"Mighty warrior, could it be just my imagination, or do you look familiar? Have we met somewhere before?"
Lying on the ground, Black Eagle held his breath in fright, as if he’d stopped breathing entirely.
Dong Huiying couldn’t help but want to laugh. "Get up, quick!" She nudged his calf with the tip of her foot. His body tense, his ears and neck turned beet red in no time, as if they had been boiled. Then, with frustration, he opened his eyes, glanced at her quickly, and hurriedly lowered his head as if terrified she would catch him sneaking a peek at her.
Dong Huiying truly couldn’t hold back her chuckle. That endearing nature was unmistakable; she would bet her bottom dollar he was someone she knew. Moreover, she smelled the golden sore medicine she had formulated on this man, and to date, only the brothers of the Liang family had used her concoction.
With a half-smile, she teased, "Ready for a round, hmm?"
He hesitated, then stiffly nodded.
The black market crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Black Eagle get up, they struck the gong again, and the two assumed their stances.
Dong Huiying didn’t rush to make a move. In fact, she was quite curious. Anyone bold enough to fight in the black market must have some skills to show, and she was interested to probe the depth of his abilities.
But as she waited, Wood turned out to be just as his name suggested, a wooden pole, fixed in place like a human punching bag, his head bowed, not daring to look at her, nor to strike first.
So, they were at an impasse.
"Hit him, hit him, Black Eagle! What are you doing? Old Lady’s got quite a bit of silver bet on you; move it!"
But Black Eagle, like a deaf man, turned a deaf ear. However, his eyes were filled with deep frustration.
Under the mask, Black Eagle—or perhaps more appropriately, Liang Haoming—blushed with embarrassment, looking somewhat helpless, standing honestly in place without moving.
Dong Huiying raised her eyebrows, realizing she’d have to make the first move. Swiftly, she charged toward Liang Haoming, pulling her punches a bit as her little fists aimed at the dumbfounded man.
Just as her fist was about to smash into him, suddenly he arched backward and then lay down again.
He actually lay down again!!
The gambling den: "..."
"Hey, man!" The black market crowd clapped their hands in dismay, wondering what was up with Black Eagle, who kept playing dead on the ground at the drop of a hat, nearly smashing the black market’s reputation to smithereens. It was a good thing no one in the audience had tomatoes or rotten eggs; otherwise, they might have pelted him to death with them.
Liang Haoming cracked his eyelids just enough to take a careful look outside, suddenly locking eyes with the girl’s speechless, questioning, and spirited pupils. Startled, he twitched and immediately shut his eyes. Then, he subtly shifted downwards, and next, rolled off the stage in a flash, his face covered in dust as he scrambled up and rushed out with large, awkward, hurried strides!
"Hey—" she tried to call out to him, but then the gong sounded again, "Congratulations to Black Cat, Black Cat versus Black Eagle, Black Cat wins!"
Dong Huiying found her steps held back, and by the time she looked forward again, Liang Haoming had vanished without a trace.
She was even more speechless now.
Upstairs, Hong Xiangjun was holding her stomach, roaring with laughter.
It was too funny, truly hilarious. She had known since long ago that Fourth Brother Liang fought in the black market. She had witnessed this man’s journey from an insignificant weakling to growing stronger with time.