Yin Hao took the gold card and jokingly said to Ning Rongrong,
"You're just giving me the money like that? Aren't you afraid I won't be able to pay it back if I lose?"
Ning Rongrong retorted without hesitation.
"If I can't pay it back, so be it. I'll use you as collateral."
Hearing this, Yin Hao was stunned. Was this the legendary "payment with one's body"?
Before he could say anything, Xiao Wu, standing to the side, became unhappy and secretly pinched Yin Hao's arm. Although she didn't use much force, it still caught Yin Hao's attention.
Ning Rongrong seemed to realize that her words had caused some misunderstanding, and continued,
"I mean, if you can't pay it back, join our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. With your talent, you're worth much more than 100,000 gold soul coins."
"Okay then, if I lose, I'll give myself to you..."
Yin Hao said with a smile, then got up and left his seat, heading towards the counter where betting was handled.
There was a booklet at the counter recording the matches that hadn't started yet, which people could freely browse.
While flipping through the booklet, Yin Hao asked the woman at the counter,
"Can we exchange our winnings immediately after a match is completed?"
The woman answered very politely.
"Yes, sir, but if the amount is too large, we need time to prepare, which might cause a slight delay, but it usually won't exceed two hours."
"Oh?"
Yin Hao looked at the woman at the counter and asked,
"How much is considered too large?" Yin Hao wasn't the only one betting at the counter; a bald man nearby laughed out loud upon hearing Yin Hao's question. After glancing at Yin Hao, he laughed even harder, seemingly mocking Yin Hao's ignorance and overestimation of his abilities.
Yin Hao didn't care. If he had to pay attention to every little person, he wouldn't be able to do anything all day.
The woman behind the counter maintained her smile, not laughing at Yin Hao's words.
"Generally, for expenses under 500,000 gold soul coins, we can pay in full at once, no waiting required."
In Douluo Continent, one gold soul coin is enough for a family of three to four months' worth of food, clothing, and daily necessities. Yet, the Great Soul Arena can directly offer 500,000 gold soul coins in one go without waiting, demonstrating its considerable strength.
Yin Hao nodded and looked at the booklet in his hand again.
The 73rd match of the singles tournament: Passerby A (Level 26 Great Soul Master, Martial Soul: Pot Lid) vs. Passerby B (Level 27 Great Soul Master, Martial Soul: Shovel).
Passerby A's odds are 1 to 1.2, Passerby B's odds are 1 to 0.9.
In the 74th singles match, Passerby C (Level 35 Soul Master, Martial Soul: Frying Pan) versus Passerby D (Level 34 Soul Master, Martial Soul: Spoon)...
...
In the 78th singles match, Xiao Wu (Level 29 Great Soul Master, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit) versus Qing Bao (Level 28 Great Soul Master, Martial Soul: Iron Horn Bull).
Xiao Wu's odds are 1 to 1.2, and Qing Bao's odds are 1 to 0.7.
Yin Hao took out the gold card Ning Rongrong had given him earlier.
"Hello, for the 78th singles match, I'm betting on the Great Soul Master named Xiao Wu, whose Martial Soul is Soft Bone Rabbit,"
the counter lady asked.
"Okay, sir, how much would you like to bet?"
"One hundred thousand gold soul coins."
"Okay."
Without any further ado, the counter lady directly took the card from Yin Hao's hand.
Hearing Yin Hao's words, the bald man next to him laughed even harder. He had also bet on the 78th match, but his bets were the exact opposite of Yin Hao's. Not only him, but most of the others did the same.
Although Xiao Wu's soul power is one level higher than Qing Bao's, her martial soul is only the weak Soft Bone Rabbit, while Qing Bao's martial soul is the powerful Iron Horn Bull. This match is almost without suspense!
The bald man, a seasoned gambler, seized the opportunity and bet half his fortune—50,000 gold soul coins! He was betting on Qing Bao to win!
While the clerk swiped his card and recorded the transaction, Yin Hao continued flipping through the booklet.
The seventy-ninth match of the singles tournament: Nana (Level 48 Soul Master, Martial Soul: Heavenly Fox) versus Huo Jun (Level 49 Soul Master, Martial Soul: Longsword)...
"Heavenly Fox? Nana?"
Yin Hao's lips curled into a smile, recalling a figure who thought herself clever but was always being outmaneuvered.
"Sir, your bet has been placed. Here is your receipt."
A voice pulled Yin Hao back to reality. He took the receipt, thanked her, and left.
The match continued, the shouts from the audience rising and falling—some cursing, some cheering—but none of this concerned Yin Hao.
Back in the rest area, Xiao Wu immediately approached him upon his return.
"Brother Hao, which match did you bet on?"
At the same time, almost everyone present, including Ning Rongrong, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Flender, cast curious glances at her.
Yin Hao didn't hide anything and directly handed the betting slip to Xiao Wu.
"Ah? Brother Hao, you bet all 100,000 gold soul coins on me winning?"
Xiao Wu looked at Yin Hao in surprise, and her exclamation surprised everyone else in the arena.
After all, that was 100,000 gold soul coins, and Yin Hao had bet all of them on Xiao Wu winning—that was a huge level of trust!
Yin Hao smiled.
"That's right, I've put all my money on you. If you lose, you'll be giving me to Rongrong..."
Although there was something misleading about Yin Hao's words, Xiao Wu didn't care about that at the moment. She hugged Yin Hao tightly and said in a firm tone.
"Don't worry, Hao-ge, I won't lose!"
Everyone else, after being fed a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), quickly looked away. Only Zhu Zhuqing frowned as she watched Xiao Wu and Yin Hao hugging, a strange light flashing in her eyes—a light whose name seemed to be… jealousy… As the matches in the Soul Arena concluded, the seventy-eighth match finally arrived. As everyone's first lesson, and their Shrek Academy's first battle, Dai Mubai and the others stepped forward to encourage them.
"Go Xiao Wu! Teach that big idiot a lesson!"
This was Ning Rongrong's comment, eager for drama.
"Go!"
This was Zhu Zhuqing's cool and collected voice.
"Xiao Wu, it's okay to lose, just be careful not to hurt yourself."
This was Tang San's insincere comment.
Besides them, Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and even Flender all stepped forward to say something to Xiao Wu.
After all, it was their Shrek Academy's first battle, and no one wanted to lose at the start.
Xiao Wu waved.
"Don't worry, everyone, I'm leaving now."
Then she turned back and hugged Yin Hao.
"Don't forget to come watch my match, Brother Hao..."
Yin Hao said, stroking Xiao Wu's two rabbit ears.
"Don't worry, how could I forget?"
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(End of Chapter)