CHAPTER 127: CHAPTER 107: THANK YOU THIRTEEN

Chen Ku’s motion to usher the guest out stopped mid-air. His face was void of expression, but his heart was filled with immense surprise.

Is this how challenges are issued? Using a store as collateral?

And it’s not just any shop in Baojiao County, but one in Qiu Dragon Mansion. What’s more, it’s not a rented shopfront like mine; their words imply they own the property, complete with deed and title...

In my previous life, this would be like someone coming to the county town and telling me, ’If you beat me, I’ll give you a shop I own in the city, outright.’

Never mind the Iron Bank business inside; just the shopfront in Qiu Dragon Mansion alone must be worth eighteen thousand taels of silver.

Is this what the son of a wealthy, landed family is like? So this is how the rich behave when they’re away from home—so overbearing.

Then he coughed softly.

"Young Master Zhao Chuanzu, what a grand gesture. Since that’s the case, Chen shall accept this letter of challenge."

Chen Ku admitted he was not a wealthy man but a poor one. With such an opportunity presenting itself, it would be ludicrous to turn down such a feast delivered to his mouth.

Earning money, doing business—it’s not shameful. If I can earn money just by standing my ground, why not?

He lifted his hand and took the letter that the young servant had held aloft.

「 」

"Hmm? Chen Ku accepted the challenge? The first time I invited him, he refused. But when I put up a shop as collateral, he agreed?"

In a residence in Baojiao County, Zhao Chuanzu’s face was ashen, a tinge of regret creeping in.

He had only wanted to provoke Chen Ku. He had initially thought Chen Ku simply lacked confidence and wouldn’t dare accept his challenge to a friendly martial contest. After all, how much courage could someone from a small, rundown county possibly have?

Regardless, having his challenge rejected was rather embarrassing for him.

So, he decided to raise the stakes this time. He figured that if Chen Ku was genuinely scared, refusing a second time would, once word got out, no longer reflect poorly on him. After all, if he issued two challenges and Chen Ku ignored both, the first refusal might be explained away as Chen Ku not wanting trouble. A second refusal, however, would clearly be seen as cowardice. This way, Zhao Chuanzu’s reputation wouldn’t suffer. What he cared about most was his prestige.

Why should he, ranked tenth, be placed behind someone from a declining family in a mere county town?

But as it turned out... well, this kid didn’t play by the rules.

"He’s really taken with the collateral I offered up."

Zhao Chuanzu stood up, fuming, "Does he really have that much confidence that he can take away our family’s shop in Qiu Dragon Mansion?"

Although losing a shop pained him, their Zhao Family of the Ancient Elephant Sect was substantial. They owned dozens of shops, large and small, in Qiu Dragon Mansion and could afford to lose one.

What he doubted was... does this young man, Chen Ku, really have that much confidence?

"After all, the Ming Family has always been extremely discerning. Chen Ku’s ranking must signify something."

Beside Zhao Chuanzu were several friends who had accompanied him from the Prefecture City. The one who spoke was his family’s coachman, a man in his forties, who said slowly, "I’ve heard he possesses the Irresistible Power of Four Elephants. With such Root Bone, coupled with the Ultimate Skill ’Furious Ape Mighty Staff,’ in a direct confrontation, one wouldn’t easily gain an advantage."

"The ’Furious Ape Mighty Staff’ might be something noteworthy in Baojiao County, but my Ancient Elephant Sect’s ’Nine Dragons Union,’ which cultivates both internal and external aspects, is vastly superior to any Ultimate Skill from Medicine King Hall."

Zhao Chuanzu was confident in his family’s Ultimate Skill, but this wasn’t blind faith. As an heir to one of Qiu Dragon Mansion’s prominent families, his judgment and understanding were up to par. The Nine Dragons Union was indeed, in some respects, acknowledged as an Ultimate Skill of the highest caliber.

"But Uncle Liang, your concerns are valid. However, rest assured, I’ve already made preparations. I’ve coordinated with the Twin Rivers Guild; in this friendly martial contest, there’s no way he’ll gain even the slightest advantage, inside or out."

Zhao Chuanzu was, in effect, setting up a treacherous banquet.

And since the other party knew it was a treacherous banquet, if he still dared to come, hoping to take the shop, he’d need enough skill to both feast and leave with the prize. Otherwise, he could just expect to lose both face and standing when he showed up.

「 」

In Medicine King Hall.

"Good! That’s my, Yang Luochen’s, disciple!"

Yang Luochen, Monk Yunfang, and even Chai Bao came over when they heard Chen Ku had accepted Zhao Chuanzu’s challenge.

Yang Luochen stroked his beard, saying proudly, "Just go and beat him. And there’s a shop to be won! He gets beaten, and he still has to give you money and praise you for a good beating. This deal is absolutely worth it."

Chen Ku showed the letter from Zhao Chuanzu to his two masters, saying, "I’ve seen the ranking list compiled by the young lady from the Ming Family. This Zhao Chuanzu’s Cultivation is comparable to mine; we’re both in the Robust Qi Stage and possess Ultimate Skills. In a direct confrontation, your Disciple isn’t afraid, but... his deliberate choice of the Twin Rivers Guild as the duel location puzzles me. Masters, do you discern anything from this?"

He had always been cautious, valuing safety and stability above all. Even in what seemed like a sure thing, he believed in exercising extreme caution. Having navigated the Jianghu for nearly a year, he had seen enough. As for things like acting honorably, speaking righteously, or adhering to a moral baseline—he himself wasn’t always entirely upright, so how could he expect it of others? Therefore, assuming the worst of others was the best way to protect himself.

"The Twin Rivers Guild, huh..."

Yang Luochen slowly stroked his beard. "You’re not unaware of what that family does. That kind of Intermediary Guild, run by people from the two rivers region, specializes in acting as middlemen. They help outsiders quickly get a lay of the land regarding local powers and provide assistance, all while taking a commission."