Chapter 80: The Underground Arena (Part Two)

Three enormous ceiling fans hung in a triangular formation, whirring loudly as they spun, yet still unable to dispel the oppressive heat that filled the room.

On one wall, a massive LCD television displayed multiple angles of the scene, recorded by cameras installed in unknown locations. Judging by the cars parked outside, it was clear that none of the guests were ordinary people, but inside, the atmosphere had stripped them of the masks they usually wore. Some men carried their white shirts in their hands, bare-chested, others had tied their neckties around their heads, and some women leapt and waved their bras in the air. Shouts, screams, and whistles blended into a chaotic symphony.

After the initial tension, Li Youlan and Tan Xue began to relax, joining the others in jubilant cheering, much to Chu Dong’s dismay. These two ladies truly had no sense of propriety.

“Dear guests,” the host announced, “today marks the tenth tournament of the year, so we have something special in store. Those who have attended before know our bouts used to be three rounds of three minutes each, giving fighters time to rest and catch their breath even if they fell behind. Now, however, we’re switching to a single ten-minute round. There will be no second chance; you must defeat your opponent within ten minutes, or endure until the end. The match will not stop unless time runs out. Let our roaring voices awaken the fighters’ wild instincts!”

The host whipped the crowd into a frenzy; the room erupted with howling cheers.

“The first match features, in the red corner, Sairuda from Shandong—height one eighty, weight ninety kilograms, skilled in kicking techniques, with a record of ten wins and eight losses. His opponent in the black corner is the Taiji Practitioner from Hebei—height one seventy-five, weight eighty kilograms, skilled in Taiji boxing, with a record of eleven wins and eleven losses. You now have ten minutes to place your bets. As usual, the minimum unit is ten thousand. When the betting ladies approach you, hand them cash directly, and they’ll give you a ticket for your chosen side.”

Chu Dong understood now: this underground arena ran illegal bets for gambling.

With about a thousand people present, ten minutes was hardly enough for everyone to place their wagers. While Chu Dong pondered this, a door opposite the entrance opened, and lines of betting ladies filed out one after another. Chu Dong’s eyes widened instantly.

All clad in three-piece swimsuits, slender and fair-skinned, dazzling to the eye. Sashes draped diagonally across their bodies, and each carried a tray. In moments, dozens had emerged, and without instruction, they began moving around the room, selling betting slips as if they had done it countless times before.

Tan Xue, despite her family arranging a marriage between herself and Chu Dong, felt annoyed seeing him act so eager in front of her friend. She pressed her lips together and looked elsewhere, but her small hand made subtle movements at Chu Dong’s waist.

Grinning, Chu Dong watched a betting lady approach and reached for his wallet, only to realize with embarrassment that he didn’t have enough. The minimum bet was ten thousand, and judging by the eager faces around him, he felt awkward—his pocket held only a few thousand, though he had plenty of cards, but there was nowhere to swipe them here.

Before Chu Dong could retrieve his wallet, Li Youlan waved over a betting lady and produced several stacks of cash from her purse, clearly prepared, saving Chu Dong from embarrassment.

“Wait a moment,” Chu Dong stopped Li Youlan, who was about to bet on Sairuda, and shook his finger at her.

“Him?” Li Youlan pointed at the obviously smaller Taiji Practitioner.

Chu Dong nodded.

“Why?” Li Youlan hesitated, thinking the larger Sairuda was a safer bet.

“Trust me, I’ll explain later,” Chu Dong said, seeing the betting lady waiting.

“If you lose, you’ll pay me back,” Li Youlan declared, placing her money on the black corner and accepting the ticket.

The efficiency was impressive—within ten minutes, the betting ladies returned through the small door, trays piled high with cash, and the crowd’s excitement surged anew.

“Sairuda! Sairuda!”

“Taiji Practitioner! Taiji Practitioner!”

Everyone shouted the name of the fighter they’d wagered on, though Sairuda clearly had more supporters, as the volume indicated. Li Youlan, though still a bit resentful, glared at Chu Dong, who remained unmoved, thinking to herself, “If you lose, how will you explain?”

Sairuda roared triumphantly in the ring, waving his muscular arms to his supporters, while the Taiji Practitioner remained calm, carefully wrapping white cloth around his wrists.

“Why bet on that quiet guy? I still think the heavier one will win,” Li Youlan couldn’t help but ask Chu Dong.

“If it were three rounds of three minutes, I’d go with the big guy, but ten minutes changes everything. Sairuda looks fierce, but I doubt his stamina will last through continuous bursts. The Taiji Practitioner, on the other hand, specializes in overcoming force with softness. Look at his composure—he’s steady and uses his energy wisely. If he gets an opening, the big guy will have a hard time. Stick with me; it’s all about strategy,” Chu Dong explained, his gaze fixed on the ring, before glancing at the calm Tan Xue beside him.

“You’re just bluffing,” Li Youlan retorted, though Chu Dong’s logic pleased her, she couldn’t resist bantering.

As time ticked down, only Sairuda and the Taiji Practitioner remained in the ring. This kind of match had no referee, only a timekeeper recording the duration. At the sound of the gong, their battle began.

Sairuda strode toward the Taiji Practitioner amid supporters’ cheers, while the latter circled the ring, keeping a close eye on his larger opponent. He was more cautious than Sairuda.

Sairuda was no fool; he advanced with arms bent to protect himself. When he had the Taiji Practitioner cornered with nowhere to retreat, the punches thrown to create distance were easily blocked.

According to the earlier introduction, Sairuda’s skill lay in his legs. Though not as agile as the Taiji Practitioner, his footwork was heavy and solid.

The atmosphere was tense at first, and the audience grew restless, jeering and shouting.

After several feints, Sairuda realized his opponent was no match for him in strength, and even the blows landed caused little harm. He loosened up and began a full offensive.

A few punches missed, and Sairuda forced the Taiji Practitioner into a corner. Suddenly, he pivoted and swept his leg sideways.

Lacking strength but nimble, the Taiji Practitioner found himself trapped. Seeing Sairuda’s kick, he bent low, arms outstretched to block, but the disparity in power was too great. As soon as their limbs met, a loud thud echoed, and the Taiji Practitioner was swept to the ground.

Li Youlan covered her mouth in shock, casting a reproachful glance at the still-unperturbed Chu Dong.

ps: Third update. Another chapter today, brothers, enjoy!