When the green-clothed Young Incense Master laid down the challenge, everyone on both sides turned their gaze towards Sun Niuzi.

The surroundings were silent, the only sound coming from the flames licking the kettle.

Sun Niuzi watched for a moment and seemed to have steeled himself. Tense and anxious earlier, he now appeared resigned to his fate, looking even more composed than before.

He waited a long time without speaking. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, he suddenly looked at the green-clothed Young Incense Master and said, "The water won't boil. It's because your fire is no good. I'm still waiting for tea; let me help you blow on it..."

With that, he actually stuck his head out toward the stove with its rising flames, puffed his cheeks, and began to blow.

At first, his blowing only made the flames flicker slightly, without any real effect.

Even the green-clothed Young Incense Master wore a faint, mocking smile, thinking, This fire is already strong enough—what difference could more blowing make?

Even if bellows were rigged up and pumped vigorously, the stove fire wouldn't burn any hotter.

However, his mocking façade lasted only a moment before his expression subtly changed. Sun Niuzi seemed to have become entranced, blowing rhythmically into the stove, one breath after another.

The rhythm was strangely unsettling. If one tried to match his breathing, they would find he took short, quick inhales followed by long, drawn-out exhales toward the stove.

Overall, he was exhaling far more than he was inhaling—enough to nearly suffocate an ordinary person.

Yet Sun Niuzi showed no signs of suffocation. Instead, the more he blew, the more energetic he became, as if his body housed a set of bellows. As he continuously blew into the stove fire, some in the audience had a fleeting vision: it was as if another Sun Niuzi was crawling out of his mouth and into the stove.

Blowing and crawling into the stove bit by bit, this other figure eventually merged with the flames. The fire turned a strange white, burning with increasing ferocity.

At this stage, the green-clothed Young Incense Master understood something. His pupils contracted sharply as he watched Sun Niuzi intently, as if trying to uncover some secret.

In the deathly silence, the stove fire grew more intense. Moments later, with a sudden WHOOSH, steam spewed from the kettle's spout. The water had boiled.

Sun Niuzi immediately let out a sigh of relief and sat back down. His face was a ghastly, eerie green, but he seemed unaware, his gaze somewhat unfocused as he looked across at the green-clothed Young Incense Master.

Hu Ma, watching from the audience, was astonished. Did he use his own stove fire to break the other party's magic? he wondered.

"No."

Manager Xu slowly shook his head, whispering, "This is a more brilliant method, one decided by the two venerable Protectors. Sigh, our Red Lantern Society had no other choice; someone had to step up..."

Figuring Manager Xu knew the details, Hu Ma wasn't in a hurry to ask. Onstage, seeing the water boil, the green-clothed Young Incense Master's expression changed subtly. Yet he forced a calm demeanor and managed to squeeze out a smile.

Perhaps having my magic broken isn't the real issue, he thought. It's not being able to see how the opponent broke my magic that's more troubling.

Although panicked internally, he still had to rise. He poured hot water over the tea and presented it with both hands to Sun Niuzi.

"Brother, your skills are impressive. Please, have some!"

Offering the tea signified an admission of defeat; now it was the other's turn to issue a challenge.

However, Sun Niuzi didn't even look at him. His expression seemed even more dazed than when he had first stepped onto the stage. The fear in his expression had vanished, and he merely said mechanically, "Drinking tea is dull."

"The night air is chilly. How about I treat you to a hot bath, brother?"

The green-clothed Young Incense Master's face suddenly changed at these words, his voice somewhat unsteady. "How... how to bathe?"

Sun Niuzi didn't answer, just turned his head. On the Red Lantern Society's side, two Red Fragrance Disciples were carrying up a large cauldron with both hands.

The cauldron resembled a bathtub and was filled to the brim with oil that had been heated from below.

They carried it up and, using the green-clothed Young Incense Master's stove, placed the large cauldron of oil directly onto it. The oil rapidly heated up again, bubbles forming on its surface.

Seeing this large cauldron of oil, a stir went not only through the Red Lantern Society but also through the Green Clothes Gang members.

Just yesterday, they themselves had won a round using a cauldron of oil. They hadn't expected the Red Lantern Society to bring out such a large one today as well.

Moreover, this cauldron was even larger than the one the Green Clothes Gang had used yesterday, and the oil was heated to an even higher temperature.

"Since they used that method, we are bound to win this round," Manager Xu whispered. "However, our Lady is... particular. She insists that where we lost a round, we must win it back there."

Did he mean to imply the Lady bears grudges? Hu Ma thought. How could this be called bearing grudges? This... this could at most be seen as petty!

Onstage, the green-clothed Young Incense Master stared hard at the oil cauldron, overwhelmed with anxiety.

The two sides had been engaged in magical duels for ten days. Yesterday's round, however, had stood out as the most perilous and terrifying, leaving a deep psychological scar on everyone from both gangs.

Today, he had intended to showcase his skills, but he hadn't expected the Red Lantern Society to bring out the oil cauldron again.

Could it be that this foolish-looking fellow also wants to compete with me in ruthlessness? he wondered.

As he pondered, he saw Sun Niuzi already standing. Staring at the hot oil with evident trepidation, Sun Niuzi looked towards the audience, seeking help with his gaze. He only saw Incense Master Zheng standing under the eaves. Zheng slowly waved at him, then covered his face and retreated into the house.

Sun Niuzi fell into despair. He suddenly tore off his own clothes with a single motion, revealing his gaunt back.

He said to the green-clothed Young Incense Master, "That's about right. I'll go in first. You come too!"

With that, he actually lifted his foot and stepped directly into the cauldron of oil.

A loud SIZZLE erupted from the oil cauldron, causing everyone on both sides to cover their eyes, unable to look.

But after a while, they couldn't resist looking again. They found Sun Niuzi lying in the oil cauldron, continuously scooping up the hot oil and splashing it over his own body.

With a strange smile on his face, he said nothing. He merely beckoned to the green-clothed Young Incense Master, who stood stunned nearby, as if waiting for him to enter as well.

The green-clothed Young Incense Master stared, lost in thought. He could feel the countless eyes of the Green Clothes Gang members behind him, watching him.

But he finally steeled himself, managed a wooden smile, and said, "No... no need, brother. You win."

Hearing these words, a sudden roar of cheers erupted from the Red Lantern Society side.

The members of the Green Clothes Gang, however, all looked ashen-faced but could not utter a word.

Just yesterday, they had won a round after the other side initiated the challenge. They hadn't expected to lose it back in just one day.

Yesterday's victory had relied on a ruthless member of their gang who had risked crippling injury to win that round. But today, they had encountered someone even more ruthless.

But it wasn't just ruthlessness; didn't this unremarkable-looking person also possess great skills?

Could he already be a Shousui man who has entered the Mansion Gate?

Down below, Hu Ma continued to observe, finding it increasingly strange. He knew Sun Niuzi definitely didn't have this kind of ability.

If he were forced and acted out of desperation, it wasn't impossible for him to jump into the oil cauldron. But once in, he would have died.

Yet now, seeing him apparently bathing in the oil cauldron, still moving, the strange smile on his face exuded an uncanny, scalp-numbing eeriness.

At this moment, as if in response, a soft chuckle seemed to echo as the Red Lantern hanging on one side of the dueling ring emitted an eerie red glow.

Vaguely, a soft chuckle seemed to echo in everyone's ears. Then the lantern dimmed, as if the Red Lantern Lady had departed.

From the other side, a faint, cold snort was heard, and then the chilling aura dissipated.

Only then did everyone hurriedly rise. Some wanted to go up and help pull Sun Niuzi out, but he stood up on his own.

His body was already fried beyond recognition, yet he walked mechanically.

As he walked, pieces of his flesh kept falling off, scattering on the ground. By the time he walked down from the stage, he was fumbling his way directly towards Incense Master Zheng's room.

Upon approaching, he suddenly called out, "Brother-in-law."

It would have been better if he hadn't spoken; the moment he did, his jaw detached, and a black pearl rolled out.

At this call, Great Incense Master Zheng rushed out from the house. Just then, Sun Niuzi's body pitched forward and collapsed. Zheng lunged and caught him, but Sun Niuzi's body was already fried crisp and brittle. The force of the embrace caused his body to fold in half.

"Niuzi..."

A choked sob escaped his throat, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

Heedless of the many people watching, he began to weep uncontrollably. After a long time, he finally came to his senses. He took off his outer robe, carefully gathered Sun Niuzi's bones and remains into it, and bundled them up.

Then, he retraced Sun Niuzi's path, picking up every piece of flesh that had just fallen from him.

Once he had gathered it all, his head suddenly snapped around, and he glared viciously at Hu Ma.

Meeting that ferocious gaze, which seemed to want to pick someone out and devour them, Hu Ma sighed inwardly. He met the cold stare head-on and said boldly, "Incense Master Zheng, congratulations on your great accomplishment!"

Great Incense Master Zheng was already on the verge of an explosive rage. Hearing Hu Ma's ambiguously toned words, his eyes looked as if they were about to bleed.

Everyone around was astonished, bracing themselves, fearing he might suddenly leap up and attack someone.

But after a long moment, Great Incense Master Zheng did not make a move. He merely wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve.

When his sleeve fell, a strange smile also appeared on his face. He nodded to Hu Ma and said, "Good."

"Very good!"

Having said his piece, he tied up the robe containing Sun Niuzi's remains, pushed through the crowd, and left directly.

This is a blood feud now... Hu Ma sighed softly to himself. If I had a choice, I would never have formed such a deep hatred with anyone. But the feud is already established, so why hold back any longer? Sun Niuzi's end was horrific, certainly. But if I hadn't had the Reincarnator's secret help, wouldn't I be the one who jumped into that cauldron of oil?

He waved away Manager Xu's attempts to console him. He saw that the two Protectors were already leaving with the lantern, and the people on both sides of the dueling ring had also dispersed.

He, however, remained seated in his chair for a moment. Then, he took three sticks of incense from his robe, walked to the front of the dueling ring, lit them, and gently planted them there. Silently, he said, If you harbor any grievances in your heart, don't come looking for me. In this world, everyone has grievances. And I really don't want to have to kill you a second time...