Chapter 143: We Despise You
It was raining in Chongqing today. As the drops fell, a sudden crosswind swept through, making the sideways rain and the vertically falling rain form a plus sign in mid-air. This was a celestial omen, a sign for me to release an extra chapter, so, here's one more.
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The moment Xing Honglang uttered those words, the Gao Family Village villagers erupted in excitement. Two duels in one day! The previous one, where the newcomer refugee challenged Instructor He, had been far too predictable; everyone knew Instructor He would win.
And indeed, the outcome was no surprise—the refugee went down in a single move. It hadn't been nearly exciting enough.
Now, hearing the valiant woman openly challenge Gao Chuwu, everyone instantly got hyped.
The young men of the militia were the first to start cheering: “Go, Brother Chuwu! If you don't take the challenge, you're no man!”
The villagers, gathered around the salt smugglers and counting their newly earned money, joined in the teasing: “Chuwu, go on! Can't have your wife beating you, hahahaha!”
Laughter echoed everywhere.
Xing Honglang shot an angry glare at the villagers who were teasing her. “Who's whose wife? Watch your mouths!”
With such a commotion, how could that mischievous child Gao Yiye stay out of it? She pattered over, and when the villagers saw the Saintess coming to watch the spectacle, they instantly parted, allowing Gao Yiye to step into the center of attention.
Xing Honglang noticed Gao Yiye's position and immediately understood: this woman was the leader of the village. Interesting, she thought. It was already rare for *her*, a woman, to be a salt smuggling boss. But for this village to have a delicate woman as its leader? What was going on?
She eyed Gao Yiye with a curious gaze.
But Gao Yiye wasn't looking at her. Instead, she beamed at Gao Chuwu. “Brother Chuwu, why are you still dawdling? Are you scared to fight? The Heavenly Lord Himself is watching from above!”
Gao Chuwu scratched the back of his head. “I never hit women.”
His words once again infuriated Xing Honglang. Angrily, she retorted, “Looking down on me again, are you? I'm no ordinary woman!”
Gao Chuwu replied, “Yes, not ordinary at all. You're the most beautiful woman in the world; no one can compare to you.”
The villagers exchanged glances, speechless.
“Pfft!” Li Daoxuan spluttered out a piece of sea cucumber, nearly spitting it into the diorama box. He quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, containing the rogue food. If *that* fell into the box, it would be a disaster!
Despite being complimented, Xing Honglang wasn't pleased in the slightest; in fact, she grew angrier. “I thought you were just a blunt fool with no filter! Turns out you're a smooth-tongued rascal, feigning ignorance to hide your strength, aren't you? Fine, then! Today, we're definitely fighting!”
She unclipped the saber from her waist, tossed it to a subordinate behind her, and then clenched her fists, knuckles cracking with a series of sharp pops. “You, get over here and take your beating!”
Gao Chuwu waved both hands emphatically. “I really don't hit women.”
Li Daoxuan watched, growing utterly impatient. *Damn it, Gao Chuwu! You're the author here, adding so much filler! This little scene is dragging, overly sentimental, taking forever to get to the point. How am I supposed to follow this love story if you write like this? Ugh!*
He simply decided to demand faster progress. “Yiye, tell Gao Chuwu that men and women are equal. Saying 'I don't hit women' is looking down on women. I stand with Xing Honglang and all women in this world. I despise him!”
Hearing the Heavenly Lord's decree, Gao Yiye naturally had to relay it. She raised both hands high and declared loudly, “The Heavenly Lord commands... that we despise Gao Chuwu!”
The villagers, hearing this, immediately chimed in, everyone shouting together, “We despise you!”
Xing Honglang blinked, utterly bewildered. “???”
At this point, Gao Chuwu couldn't stand his ground any longer. Even the Heavenly Lord himself had personally commanded it; he *had* to fight.
He reluctantly stepped forward, stopping about ten feet away from Xing Honglang.
The onlookers instinctively stepped back, forming a huge circle with a rustle. Half of them were the thirty-four salt smugglers, who naturally cheered on their boss: “Boss, smash that guy! Show the blind fool who doesn't know the great name of Xing Honglang from Yongji!”
The Gao Family Village villagers, of course, sided with Gao Chuwu: “Chuwu, you gotta fight for your wife! Only then will she listen!”
The two protagonists hadn't even started, but the atmosphere was already electric.
Gao Chuwu stood there foolishly, refusing to make the first move.
Xing Honglang, with a whoosh, took a great stride forward, her fist shooting straight for Gao Chuwu's chest.
Her punch was swift and fierce, too fast for anyone to follow. Beside them, Cheng Xu's heart secretly tightened: *So fast! I might not even block that. Gao Chuwu won't be able to dodge.*
True enough, Gao Chuwu showed no reaction at all, taking Xing Honglang's punch directly to the chest. With a dull thud, Gao Chuwu was struck.
Xing Honglang scoffed, retracting her fist. She'd won; there was no need to continue. An ordinary person would be unable to get up for a good while after one of her punches.
However, she immediately realized something was off. Gao Chuwu merely let out an “Ouch!” retreating five steps with a stumble, then planted his feet firmly.
He even grinned foolishly. “Miss, you're pretty, and your strength is amazing.”
Xing Honglang let out a bewildered “Huh?”
Gao Chuwu warned, “I'm going to make my move now, Miss. Be careful!”
He took a huge step forward, swinging his fist with a forceful whoosh. The sheer power was immense; as his fist moved, a palpable force seemed to rush out.
Xing Honglang was secretly alarmed. She dared not meet it head-on, sidestepping quickly. Her left hand slapped away Gao Chuwu's fist, while her right landed a punch on his side abdomen.
This was a notoriously vulnerable spot on the human body; a punch there should certainly make a person double over like a shrimp.
Yet, to her surprise, Gao Chuwu merely let out another “Ouch!” retreating a few steps with a stumble, but still managing to plant his feet firmly. “Wow, Miss, you have incredible strength!”
Xing Honglang's eyes widened in disbelief. “!!!”
*What kind of superhuman was this?*
Little did she know, ever since the Heavenly Lord's arrival, Gao Chuwu had been eating his fill every single meal—rice, meat, salt, and sugar. He worked hard, diligently exercised, and his entire body had developed a physique so muscular it was like a suit of armor.
To knock him down with mere punches truly wasn't an easy feat.
Xing Honglang huffed, “Alright! I truly can't underestimate you, then. Time for some real skill! Take this—my Jin Hong Fist!”
She leaped forward with a swish, her hands striking out in a relentless flurry. Her Jin Hong Fist flowed with formidable power.
Gao Chuwu was instantly dizzied and unable to follow, taking a dozen consecutive blows from Xing Honglang within the span of thirteen blinks of an eye.
The spectators only heard a rapid “thump-thump-thump,” the sound of fists landing on flesh, creating a lively din. When the two figures finally separated again, they saw Gao Chuwu's iron-tower-like physique slowly beginning to topple.
With a “boom,” he hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Gao Chuwu had lost!
Xing Honglang clapped her hands. “Settle up his chocolate money!”
Her salt smugglers roared with laughter. “As you command!”
Zheng Daniu walked over to Gao Chuwu, picked up a twig, and poked him gently. “Brother, are you dead?”
Gao Chuwu mumbled, “I lost. Couldn't hit her, not once...”
Zheng Daniu shrugged. “Not dead yet? Then you're fine!”
The surrounding villagers burst into laughter. “Hahahaha, Gao Chuwu's second marriage proposal failed!”
Li Daoxuan, too, was greatly amused. *Excellent, excellent! Chapter two of Gao Chuwu's love story is quite exciting. I should give him a little reward.* “Yiye...”
Gao Yiye announced loudly, “The Heavenly Lord has commanded! Gao Chuwu fought splendidly; though defeated, he is still glorious! His title of 'Idiot' is hereby revoked, and he is bestowed with the title of 'Manly Man'!”
The villagers burst into laughter once more.
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