NOVEL NEXT Chapter 235: Both is Good!
It may seem like I said something ridiculous but with my current level, I know I can climb up to the third threshold without breaking a sweat. I haven't used any of my skills and I managed to climb up the first threshold, that speaks a lot about my capabilities.
"That's ridiculous!" Chu-Hua exclaimed, totally not reading my mind at all. "Don't think it's that easy to get to the third threshold. You might be amazing enough to reach the first threshold in a few hours, but that could also mean that it's a fluke. Overextending yourself by climbing to the third threshold wouldn't do you any good. It might even make your Qi Cores explode. You have no idea how dense the Qi Energy is up there."
"I more or less know how it is. Did you think I exerted a lot of effort getting to the first threshold? I didn't even use any of my skills nor martial arts. And also, you said something about them picking out candidates for the Black Spirit Tournament. If I could get to the third threshold at record speeds, I'll be able to secure my spot. I have to participate in it no matter what."
Chu-Hua stared at me for a good few seconds before finally conceding to my request. "Fine, if you want to climb to the third threshold and kill yourself in the process, then I won't stop you. It's your decision, but if it were me, I wouldn't rush through the Qi Energy Ladder that much. Do you have a death wish or something?"
"How about a wager then?"
"A wager? Don't be full of yourself. I'm fairly certain you won't make it past the second threshold." Chu-Hua said. "Just stay put here for now. I'm sure you'll get picked as a candidate tomorrow. Trust me."
"If I couldn't reach the third threshold with you, then I'll give you a Mythical Beast. I have one, an Astral Lion." I said in confidence, showing the Astral Lion at Chu-Hua in its cub form.
"Oh, you're throwing that one away? That's such a waste. That kind of summoned beast shouldn't be in the hands of someone as reckless as you."
"But, if I get to reach the third threshold with you, then you'll become my disciple. If you don't want that, you can just follow me for the rest of your life. I swear I'll be good to you." I have no idea what I'm saying at all.
"Look, if you tell in love with me at first sight, just say it." She chuckled. "But I'll take you on on your wager. If you manage to reach the third threshold just like how you said it, then I'll consider becoming your disciple. But becoming your disciple would be more of a reward for me than a punishment." Chu-Hua whispered the last sentence so I wouldn't be able to hear it.
Did I tell her that I have an exceptionally good hearing? I should probably not tell her.
And now that I think about it, based on what she said, does that mean she was the one who was eyeing me first? I totally didn't expect that.
No, Yongrui! You have Natalia and the others waiting for you! You can't just get together with a girl that fast! Focus! Focus!
After I spurred myself on, I gave a thumbs up at Chu-Hua. "I'll take your word. If I really win this thing, you'll become my disciple, right?"
"If not then that Astral Lion is mine. All right. How about my terms? Do I get to change it?"
"Sure, whether I agree or not is not sure though." I shrugged in response.
"Then, if you want to make me follow you for life, does that mean we'd have to get married?"
"What?!"
"All right, if you're up for it then I'll be willing to follow you for the rest of my life!" She raised her fists as she got out of the resting place. "Let's go," She urged.
"As a disciple! Let me make that clear!" I said. And that's enough temptation for the day. Fortunately, I'm still in my right mind and I haven't lost focused. Otherwise I'd have succumbed to her wiles.
Since she's relatively stronger than me, the eleventh to fifteenth steps were like a walk in the park for her. She smirked, trying to rile me up as I followed right behind her. Right now, I still haven't used any of my skills and I've resolved myself not to use any until we reach the third threshold. That way, my constitution will greatly adapt to the dense Qi Energy here in the Higher Plane. I just hope my body would be able to keep up.
Still, why would she say something like that if she didn't mean anything about it? Does that mean she was aiming for me right at the start? And why is she smirking and doing that thing with her eyes? How can someone seem so manipulative and innocent at the same time?
I shook my head, trying to dismiss my thoughts so I could focus on the task at hand. The steps in and of itself was easy since my Qi Cores are well condensed at the moment. However, staying in one step is a different case. It's like a wave from the sea, looming closer and closer while it seemed harmless. And then it would come bearing down like a huge force, flattening everything it touches. Even rocks who are formed and tested with time cannot retaliate against such force. Such is the nature of the Qi Energy Ladder. It may seem hard taking another step, but it's more difficult to stay and consistently battle and negate the Qi Energy Pressure.
"You tired yet?" Chu-Hua asked, grabbing me by the shoulder as if to weigh me down.
Or maybe she has an ulterior motive of gaining more skinship with me? What's happening?
"This much is bearable." I said, but I could already feel the beads of sweat dripping down my forehead and following the path of my jawline. We were already at the nineteenth step, almost reaching the second threshold.
Grabbing a handkerchief from her pocket, Chu-Hua then proceeded to wipe the sweat off my face and neck. "Come on, you're almost there." She spurred.
"Do you want to win or lose the bet?" I said out of the blue. She's acting rather suspicious after all.
"Both, both is good." She casually answered before stepping to the second threshold.