A long time ago, the Jinshi1 Empire was once the wealthiest and most powerful state in the northern part of the Mainland. But now, the whole north part and even most of the eastern region had already changed using Beifeicu Calendar.
This formerly humble and relaxed small kingdom had made an accomplice with the Sand Ghosts. It rapidly expanded its territory and swallowed other countries. In 730 years, it had firmly controlled the entire northern part of the Mainland. Yet, its current ruler, Sapir, was a thoroughly foolish person.
Who knew which of his nerves was short-circuited, but he naturally liked to embarrass the Jinshi Empire, although the latter wasn’t glorious like before anymore. It was further ruined by a few of the previous hedonistic emperors, and the state almost became like the despondent Leiyin City. However, he still liked to regard the Jinshi Empire as a thorn in his eyes.
He always used every kind of method and took every opportunity to humiliate the Jinshi Empire, whether explicitly or implicitly.
For example, this blind lion in the front.
“When the Sand Ghosts passed by 10 minutes ago, these fools were still kneeling and kowtowing on the ground while sending their ancestors away.” Oswald harshly said with a cold face. “Now, they had the mood to mock others.”
When he had just succeeded the throne, the Beifeicu Empire and Sapir matter had already been discussed in private. He could only evaluate them with a few words: “They will be done for sooner or later.”
He still firmly held on to his belief at this moment when he stood as clear as the day in front of the Beifeicu Empire’s mockery. He squinted his eyes and leaned his head toward Kevin. “I hate this kind of kneeling. It was extremely disgusting.”
Kevin moved his gaze, and his chin pointed at the caged lion. “Who didn’t?”
Indeed, who didn’t hate it?
Even though its eyes had been blinded, claws had been broken, and had become crippled; nobody would want to kneel.
The lion that was being pushed into the iron cage suddenly roared. Its lame front paws suddenly clutched on the ground and stubbornly willed itself to stand on its legs.
Its body frantically trembled. It was unknown if the movement was too painful or too strenuous, but certainly not because of fear.
In fact, although its blind eyes looked frightening, his shaking head always gave off this feeling of a loss. It seemed that even it didn’t know where it was and what kind of danger it was facing. All the subtle sounds made by its opponent were drowned out by the surrounding crowds’ noisy sounds and sharp whistles.
The black wolf opposite it appeared to have been drugged or had been tampered with. Its pair of eyes were as red as a drop of blood, and its pointed sharp teeth were glistening with oil; it was seemingly not far away from going insane. When it saw the lion entering the cage, it halted its steps.
It tilted its head and braced its front paws, carefully observing its opponent this time.
Its front paws unhurriedly left the ground, and it continued to stalk in the iron cage. Relying on the lion’s blind state, it had even knocked its body twice against the lion when it passed by the side. It even let out a low growl; who knew if it was a warning or provocation.
“This was a wandering lion that we caught at the Skeleton Valley. It must have been lost. It even relied on trash for a living.” An arrogant-looking youth spoke from the side of the cage. He said leisurely while turning the gemstone ring on his finger. “It was too pitiful, so we wanted to give it another way to live. We won’t bet on death this time as we don’t want to overdo it. If this old fellow manages to win, all the coins will belong to it. I will buy the best meat, invite the best vet, and build a refined and cozy cage. If it loses….”
He stopped and unconcernedly said, “It doesn’t matter if it loses. This is just for pleasure. The coins will be returned to you guys, and we will continue our journey once the sky brightens.”
After listening to him speak nonsense, Kevin concisely commented, “Little bastard.”
Oswald frowned, “I knew him. He was Sapir’s youngest son, Bott. He had a sharp beak and monkey-shaped cheeks. He spent money like water and went to great lengths to look for excitement. As for his personality…I agree with your viewpoint.”
The whistle sounds from the crowd grew louder. Bott’s disguised henchman shouted especially loud.
The opponent’s black wolf owner had no objections to Bott’s painstakingly idle way to spend money. He gladly pressed on the bargaining chips in his hand and nodded at the referee.
The black wolf continued to circle and provoke the lion. Its rough and strong tail sometimes brazenly swept over the lion’s paws. The growling sounds from its throat never stopped as if it was not even a little bit afraid of the lion.
The referee picked up a big copper bell and rang it twice.
The black wolf’s owner impatiently shouted, “Don’t circle anymore!” Then, he ruthlessly lashed the whip on his hand toward the black wolf’s body with a loud ‘bang’ sound. In an instant, a laceration was formed, and blood dripped out from its flesh. The black wolf suddenly trembled, growled, and bare its pointed fangs. It banged its body against the lion’s body. The owner immediately withdrew his hand, skilfully took a step back, cast aside the whip, and unconcernedly said, “After being lashed twice did you grow courage.”
The black wolf’s eyes were filled with desire. It flung its tail behind and retreated to its area. It leaned on its shoulder, bent its waist and back, assuming an attacking position.
Kevin followed Oswald, and they unconsciously moved from the back of the crowds to the front, pressing up against the edge of the iron cage. Their standing position was directly opposite the referee, and they were almost within reach of the cage’s door.
“Have I ever told you that I could understand the beast’s language?” Oswald borrowed the crowd’s noises, moved close to Kevin’s ear, and quietly said.
Kevin was distracted. “What do you mean?”
Oswald was still squinting inside of the cage. He didn’t give any more explanation and only asked, “Are you afraid of lions?”
Kevin sneered, “How could that be. I even beat one last night.”
Oswald keenly caught on to the critical point. “Last night?”
Kevin, “…..” Crap! I’ve even blurted it out so proudly.
Oswald let out an ‘oh.’ “I understood. I’ll settle it with you once we go back.”
After finishing, he attentively watched the copper bell on the referee’s hand. He shook his head and said, “It’s a pity.….”
Kevin, “Pity for what?”
As his gaze fell to Oswald’s secretly raised hand, he could vaguely guess what this ancestor wanted to do.
The referee lifted a stick and struck the copper bell.
Dang!
The strong and fierce black wolf leaped up like an arrow toward the lion as soon as the bell rang. It howled and pounced at the lion on the spot.
Two massive beasts tangled together into a ball, and the momentum was too great. Unable to stop, they rolled and heavily slammed against the iron cage.
Their heavy paws smashed against the cage, creating a ‘crash’ sound. It immediately bent the railing of the iron cage and enlarged the railing’s small crack.
The pointed sharp claws of lion and wolf were equally matched, and they directly poked out from the small cracks.
Bott, who stood the nearest, could not dodge, and his flesh was directly scraped out from his arm.
“Ahhh-” The crowd was instantly in a mess. Bott cried out in pain while holding his injured arm, frantically wanting to distance himself from the iron cage.
Regardless of the black wolf’s owner, the referee, and the people previously standing within the circle, nobody expected that this battle would be so intense to this extent.
“Mad! They’ve become mad!” The crowd continuously let out shrieks. They jostled with the chairs and tables inside the casino and rushed out one by one.
Oswald sneered when he saw that Bott was standing alone near the cage’s door. He finally finished his previous sentence, “It’s a pity that you’re not afraid-”
After saying this, his fingers hauled the cage door. As he listened to the ‘click’ sound of the iron cage, the door was opened. Those huge beasts rolling together were instantly rolling out from the cage.
“Go!” Oswald dragged Kevin and ran.
Behind them, Bott cried and howled. His group of imperial bodyguards was shoved and banged against the crowd into confusion.
“You’ve lost your mind!” Kevin ran while spitefully snarled.
Oswald brought himself to jump over the casino’s gamble table, threw himself out of the door with Kevin, and sped madly without resting. After they bypassed a corner and couldn’t see the beasts anymore, he could finally snarl back.
“I told you I could understand what they said! Couldn’t you wait until it was safe before scolding me?!”
Kevin directly climbed through a low wall to the roof with the help of his short knife. “Would they thank you for this? Did you have the gall to say that?”
The knifeless Oswald, “…..”
The whole Scattered Land was stirred into chaos by those two beasts. Shrieks could be heard, and flames could be seen everywhere.
Kevin and Oswald quarreled as if they couldn’t wait just to fight directly while walking smoothly on top of the roof, attempting to return to the Yachaofei Temple.
Too bad…..If something went too smoothly, it would easily arouse trouble, such as, directly sending themselves in front of those two beasts.
Thank you for everyone reading!
This chapter is quite short, and so many new characters are introduced. We will find out more about their identity in the next chapter~
The direct translation of Jinshi Empire is Golden Lion Empire