Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 520: Master Lee is a dog
There were people selling snacks and drinks, such as roasted chestnuts, steamed buns, tea, and wine. They shouted and advertised their goods, trying to attract customers and make a profit. There were also stands writing banners for people to support the champions of their choice. Some of them were fans of the famous clans, such as the Lee family, the Zi family, the Zhang family, and the Bi family. Others were supporters of the underdogs, such as the Lin family, the Liu family, the Chen family, and the Yang family.
The arena was a huge circular structure, built by the former grand king as a place for entertainment and sport. It had a capacity of tens of thousands of people and was divided into different sections according to the rank and status of the spectators. The highest seats were reserved for the elders and the leaders of the clans, who had the best view of the arena. The lower seats were for the ordinary people, who had to squeeze and jostle for a good spot. The arena was surrounded by a high wall, with a large iron gate as the entrance. The gate was guarded by soldiers and ticket sellers receiving coins from the people entering the arena.
The prizes for the top champions were prestige for their family name, treasures from the former king’s treasury, and the grand King’s sabre. The prestige was the most important, as it would give the clan bragging rights. The treasures were also valuable, as they included rare and precious items, such as jewels, pearls, jade, gold, silver, and silk. The grand King’s sabre was the most coveted, as it was a legendary weapon, forged by the finest craftsmen, and imbued with the power of the dragon. It was said that whoever wielded the sabre would be invincible in battle and would rule the world.
The martial arts competition was about to start, and the crowd was restless and impatient. They cheered and chanted, waiting for the gate to open and the fighters to enter.
The four great families each distinguished by their coloured robes had selected their best disciples to compete. Behind them were smaller families, who hoped to gain some recognition or favour from the powerful clans. They stood at the large iron gates of the arena waiting for the competition to start.
The elders from the large families were seated at the highest seats, overlooking the arena. They were chatting and laughing, boasting about their champions and their skills. Some of them were even placing bets on the outcome of the matches, confident in their own judgement. They did not pay much attention to the smaller families, who were relegated to the lower-ranking seats.
The boisterous atmosphere suddenly changed when Master Zi and his entourage entered the arena. Master Zi had a reputation for being ruthless and cunning hence no one wanted to cross his path. Rumours about how Master Lee was humiliated and that his promising son he always bragged about had his arm broken and might not even participate this year had already reached their ears. The elders from the large families kept silent for a while, as they saw Master Zi walk towards his seat. For a split second Master Zi met Master Bi’s gaze before he walked away the glint of hatred in those eyes unmistakable. He wasn’t looking at them but they felt a chill in their hearts.
Master Lee, who was a few rows furthest from Master Zi’s seat, looked away, trying to reduce his sense of presence. He felt ashamed and humiliated, recalling the events of that day. When and how this man fed him the gu worm he had no idea. He had spent the last couple of days trying to find a way to get it out but it was impossible without the mother gu.
The other elders saw his discomfort and found it amusing. One of the Zhang family elders suddenly asked, "Master Lee, why so silent now? Weren’t you the one arguing with us just now bragging about your champions this year?" They mocked and taunted him, trying to provoke him. Master Lee clenched his fists but did not respond.
Master Zi sneered as he sat down in the chair that would have belonged to the king in the past. The chair was carved with dragons and phoenixes and was covered with silk and gold. It was a symbol of authority and prestige, and Master Zi claimed it as his own. He looked around the arena, his eyes cold and sharp. He did not care about the competition or the other families. He only wanted to show them his power and make them bow to him.
The elders had long stopped protesting about this matter as anyone who complained in the past would attract bad karma.
Master Zi beckoned Master Lee over and the man was quite resistant. He didn’t want to interact with this wolf but he had no choice. The gu worm was still in his body and he was afraid that Master Zi would torture him here. It would be incredibly humiliating. To everyone’s surprise, Master Lee got up and walked over with heavy steps. When he reached Master Zi, he pointed at the small stool beside him. With a smug smile, he said, "Sit."
Master Lee gritted his teeth. What did Master Zi mean? This was the seat for the grand king’s dog and yet here he was telling him to sit there. Did he mean to say he was a dog?
The others glanced towards them eager to see a good show. They thought Master Lee would explode and a fight would break out before the actual competition began.
With a sly quirk, he continued to say, "You don’t want to?" while touching his ring. Inside the ring was a familiar worm lying docile. His body shivered subconsciously recalling the pain. He nodded his head and sat down looking straight ahead ignoring the shocked gazes around him.
There were soft murmurs around them and Master Zi chuckled softly enjoying this very much. "By the way, who allowed you to disown your son and make him withdraw from your competition? Did you ask for my permission first?" he asked and Master Lee’s body stiffened. This was his business but it seemed that as long as his life was in Master Zi’s hands there was no such thing as his business.
