Chapter 24: Trial

The martial arts competition for a suitor naturally followed specific rules: those wounded or killed and unable to continue, those who surrendered, or those knocked off the stage were considered defeated.

The marketplace was teeming with people, all gathered to watch the spectacle. Street vendors hawked tea and snacks, their cries blending into a constant din. A group of children, obsessed with martial arts, darted through the crowd, desperate to push their way to the edge of the stage for a closer view, oblivious to the danger.

Among the spectators, Pang Erhu praised Xiao Bugui: "This young talent is truly impressive! I’m betting on him."

Auntie Hu chimed in, "Indeed! If this young man loses and Miss Hao doesn't want him, I’ll take him!"

Auntie Zhang retorted, "At your age, are you still feeling sentimental?"

"My granddaughter isn't married yet," Auntie Hu replied.

Some spectators, finding the excitement lacking, shouted, "Fight already! Let’s see another death!"

Ma Yong snarled at the man, "Once I kill him, I’ll kill you next." Terrified, the heckler immediately shut his mouth, silently cursing Ma Yong to a miserable end.

Suddenly, the green lion tattoo on Ma Yong’s skin leaped off his body, transforming into a real, living lion.

Xiao Bugui smiled and said, "So you know conjuring tricks, too? Longyin, go!"

The Longyin sword, hovering in the air, obeyed the command and flew forward. The green lion rolled on the ground to dodge the blade, then leaped up, caught the hilt in its jaws, and swallowed it whole. When the Seven-Kill Spear thrust toward it, the lion opened its maw and devoured that as well. The sword and spear vanished into its stomach as if dropped into a bottomless sack, never to be seen again.

Ma Yong laughed, "Green lion, eat that brat!"

The beast lunged at Xiao Bugui. Quick-witted, Xiao leaped beside Ma Yong and used a transformation technique, creating an identical double of his opponent.

The real Ma Yong shouted, "He’s the fake! Eat him!"

The fake Ma Yong shouted, "He’s the fake! Eat him!"

Seeing that Xiao Bugui was wearing clothes while he remained bare-chested, Ma Yong cursed in frustration, "You beast, can't you tell? He's wearing clothes! Eat him already!"

After all, the green lion was a beast; though powerful, its intelligence was limited. Xiao Bugui simply took off his shirt, patted his own chest, and said kindly, "Green lion, we are good brothers. Don't be fooled by him. If you're conflicted, just come back."

The lion remained bewildered, its ferocious expression shifting into a dazed, adorable look.

Enraged, Ma Yong grabbed the lion’s mane and hammered his fist against its head, yelling, "You beast, you can't even tell your own master apart!"

Xiao Bugui feigned punching the air, crying out in mock sympathy, "You hit my green lion? See how I deal with you!"

Before Xiao’s fist could land on Ma Yong, the aggrieved lion flew into a rage. Unleashing its primal nature, it opened its massive jaws and swallowed Ma Yong whole. It then reared its head and let out a roar so powerful that the mischievous children below the stage wet their pants. The timid spectators scattered like birds and beasts, some even getting trampled in the panic.

Everyone expected the lion to go berserk and charge the crowd, but instead, it leaped onto Xiao Bugui and melted back into a tattoo. Xiao Bugui welcomed the lion’s "embrace" with a smile, though he broke out in a cold sweat.

Having subdued the beast, Xiao Bugui returned to his normal appearance and bowed to the crowd, saying, "Everyone, do not panic. No one will be harmed." Remembering that his sword and spear were still in the lion’s belly, he asked, "Green lion, where are my Longyin sword and Seven-Kill spear? Spit them out!"

The tattoo revealed only half of its hindquarters as it excreted a pile of shredded clothes, hair, and bones. "I digested them," the lion replied apologetically. "If you had asked any slower, there wouldn't even be bones left."

"What am I supposed to use as a weapon now?" Xiao Bugui asked.

"Why do you need weapons?" the lion countered. "With me protecting your body, you possess an indestructible frame. You are impervious to blades and arrows, and your fists are harder than hammers."

"The Longyin sword was my brother-in-arms, and the Seven-Kill spear was a relic left by Senior Fang," Xiao pleaded. "I’ll be heartbroken if they're gone. Please, dear brother lion, be a good fellow and spit them out."

"Rest assured, they are fine," the lion promised. "Leave them in my belly for now; I’ll give you a surprise in three days."

"Very well, it’s a deal," Xiao Bugui agreed.

As he chatted with the lion, another man, undeterred by the danger, stepped onto the stage.

It was another man of the Ma clan, Ma Yulang, whose face was heavily painted with rouge. He pointed at Xiao Bugui and cursed, "You son of a bitch, you harmed two of our brothers. Today, you shall taste my 'Ten Thousand Charms' sword."

Ma Yulang’s sword was like a ribbon, moving with incredible speed. Before Xiao Bugui could react, he was enveloped by the supple, metallic blade. Trapped within, Xiao heard Ma Yulang gloat, "Don't you dare move. My sword is sharp; you’ll be sliced into meat chunks. I prefer my meat sliced evenly."

Xiao Bugui transformed into a small bird and darted out. The sword followed like a serpent, but the clever bird dove toward Ma Yulang’s face. The blade struck out, but the bird dodged; Ma Yulang, however, was caught off guard and barely pulled back, breaking into a cold sweat.

Finding a moment to breathe, Xiao Bugui begged the lion, "Brother Lion, help me eat this sword!"

"I don't like eating noodles. Refused," the lion replied with disdain.

"You already ate my sword and spear; you wouldn't just watch me die, would you?"

"It doesn't matter," the lion said. "If you die, I'll just go over to Ma Yulang and sniff his rouge."

During their exchange, the supple sword wound back like a water snake. The bird folded its wings, landed, and transformed back into Xiao Bugui. "Good brother, please, give me back the Longyin sword and Seven-Kill spear!"

"Are you stupid?" the lion asked. "I told you, with me attached to you, you are impervious to weapons. What are you afraid of?"

Xiao Bugui had an epiphany. "That's right! Why am I running?"

Xiao Bugui then made a poor decision. Ma Yulang, wielding his long sword with immense strength, moved as if performing a ribbon dance. The blade quickly coiled around one of Xiao Bugui’s arms. With Xiao’s inferior strength, he was lifted into the air and swung around like a flail. He was slammed into the stage, shattering the paving stones, yet he remained unhurt. Ma Yulang tried to throw him off the stage, but Xiao Bugui kept spinning his body to remain upright.

Ma Yulang was strong, but he couldn't keep swinging a living man forever. Exhausted, he vented his frustration by using Xiao Bugui as a hammer, repeatedly slamming him against the stage until the stone floor was pulverized.

Watching from the Star-Plucking Pavilion, Ma Ruyun couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn it, that boy has some tough bones."

Hao Jingming replied, "Tough bones, but a dull wit. He looks like a fool to me."

Hao Meili, worried for Xiao Bugui’s safety, bit her lip. In the gentle breeze, she looked even more beautiful and moving. Qian’er, knowing her mistress’s heart, consoled her: "Young Master Xiao is a guest from beyond this world; he will surely win."