Borrowed Sword

Chapter 97: Is the Closed Beta Coming or Not

One flower, one world. One leaf, one Bodhi.

Chu Huaixu could not tell anymore whether he had crossed into the game, or if this place had already become its own world.

「Will there still be Silly Players descending here by then？」 he wondered in his heart.

It was really hard to figure out...

Chu Huaixu shut down the system, his will entering the Black Bead, where he took out ten freshly-refined Qi-Gathering Pills.

Then he began refining another furnace.

「Forget it, now’s not the time to be thinking about this.」

「The focus should be placed on the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition.」

On this matter, he actually felt a little dissatisfied in his heart.

Previously, he and Big Ice Block had gone to Old Niu’s courtyard. After chatting with him that time, the two of them understood why no matter how much of a genius one was, they still had to start as an Enrolled Disciple in the Dao Gate.

As his superior within the 【Organization】, Old Niu had even passed on earnest expectations, hoping he could blend into the Dao Gate’s core circle.

Yet, Chu Huaixu had not triggered any mission related to the 【Organization】.

「But the problem now is, you want me to fight in the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition. That day, you even said you hoped I could take the championship.」

「This was no different from the higher-ups giving me a direct order, and what’s more, to fight an external war.」

「Fine, fine, fine. I’ve learned the complete 《Dao Canon》, awakened 【Sword Heart Clarity】, and even obtained the Dao Ancestor’s Sword Scabbard... I know I’m strong.」 He secretly felt proud.

「But you can’t just not give me any benefits, right？」

「Just speaking of fate, huh？」 Chu Huaixu grumbled inwardly.

They always said ‘fate is subtle beyond words’. Was this what they meant by subtle?

He felt it went against common sense.

Thus, in these past few days, he had actually carried a bit of expectation.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so reluctant to use his Experience Points.

Ask-Dao Peak, Grand Hall.

Xiang Yan sat on the main seat, while all the elders except Shen Man sat below in order.

Their bonds as senior and junior brothers and sisters were excellent. On the fifteenth of each month, they would have a small gathering, and those free would all attend.

「Come, come, come, everyone try this jar of top-grade spiritual wine.」 Li Chunsong displayed unusual generosity.

Xiang Yan, that bald head, glanced at the jar of wine, a helpless look flashing across his face, but since he looked far too much like a villain, it gave his expression a vicious touch.

「Sixth Junior Brother, isn’t this the wine you won from me？」 he said.

「Yes, but since I won it, it’s mine. Today I’m treating everyone.」

The Benevolent Gambling King had finally stood up!

This jar of spiritual wine had been brewed from Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, immensely beneficial to cultivators.

Having obtained such fine wine, naturally, everyone had to cheer and make a fuss.

「Still, you’re the most generous, Li Chunsong. Unlike the Sect Master, stingy as ever！」 Chu Yinyin spoke the most bluntly.

She glanced at Xiang Yan, then continued, 「If we waited for the Sect Master to bring out wine to treat us, I fear I wouldn’t see it in this lifetime.」

The bald head sitting on the Sect Master’s Throne was not angered. He chuckled and said, 「Little Junior Sister, you don’t know how costly it is until you’re in charge. The burdens of being Sect Master—how could you understand?」

「Bah! Weren’t you the same even before you became Sect Master？」 Chu Yinyin pouted her small lips, showing no mercy at all.

She only remembered to instruct Li Chunsong, when he came to pour the wine, 「Don’t pour it all out. Save some for Shen Man. I’ll bring it to her later.」

Li Chunsong wasn’t surprised.

Everyone knew she was the closest with Shen Man.

He merely lifted his eyes to glance at Xiang Yan and the others. They all exchanged knowing looks.

The Sect Master even gave him a slight nod of the chin.

Receiving the hint, Li Chunsong immediately laughed, 「Leaving some for Seventh Junior Sister is natural. But, Little Junior Sister, don’t sneak it away to share with your precious disciple. If he drinks too much, he’ll burst.」

「Mm？ What precious disciple？」 Chu Yinyin began playing dumb.

She had already thought it out. After Chu Huaixu entered the inner sect, she would deliberately tell him to act, to perform as if he desperately longed to become her disciple.

Then she would decline a few times, say that Shen Man was more suitable, and in the end, reluctantly take him as her Second Master’s disciple, fulfilling his wish.

Now, this old maiden sat on the tall grand hall seat, sweeping her gaze over everyone.

Seeing them all smiling knowingly, she stamped her little foot in the air in fury!

「So it was you all! When I went to receive Chu Huaixu, you were eavesdropping！」

Infuriating!

「Eh？ Not really. Normally, I’m the one who goes to receive that kid. Who knew you suddenly volunteered so eagerly? We just feared you might say the wrong thing.」 Li Chunsong waved it off.

As a result, Chu Yinyin grew even angrier.

「Afraid I’d say the wrong thing？ Were you even prepared to cast a Soundproofing Formation on me？」 She slammed the table in anger, the spiritual wine nearly spilling.

Li Chunsong hurriedly motioned her to calm down, 「Aren’t we already giving you wine？ Don’t spill it, that’d be a waste! I had a hard time winning it！」

He had always lost every gamble in his life. If this wine were wasted, he would truly grieve.

Fuming, Chu Yinyin felt regret. The rebellious streak of her youth seemed to flare again, and she thought viciously in her heart: 「Now that you’ve said this, I’ll make sure my precious disciple drinks some！」

But she also took note of Li Chunsong’s words, knowing Chu Huaixu’s cultivation was still shallow—he could only have a taste. Otherwise, his body might really explode.

At this thought, she glared at everyone, looking just like a cat with bristled fur, loudly demanding:

「So, the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill I gave him—you all knew about it？」

Everyone just smiled silently.

Chu Yinyin went even more frantic.

She felt she had completely lost face. Secretly “bribing” to take in a disciple—exposed in front of everyone!

Sitting beside her, Nangong Yue saw her expression of shame and indignation. This gentle woman, ever empathetic, opened her mouth to comfort her:

「Didn’t expect Little Junior Sister to seize the initiative. I too had prepared a magical treasure for him. But before the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill, it seems unworthy now.」

Hearing this, Chu Yinyin instantly turned her head, her big eyes flashing, as if discovering something, and asked:

「You also want to be his Second Master？」

Nangong Yue, with that mature woman’s voice, deliberately teased her: 「Of course. Such an outstanding disciple—who wouldn’t be fond of him？」

As she finished, she cast a look at the others.

Li Chunsong was first to chime in: 「I was the one who brought him up the mountain. Who’d have thought Little Junior Sister would beat me to it! I too had something prepared, planning to secretly pass him a movement technique.」

Saying this, he even acted fully, turning to Enforcement Elder Lu Pan: 「Eh！ Senior Brother, this movement technique isn’t in the sect records, nor from the Scripture Pavilion. It’s my own private collection, so I’m not breaking any rules. I can pass it to whomever I wish.」

Chu Yinyin was stunned: 「Ah？ You also want to be his Second Master？」

Li Chunsong winked and smiled: 「Well, isn’t this a matter of being close to the water’s edge, first to enjoy the moonlight？」

This gambling addict acted his part perfectly.

After all, gambling also required acting skills. Tricks outside the bet could equally deceive opponents at the table!

Narrow-eyed Zhao Shuqin’s gaze was full of amusement, but since his eyes were too small for others to read, he was brazen.

The Fifth Elder laughed: 「Oh？ What a coincidence! I had the same idea as Sixth Junior Brother. I thought this kid lacked techniques, so I wanted to hook him with one.」

Chu Yinyin was deeply shaken. Just now, her shame over being caught “bribing” had completely vanished.

Instead, she looked with eager eyes toward Xiang Yan and Lu Pan.

But the two merely raised their hands: 「Little Junior Sister, don’t look at us. Have you forgotten? We no longer have any True Disciple slots. Our disciples are already full.」

「But, if Chu Huaixu, after entering the inner sect, truly wished to take me as master, I would feel greatly comforted.」 Xiang Yan revealed a regretful expression.

As Enforcement Elder, Lu Pan carried great responsibility. He had to set an example and was ashamed to join these jesting fellows. Thus, he said nothing...

Only gave a slight nod.

Chu Yinyin was so excited, she nearly jumped from her chair.

But then, she didn’t follow common sense.

Propping a hand on the table, leaning half her body forward, she raised her small hand and began pointing:

「Then you be his Third Master！」

「You be his Fourth Master！」

「You’re the Fifth Elder, so you’ll be his Fifth Master！」

「Hahahahaha！」

Chu Yinyin felt she had climbed on everyone’s heads.

I rank just beneath Shen Man！

「She has Sword Heart Clarity, she must teach him. I won’t contend for that empty title！」 The old maiden’s invisible tail was about to flick up to the heavens.

Everyone was shocked. They never imagined she would play it this way.

「Little Junior Sister, aren’t you being ridiculous？ If he suddenly has five masters, then what is he？ Our Dao Gate’s Dao Son？」 Li Chunsong was exasperated.

Indeed, many sects had Holy Sons or Holy Daughters, nurtured with the full sect’s power. But the Dao Gate had never had such a thing as a Dao Son.

「Hmph！ Even if you want to, I won’t give you the chance. He can only be Shen Man’s and my disciple！」 Chu Yinyin declared her sovereignty.

Li Chunsong and Zhao Shuqin, the worst culprits, continued acting. Exchanging a glance, they sighed together, even pretending to regret it.

Nangong Yue couldn’t bear it. Although Little Junior Sister had never been especially close to her, for reasons she herself didn’t quite understand...

She still very much liked her cute and lively Little Junior Sister.

Especially as age crept on, her maternal instincts seemed to overflow.

Before, she had viewed her as a junior sister. But now, as she grew older, Chu Yinyin hadn’t matured—instead, she seemed even more childish.

Nangong Yue almost saw her as a daughter.

So, she didn’t join in. Sitting quietly on the side, she couldn’t bring herself to keep acting.

In the end, although Chu Yinyin’s train of thought wasn’t exactly normal, she still took the bait.

After all, they knew this Little Junior Sister too well.

Her big eyes darted mischievously, like a little ancestor. Stretching out her small hand, she demanded of her senior brothers and sisters:

「Hand it over！」

Everyone feigned ignorance: 「Hand what over？」

「The things you all said you’d give Chu Huaixu！ Hand them over！」 Her small face lifted proudly, spoiled by affection.

These shameless elders had already achieved their goal today.

What they wanted was precisely this line from Little Junior Sister！

But teasing her had been their tradition for years.

Even now, it was endlessly amusing, impossible to stop.

Thus, Zhao Shuqin and Li Chunsong even began acting troubled, saying in unison: 「Ah, well...」

The Fifth Elder and Sixth Elder truly lived up to being “proper and dignified.”

Hearing this, the Dao Gate’s Little Ancestor, Chu Yinyin, instantly revealed a look of utmost disdain. Stretching out her small hand again, she scolded in her loli-voice:

「Hand it over！」