Chapter 277: Long Fu vs Xiong Ju
Not long after the dragonman youngster left the dock, he found the Bayonet Gang ringleader, Ban Lan Gen, before him.
The latter had come over to pass on a message to the dragonman youngster: Xiong Ju was waiting for him at the dueling arena.
The dueling arena was a common structure in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom.
The Ice Sculpture Kingdom was fond of martial tradition, no matter if it was the upper or lower class, they all habitually utilized the dueling arenas to solve daily disputes, great conflicts, and animosity as deep as an ocean of blood.
In Snow Bird Harbor alone, there were more than dozen dueling arenas of all sizes.
The Bayonet Gang chose a dueling arena called “Snow Bird Dueling Arena”, it was Snow Bird Harbor’s largest dueling arena.
Before the dragonman youngster even arrived, Snow Bird Dueling Arena was already packed with crowds.
All six of the Bayonet Gang’s ringleaders showed up, Spring Boxer, the dwarf ringleader, the human ringleader, and the rest had taken their seats already.
Snow Bird Harbor’s leaders or representatives of powers large and small also tried to get the best seats.
In addition to him, there were also many spectators and busybodies that walked in from the dueling arena’s doors.
The dueling arenas never charged for admission, and there were even magic images hanging outside the arena, constantly advertising the duel between Xiong Ju and Long Fu.
This attracted even more people to watch the duel.
“This time, the Bayonet Gang used Snow Bird Dueling Arena, what a grand showing!”
“Last night, when I was drinking, I said that the Bayonet Gang won’t sit and wait for death.”
“The betting pool outside has already been set up; I bet that Commander Long Fu would win.”
“I put down 10 gold coins on Xiong Ju.”
The people conversed with each other in the lively atmosphere.
Dules were something the citizens of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom were familiar with, and they were fond of participating in the sport.
It was precisely with this base of people that heroic duels were always the optimal shortcut to expand one’s influence and notoriety.
Snow Bird Dueling Arena was shaped like an oval, it had more than a dozen stairways, and in the middle was a vast stretch of sand.
All kinds of peddlers were shuttling up and down the stairs, selling their food and beverages.
“Chicken kebobs, 1 copper coin for 5 skewers, snowflake candy, 1 copper coin for one.”
“Give me ten rock candy.”
“Want something to drink? This is orange juice from the Iron Magic Kitchen, 1 medium cup for only 1 copper coin, a large cup for only 2 copper coins, and an extra-large cup for 2.5 copper coins.”
“Give me a small cup of orange juice.”
“Sorry sir, we only have medium, large, and extra-large cups.”
“I said I want the smallest cup.”
“Sorry sir, this is the medium sized cup.”
“I don’t care how you classify it; I want this small cup, do you understand?”
“Sorry sir, this is the medium cup!”
Clack, clack, clack!
The customer was provoked to anger, causing them to suddenly stand up and shake their fist.
The small peddler selling drinks was slapped a few times, reacting to the attack with a great shriek and began to hit the customer back.
The two people’s scuffle drew the applauses and cheers of others around them.
“Right, hit his face!”
“Kick is butt!”
“Oh oh oh! Bite him, bite his bottom!!”
No one stopped them.
The vast majority of the people here treated this spat as the appetizer to the banquet ahead.
The Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s martial spirit could be seen from this incident.
Suddenly, someone stood up and cheered, this attracted many eyes, and soon after more of them began to chant and yell in excitement.
A thousand pairs of eyes were concentrated on the dueling arena’s entrance.
There, the dragonman youngster, Lan Zao, Chi Lai, and Men Shi were ambling in.
Seeing the protagonist of the duel finally arrive, the customer and peddler immediately stopped fighting each other.
The small peddler’s beaten face swelled like a pig head; the customer had been obviously winning.
The small peddler covered his face, drawing in a cold breath, “You win, you’re the one in charge, so did you still want a drink?”
The customer nodded, taking out a single copper coin, “Give me a small cup of orange juice.”
The small peddler took out some orange juice and took the coin, then continued to sell his merchandise.
The dueling arena’s workers welcomed the dragonman youngster’s group.
Soon after, Lan Zao, Men Shi, and Chi Lai were seated in the area for friends and relatives.
The dragonman youngster walked alone into the center, where Xiong Ju was waiting.
The two approached each other.
The distance was 5 meters apart when the dragonman youngster stopped.
Neither spoke first.
Each of their pupils reflected the other.
The dragonman youngster sized up Xiong Ju.
He was a bear-man, a bear head on a human body, and a full mouth of teeth.
Long black hair filled his bear face, a face with a gigantic cross shaped blade scar.
Xiong Ju’s body was especially tall and sturdy, somewhat taller than the dragonman youngster.
This was not to say a bear-man was taller than a dragonman, rather it was due to the fact that the dragonman youngster was far younger than Xiong Ju.
The dragonman youngster was not fully grown, while Xiong Ju was a complete adult.
Contrasted with Xiong Ju’s gigantic body, the dragonman youngster looked thin for the first time.
The dragonman youngster observed Xiong Ju, his gaze lingering on the latter’s weapons and equipment.
Xiong Ju was wearing an epaulet on his arm.
His belt had a one handed iron hammer in it.
On his back he was carrying an enormous hacksaw, and if the sharp saw teeth lining the hacksaw were removed, it would look almost identical to a great sword.
Xiong Ju wore leather armor.
With his square body and tremendous strength, putting on mail plating was perfectly doable.
But Xiong Ju was a member of the Bayonet Gang, he lived on the streets and alleys on the daily.
Wearing plate mail all day would waste too much stamina, and in narrow spaces, it would be very inconvenient to move in.
Leather armor was good enough.
It balanced defense and agility.
Generally speaking, gang members all wore leather armor.
Compared to the fully equipped Xiong Ju, the dragonman youngster seemed destitute by comparison.
But his red dragon scales were very striking, and they served to highlight his strong and tenacious temperament, something the people didn’t dare to look down on.
The dragonman youngster did have some equipment.
On his lower back, he had two alchemy crossbows.
On his upper back he had a giant quiver filled with alchemy arrows.
The two alchemy crossbows were silver level and originated from War Merchant’s arsenal.
Of course, he also had the Grand Arena Medal and the Gold Silk Chainmail, but those had been hidden by Deceptive Disguise.
As the dragonman youngster sized up Xiong Ju, so did Xiong Ju likewise.
The normally forthright Xiong Ju currently looked solemn and serious.
Xiong Ju always treated the dragonman youngster cautiously.
Because he understood the heavy responsibility and burden he shouldered!
Although he was the third Bayonet Gang ringleader to be fought, as far as the Bayonet Gang was concerned, he would be the final one.
Because the other ringleaders, like the human, dwarf, and demon hybrid ringleaders, were weaker than Xiong Ju.
Xiong Ju had gotten everyone’s support, was armed to the teeth, and in peak condition. But if he lost this duel to the dragonman youngster, then the other three ringleaders would be unable to defeat this adversary.
They didn’t have the strength to do so.
“I have to win this battle, only by defeating you in front of everyone can I revitalize my Bayonet Gang’s martial glory!”