Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Song Jiason, do you really think you're the king of the jungle? In my eyes, you're just a damn dog!"

Can Xiao Chuanzi's status be compared to Song Jiason's? Of course not. Ma Wu was well aware of that.

Even if Song Jiason killed Xiao Chuanzi right here and now, all it would take is paying off the Ma Family afterward to settle the matter.

If anyone else were to compare Xiao Chuanzi and Song Jiason, Song Jiason would laugh it off.

But when those words came from Ma Wu's mouth, Song Jiason didn't laugh. The aura of a scion from a prominent family prevented him from laughing.

Song Jiason's eyes turned blood-red as he said, "Ma Junyang, are you cursing at me? I'm making it clear today; let alone him, I'll kill you right now! Do you believe that?"

Ma Wu looked directly into Song Jiason's eyes. "Come on, I'm standing right here for you to kill!"

Song Jiason twirled the dagger in his hand. "Don't think you can be so arrogant just because you're Young Master Ma. I'm telling you, this is Blue Poplar Village, not the Ma Family Mansion!"

Ma Wu sneered. "I've long ceased to be any 'Young Master Ma.' I was kicked out of the family. I've slept in shacks and scavenged through trash for food, barely better than a beggar. If you want to kill me, just do it. Spare me the nonsense."

Would Song Jiason really dare to kill Ma Wu? No, he wouldn't. Not to mention killing Ma Wu in front of so many people, even if he tried to eliminate Ma Wu in the shadows, he was afraid the Ma Family wouldn't let him off the hook.

But he wanted to teach Ma Wu a lesson, beat him up badly. He wanted this spoiled young man to know the rules of Blue Poplar Village and who was its master!

Song Jiason was also aware of the previous incident where Ma Wu was robbed. This wasn't the first time Ma Wu had been beaten up, and likely the Ma Family wouldn't press the issue if Song Jiason beat him half to death.

Ma Wu was also prepared to take a beating. As long as it would save Chuanzi, another beating wouldn't matter, as long as he was left breathing!

Just as Song Jiason was about to order his men to act, he suddenly heard a servant report, "Master, the Granary is on fire."

Song Jiason's veins bulged. He had no idea what had happened.

Ma Wu heard this as well. He suspected it was Li Banfeng's doing but couldn't understand the reason. Li Banfeng said he was going to take some things from the Song Family's Granary; could it be that he set it on fire?

No matter how his mind churned, Ma Wu didn't let it show on his face.

The Granary fire was an opportunity for Ma Wu to flex his might.

He still locked eyes with Song Jiason and shouted fiercely, "If you've got the guts, then kill me! Let's see whose fate is tougher!"

Song Jiason did not respond. What did Ma Wu mean by that? Did he have someone torch the Granary? Wasn't he expelled from the family...? There was more to this! Perhaps the Ma Family had already forgiven Ma Wu and might even be helping him from the shadows. The Ma Family burning the Granary—this was a warning to me. If I continue this tough stance with Ma Wu, things could spin out of control.

But to back down now? So many people were watching. Song Jiason had come to establish his authority; if he backed down now, his future standing would be problematic.

Having dominated Blue Poplar Village for twenty years, Song Jiason was indeed experienced and, in this urgent situation, quickly devised a countermeasure.

"Young Master Wu, I respect you as a real man. Even though you've fallen on hard times, I, Mr. Song, will not bully you. Blue Poplar Village is my territory. You've broken my rules, which is like slapping me in the face. I can't just swallow that. Since I set the rules, let's follow them. Tomorrow at noon, twelve o'clock, we'll have it out in the wasteland and head to the Clear Sky Arena to see who's superior.

"If I win, I'll trouble you to seek your fortune elsewhere and never set foot in Blue Poplar Village again.

"If you win, I, Mr. Song, will take my entire family and leave within three days. How does that sound?"

Ma Wu didn't want to agree. He knew he was no match for Song Jiason and wasn't the type to act tough for reputation's sake. Yet, with Xiao Chuanzi in Song Jiason's hands, refusing would be admitting defeat. The bravado he'd just mustered would become a joke. Xiao Chuanzi might die, and he himself wouldn't escape a brutal beating. First, agree and rescue Xiao Chuanzi, then figure out the rest.

"Old Master Song, you are a Third Layer Martial Cultivator, and I've just reached the First Layer. Fighting you is practically suicide."

"What, are you scared? Rest assured, you won't die at the Clear Sky Arena. You just need to admit defeat," Song Jiason said, looking at Ma Wu with a mocking expression.

Ma Wu sneered, "Admit defeat? It's not that simple! I'd like to find someone to fight in my place. That's within the rules, right?"

Indeed, that was within the rules. Song Jiason had proposed a duel at the Clear Sky Arena—a daytime confrontation—so Ma Wu could find a substitute. Song Jiason could also find a substitute, but what level of fighter could he find? At most, a Fourth Layer. What level of fighter could Ma Wu find? That was hard to say. If Ma Wu offered a substantial reward, or if the Ma Family discreetly intervened, securing a Fifth or Sixth Layer fighter would be no trouble.

Song Jiason was internally conflicted but appeared calm. "Young Master Wu, this is between you and me. There's no need to involve others. I won't bully the weak either. I'll have my son fight you—First Layer against First Layer. That's fair, isn't it?"

Song Jiason had two sons, Song Zhigang and Song Zhiyi, both First Layer Martial Cultivators.

"Zhiyi, do you dare to fight Young Master Wu?" Song Jiason directed this to Song Zhiyi because his older son, Song Zhigang, had been injured from cultivating too hastily.

Song Zhiyi had never participated in a duel before. He began his apprenticeship at six, usually trained in town, and rarely returned home, so he knew little about his family's affairs. But he wasn't afraid to fight. He looked at Ma Wu with disdain, "What's there to be afraid of?"

With things said to this point, Ma Wu had no reason to refuse. "Alright, it's settled then. But first, release Chuanzi."

Song Jiason threw Chuanzi in front of Ma Wu and then led his men away. He walked away calmly, yet Song Jiason's heart was ablaze. The Granary was still on fire! What the hell was Luo Sancai doing!? How many men could the Ma Family have sent to burn down the Granary?

「In fact, it was just one person, and he wasn't sent by the Ma Family.」

Li Banfeng squatted beside the Granary. Waiting until Song Jiason and his men had left, he entered his Portable Residence, tossed the keys into the Granary, and slipped inside. He had wanted to find something valuable, but the Granary was too big and contained few items of value. Time was also pressing. Li Banfeng randomly picked a few appealing items, then promptly set a fire and, taking advantage of the chaos, stole the coffer.

There wasn't much money in the coffer, just over three hundred thousand. After hearing what had happened, Li Banfeng gave all of it to Xiao Chuan. "You're a real man. Take this money and get your injuries treated."

Xiao Chuan shook his head. "No need for money. These are just superficial wounds. A little medicine will do. It's nothing serious."

Li Banfeng was quite surprised. "Really nothing serious?"

Xiao Chuan nodded. "Really, it's nothing."

Li Banfeng was very impressed. "Since it's nothing serious, get back to work."

Xiao Chuan and Ma Wu looked at Li Banfeng, thinking that no normal person would say such cruel words.

Li Banfeng said righteously, "You said it's nothing, so why shouldn't you go to work?"

Ma Wu, unable to comprehend Li Banfeng's thinking, turned to Xiao Chuan. "Chuanzi, quit this road work. Follow me from now on. We can't stay in Blue Poplar Village anymore. I'm not planning to duel on the Song family's wasteland; we're leaving tonight."

Li Banfeng looked at Ma Wu. "Leave? Why leave such a nice place? It's just a duel. What's so difficult? You just need to practice your eloquence first!"

Ma Wu was baffled. "Why do I need to practice eloquence?"

Li Banfeng said earnestly, "Aren't duels all about eloquence?"

PS: I believe that in a duel, not only eloquence matters, but appearance is also important.