Chapter 419: Chapter 419: Wei Feiyang’s Challenge!
Huang Xiaolong and the members of the Sun Family drove overnight to a five-star hotel located far from the “Carnival Grand Hotel,” and checked in.

Everyone was exhausted to the extreme and took the opportunity to rest.

After repelling the gray-robed ghost, Fangfang, Huang Xiaolong was drained of a drop of essence blood. Although – being a specter – he had copious amounts of essence blood and could supplement the loss on his own, he still felt a bit tired. Consequently, he fell asleep.

Everyone slept until noon of the next day, without anyone from the Sun Family daring to disturb them.

In light of the events of the previous night, the reverence the Sun Family had for Huang Xiaolong reached a peak, akin to worshipping a deity!

Even Sun Feng, who had once harbored resentment towards Huang Xiaolong, had completely changed his attitude, constantly displaying an earnest desire to genuflect to Huang Xiaolong.

It wasn’t until half past one in the afternoon that Sun Wei called, waking Huang Xiaolong up.

She invited Huang Xiaolong to have his meal in the hotel’s rooftop revolving restaurant.

Huang Xiaolong, feeling somewhat hungry, cheerfully agreed.

Rooftop of the hotel, revolving restaurant, luxurious private room.

Huang Xiaolong was seated at the dining table, voraciously eating.

The members of the Sun Family sat around him, attentively serving him. Sun Wei sat next to Huang Xiaolong, tenderly placing food on his plate and pouring tea for him.

“Master Long…” Sun Hu tentatively began with a smile on his face. “There… there are two things I would like to report to you.”

“Hmm? What is it?” asked Huang Xiaolong, looking up in bemusement. “Go ahead.”

“Yes, Master Long~” said Sun Hu, holding up a thick gold-foiled envelope. “The first matter concerns… this… challenge letter~~~”

“A challenge letter? For me?” Huang Xiaolong was a little surprised.

“Yes, Master Long. Someone has issued you a challenge,” said Sun Hu, looking somewhat embarrassed. “It’s someone from the Wei Family.”

Huang Xiaolong suddenly understood. “Oh, you mean… Wei Feiyang, who I met at the Green Willow Villa?”

“Yes, Master Long, it is indeed Wei Feiyang,” said Sun Hu, a hint of apprehension in his eyes. “Master Long, the challenge letter explicitly states that Wei Feiyang has reached the semi-Grandmaster level. This is a show of force. If Master Long dares to decline the challenge… well… I fear that the Wei Family will mock and ridicule you…”

Now, a semi-Grandmaster was challenging Huang Xiaolong by name, which made everyone from the Sun Family present a bit nervous.

On the night before, the members of the Sun Family had witnessed Huang Xiaolong’s transcendent ability to manipulate ghosts and deities, causing them all to admire him and regard him as a deity.

However, dealing with deities and the ancient martial arts are two separate domains which do not intrude upon each other.

The challenger to Huang Xiaolong was not a Taoist but a semi-Grandmaster of ancient martial arts.

The challenge was naturally directed towards combat on the martial arts stage.

It could be said that Huang Xiaolong’s Taoist magic would be of no use in the field of martial arts combat, or perhaps even forbidden or disallowed. Otherwise, it would be a desecration to ancient martial arts and a violation of rules!

A Half-step Grandmaster was very powerful. His punches and kicks carried True Qi, and a casual blow could easily strike with thousands of pounds of force. Furthermore, they could inject this tremendous force into someone’s body, ruthlessly wreaking havoc on internal organs.

Even a fool would know the fate of someone hit with thousands of pounds of force. It would spell certain death. Not even a man of steel could survive it, let alone a mortal human.

Everyone in the Sun Family was concerned for Huang Xiaolong’s safety.

“Ha, ha, ha~ How interesting. How very interesting!” Huang Xiaolong burst into hearty laughter. “Isn’t the annual Jiangnan City Fist Competition still going on? Why is this Wei Feiyang so eager to challenge me?”

“Well… Master Long, this is a private challenge, like an underground boxing match,” Sun Hu explained. “Since ancient times, martial artists have settled disputes by wagering on fights. Jiangnan City is a place where the martial arts flourish, and its underground fighting scene is exceptionally intense!”

“In Jiangnan City, our Sun Family runs a few martial arts dojos, and some of our disciples participate in these underground fighting tournaments. So, we know a fair bit about the underground fight scene in Jiangnan City,” continues Sun Hu. “Our martial arts dojos in Jiangnan City earn around 10 million a year in pure profit. However, the profit from the underground fight scene, well… it’s a bit mind-boggling… Master Long, do you have any idea how much it is?”

“Uh… No, I don’t.” Huang Xiaolong shook his head.

“At least 50 billion in net profit! I’m talking pure net profit!” Sun Hu said tremulously, evidently shocked himself. “The profits here far outstrip those of KTVs or clubs. After all, underground fights offer the most thrilling entertainment. Every night in Jiangnan City, countless underground fights take place. The high-level ones are especially crowded, with ticket prices that could make one’s hair stand on end. You’d be charged more to watch than for some top-concert tickets. As for the betting money involved in these fights, the numbers are terrifying. Last year, there was a fight with a betting pool of… 500 million…”

“Oh, I see.” Huang Xiaolong nodded. He was just curious and didn’t take much interest in underground fights, betting pools, or net profits.

“Master Long, Wei Feiyang wants you to meet him on the underground ring tonight to decide the winner,” Sun Hu said tentatively. “He wants to fight you at the highest-tier underground fight club in Jiangnan City. This guy, Yazi, just can’t let things go. Last time at the Green Willow Mountain Villa, you argued with Wei Feiyang and trounced him at playing the zither, and then you shared lunch with Miss Aoshan, which drove him wild with jealousy. He couldn’t wait to take his revenge, so bright and early this morning, someone from the Wei Family showed up with his challenge.”

This unofficial challenge Wei Feiyang threw down was an underground fight, a bare-knuckle brawl separate from the annual martial arts competition of the ancient martial families.

Now the question was, would Huang Xiaolong accept the challenge?

“Wei Feiyang has ulterior motives. Besides seeking revenge against Master Long, he also wants to establish his authority,” Sun Feng chimed in. “Wei Feiyang has huge ambitions for this year’s martial arts competition. He plans to establish his authority before the competition begins, starting by arranging a private match with Master Long. Many members of the ancient martial families will be there to watch. Wei Feiyang plans to flaunt his skills and set an example … kill … er, kill the chicken to scare the monkey.”

“Ah… Use me to establish his authority?” Huang Xiaolong’s finger twitched slightly.

“Little Long, you can totally ignore these private challenges,” Sun Wei pouted. “You don’t have to deal with him at all. Wei Feiyang is just a villain! And besides, before the fight, they want you to sign a death waiver, which is such a hassle.”

“Right, Master Long, normally for these underground fights, both parties sign a life-or-death clause—fair competition with no liabilities,” Sun Hu added worriedly. “In these underground fight clubs, people die every day…”

As for Wei Feiyang, this rapidly rising Half-step Grandmaster, all the Sun Family members were filled with dread and even fear.

“Ah… So, the challenge is tonight?” Huang Xiaolong asked coolly.

“Yes, Master Long, at half past ten tonight…” Sun Hu nodded.

“Alright, accept it on my behalf,” Huang Xiaolong said with an indifferent smile. “Since he wants to use me to establish his authority, I might as well satisfy him. A Half-step Grandmaster, huh? Ha, ha~~~”

Huang Xiaolong paused for a moment before continuing. “What’s the other thing you wanted to tell me?”

“Master Long… Just now… Just now… Someone from the Ying Family also… also came…” Sun Hu stammered in fright.

In comparison with the Wei Family, the Ying Family was formidable. For the Sun Family, the Ying Family, as one of the ten major clans of ancient martial arts, was an absolute behemoth!