You're Going to Participate in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!

"Ha?"

Su Changqing could no longer pretend to be injured. He looked at Shuiyue in astonishment and said blankly, "But Master, my current cultivation level and strength are so weak. How could I compete on the same stage as the many geniuses in the sect? I'm afraid I wouldn't even make it past the first round. Aren't you simply sending your disciple there to make a fool of himself?"

"You were able to exchange several moves with Senior Sister Lu, which is enough to prove your strength. Even if you cannot pass the first round, it will only mean your skills fall short of others'. No one will laugh at you. Consider it a chance to consolidate your Foundation Establishment."

"This matter is settled. No refusal will be accepted!"

As though she knew exactly what Su Changqing was about to say, Shuiyue spoke to him with utter seriousness, leaving him no room whatsoever to negotiate.

"Alas!"

Su Changqing let out a troubled sigh. With his master taking such a stance, refusing was clearly useless.

"Hm? Is it so difficult for you to participate in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament?"

A meaningful smile curved Shuiyue's lips as she asked Su Changqing.

"No! Not at all!"

Su Changqing hurriedly waved his hands, then forced an unnatural smile as he said to Shuiyue, "This disciple does not find it difficult. Since Master is giving me this opportunity, this disciple is naturally happy."

"That's good."

Shuiyue smiled faintly, then turned to the senior sisters and said, "You've watched enough of the show. Go back and continue cultivating your martial arts."

I'm seriously speechless.

Why couldn't I restrain my curiosity and come over to join in this excitement?

Well, now look at this. Curiosity killed the cat and brought an undeserved disaster down on my head. I was already so inconspicuous and transparent, yet I'm being forced to show myself before everyone.

Master, your disciple is suffering!

Little did he know that, in Shuiyue's eyes, this was not an "undeserved disaster" at all, but a "calamity decreed by fate."

Not long ago, Sect Leader Senior Brother had sought her out and spoken to her about certain matters.

They were about Su Changqing. From beginning to end, he had hinted that Shuiyue must observe Su Changqing more closely—perhaps she would discover something astonishing.

Having received Sect Leader Senior Brother's reminder, Shuiyue then recalled that her youngest disciple possessed many strange traits that were difficult to fathom. For instance, he never cultivated in front of others and especially liked to enter seclusion. Every time he emerged, he would be transformed beyond recognition.

Back when she had lent Su Changqing Quiet Heart Cave for his cultivation, she had thought he avoided cultivating around others out of shyness. Looking back now, it seemed that was not the case at all.

Finally, before leaving, Sect Leader Senior Brother had said one thing.

"Shuiyue, Su Changqing will surely try to shirk the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament. You must think of every possible way to make him participate. You cannot let that brat slip away."

Everything had unfolded just as Sect Leader Senior Brother had said. Her youngest disciple had absolutely no intention of participating in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.

One had to know that within the Qingyun Sect, countless disciples longed to stand upon the stage of this grand sect event and receive the envious gazes of all, yet their strength only allowed them to remain spectators below the stage.

But Su Changqing avoided it as though it were a plague.

Which was to say—

Even without today's match against Lu Xueqi, Shuiyue would have found another method and excuse to get Su Changqing onto that stage. One of Little Bamboo Peak's eight slots would certainly be reserved for Su Changqing.

There was no escaping it!

"Master, then this disciple will return first to tend to his injuries."

Su Changqing spoke to Shuiyue weakly.

His entire body was listless, like a walking corpse. It was as though that sword strike had truly injured him, yet also as though participating in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament had drained every last bit of strength from him.

"Go."

Shuiyue said nothing more and let Su Changqing leave.

In any case, the matter had already been decided. She would let him return and properly adjust his condition, then wait to see his "performance" when the time came.

Just as Su Changqing turned to leave, another voice sounded behind him.

"Junior Brother, Senior Sister was too heavy-handed just now. Senior Sister apologizes to you."

Su Changqing turned back and replied to Lu Xueqi with an unconcerned expression, "Since it was a match, injuries were unavoidable. This junior brother bears no grudge against Senior Sister, so Senior Sister need not blame herself."

"That won't do."

Lu Xueqi took small steps toward Su Changqing. Once she drew near, she revealed a lovely smile and said to him, "To express my apology, Senior Sister will prepare a gift for you. Wait for me here at midnight tonight."

"Hm?"

What did she mean, wait for her here at midnight?

Senior Sister, you misunderstand Junior Brother. Junior Brother is an upright gentleman!

"Junior Brother, remember to come!"

"Senior Sister will keep waiting here. If you come tomorrow, Senior Sister will wait until tomorrow. If you come the day after tomorrow, I will wait until the day after tomorrow. If you come a month later, I will wait until next month. If you do not come for one year or two, then I will wait for one year or two. In any case, whenever you come, I will wait until then."

A smile hung on Lu Xueqi's lovely face, but her words were incomparably serious.

Su Changqing swallowed. He truly believed what Lu Xueqi said—if he did not come for a day, she really would keep waiting.

"Senior Sister, I'll come."

Su Changqing spoke to Lu Xueqi in a fluster, then turned and ran off, covering two steps in one.

Watching his fleeing back, Lu Xueqi gave a lovely smile. How had she never noticed before that this Junior Brother was so adorable?

Yet when he had fought her, he had refused to go all out, and that made Lu Xueqi quite angry.

So many people across the entire sect had fought her, and every one of them had given everything they had in hopes of defeating her, only to ultimately fall at her hands.

Yet Su Changqing clearly possessed the strength to battle her for three hundred rounds, but he would rather blow apart his own spiritual energy and feign injury and defeat just to end the fight.

No one had ever treated her like this!

After leaving Sword Peak, Su Changqing was already full of regret.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss!"

At that moment, Little Flood Dragon Snake slid down from his arm, hissing as it asked Su Changqing why he had detonated his dantian and conceded defeat.

"Ah, you wouldn't understand!"

Su Changqing stroked its snake head and sighed to himself.

He had gone to such painstaking lengths only to be an inconspicuous little nobody, quietly building up his strength where no one would notice and cultivating his own Great Dao.

But now, everything seemed to be going against his wishes.

He had already been so cautious, so why did things always turn out contrary to what he wanted? And now they even wanted him to participate in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament—weren't they dead set on making him reveal his strength?

What if, when the time came, he did as he had today—deliberately lost and simply slipped past it?

But on further thought, that would not do.

His participation in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament had been personally designated by his master. If he deliberately lost, he would be disgracing not only himself, but slapping his master in the face as well, while wasting one of Sword Peak's slots for nothing.

Ah!

No matter how he turned it over in his mind, Su Changqing could not make sense of it and only felt a splitting headache. He simply gave up thinking about it, resigned himself to lying flat, and decided he would play it by ear when the time came.

By nightfall, Su Changqing awoke from his meditation and healing.

He still remembered that Lu Xueqi was waiting for him at Sword Peak. The pressing matter was to settle this first.

When Su Changqing arrived at Sword Peak, he saw a figure sitting in a tree.

Beneath the bright white moonlight, that figure in white appeared especially cold and ethereal. Moonlight scattered across her face, outlining her delicate features. A gentle breeze drifted past, stirring her hair lightly. She looked like a fairy maiden from the Ninth Heavens, untouched by the smoke and fire of the mortal world.

For a moment, Su Changqing was utterly entranced.

"Junior Brother, you're here."