Chapter Thirty-One: The Duel

Kang Ning glanced at Old He, who was shaking his head repeatedly beside him, then at Old Mo, who sat at the head of the table, watching with great interest. With a wry smile, he courteously said to the young man, "Brother, you've misunderstood. Thank you for your toast!" Having spoken, Kang Ning downed his own bowl of wine in one gulp, offered the young man an apologetic smile, and sat down.

But the young man, excited, strode away and stood proudly in an open space ten meters away, his large eyes looking down on Kang Ning with contempt. Kang Ning groaned inwardly and whispered his complaint to Old He, "Brother, your joke has gone too far. Please, explain and clear up this misunderstanding!"

"Sigh! I didn't expect it to turn out like this. It's my fault—I should've stopped it sooner. When he toasted you just now, the gesture was actually a challenge. If you hadn't clinked glasses and drunk with him, nothing would have happened," Old He sighed again, then explained, "But now it's too late. You have to go and compete with him. I'll watch out for you from the side. At worst, you'll beat him and return to continue drinking—no one will say a word against you. But if you don't accept the challenge, everyone here will look down on you, and our whole group will lose face."

Looking up, Kang Ning realized with surprise that he had become the focus of everyone's attention. After a moment's thought, he stood up. The young men from Xiaodong Village who had come with him crowded around, speaking over one another: "Brother, I'm with you!" "Be careful—Daniu is the strongest for miles around." "Don't be afraid; strength is all he's got…"

Kang Ning smiled gently at his companions. "Thank you, brothers. Rest assured, I won't disgrace you!"

With those words, and under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, Kang Ning walked toward Daniu at an unhurried pace.

Everyone formed a natural circle about six meters in diameter, while Old Mo energetically pulled the helpless Old He into the middle with him. After a few courteous opening remarks, Old Mo raised his voice to announce the rules: "No blows to the back of the head, the throat, or below the belt! After the match, regardless of victory or defeat, there will be no private revenge! No rematches for a year!"

Once he'd finished, Old Mo and Old He moved to the side, leaving Kang Ning and Daniu facing each other in the center. The surrounding crowd buzzed with excitement, speculating on the outcome based on the two men's physiques.

Daniu stripped off his shirt, revealing a sturdy, bronze-hued musculature, drawing loud admiration from the young men of Muhe Village. In comparison, Kang Ning—slightly taller but leaner—looked almost delicate. Yet his calm demeanor and composed bearing drew appreciative glances from the women, who looked at him with undisguised admiration.

Kang Ning cupped his fists toward Daniu and stepped back, gesturing for him to begin.

Daniu, already impatient with Kang Ning's tranquil expression, strode forward and threw a powerful punch at Kang Ning's chest. Kang Ning shifted his right foot sideways, turned his body, and easily dodged. Daniu's punch missed; he immediately swept his leg sideways with great force, drawing cries of alarm from the crowd.

Kang Ning bent his knees, his feet gliding lightly across the ground, once again evading Daniu's fierce attack with ease, causing another wave of astonished exclamations.

After two failed attempts, Daniu grew furious that he hadn't even brushed Kang Ning's clothing. He launched a flurry of punches, attacking with all his might. The crowd's cheers and shouts filled the air, the excitement at a fever pitch.

At first, Old Mo and Old He were worried for Kang Ning, but after a few exchanges, their expressions changed. They watched the fight with utmost seriousness, completely absorbed.

Old Mo was astonished by Kang Ning's footwork. To his eyes, the movements seemed unremarkable, almost languid, yet the powerful Daniu couldn't touch him. Round after round, Daniu's fierce attacks landed on nothing but air, and Kang Ning led him in circles around the ring. Beads of sweat began to dot Daniu's broad forehead and muscular body. Old Mo realized that if the fight continued, Daniu—whose strength was rapidly waning—would be in danger.

Old He, skilled himself, had initially worried about the scholarly Kang Ning, but as the fight continued, surprise gave way to the suspicion that Kang Ning was a hidden master. Each time Kang Ning evaded Daniu's attacks, he did so with effortless grace. Old He knew then that Daniu would lose. Just as he was about to call for the fight to end, the situation in the ring changed.

Seeing that retreating endlessly was getting him nowhere, Kang Ning decided to end the tedious contest quickly. When Daniu missed with a powerful right hook, Kang Ning stopped dodging. With his left hand, he parried, then transformed his palm into a claw, seizing Daniu's wrist. Stepping in, he lowered his body and twisted, threading his right arm between Daniu's legs. In a single, axle-like motion, Kang Ning hoisted the eighty-kilogram Daniu over his head, spun him around, and, borrowing the momentum, sent him flying. Amid the gasps of hundreds, Daniu sailed nearly three meters through the air, landing awkwardly and stumbling into the crowd before coming to a stop.

Daniu returned to the ring, stopping three steps from Kang Ning, pale and gasping for breath, staring at him in disbelief.

Kang Ning, smiling, walked quickly to Daniu's side and whispered in his ear, "Brother, your Uncle He was joking. How could a Yao family marry a Han like me?"

Daniu was stunned for a moment, then grabbed Kang Ning's hand and shouted, "Is that true?"

"It is! Ask for yourself if you don't believe me."

Seeing Old He beside him nodding with a smile, Daniu turned to Kang Ning in delight. "Come, let's become laotong!"

"Still want to fight?" Kang Ning shook off Daniu’s hand and stepped back, looking at him in disbelief.

Old He burst out laughing and explained to Kang Ning, "That's your misunderstanding. In our Yao dialect, 'becoming laotong' means what you Hans call sworn brothers!"

Realizing the truth, Kang Ning laughed silently. Soon, surrounded by the crowd, he was escorted back to the wine table. Amid a chorus of admiration, he was toasted three large bowls in quick succession. The young men from Xiaodong Village, proud and impressed by Kang Ning, were introduced to other tables by the enthusiastic people of Muhe Village, who sang Kang Ning's praises. Many young women, hearing that the handsome, refined, and skilled Kang Ning was Han, wore expressions of disappointment. But that didn't stop the bashful girls from bringing bowl after bowl of fine wine to Kang Ning's lips.