Chapter 112: Auntie, I Don't Want to Work Hard Anymore

"I..." Hong Xingying's face turned beet red. He had been mocked by someone he always looked down upon.

Rage points from Hong Xingying +999!

He couldn't refute his opponent's words, blaming himself for speaking too confidently earlier.

However, he was quick-witted. His face still flushed, he quickly said, "You'd only lose even more terribly if you went up there. At least I fought quite evenly; I just made one wrong move in the end..."

Zu An pouted, "A loss is a loss; there's no need for so many excuses. Besides, who says I'll lose? I'll show you what a true master looks like later."

"Enough!" Before Hong Xingying could reply, Qin Wanru couldn't hold back anymore. She glared at him with an icy expression. "Are you still a Chu family member? Instead of encouraging your teammate, you're here making cynical remarks?"

Zu An shrugged, "He's already lost. What's the point of encouragement now? Can he go back on stage and fight again?"

"Silence!" Qin Wanru said coldly, "Anyone who fights with all their might on the arena deserves the respect of the entire Chu family. Whether they win or lose, they are always our Chu family members. If losing means being subjected to all sorts of ridicule, wouldn't that discourage everyone else? If you don't know how to speak properly, then don't speak at all!"

Chu Zhongtian also spoke up, "Xiao An, your behavior just now was indeed inappropriate. Victory and defeat are common in battle. Our Chu family is not the kind of snobbish people who abandon others once they've served their purpose."

Zu An frowned. He thought, *When Hong Xingying mocked me earlier, why didn't any of you step out to uphold justice?*

Just as he was about to say something, he felt Chu Chuyan subtly tug his sleeve. He heard her voice transmitted through primeval energy in his ear: "Don't make Mother angry. Go sit by yourself for now; we still need to discuss our battle strategy for later."

Because she had just gone up to submit the match order list, she hadn't noticed Hong Xingying mocking him. Thus, she also felt that Zu An's sudden mocking retort was ill-timed.

Hong Xingying was one thing, but the critical issue was that it would discourage the remaining participants. After all, no one could guarantee a sure win, and if they lost and faced such ridicule, anyone would overthink it. Zu An was the Chu family's son-in-law, and his attitude could easily be mistaken for the Chu family's stance toward them.

Zu An shrugged, too lazy to argue with them further, and returned to his seat.

The commotion on the Chu family's side did not escape the notice of others. Seeing Zu An successively reprimanded by the Chu couple, many people gloated:

"I told you so, a live-in son-in-law truly has no dignity."

"It's not easy to live off a woman; given how the Chu family treats him, even a dog probably has a higher status than him."

"So, you youngsters shouldn't think about taking shortcuts, whining 'Auntie, I don't want to work anymore.' What you gain this way, you're destined to lose even more."

"But Miss Chu is so young and beautiful; I'd be willing to endure constant abuse for her."

"Pah, spineless! Fine, I don't want to work hard either."

On the platform, Shi Kun leaned back, relaxing comfortably in his chair as if he had just eaten a ginseng fruit. "Xue'er, you were right. This fellow has no standing in the Chu family whatsoever. It seems my previous worries were unnecessary."

Seeing Zu An's discomfiture, Xue'er also wore a faint smile. "Of course, young mistress hasn't even let him through the door, so young master needn't worry about a toad trying to eat swan meat."

Across the way, Yuan Wendong frowned. *Given Zu An's low status in the Chu family, was choosing to face him this time too impulsive?* This thought, however, was immediately suppressed. Recalling the fellow's annoying demeanor in front of him earlier, he felt his decision was correct. He would cripple him completely later and teach him the consequences of a loose tongue!

Amidst the Zheng family crowd, Zheng Dan's lips curved slightly. *It seems Zu An and Chu Chuyan's relationship isn't as good as imagined. This is the perfect opportunity for me to step in. It should be easier to find that IOU for 7.5 million taels now.*

*However, whether Zu An can survive today's arena battle is debatable. Even if he luckily keeps his life, he'll likely lose an arm or a leg. If I visit him then, feigning concern, it should be easier to touch his heart, right?*

On the other side, Pei Mianman had a knowing, half-smile on her face. *The worse things went for this guy in the Chu family, the more advantageous it would be for her. By then, he would come begging to her, asking her to help him find the ledger first.*

"My beautiful lady..." Just then, a young man, fancying himself a charming and elegant dandy, approached to strike up a conversation. After all, her beauty and figure were simply too outstanding; anyone who saw her found it difficult to look away. Sitting alone here, she didn't seem to belong to a prominent family, which immediately stirred various thoughts in many people's minds.

"Scram!" Pei Mianman didn't even glance at the man, but a cluster of flickering black flames faintly appeared on her fingers.

"Yes..." Knowing her cultivation level, how could these people dare to be presumptuous? They scrambled away, terrified of being touched by the black flames.

In the Chu family's resting area, Chu Huanzhao saw Zu An's sulky face and quickly handed him a bowl of tea. "Brother-in-law, don't be angry. Have some tea to soothe your throat. Actually, I don't like that Hong fellow either. Father and Mother are always like this; they're very strict with us but more amiable towards outsiders. I've been annoyed about it for a long time; sometimes, it makes me wonder if I'm even their biological child."

"Hmm, I wonder too," Zu An chuckled wryly, his gaze falling on her chest. *This girl's 'airport' (flat chest) is indeed quite different from her mother and sister.*

Sensing his gaze, Chu Huanzhao: "..."

Rage points from Chu Huanzhao +404!

"Where's my whip!" Chu Huanzhao angrily searched for her 'Whip of Wailing.'

Zu An dropped his smile and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Zhao, thank you."

Hearing his unprecedentedly serious tone, Chu Huanzhao felt somewhat unaccustomed. "Don't mention it. We're sworn allies who make money together, aren't we?"

Zu An was speechless, knowing she was referring to the time they tricked Plum Blossom Thirteen at the school gate. *Does this girl have some misunderstanding of the word 'making money'?*

Soon, the second match began: Deng Zhaoke of the Chu family against Chu Qing of the Yuan family!

The result was a fierce performance, but in the end, he lost even faster than Hong Xingying.

The Chu family had lost two consecutive matches!

Everyone started whispering. The smaller families gradually sensed something was amiss. *This isn't right.* In the past, when the Chu family faced the Yuan family, they usually achieved various consecutive victories, sometimes even ending the entire competition in 5-6 matches. Yet, today they had lost two matches right from the start. *Was Moonbright City about to change?*

Some intelligent individuals were already pondering. The Yuan family, whether in terms of nobility or heritage, was far from comparable to the Chu family. How could they suddenly send two unknown individuals to defeat Chu family masters?

At this moment, the Chu couple also frowned deeply. Clearly, losing two consecutive matches was far beyond their expectations. Today was likely going to be troublesome.

Chu Chuyan's face was also icy. She couldn't help but glance at her sister and Zu An, who were chatting idly at the end of their seats. Seeing their carefree expressions, her heart tightened. She had originally thought they were just here to observe, but given the situation, they might have to participate.

*No, this absolutely cannot happen!*

Not to mention Zu An, who couldn't even bind a chicken, even her sister was barely a third-rank cultivator, making her among the lowest cultivated on this arena. Furthermore, she was typically very playful and hadn't properly practiced her combat skills. There was no way to rely on her in a real fight. After all, even the weakest on this stage were mid-third rank.

On the platform, Qin Wanru couldn't help but say, "Husband, we won't lose the next match too, will we?"

"No," Chu Zhongtian said gravely, "The next match is Yue Shan."

Hearing that Yue Shan was next, Qin Wanru breathed a sigh of relief. Yue Shan was the Chu manor's guard captain and also responsible for training the Red Robe Army. He was steady and reliable, and crucially, his cultivation had reached the peak of the fifth rank. With his current status, he would ordinarily disdain participating in such a family competition. However, due to the Wu family's involvement today, he had been included in the list as a precaution. Now, she was thankful for their initial prudence; otherwise, today could have been truly troublesome.

As expected, Yue Shan faced a Yuan family disciple this time and easily secured victory, eliciting cheers from the Chu family's section.

Only Chu Chuyan's brows were secretly furrowed. The best scenario would have been for Yue Shan to defeat a top Yuan family expert, making things much easier for the subsequent fighters. However, this opponent's cultivation was lower than those in the first two rounds. It felt as if they were sending a weaker combatant against their stronger one, a tactical maneuver.

The fourth match featured Chu Yucheng of the Chu family against Yuan Bao of the Yuan family.

Although Chu Yucheng looked like a cute, chubby boy, he was fierce once on the arena, charging wildly like a small tank. In no time, he knocked his opponent off the platform.

The fifth match was Chu Hongcai of the Chu family against Yuan Ya of the Yuan family.

Chu Hongcai's swordsmanship was sharp and decisive, quickly routing Yuan Ya, who then conceded.

The Chu family secured three consecutive victories, and the spectators in the training grounds felt relieved. *This is more like it. The Chu family is indeed the undisputed hegemon of Moonbright City.*

Only Chu Chuyan's worry between her brows deepened. The reason was that all these Chu family victories were against Yuan family disciples. Since direct descendants from each family were required to participate, the Yuan family couldn't substitute them with Wu family members in these specific matches.

It was clear that these Yuan family disciples were much weaker than the contestants in the first two rounds, while the Chu family had sent almost their strongest fighters. *Was this merely a coincidence, or something more...?*

As expected, her worst fear came true: In the sixth match, the Chu family lost.

3:3 tie!

For the seventh match, Chu Chuyan personally instructed their contestant, Lan Likang, and cheered him on. There was no other choice; if he also lost, even if she herself won, the final outcome would hinge on her sister's and Zu An's rounds. In that case, the Chu family would be doomed.

Chu Chuyan held great prestige within the Chu family, revered as a goddess by all the younger generation. Receiving her personal encouragement, Lan Likang seemed to have received a surge of vitality, his combat power soaring directly to 120% of his usual level.

Unfortunately, the Yuan family's chosen opponent was a minor rank higher in cultivation than him, forcing him to retreat step by step.

In the end, remembering Miss Chu's expectations, Lan Likang gritted his teeth and persevered. His 'small cosmos' erupted, trading injuries with his opponent, and finally, embracing his foe, they both tumbled off the arena together.

The seventh match was a tie!

Gasps echoed throughout the training grounds. The family competition between these two clans had never been so fierce, especially this seventh match, which was truly a bloody, brutal fight, like a battle on a battlefield, leaving everyone horrified.

Even the prominent figures on the platform showed slight changes in expression. Reaching this point, both sides were clearly inflamed. They couldn't help but raise their vigilance to prevent any fatalities or serious injuries later on.

At this moment, Chu Zhongtian, assisted by the manor's physician, began to treat Lan Likang's rampaging primeval energy and wounds. However, Lan Likang's eyes, like a tiger's, were filled with tears, and he looked at Chu Chuyan with a face full of guilt. "Young Miss, I'm sorry, I couldn't win."

Chu Chuyan said gently, "Your opponent's cultivation was higher than yours, yet you managed to tie with him. You've done exceptionally well. Focus on recovering and don't worry about anything else. Leave the rest to us."

It was her turn to enter the arena next. Her opponent was Di Wu of the Yuan family, a pale-faced young man.