Invitation (Please Vote)

Zhao Wu nodded silently as well, then smiled. "Right, I haven't congratulated you on successfully joining the True Martial Sect yet. You've become famous all at once now. In just a few days, everyone in Nanyang Prefecture will probably know your name and that you've become a direct disciple of the True Martial Sect. By the way, I remember you weren't this strong before. How did you suddenly become so powerful?"

Liang Bo tossed out the excuse he had prepared long ago. "That's all thanks to the experience of being injured this time."

Zhao Zhao asked curiously, "What does that have to do with being injured? Did getting hurt once suddenly make you this powerful?"

Liang Bo smiled. "That's actually exactly what happened. During those days, I was severely injured and lay in bed every day, letting my mind run wild. I kept reflecting on how I had practiced my saber techniques before, trying to figure out what flaws still remained. As I thought and thought, for some reason, I slipped into a wondrous state, as though someone were teaching me how to use a saber inside my head. When I woke up, my saber techniques had improved by a huge margin."

Zhao Wu and Zhao Zhao looked at each other. Why did what Liang Bo said sound so mystical? It was more like listening to a story.

Yet they could not find any holes in it, so they could only half-believe and half-doubtfully accept the explanation.

Zhao Zhao asked, "Then what about your cultivation? Judging from your earlier performance, your inner strength has reached at least the fifth rank, hasn't it?"

"Yes, the peak of the fifth rank."

"The peak of the fifth rank? Did you swallow some immortal pill or something?" Zhao Zhao and Zhao Wu were stunned again. Although they had been somewhat mentally prepared, they were still deeply shocked upon hearing that Liang Bo's cultivation had reached the peak of the fifth rank.

Liang Bo shrugged and explained, "An immortal pill is naturally impossible, but I did eat something good for my inner strength to rise so quickly. After my saber techniques improved that day, I could not resist going to the little forest to practice. I did not want anyone to see me at the time, so I deliberately found a secluded spot. Who would have thought my luck would be so good? I actually found a Cleansing Spirit Fruit! There was even a tusked wild boar guarding it, but I killed it."

"A Cleansing Spirit Fruit?!" Zhao Zhao and Zhao Wu both sucked in a sharp breath. They had heard of such a spirit fruit before, but had never seen one. They had not expected Liang Bo's luck to be so good that he could obtain a Cleansing Spirit Fruit. No wonder his cultivation had risen so quickly.

Zhao Zhao said with a complicated expression, "Liang Bo, your luck is really good. You actually encountered such a rare fortuitous opportunity."

"Yeah, Liang Bo, your luck is incredible. But I have to say, you're not being much of a friend, are you? You kept such important news from us and did not say a word until now. Do you know how worried we were when you said you wanted to challenge a fourth-rank demonic beast? We were terrified that the Swift Leopard would tear you to pieces!"

Liang Bo smiled bitterly. "Yes, yes, this time it was my fault. Mainly, I just did not know how to explain it. Right..."

He hesitated for a moment, then decided to be straightforward. "Didn't I join the True Martial Sect as a direct disciple? According to the True Martial Sect's rules, direct disciples are qualified to recruit three attendants. Those three attendants can receive the treatment of outer disciples in the True Martial Sect. If they perform well, they can even advance to become inner disciples, or even direct disciples. Other than Xiao Qing, I do not have anyone else in mind, so I was thinking..."

Zhao Wu frowned. "Liang Bo, do you mean you want the two of us to join the True Martial Sect as your attendants?"

Liang Bo nodded lightly and looked at the two of them, waiting for their answer.

He had been cold-shouldered within the Liang Clan. Apart from Xiao Qing, he was not close to anyone else. Outside the Liang Clan, Zhao Zhao and Zhao Wu were the only two people who could truly be called his friends.

It just so happened that both of them had failed the martial academy competition this time, so he had thought of having them join the True Martial Sect as his attendants. Though they would only receive the treatment of outer disciples, it was still far better than joining other sects, and vastly better than remaining in Wan City.

However, Liang Bo also knew that they might not be willing to accept such an arrangement. After all, everyone had their pride. They had originally been friends, but if they accepted Liang Bo's invitation, they would become his attendants. Even if Liang Bo had no intention of treating them as attendants, their status would still be affected to some extent. Their relationship would change from one of friendship to one of subordination, and they might not be able to accept that outcome.

Thus, Liang Bo did not try to persuade them too much. He merely extended the invitation and let them make their own decision.

After a while, Zhao Wu suddenly laughed. "This is a good thing! With my strength, even if I wait another year, I can at most defeat sixth-rank demonic beasts. Defeating a fifth-rank demonic beast is basically impossible. With strength like that, I could at most become an outer disciple in relatively weaker sects like the Floating Cloud Pavilion or the Golden Blade Sect. I might as well follow you! Say, Liang Bo, you are not really going to treat me as an attendant, are you?"

Liang Bo smiled and shook his head. "Of course not. You are my friend. You were in the past, you are now, and you will be in the future! This talk of attendants is merely because of the rules."

Zhao Wu let out a breath of relief. "Then fine. From now on, I'll follow you."

Liang Bo smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze toward Zhao Zhao.

Zhao Zhao did not answer immediately. There was some hesitation in her expression.

With her strength, although she had failed this year, if she waited another year to participate in the competition again, she should have a great chance of passing. Then she could join a sect through her own ability rather than relying on someone else.

But on the other hand, even if she entered a sect, she could at most become an inner disciple in a relatively weaker sect like the Golden Blade Sect. The treatment she would truly receive might not even compare to being an outer disciple in the True Martial Sect.

There was another point as well. If she chose to work hard on her own, it meant she would have to remain in a place like Wan City for another year. It was like everyone else going off to university while you had to stay behind and repeat a year of school.

Liang Bo did not urge her. He simply waited quietly for her to make her decision, while Zhao Wu beside them said nothing either.

After a moment, Zhao Zhao's gaze became firm once more. She shook her head and refused. "I'll pass. I'd rather work harder and strive to achieve good results next year!" After saying that, she seemed to relax all over.

Liang Bo smiled. "That works too. With your strength, I believe you'll definitely achieve good results next year!"

"That's right, I believe you can achieve good results too!" Zhao Wu smiled and nodded, though inwardly he sighed. He knew that his cousin's pride was still too strong. She was unwilling to accept another person's favor, especially when that person was her friend.

The three chatted for a while longer, agreed to meet another day, then bade one another farewell and returned home.