100: Chapter 100 Half a Cigarette

Inside the private room upstairs, Shang Yuqing held a wine glass and looked down through the window, her cheeks already flushed with a different shade of crimson.

Beside her, Fei Shan asked with a smile, "Miss Shang, it seems you are quite taken with this Brother Tang."

Shang Yuqing giggled, "Men, you know—women only like them if they have guts and wildness."

As she spoke, she took a drag of her cigarette, exhaled a long trail of light purple smoke, and beckoned to the side, causing an attendant to immediately step forward.

"Pour a glass of wine, and take this half-cigarette I have left. Send it over to my little hunk."

The attendant acknowledged the order, took the half-cigarette stained with her lipstick, poured a glass of wine, and hurried out.

Just then, Violent Bear walked in and whispered a few words into Fei Shan's ear.

Fei Shan frowned, "That kid already lost once yesterday, didn't he?"

"Yes, but A Xin says he claims to have mastered a new boxing technique last night. And since he dares to place such a bet, he should have some confidence."

"What do you think?"

"Although Tang Long defeated Proud Bone, he was injured quite badly."

Fei Shan smiled, "That's fine too. Young people, as Miss Shang said, should have guts and wildness."

Shang Yuqing smiled radiantly, "Brother Shan, you're running a business; don't go making a losing deal just to keep me happy."

"If it can bring a smile to Miss Shang, what's a little money lost? Besides, gambling is only fun when there's a bit of suspense, and it's not guaranteed that we'll lose. Violent Bear, go make the arrangements."

"Yes."

Fei Shan smiled and offered her another cigarette, then helped Shang Yuqing light it.

"Miss Shang, speaking of guts and wildness, I've never seen anyone stronger than Mad Dog. Don't you dislike him just the same?"

Shang Yuqing's expression turned cold immediately, and she shot him a glance, "Keep your little schemes to yourself. Mad Dog is that person's disciple, someone The Sect values. As long as he doesn't provoke me, I don't want to provoke him. If you run your mouth again, even the Wei Family won't be able to protect you."

Fei Shan hit a wall, smiled awkwardly, and immediately changed the subject.

"It was my slip of the tongue. Look, that young man is paying his respects to you."

Shang Yuqing looked down and indeed saw Tang Long raising his glass to her, then downing the drink in one go, which brought a smile back to her face.

"This wine is quite good."

Inside the octagon cage, Tang Long set down the glass, borrowed a light at the side of the stage, and ignited the half-cigarette.

With just one puff, he felt his eyes light up.

He never expected that this cigarette smoke would contain such rich spiritual energy, and the flavor was incredibly fragrant, making his whole body feel comfortable.

"The famous Purple Mist, the top-tier tobacco in Song City. The tobacco leaves are cut from the most essential parts of spiritual herbs. Smoking it often can prolong life, maintain youth, and even enhance spirituality. Each box contains sixteen sticks, with a retail price of sixteen thousand; that half-cigarette in your hand is worth five hundred."

"Holy crap, it's that expensive?"

In his astonishment, Tang Long quickly took another puff.

Recalling his past life on Earth, smoking was severely detrimental to health, but these cigarettes on Blue Star were entirely beneficial and harmless.

"Really nice."

"Give me back the lighter first."

Tang Long looked at Mad Dog below the stage and handed the lighter back with an awkward smile.

"Thanks, brother."

Mad Dog scoffed, "You really are a country bumpkin, never having seen anything good. This is a woman's cigarette, and it's only half a stick at that. Is smoking a half-cigarette left behind by a woman really worth being so happy about?"

"Pardon my ignorance. I really haven't enjoyed such things before; the stuff in the city is just amazing."

Mad Dog glanced upstairs, then whispered, "Do you know you are in great danger right now?"

Tang Long waved his hand, "It's fine, I have it under control. Another fight is no problem."

Mad Dog glared at him, "I'm not talking about fighting, but that woman upstairs. If you knew who she was, you wouldn't be smiling."

Tang Long blinked, "What do you mean?"

Mad Dog lowered his voice even further, "Her name is Shang Yuqing, nicknamed the Bone-melting Enchantress. She is the sister of Bishop Shang of The Sect, and her hobby is toying with handsome, sturdy young men. Her brother also has a hobby: chopping up the foolish boys she gets tired of and feeding them to the dogs."

The smile on Tang Long's face froze for a moment, and he immediately realized there was a problem.

Shang Yuqing has a Bishop for a brother, and Lv Yang still asked him to investigate her?

That old fart must be digging a pit for him!

Wait... thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem to be aimed at him.

After all, he had a 'special identity' certified by the High Priest. Perhaps even that Bishop Shang couldn't do much to him. If he acted rashly without knowing the situation, he would be the one in trouble.

Damn!

Old Lv is using him as a gun to attack a colleague?

You Blue Star people are quite skilled at these workplace tricks!

And this 'Mad Dog'.

Tang Long didn't know why Mad Dog came to cozy up to him, but this guy was also quite an interesting person.

"I understand, thanks for the heads-up, brother."

Mad Dog didn't say anything more, just tilted his head to signal him to look behind.

Tang Long turned around and happened to see Qin Bing walking into the octagon cage.

"Yo? Isn't this that someone from yesterday?"

"Has the Hot-Blooded Arena turned into a charity organization, giving away a free fight?"

"Brother Xin! Do you not have anyone else under you who can fight?"

Tang Long's arrogant teasing immediately drew a burst of laughter, with many people joining in the jeering.

"Bai Ren lost to Tie Pao yesterday, and they're actually letting him fight again today; Hot-Blooded Company has completely lost its mind."

"I don't think so; Bai Ren isn't actually weak. Tie Pao was running around the whole arena yesterday; the win wasn't pretty."

"Bullshit! A win is a win; who cares what method he used."

"Tie Pao will definitely win! I'm placing a heavy bet on this round, are you guys in or not!"

"Tie Pao has never let me down, and I've already won quite a bit today, so I'll gamble on it again."

"I'm supporting Tie Pao too!"

"I have a bad feeling about this. Damn, this arena is full of shady dealings; it might be another trap."

"Ladies and gentlemen! There are only one hundred seconds left until betting closes, please hurry and place your bets!"

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Jiang Xiaolan had just entered the main gate of the Hot-Blooded Arena when she covered her nose.

Although the decor here was magnificent, it was filled with the smell of alcohol, blood, smoke, and even sweat.

Most of the people loitering here were unemployed vagrants, hoodlums, low-level martial artists, and those who loved violence. They also emitted a strange odor from their bodies.

Such smells might not be a big deal to ordinary people, but for a wealthy young lady like Jiang Xiaolan, it was extremely suffocating.

Ming Qi and Wang Rongrong had already come over to greet her and immediately started chattering away.

"Sister Lan, you came too late; you have no idea what you missed."

"Yeah, Tang Long was almost beaten to death by a beast just now."

"That beast was fully three meters tall, its whole body impervious to blades and guns, and it wasn't even afraid of being hit in those sensitive spots."

"Tang Long was also like a madman, punching its head hundreds of times before finally knocking it down."

Jiang Xiaolan frowned as she listened, feeling that they were truly exaggerating.

But seeing Tang Long in the octagon cage covered in blood, she found herself half-believing them in a daze.

"What's the situation now? Why did Senior Qin go in again?"

"We are wondering the same thing! Their relationship seems pretty good, but the next match is Tang Long versus Senior Qin."

"I heard Senior Qin is the resident martial artist here, so he probably has no choice, right?"

"It's about to start, let's go sit over there!"

The closing bell rang quickly, and the betting ended.

Inside the octagon cage, Qin Bing, who had been silent all along, finally began to move.