People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Before he could dispel it with his internal energy, Cao Ze seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

Grabbing Wei Zhuang's sword-wielding wrist, he took a step back, pulled Wei Zhuang's arm, and suddenly threw him down, throwing him off balance. Then, with a chest-thrust and knee strike, he sent Wei Zhuang crashing into the south wall.

Wei Zhuang knelt on one knee, his Shark Tooth Sword stuck in the ground. He was breathing heavily, and blood was dripping from the corner of his mouth onto the ground.

He wiped the blood from his mouth, stood up, and continued to stare coldly at Cao Ze.

"If you can hurt me, you are qualified to be my opponent."

Cao Ze muttered, "So much nonsense."

What came head-on was Wei Zhuang's heavy slash.

Cao Ze leaped to the side and unleashed a palm strike, which was instantly torn apart by Wei Zhuang, who then closed in.

As Wei Zhuang drew closer and closer, with the Shark Tooth Sword almost within reach, Cao Ze sighed inwardly. It was indeed difficult to suppress Wei Zhuang with only half of the Five Thunder Orthodox Technique.

Wei Zhuang couldn't help but reveal an excited smile, and slightly withdrew some of his power.

Even if he despised the affair between Cao Ze and Zi Nu, he would not seriously injure Cao Ze because of it.

But he still wouldn't let it go: "Fancy tricks are ultimately not respectable; you still need..."

A blinding golden light flashed, and Wei Zhuang reacted quickly, closing his eyes and relying on his spiritual perception and combat instincts to continue wielding his sword.

The sword struck Cao Ze in the waist and abdomen, producing a piercing screech, like a sharp piece of iron scraping against a smooth marble slab, which was unsettling.

Wei Zhuang stepped back, squinting as he looked at Cao Ze in the golden light.

It seems that the move that stopped him and Jing Ke from killing each other was this one.

This caused him and Jing Ke to lose their focus for a moment, during which Cao Ze bumped into them.

He thought it was just a low-level trick, but it turned out to be a top-level external skill. He took the Shark Tooth Sword head-on without leaving a single scratch.

Han Fei muttered, "What a waste of time. They really have a lot of tricks up their sleeves."

Jing Ke had long been familiar with Cao Ze's methods and was not surprised. "I bet Brother Wei Zhuang won't last the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Han Fei glanced at Wei Zhuang and raised his voice slightly, "I'll also make a bet: can Brother Wei Zhuang last for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea? How about a hundred gold pieces as the wager?"

Jing Ke scratched his head: "I don't have that much money."

Yan Dan took out an exquisite gold note worth a hundred gold coins from his pocket, saying, "A little gambling is harmless fun, just to add some excitement."

Wei Zhuang, who was in the courtyard, heard everything clearly. He gritted his teeth and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Who do you think you are!

Han Fei looked at Zi Nu and smiled, "Miss Zi Nu, shall we bet?"

He believed that Wei Zhuang, provoked in this way, would definitely fight Cao Ze to the death. Even if he couldn't win, he would still be able to hold out for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Zi Nu hesitated for a moment. If she won, it would be two hundred gold coins, which would be the profit of Zi Lan Xuan for one or two months. But wouldn't it be a bad idea to rub salt into Wei Zhuang's wounds like this? Besides, if she lost, she would be heartbroken to lose one hundred gold coins.

Cao Ze narrowed his eyes, glancing at his brother-in-law out of the corner of his eye. He knew perfectly well that his brother-in-law was up to no good.

He moved his lips slightly and transmitted his voice to Zi Nu: "Half a cup of tea, split in half."

Zi Nu's eyes brightened slightly, and she whispered, "I'll bet half a cup of tea, a hundred gold coins."

If he wins, he can earn 200 gold coins; if Wei Zhuang loses, so be it.

Han Fei thought he had succeeded. With just a word, he earned two hundred gold coins. He would be well-off from now on and feel comfortable.

With one hand behind his back, Cao Ze looked at Wei Zhuang with an air of superiority and said, "Brother Wei Zhuang, it's only polite to retaliate. You should make the first move this time."

Wei Zhuang sneered: "You will pay the price for your arrogance."

"boom--"

The two clashed again.

Compared to before, when he needed to dodge the Shark Tooth Sword, activate the Golden Light Mantra, and cultivate both internal and external strength to make his defense comparable to the Peerless Ghost, Cao Ze went straight for the kill and clashed head-on with Wei Zhuang.

Wei Zhuang's palms were slightly numb from the reaction force, and he deeply realized how troublesome Cao Ze was.

Either break through Cao Ze's defenses, or stall until Cao Ze's internal energy is exhausted.

"Hmph! Let's see how long you can hold out!"

Wei Zhuang began to play a more cautious and methodical approach, trying to wear down Cao Ze.

Cao Ze said, "As expected of Brother Wei Zhuang, you can spot the shortcomings at a glance."

Using the Golden Light Mantra and Yin Five Thunders simultaneously at high intensity is powerful, but at most, his internal energy will be exhausted in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Han Fei, standing off the field, felt a sense of unease upon hearing Cao Ze's words. He didn't know much about combat, but he had previously seen Cao Ze and Wei Zhuang going toe-to-toe. Even if Wei Zhuang was no match, he should be able to last for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

But now, seeing Cao Ze dominating Wei Zhuang, his heart skipped a beat. Would he end up losing more than he gained by trying to steal a chicken?

Jing Ke said admiringly, "Miss Zi Nu has sharp eyes. After watching this battle, the outcome will be decided in no more than half a cup of tea's time."

"Huh?" Han Fei had thought Jing Ke had won the bet, but now it seemed that Zi Nu was going to win.

He strongly suspected that there was something fishy going on, and that Cao Ze and Zi Nu were secretly colluding to swindle his gold coins!

Wei Zhuang was covered in bruises and burn marks. Seeing Cao Ze swinging his golden fist at his face again, Wei Zhuang roared in grief and anger, "Come on!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Wei Zhuang stared with his two dark, purplish-black eyes, wishing he could kill Cao Ze.

Cao Ze blew a light breath, and Wei Zhuang's originally cold and resolute face was bruised and swollen.

There was nothing he could do; fists and feet have no eyes, and he did it on purpose.

"Brother Wei Zhuang, admit defeat. If you continue fighting, you will be seriously injured."

Wei Zhuang, his lips slightly swollen, said, "Disciples of Guigu Valley, you can be defeated, but you cannot surrender!"

Cao Ze took a light breath: "Then let's continue!"

Wei Zhuang was being used as a punching bag by Cao Ze, and Han Fei was extremely distressed watching it.

His money, his money!

When it was almost halfway through the teacup, the golden light emanating from Cao Ze began to dim.

Wei Zhuang's eyes widened suddenly. Had he finally given up?

All the previous humiliations came rushing back, and Wei Zhuang roared, "Sweep Across All Directions!"

He now has only one thought: to defeat Cao Ze and avenge his previous humiliation!

Cao Ze breathed a slight sigh of relief; it was only when Uncle Wei lost his mind that he became a good uncle.

Otherwise, he would lose a hundred gold coins.

"Thunder Magic Golden Thunder!"

A deafening thunderclap suddenly resounded, and the originally dark, gloomy thunder transformed into dazzling golden thunder, colliding with Wei Zhuang's domineering sword energy.

This is the initial result of his mastery of Yin Five Thunders and Golden Light Mantra, forming a large circulation within his body. This has resulted in an additional trace of Yang energy within Yin Five Thunders, transforming it into Golden Thunder, whose power is now incomparable to what it was before.

Dust filled the air, and the courtyard ground looked as if it had been plowed, covered with sword marks and lightning craters.

The room's windows and doors were smashed, the beams and pillars broke apart, and it collapsed with a crash.

The once tranquil courtyard has become a mess.

Zi Nu felt heartbroken while constantly estimating the losses in her mind. To repair the courtyard, she would need at least twenty gold coins.

When the dust settled, Wei Zhuang lay on his back, staring blankly at the clear blue sky.

He lost, to someone he never thought he would lose to.

Cao Ze was panting heavily, not expecting Jin Lei to drain his internal energy so much, almost draining him dry.

He used all his strength to walk step by step to Wei Zhuang.

He stood, Wei Zhuang lay down, and he won.

"Brother Wei Zhuang, you have been defeated."

In a daze, Wei Zhuang heard Cao Ze's words to him again—"Have you ever been defeated?"

Wei Zhuang was greatly affected.

If they hadn't underestimated their opponent from the start, they wouldn't have suffered such a complete defeat.

Han Fei shouted, "Brother Wei Zhuang, hold on a little longer!"

It's only been half a cup of tea's time, how can you lie down? You were so arrogant just now, how can you lie down now?

Get up and fight, you who are lying down!

His money, his gold coins!

Wei Zhuang felt as if a huge boulder was blocking his chest.

Being defeated by Cao Ze didn't vent his anger, but Han Fei's shout made him gasp for breath.

He decisively chose to faint, afraid of being so angry he would die on the spot!

"Huh? Brother Wei Zhuang is dead?" Han Fei's eyes widened. Money wasn't important; what mattered was that you couldn't die! If you died, who would take over Nightfall? Who would kill Ji Wuye?!

Cao Ze checked "Pig Head Village's" breathing and briefly took its pulse, saying, "It's not dead, it just fainted."

Han Fei breathed a slight sigh of relief. Thank goodness, he wasn't dead.

Zi Nu, holding Jing Ke's hundred gold notes, smiled and said, "Ninth Young Master, where is your bet?"

Han Fei chuckled and said, "Another day, another day."

Zi Nu smiled charmingly: "Then you can give it to Mr. Cao Ze another day."

She didn't show any emotional fluctuations regarding Wei Zhuang's defeat; in her view, blunting his edge was a good thing for Wei Zhuang.

Han Fei's eyes widened, and he pointed at Cao Ze with trembling eyes, "You, you tricked me?"

Cao Ze blinked. "Really? Miss Zi Nu just asked you to give me the money. In other words, I am now your creditor."

Han Fei clutched his chest and angrily rebuked, "I am ashamed to be associated with you!"

"money!"

"...Brother Cao, could you grant me a few more days?"