Free Web NovelChapter 160: Chapter 160: Withdrawal
Asking Huo Xu for help was something Lu Sangjiu had been considering for a while. She just hadn’t known how influential he was, so she hadn’t dared to bring it up.
But now that she had learned of Huo Xu’s identity from Xiang Qian, Lu Sangjiu knew she had a chance. Since she had just acquired a flask of Moon Clear Wine, she decided to present it as a gift.
Lu Sangjiu’s ultimate goal for participating in the Sword Seizing Conference was to retrieve the Domination Map Blade. It would be best if she could do so discreetly, but if not... she feared it would cause quite a stir.
Duan Xingyun still hadn’t woken up, so she had no master to back her. On top of that, Bai Heng had a major problem with her.
Of the people present, Sword Bu Gui might have been grudgingly willing to side with her, but that was far from enough.
Therefore, she had to find another backer, and right now, Huo Xu seemed like a good candidate.
Lu Sangjiu spoke casually, making it sound like a simple matter.
But Huo Xu was no fool. If it were really that easy, would she be willing to part with a flask of Moon Clear Wine?
So he pressed her, "You say that, but are you planning to cause some trouble?"
"Don’t overestimate my influence. I can put in a good word for you here and there, but if you get into some major trouble, I can’t help you."
Lu Sangjiu immediately put on a wronged, innocent expression. "Senior, how can you say such a thing? I’ve always been well-behaved and sensible. The few times I was involved in trouble at Moon Viewing Tower, it was always others who provoked me. When have you ever seen me start trouble on my own?"
Huo Xu thought back, and it did seem to be true. However... ’Well-behaved and sensible?’
He gave Lu Sangjiu a disdainful look. "If you count as well-behaved and sensible, then there’s no such thing as a troublemaker!"
’He hadn’t forgotten overhearing her discussing selling someone to the mines with her senior sister. That was just plain vicious.’
Lu Sangjiu didn’t even blush at his words, simply continuing in a placating tone, "I’m just worried that Yi Ze and his master, Bai Heng, will look for an opportunity to give me trouble."
"This is the Gold and Silver Gate’s home turf, after all. And Senior, you’re backed by a Body Integration Realm Supreme Elder. If the time comes, it wouldn’t be too much trouble for you to help ensure I’m treated fairly, right?"
Huo Xu mulled it over for a moment before answering cautiously, "I can only promise that if you’re treated unfairly, I will help you. But if you’re the one in the wrong, don’t expect me to speak up for you."
"Deal!"
Lu Sangjiu immediately nodded and eagerly shoved the flask of Moon Clear Wine into Huo Xu’s hands.
"Then it’s settled! Enjoy the wine, Senior. I’ll leave you to it!"
Watching Lu Sangjiu scurry away, Huo Xu furrowed his brow. ’Tsk... why do I feel like I just got tricked?’
He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly took out a turtle shell and muttered, "This won’t do. I’d better do a divination for her first!"
He couldn’t perform a divination on himself, so he could only focus on Lu Sangjiu to gauge whether he was about to get himself into trouble.
But when he tried to divine Lu Sangjiu’s fortune for the coming month, he was stunned to find... he couldn’t get a reading!
Not only could he not get a reading, but the turtle shell that had been with him for so long suddenly cracked.
Huo Xu was dumbfounded. "This... just who in the world is she?"
The only people whose fortunes he couldn’t read were either Great Powers with exceedingly high cultivation or those without a set destiny.
It is said that one’s destiny is set by the heavens. If someone were to stray from the path of that heavenly fate, their destiny would become their own to determine. In that case, only they would know their own future.
After a long moment, Huo Xu couldn’t help but murmur to himself, "This girl... she’s truly full of surprises."
This, however, only made him all the more interested in Lu Sangjiu.
He glanced at the Moon Clear Wine in his hand and hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he decided not to return it.
"Those who can defy the heavens and change their own fate are always worthy of admiration. You don’t meet many people like that in a lifetime... If I can lend a hand, I suppose I should."
With a sigh, Huo Xu tilted his head back and took a long swig. "It really is Moon Clear Wine... What fine wine!"
Meanwhile, when Lu Sangjiu returned to the private room, everyone was in high spirits, drinking to their hearts’ content.
When she turned and saw that Lu Sangjiu was the only one who came back, Luo Linlang couldn’t help but ask, "Where’s that monk?"
"He left."
Lu Sangjiu waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t worry about him. Let’s keep drinking."
Her tone was nonchalant, but Luo Linlang had a feeling she might actually be a little angry. So, she didn’t press the issue and just laughed to change the subject.
At that moment, Yan Zui, her eyes hazy with drink, reached out, hooked an arm around Lu Sangjiu’s neck, and pulled her close.
"Look, you’re named after wine, and I’m named after being drunk. We’re clearly destined to be together!"
"Are you sure you won’t consider coming back with me to the Joyful Union Sect? It would be great to have you as my Little Junior Sister!"
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
’She’s really had a lot to drink.’
Just as she was about to speak, Luo Linlang cut in, glaring. "You dare try to poach my Little Junior Sister right in front of me? Are you looking for a fight?!"
Yan Zui raised an eyebrow. "Losing your confidence, Luo Dao You? Afraid Little Jiu will choose me to be her senior sister instead?"
Luo Linlang immediately bristled. "Why is everyone so quick to call my Little Junior Sister ’Little Jiu’ so affectionately? I haven’t even called her that yet!"
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
’So, I can even make women fight over me now? Have I gotten a little *too* good at being a "green tea"?’
Of course, joining the Joyful Union Sect was out of the question. Lu Sangjiu had to politely decline Yan Zui’s offer and then placate Luo Linlang with a few words before the two of them finally quieted down.
Yan Zui was a little disappointed but didn’t press the matter. She simply stood up and said, "It was wonderful meeting new friends today, and I thoroughly enjoyed the wine. However, I have other matters to attend to tomorrow, so I can’t stay."
"Fellow Daoists, if you ever have the chance to visit the Joyful Union Sect’s territory in the future, be sure to contact me!"
After exchanging Communication Talismans with everyone, Yan Zui took her leave.
The others continued drinking late into the night before finally going their separate ways.
The next day, both Lu Sangjiu and Luo Linlang slept until noon. By the time they got ready and made their way to the tournament grounds, the first round of matches was already drawing to a close.
As evening approached and the final match concluded, a representative from the Gold and Silver Gate announced the rules for the next day’s king-of-the-hill matches.
To put it simply, the winners from the first round would take turns defending the stage, while those who had been eliminated would have a chance to challenge them.
If a challenger was successful, they would take the defender’s spot and continue defending the stage. Once someone successfully defended their spot five times, they would automatically advance to the next round.
However, each person only had one opportunity to issue a challenge. Failure meant they were permanently eliminated from the Sword Seizing Conference.
The previous round was a test of luck; this one was a true test of strength.
Of course, Lu Sangjiu wasn’t worried about herself. Instead, she was a little concerned about Gu Jue.
’He was injured yesterday, I wonder how he’s doing. Will his performance in the matches tomorrow be affected?’
After a moment’s hesitation, she decided against asking. ’Even if his injury is a problem, there’s nothing I can do to help. I’ll find out what happens tomorrow anyway.’
But what Lu Sangjiu hadn’t expected was to hear news the very next day that Gu Jue had withdrawn from the competition.
Luo Linlang, who was over at the Golden Core Stage tournament grounds, was the one who told her via Communication Talisman. "Gu Jue didn’t even show up," the message read. "It was Sword Master Bu Gui who announced his withdrawal. Do you have any idea what happened?"
