Chapter 902: 38 Chapters: Achieving the Beauty of Adulthood
Yan Shi frowned and said, "I’m afraid Aguti is going to lose."
Xuan Yue was startled and asked, "Why? They seem to be equally matched!"
Ah Dai explained for Yan Shi, "Aguti’s footsteps are already a bit unsteady, clearly lacking in endurance. Although the short man is exhausted, his lower body is very stable, so it won’t be easy to throw him."
Xuan Yue’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Ah Dai and asked, "What about you? Could you throw him?"
Ah Dai was taken aback and replied, "I, I don’t know how to wrestle, but I guess my strength is probably greater than his."
Yan Shi glanced at Ah Dai and smiled, "With the strength you used to pull that black iron bow, he wouldn’t need much technique to be thrown by you. Brother, are you interested in winning a championship and perhaps catching the eye of that dark beauty?"
Before Ah Dai could reply, Xuan Yue had already placed her hands on her hips and protested, "No, you can’t go." Both Ah Dai and Yan Shi were stunned and turned their gaze to Xuan Yue, who blushed, stuck out her tongue, and argued, "That girl already has someone she loves, what are you interfering for?"
Yan Shi smiled wryly, shook his head, and said no more. But Ah Dai felt a strange emotion stirring inside him and walked to stand behind Xuan Yue, "Let’s just watch the match."
Xuan Yue acknowledged with a grunt, her gaze shifted to the match, but her heart remained with Ah Dai standing behind her, and she thought to herself, Why am I feeling this way? Could it be that I...?
Just as Yan Shi had predicted, the situation on the field had changed. Aguti was running out of stamina, and despite his skill, he was repeatedly led off balance by the short man. Those with a bit of wrestling knowledge knew he was at a disadvantage. The tribe’s people kept shouting, "Batron, Batron..."
Aguti roared, knowing he couldn’t afford to lose, not just the honor, but also the woman he loved most. He exerted all his strength, trying to twist his opponent’s arm and trip him, hoping to throw his body out. But his condition was far from what it had been earlier. The short man sank his waist and used force, thwarting Aguti’s efforts several times. As Aguti’s strength waned, the short man caught his calf, exerted force from his waist, and flung him aside. Aguti’s footsteps wavered, and taking the opportunity, the short man grabbed his right leg, hoisted him, and with a few shouts, and to Lan Yin’s screams, violently threw Aguti out.
"Batron, Batron..." The wrestling champion of the year had been decided — the tribe’s people crazily shouted the warrior’s title. Aguti, thrown several meters away, couldn’t get up again. Though he struggled desperately, his body could no longer be supported by will alone. Lan Yin, tears streaming down her face, ran up to Aguti, continuously shaking him, while Aguti looked at her bitterly with a despairing gaze. His despair not only left Lan Yin utterly heartbroken but also moved another person — Yan Shi.
Watching Aguti and Lan Yin, Yan Shi couldn’t help but recall his own difficult love affair with Yun Er, how much they had suffered due to their differing statuses.
"Big brother, I’m back!" Yan Li came running excitedly, surrounded by a crowd of young tribemates, including Tubari. Although Yan Li was drenched in sweat, he was very happy, "Thrilling, truly thrilling, I still love this electrifying feeling the most."
Yan Shi gave him a stern look and said, "Keep it down. We’re outside, we must be cautious, there’s never any harm in staying humble."
Yan Li chuckled and said, "Big brother, the friends from the tribe are very warm, besides, isn’t there a prize of two horses for this championship."
Tubari came over, giving a thumbs-up, "Brother Yan Li is really something, this time I also got a chance to shine. Today’s competitions are all over, and it will be time for the award ceremony soon. It’s been many years since a foreigner has won a championship here. Young brother Ah Dai did great too, managing to draw the toughest black iron bow."
As the competitions had ended, the people from the three tribes of the tribe once again split into three groups and returned to their teams. In the empty center of the arena, over a hundred people were busy constructing a makeshift platform with logs as thick as the mouth of a bowl. In a while, the platform was ready. The three Chieftains walked onto the wooden platform.
"Today’s Batron Festival was a great success, I’m very pleased. In the previous competitions, many young heroes emerged. Alright, now the champions of the three events are invited to step onto the platform."
Yan Li looked at Yan Shi, who patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go on, remember to be modest."
Yan Li excitedly dropped a comment, "Got it," and ran off enthusiastically.
The champion of the archery competition was a middle-aged man; he, along with Yan Li, and the short stocky man who had earlier thrown Aguti, walked onto the wooden platform. Yan Li and the stocky man were about the same height and even somewhat similar in build, though Yan Li appeared a bit more robust.
The three Chieftains each praised them and offered them a cup of milk wine. The archery champion’s prize of fifty Gold Coins was handed over on the spot, and the two horses that were Yan Li’s prize were also brought before him, while the stocky man did not receive his prize yet.
