Chapter 20: He Wants to Win a Million!

"Inhale!"

In an instant, Xiao Yang snapped awake, his eyes wide as saucers. He looked at Zhou Yan with disbelief, unable to hold back a howl.

"Junior sister! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

He cried out, his face twisted in pain as he pointed accusingly at Zhou Yan's delicate hand. Seeing that Xiao Yang had finally woken up, she released her grip. Perhaps because of her role as the referee, Zhou Yan said nothing, merely snorting coldly.

Facing his indignant junior sister, Xiao Yang could only offer a sheepish smile. Beside him, Meng Changsheng was grinding his teeth to the point of nearly shattering them. He felt utterly humiliated—never in his life had he suffered such disgrace. His face turned ashen.

"Xiao the useless... Senior brother, if you dare to renege on your debt, I will not let you off!"

The words squeezed out from between his clenched teeth. Meng Changsheng had taken this contest seriously, and yet this good-for-nothing dared to fall asleep—slept soundly, even. He simply couldn't swallow this insult, and resolved that if Xiao Yang dared to default, he would send his father to collect the debt. If it came to it, he would burn all bridges!

Xiao Yang yawned. "All right, all right, neither of us will go back on our word. If you really don't trust me, let's swear a deadly oath together."

"Fine! We'll swear a deadly oath," Meng Changsheng agreed without hesitation.

Xiao Yang glanced up at him and nodded. "Then repeat after me... ahem!" He cleared his throat and began, "Whoever breaks his word is the son of a tortoise, will never find a wife, and will be lonely for life!"

"Whoever breaks his word is..."

Once the oath was sworn, Meng Changsheng relaxed a little and returned to studying the martial technique scroll. Perhaps chastened by his earlier experience, Xiao Yang moved closer as well, pretending to study with grave seriousness. Zhou Yan, too, breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It was not that she feared Xiao Yang would lose, but that she disapproved of his defeatist attitude. Even knowing one is likely to lose, it's important to muster one's fighting spirit; one must at least try. This thought brought her a touch of comfort.

But after only a few dozen breaths, Xiao Yang stood up, straightened the grass beneath him, and promptly lay down again.

"Well, when you've grasped it, don't forget to wake me up. I'm too tired—I'm going to nap for a bit."

Zhou Yan was stunned. Meng Changsheng was mortified and furious. Both of them stared at Xiao Yang in disbelief.

"Scoundrel!"

Zhou Yan was incensed. She had thought her blow had knocked some sense into Xiao Yang, but he had only lasted a few dozen breaths.

In the end, Zhou Yan did not call out to Xiao Yang. She even found herself an excuse: "Forget it, senior brother must be exhausted. The Pit of Ten Thousand Insects is fraught with dangers—these seven days will be hard enough." She decided not to dwell on the million silver coins; it was as if she had never possessed them.

Meng Changsheng's eyes bulged, his breath coming in snorts like an enraged bull. He felt as if he might explode with anger, yet forced himself to calm down and focused on comprehending the martial technique.

"Just you wait, you useless trash," he vowed inwardly. "I'll use my talent to utterly destroy you."

He resolved to defeat Xiao Yang right in front of Zhou Yan, so she would see who her true destined one was. Meng Changsheng lost himself in meditation.

Meanwhile, a faint snoring once again arose—clearly, Xiao Yang had dozed off. At a glance, one might have thought this was a sleeping contest.

Time ticked by. Beads of sweat dotted Meng Changsheng's brow, and his head began to spin. Even so, a triumphant smile crept onto his face. In the space of an hour, not only had he grasped the basics of Wind Howl Flash, he had already reached minor mastery.

At that moment, Zhou Yan's voice rang out. "The contest is over."

Hearing her, Meng Changsheng stopped at once. With his current minor mastery of Wind Howl Flash, he could easily crush someone as useless as Xiao Yang.

"Senior brother!" Zhou Yan called when Xiao Yang showed no sign of waking. She was about to pinch him awake when Xiao Yang suddenly sat bolt upright, sensing the danger. As he opened his eyes, he saw her hand inches from his side and quickly wiped the sleep from his eyes, relieved he had awakened in time—any later, and his kidney would have suffered again.

Watching Xiao Yang feign composure, Zhou Yan could only sigh in exasperation. "Ah! One million...think how much delicious food that could buy."

Thinking of the million about to slip away made her heart ache, but since Xiao Yang had agreed, she would support him to the end.

"Which of you will go first?" she asked, glancing at the two.

"Senior sister, I'll go first!" Meng Changsheng, impatient from waiting, volunteered eagerly. He strode quickly to a sapling as thick as a wrist.

"Wind Howl Flash!"

With a shout, his silhouette blurred, accompanied by the faint sound of wind. Crack! The sapling snapped in two, all in a flash. Even a martial artist would have struggled to unleash such force so quickly—this technique would grant a decisive advantage in battle.

Turning, he was about to boast to Zhou Yan, only to see the two chatting and laughing together.

"Junior sister, when we return, I'm going to the mountains to find a big rooster. Would you like to come?" Xiao Yang asked, feeling guilty about Chicken Overlord and seeing a chance to make amends.

"Of course I'll go," Zhou Yan replied eagerly.

"Good, then it's settled. I'll tell our master, and then I'll take you," Xiao Yang said with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhou Yan nodded, beaming. Meng Changsheng, teeth clenched, could not suppress a furious shout.

"You two... you two are too much!"

He trembled with rage. Here he was, giving his all to display his martial skill, while those two flirted shamelessly. And the girl chatting so happily was his goddess.

"In one hour, I brought the technique to minor mastery. Now it's your turn," he declared, hoping to make Xiao Yang wince and to win the million. Fury surged within him, seeking release.

"Minor mastery?" Zhou Yan eyed him with suspicion. But upon seeing the ruined sapling, she nodded thoughtfully and commented, "Swift as the wind, a lightning strike—you have indeed reached minor mastery."

Yet her heart grew heavier with worry for her senior brother. If Meng Changsheng had only just entered the technique, there might have been hope, but he had already achieved minor mastery. Such speed was astonishing—truly unnerving.

She glanced at Xiao Yang with concern. Sensing her gaze, Xiao Yang turned and caught the worried look in her eyes. Their silent exchange only fueled Meng Changsheng’s irritation.

"Senior brother Xiao, don't waste my time. A genius's time is precious," he snapped, initially intending to tease Zhou Yan, but the mood was ruined.

"Very well," Xiao Yang replied coolly, feeling a twinge of annoyance himself. This Meng Changsheng was getting far too bold, flirting right in front of him. He would have to teach him a lesson—perhaps make him withdraw into himself for a while?

With that thought, Xiao Yang turned his gaze to the smug Meng Changsheng.