Chapter 113: You Throw Rock, I Throw Cloth
"Is it a coincidence?"
Bang frowned, staring at King's expression.
"Ah... ah... King won a round?!"
Charanko stared dumbfounded at the matching card King held. He couldn't help but doubt King's skill at the game, for his master, after all, had played this game since he was young and was extremely proficient. Based on his predictions, his master would likely win the first few rounds. Only when King became familiar with the rules would the playing field gradually even out.
But he never expected King to snatch victory in only the second round. It was completely astonishing.
"Oh, there's still one more warm-up round. I'm not in a hurry."
King sat calmly, like a fisherman on a fishing platform, preparing with an air of composure. It seemed his luck hadn't diminished today; it was still very high!
"Charanko, prepare to read the next one."
Bang chuckled softly, for the first time fully immersing himself in the game. Hmph, he had to get serious now; he couldn't afford to lose face.
"Oh."
Charanko dropped the card in his hand and casually drew another one from the stack in the box. After reading the lyrics on the card, his mouth slightly gaped...
Whoosh!
King, without any hesitation, once again snatched the card first.
At the same time, Charanko's lyrics just barely left his mouth: "I don't want, I don't want, I don't want to grow up, hmm..." As soon as he finished, he stared dumbfounded at the card King held, which clearly read: "No more fairy tales after growing up."
Bang watched King with a serious expression. "How did you do that?" King could actually predict the lyrics on Charanko's card and make his choice beforehand. This way of playing the card game was simply beyond him. Oh, he preferred to accuse his opponent of cheating and being shameless.
King tossed the card aside and smiled, "Just good luck."
"Luck?"
Bang gave an undeniable smile. If it was a coincidence once, then multiple times meant it was inevitable. Luck, that kind of thing, couldn't show up again and again; it would run out eventually. He didn't believe King's luck could be that good, that he could "coincidentally" grab the corresponding card twice beforehand.
"How exactly did King know the content of the card in Charanko's hand, thus allowing him to anticipate his opponent's move?"
He furrowed his brows, lost in thought.
"Luck, King definitely just has good luck."
Charanko didn't believe King could become more familiar with the rules than Bang so quickly. It must have been good luck that allowed him to win two rounds.
He declared firmly, "If we keep playing, the winner will definitely be Master, because no one's luck can last forever."
"Oh, really?" King's mouth curved. "Then please wipe your eyes clean and watch carefully to see who, between your master and me, will be the ultimate victor!"
"Hmm, eyes?"
King's words struck Bang's mind like a bolt of lightning. His heart stirred. That's right, it was the eyes! A person's eyes were essentially like a mirror. When Charanko picked up a card to look at it, the content on the card would actually be reflected in his eyes. If someone had extremely focused attention and super-strong observational skills, they could read the card's content from Charanko's eyes.
However, this required superhuman observational skills and immense concentration to read the card's content from Charanko's eyes in a fleeting, split-second moment.
Of course, this was only theoretically possible. In principle, no one in the world possessed such peerless observational abilities. At the very least, he himself couldn't read the card's content from Charanko's eyes.
But he never expected King to actually accomplish it!
He gazed deeply at King. As expected of the strongest man on Earth, he harbored his own formidable strength.
"Hey, Silverfang, shall we continue?"
Seeing Bang remain silent, King deliberately asked.
"Oh, let's not play anymore. It's quite obvious, old man, that I've lost."
Bang secretly took a deep breath and said with a smile, "How about this? We have quite a few competitive games passed down in our dojo. Next, let's play a traditional sparring game passed down from ancient times."
"A traditional sparring game passed down from ancient times?" King's eyes lit up, greatly interested. "Bring it on! Anyway, when it comes to games, I've never lost." Hard power isn't enough; he also has soft power.
"Alright, I'll briefly introduce the rules." Bang explained solemnly, "First, the two opposing parties must decide who makes the first move. This is usually determined by 'rock, paper, scissors'. The winner then gains the right to use a weapon to hit the opponent."
"Uh, Silverfang, are you talking about... the 'Rock, Paper, Scissors, Head-Whack' game that kids often play?"
King looked helplessly at the extremely serious Bang. This description reminded him of a nursery rhyme from his previous life.
The weather today is excellent, the air is cool, and the sunlight is bright. It's perfect for playing games. You throw rock, I throw cloth; you throw scissors, I throw rock. It's normally a game of pure fun, but games always have winners and losers, and punishments too, to add to the excitement. If the winner can whack the loser's head, it's also a source of enjoyment.
In plain English.
"The weather today is not bad, so let's play 'Rock, Paper, Scissors, Head-Whack!'"
"This kind of competition can often be applied to martial arts training, practicing how to gain an advantage..."
Bang then went on and on, listing a heap of benefits of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'.
After listening to Bang's introduction, King even felt a little suspicious. Could "Rock, Paper, Scissors" be some long-lost martial arts secret technique, like Tai Chi?
"King, do you understand the rules?"
King's mouth twitched. Heh, who doesn't know how to play 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'?
"Alright, since you understand, Charanko, hurry and prepare the necessary tools."
"Okay, Master."
Charanko brought out a few items from the dojo's storage room: two small wooden hammers and a safety helmet. The game rules were as follows: the winner of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' could pick up a small wooden hammer and whack the opponent's head, while the loser could wear the safety helmet to defend against the attack. This competitive game primarily tested both parties' reaction speed, mental concentration, and hand speed.
"Let's begin!"
Bang and King's expressions instantly turned serious, bracing themselves for the challenge.
Both raised their right hands simultaneously, staring intently at each other, trying to overwhelm the opponent with their aura.
Suddenly, Bang spoke, "Old man, I usually like to throw 'rock' in 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'." Heh heh, King, if you think 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' is just a normal game, then you're dead wrong! 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' isn't just about the competition on the field; it's also about psychological warfare outside the field. If I say this, you'll probably suspect I'm trying to distract you, won't you?
Right now, your heart must be struggling intensely, repeatedly wondering if I'll actually throw 'rock'. Heh heh, that way, you'll fall into my trap. With your mindset unbalanced, you'll reveal a flaw, and then you'll definitely lose.
King seemed to ponder. *Oh, so the old man wants to throw 'rock'? Then I'll throw 'cloth'.*
You shouldn't overthink 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'; the outcome always depends on luck anyway.
"King..."
"Old man..."
Bang and King exchanged glances, their gazes clashing as if sparking fire.
"Make your move!"
They moved!
Both made their moves simultaneously!
"You whack, I wear! The Mallet-Head!"
"I throw rock!"
Bang's mouth curved. "Rock! That's right, I'm throwing rock, King! Did you guess correctly?"
"I throw cloth!"
King, as if it were obvious, spread his hand out to make "cloth." He looked at Bang's "rock" and thought, *The old man is truly honest. He said he'd throw rock, and he really threw rock.*
In comparison, he felt a slight pang of guilt.
*Hmm, next time, I'll return the favor and clearly tell him what I'm going to throw.*
(end of chapter)