Chapter 783: Betting Match
Xu Meijing's words resolved some of Yang Haoran's doubts, though not all. As soon as her voice faded, a burst of sound exploded from the sky, and both of their gazes involuntarily shot upwards.
Yang Haoran's arrival had briefly halted the two figures battling overhead, but their pause was short-lived. In that very instant, they clashed once more, the resounding boom a testament to their renewed engagement. This level of combat held little allure for the current Yang Haoran, yet he remained quite interested in understanding the reason behind their struggle.
“What exactly is this one-on-one battle about now? ” Yang Haoran shifted his gaze to Xu Meijing, voicing the question that lingered in his mind.
“This is a betting match,” Xu Meijing explained. “If that young man wins this fight, then the lives of the remaining Zhang Family members will be spared. Conversely, every single member of their Zhang Family will die today. ” Yang Haoran’s brows furrowed slightly at her words.
“Would these vengeful parties agree to such a betting match? ” he asked. From the current state of affairs, if the avengers were to attack together, it would likely not even take the time it takes to smoke a cigarette to completely annihilate the entire Zhang Family. There would be no need for a betting match with Zhang Li; after all, such a gamble carries inherent risks, whereas a unified assault presents none.
Anyone with an ounce of sense wouldn't agree to a betting match with Zhang Li. It wasn't a question of confidence in defeating him, but rather that as the dominant side, there was absolutely no reason to engage in such a thing. In front of these vengeful individuals, the Zhang Family was utterly at a disadvantage. How could the weaker party be qualified to negotiate terms? Why would they agree to a betting match proposed by the Zhang Family?
Yang Haoran was deeply puzzled by this, but Xu Meijing's subsequent reply dispelled his confusion.
“I was the one who proposed the betting match,” Xu Meijing stated. “If the Zhang Family disagreed, then I would simply wipe them all out. And if any of the avengers disagreed, I would kill them. They agreed quite readily, all finding the betting match to be a rather good solution. ” Yang Haoran paused for a moment, then, understanding dawned, he gave Xu Meijing a thumbs up.
At this moment, Yang Haoran roughly grasped the entire sequence of events. Both Xu Meijing and the other avengers, in truth, wished to annihilate the Zhang Family to sate their fury. However, Xu Meijing, considering Zhang Li’s apparent connection to him, refrained from directly delivering the killing blow to the Zhang Family. Yet, if the matter were simply left at that, she would feel a considerable degree of unease.
Furthermore, even if she were to suppress her inner discomfort and cease dwelling on the matter, others would not let the Zhang Family off the hook; they would still move against them. For the time being, these individuals still harbored reservations about the vanished Zhang Changchun and his son, but this apprehension would gradually wane with each passing day. Once that apprehension had diminished to a certain point, these people would undoubtedly immediately move to annihilate the Zhang Family.
At that point, Zhang Li alone would be utterly incapable of holding back all the avenging parties. Forcible resistance would lead to only one outcome: a brutal demise, with even his soul scattered beyond recovery. Thus, Xu Meijing’s decision to resolve the issue through this betting match, though seemingly a way to vent her own anger, was in fact a means of helping the Zhang Family—or, to be precise, helping Zhang Li.
Because only through this method would the Zhang Family have a faint glimmer of hope for survival. Otherwise, under the current circumstances, the Zhang Family had no chance at all; their eradication was a foregone conclusion. Though Xu Meijing didn't explicitly state this, Yang Haoran naturally understood the underlying reasoning. Not only him, but the other individuals present who had come to trouble the Zhang Family also understood. It was simply that their strength was inferior to Xu Meijing’s, and combined with her domineering actions, they dared not voice their anger, left with no choice but to proceed with the betting match as per her demands.
They were unaware that the current Xu Meijing had already opened her Earth Soul. Nor had she displayed her full power before them, merely exhibiting a casual hint of her abilities, which was enough to completely cow these avengers. Ultimately, it boiled down to their strength being utterly insignificant in Xu Meijing’s eyes. Before the powerful, what voice do the weak possess? The weak simply do as the strong dictate, lest they invite fatal calamity upon themselves.
In truth, they remained oblivious that Xu Meijing desired the Zhang Family’s demise even more fiercely than they did. It was only out of deference to Yang Haoran that she had made this decision, leaving a mere sliver of hope for Zhang Li and the Zhang Family’s continued existence.
Yet, this hope was truly minuscule. For the individual currently locked in combat with Zhang Li possessed a strength notably superior to his own. If Zhang Li lacked a means to turn the tide, victory would not come easily; indeed, the likelihood of his defeat was significantly higher.
With a clear understanding of Xu Meijing’s intentions, Yang Haoran shifted his gaze to Zhang Li, who was fiercely battling overhead. The only thing that still confounded him was why Zhang Li was so protective of these Zhang Family members, even to the extent of wagering his own life. He truly couldn’t fathom what was going through Zhang Li’s mind.
Even Xu Meijing aside, he himself harbored resentment toward the Zhang Family. He had almost lost his life this time, and the Zhang Family was directly responsible; if he hadn’t been trapped by their schemes, the entire series of subsequent events would never have unfolded. Nevertheless, this Zhang Li truly presented a dilemma. He genuinely felt a degree of goodwill toward the young man. What’s more, during that great battle, Zhang Li had specifically come to warn him not to trust Zhang Changchun. Regardless of whether the warning was timely, the fact that Zhang Li had delivered it, from Yang Haoran’s perspective, stemmed from good intentions. This act of kindness was something he would surely keep in his heart. Given his nature, it would be difficult for him to harm this young man.
Neither Yang Haoran nor Xu Meijing spoke again, both fixing their gazes on the fierce battle unfolding above them.
Zhang Li was young, yet his strength was quite formidable. In the regions of Ancheng and Lecheng, it was indeed exceedingly rare for someone so youthful to possess such power. When Yang Haoran had first encountered Zhang Li, the latter’s strength was not weak, yet merely ordinary; compared to his current capabilities, the difference was stark. For Zhang Li to elevate his strength to this degree in such a short span of time, both fortuitous encounters and diligent effort must have been indispensable.
However, while Zhang Li’s strength was considered quite formidable among his peers, this was precisely the limit of his advantage. His current opponent was not a contemporary, but a middle-aged man, and compared to him, Zhang Li’s power fell somewhat short. It wasn't to say that all middle-aged men were stronger than Zhang Li, but the particular middle-aged man Zhang Li was currently facing was indeed superior in strength.
Judging by the techniques the middle-aged man displayed, he belonged to no particular sect or faction. Like Zhang Li, he was an Exorcist, and both wielded magical artifacts—specifically, wooden magical swords. Yang Haoran did not know how long the two sides had been clashing, but from the current situation, it was clear that Zhang Li had fallen into a disadvantageous position.
In Yang Haoran’s estimation, if Zhang Li failed to produce a more potent technique, and the two continued to fight in this manner, it wouldn’t be long before Zhang Li was certainly defeated. After observing for a moment, as Zhang Li steadily retreated, Yang Haoran sighed inwardly. He withdrew his gaze from Zhang Li, letting it settle on the location of the Zhang Family members.
Previously, he had only swept a glance over the area where the Zhang Family members were located, without truly scrutinizing it. Now, upon closer inspection, he discovered that only women, children, the ailing, and the disabled remained of the Zhang Family. From this, it was evident that while he had been recuperating, the Zhang Family must have already suffered retaliation, with some members having perished—specifically, the Zhang Family’s powerhouses. This explained why only these vulnerable individuals were left.
Among these individuals, some wore expressions of anger and hatred, while others displayed overt fear. Especially the younger children: some anxiously clutched the corners of their elders’ clothes, while others were so terrified they buried themselves in their mothers’ embraces. This sight caused Yang Haoran to involuntarily frown.
According to the rules established for this betting match, if Zhang Li were to lose, then these remaining members of the Zhang Family would be forced to pay the price for their family's past deeds. Adults were one matter; they were responsible for their own actions. But it was truly pitiable for these children, who understood nothing.
“Moonlit Night God”'s error-free chapters will continue to be updated. There are no advertisements on this site. Please remember to bookmark and type it yourself! (
Comments