Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 169 Shooting yourself in the foot

Seeing that Yelü Wen didn't answer his question but only looked deep in thought, Wu Song became even more certain that the Jin people had stolen the blueprints for the Netherworld Ball. So he shouted loudly to Lin Chong in the distance, "Brother Lin, these Jin people have actually stolen the blueprints for the Netherworld Ball! Shuang'er was just injured by their Netherworld Ball! Come quickly and see!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chong quickly picked up the ghost ball from the ground. But the moment he touched the golden football ball, a small, gleaming silver blade flew past him. It seemed the Jin people had indeed used a ghost ball on the football field. He immediately went to Mohat and angrily questioned him, "You actually used a ghost ball to ambush the members of my Song Dynasty's women's football team today? Tell me, where did you get this ghost ball? Did you really steal the ghost ball exclusively developed by Ning Zhanyan of our dynasty?"

Mohart couldn't understand Lin Chong's words, but seeing him rush over and yell at him after touching the golden football, he figured it wasn't anything good. The interpreter quickly stepped forward to translate Lin Chong's words for Mohart. Mohart's eyes darted around, thinking that he had only discussed with Saharava about using today's football match as an opportunity to test out the newly made "ghost ball," and he hadn't expected the blueprints the man had sold him to be genuine. But how could he now deceive Lin Chong, Wu Song, and their group?

At this moment, Yelü Wen also rushed over and questioned Mohat and Saharawa in the Jin language. As an envoy of the Jin, he had no idea when they had stolen the blueprints for the Underworld Sphere and built it, and now they even wanted to use this opportunity to plot against his beloved woman. Yelü Wen spoke in a heavy tone and loud voice, clearly furious.

Seeing Yelü Wen speaking up for Du Rushuang, Sahara felt a pang of jealousy and quickly retorted, "Who said that golden cuju ball was a ghost ball? It was a cuju ball that our Coach Mohat made by taking the remains of a ghost ball a few days ago. It just has hidden blades inside. Why do you say that we stole the ghost ball that the Song people developed?"

When Yelü Wen saw that Saharawa spoke without blushing and in a calm tone, he wondered if he had misunderstood Mohat and Saharawa. He was sure he had! If Wu Song hadn't deliberately misled him earlier, how could he have mistaken this imitation football for a ghost ball? He was no longer Zhang Ruowen, the physician of Zixiang Pavilion; he was an envoy of the Jin Kingdom, and everything should be done in the interest of his country.

Thinking of this, Yelü Wen personally relayed Saharawa's words to Lin Chong, Du Shiniang, and the others. Du Shiniang's first reaction was that these Jin people were truly cunning; they stole someone else's craftsmanship for making the pyre and then claimed it was imitation—what was the difference between that and robbery? However, the blueprints for the pyre wouldn't have fallen into the hands of the Jin people for no reason. Could it be that Ning Zhanyan gave the blueprints to the Jin people? Or was there an inside thief in the Zixiang Pavilion who stole Lin Chong's pyre blueprints?

"Brother Lin, Du Shiniang, why aren't you saying anything? Do you really believe the nonsense these Jin people are spouting? What kind of thief would admit to being a thief? Yelü Wen and that Jin woman's words are not to be trusted." Wu Song looked at Lin Chong and Du Shiniang and loudly expressed his opinion.

Lin Chong didn't really believe it either, but how could he prove that the football made by the Jin dynasty was definitely a ghost ball? Unlike Wu Song, Lin Chong wasn't impulsive. He lowered his eyes and recalled the drawings of the ghost ball, trying to find unique identifying details, but...

Seeing Lin Chong staring blankly at the golden football on the ground, ignoring Wu Song's clamor, Du Shiniang figured Lin Chong must be thinking about how to prove that the golden football was indeed the ghost ball. She took Lin Chong's arm, and herself fell into deep thought.

"By the way! Back then, Chen Jinhuan played Cuju (ancient Chinese football) every day in Mingfu Cave, gambling with death row inmates. Why did she win every game without getting injured?" Du Shiniang thought for a moment, then suddenly shook Lin Chong's arm vigorously and asked him anxiously.

Lin Chong frowned and thought for a moment before remembering how to identify the Netherworld Ball: "It's the boots, isn't it? Madam Chen has boots specially made by Ning Zhanyan to deal with the Netherworld Ball's traps, so she never gets injured when kicking the Netherworld Ball and wins every bet."

“Yes! Yes. Brother Lin, I’ll have someone go to the room where Sister Chen stayed in Zixiang Pavilion right now and get those specially made Cuju boots for Shuang’er so she can continue her matches, how about that?” Du Shiniang suggested to Lin Chong. Lin Chong nodded slightly and told Du Rushuang and Wu Song about it. Upon hearing this, Wu Song volunteered to go back to Zixiang Pavilion to fetch the Cuju boots.

When Yelü Wen and Mohat heard that today's Cuju match would be suspended for an hour, supposedly to wait for Wu Song to return to Zixiang Pavilion to retrieve his Cuju boots, they found it a bit strange. However, Du Shiniang and Lin Chong had agreed not to reveal the secret of the Cuju boots to them yet, because today's match was meant to teach these Jin people a lesson and let them know how formidable Song women's Cuju was.

After Du Rushuang's wrist was bandaged and she rested for an hour, she put on the Cuju boots that Wu Song had given her. Because these boots were specially made for Chen Jinhuan, they were a little small for Du Rushuang, and her heels were chafed and sore.

"Shuang'er, aren't these boots a bit too small? You grew up in the Jin Kingdom and practiced horseback riding and martial arts since you were little, so your feet must be thick and calloused, unlike the delicate and small feet of Song Kingdom women. Take it easy later, and if it really comes down to it, just let that Jin woman win. Anyway, their victory today won't be honorable!" Wu Song half-squatted down to change Du Rushuang's boots, saying to her with a worried expression as he did so.

"Brother Wu, what are you nagging about? How could I, Du Rushuang, possibly lose? These boots are a bit tight, but I can handle them, don't worry!" Du Rushuang said to Wu Song with a confident tone. Wu Song knew that Du Rushuang was very competitive, so he didn't try to persuade her any further.

Hiding behind a tree trunk not far away, Yelü Wen saw Wu Song helping Du Rushuang change her Cuju boots, and the two even interacted intimately while changing the boots. He was so jealous that his eyes turned red. If Wu Song hadn't brought these boots, how would he have had the opportunity to fawn over Shuang'er? He also wondered why Wu Song had changed these boots to play Cuju with Hasalawa.

Just as Yelü Wen and Mohat were wondering what was going on, Du Rushuang had already changed into her Cuju boots. The game resumed, and Hasalawa stood in front of the Cuju goal, watching Du Rushuang struggling to walk in her heavy boots. She couldn't understand why this woman insisted on having Wu Song go back and fetch such boots for her. So she loudly mocked Du Rushuang, saying:

"Oh dear! I thought you'd changed into a pair of fairy shoes to play football with me, but it turns out you've changed into a pair of ugly and clumsy peasant boots for working in the fields. How funny!"

"You'll find out soon enough whether these boots are useful or not," Du Rushuang replied casually. Then she jumped around a few times in the boots and ran back and forth, trying to get used to the specially made Cuju boots as quickly as possible.

"Hurry up and play! Stop pretending here," Hasalawa urged, seeing that Du Rushuang was not playing the ball for a long time.

After a moment of adjustment, Du Rushuang forcefully kicked the golden football ball into the air. Sure enough, three more gleaming silver blades flew out from the ball. Du Rushuang raised her right foot and kicked the blades flying towards her to the edge of the football field. Without the blades, the football ball, for some reason, was drawn by the football boots and changed direction, heading straight for the left side of the goal.

Hasalawa didn't dare reach out to catch the football, because she didn't know how many blades were hidden inside the elixir. But she was clever enough to try and kick the football at a slight angle, preventing it from going into the goal. However, she still didn't dare to kick the football with force.

With a sharp "thud," the football landed steadily on the left corner of the goalpost. Du Rushuang had scored! Wu Song, Du Shiniang, and the others exclaimed, "Great shot!"

Khasalava refused to believe it; she thought Du Rushuang had only won by luck with that first kick. But Du Rushuang easily scored the second and third kicks. On the third kick, Khasalava, unwilling to admit defeat, mentally prepared herself before reaching out to catch the ball. Unfortunately, her palms were immediately cut by a razor blade, leaving long gashes and bleeding profusely.

She was in excruciating pain, her face pale, and she kept cursing Du Rushuang: "Cunning woman. She's not afraid of hidden weapons at all. Is there something wrong with her boots?"

“Brother Yelü, there’s definitely something wrong with Du Rushuang’s Cuju boots. Please take a look at them.”

"Ouch! My hand..."

This time she really shot herself in the foot; that woman deserved it. Du Rushuang couldn't help but think to herself as she listened to Hasalawa's screams.