Hearing Qu Gaoyi and Ying Jiu refer to themselves as subordinates, and with such respectful attitudes, Huo Xingchen couldn't help but frown, instinctively sensing something wasn't quite right.
Weren't the experts from the Yang Family's Blood Guard Hall supposed to be more… aloof in their dealings?
"How about we make a bet?" Yang Kai suddenly spoke up, smiling at Huo Xingchen.
"What kind of bet?" Huo Xingchen immediately perked up with interest.
"Whether or not I can survive tonight!"
Huo Xingchen turned his head to look at Yang Kai, and the young lord of the Zhongdu wolves began to look intrigued, his eyes narrowing slightly as his thoughts raced.
"Scared?" Yang Kai chuckled inwardly, his expression cold and dismissive. He snorted and said, "If you're scared, then don't follow along. Be careful not to lose your life tonight. I've heard you're the only heir of the Huo Family—if you actually die in Battle City, things won't be easy to clean up!"
"Scared?" Huo Xingchen let out a sinister laugh. "I, young master Huo, have never even known what the word 'scared' means since the day I was born. You dare to bet with me? I'll make you lose so thoroughly you'll accept it with full conviction! Don't you know that eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling are my greatest talents?"
As he spoke, his face lit up with excitement.
"What are the stakes?" Huo Xingchen pressed.
Yang Kai sized him up and down and said, "You're dead broke right now—surely you don't have anything worth putting on the table?"
Huo Xingchen froze for a moment, scratching his head. "Well… that's true enough."
"Then let's keep it small," Yang Kai said with a light laugh. "If you lose, I won't ask for anything from you—just run ten laps around Battle City in the buff!"
"That's… that's not really appropriate, Brother Kai…" Huo Xingchen's face immediately fell into a worried scowl. Running naked for ten laps around Battle City—wouldn't that be absolutely humiliating?
"Your reputation's already in the gutter anyway. Ten laps won't make a difference. When you're drowning in debts, one more doesn't matter; when you've got a hundred lice biting you, the itch doesn't change." Yang Kai raised his eyebrows at him with a lewd grin.
Hearing this, Huo Xingchen had to admit it made sense. He nodded and said, "Fair point. But I don't think I'll be the one losing. What about you—if you lose, what can you give me?"
Yang Kai let out a whistle. High in the sky, a piercing eagle cry rang out!
A streak of golden light dove downward, and the majestic Golden Feather Eagle landed steadily on Yang Kai's shoulder, its keen eyes gleaming brilliantly.
"If I lose, I'll give you this!"
Huo Xingchen was thrilled beyond measure. If Yang Kai had offered him money or some kind of treasure, he might not have cared—being the sole heir of the Huo Family, he hardly lacked for wealth or artifacts.
But the Golden Feather Eagle was different. It was a unique demon beast of the Yang Family. Never mind its formidable strength—its impressive appearance alone was enough to make Huo Xingchen's heart race. If he could have a Golden Feather Eagle by his side whenever he went out in the future, just like Yang Kai did, that would truly be a matter of pride.
A spoiled, extravagant young lord—this was exactly his kind of thing.
"Deal!" Huo Xingchen rushed to seal the agreement, afraid Yang Kai might change his mind. He gazed at the Golden Feather Eagle with undisguised delight, muttering, "Eagle, eagle—after tonight, you'll be taking the surname Huo!"
Yang Kai smiled but said nothing.
---
A hundred li from Zhongdu—Battle City.
This was a city built by the Yang Family itself. Though it couldn't compare to Zhongdu in terms of prosperity or size, it was still quite impressive. On ordinary days it functioned like any normal city, but whenever the War of Succession came around, it transformed into a battlefield.
Battle City had eight corners, each with a mansion prepared for the eight young lords participating in the War of Succession.
It was likely that for a long time to come, they would be locked in a grueling contest here.
Throughout the history of the Yang Family, the War of Succession was rarely decided quickly. More often than not, it was a drawn-out affair that could last three to five years before a victor emerged.
According to Yang Family records, a hundred years ago, one patriarch had managed to claim victory in less than half a year.
That was already a remarkable achievement, because the closer one got to the end, the stronger the remaining enemies became, and the harder it was to win. Only when one held a decisive advantage could one defeat opponents with ease.
The brothers entered the city one after another, and all of Battle City instantly came alive with excitement. Originally, quite a few people had lived here, but most had already left, unwilling to be dragged into the Yang Family's War of Succession.
Those who remained were the bold and daring ones—and they were eagerly anticipating the spectacle.
After exchanging pleasantries, the brothers tacitly parted ways, each heading to their own mansions.
Yang Kai's mansion was located in the northwest corner. The position wasn't great—it was rather remote and quiet—but he didn't mind.
A party of just four strolled leisurely to the northwest mansion. At the entrance stood two lovely maids, and inside there were several servants at hand. These had been sent by the Yang Family to attend to the daily needs of the young lords—a standard provision at every mansion. They were all ordinary people, so there was no concern about them influencing the outcome of the War of Succession.
When Yang Kai arrived, the two young maids performed a graceful curtsy and said in unison, "We greet Young Master Kai!"