Chapter 150
Chapter 150: They Enter the Arena for You
After Xing Lan and Jiang Wan Sheng left, Shi Zi Chu couldn’t help but rub her brow.
It was truly puzzling—both of them had such domineering and fierce personalities, yet they tolerated her, demanding and indecisive as she was?
“Ahem.”
Shi Zi Chu turned to look, only to see a pair of curved, peach blossom eyes, gleaming with soft laughter.
Leaning against a pillar with a folding fan in hand, Ye He Qi’s eyes sparkled like a sly fox, both beautiful and crafty.
“Clan Chief Ye,” Shi Zi Chu chided, “Isn’t it a bit too much to just stand by and do nothing?”
Ye He Qi grinned, his voice playful. “I see Daoist Shi is handling everything with ease.”
Whether it was Venerable Xing Lan or Young Master Jiang, both were hesitant to take action, for they understood Shi Zi Chu all too well. If things escalated too badly, whether they could placate her or not was another matter, but they would surely find themselves drifting further from her.
In matters of love, the one who loves less often holds the upper hand. Unfortunately for them, Shi Zi Chu held an absolute advantage in this regard because she loved no one.
So, it was true that she was handling the situation effortlessly.
Shi Zi Chu shot a sideways glance at Ye He Qi.
She hated those like him, who thought alike.
A soft and pleasant voice broke the silence. “Still not congratulating Clan Chief Ye for finding his long-lost brother?”
Ye He Qi didn’t hide his dislike, but Shi Zi Chu wasn’t one to let things slide easily either.
Ye He Qi closed his fan, a slight trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes. “I was just teasing.”
“Tell me,” Shi Zi Chu said as she adjusted her sleeve.
When the topic of his half-brother came up, Ye He Qi’s gaze grew cold, and a hint of disdain crept into his tone. “Ye Chi Wei is in the early stage of Great Ascension, his cultivation level surpasses mine, though I still haven’t figured out all the details about him.”
Shi Zi Chu’s sharp gaze swept over him.
Ye He Qi knew what she was thinking and volunteered, “I’m at the late stage of Integration now.”
That was his main headache. Ye Chi Wei’s cultivation was a whole realm above his. In the cultivation world, strength was everything, and facing Ye Chi Wei in the Great Ascension stage, a few of the older generation had begun to feel uneasy.
“Indeed…” Shi Zi Chu began, but her words halted as she lifted her gaze to see Ye Chi Wei approaching.
Ye He Qi glanced back and slowly straightened up.
“Clan Chief,” Ye Chi Wei’s lips curved into a friendly smile, but his gaze lingered curiously on Shi Zi Chu.
A young woman, just over twenty, at the Mid Nascent Soul stage, worthy of the title “Heaven’s Favored Daughter”—no wonder Ye He Qi, so proud and aloof, would form a bond with her.
Shi Zi Chu nodded slightly and responded gently, “Young Lord Ye.”
“Daoist Shi,” Ye Chi Wei returned the nod.
After the brief exchange, Shi Zi Chu turned to leave, knowing that Ye Chi Wei had come specifically to speak with someone.
At that moment, Meng Xi Yu and Yan Zhou Bai hurried over. They bypassed Ye He Qi and his brother, their gazes immediately locking onto Shi Zi Chu.
“Junior sister and Returning Cloud Sect’s Pei Luo Xiu are in the arena,” Yan Zhou Bai said, speaking before Meng Xi Yu could.
Shi Zi Chu froze for a moment.
Ruo Ruo and A’Xiu were fighting?
Meng Xi Yu grasped Shi Zi Chu’s hand, pulling her toward the arena as he explained, “Yes, just as you thought. The two of them are fighting for you.”
“Ah?”
Shi Zi Chu rushed to catch up, her mind buzzing.
Her Master and Sheng Sheng didn’t fight, but Ruo Ruo and A’Xiu did?
Meng Xi Yu spoke again, his tone almost detached. “Young Sect Master Yan tried to stop them, but we had to come find you. Sect Master Yao and Sect Master Pei may have heard the news and gone over as well.”
Yan Zhou Bai, walking calmly behind, added, “By the time Meng Sect Master and I arrived, they were already in the arena.”
Meng Xi Yu’s voice took on a colder tone. “No need to worry too much, there’s no death contract signed.”
Sometimes, he had to admire Shi Zi Chu’s ability to attract all sorts of attention.
Yao Ruo Ruo and Pei Luo Xiu—one had forgotten her feelings for Young Sect Master Yan, and the other had forgotten she was the fiancée of Sect Master Pei. It seemed their souls had been taken by Shi Zi Chu!
Shi Zi Chu sighed, “A’Yu, stop making trouble.”
Ruo Ruo might be impulsive, but A’Xiu wasn’t that kind of person. They might have exchanged a few harsh words, but how did it end up in a fight?
Was someone behind the scenes stirring things up?
“I misspoke?” Meng Xi Yu snorted coldly.
As they reached the arena, Shi Zi Chu could see Xing Lan and the others had already arrived.
Jiang Wan Sheng’s eyes were burning with anger, glaring at the hands Meng Xi Yu and Shi Zi Chu had linked together.
Xing Lan, that old man!
Now, what was he doing? Allowing Meng Xi Yu to gain the upper hand?
The clash between the sandpiper and the clam only benefits the fisherman!
Sect Master Meng, seeing this, could only pretend not to notice.
Xing Lan glanced over, but made no significant reaction.
Meng Xi Yu wasn’t the problem now. It was Jiang Wan Sheng who seemed irritated.
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes remained fixed on the two in the arena. She didn’t have the time to pay attention to anything else for now.
“Junior sister knows her boundaries,” Yan Zhou Bai said softly, standing beside her. “They won’t be seriously hurt, but this situation is rather improper. Having them fight like this at this moment doesn’t reflect well on anyone.”
One was the daughter of the Limitless Sect’s sect master, the other a disciple of Returning Cloud Sect. With Venerable Xing Lan in charge of teaching them, their public fight could easily be mistaken as a dispute between the two sects.
“Blame me, blame me,” Shi Zi Chu raised her voice a little in apology.
“Master, it’s my fault,” she said, turning to Xing Lan. “Disciple has a half-immortal rank magic artifact, the Plum Bone Snow Bracelet.”
Xing Lan gave a slight nod.
The gathered Venerables exchanged puzzled glances.
“Our group of young ladies is of a similar age, and we hit it off instantly.” Shi Zi Chu continued, her hand rubbing her nose awkwardly as she spoke with a hint of self-consciousness. “I had planned to offer the Plum Bone Snow Bracelet as a prize for the contest, but something urgent came up, and I didn’t clarify how the game should go. That’s what led to Ruo Ruo and A’Xiu misunderstanding and deciding to compete.”
She then bowed to Sect Master Yao and Sect Master Pei. “The fault lies with me, and I apologize to both of you.”
Everyone present understood that this was the necessary explanation.
“Sigh, it’s no big deal,” Sect Master Pei waved his hand, his tone light. “A’Xiu is a bit impulsive. I’ve told her so many times. Venerable Xing Lan, Sect Master Yao, please don’t mind!”
After speaking, Sect Master Pei cast a glare at his own rebellious child.
Look at Shi Zi Chu, so capable and graceful in handling matters. Why did his child, of all people, have to fall for that Chu Zhi Rou?
Ugh, blind fool!
Pei Qing You, who had been wronged, could only fume in frustration.
What had he done to deserve this?
Sect Master Yao chuckled. “In my opinion, no one is at fault. It’s just a little play between sisters.”
With a few words, Sect Master Yao had smoothed over the situation, turning it into a lighthearted scuffle between close friends, subtly strengthening the bond between the three sects.
What could have been a major issue was now reduced to something trivial.
No wonder Venerable Xing Lan favored Shi Zi Chu so much. If it were her, she would have favored Shi Zi Chu too.
Xing Lan pondered for a moment and then asked, “So, what was your plan for the contest?”
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes twinkled with mischief, a playful smile on her lips. “Chess!”
Xing Lan shook his head slightly.
Sect Master Yao teased, “Ruo Ruo’s a terrible player. Little friend, don’t indulge her, and don’t let her take back her moves.”
“Ruo Ruo is very skilled,” Shi Zi Chu replied seriously. “It’s me, actually, who always asks Ruo Ruo to let me take back my moves.”
Sect Master Yao smiled warmly, his gaze toward Shi Zi Chu revealing admiration.
Beautiful and clever.
The two in the arena, now slightly embarrassed, calmed down after the Venerables arrived.
Using Shi Zi Chu’s explanation, they both seemed to reach an understanding.
“Draw?” Shi Zi Chu seemed to hesitate, her voice filled with mock distress. “But there’s only one Plum Bone Snow Bracelet. Who should get it?”