in a sack, and carried them on his back.

"You remember this: tomorrow when the fight starts, lure Ma Wu to this piece of broken tile. As soon as he steps on it, this pile of wood next to it will collapse towards the tile."

Even if the pile of logs doesn't hit him, he'll have to find a way to dodge. While he's dodging, beat him hard, but don't kill him. Leave him a breath, and beat him until he begs for mercy.

Song Zhiyi was stunned for a long time. He hadn't been home for long, but he thought his father was a respected and influential man in Blue Poplar Village. He never expected his father to resort to such underhanded tactics. "Dad, you're going to use dirty tricks against him. Isn't that a bad idea? What if others find out..."

Song Jia Sen slapped Song Zhiyi: "What the hell was the point of me bringing you out alone so late? Wasn't it to keep everyone from finding out?"

He didn't even bring any guards; this matter must not be known to anyone.

Song Zhiyi covered his face and said, "Father, I took the pill. I'm a first-level martial artist, and I've been at that level for several years now. Dealing with Ma Wu, a first-level Joy Cultivator, is a piece of cake for me. There's no need for us to resort to such methods. A true man acts with integrity..."

Song Jia Sen turned around and slapped him again. "You've gone stupid from studying outside. Do you know what it means to be upright and honest?"

So you think you're the only one with elixirs? Who's Ma Wu? He's the Fifth Young Master of the Ma family. Do you think he has fewer elixirs than you?

You think you can beat him just because you're a few years ahead of him? You really think too highly of yourself!

Tang Tianjin went to intercept him on the road this morning and hasn't returned yet. I sent people to search the entire village, but they haven't found him, dead or alive.

Do you know how much experience Ma Wu has? Do you know how much he's been through, how many people he's met? You've never even left Green Water Bay in your life, how can you compare to him?

Song Jia Sen told Song Zhiyi to memorize the location, and the two of them walked back the way they came.

On the way, Song Zhiyi couldn't help but complain, "Dad, if I can beat Ma Wu with my real skills tomorrow, I won't need this trap. If people find out, it will make our family lose face."

"Why did you want people to see through it?" Song Jia Sen roared. "You're talking to me about real skills? Do you even know what real skills are? Do you think martial arts skills are real skills?"

Song Zhiyi asked in surprise, "Wilderness Contest, isn't it just about fists and feet?"

"I told you you're clueless, you're no match for your brother. I've been guarding Blue Poplar Village for over twenty years. In all that time, whether it's Clear Sky Arena or Turbid Sky Arena, which match has ever relied on fists and feet? Can't you see the trick?"

This is not Song Zhiyi's fault. He had been studying his craft away from home for many years and had hardly ever watched a match.

Song Jia Sen knew that Song Zhiyi lacked experience, so he patiently explained, "Do you think Lao Wei could have won that fight between Lao Wei and Yu Mazi? If he hadn't given me a thousand silver dollars beforehand, how could Yu Mazi have tripped over a stone halfway through the fight?"

The big, dark-skinned guy hired by Flower Pavilion Inn, couldn't he fight? How did he lose during the match? Why did the wall collapse?

Their inn hires a few girls to do kugo (a special profession), doing smuggled work, without it showing up in the accounts, and they don't hand over the money to me. How could I tolerate that? How could I let them win?

In this Wilderness Contest, who wins and who loses is entirely up to me, your father. Forget about underhanded tactics; the winner stands, the loser lies down. That's my rule.

This is how the Song family built its empire. Sooner or later, it will be handed over to you two brothers. If you can't even learn the rules, how can you manage the family business?

Song Zhiyi lowered his head and said, "What if we get caught? Where will I put my face? I'm the second young master of the Song family..."

Song Jia Sen was furious. For so many years, there were some things he hadn't wanted to tell this kid because he was too stubborn.

"You're such a clueless brat, you're nowhere near as good as your brother. What if you do that tomorrow..." Song Jia Sen was stunned. He put one foot on the ground and suddenly couldn't lift it.

"Clay!" Song Jia Sen exclaimed in surprise, "Someone's lying in ambush!"

"What's wrong, Dad? Who's lying in ambush?" Song Zhiyi was really stubborn; even though Song Jia Sen couldn't lift his foot, he still followed him.

"Don't come any closer, you son of a bitch!"

Song Jia Sen spoke too late; Song Zhiyi was already standing beside him, unable to lift his feet.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"You piece of trash, what the hell are you doing here? If your brother hadn't been injured, we wouldn't have called you in for this job."

Take off your shoes, and once they're off, don't let your feet touch the ground. While still wearing your shoes, hop away from where you are. Don't use your hands to brace yourself, and don't let your other foot touch the ground either.

Song Jia Sen was experienced; he rubbed his foot inside the shoe and quickly pulled one foot out.

With his other foot unable to break free, Song Jia Sen was still exerting force when he suddenly heard a sound from afar.

Huff! Huff!

What's coming?

Song Jia Sen looked up and saw a huge creature rushing towards him, spewing smoke.

Li Banfeng arrived driving a road roller.

The reason for sending Little Chuanzi to work was to monitor Song Jia Sen's actions.

Upon seeing Song Jia Sen and his son, Little Chuanzi immediately sent a message to Li Banfeng.

In the dead of night, the wilderness was silent. Li Banfeng was a three-story House Cultivator, easily overlooked. Relying on the Wind-Following Ears of the Thread-Pulling Earring, he listened to the sounds and found Song Jia Sen and his son. He then took Little Chuanzi with him and set up an ambush on the road in advance.

Having reviewed the two inns, Li Banfeng had already figured out the tricks of the trade.

In Wilderness Contest, it's not about fists and feet, but about eloquence, strategy, and cunning.

The middle-aged man hired by Pomegranate Garden Inn said a lot of nice things and won the game. He won, and that was that. Nobody cared how he won. People thought he was in the right and deserved to win.

As for why the brick wall suddenly collapsed, and how it just so happened to hit that big, dark guy, no one bothered with those things.

Even if someone complains, so what?

Yu Mazi died in Turbid Sky Arena. He wanted to make a fuss, but he couldn't speak.

Flower Pavilion Inn has offended Song Jia Sen, and it's uncertain whether it can continue operating. So why would it dare to haggle over the deal?

Will onlookers even care?

They're satisfied with what they've seen; they don't care about anything else!

Song Jia Sen's idea was correct: regardless of whether it was overt or covert, as long as they could win, that was all that mattered. On this point, Li Banfeng and he shared the same idea.

However, there are some differences between the two in the details.

Song Jia Sen never intended for a fair competition.

Li Banfeng never thought about having a competition.

What are we comparing?

Do we really have to go to the ring to compete for victory?

Who wants to go up to the ring with you?

Even if the father and son were trapped in the clay, Li Banfeng did not intend to fight back. The clay did not stick to the iron, and the iron wheels of the road roller were just right to attack.

The road roller rushed up to Song Jia Sen then pulled out a dagger and threw it at Li Banfeng's face.

The third-level martial arts practitioner's attack was extremely accurate.

But Li Banfeng, who had three floors of House Cultivator and two floors of Travel Cultivator, easily dodged it by simply lowering his head.

Song Jia Sen wanted to find more weapons, but it was too late.

The massive iron wheel crashed down on Song Zhiyi, his knees and below were completely trapped under it, and his screams were heart-wrenching.

Song Jia Sen managed to free one foot from his shoe, taking the opportunity to step back and, with all his might, desperately brace himself against the wheel.

A martial arts master at the third level is indeed strong; he actually managed to stop the road roller.

Li Banfeng turned the gas valve to its maximum and quietly looked at Song Jia Sen.

Song Jia Sen's face turned ashen. He raised his head and looked at Li Banfeng, saying, "You bastard, you... you tricked me!"

Li Banfeng laughed and said, "I quite admire those two sentences you just uttered: 'If you win, stand up; if you lose, lie down.' I'll add one more sentence for you: 'Shut up when you're dead.'"

After saying that, Li Banfeng asked Xiao Chuan, "Is he going to break your leg?"

"Mm!" Xiaochuan nodded through gritted teeth from behind.

Li Banfeng drew his Tang Blade and handed it to Xiao Chuan.

"Brother, time to get to work. Take off Grandpa Song's leg."

Xiao Chuan, holding a knife, got off the road roller and slashed Song Jia Sen's right leg with the knife.

He didn't even need to exert any effort. What kind of quality was the Tang Blade? With one strike, Song Jia Sen's right leg was severed at the root.

This time, Song Jia Sen could no longer hold on, and the road roller drove right over him and his son.

After parking the car, Li Banfeng saw that the ground was not easy to handle.

Xiao Chuan said, "Seventh Master, don't worry about this. I'll just cover it with some asphalt and flatten it. You go ahead with your work."

This guy is so sensible!

Li Banfeng smiled, lowered his hat brim, and left the field.

The next day, at 12:30 pm.

The people from the Song family who were sealing off the venue arrived early, but Song Jia Sen and Song Zhiyi did not come.

Ma Wu, who had been waiting in the field for half an hour, shouted to the onlookers:

"Although I, Ma Junyang, am down on my luck, I am still a hero standing here. Song Jia Sen said he wanted to Wilderness Contest, so I came. I didn't look for anyone else; I came on my own!"

"It's nothing more than risking my life here, but I, Ma Junyang, haven't backed down! I'll wait here all day, and I want to see if Song Jia Sen and his son dare to come!"

Li Banfeng watched with a smile, while Little Chuanzi led the cheers from the crowd.

Or you could say that when it Wilderness Contest, it's all about eloquence!

P. S.: Blue Poplar Village is about to change hands!