Chapter 367: Face Over Life
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
In a single day, Lou Jin Tang had endured countless shocks.
But none compared to this moment.
Lu Chao Chao casually pulled out all the spirit swords and stacked them into a small mountain, allowing her to pick freely.
The spirit swords, which the entire Lou Family coveted yet could not obtain, were now piled up on the ground like common vegetables, looking utterly worthless.
“Pick whichever one you like… The rest will be tossed into the manure pit. With such a foul mouth, might as well go down there and wash it!” Lu Chao Chao huffed, puffing her cheeks in anger.
“Old Fart deserves a lesson!” the little girl muttered.
Lou Jin Tang, overwhelmed, stammered, “A-all of them are available to choose from?”
“Of course! You’re my disciple—why wouldn’t you have the right to choose? If none suit you, melt them all down. A bunch of useless junk!” Lu Chao Chao had no mercy. Someone had made her little disciple cry; she had to reclaim her dignity!
Moments ago, the spirit swords had been aloof and indifferent. Now, they were practically wagging their tails in eagerness.
Lou Jin Tang’s heart swelled with sweetness—she had latched onto a golden thigh.
A powerful, unstoppable thigh.
With so many spirit swords laid out before her, she paced back and forth, hesitating on which to choose.
“Ah, I had thought… as long as I pulled out any sword, it would be enough. But now, I can’t decide…” she sighed.
Lu Chao Chao tilted her head, lost in thought.
Then, she plucked out a rust-covered spirit sword.
“Choose this one,” she said with an undeniable certainty.
“It’s rusted! Looks like scrap metal…” Xie Yu Zhou wrinkled his nose in disdain.
“Try it. See if it resonates with you. A true spirit sword should be able to connect with its wielder’s heart.”
Xie Yu Zhou was curious. “What if the sword is good, but it just doesn’t feel right?”
“Then beat it into submission until it does,” Lu Chao Chao replied without hesitation.
Xie Yu Zhou: …
Lou Jin Tang grasped the rusted spirit sword, immediately feeling a surge of spiritual energy. The sword resisted slightly, but she paid it no mind.
She swung the sword, moving gracefully in front of them.
At some point, the rust began to flake away, revealing a gleaming blade beneath.
Each swing left deep marks within the Sword Tomb.
Moments later, Lou Jin Tang withdrew the sword, her eyes shining, sweat dotting her nose. “This is the one! It suits me perfectly—it connects with my heart!”
“Drip your blood onto the sword to claim it.”
She followed the instruction, and sure enough, she could sense a subtle, unwavering bond in her mind.
“Now, what do you want to do with the rest of these useless things? Dump them in the manure pit, or let Windchaser relieve himself on them?”
At the mention of his name, Windchaser eagerly stepped forward.
Lu Chao Chao suddenly winked at Lou Jin Tang.
Understanding, Lou Jin Tang cleared her throat. “As the new Family Head of the Lou Clan, I must lead our people forward! I will inevitably have dealings with the Sword Tomb in the future, so let’s spare them this time.”
“Besides, to celebrate my new title, let’s allow ten clan members to enter and pick their own swords today.”
Lu Chao Chao nodded. “As you wish.”
One played the villain, the other the hero—a flawless performance.
Arms crossed, Lu Chao Chao stood beside her, providing an unshakable presence.
Even if she did nothing, the spirit swords trembled in fear.
The stone gate slowly creaked open.
“Tang’er, don’t be discouraged if you were not recognized by the Sword Tomb. You may not become the Family Head, but you—”
Before the elder could finish, the words caught in his throat. It was as if fate had gripped his windpipe.
The First Elder’s pupils shrank violently. With a trembling finger, he pointed at the swords littering the ground. “The Sword Tomb shook just now… was it because… you pulled out all the spirit swords?!”
Lou Jin Tang shook her head.
“It was Chao Chao.”
Lu Chao Chao clasped her hands behind her back, looking utterly innocent, dimples showing as she grinned.
“I just pulled them out to take a look.”
“Didn’t you say I could take whichever I liked?”
The clan elders nearly went mad. The spirit swords they had long coveted and failed to acquire were nothing more than radishes in her hands!!
That single sentence—”Take whichever you like”—
Now, it stabbed into their hearts like a knife.
Madam Lin was utterly dumbfounded by the scene. “Impossible! Impossible! How could this be?!”
The First Elder’s gaze sharpened. “Seize this lunatic before she harms the Little Family Head!”
Just like that, Lou Jin Tang was officially acknowledged as the Little Family Head.
Lou Mu wept tears of joy, holding her granddaughter close, her eyes red with emotion.
“To celebrate Jin Tang’s ascension, ten disciples may select their spirit swords today! Don’t be late!” Lu Chao Chao announced, grinning mischievously.
“Truly?!”
“We can pick freely from this pile?!” a clan elder blurted out.
“Yes. Chao Chao has already pulled out all the swords. After ten are chosen, she will return the rest.”
The elders exchanged glances, their burdens lifted.
They had been terrified that Lu Chao Chao would take every spirit sword away.
“They’re afraid you’ll take them away… After all, you did say, ‘Take whatever you like,'” Xie Yu Zhou whispered in her ear.
Without lifting an eyelid, Lu Chao Chao scoffed, “Just a pile of scrap metal. I’m not interested.”
The elders choked…
Even so, they still bowed deeply toward Lu Chao Chao. “Thank you, Princess Sunshine. With the Little Family Head in place and ten new spirit swords, the Lou Family shall flourish!”
Lu Chao Chao waved dismissively. It was nothing.
She was simply looking out for a follower of Xing Hui.
“Lou Yun Zheng, go pick ten clan members,” the First Elder instructed.
Even Lou Yun Zheng had not expected to gain benefits from his daughter’s success.
“Yes.”
Once the selections were made, Lu Chao Chao casually reinserted the remaining spirit swords back into the Sword Tomb.
The moment she left, the Sword Tomb let out a sorrowful wail.
It had been utterly humiliated.
From this day forward, the Lou Family regarded Lu Chao Chao with profound respect. The elders’ faces nearly burst with joy.
Who said Northern Zhao was poor, weak, and unimpressive?
With a Princess Sunshine who taught swordsmanship so casually and plucked spirit swords like they were mere vegetables?
The people of Northern Zhao were certainly well-fed!
“What’s over there?” Lu Chao Chao pointed toward a distant place.
“That is the Restricted Area, where our revered ancestor Bai Ze resides. He enjoys peace and dislikes disturbance. Please do not approach, lest he be angered.”
“Oh,” Lu Chao Chao responded indifferently.
“Whatever you need, just say it! You are a benefactor of the Lou Family, and we will do everything to fulfill your request!” The elders were exceedingly generous.
“Can Bai Ze dance?”
The elders frowned. “Princess Sunshine, you jest! Bai Ze is an ancient divine beast, not some common performer! He does not dance!”
“Then, do you know how to dance?” Lu Chao Chao asked casually.
The white-haired elders blew their beards and glared. “We would rather die than dance! Impossible, impossible! Our old bones wouldn’t allow it! You jest, Princess Sunshine!”
They all shook their heads vehemently.
No. Not in this lifetime.