IDWBE -Chapter 117 Dog Fighting

Lin Yi was lying there comfortably when Bao Kui came rushing in in a panic.

“Your Highness, something terrible has happened!”

“Has the sky fallen?” Lin Yi replied irritably.

“No.” Bao Kui shook his head honestly.

“If the sky hasn’t fallen, then what are you panicking for?” Lin Yi snapped. “What have I always told you? No matter what happens, stay calm. Don’t lose your head.”

“Yes,” Bao Kui said sheepishly. “This humble one knows his fault.”

Only then did Lin Yi ask, “Speak. What scared you like this?”

Seeing the prince finally getting to the point, Bao Kui hurriedly said, “The refugees from Hongzhou have gotten into a fight with the locals.”

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. “Anyone dead?”

Bao Kui shook his head. “No.”

“Then take your time and explain. What did they fight over?”

Conflicts between locals and outsiders weren’t new. Lin Yi was long used to it.

After all, regional pride and discrimination had existed since ancient times.

No matter what, one’s own hometown was always the best—even if it was a barren wasteland.

Bao Kui cleared his throat. “The Hongzhou refugees brought a kind of dog with them. It looks like a tiger—very fierce.”

“Tiger-striped dogs,” Lin Yi said. As a professional pet owner, he was familiar with all kinds of breeds. “And then?”

Bao Kui continued, “Most locals here raise Bone-Mouth Shar-Peis. Two men with nothing better to do started arguing about which breed was better. One said his dog could bite wolves; the other claimed his could fight tigers. Neither would give in, and they started fighting. Then relatives and friends from both sides got involved. More and more people gathered, and it turned into chaos. We finally managed to suppress it. Seventy-three people have been detained and escorted to the Administration Office. Lord Shan thinks it was a conflict caused by differing customs and that sending them to labor reform wouldn’t be appropriate. He asked for Your Highness’s opinion.”

“You brought this trivial matter to me?” Lin Yi said crossly. “It’s simple—use your brains!”

Bao Kui said bitterly, “This subordinate is dull-witted. Please enlighten me, Your Highness.”

“Of course—hold a dog fighting competition!” Lin Yi grinned. “Let’s see which breed is truly stronger!”

Bao Kui suddenly understood. “I get it now!”

Watching Bao Kui run off, Lin Yi began to feel something was off.

Dog fighting?

Wasn’t that a bit cruel?

He thought about calling Bao Kui back—but after some consideration, he let it go.

Under the Administration Office’s sponsorship, the First Baiyun City Dog Fighting Tournament officially began.

It sounded simple, but organizing it was anything but.

First, internal disputes erupted within Sanhe itself.

Why should Baiyun City’s Bone-Mouth Shar-Pei represent Sanhe?

Didn’t Fangniao Island’s Big-Head Dogs, Golden Rooster Mountain Bear Dogs, and Nanhai Grey-Tail Dogs count?

The dissatisfied parties held preliminary contests among themselves.

Then people from Chuanzhou, Yuezhou, and Nanzhou became unhappy as well!

Did only Sanhe and Hongzhou have good dogs?

This was outrageous!

Wealthy merchants from various regions took the lead in organizing their own competing teams.

Driven by curiosity, Lin Yi went to have a look. Dogs of all kinds gathered together—Chuanzhou Blue Dogs, Nanzhou Native Dogs, Chuzhou Arrow-Fur Dogs, Yuezhou Mountain Dogs…

Lin Yi was astonished. Since when had the people of Baiyun City become so wealthy?

Fighting dogs didn’t just eat grain—they needed meat.

Raising them was no easy matter.

Looking at the two fat dogs at his feet—one black, one yellow—he couldn’t bear to stew them. He wondered if he should send them to the arena to win glory for the Prince He’s residence.

Moonlight poured like water into the river; the waves surged and rolled. Dewy mist seemed to be inhaled by the river, spraying the sky white.

Hong Ying stood with hands behind his back on a small boat in the river, staring silently at Ye Qiu, who floated in the water.

“Chief Steward, whatever you want—just say it!” Ye Qiu said, utterly bewildered.

He had been sleeping peacefully in his room when the steward suddenly attacked with lethal moves. He had no choice but to flee.

Now he had no strength left to run and had resigned himself to fate. “As long as you speak, I will obey anything.”

Hong Ying snorted coldly and stepped ashore. The boat behind him remained motionless.

Helpless, Ye Qiu swam to the boat, pushed off it for leverage, and leapt onto the shore, standing opposite Hong Ying.

He clutched his chest, coughing up blood.

What rotten luck!

Why was this damned eunuch beating him for no reason?

In the grass by the water, herons and waterfowl were startled into flight, screeching into the sky.

“Chief Steward?” Ye Qiu asked cautiously.

Since he hadn’t been killed yet, perhaps there was still hope of survival?

Hong Ying said coldly, “If you were to become a Grandmaster, what would you do?”

Naturally, I’d beat you to death first, you damned eunuch!

The words almost slipped out.

But he wasn’t that foolish.

Ye Qiu was truly frightened now.

He finally understood the real gap between himself and a Grandmaster.

If the other party wished, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

Carefully, he said, “Roam the martial world, eliminate evil, uphold justice?”

A gust of force suddenly struck him. He was flung to the ground and coughed up another mouthful of blood.

“Speak! If you become a Grandmaster, what will you do?” Hong Ying repeated coldly.

Ye Qiu spat out a mouthful of bloody foam and didn’t bother getting up. Lying down was fine.

Looking at Hong Ying more cautiously, he said, “Then I would defend Sanhe!”

That slogan was painted on the white walls of the garrison. That couldn’t be wrong, right?

“Seeking death!”

Hong Ying swept out another palm strike.

“Ah—!”

Ye Qiu raised his arms to guard his chest, yet his face took the blow. Blood gushed from his nose; he could no longer open his eyes.

“You have one last chance,” Hong Ying said, stepping closer with hands behind his back. “If you still can’t answer correctly, there will be no more chances. Stay here. Green mountains and clear waters—quite a fine resting place. I wouldn’t be mistreating you.”

Under the moonlight, Hong Ying’s expressionless face terrified Ye Qiu.

He was certain—this man would kill him.

This damned eunuch had no humanity.

His mind raced through every moment since joining Prince He’s residence.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. He remembered Hong Ying teaching those children martial arts.

Hong An, Yu Xiaoshi, A-Dai, Fang Pi…

The steward would tirelessly tell them: learning martial arts was to serve Prince He!

That was it!

It had to be right!

“Still don’t know?” Hong Ying raised his palm again.

“To serve Prince He!” Ye Qiu screamed hoarsely. “If I become a Grandmaster, I will serve Prince He!”

Watching Hong Ying slowly lower his palm, Ye Qiu let out a long breath, nearly bursting into tears of relief.

He knew he had answered correctly.

Damn—it hadn’t been easy!

He had just taken a stroll at death’s door.

Luckily his mind had worked quickly. Otherwise, he’d be dead by now.