"We'll bet on whether Han Yan or Mu Hanyan will win, with odds of one hundred to one," Mu Nan declared.
"Oh, I bet on Han Yan winning," Mu Cheng said almost without thinking, uttering the words instinctively.
"What?" A chorus of astonished gasps echoed around, doubting the very reliability of their ears.
"You didn't mistake your words, you really bet on Han Yan to win?" This time, it was Mu Nan's turn to look at Mu Cheng as if he were a fool.
"Mm-hmm." Mu Cheng nodded. Even as he spoke, he found it strange himself, as if he had been compelled by an instinctive impulse.
"How much will you bet?" Mu Nan inquired.
"Ten taels of silver," Mu Cheng responded. Ten taels of silver wasn't much to him—it was all in good fun, and he didn't feel like retracting his statement.
