The Boy Riding a Bamboo Horse, Green Plum Brewing Wine (Part Five)

Beanie was determined to find Aaron Shore and challenge him to another fight, just to prove once and for all that he was the "number one expert" and wash away the humiliation of his last crushing defeat. Likewise...

Aaron Shore wanted nothing more than to beat Beanie senseless and vent the fury he'd bottled up since being whipped last time—but not now. Not yet.

Unlike Beanie, who was hopelessly naive, Aaron Shore knew exactly how he was doing right now. He was in no shape to take Beanie on; if they actually fought, he’d lose for sure.

Not that losing would earn him another punishment, but Aaron hated losing—especially to this clueless idiot, right in front of his face.

“I’m injured. If you want to fight me, go ahead and fight,” Aaron said, deliberately trailing off mid-sentence—he knew Beanie was just dumb enough to take the bait. Sure enough, Beanie piped up immediately, “Go ahead and what?”

“Just that, under these circumstances, what’s the point if you beat me? You’d only be taking advantage of someone who’s hurt.” Aaron looked at Beanie with icy calm. He didn’t know what went on in that empty head, but he was sure Beanie would follow whatever he said to the letter...

Beanie didn’t disappoint—he stared at Aaron, face twisted in frustration. “So what do you think we should do?”

It wasn’t about beating Aaron for Beanie; he wanted a fair fight—a real contest of strength—so he could defeat Aaron properly. He had no interest in taking advantage of someone who was down.

Beanie, proud as ever, insisted he was a real man—a man who wanted a fair duel!

If Aaron Shore knew what Beanie was thinking, he’d probably give a cold, dismissive laugh: an assassin wanting a fair fight? What an idiot.