Even though it was Fei Mang's whose face was being thrashed and stomped, the spectators couldn't help but feel that their faces were going numb. They had seen the miraculous scene of Fei Mang falling and getting kicked once again. His situation still looked better. Aside from his face, Fei Mang's body was still unhurt and gave off a healthy aura.
Instead, Fei Cai was the one who now stood bloodied. His fists were shredded as blood continuously dripped from his knuckles. His boots were taken off, showing who much his feet had gone through but what scared most of the gu masters was Fei Cai's expression. Impassive as he wasn't hurt at all. In some sense, this was true. Fei Mang wasn't able to land a single blow on Fei Cai. Still, the young genius of the tribe wasn't injured. A battle can be perceived and then digested after considering many situations. If Fei Cai was the one who had the use of stone skin gu and defeated Fei Mang quickly, nobody would have thought wrongly of Fei Cai. They would have even praised him. After all, Fei Mang challenged without knowing his opponents carefully.
But the situation was the opposite. Fei Cai was the unknowing party and 'foolishly' used his fist against Fei Mang. He should be jarred and sneered at. Called out names and verbally abused. After all, northerners worshipped strength but not fools! Still, nobody could say anything at the scene. It was too beautiful!
A young gu master with ill intentions wished to tarnish the reputation of the genius of the tribe only to be thrashed and unable to land a single hit! Fei Cai was the weaker opponent. He was the one bleeding considerably but Fei Mang was the one who continued to shout in pain despite his stone skin. After all, damage accumulates and each stomp now brought intense pain to Fei Mang.
"Fei Cai! Let me stand and then we'll see—"
*Stomp*
"Cousin! You are not doing good—"
*Stomp*
"Afraid of a fair fight—"
*Stomp*
Fei Cai's stomps were his answers. Even Fei Sheng felt that he might have reached out of his ability by making Fei Mang challenge Fei Cai just yet but he couldn't change the past.
Fei Qing and through him, the Horse Monk's will. They both were tongue-tied. They never knew Fei Cai was this capable. Even now, with such intense bleeding, he didn't let Fei Mang go. Instead, he continued without a change in his expression! Maniac Cai! Fei Qing suddenly recalled his son's title. To refine and hunt despite his injuries. Instead of happiness, this greatly alarmed Fei Qing. He needed to prepare more things for Fei Cai so that he doesn't walk the path of self-harm and ultimately commits an action with irreparable consequences!
However, Fei Chang felt his cheeks burning. After years of being an elder, he had grown shameless but not to this extent. A father loves his son but not to this extent! He had provided Fei Mang with everything but this was the result he got. Fei Chang couldn't help but feel that after this fight, Fei Dan might have other thoughts regarding the betrothal but in the end, it was Fei Chang's support that Fei Dan wished for.
"Maniacal demon..." Somebody in the group of spectators whispered, the words resonated with the entire group. Mortals and Gu masters alike, children and elders, too, couldn't help but think the same thing.
What Maniac Cai?
This was a Demon Cai!
"Do you admit defeat?" Fei Cai inquired as his fists unclenched over Fei Mang's face, pouring a gush of blood as Fei Mang instantly took the chance to roll away and started cleaning his face while shouting.
"I will never admit defeat! After defeating you, I will also defeat Fei Sau!" He roared, his words changing Fei Nai's expression once again as Fei Chang's and Fei Qing's eyelids twitched.
But the voices of spectators were stuck in their throats once again. Horse Monk laughed loudly in Fei Qing's head and even Fei Chang felt bitter at the sight. Slowly opening his eyes, Fei Mang saw Fei Cai atop a terror horse. Not only that, Fei Mang was now surrounded by ten terror horses!
"I have played long enough, Cousin. Now, I have to go and hunt. Since you are willing to stop me, then don't blame me if I hunt you!" Fei Cai sneered as one of the terror horses from the encirclement softly snorted and walked towards Fei Mang. "This is cheating! You are not following your rules!" Fei Mang gritted his teeth as Fei Cai shook his head gently.
"Oh, Cousin. I am not breaking rules. This Terror Horse is not a gu worm. I gave you a chance with my fist and legs but you could do nothing. You are stubborn and wasting important time. If you are not willing to admit defeat then face my terror horses," Fei Cai stated plainly as the blood drained from Fei Mang's face. He cautiously looked towards the moving terror horse but suddenly, the terror horse behind Fei Mang charged and crashed into the young boy's back, sending him flying and rolling through the dirt. Fei Cai could feel the horse's slight pain and willed it to stand down. Gazing at the pitiful Fei Mang, who, for the first time felt pain from his body instead of his numb face, slowly stood up, his back slightly bent while his gaze now filled with fear.
This wasn't the first time he was attacked by a terror horse. Previously, Fei Mang almost lost his life with one attack and now, facing ten horses that slowly moved towards him grandly, Fei Mang felt his heart faltering. Deep down, something continued to urge him against the thought of giving up. But it was too late now.
"Go!" Fei Cai commanded and two horses charged again.
Bang!
Avoiding the first one led to be struck by the second one squarely in the chest. Once again, Fei Mang was sent flying.
"Oh, no!" Fei Sheng's expression changed. 'Soul to Thought gu worm's effects are not absolute. Right now, my injected thoughts are clashing against Fei Mang's individual thoughts. If he accidentally breaks free from the effect due to the intense struggle...' The old man looked towards the battle with greater intensity, now regretting his actions of fuelling Fei Mang's hatred against Fei Cai.
"Still not giving up?" Fei Cai inquired with raised brows. Fei Mang slowly stood up with his lips pursed. He looked terrified and brave at the same time. Hatred oozed out of him and his shoulders trembled. Seeing this, Fei Sheng's gaze contracted in anger and helplessness.
"Charge!"
Fei Cai ordered once again and this time, the terror horse nearest to Fei Mang waved its sharp claws which tore through the boy's tunic and left a deep mark on his back. Everybody spectating the match shivered. Not only Fei Cai had shown how less he cares about his own injuries, effectively stopping most of the tribesmen and women from having ill thoughts about the young genius, but his action of coldly commanding his beast group also looked even more ruthless.
"Hahaha! He is just like the main body when he was young! Domineering! Fei Qing, you weren't wrong in bestowing the first part of the inheritance to the young calf! He has character!" Horse Monk laughed loudly, the spirit more than pleased as he watched the battle with great satisfaction. Now, even Fei Qing looked satisfied.
"Pu!" Fei Sheng covered his mouth hurriedly and motioned it as if he was touching his mustache but in reality, he was bitter and cleaned the blood he coughed out. The effects of the gu worm were lost! He was angry and indignant!
"I give up!"
Fei Mang shouted loudly as the charging terror horse instantly stopped and snorted against Fei Mang's face, the fishy breath dizzying the already hurt youth as he instantly collapsed in fear and fell unconscious due to exhaustion.
The scene fell into silence before the whole group went into an uproar!
"Too good! Demon Cai! This young man knows no pain and made Fei Mang fall unconscious in fear!"
"One of the best battles! Even those rank 2 juniors cannot match the intensity! Shame on them! You lots, learn from Young Cai! Hmph, always screaming at the slightest scratch! Pathetic!"
"Ohhh! I really wish to marry him... but I'm worthless!" One of the female gu masters cooed with infatuation and it instantly riled up a lot of female population but men remained silent. Especially those of higher ranks. Even Fei Sau had returned from his hunt when he heard about the challenge. He owed Fei Cai a favor. After all, the Demon Cai had helped his little sister once but never did he know that Fei Mang' actually wished to challenge him, too. The fight from Fei Cai brought intense pressure to these young rank 2 gu masters in their early twenties. If they were in the same situation, could they keep fighting without grunting in pain?
Northerner respected strength! Females fell for Fei Cai but not many actually dared to pursue him. Men started to feel intimidated by the young genius, but again, not many will ever try to block him. This feeling didn't stem from Fei Qing's title but Fei Cai's own action! None called Fei Qing a demon. None called the Chieftain a Maniac. Fei Cai was called these words for good reason and seeing Fei Mang's outcome, this thought was greatly cemented.
Under the blazing gazes of the spectators, Fei Qing slowly made his way towards Fei Cai and with a flick of his writs, a golden light shot out that submerged within Fei Cai. Slowly getting down from his horse, Fei Cai lost his footing but before he could fall, Fei Qing hurriedly caught his reckless son while the effect of rank 4 healing gu worm started to take upon Fei Cai. His fists and legs started to heal instantly and unlike the usual way, this time, Fei Qing healed his son completely.
"Father," Fei Cai croaked, while his heart was calm, he still showed a pitiful expression and looked at Fei Qing with watery eyes, "It hurts so much," the young boy stated with his voice cracking.
Fei Qing blinked in surprise before he felt slightly stifled. 'Oh, my son. To face such injuries without a change in expression, people call you a demon. But in the warmth of family, you finally shed your caution and ask for support. You are young and it pains me more but son, keep a strong heart. Pain and suffering is the truth of life.' The old Chieftain's heart ached at the sight but he promptly wiped his son's cheeks and smiled comfortingly without saying anything.
As if 'understanding' his father's inner thoughts, the valiant son nodded in determination and slowly stood without support. Meanwhile, the valiant son couldn't help but laugh internally.
'I have been a husband once and taken care of my nephews and nieces. So what will I do if I find out that they can bloody their fist at the age of ten? Chide them, of course. But this world isn't the same. Still, how can a parent's heart not resonate? Fei Qing would have tried to limit me after this act but a few tears can change the situation just as easily. To Fei Qing, Fei Cai needs to be a righteous young gu master. How can he watch his son's cruel fight without having a second thought?'
As the father-son duo walked towards Fei Chang who was healing his disappointment, the surroundings grew quiet once again. The challenge consists of rule, conditions, fight, and then result. The rule was to fight without gu worms. The condition was that the loser will recompensate the victor with a gu worm. The fight had already concluded. And now, it was time for the result. If the loser gu master cannot complete the condition within a day, his life will be forfeited regardless of his title.
The gazes of gu master fell upon Fei Qing. The older gu masters couldn't help but reminiscence. After all, just like Demon Cai, the Beast Qing of his time challenged the previous Chieftain, defeated him in an all-out battle, and rose to the title of Chieftain. It was as if victory was written in Fei Cai's blood! Most of the gu masters knew of this story and couldn't help but sigh. The thought— Why couldn't Fei Qing be my father?— appeared in most of the gu masters' minds, including the elders who were older than Fei Qing!
"Cai'er, well fought," Fei Chang smiled as he slowly pulled his son up. Fei Mang looked dazed for the most part before his gaze flickered with disappointment. He didn't dare look up as his sobs soon echoed, finally softening Fei Chang's heart. But this wouldn't be the end of it. Fei Chang now realized that he needed to have a hand in his young son's upbringing. Hmph, Fei Dan's nurturing clearly wasn't enough.
"Now, it is time to fulfill the condition of the challenge. Which gu worm would you like to choose from Fei Mang?" Fei Chang inquired as Fei Cai looked towards Fei Qing. Seeing the Chieftain's encouraging gaze, Fei Cai took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment.
Fei Cai has been inciting Fei Mang for a month. After reaching peak rank 1, Fei Cai's need to plot was purely educational. He wishes to learn and follow the wisdom path, after all. So, it was only a part of the reason why he fought Fei Mang. The other part was hidden in his condition for challenge.
To select a gu worm.
Fei Cai specifically left off the gu worm vaguely. The rank and type weren't mentioned at all. Fortunately, Fei Chang didn't ask to be more specific and now, it was time to gamble.
Ironically, the situation that Fei Cai was going to create was caused by Fei Mang himself.
Fei Cai couldn't help but recall a specific scene— An smug Fei Mang pointed and laughed at Fei Cai and Lo: "You both! Hehe, I will soon surpass you! I overheard my father telling my brother that they will soon acquire the rare polished jade gu worm! Haha! My talent will soar to the heavens!"
That was the only time Fei Mang ever bragged about the gu worm and from then, Fei Cai has been trying to keep tabs on as many rumors and news as possible. But none of them spoke about Fei Chang or his sons' aptitude rising.
This was his gamble.
Bowing slightly, Fei Cai smiled.
"Cousin once told this junior that Uncle Chang came to possession of Polished Jade Gu Worm. I admire my father greatly and wish to surpass him. But I'm only a B-rank Aptitude gu master. I have won and since the polished jade gu worm was supposed to be used on Cousin, I wish it for myself!"
He proclaimed, freezing everyone's expression once again!