Chapter 135: Evil Retribution
Cuju has always been divided into civil and martial aspects.
Martial cuju often involves using underhanded tactics.
Having been involved for so many years, Song Xiang naturally understood the tricks of the trade.
Without boasting, he could break a person’s spine with a single kick, or when shooting the ball, make it hit someone, causing them to spit blood at best, or faint at worst.
For a child like Gong Changan, a single kick of the ball could rupture his spleen.
At the time, nothing would seem apparent, only a bit of pain.
But after three to five days, the person would be useless.
It would be like a plant whose roots were damaged; it wouldn’t die immediately, but would slowly wither.
Song Xiang had made up his mind to take Gong Changan’s life on the cuju field.
Both sides took to the field and assumed their stances. With a whistle, the match began.
Gong Changan and a few other children rode on the shoulders of the Kunlun slaves, directing them to advance, retreat, dodge, and weave.
The two sides vied for the ball, a truly exciting spectacle.
After a quarter of an hour, Song Xiang’s side scored first, but less than fifteen minutes later, Gong Changan, coordinating with his young brothers, also scored a goal.
Song Xiang then gave his teammates a look, and during the subsequent struggle for the ball, they deliberately targeted the Kunlun slaves’ shins and ribs.
They intended to cripple these men, thereby ensuring their own victory.
The Kunlun slaves had never encountered such dirty tricks, and were initially somewhat flustered.
“Hold steady, don’t panic!” Gong Changan said. “Whoever has the ball, the others help block, and let him score!”
Song Xiang was also eager to snatch the ball; he didn’t want to score, but rather to use the ball to hit Gong Changan.
Gong Changan naturally saw through his intentions and leaned low on the Kunlun slave, preventing him from finding an opportunity.
“Changan, these people are playing too dirty!” Xu Mang shouted to Gong Changan. “My Kunlun slave’s leg is already limping.”
Gong Changan moved closer to him and said, “Since that’s the case, let’s not rush to play ball. Let’s take down a few people first.”
“See the one with the red headscarf?” Xu Mang panted. “He’s the most vicious.”
“Then let’s cripple him first,” Gong Changan smiled. “It should serve as a warning to others.”
That person was Song Xiang.
During this time, Gong Changan’s Kunlun slave scored another goal.
Song Xiang and his team grew even more anxious, all regarding Gong Changan as a thorn in their side.
“Listen to me, the three of us will charge together in a moment,” Song Xiang said to the other two. “I’ll pretend to fall and slide in to trip that Kunlun slave, and you two will step on his leg and break it.”
On the cuju field, falls and collisions were inevitable, and injuries were common.
As long as it wasn’t too obvious, others couldn’t say much.
Immediately, the ball was snatched by Gong Changan’s Kunlun slave again. He ran forward with the ball, and everyone naturally chased after them.
Song Xiang suddenly charged forward, sliding in from the side. He intended to trip the Kunlun slave, seize the ball in the process, and then pretend to accidentally kick Gong Changan.
After all, if the Kunlun slave fell, Gong Changan would also fall from his back.
With the cooperation of the others, the scene would surely descend into chaos. Who would be able to pay attention to whom then?
Gong Changan saw through Song Xiang’s intentions. Just as he was about to kick the Kunlun slave’s leg, he whispered in the Kunlun slave’s ear, “Kneel!”
The Kunlun slave didn’t understand the meaning, but he was accustomed to obeying Gong Changan’s orders, so he immediately knelt down.
However, to everyone else, it appeared as if Song Xiang had tackled the Kunlun slave, and they couldn’t tell that the Kunlun slave had knelt down on his own.
The body weighing over three hundred catties slammed onto Song Xiang’s leg, the sound of bone cracking chillingly clear.
Song Xiang didn’t feel pain at first. He just looked in surprise at Gong Changan, who was still steadily perched on the Kunlun slave’s shoulder.
Gong Changan smiled at him, like a triumphant little fox.
“Aow…” The pain surged like a tidal wave, and Song Xiang cried out in agony.
His leg was ruined.
Amidst his screams, Gong Changan murmured softly, “You wanted to take my life? But you don’t know who is the cicada and who is the oriole. You made my mother fall gravely ill, and I will have my revenge!”
“Guards! Carry Song Xiang away and fetch a doctor,” Prince Zhao waved his hand. “Replace him with another player, and continue the match. Don’t spoil everyone’s fun!”
Song Xiang was carried away like a dead dog, while the match on the field continued.
Gong Changan’s intention this time was revenge, so he deliberately held back, allowing Prince Zhao’s team to win.
In fact, this was only reasonable. If they had truly defeated Prince Zhao’s men, wouldn’t that cause the Prince to lose face?
However, although they lost, they also showed Prince Zhao their strength, so it wasn’t a complete loss of dignity.
“Excellent, excellent. I haven’t seen such an exciting match in a long time,” Prince Zhao said happily. “Thank you, Duke Qiao.”
“Since Your Highness enjoys it, then please keep these Kunlun slaves. They can entertain you in the future, consider it a birthday gift from me,” Duke Qiao said smoothly.
“Heh heh, Duke, you are so thoughtful. I naturally cannot refuse. Thank you very much.” Prince Zhao truly loved cuju, and Duke Qiao’s birthday gift was exactly what he wanted.
“Young masters, all of you come forward. I have another gift for you,” Prince Zhao said with a smile. “Although I cannot give you that Southern Jewel Pagoda, you can choose anything else.”
Prince Zhao pointed to the pavilion where the valuable items were placed and said, “Go and choose!”
When it was time for the banquet, Gong Changan and the other children sat at one table.
Everyone was hungry but also extremely excited, eating and talking.
At the banquet, everyone was clinking glasses and laughing heartily.
No one remembered the unlucky Song Xiang, nor did anyone even ask about his injury.
At this moment, Song Xiang lay in an empty room in Prince Zhao’s back courtyard, writhing in pain.
His right hip and thigh were broken into several pieces, the pain causing him to faint several times before waking up.
The doctor fixed his broken leg with splints and instructed, “You absolutely must not move around. You’ll need to rest for a full hundred days before you can get out of bed.”
“Doctor… my leg… will it heal?” Song Xiang asked, gasping in pain.
“Alas, your leg is too severely injured,” the doctor shook his head. “Even if you can walk in the end, you’ll be lame.”
“No, Doctor, my leg cannot be ruined. I still need to support my family with it!” Song Xiang panicked. “Please, find another way to treat me!”
“It’s no use,” the doctor sighed. “You’re already this old. I cannot lie to you. Give up hope! You’ve served His Highness for so many years, he won’t treat you unfairly. He will surely make proper arrangements for you. Just rest well for now and don’t think about these things.”
“No, my leg cannot be ruined, it’s different.” Song Xiang was beside himself.
Of course, Prince Zhao wouldn’t abandon him after his injury, but that would only mean receiving a sum of silver to be settled elsewhere.
From then on, he would be discarded like a cripple, no longer receiving Prince Zhao’s favor.
How could he be willing to accept this?
