Chapter 165: Chapter 38: The Beauty of Adulthood_1
Yan Shi frowned and said, "I’m afraid that guy called Aguti is going to lose."
Xuan Yue puzzled, replied, "Why? They seem evenly matched!"
Ah Dai expounded on behalf of Yan Shi, "Aguti’s footwork has become somewhat unsteady, indicating he’s running out of strength. Although the short one looks exhausted, his foothold is steady, making him hard to topple."
Xuan Yue looked at Ah Dai with curious eyes, asking, "What about you? Can you topple him?"
Ah Dai paused, said, "I, I don’t know how to wrestle, but I guess I’m stronger than him."
Yan Shi glanced at Ah Dai, smiled and said, "Given your strength to draw the Xuan iron bow, you could simply toss him out without any particular technique. Brother, are you interested in winning a championship? Maybe that beautiful black-skinned girl will fancy you."
Before Ah Dai could respond, Xuan Yue already interjected indignantly, "No way, you can’t go." Ah Dai and Yan Shi were both taken aback, turning their eyes to Xuan Yue. Xuan Yue blushed, stuck her tongue out, and protested, "That girl already has someone she loves, you shouldn’t interfere."
Yan Shi gave a knowing smile, shook his head, and kept quiet. Ah Dai, however, was left with a strange feeling, lowering his head and moving behind Xuan Yue, suggesting, "Let’s watch the match."
Xuan Yue gave a soft response, turning her eyes back to the match while her thoughts stayed with Ah Dai. She silently questioned herself, what’s happening to me? Why am I feeling this way? Could it be that I...?
As Yan Shi had anticipated, the situation in the field had indeed changed. Aguti was losing strength, his steps wavering. Though he managed to stay upright using technique, watchers who knew something about wrestling realized he was at a disadvantage. The people of the Ya Lian tribe continuously cheered, "Batron, Batron..."
Aguti roared. He couldn’t afford to lose, not just because he would lose honor but also because it would mean losing the woman he loved. He strained to twist his opponent’s arm and tried to trip him up. However, he was no longer at his peak. The shorter man bent his waist and held his ground, keeping Aguti from throwing him off. At a moment of lessened strength, the shorter man tripped Aguti’s leg and flung him aside. Aguti swayed, presenting the shorter man with a chance to grab his right leg and hoist him up, yelling a few times. Then, amid Lan Yin’s startled cries, he abruptly tossed Aguti out of the ring.
"Batron, Batron..." The wrestling champion of the year had been crowned. The people of the Ya Lian tribe cheered wildly for their victor. Thrown several meters away, Aguti couldn’t get up again. Despite a desperate effort to rise, his body could not be supported by sheer willpower. Tearfully, Lan Yin ran to Aguti and shook him. Aguti gave her a bitter look, the despair in his eyes not only breaking Lan Yin’s heart but also impacting someone else - Yan Shi.
Looking at Aguti and Lan Yin, Yan Shi was reminded of his own tumultuous affair with Yun Er due to their different statuses, causing them to suffer muchhardship.
"Big brother, I’m back." Yan Li ran over, excited, surrounded by a large group of young Ya Lian tribesmen, including Tubari. Despite being drenched in sweat, Yan Li was elated, "What a joy! I really love this thrill of speed."
Yan Shi glared at him and said, "Calm down, don’t be so restless. We’re outsiders here, we need to be careful. Keeping a low profile is the safest."
Yan Li chuckled, "Big Brother, our friends from the Ya Lian tribe are very friendly, and besides, isn’t there a reward of two horses for winning this championship?"
Tubari came over, gave a thumbs up, and said, "Brother Yan Li, you’re impressive. You really made a name for me today. The competition is over. The awards ceremony will take place soon. It’s been many years since any outsider has won a championship here. Little brother Ah Dai also did well, he even managed to pull the hardest Xuan iron bow."
As all the contests had concluded, the people from the three Ya Lian tribes reformed their three separate groups, retreating back to their own teams. In the empty field, a hundred people were constructing a simple stage using thick wooden logs. Within a short while, the stage was completed. The chieftains of the three tribes ascended the wooden stage.
"Today’s Batron festival was very successful. I am delighted to see that many young heroes have emerged from the earlier competitions. Alright, now please welcome the champions of the three competitions onto the stage."
Yan Li looked at Yan Shi. Yan Shi patted his shoulder and said, "Go on, remember to be humble."
Excited, Yan Li threw out a "Got it," and rushed over.
The champion in archery was a middle-aged man. He, along with Yan Li and the short man who defeated Aguti, stepped onto the stage. Yan Li and the short man were of similar height and physique, but Yan Li looked even stronger.
The three chieftains on the stage commended their achievements, each offering them a cup of milk wine. The archery champion instantly received his reward of fifty gold coins, and Yan Li’s prize of two fine horses were brought to him, while the short muscular man had yet to receive his award.
