"Uh, young man, are you sure about this?" The clan leader looked at Jiang Hai in surprise upon hearing his declaration.
"Of course. Let's go," Jiang Hai replied, standing up and walking toward the center of the field. He was a bit drunk—otherwise, he might not have acted on impulse—but now that he'd spoken, there was no backing down.
"Alright then. This foreign guest wants to challenge our tradition. Anyone who wishes to fight him, step forward! I'll give you one more chance." The clan leader looked at Jiang Hai for a moment, then turned and shouted to the crowd.
Some of the defeated men exchanged glances, their expressions uncertain. After the leader called out a second time, one of them finally stood. His earlier loss had been due to bad luck—he'd stepped on a rock and twisted his foot, which led to his quick defeat. He wasn't willing to let it go and now, given another opportunity, he wasn't going to waste it.
"Alright, Bal will be the first to accept the challenge," the clan leader declared, stepping out of the ring as the man entered.
The girl, watching from the side, looked at Jiang Hai with concern. She had no idea how skilled he was, and if he got hurt while standing up for her, she'd feel terrible.
But Jiang Hai didn't care. Seeing the man approach, he just smiled and waved.
The man, who didn't speak Jiang Hai's language, had no intention of small talk. Seeing Jiang Hai's beckoning gesture, he charged forward—his background clearly in wrestling. But Jiang Hai wasn't planning on wrestling; he was ready to fight.
As the man lunged, Jiang Hai took a step back, then exploded forward. The moment their hands touched, Jiang Hai's strength surged. Without hesitation, he yanked the man toward him. Before the man could react, Jiang Hai swept his foot forward, threw him over his shoulder, and sent him crashing to the ground.
Fortunately, Jiang Hai controlled his strength. The man lay on the ground in stunned silence, eyes wide with confusion. He had no idea how it happened.
"Next!" Jiang Hai said with a grin as he turned to the crowd.
"You're more capable than I thought," Wei Luo muttered, narrowing his eyes. He had clearly underestimated Jiang Hai.
Even the tribe leader looked surprised. He hadn't expected the outsider to be this strong.
The crowd murmured in astonishment. Jiang Hai hadn't relied solely on brute force—his control and precision left a deep impression. That first fight had lasted less than ten seconds.
A second man stepped forward. He had reached the quarterfinals earlier before losing to Wei Luo. Aside from Wei Luo, he didn't think anyone here was stronger than him. Eyeing Jiang Hai, he took a stance and beckoned him forward.
These men weren't amateurs. They could see Jiang Hai had defeated the first fighter using both timing and momentum. But this time, the second man stood his ground and waited for Jiang Hai to make the first move, refusing to charge.
Jiang Hai smiled. He didn't care.
With a single step, he lunged at the man. The man opened his arms, ready to grab him just as Jiang Hai had done earlier. But Jiang Hai wasn't so easily caught.
He dodged the grab, circled around, and hooked his right arm around the man's waist.
Anyone who had watched martial arts movies would recognize the technique—something akin to a "Golden Arm Hook." But instead of aiming for the chin or neck, Jiang Hai struck the man directly in the stomach.
It was like getting hit by a charging elk. The man's feet left the ground, and he was flung backward, landing with a crash and clutching his stomach, eyes filled with disbelief.
"Next!" Jiang Hai called again.
"Incredible…" the tribe leader muttered, his admiration deepening.
A third man stepped forward. He had learned from the previous two and didn't engage directly. Instead, he tried to circle Jiang Hai, launching feints and testing for openings. Unfortunately, his speed was no match for Jiang Hai's.
After dodging for about ten seconds, Jiang Hai caught his arm and tripped him with ease, sending him sprawling.
The fourth opponent lasted even less time.
Watching Jiang Hai dispatch one warrior after another as easily as an adult playing with children, Wei Luo's face darkened. These warriors weren't far behind him in strength. He might've beaten them—but never with such ease.
It was clear: Jiang Hai hadn't even exerted himself.
That meant Jiang Hai was physically stronger than him. A head-on fight would be unwinnable. He needed another way.
He glanced toward Patan's sister, who was cheering excitedly for Jiang Hai. Gritting his teeth, Wei Luo seethed. Did she really dislike him that much? Unforgivable.
"Hey, big guy, your turn." Just as Wei Luo was lost in thought, Jiang Hai defeated his seventh opponent and turned toward him with a smile.
Wei Luo stepped into the ring, fully aware he didn't stand a chance—but pride wouldn't let him walk away.
"I'm telling you now, I will win!" Wei Luo shouted from five meters away.
Jiang Hai just smiled and waved dismissively, not understanding a word.
"Hey!" Wei Luo shouted again, then charged, stomping the ground as he rushed forward. But he stopped short. He was wary now, afraid Jiang Hai would simply toss him like the others. His expression was tense.
Jiang Hai chuckled.
It didn't matter how fiercely an ant postured. It was still an ant. No amount of fancy footwork would help against overwhelming power.
When Wei Luo reached in to strike, Jiang Hai grabbed his wrist, placed a hand at his waist, and effortlessly lifted the man into the air.
"Whoa!" gasped the crowd as Jiang Hai raised the massive Wei Luo over his head.
Wei Luo was stunned. He had no time to resist before Jiang Hai flung him forward like a sack of potatoes. He crashed into the ground with a heavy thud, dazed and unable to believe what had just happened.
"We won!" cried Patan's sister, jumping with joy.
Jiang Hai laughed at her enthusiasm, while Wei Luo lay flat on the ground—thoroughly humiliated.
"I declare the top warrior of this year's gathering is… our mysterious outsider, Jiang Hai!" the clan leader announced, grabbing Jiang Hai's hand and raising it high.
Cheers erupted from the crowd. Strength deserved respect, whether the victor was native or not—and Jiang Hai had proven his.
"You're amazing! You won!" The girl ran over, smiling brightly as she patted his arm.
She'd been worried at first, but he'd far exceeded her expectations.
"What are you so excited about? Don't forget you have to accompany him tonight," said Patan, walking up and giving his sister a meaningful look.
The girl froze. She'd forgotten about that.
"Uh, is something wrong?" Jiang Hai asked, a little confused by the shift in atmosphere.
"No… nothing…" she muttered, looking as if she'd just remembered something awkward she'd rather forget.
"Alright! We've eaten and drunk our fill. Time to wrap it up!" the clan leader announced, bringing the feast to an end.
As the people dispersed in small groups, Jiang Hai looked around, unsure of where he was supposed to sleep. He turned to the girl.
"Do I have a place to stay tonight? If not, I'll just sleep in the car," he said.
"Come with me," she replied, pursing her lips, then reluctantly led him to a small wooden cabin. She pushed open the door, and Jiang Hai followed her inside.
A faint, familiar fragrance wafted through the air. He'd smelled it before—Darlene and Marianne's rooms often carried the same scent.
This was unmistakably a girl's room.
She lit an oil lamp, casting a warm glow through the space. The sheets were pink, the room neat and cozy. There were no deer skulls or hunting trophies, just a comforting feminine warmth.
"This is my room," she said shyly. "You'll sleep here tonight."
"Oh? Then where will you sleep?" Jiang Hai asked, genuinely curious.
He wasn't flirting—he was simply being considerate. But the girl's face flushed red.
"I-I'll sleep here too. You're the First Warrior… Don't you know our custom? The First Warrior can… choose a woman…" Her voice trailed off into a whisper.
Jiang Hai blinked in surprise. Then he smiled.
"You're overthinking it. I only stepped in because I saw you were uncomfortable with that guy. I wasn't trying to take advantage. Really. I'll just sleep in the car."
"No, don't leave!" the girl suddenly grabbed his arm, looking anxious. "If you leave, everyone will laugh at me…"
Jiang Hai couldn't help but chuckle. "This is getting complicated. We barely know each other—it doesn't feel right for me to stay here."
The girl blushed even more but didn't respond.
"How about this: I'll stay, but I'll sleep on the floor. You take the bed," Jiang Hai offered, smiling wryly. So many strange things had been happening to him lately…
"…Alright," she murmured at last.
And yet, despite her relief, there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
A woman's heart—who could truly understand it?
(To be continued.)