"Mother, just what terms did you offer to make Bai Di agree to challenge Chu Ping'an to a Sword Inquiry?"
In the stands where the Wang You Valley disciples sat, Jin Susu hugged Madam Golden Bamboo's arm and asked with great curiosity.
At this, Madam Golden Bamboo frowned slightly and said:
"Our people never managed to contact Bai Di."
Jin Susu asked in surprise:
"Our people couldn't contact Bai Di?"
Madam Golden Bamboo nodded, then explained:
"I did send someone to contact Bai Di's master, Cui Tiegu, earlier, but there was no response from his side."
Jin Susu froze for a moment, then her face lit up with delighted surprise:
"In other words, Bai Di challenged Chu Ping'an to a Sword Inquiry of his own accord?"
Madam Golden Bamboo nodded and gave a sly smile:
"Presumably, Bai Di had long intended to challenge Chu Ping'an, but couldn't bring himself to ask because of moral scruples. Our bounty gave him just the excuse he needed."
Jin Susu's eyes brightened at these words. Then, springtime rippling through her eyes and brows, she looked toward Bai Di and said without turning back:
"Mother, I think Bai Di could be a candidate for recruitment into our Wang You Valley."
Madam Golden Bamboo gently patted the back of Jin Susu's hand and said:
"Susu, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Whatever belongs to us, mother and daughter, certainly won't escape."
Hearing this, Jin Susu was overjoyed. She nestled into Madam Golden Bamboo's embrace and said with coy affection:
"Mother, you really do treat me best."
Where on Jin Susu's face was there even the slightest trace of grief over losing her husband now?
Elsewhere.
Inside a secluded private room in the Crane-Questioning Tower in Liuxian Town.
When Liu Zijin heard through the