Chapter 919: Do I Need You to Remind Me I'm a Man?

Even the Zijin Cave Elders Qian Fucheng met while discussing other business would offer him a few kindly meant words of consolation: forget it; Kunlin Shu was no match for Niu Youdao ten years ago, much less now; don't end up making Tianhuo Sect lose face over this, and so on.

Naturally, Qian Fucheng defended Tianhuo Sect verbally. Not being a match ten years ago did not mean Kunlin Shu was still no match ten years later.

The other side would answer with a chuckle and let it drop, the amusement in that laugh unmistakable.

Some were even more direct, openly elevating their own Zijin Cave while belittling Tianhuo Sect. It was only natural for one's own people to speak for one's own side.

Others simply mocked them outright. They said it plainly: was Tianhuo Sect sick in the head? It had actually sent an ordinary disciple to challenge an Elder of Zijin Cave. What did they take Zijin Cave for? If Tianhuo Sect was going to show no courtesy, neither did Zijin Cave need to. Such words were thrown straight in their faces without the slightest consideration for feelings: the disciples of Tianhuo Sect simply were not good enough!

Qian Fucheng heard every sort of strange remark. This had gone far beyond merely losing face. He was choking on frustration, yet he had no proof he could throw back at them. Kunlin Shu really had lost to Niu Youdao back then, and had nearly been beaten to death.

By now, Qian Fucheng genuinely wanted Kunlin Shu and Niu Youdao to fight another match. But Niu Youdao's condition was too harsh. He wanted Kunlin Shu and Fire Phoenix to leave Tianhuo Sect and become his slaves. This was no small matter, and Qian Fucheng had absolutely no authority to decide it.

Kunlin Shu had, in particular, succeeded in cultivating the Heavenly Fire Limitless Art. Even if he had only reached an initial level, that alone was enough to prove that in the present-day Tianhuo Sect, no one understood the Heavenly Fire Limitless Art better than Kunlin Shu. He knew the sect's supreme secret art. How could they let him defect to someone else? Even if Kunlin Shu could win, Qian Fucheng still had no authority to gamble on something involving this.

And so Qian Fucheng regretted it bitterly. He should never have brought Kunlin Shu here only to invite humiliation.

He did not even know what had possessed him at the time. Of all the Elders who could have come, why had he been the one to jump out and take this on himself?

Of course, given his own responsibilities, he had been a suitable person to come here and had a ready excuse for making the trip.

Whatever the reason, the constant mockery had left him thoroughly stifled.

"Heh, that fellow? Ten years ago Elder Niu beat him like a dead dog. Now he still doesn't know his own limits and has come here to humiliate himself again."

"What do you know? He knows Elder Niu won't accept his challenge. He's only here to put on a show. Then he can go back and say Elder Niu was too afraid to accept."

"Oh, so he wants to recover the face he lost back then? What a petty man. Does he have no shame at all...?"

Kunlin Shu had just reached a moon gate when his steps stopped. He listened to the Zijin Cave disciples sweeping on the other side of the wall discussing him. His jaw tightened, his fists clenched, and his fingernails nearly dug into the flesh of his palms. His face looked terrible.

Fire Phoenix, walking beside him, was miserable as well. Her expression was no better. She caught her Senior Brother by the arm and shook her head, hoping he would endure it.

And it was not merely the voices behind this particular wall. Wherever the two went in Zijin Cave, people pointed behind their backs and stabbed at her Senior Brother's spine with every kind of ridicule. Even Zijin Cave disciples who carried things into their room would whisper and laugh among themselves after coming back out.

She knew her Senior Brother felt even worse. He was a proud man with a lofty spirit. The outward arrogance he once displayed had been worn away after his crushing defeat, but the pride in his bones remained. How could he bear humiliation like this?

Fire Phoenix pulled hard on his arm and dragged him away from the moon gate. She led him along another path, avoiding the chattering voices.

When they returned to the guest courtyard, they found Elder Qian sitting in the hall with a taut expression. As the two bowed and were about to withdraw, Kunlin Shu finally could not hold back. "Elder, do you also believe that even now I am still no match for Niu Youdao?"

The moment Fire Phoenix heard this, half her heart went cold.

Qian Fucheng lifted his tea and slowly sipped for a while. Only after setting the cup down did he say heavily, "You succeeded in cultivating the Heavenly Fire Limitless Art. How could you possibly still be no match for him?"

Kunlin Shu asked with difficulty, "Then why won't Elder allow this disciple to challenge him?"

Qian Fucheng's face remained dark. "It isn't that I won't let you challenge him. I also want you to wash away your old disgrace. I also want you to erase the shame brought upon the sect. But you heard the conditions he set. If I agree to something like that, how am I supposed to answer to the sect when we return?"

He raised a hand and pointed at Fire Phoenix. "He wants your Junior Sister, your wife, as his slave. Can you agree to a condition like that? Can you afford that humiliation?"

Kunlin Shu said in grief and anger, "Of course I cannot agree. I would rather die than agree! But Elder, we can speak with him again. One man should answer for his own deeds. There is no need to drag Junior Sister into this. As long as Junior Sister is not involved, any other condition can be discussed."

Hearing her Senior Brother say he would rather die than let her suffer such humiliation, Fire Phoenix felt deeply comforted. She smiled, and tears came to her eyes. With those words from her Senior Brother, it was enough.

Qian Fucheng said, "Any other condition can be discussed? Kunlin Shu, have you gone mad?"

Kunlin Shu replied, "Elder, this disciple is going to Sacred Realm. Whether I can return alive is still unknown. If I die in Sacred Realm, then even if I had promised to become his slave, he would never get what he wanted. But that isn't important. This disciple is confident I can defeat him. Once I win, every condition disappears. Or does Elder believe this disciple cannot beat him?"

In truth, Qian Fucheng was sorely tempted. The mockery he had endured throughout Zijin Cave had become difficult to swallow. He very much wanted to use Kunlin Shu's hand to slap Zijin Cave across the face. Facts spoke louder than arguments!

So long as Kunlin Shu won, every problem ceased to be a problem. With his abilities now, defeating Niu Youdao should not be difficult.

Under the pressure of all that humiliation, the thought had been itching at him constantly.

But the matter was too serious for him to give permission lightly. "Kunlin Shu, I understand how you feel, but you carry Tianhuo Sect's supreme secret art. I cannot let you make this wager. You should understand why." He shook his head.

Kunlin Shu raised a hand. "This disciple swears to Heaven that even if I lose to Niu Youdao and truly fall into his hands as a slave, I will never reveal the slightest part of the secret art to anyone. If I violate this oath, may Heaven strike me down!"

Qian Fucheng's resolve wavered.

In truth, it had wavered long ago. No one willingly endured humiliation, much less an Elder of Tianhuo Sect.

He slowly rose and asked, "Are you truly certain you can defeat Niu Youdao?"

His tone had softened. The person who had loosened Qian Fucheng's resolve was not really Kunlin Shu. It was Qian Fucheng's own aggrieved heart, desperate to vent its resentment. If one insisted that Kunlin Shu had persuaded him, then Kunlin Shu's argument had been no more than the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Kunlin Shu's eyes immediately lit up. He nodded repeatedly. "This disciple has absolute confidence!"

Qian Fucheng said, "Fine. I'll risk this old face and accompany you to negotiate one more time. If he still refuses, then we let the matter end there. At that point, I will have done all I can and fulfilled my promise to you. Afterward, you will return with me obediently."

Kunlin Shu cupped his fists, his voice ringing with force. "This disciple will obey the Elder's decree!"

"Let's go!" Qian Fucheng beckoned and led the two of them out, heading directly to find Yan Li.

...

Beneath a tree on a mountain summit, Gong Lince stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Elder Fu Junrang stood to his left, and the female Elder Mo Lingxue stood to his right.

Looking into the mountains below, they saw Yan Li leading Qian Fucheng and the married pair toward the Maolu Annex.

"They really did go back to Niu Youdao. Looks like this time they mean to accept his conditions." Fu Junrang shook his head and sighed.

Gong Lince said mildly, "Seems you provoked them rather badly. So many people throughout the sect, all ganging up on those three—it was somewhat bullying... Hopefully that Junior Brother Niu of ours can help us dig out whatever secret they're hiding."

Fu Junrang said, "They're already being played in circles by him. This Junior Brother Niu of ours really isn't a good man."

Mo Lingxue said, "For Tianhuo Sect to let Kunlin Shu come challenge him, I truly worry whether Niu Youdao can handle it."

Fu Junrang said, "He's already preparing to drug the man. So long as he can win, what wouldn't he do?"

Gong Lince said, "It is enough that you know. If word gets out, it will bring us no glory. The matter of drugging him ends here. Do not mention it again. Dignified Zijin Cave... disgraceful! We know nothing about this. It is Niu Youdao's personal conduct."

"Yes!" the two answered.

...

The old guests returned. This time Niu Youdao was straightforward. He did not hide or avoid them and simply came out to receive them.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Niu Youdao said coolly, "Is it serious business this time, or are you still determined to cling to me and make trouble?"

Qian Fucheng said nothing. Kunlin Shu cupped his fists. "Elder Niu, does what you said about the challenge still count?"

Niu Youdao tilted his head grandly, as though tossing his meaning toward the nine heavens. "Go ask around. I, Niu, may not understand much else, but I do understand keeping my word. Naturally, what I say counts. What, have you discussed it and agreed to my conditions? If you've truly thought it through, then I can consider it." He still did not commit completely.

Kunlin Shu said solemnly, "Elder Niu, you are a man and I am a man. Whatever differences there may be in our identities and standing, matters between men should not drag a woman into them. That is not the conduct of a true man. My Junior Sister has nothing to do with this. Remove the condition involving her, and everything else is open to discussion."

Niu Youdao raised an eyebrow. "What a joke! Do I need you to remind me I'm a man? What do you mean, never mind identity or standing? Without identity and standing, could you be standing here speaking politely to me now? I have the patience to negotiate with you because I'm showing you face. Don't refuse the face I'm giving you. Identity and standing are exactly what matter. What is my status, and what is yours? You alone aren't enough to carry the weight of this wager. What's wrong with adding one more person from your side as the price? Of course..."

He lifted a hand and pointed at Qian Fucheng. "Elder Qian carries enough weight. If you can persuade Elder Qian to stake himself as a slave, I can let both you and your wife off."

Qian Fucheng's face darkened. What kind of joke was this? He was a dignified Elder of Tianhuo Sect. How could he become the stake in such a wager and risk becoming someone's slave? If word spread, would Tianhuo Sect still have any face left beneath Heaven?

Kunlin Shu said, "Elder Qian absolutely cannot be used as the stake! Elder Niu, I came here sincerely to negotiate. As long as you leave my Junior Sister out of it, you can name any other condition and we can discuss it."

"You can't give me anything else I would ask for, so what's there to discuss? I want you and your wife. If you don't agree, there is nothing to talk about. See the guests out!" Niu Youdao flung down the words, turned, and swept away with a shake of his sleeve.

Kunlin Shu clenched his fists and said nothing.

"Elder Niu." Yan Li called out and hurried after him.

Once he caught up and reached Niu Youdao's side, he lowered his voice. "I've been running myself ragged over this matter. I'm practically becoming your errand boy. What are you doing? Aren't you after Kunlin Shu? Why are you digging your teeth into his wife and refusing to let go? Don't tell me you've actually taken a fancy to another man's wife."

"Nonsense!" Niu Youdao said. "Can't you see it? That idiot is stubborn as a donkey. If he slips up and loses, do you believe he's capable of killing himself? What use do I have for a dead man? If his wife is in my hands... Senior Brother Yan, with your intelligence, and with all of us being disciples of prestigious orthodox sects, surely I don't need to spell out the ugly part too clearly?"

"..."

Yan Li was speechless.

He understood. He understood completely.

[End of Chapter 919]