Tamer's skills
"Brace yourselves," declared Wu Xing to the expectant crowd. "The victor shall be determined by the first to reap five radishes, or the one who garners the greatest harvest within the next thirty minutes. Bear in mind that you are only allowed to use 'Dig' thrice." Wu Liang and Sun Ming seized their draw hoes and bags teeming with radish seeds, positioning themselves on opposite ends of the expansive field, poised to commence the challenge.
"Commence!" Wu Xing bellowed, announcing the initiation of the battle, and with fervor, Sun Ming and Wu Liang sprang into action. "Sow!" Sun Ming exclaimed, as he flung the seeds to a distant corner of the field. Wu Liang replicated the move, casting his seeds to the opposite end, and their eyes locked in a fierce gaze. Sun Ming's lips curved into a grin, and he hoisted his draw hoe, scanning the area where Wu Liang had sowed his seeds. In response, Wu Liang chuckled and raised his own draw hoe, returning the intense stare. "Dig!" Both of them executed their skill simultaneously, and a gaping hole materialized beneath Wu Liang's feet, causing him to nimbly dodge to the side before tumbling in. Another hole emerged under Sun Ming, but he too anticipated the attack and dodged it. At the center of the field, they clashed their draw hoes in a ferocious collision. Suddenly, Wu Liang observed the earth's surface where Sun Ming had sowed the seeds, beginning to wriggle, signifying that Sun Ming's radishes would ripen faster. Wu Liang gritted his teeth and broke free from Sun Ming's grasp, rushing towards his opponent's seeds with all his might.
Wu Liang's face was wreathed in a smile when he realized that the radishes would soon be ripe for picking. As he turned around, he was surprised to see Sun Ming standing motionless with his back to him. Nonetheless, he shrugged off the strange feeling and waited for the radishes to surface. "Reap!" he yelled as he employed the "Reap" skill to gather the crop. However, as he examined his bounty, he let out a loud exclamation of disbelief. "Why are these carrots?" he cried out in confusion, holding up the produce he had collected. "Reap!" Sun Ming laughed, reaping the radishes that Wu Liang had planted. "I'm sorry, Wu Liang, I used carrot seeds instead," Sun Ming said with a sly smirk as he made his way towards Wu Xing. "Grandpa Xing, does that mean I've won?" he inquired playfully. Despite Sun Ming's insincere attitude, Wu Xing remained calm and genial, and with a friendly smile on his face, he nodded and announced that Sun Ming was the winner.
"Sun Ming, it seems you still rely on dirty tricks to win, instead of showing us how much you've improved over the years," Wu Long reproached coldly as he appeared on the scene. Sun Ming's grip tightened on his draw hoe, realizing that he couldn't win against Wu Long with such underhanded tactics. "Let me, your senior, demonstrate how it should be done," Wu Long declared as he strode confidently onto the field. "It might not be appropriate for an elder like me to battle with you, but since Sun Ming has already had his turn, let me level the playing field," Sun Teng announced, stepping forward to face Sun Ming. "Uncle Teng, while you may be my elder, I have no doubt that I will soon catch up to your level," Wu Long said smugly, displaying a hint of disrespect towards Sun Teng. Although Sun Teng remained smiling, Wu Long suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine as their eyes met. "Wu Long, our levels may not be far apart, but I assure you that our strength is not as close as you think," Sun Teng replied with a calm smile, and Wu Long realized that he had underestimated his opponent.
"Your perseverance and resilience are your greatest allies," Sun Teng imparted his wisdom upon Sun Ming, giving him a firm pat on the back before stepping out of the field. "Rules remain the same. Take your positions, gentlemen," Wu Xing reminded the two competitors. As they made their way to opposite ends of the field, Sun Ming readied himself for the challenge ahead. "Begin!" With that, Wu Long charged towards Sun Ming, wielding his draw hoe with a fierce determination. Sun Ming braced himself and expertly defended the attack with his own tool, although the force of the impact still sent him stumbling backwards. "This is what I like to see," Wu Long chuckled. "You can finally endure one of my attacks." And so the battle raged on, with Wu Long continuously upping the ante with each strike. Sun Ming struggled to find an opening as he worked hard to deflect the onslaught. After what seemed like an eternity, a bright red glow emanated from Sun Ming's body. "Do you truly need to use your 'Endure' skill so soon, Sun Ming?" Wu Long teased, a smirk on his lips. "I'm just getting started."
The crew stood on the sidelines, anxiously watching the ongoing battle between Sun Ming and Wu Long. Long Tao, in particular, was fervently hoping that Sun Ming would finally defeat his opponent and teach him a lesson. However, it seemed like a daunting task, and the crew couldn't help but worry about Sun Ming's safety. Another ten grueling minutes passed before Wu Long finally stopped his relentless attacks and took a sip from his canteen. Meanwhile, Sun Ming collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. But he didn't give up. Instead, he got up and, with a determined look on his face, began to sow seeds in the area near him. Wu Long sneered, recognizing Sun Ming's tactic. "Carrot seeds again? So you're resorting to your dirty tricks," he taunted, planting his own seeds behind him. Wu Long was confident that his brute strength would be more than enough to overcome any tricks Sun Ming could come up with. "My "Sow" skill is superior to yours, Sun Ming. Let's continue and see who manages to reap the radish first." With that, he charged towards Sun Ming, determined to finish the battle once and for all.
But Sun Ming was not so easily defeated. "Dig!" he shouted, creating a hole in front of Wu Long as he guzzled down his drink. Wu Long managed to dodge it with ease and continued his advance. Undeterred, Sun Ming activated his "Dig" skill twice more, creating two more holes in quick succession. "You can't use "Dig" anymore, Sun Ming," Wu Long chortled as he deftly avoided the traps. But before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly plunged into yet another hole. The crew suddenly realized that this hole was the very same one that Sun Ming had created during his previous battle with Wu Liang. Sun Ming had cleverly used his knowledge of the terrain to lead Wu Long straight into a trap.
"Reap!" Sun Ming declared triumphantly as he collected the radish that Wu Long had planted, walking confidently towards Wu Xing once more.
"The victor of this match is none other than Sun Ming, and the coveted fragment belongs to Wen Chong. With that, this month's auction comes to a close. Wen Chong, please inform me when you are prepared to embark on your journey to Prosperous Town. The lord requires the new tamer to report within three days," declared Wu Xing, his voice authoritative and clear. Wen Chong confirmed his readiness to leave that very night, to which Wu Xing gave a nod of approval before departing the arena.
Unable to contain his elation, Wen Chong ran over to Sun Ming and embraced him tightly, tears streaming down his face. "Don't cry, my dear Wen Chong. You promised me yellow beef noodles, and you're much too heavy," joked Sun Ming, patting Wen Chong's back and attempting to push him away. Wen Chong wiped away his tears and turned to the crew. "These are your friends, aren't they? Join us! Today, the meal is on me!" he exclaimed, his generous spirit shining through. Long Tao, who had been worried about Sun Ming's chances in the match, now felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over him, knowing that he would finally be able to partake in a decent meal after his time in this world.
Wu Xing was ambling along a dimly lit alley when two shadowy figures suddenly appeared before him. Though taken aback, Wu Xing managed to keep a composed demeanor and a friendly smile on his face. "How may I assist you, young gentlemen?" he asked genially, yet his words sent a shiver down their spines. Jiang Wen Hao was astounded by the elderly man's strength, while Huang Fu Yu was practically bouncing with excitement. "We would like you to unlock a tamer skill for us," Jiang Wen Hao stated their request. Huang Fu Yu, however, attempted to provoke Wu Xing, saying, "Of course, you can reject us and we shall have some fun together." Without skipping a beat, Wu Xing replied with a smile, "A tamer only possesses two skills. The other skill can only be used after taming a beast, so the only skill I can offer is 'Tame'." Jiang Wen Hao nodded in agreement, confirming that was indeed the skill they were after.
"I am more than willing to assist you in unlocking the skill you seek, but I must confess, my mood is not at its best today," Wu Xing said, the faintest hint of a frown crossing his features. "I wonder if you would do me the honor of accompanying me for a stroll in the forest? A change of scenery might do us all some good, and we can discuss the particulars of the skill while we walk." He gestured in the direction of the dense woods beyond the town, their verdant beauty calling out to him. Without waiting for a response, he set off at a leisurely pace, his long strides carrying him towards the forest's welcoming embrace.