The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause, particularly the Su family, who were astonished that Lu Ming could achieve such an incredible feat single-handedly.
Defeating twenty-eight allied families consecutively and then knocking out Wen Song, the number one fighter in Wudu, with a single punch – what kind of strength was this?
It was terrifyingly strong!
As for those who had schemed in secret, they were all dumbfounded, rendered speechless by their current emotions, their astonishment no less than any other spectator.
Su Ru and Fan Xiaoyun, two formidable women, had both fallen to Lu Ming!
Only one person in the entire venue remained relatively calm: Jiang Mengxin.
From beginning to end, Jiang Mengxin had been certain that Lu Ming would win. Therefore, when Lu Ming truly defeated Wen Song and secured the championship, Jiang Mengxin did not exhibit the same level of excitement as others.
Everything seemed to be as it should be.
Amidst the crowd.
Fan Xiang, his face sallow, whispered, "Elder sister, what do we do now? It seems we're at Lu Ming's mercy. He's taken the championship, and the Su family will be riding over us from now on! How can this be?"
Fan Xiaoyun's expression turned cold. If even the foolish Fan Xiang understood this, how could she not?
Taking a deep breath.
Fan Xiaoyun touched her wrist and said, "It seems we have no choice but to execute Plan B."
Plan B?
Fan Xiang looked bewildered. "Elder sister, when did you prepare a Plan B? Tell me about it."
Fan Xiaoyun replied, "I've planted a mole by the Mayor's side. According to the annual custom, the Mayor will toast the winning fighter. Lu Ming will have no choice but to drink the wine offered by the Mayor. If I can tamper with the wine, Lu Ming won't be able to escape!"
Hearing this, Fan Xiang's face turned ashen with fear.
He grabbed Fan Xiaoyun's arm. "Elder sister, you plan to poison Lu Ming in public? No, that won't change the fact that the Su family won, and it will also pin the blame on the Mayor. That will bring immense trouble to our Fan family!"
Fan Xiaoyun rolled her eyes.
If even a fool like Fan Xiang could understand this, how could Fan Xiaoyun not?
She said, "Don't worry, I'm not that foolish. I won't be poisoning him, but I will give Lu Ming something special to consume."
Following that, the Mayor stood up and beckoned Lu Ming.
Lu Ming walked over.
Next, the Mayor's secretary brought over a bowl of wine. The Mayor took it, then handed it to Lu Ming, saying, "Young man, your skills are truly exceptional. Come, I'll toast you with a bowl of wine to congratulate your Su family on winning the championship!"
This was an annual tradition, and it was a toast from the Mayor himself; it would be improper not to drink.
Lu Ming took the bowl of wine. Just as he was about to drink, he detected a strange scent, and his brow furrowed.
This wine was not right!
He cast a sidelong glance at the Mayor, then at the people around him, and roughly understood.
It wasn't the Mayor who had tampered with it, but someone near the Mayor had done something to the wine.
Lu Ming chuckled inwardly, thinking, "To think you could deal with me with just a bowl of wine? How naive!"
In front of everyone, Lu Ming tilted his head back and drank the entire bowl in one gulp. He then wiped his mouth and praised, "Good wine!"
Good wine?
Seeing Lu Ming drink the wine, Fan Xiaoyun in the crowd was overjoyed.
She forced a smile and stepped forward, shouting, "Lu Ming, you are truly too arrogant!"
Huh?
Everyone turned to look at Fan Xiaoyun, not understanding her meaning.
The Mayor also asked, "Fan Xiaoyun, what do you mean by that?"
Fan Xiaoyun said with a serious expression, "Your Honor, I just received news that this Lu Ming has a problem! He took drugs before the competition, which is why he became so powerful."
This...
The Mayor looked at Lu Ming in disbelief.
The others felt the same: surprised and half-convinced.
"It makes sense, doesn't it? How could a normal person defeat twenty-eight allied families? Not to mention defeating Wen Song, the number one in Wudu. He probably did take drugs."
"This is a serious offense! Our Mayor hates drug use the most."
"If he's found to have used drugs, Lu Ming is finished, and the Su family will also be disgraced."
"The Su family wouldn't do something so foolish, would they?"
"It's hard to say. What if the Su family was too eager for success?"
The crowd buzzed with various speculations.
The Mayor remained relatively calm. He looked at Lu Ming and asked, "Lu Ming, tell me honestly, did you take drugs?"
Lu Ming smiled slightly and stated firmly, "No!"
The Mayor continued, "Lu Ming, don't lie. If you took drugs, confess to me and everyone now, and I can punish you leniently. But if you deny it and I find out you used drugs, I will not spare you!"
Lu Ming remained resolute, "I, Lu Ming, walk with my head held high and my feet planted firmly on the ground. I never take drugs."
"Good!" the Mayor declared, waving his hand. "Someone, conduct a physical examination on Lu Ming!"
"Wait!" Lu Ming roared.
All eyes turned to Lu Ming.
The Mayor asked, "What, do you have something else to say?"
Lu Ming nodded. "My innocence cannot be tarnished by others. Your Honor, Fan Xiaoyun is now accusing me of drug use, which is a great insult to my character! If the test comes back clean, then what?"
This...
The Mayor looked at Fan Xiaoyun and asked, "Fan Xiaoyun, you tell me, what will you do then?"
Fan Xiaoyun smirked inwardly.
The wine Lu Ming had just drunk contained the drug, and now Lu Ming's body would surely show issues during the examination.
Therefore, Fan Xiaoyun was not afraid at all.
She raised her head disdainfully. "If the test comes back clean, Lu Ming, I will do as you say."
Lu Ming nodded. "Good, then it's settled. If the test shows no problems, your Fan family will personally deliver the official commemorative plaque to our Su family!"
Fan Xiaoyun's face fell.
How could this be?
If the Fan family delivered the plaque to the Su family, wouldn't that be akin to kneeling and submitting to the Su family?
It would be utterly humiliating!
But then she thought, since Lu Ming wouldn't win anyway, what was there to fear?
Fan Xiaoyun confidently declared, "Lu Ming, you must have taken drugs, so I'm not afraid to make this bet with you! Lu Ming, as you said, if the test comes back clean, our Fan family will deliver the plaque to your Su family!"
Tsk, tsk, this was quite a gamble.
Lu Ming was satisfied. "Okay, Your Honor, please proceed with the examination."
"Mm."
The Mayor did not hesitate. He immediately had professional testing personnel come over to draw Lu Ming's blood for examination. The tests were very thorough, ensuring that they would ascertain whether Lu Ming had used drugs.
This concerned Wudu's image, and even more so, the rivalry between the Su and Fan families.
There could be no carelessness!
After about ten minutes, the results were out.