Chapter 125: Leader? You’re Not Worthy

Within the Purple Bamboo Forest, Jiang Zhi silently mulled over that sentence.

It seemed like a response to what he had been thinking deep inside.

He felt something stir in his heart, yet two wills seemed to be clashing against each other.

A surge of aura spread from his body, even causing the wooden hairpin of the gaunt Daoist nun to tremble ever so slightly.

Chu Huaixu sensed it as well—inside his Sea of Consciousness, the Black Small Sword suddenly quivered, exuding a thrill as if it had met a worthy opponent.

But all of this happened only in a fleeting moment.

The Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle, dressed in white robes, quickly returned to normal.

He swept his gaze across the crowd and asked, “Those ugly characters on the Gentleman’s Monument—who carved them?”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Chu Huaixu.

“It was you?” Jiang Zhi asked.

Chu Huaixu nodded slightly but said nothing.

At that time, moved by a sudden impulse and influenced by the Heart Sword within his Sea of Consciousness, he had furiously carved those words from the Guanzi into the Gentleman’s Monument. But in his heart, he knew there must be secrets about that Bronze Sword that he did not yet understand.

After all, it was called Borrowed Sword.

So, he could not be one hundred percent certain about the Dao Gate elders’ stance or attitude.

For all he knew, what he carved might go against their views.

Thus, Dead Fox decided it was best to remain silent.

But Chu Yinyin, always eager to show off on behalf of her disciple, wasn’t about to stay quiet.

She vividly recounted everything that had happened that day to the Little Martial Uncle.

After listening, Jiang Zhi looked deeply at Chu Huaixu but, in the end, did not say anything further.

He more or less understood why this young man before him could comprehend such a peculiar Sword Intent.

“Fearless of heaven, fearless of earth, with a touch of rebellion.”

In some ways, he was a little like himself.

But not entirely.

Some people, upon sensing “this child is like me,” would feel appreciation.

Others, for the same reason, would feel disgust.

Someone a little like me—but taller, more handsome, and younger...

And when it came to this, the Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle was notorious for being jealous.

“Ninth Junior Sister would probably like him very much, wouldn’t she?” Even this thought surfaced in his mind as he recalled that strikingly radiant woman.

Chu Huaixu raised his head and met the gaze of the man before him, the one who might one day become his Sect Patriarch.

The other man’s eyes were still cold, filled with scrutiny.

Jiang Zhi spoke, suddenly asking, “Chu Huaixu, have you signed up for the Eastern Continent Grand Competition?”

“Little Martial Uncle, this disciple has signed up,” he answered.

“Do you have a goal in mind?” Jiang Zhi asked again.

“Yes. I want to earn a good ranking,” he replied.

“Be specific. Speak honestly.” Jiang Zhi’s tone carried faint pressure and displeasure.

Hearing this, Chu Huaixu nodded slightly, then said directly:

“Leader.”

After saying it, he felt it wasn’t specific enough, so, following the man’s meaning, he added:

“Leader of the Eastern and Western Continents.”

After staying in the Purple Bamboo Forest a little longer, Chu Huaixu was sent back by Chu Yinyin.

He could sense that this man, who held extremely high status and seniority within the Dao Gate, did not seem to like him very much.

Of course, Jiang Zhi’s impression of him wasn’t any better.

The two of them simply did not get along!

As Chu Yinyin escorted Chu Huaixu through the skies, she chatted with him.

“Don’t mind him. I’ll tell you this—just your looks alone mean you’ll never win his favor in this lifetime.” The big mouth was at it again.

“Oh? Why?”

“Because Little Martial Uncle was born vain and jealous. Besides, he and my Master have some past history.”

Chu Yinyin spilled the gossip: “If he were a bit more handsome, perhaps he and my Master would have long become Dao Companions.”

Hearing this, Chu Huaixu understood two things.

First, Chu Yinyin’s Master thought Jiang Zhi was ugly.

Second, Chu Yinyin thought he himself was handsome.

The gloom he had felt earlier in the Purple Bamboo Forest was instantly swept away.

A faint smile even appeared on his face.

“What are you smiling at me for?” Chu Yinyin asked curiously.

“I was just thinking that Second Master is also very beautiful, yet Little Martial Uncle doesn’t seem to dislike you.” He habitually coaxed her again.

The old maiden was immediately coaxed back into being like an embryo, her lips nearly splitting up to her ears.

Of course she was beautiful!

Laughing proudly, she waved her hand and said, “Little Martial Uncle only targets men in that way. How could he possibly target women too? My Master, for example, is also a renowned beauty in the cultivation world.”

Then, turning her gaze back to Chu Huaixu, she changed the subject.

“I’ll tell you what—when you said your goal was to be Leader, in his heart, he probably sneered at you!”

“Now that Xu Ziqing has taken that sword, he’s already leagues apart from other cultivators of the same realm.”

“But that’s fine. I still believe in you!”

“You must win me some honor.” She began to cheer him on.

Chu Yinyin’s childishness was overwhelming.

Children were like this—if they liked you more, they would support you unconditionally.

“Mm.” Chu Huaixu nodded.

In truth, he didn’t care whether this Little Martial Uncle acknowledged him.

If he had to prove himself, it would only be to those who cared for him.

As for those who disliked him, his only task was to make them even more displeased.

After sending Chu Huaixu back to the bamboo house, Chu Yinyin hurried back to the Purple Bamboo Forest, afraid of missing anything.

Fortunately, when she returned, everyone was still reporting recent events to the Little Martial Uncle.

Once they finished, Jiang Zhi gave a slight nod and said, “Old Five, tomorrow you will take Xu Ziqing to Hidden Spirit Mountain. I want to see for myself him and that sword.”

Fifth Elder Zhao Shuqin immediately replied, “Yes, Little Martial Uncle.”

Jiang Zhi then turned to Li Chunsong and said, “Come. While everyone is here, let’s go to the Enforcement Court to receive your punishment.”

Li Chunsong: “.....”

Seeing him hesitate, Little Martial Uncle said coldly, “What’s wrong? Do you want me to test how much progress you’ve made all these years first?”

“No, no.” The Benevolent Gambling King quickly waved his hands.

Jiang Zhi gave a cold snort.

“What? It’s over already?” Chu Yinyin felt like she had come back for nothing.

“What, you still want to talk more about your beloved disciple?” Little Martial Uncle shot her a glare.

At this, he glanced over the group again.

“Before Xu Ziqing goes up Hidden Spirit Mountain, you were planning to let Chu Huaixu enter the First Layer of the Origin Spirit Realm?” he asked.

Chu Yinyin immediately answered, “Yes! At that stage, who else could be more suitable than him?”

The Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle replied bluntly, “Absurd! At his current level, if he enters the Origin Spirit Realm, it will be a road to death. He will surely die!”

“What? Even though he has already reached Sword Heart Clarity, there’s still no chance of success?” The old maiden could hardly believe it.

“At most three or four chances out of ten,” Jiang Zhi replied.

But he soon flicked his sleeve and added, “Anyway, talking about this is useless. As for Leader of the Eastern and Western Continents, he cannot claim it.”

All this time, Dead Gambler Li Chunsong had been listening, his breathing growing heavier, his face redder.

He had been holding himself back for so long it was becoming unbearable.

He unconsciously started rubbing his hands, faster and faster.

In the end, he couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Though he knew he was already in trouble with the Little Martial Uncle, gambling could never stop!

The Dead Gambler rubbed his hands and grinned ingratiatingly. “Little Martial Uncle, actually... we’ve opened a betting pool, wagering on whether Chu Huaixu or Xu Ziqing will win.”

“From what you just said, heh heh...” He let out two dry chuckles, his words carrying implication, his hands still rubbing nonstop.

The Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle almost rolled his eyes.

But just as Chu Yinyin had earlier mentioned her Master’s opinion, that description was not wrong—

Jiang Zhi did love to play.

“You all placed bets?” he asked.

Then he looked at the gaunt Daoist nun seated on the boulder and asked, “Shen Man, even you placed a bet?”

The Dao Gate’s Seventh Elder, ever sparing with words, simply shook her head.

But soon she stammered, “I... I’ll go with... Little Junior Sister.”

Though she swallowed her words as usual and failed to finish her sentence, after so many years together, everyone understood what she meant—she would follow Chu Yinyin’s bet.

The old maiden perked up instantly. “Of course you’ll follow me! We must bet on my future disciple!”

Her stance was always that clear.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhi snorted again and turned to Li Chunsong. “And you?”

At that moment, he regretted having bet on Chu Huaixu.

He feared that once Little Martial Uncle heard it, he would only dislike him more.

After all, Li Chunsong had backed the wrong person.

But a Dead Gambler was still a Dead Gambler—he stuck by his wager!

Li Chunsong went all in: “Little Martial Uncle, I bet on Chu Huaixu.”

Jiang Zhi snorted coldly once more. “Good, good, good! In that case, I’ll join in the fun as well.”

“I bet on Xu Ziqing.” His voice was calm, once again exuding the air of someone who had everything under control.

The next day, Zhao Shuqin, following the Little Martial Uncle’s orders, brought Xu Ziqing to the peak of Hidden Spirit Mountain.

On the way, he reminded him a few times, telling him exactly who it was that wanted to see him.

When Xu Ziqing learned it was such a person, he immediately nodded and dared not ask further questions.

He followed Zhao Shuqin up the mountain as if he knew the path well.

For now, the sword was safest kept on the mountain.

Thus, Little Xu would need to climb the mountain at least once a day.

When they reached the summit, Jiang Zhi was already there, standing with his back to them, gazing intently at the slumbering Bronze Sword.

Xu Ziqing stole a glance at this Little Martial Uncle’s back. With just one look, he felt a sense of familiarity.

“This white robe... this aura...”

A wave of déjà vu hit him, making his heart tremble.

“He’s here,” Jiang Zhi said, folding his hands behind his back as he slowly turned around.

Xu Ziqing looked at his face—an utterly ordinary face. Yet in that moment, he felt as if struck by lightning!

“How is it him!”

“How could it be him? How could it possibly be him!?”

It really was him—

The storyteller he had met at the foot of the mountain!

The one who had toyed with him for no reason, made him trek needlessly, and left him standing in the rain all night at the foot of the Wumeng Mountains!

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