"Wang Wu, Jia Liu, only you two came?"
When Lin Lang had gone to the Jade Green Pavilion before, a dozen or so men had crowded around him.
Yet only two had come to fetch him this time. Clearly, the others had lost faith in Lin Lang and gone to cling to Liu Wu's coattails.
Wang Wu looked indignant. "Chief Banner Officer Lin, those men all think you'll lose this arena bout, so they've gone to fawn over Liu Wu. They must be blind!"
Jia Liu immediately added, "We brothers believe you'll definitely win. You used to be able to deal with Banner Commander Liu with one hand!"
Even if Chief Banner Officer Lin's strength had declined, he surely still had some fight left in him. His experience alone could win him this arena bout.
Besides, Chief Banner Officer Lin had saved both their lives. Whatever the others chose, they would support him.
What was more, they had both wagered a hefty sum of silver on Chief Banner Officer Lin at the gambling house. If he lost, they would lose everything too.
Lin Lang took a banknote from inside his robe and handed it to Wang Wu. "Go to the Silver Hook Gambling House and bet on me to win."
The Silver Hook Gambling House was the largest chain of gambling houses in Great Ming, with formidable backing. Any form of gambling you could imagine, they offered.
"Jia Liu, go book a banquet at the Gathering Abundance Tower. We'll have a proper celebration tonight."
Win?
Only then did Wang Wu and Jia Liu realize that Chief Banner Officer Lin showed no sign of diminished strength. On the contrary, he brimmed with confidence.
Could it be that our lord had been putting on an act for everyone these past three days?
Both men were instantly overjoyed. Didn't that mean they would not only avoid losing everything, but make a fortune instead?
And they had latched onto the right patron. Following Lord Lin, they would surely rise through the ranks, step by step.
After giving instructions to the only two subordinates still willing to trust him, Lin Lang set off on foot toward the hundred-household office.
"C-Chief Banner Officer Lin, you're here." The Embroidered Uniform Guard at the entrance jumped when he saw Lin Lang walk in with his Xiuchun Blade resting on his shoulder. He hurriedly hid the gifts in his hands behind his back.
Tsk, the same clothes for three days, and he still smells of rouge. Looks like Chief Banner Officer Lin really spent three days and nights at the Jade Green Pavilion. He's probably doomed to lose this bout.
Are these four gift boxes enough for Banner Commander Liu—no, Probationary Hundred-household Liu? Should I add another four?
Lin Lang glanced at the doorkeeper and headed toward the Hundred-household Office's training ground.
Along the way, many people gave him strange looks filled with pity.
As they saw it, the probationary hundred-household position-and even the hundred-household position-that had practically been in Lin Lang's grasp had now flown away.
And that was not all. The loser would be sent to gather intelligence in Great Song Jianghu. Never mind the hardship and toil; whether he would return alive was far from certain.
Lin Lang had already decided that once he took office, he would make everyone who had passed without even greeting him learn what proper discipline meant!
When he reached the training ground, many of those practicing martial arts moved aside, gathering in twos and threes to mutter among themselves.
"I thought Chief Banner Officer Lin wasn't coming. His Golden Body Child Skill has already been broken. What's he here for? To invite humiliation?"
"Keep your voice down. Even if Chief Banner Officer Lin loses, he'll still be a chief banner officer and our superior."
"Tch. If he loses, he'll be sent to Great Song. How's he going to boss us around then?"
Lin Lang glanced at the two speakers. It seemed he would have to send those two to Great Song for a little tempering this time.
He sat in a chair at the side and casually pointed at someone. "Go fetch a pot of hot tea."
The man he picked froze for a moment. He's still in the mood for tea at a time like this?
He's probably trying to throw his weight around one last time. After all, he's about to lose every scrap of dignity and get sent to Great Song to die.
When Liu Wu entered the training ground with men crowding around him, he found Lin Lang leisurely sipping tea.
"Well, if it isn't Chief Banner Officer Lin. I hear you've been lingering in a tender embrace these past few days, so happy you've forgotten home. Do you still have the strength to lift a blade?"
The thought that Xiao He, whom he had spent so much silver on without ever getting his hands on her, had fallen into Lin Lang's lap left Liu Wu bitter.
Lin Lang set down his teacup and looked at Liu Wu with a warm smile. "I really must thank you for making the arrangements, Banner Commander Liu."
As he spoke, his expression was full of lingering pleasure.
Liu Wu was both shocked and furious. What shocked him was that Lin Lang actually knew he had arranged for Xiao He to be there. He probably also knew that he had ordered her to drug him.
A songstress from the Jade Green Pavilion could hardly keep secrets before an Embroidered Uniform Guard.
What enraged him was that Lin Lang had actually brought up Xiao He. She was his woman!
He had only intended to drug Lin Lang, weaken him, and win the arena bout. He had never expected to throw his woman into the bargain.
"Chief Banner Officer Lin, I hope you can still smile in a moment!"
Liu Wu gripped his scabbard tightly. He had already decided to pretend he could not stop his strike. No matter what, he would leave Lin Lang bedridden for a month or two to vent his hatred over having his woman stolen!
By now, spectators packed the edges of the training ground. Watching experts fight would help them improve their own martial arts.
Most of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in this hundred-household office did not even qualify as third-rate martial artists. In fact, the strongest expert they had ever seen was Hundred-household Li.
Those who usually guided their training were merely Small Banners and guards who ranked as third-rate martial artists, and even that was not an opportunity they got every day.
Wang Wu and Jia Liu returned and joined the spectators at the side, ready to watch Chief Banner Officer Lin unleash his might.
Someone sidled over and said, "Banner Commander Liu found out that you two went to fetch Chief Banner Officer Lin this morning. Prepare an extra gift for him later, or he might make life difficult for you."
Wang Wu suddenly declared loudly, "Chief Banner Officer Lin will definitely win this arena bout! He could win with one hand!"
Jia Liu followed with a challenge. "Have you all forgotten how well Chief Banner Officer Lin treated everyone? Whenever we faced danger, he always charged ahead. Which of you hasn't benefited from his kindness?"
The people nearby instantly backed away, leaving Wang Wu and Jia Liu standing alone.
Have those two lost their minds?
Everyone knows Chief Banner Officer Lin's Golden Body Child Skill has been broken and his strength has declined. How could he possibly be a match for Banner Commander Liu?
Do they still think it's three days ago?
Better stay well clear of those two fools, lest we get caught in the crossfire when Banner Commander Liu starts making their lives miserable.
Liu Wu gave Wang Wu and Jia Liu a long look. He had not expected two men in this Hundred-household Office to be so oblivious to which way the wind was blowing. Tonight, he would assign them to empty the chamber pots for the entire office!
While everyone was chattering, the Hundred-household Office's true powerholder, Hundred-household Li, arrived.
He saw two groups as sharply divided as the clear Jing River and the muddy Wei: one numbered over a hundred, while the other had only two. It seemed the news of Lin Lang's decline in strength was indeed accurate.
No wonder Liu Wu had given him three thousand taels to secure an arena bout that would decide the probationary hundred-household appointment. So this had been his plan-and he had actually pulled it off.
He would be transferred away next year anyway, so naturally he could not pass up a chance to rake in some money. He wanted to become a deputy thousand-household, and that required silver to grease palms up and down the ranks.
"Quiet, everyone." As soon as Hundred-household Li spoke, everyone fell silent.
Hundred-household Li surveyed the crowd. "This arena bout was arranged beforehand. The winner will become our Hundred-household Office's probationary hundred-household, while the loser will go to Great Song Jianghu to gather intelligence."
"Chief Banner Officer Lin and Banner Commander Liu are both brothers of our Hundred-household Office. I hope you won't damage that bond. There must absolutely be no deaths!"
Lin Lang narrowed his eyes. Does that mean anything short of killing is allowed, even injury or mutilation?
"The bout will last for one incense stick. When it burns out, whoever remains standing wins."
"No poison or concealed weapons. Everything else is permitted. Begin."
Clang!!!
Someone struck a gong hard, and a lit incense stick was planted in the burner.
Liu Wu looked at Lin Lang with a savage grin. "Rest assured, Chief Banner Officer Lin, I'll definitely go easy on you."
With that, he slashed his blade toward Lin Lang's head.
Before you continue