Chapter 33: Prosperity Hinges on This Pair of Crutches!

Only one minute remained! Luo Gan summoned every last ounce of his strength, persisting on the field amidst all the doubts and uproar. The spectators feverishly consumed the spectacle before them, demanding that the players fight with everything they had, right to the very end.

Han Xiaozhi, his hands slick with oil, embraced Luo Gan to boost his spirits. Luo Gan was not deaf—his true adversary was no longer the armored team facing him, but himself. The Red Armor, seeing the score climb, immediately rallied; he tried to sneak his other foot onto the ground, only to be met with a fierce glare from the referee, forcing him to maintain his stance.

The ball lay at Luo Gan’s feet. Han Chong, bewildered, called out, “A Luo, if you can’t go on, come off! Don’t risk your health—if it comes to it, we can forfeit!”

Forfeit? How could he? Luo Gan’s mind was still fixed on those hundred gold coins, and on Miss Jun Tao in the loft, who might be watching him now. He must stand before her like a true warrior!

Luo Gan pulled himself together, sweat streaming down, forcing his body to relax, focusing his attention, and then moved. The referee rushed over to check on him, to see whether he could continue. Luo Gan nodded, and the referee signaled for play to resume.

Panting, Luo Gan stood before the ball. His foot accidentally brushed it, setting it in motion. Red Armor immediately disrupted Han Chong, while Grey Armor snatched the ball away!

Alarmed, Luo Gan sprang into action without a second thought. Yellow Armor and Grey Armor continued their tight coordination, this time passing the ball to Red Armor, who spun around, deftly avoiding Xiaozhi.

Xiaozhi flung his hands up. “Why am I just a bystander the whole match? We’re all adults—can’t you play a little more sensibly?”

Luo Gan gave Xiaozhi a playful smack on the back of the head. Seeing Luo Gan revived, Xiaozhi was overjoyed.

The match was electric. Grey Armor, seizing the momentum, drove the ball toward the “Wandering Eye” goal, on the verge of settling the match!

Han Chong threw caution to the wind and charged forward, but his foot slipped, sending him sprawling in front of the ball. Grey Armor did not halt his powerful kick!

In that split second, Han Chong hurled himself forward, shielding the ball with his body. A dull thud echoed as every heart in the stadium was gripped.

The ball did not go flying! Grey Armor’s explosive strike landed squarely on Han Chong’s abdomen, sending him tumbling three meters away. Xiaozhi howled for his brother, and Luo Gan was shaken to his core.

The ball rolled near him. Han Chong, writhing on the ground, kept his eyes locked on it, gritting his teeth through the pain as he crawled toward it.

Inspector Lu, Prince Song, and the Third Young Master stared in astonishment. Around Jun Tao, crowds pressed in. Even A-Ning, who had found the event dull, stepped out of her room and was left thunderstruck by the scene.

The Third Young Master exclaimed, “Sincerity and dedication can move mountains!”

Prince Song murmured, “Just how desperate for money must one be, to have such persistence?”

Yellow Armor dashed for the ball, but Luo Gan honored Han Chong’s faith, reaching it first and seizing control!

Xiaozhi supported him from the flank, tears still glistening on his face. Together, Luo Gan and Xiaozhi outmaneuvered Yellow Armor.

Red Armor, unwilling to fade into the background, lunged to make his presence felt. Luo Gan flicked the ball up and, with a deft spin, slipped past Red Armor’s charge.

Now, only Grey Armor stood before him.

Grey Armor called out, “Come on, let’s see what you’ve got!”

Luo Gan said nothing, his eyes blazing. His feet felt leaden, yet with victory so close, he could not give up. Grey Armor’s burly frame blocked the way, as immovable as a mountain. Luo Gan’s body swayed naturally, and his heel accidentally popped the ball into the air!

Grey Armor instinctively slid in for a tackle, but Luo Gan leaped, forming a graceful arc with the ball midair! With a twist of his heel, the ball curved around Grey Armor, bypassing the human barrier.

Landing first, Luo Gan caught the ball on his chest, leaving Grey Armor scrambling to rise in time.

A fluid, beautiful shot—the ball sliced through the “Wandering Eye” goal like a gust of wind!

For a moment, the arena fell silent. The referee blinked repeatedly, only reacting when the ball hit the ground.

“Goal! Three to two! Congratulations to the Gentlemen of the Bamboo Grove—the winners!”

Luo Gan stood in disbelief until the roar of the crowd crashed over him and he realized he had truly won.

Xiaozhi and Han Chong rushed to embrace Luo Gan, the three of them shouting with excitement.

“We won!” Han Chong cheered.

“Fantastic!” cried Xiaozhi.

“The money’s ours!” exclaimed Luo Gan.

The Armored Team gazed regretfully at the “Wandering Eye,” leaning on each other as they left the field to a wave of applause.

The Third Young Master dashed from the stands to hug Old Lin.

In the loft, Jun Tao was swept away by the match, while A-Ning’s eyes remained fixed on Han Chong’s desperate struggle.

Inspector Lu, thrilled, hugged the soldier beside him. The mysterious scholar, stunned by the spectacle, paused mid-writing, a smile on his lips.

Prince Song muttered to himself, no longer in low spirits, but wearing an air of contentment.

Streamers filled the sky as the three friends exchanged grins, helping one another down from the stage—only to slip on the oil Xiaozhi had spilled. The three toppled together, Luo Gan hastily wiping the oil from his clothes to destroy the evidence. Han Chong and Xiaozhi burst into laughter at the sight.

At last, the match had ended. It was time for the Parade of Beauties, and Minister Kuang took the stage at a leisurely pace.

“We have just witnessed an extraordinary match—was it not a spectacle?” he called.

The audience erupted: “Spectacular!”

“And now, for the next main event! The Parade of Beauties—prepare yourselves for our nation’s finest!”

Cheers broke out as the staff of the Wangqing Pavilion invited the Gentlemen of the Bamboo Grove to the VIP stands. Han Chong and Xiaozhi, never having mingled with officials and dignitaries, were nervous, but Luo Gan, used to meeting industry titans, took it all in stride.

The Third Young Master approached Luo Gan energetically and bowed. “Sir, your skill is astonishing—the match was superb!”

Luo Gan modestly replied, “You flatter me—it was all blind luck.”

Inspector Lu, nearby, drawled, “If that was blind luck, then with a little focus, our army could do away with bows and arrows.”

Luo Gan was at a loss for words at such an abrupt comment, and just as the awkwardness mounted, the clang of the copper gong signaled the start of the performance, rescuing him.

Women in robes of yellow, blue, purple, and green gathered from all sides of the stage, each holding ribbons or large fans, blossoming across the stage in a riot of color.

A lady in blue played the pipa with elegant fingers, evoking the wild grace of deer running free.

A maiden in green wielded a fan, sweeping it gracefully, evoking willows swaying in the spring breeze.

A woman in yellow, regal and full-figured, spun with her ribbons, blooming like golden chrysanthemums, radiant and resplendent.

Such a grand performance had not graced Anping County in years, no wonder it drew crowds from every direction. The audience cheered as one!

Amid the beauties, a woman in red stood out, holding a wooden zither and a peach-blossom fan. She leaned forward slightly, her other hand caressing the strings. Such silent beauty spoke louder than words, more eloquent than speech.

This was the figure who had captivated Luo Gan at first sight, and driven him to madness at the second.