98: Chapter 98 The Bet

As soon as Tang Si finished speaking, the originally noisy mountaintop square instantly fell silent.

Everyone's eyes shifted back and forth between Lin Fan and Tang Si.

One was the "freak" who had just sent Chen Ao flying with a single punch and treated Tianjiao Camp like a wholesale vegetable market.

The other was the eldest young master of the Tang Family from the capital, a Half-step Grandmaster, and a top-tier genius with S-rank dual Wind and Lightning talents.

The confrontation between these two was like Mars colliding with Earth.

Lin Fan sat in that European-style palace chair, still holding the large megaphone he used for shouting.

He didn't get angry because of Tang Si's mockery; even the smile on his face didn't fade in the slightest.

He merely sized Tang Si up with a gaze that looked at him like a "major client."

A custom-made white training suit made of A-rank Snow Silkworm Silk—dust-proof, stain-resistant, and capable of resisting ordinary blades.

The jade pendant hanging at his waist flowed with faint spiritual energy fluctuations; it was at least a B-rank or higher mental defense artifact.

Even the boots on his feet were made from the hide of a Gale Wolf, which could increase movement speed.

"A fat sheep."

Lin Fan sighed inwardly.

This wasn't someone coming to cause trouble; this was clearly a walking ATM.

"Young Master Tang, is it?"

Lin Fan put down the megaphone and slowly straightened his sleeves.

"You said Chen Ao is trash. I won't deny that."

"After all, someone who can't even take one of my punches really doesn't have much worth."

Lin Fan's words caused the mouths of those around him to twitch.

This not only insulted Chen Ao but also looked down on everyone else in the process.

Tang Si narrowed his eyes, a dangerous cold light flashing through the slits.

"Sharp-tongued."

"I admit you have some brute strength and a decent physical body."

"But in the face of absolute speed and crushing power, that bit of brute strength is as laughable as a turtle shell."

Tang Si took a step forward.

Sizzle!

A purple electrical arc exploded beneath his feet, instantly charring the ground.

A violent aura surged into the sky, and the surrounding air seemed to become thick and viscous.

That was the pressure of a Half-step Grandmaster.

It was more than a level stronger than Chen Ao's earlier display.

"I want to challenge you."

Tang Si tilted his chin up, looking down his nose at Lin Fan.

"I want you to know that there is an insurmountable chasm between the geniuses of the capital and bumpkins from the countryside like you."

"Surrender Villa A-1, then kneel and apologize."

"I might consider not breaking your legs."

Faced with this aggressive aura, Lin Fan instead gave a helpless sigh.

He stood up from the chair and patted his backside.

"Young Master Tang, you might not have a clear grasp of the situation."

"My place is for doing business, not a dueling arena."

"I'm very busy; millions are at stake every minute."

"If you want to fight, turn left out the door and find Instructor Lei. He's thick-skinned and can take a beating."

Lin Fan put on a posture of not wanting to deal with him and turned to walk toward the villa.

"Trying to run?"

Tang Si sneered, "In Tianjiao Camp, avoiding a challenge makes you a coward!"

"Who said I was running?"

Lin Fan stopped, turned around, and revealed his signature Shrewd Merchant smile.

"I'm a businessman; I don't get up early without a profit."

"Fighting is tiring and dangerous, and it's easy to get my clothes dirty."

"Without a prize, why should I fight you?"

Tang Si was stunned for a moment, then laughed disdainfully.

"So you want money."

"Fine, if you can beat me, I'll give you ten million."

"Ten million?"

Lin Fan curled his lip, his face full of disdain.

"Young Master Tang, are you treating me like a beggar?"

"Just now, I was selling blind boxes for ten million each."

"My appearance fee is very expensive."

Lin Fan held up one finger and shook it in front of Tang Si.

"Since we're going to play, let's play big."

"Betting money is too vulgar; let's bet on something interesting."

Tang Si was provoked by Lin Fan's contemptuous attitude.

"What do you want to bet?"

"It's simple."

Lin Fan pointed at himself, then at Tang Si.

"If I lose, this Villa A-1 belongs to you, and all the money I just earned belongs to you too."

"Furthermore, from now on in Tianjiao Camp, I, Lin Fan, will be your, Tang Si's, lackey."

"If you tell me to go east, I won't go west. If you tell me to bite a dog, I won't chase a chicken."

Whoosh!

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

This stake was too high.

He wasn't just betting his entire fortune; he was betting his dignity.

Becoming someone's lackey?

For these proud geniuses, this was more painful than being killed.

Tang Si's eyes lit up.

What he valued wasn't just the villa, but Lin Fan's potential as a person.

Though he spoke dismissively, he knew in his heart that someone who could send Chen Ao flying with one punch was definitely a talent.

If he could subdue such a person as a lackey, his prestige in the capital's circles would grow immensely.

"Good! You've got guts!"

Fearing Lin Fan would back out, Tang Si immediately agreed.

"And if you win?"

"If I win..."

Lin Fan smilingly pulled a black metal box from his robe.

This box was completely different from the previous newspaper-wrapped boxes.

It was pitch black, engraved with complex patterns, and emitted a mysterious and ancient aura.

This was the "high-end goods" Lin Fan had specially prepared.

"If you lose, you have to become my VIP customer."

"Spend one hundred million to buy this blind box."

"Moreover, in the future, whenever I have new stock, you must have priority purchase rights and help me with promotion."

"How about it? Is this a fair deal?"

Tang Si was stunned.

The surrounding onlookers were also stunned.

They thought Lin Fan would demand Tang Si become his lackey or kowtow and apologize.

The result...

Was just this?

Buying something if he lost?

What kind of punishment was this supposed to be?

Is Lin Fan's head filled with nothing but money?

"Hahahaha!"

Tang Si couldn't help but laugh out loud, laughing until tears almost came out.

"Lin Fan, oh Lin Fan, what should I say about you?"

"Are you that desperate for money?"

"Fine, I agree."

"Never mind one hundred million; even if it's a billion, as long as you can win, this young master won't even blink!"

In his view, this was simply a guaranteed win.

He was a Half-step Grandmaster, while Lin Fan was only an early-stage Martial Master, despite his impressive combat power.

Furthermore, he possessed S-rank dual Wind and Lightning talents; his speed and attack power were top-tier.

How could he lose?

It was simply impossible to lose!

"Words are unreliable; let's put it in writing."

Like a magic trick, Lin Fan pulled out a pre-prepared contract and a pen from behind him.

"Come, come, come, sign your name and leave a thumbprint."

Looking at that contract densely packed with clauses, Tang Si's mouth twitched.

This guy had planned this all along, hadn't he?

But with the arrow on the string, he had to fire.

Tang Si grabbed the pen and signed his name with a flourish.

"Now, can we begin?"

Tang Si threw the pen aside, his aura exploding once more.

Purple lightning entwined around his body as wild winds howled, making his robes flutter loudly.

"Of course."

Lin Fan put away the contract, the smile on his face instantly vanishing.

In its place was a calm as steady as a mountain.

He took off his outer coat and tossed it onto the chair nearby.

He revealed the simple black tank top underneath, along with muscles that had smooth lines and were full of explosive power.

"Young Master Tang, please enlighten me."

Lin Fan took a starting stance.

Though the posture was simple, his entire being was like an unsheathed sword, sharp and exposed.

"Hmph, putting on an act!"

Tang Si snorted coldly.

"Wind and Lightning: Instant Kill!"

Boom!

A clap of thunder exploded.

Tang Si's figure instantly vanished from where he stood.

The next second.

He had already appeared behind Lin Fan.

A palm entwined with purple lightning, carrying a shrill whistle that tore through the air, hacked fiercely toward the back of Lin Fan's neck.

Fast!

Too fast!

So fast that most of the people around couldn't even see an afterimage.

This was the terrifying aspect of S-rank Wind and Lightning talents.

Speed was power.

"It's over."

A flash of pleasure crossed Tang Si's eyes.

He could already see the image of Lin Fan being beaten to the ground and begging for mercy.

However.

At the very instant his palm was about to touch Lin Fan's neck.

Lin Fan moved.

He didn't look back; he didn't turn around.

His back suddenly lit up with a burst of blinding golden light.

Clang!

A loud sound of metal clashing rang out.

Tang Si felt as if his palm had hacked into a piece of red-hot refined steel.

The massive counter-shock made his palm go numb.

"What?!"

Tang Si's pupils contracted.

Before he could react, Lin Fan's elbow strike had already lunged backward like a venomous snake emerging from its hole.

"Wind Shadow Step."

Tang Si was, after all, a battle-hardened genius.

In the nick of time, his body turned into a gust of wind, forcibly shifting three meters away, narrowly dodging that lethal strike.

The two pulled apart, confronting each other from a distance.

Tang Si looked at his slightly trembling right hand, his expression turning solemn.

That split-second contact made him realize one fact.

This Lin Fan really did have some skill.

That layer of golden light... its defensive power was simply abnormal.

"Interesting."

Tang Si took a deep breath, the contempt in his eyes completely vanishing.

"It seems I have to get serious."

Lin Fan turned around and rubbed his somewhat hot neck.

Although the Indestructible Golden Body had blocked the attack, the numbing sensation of that lightning power had still seeped through.

"A Half-step Grandmaster is indeed different."

Lin Fan licked his lips, a burning battle intent igniting in the depths of his eyes.

"But..."

"Only an opponent of this intensity is worthy of being my whetstone."