Chapter 1099: The Plan
But Xiao Yifei still didn't agree immediately. Instead, he slowly asked, "What game?" Hearing this, Ren Tianye smiled and said, "What kind of place is this? A duel arena. Why don't we bet it on a fist fight." As he spoke, Ren Tianye looked at Xiao Yifei.
Upon hearing Ren Tianye say this, Xiao Yifei frowned, then glanced around slightly. Seeing nothing unusual, he continued to ask Ren Tianye what the stake was. As expected, Ren Tianye's stake was still the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle, but what Ren Tianye was playing with regarding Xiao Yifei was nothing other than Xiao Yifei's life.
Ren Tianye spoke thus: "As for the stakes, it's quite simple. Naturally, my stake is the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle. However, yours is not so ordinary. Your stake is your life! As for whether or not to exchange your life for my Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle, well, that depends on your decision."
"Whether or not to use your life in exchange for my Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle, it's all up to you." Ren Tianye's voice wasn't loud, but Xiao Yifei heard it clearly. Indeed, it was exactly as Xiao Yifei thought; Ren Tianye was after their lives, or rather, he was after Qianxi's life.
Originally, if Xiao Yifei hadn't come along, it would have been Qianxi sitting here, and at that time, the stake would have likely been Qianxi's life. So when Xiao Yifei heard Ren Tianye say he wanted Xiao Yifei to bet his life, Qianxi immediately stood up, instinctively trying to pull Xiao Yifei away. After all, it's a risk not worth taking.
But Xiao Yifei had said before, 'Wealth comes from taking risks.' Now that people had said they would hand over the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle, how could he not accept? Of course, Xiao Yifei didn't say these words to Qianxi now, but his whole demeanor was very clear—he wanted to accept the gamble. Betting his life? Xiao Yifei was up for it.
Seeing Xiao Yifei's intention to continue betting, Ren Tianye was secretly delighted, because if Xiao Yifei agreed, it would mean Ren Tianye would have a fifty percent chance of taking Xiao Yifei's life. However, Ren Tianye was no ordinary person. Over the years, he had learned well how to bring things to a successful close, so this gamble was also orchestrated by Ren Tianye.
Ren Tianye could ensure that Xiao Yifei didn't even have a fifty percent chance, although these were all Ren Tianye's calculations. Outwardly, he remained just as before with Xiao Yifei. Xiao Yifei pondered for a moment, then finally looked at Ren Tianye and said, "Alright! I'll bet with you."
Hearing Xiao Yifei finally agree, Ren Tianye's heart was bursting with excitement, because in his mind, Xiao Yifei's agreement meant he was already a dead man—at least, that's what Ren Tianye thought.
However, Qianxi, who was to the side, let out a helpless sigh. Anyone could see that Ren Tianye was doing this on purpose, but Xiao Yifei still agreed with Ren Tianye. Wasn't this akin to knowingly walking into a den of tigers? A pure act of suicide. At this point, Ren Tianye also noticed Qianxi's worry.
So Ren Tianye smiled at Qianxi and said, "Miss Qianxi, do you think Xiao Yifei is unwise for agreeing to bet his life with me?" Hearing this, although Qianxi disliked Ren Tianye, she had to admit that his words were true. Qianxi indeed felt Xiao Yifei was being a bit impulsive.
But after thinking it over, Qianxi realized Xiao Yifei wasn't acting impulsively, because Xiao Yifei was always very steady and could agree to Ren Tianye, he must have his reasons. Thinking of this, Qianxi looked at Xiao Yifei once more and saw that he wasn't tense at all, but was very calm instead.
Seeing Xiao Yifei like this, even if Qianxi had a hundred unwilling thoughts, she could only trust Xiao Yifei now. But Qianxi still nodded slightly at what Ren Tianye had said. Seeing this, Ren Tianye went along with it and said, "In that case, I won't hide it anymore. What I really want to bet on is simply a fist fight!"
"A fist fight?" Xiao Yifei asked puzzledly, then he heard Ren Tianye continue explaining: "Just like usual, bet on who's going to win, whoever guesses correctly, wins. How's that? Simple, right?" Ren Tianye spread his hands, but Xiao Yifei understood all of this. Why then was Ren Tianye emphasizing it again?
So, what came next was what Ren Tianye wanted to say, "But you see, the next person entering the arena is someone I trained, so I know his strength well. This makes it unfair to you, so..." Ren Tianye deliberately dragged out his words here and didn't say it directly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yifei frowned because what Ren Tianye said made sense. But why did he tell us? Wouldn't it be better not to say anything? Thinking of this, Xiao Yifei's mind was racing to figure out what Ren Tianye was planning.
But no matter how much he thought about it, Xiao Yifei couldn't figure out the benefits of Ren Tianye's actions until he heard Ren Tianye's words: "So, Miss Qianxi, why don't you help Mr. Xiao and face off against my trained fighter personally? This way, everyone can be assured. How about it?"
With this sentence, Xiao Yifei instantly understood what Ren Tianye was planning. He wanted to kill two birds with one stone by having Qianxi die in the martial arena and Xiao Yifei lose his life in the betting arena. Two lives taken without any effort.
So Xiao Yifei looked at Qianxi, and Qianxi's thoughts were no different from Xiao Yifei's at that moment. The two communicated subtly, knowing what the other was thinking. "Can you handle it?" Xiao Yifei asked, looking at Qianxi with doubt. "Of course." Qianxi returned a firm look to Xiao Yifei.
Once assured that Qianxi could handle it, Xiao Yifei also nodded, indicating that they should listen to Qianxi on this matter. "Miss Qianxi, what do you think?" Ren Tianye asked slowly. Hearing this, Qianxi smiled confidently then nodded at Ren Tianye.
"Good, Miss Qianxi is indeed straightforward." Saying this, Ren Tianye began to applaud while at the same time calling over his assistant, "Go arrange this for Miss Qianxi." He said softly to the assistant beside him, continuing to praise Qianxi.
Perhaps a bit annoyed, Qianxi hurriedly asked Ren Tianye to stop flattering and just wait quietly. Ren Tianye was very pleased and, no matter how disgusted Qianxi and they looked, Ren Tianye was able to respond with a smile. However, after waiting, Ren Tianye suddenly said he had to go to the restroom.
This was his place, so how could Xiao Yifei possibly stop him? Even if he wanted to do something during this time, Lin Mu couldn't go with him. Watching Ren Tianye's departing figure, Xiao Yifei looked worriedly at Qianxi beside him and then voiced his suspicions. After hearing Xiao Yifei's suspicions, Qianxi nodded simultaneously, indicating that she thought the same.
"Since he's called you up, he's definitely confident. You must be careful when the time comes." Xiao Yifei advised. Hearing this, Qianxi nodded and patted her chest, saying, "Don't worry, I don't believe anyone can beat me." Although this was somewhat arrogant, Qianxi indeed had the capabilities.
Of course, Xiao Yifei couldn't let Qianxi step up without any preparation at all; that would be too risky. Xiao Yifei slowly pulled something out from his pocket, something Qianxi had also seen before—the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle. Seeing Xiao Yifei flick the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle out, Qianxi was puzzled, unsure of what Xiao Yifei intended to do with it.
Yet, Xiao Yifei knew well in his heart that among the Xiao Family's One Hundred and Eight Needles, there was one acupuncture technique that could temporarily enhance the cultivation of those who practiced martial arts, and it wouldn't have significant side effects!