Chapter 88: A Crushing Humiliation

He had even planned to use the poison incident to claim that the people of Lotus Flower Village were trying to slander them, to blow the matter wide open, and then make them pay dearly for it.

“What are you standing there for? Bring the deed over!”

Tang Zhong was so furious that his face had turned livid. He barked the order at the people beside him.

Once the deed had been brought over, the villagers of Great Valley Village watched eagerly as Gu Xiaoyao folded it in half and tucked it into her robe.

Seeing that the deed had been secured, and that Elder Chu had also made Tang Zhong sign and leave his mark, the people of Lotus Flower Village knew the patch of barren land they had won was no longer something Great Valley Village could lay claim to.

“Let’s go. Time’s getting late; we should head back.”

Seeing that the matter had been settled to everyone’s satisfaction, Elder Chu was in a splendid mood, and his expression eased considerably.

The people of Lotus Flower Village answered cheerfully, delighted and buoyant, while the atmosphere on the Great Valley Village side remained grim.

Tang Zhong and the others stared after Gu Xiaoyao’s retreating figure, wishing their glare could become arrows and pin her back full of shafts.

“Sis, I didn’t even dare shout while we were down there just now. You were amazing—how can you be this amazing?”

Gu Xiaoshu, who had been mixed in with the crowd, had been so worried his heart was about to leap out of his chest. He had bitten his lip the whole time, not daring to cry out.

Every time Gu Xiaoyao made a move, he felt as though his heart was being lifted into the air.

Now that he saw her win, he rushed over at once, threw his arms around her waist in delight, and bounced up and down.

Gu Xiaoyao, held in his embrace, hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around him in return and ruffling his hair. Looking at his joyful face, something within her softened considerably.

“Because only strong people won’t be bullied. I don’t want to be bullied.”

With her present skill, anyone truly familiar with her would certainly find it strange.

But Gu Xiaoshu had his own logic: before, his sister had never fought back at home because of him and their mother.

Now that she was married, she had opened her heart and was no longer as timid as before.

He had also left his own village and come here, and even he felt far bolder than before.

“Elder Chu, if there’s time another day, perhaps we can compete again.”

In the end, Tang Zhong could not swallow his anger. Seeing the people of Lotus Flower Village happily preparing to leave, he raised his voice and called out.

“No need. I hope we never have to compete again.”

Upon hearing him, Village Head Elder Chu turned back and replied, genuinely meaning it.

When the people of Great Valley Village saw that the people of Lotus Flower Village had all gone, they angrily kicked at the stones on the ground.

“Damn it all—how on earth is that little wench so formidable? She took all of us down by herself.”

The man who had tried to play dirty with a knife had been thrown down the hardest and hurt the most. Even now, he still could not stand and could only sit leaning against something.

Tang Zhong swept a dark, cold gaze over the few who had competed just now. Only after they all lowered their heads did he withdraw his eyes.

“In the end, it’s all because you’re useless. If you had any real ability, would we have lost so much today?”

“Even the land and the silver have all fallen into that woman’s hands. We’ve been utterly humiliated this time.”

There had been people from other villages who had come to watch the contest, so the disgrace Great Valley Village suffered today would probably spread quickly to the other villages.

After leaving Great Valley Village, Gu Xiaoyao and the others chatted excitedly the whole way about the match.

“What do you think—was the poisoning incident done by the people of Great Valley Village? I feel like they really didn’t know anything about it!”

Some people still could not let go of the poisoning matter and felt it ought to be made clear to the people of Great Valley Village.