Chapter 368: Chapter 368

Fat Chicken, having arrived in the United States, found itself struggling with the local environment. It had been excited about accompanying Jing Shu abroad to see the world and feast on gourmet food, but it hadn’t anticipated how different the United States would be. Chickens couldn’t just follow their owner and enjoy delicious food at will. After three days, its meals were still not as good as at home. What was even more critical for the chicken, its owner was unreliable, meaning it had to find its own food. For more chapters visıt 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝙣𝙚𝙩

Besides, Fat Chicken had become quite obsessed with hatching eggs these days and was rather indifferent about the competition Jing Shu wanted it to enter. Even the promise of extra chicken legs if it won couldn’t entice it to shake its tail feathers at the prospect.

"Actually, winning or losing doesn’t really matter..."

Fat Chicken immediately pricked up its ears to listen to Jing Shu—if chickens had ears, that is.

"It’s just that if you lose, your little life will be over. Sorry, Fat Chicken, I’ve signed you up for ten consecutive deathmatches. If you don’t win, you’ll end up being eaten by other animals. But if you win, you can eat all sorts of meats—this is your dream, right? You wanted to eat tiger meat? Crocodile meat? Leopard meat? As long as you win the competition, you can have it all, whether stewed, fried, or grilled."

Upon hearing this, Fat Chicken ruffled its feathers in alarm, flapping its wings and clucking chaotically, which earned a few looks of disdain from the surrounding competitors.

If Fat Chicken could talk, it would definitely be roaring, "Damn, you’re trying to trap me, trapping me indeed!"

Professional and amateur pets entered in various battles were quite common. Some were fierce creatures captured from the wild post-apocalypse, while others were cultivated by the nobles before the apocalypse.

The more famous and ferocious the pets, the more popular they were, and the public would bet on their victory. Lesser-known ones without a track record didn’t even secure a spot for a gambling duel.

Of course, there was another way: signing up for a series of ten consecutive deathmatches, a gamble where you either emerged a hero or died trying. This type of match was very popular in the Black Market, and Jing Shu had bet that Fat Chicken would be the champion of ten consecutive victories.

According to Black Market odds, winning the final round would yield profits equivalent to the entire Duel Arena working for you for a day—a substantial gain. Jing Shu knew that if one didn’t reveal their true strength, others would try to take advantage. But once that strength was shown, challenges would cease, much like how no one dared to challenge her today.

Right now, nobody knew about Fat Chicken, so no one would bet on it winning. But once its abilities were revealed, everyone would bet on its victory, and there wouldn’t be much profit left. That’s why she said there was only one chance.

As for the dangers they might encounter, she had considered them. Her confidence stemmed not from Fat Chicken, but from her own abilities. Having enhanced her practice with the Magic Cube during her days in the United States, and encountering many situations, had seemingly brought her to the brink of a breakthrough, increasing her own abilities further.

She was confident that Fat Chicken could defeat all other pets.

The ten consecutive deathmatches weren’t held daily. They were reserved for those with real strength or for rigging bets. Oh, it’s worth mentioning that the bet-rigging was generally done by Chinese businessmen.

They manipulated the odds using hype, shills, and other tactics, causing gamblers to place their bets on victories while they, the organizers, made a huge killing. The Black Market didn’t mind. Firstly, they were paid off, and secondly, they not only didn’t lose but also gathered a lot of capital—why would they intervene in such a profitable scenario?

It must be said, Chinese, no matter where in the world, managed to thrive very well.

Jing Shu, given priority with Fat Chicken, was led to the third area of the Duel Arena. The pets fought on a high platform that measured seventy to eighty square meters, enclosed by a cage to prevent the animals from escaping. The cage was speckled with rust and covered in various excrements, blood, and fur, and it emitted a foul smell.

"Ladies and gentlemen! At this thrilling moment, I announce the challenger for today’s ten consecutive deathmatches: a lady named Jing and her chicken! Hmm, an impressive fighting chicken! Hey, give us a wave!"

Little Black translated from behind.

Jing Shu gave a brief wave and nudged Fat Chicken, who was decked out in armor and lying on the ground, unwilling to make a sound.

The crowd murmured in disapproval, either skeptical or thinking that this was another rigged-bet scenario. From behind, Little Black said, "These people are betting 10 coins that it will be out in the first round. Others are betting 100 coins and saying they won’t be fooled this time."

Jing Shu’s lips curled up slightly.

"Hey, I remember this woman. Isn’t she the wizard everyone’s been buzzing about lately? Look, she’s brought her chicken to compete. Will she use witchcraft in the fight?" the man asked, gently caressing Pei Qi’s hand as his own explored upwards.

Pei Qi squinted her eyes in enjoyment. "That’s her, a very mysterious Chinese. If it’s her chicken, well, let’s check her bets... Oh, she’s bet on herself for a ten-win streak, staking 2,000 Black Market Coins."

"Darling, should we also bet on her then, if she really has the ability?"

Pei Qi simply closed her eyes, whispering faintly. After a moment, she spoke, "We can’t let her win. If she does, the Black Market will lose at least two hundred thousand. Go bet ten thousand that she wins nine times. Let’s be the ones to end her streak on the ninth. Oh my, let me calculate how much I can earn from this... As for witchcraft? She won’t be able to use it."

"Okay, let Miss Jing and her pet enter the arena! Let’s see who the first opponent is... Oh, it’s the hyena! Do you all remember it from last time? It was this hyena that defeated the leopard. Too bad it still carries some wounds, yet here it is competing again. Seems having a gambler as a master is a real headache!"

The crowd erupted into laughter.

"Those who want to bet can do so in the two minutes before each fight. Remember, the earlier you bet, the higher the odds!"

The audience below started shouting, hurriedly placing their bets.

"I’m betting all I own on this hyena! I was there that day. This hyena is terrifying!"

"Yeah, I also bet on the hyena to win. Even the mightiest chicken is just food for a hyena."

"HAHAHA, this chicken is just there to be a big meal for the hyena!"

Jing Shu let Fat Chicken go into the large cage on the platform first. The portly chicken waddled around, found a good spot, and lay down again, falling asleep soon after. Jing Shu, speechless, confirmed again, "Sir, my pet can bring equipment and weapons into the arena, right?"

The host laughed out loud. "It’s a fight to the death! In human fights, they all bring weapons. If you don’t mind, teach your chicken to shoot. That would definitely secure a ten-win streak—of course, provided it can hit its target. HAHAHA! But maybe you should wake your chicken first. It’s about to become someone else’s meal!"

Jing Shu smiled politely. "Ah, thank you for your reminder. I almost forgot." You might not know this, but my chicken isn’t like other chickens. Perhaps it really can shoot?

The betting for the match ended. The hyena, limping and chained, entered the large cage. It bared its teeth continuously, fiercely eyeing its target—it smelled a delicious and fragrant chicken!

This was its favorite kind of chicken!

The cage was locked with a CLANG! From now on, only the winner could leave it!