Borrowing a sword

Chapter 291 Departure, the Third Realm Grand Competition
Inside the courtyard, Mo Qingmei keenly sensed that something seemed off about Niu Yuanshan.

But she didn't know why.

He was simply accompanying the group to the capital of the Moon Kingdom to help with some affairs.

In this regard, Niu Yuanshan should be the most skilled. He has always been the one doing the hardest, most tiring, and most tedious work.

"Steward Niu, is there something troubling you, or something on your mind?" she asked, frowning, though she was actually a little worried.

It's so abnormal!

After a while, a smile appeared on Niu Yuanshan's face.

Instead of answering the question, he suddenly asked, "It's getting late, Junior Sister Mo, why don't you stay for dinner?"

Mo Qingmei immediately refused, saying, "No need."

Ever since she was rejected when she confessed her feelings to Lao Niu, she has never given him a kind look.

“Junior Sister Mo used to think my fish soup was delicious. I haven’t made it for many years. Why don’t you try it today and see if my skills have deteriorated?” Niu Yuanshan persisted.

Looking at the sincere expression on his face, Mo Qingmei hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Nothing happened today."

But she added, "How about I call the other deacons over for a get-together as well?"

She seemed reluctant to be alone with someone.

"Alright," Niu Yuanshan replied after thinking for a moment.

The slight expectation that had risen in Mo Qingmei's heart was extinguished by those two words.

Her expression turned even colder, and she turned and walked out, saying, "Go and make the soup, I'll go call someone."

Watching her retreating figure and hearing her cold tone, a slight smile appeared on Old Niu's seemingly honest and kind face. He thought to himself:

"Junior Sister Mo, go and invite all the stewards to dine in my courtyard. If they know what's good for them, they won't come."

Just as Niu Yuanshan had predicted, in the end only Mo Qingmei returned.

Throughout the process, she was teased a few times by several familiar butlers, each of them smiling knowingly.

"So many years have passed, has Senior Brother Niu finally come to his senses?" one of the female deacons said.

These people's words stirred up some ripples in her heart.

A glimmer of hope stirred within her heart, which she thought had long since died.

But expectation is a very subtle poison.

Once people have expectations, they also have worries.

She was a little nervous on her way back.

Upon seeing Niu Yuanshan, she adopted a cold and indifferent demeanor and said in a deep voice, "All of you stewards have things to attend to today, so I'll head back first. This will save Steward Niu the trouble of entertaining you."

"No trouble at all, the soup will be ready soon," Old Niu said without turning around, busy in the kitchen.

He looked down at the boiling fish soup, somewhat lost in thought.

"Perhaps this is the last time I will dine alone with Junior Sister Mo in the Daoist sect as Niu Yuanshan," he thought to himself.

Perhaps, after returning to his hometown, there will only be Mu Bingjiu in the world, and no more Niu Yuanshan.

After serving the fish soup, Lao Niu immediately said, "Junior Sister Mo, please wait a moment while I go get something."

He went inside and brought out a jar of Erlang wine.

Chu Huaixu gave him two jars of wine at the time, but he was reluctant to drink them.

Until that day, he drank alone by himself, finishing a whole jar by himself.

"Hmm? This is the wine Chu Huaixu gave you?" Mo Qingmei asked.

Old Niu was always honest and kind, but he couldn't resist showing it off in front of the other deacons.

“Exactly,” Niu Yuanshan replied.

"Didn't you always hesitate to drink it?" Mo Qingmei asked in surprise.

"Wine, after all, is meant to be drunk," Old Niu replied casually.

"That's true. Huai Xu is a good child. Although he has already become a true disciple and holds a prestigious position, his future achievements are immeasurable. Even so, I think he will always regard you as a respected elder."

"How could he not think of you during holidays and festivals?"

“There’s really no need to be so reluctant to drink it,” Mo Qingmei said.

In the past, Niu Yuanshan would have been extremely pleased and delighted to hear these words.

However, after Chu Huaixu directly laid his cards on the table, his state of mind became somewhat complicated.

But what Mo Qingmei said was actually true.

Niu Yuanshan had long realized that although Chu Huaixu was sometimes unreliable, occasionally joking around, and had an unconventional style of doing things, he was probably a person who valued relationships extremely much at heart.

If others treat him well, he will treat others well in return.

Therefore, up to this day, Chu Huaixu's attitude towards Niu Yuanshan has remained consistent with before.

It is indeed like a junior respecting an elder.

This, ironically, left Old Niu, caught between the [Organization] and the [Taoist Sect], and between His Highness the Crown Prince and Chu Huaixu, somewhat at a loss as to how to position himself.

Mo Qingmei, of course, had no idea about these things; she was still lost in thought.

"Speaking of which, Huai Xu also saved my life. I never expected that he would rush up to save me like that at the evil cultivator's altar that day."

"If it weren't for him, I'm afraid my life would have been in real danger."

Upon hearing this, the old ox couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

This immediately displeased Mo Qingmei, who said, "Why are you sighing!"

"I just didn't expect this child to be so sentimental," Niu Yuanshan said.

"Isn't this good?" Mo Qingmei looked at him with a questioning gaze.

Aren't most of my Taoist disciples people with feelings and righteousness?
“For the Taoist sect, it is certainly good.” Niu Yuanshan only said half of what he was thinking, swallowing the other half.

After saying this, he opened the wine jar and began to pour wine for Mo Qingmei.

After a few rounds of drinks, as the two ate fish and drank fish soup, Old Niu couldn't help but ask, "Junior Sister Mo, has my cooking skill declined in recent years?"

Mo Qingmei's memories began to surge. In fact, from the very first sip, fragments of past memories had already flooded her mind.

But at this moment, all he said was, "It's acceptable."

A slight smile appeared on the face of this devoted servant, as if these two simple words were the highest praise.

In fact, Mo Qingmei doesn't eat much. But today, she ate a whole bowl of fish soup with rice.

Erlang wine is very strong, which made her cheeks flushed.

Looking at the person in front of him, Niu Yuanshan felt that Mo Shimei had lost her youthful vigor and was quite different from the girl in his memory.

What's added now is a touch of maturity that comes with the passage of time.

She's always been the kind of person whose beauty grows on you, and it's only at this age that she's become even more charming.

Yes, the junior sister who used to call him "Senior Brother Niu" is now an outer sect steward in charge of all affairs of the disciples' academy and can stand on her own.

However, after that night that she would never forget, she became disheartened and rarely called out to Brother Niu again.

Usually, they just call people by their names or address them as Steward Niu.

At this moment, Mo Qingmei was already slightly drunk. Seeing that he kept staring at her, she couldn't help but speak up:
Why are you staring at me like that?

Niu Yuanshan immediately turned his head away and buried his head in his drink.

Mo Qingmei looked at him and also began to lower her head slightly.

Later on, it was like drinking alone in silence.

As she drank more, she seemed to get a little drunk, slumping halfway across the table with blurry, intoxicated eyes.

I don't know why, even though so many years have passed and I'm just here for a meal, my heart, which should have been dead and still, is so restless and unwilling.
Yes, she was still somewhat unwilling to accept it.

A tipsy Mo Qingmei buried her face in her arms and mumbled:

"Senior Brother Niu."

She suddenly shouted.

Niu Yuanshan's right hand, which was holding the wine glass, stiffened slightly.

“Junior Sister Mo, I’m listening,” Old Niu said.

His heartbeat also began to quicken slightly.

"Senior Brother Niu, so many years... so many years..."

"Have you ever...have you ever..." Mo Qingmei's voice grew softer and softer.

But what he received in return was a dry, hoarse voice from Mu Bingjiu:
"Deacon Mo, you've had too much to drink."

Three days passed by in a flash.

It was time for the Taoist disciples to descend the mountain.

Early in the morning, Niu Yuanshan got up very early and strolled around the outer gate area.

Every outer disciple who saw him would greet him with a smile and a bow: "Steward Niu."

People's attitude towards him wasn't particularly respectful.

But it is precisely this casualness that makes them seem more approachable.

Comparatively speaking, among the outer sect stewards, Niu Yuanshan was the easiest to talk to.

After wandering around, Lao Niu made a special trip to the outer market and bought a pound of his favorite Lingju oranges.

Lingju oranges are grown in the medicinal mountain, and their taste is quite different from those grown elsewhere.

It's sweet, but not purely sweet; it always carries a hint of sourness.

He took out a spirit orange and put the rest into his storage token.

Then, they ate as they walked and headed to the training ground to assemble.

The training ground was unusually lively today.

The selected disciples of the Third Realm Daoist sect will soon set off together for the capital of the Moon Kingdom.

Many people gathered in small groups, chattering away, with many of them looking excited.

Many of these disciples had never been to the capital of the Moon Kingdom, or even left the Eastern Continent.

We're all young people, so our feelings right now are definitely different from usual.

Some people were discussing the customs and culture of the Moon Kingdom, while others were boasting about how they would take down the cultivators of the Western Continent.

But no matter how high-spirited these people were, none of them said that their trip to the Moon Kingdom was to seize the top spot!

It's not that these Taoist prodigies lack ambition or dare not even think about it.

It's simply because they know very well who the most likely person in the Taoist sect to sit on that throne is!

Before long, the surrounding area suddenly became quieter.

The people standing in front looked back, confused, thinking that their elders from their sect had arrived.

But the three people of the same generation who walked towards them were actually their peers.

Of the three, the one in the lead wore a signature black and gold robe.

The girl standing to his right had a cool and aloof demeanor and held a spirit sword.

The boy standing to his left had delicate features and carried a sword case on his back.

The inner disciples began to bow in greeting.

"The leader of Chu."

"Han Zhenchuan".

"Xu Zhenchuan".

Among the disciples of the current generation of the Gentleman's Temple, only these three newly entered juniors are still at the third realm.

The other senior brothers and sisters were no longer able to participate in this competition.

Those with higher cultivation levels are already great cultivators.

However, this also makes their status the most prestigious among all the participating disciples.

Most people's eyes were focused on Chu Huaixu.

Many people were also secretly eyeing the huge sword box that Xu Ziqing was carrying on his back.

After all, the ugly bronze sword inside during the Eastern Continent Grand Competition of the First Realm left an extremely deep impression on everyone.

This boy, who at first glance seems somewhat androgynous, will be extremely terrifying once he draws his sword!
However, it seems that he hasn't been seen carrying the sword case with him since the competition ended.

Even when he went down the mountain to do his sect's missions, Xu Zhenchuan always came empty-handed.

At this moment, Chu Huaixu, along with the large ice block and Xiao Xu, continued walking forward.

Everyone made way for the three to walk to the front of the line.

He immediately took the so-called center position and felt perfectly justified in doing so.

If they weren't standing here, they would put pressure on others; it would be better for them to be more outgoing.

Among this group of people, Chu Huaixu saw many familiar faces.

For example, Chang Le, Ding Bolin, etc.

These people were all his opponents in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.

At that time, Chu Huaixu's name was not on the list of those who could bet at the sect's casino.

He rose to the top spot as a dark horse.

Moreover, it was an absolute crushing victory, and no one could argue with that!
However, many people were a little surprised at this point.

"How come Chu Huaixu's cultivation level is only at the seventh level of the third realm?"

"With his exceptional talent for cultivation, this shouldn't be the case."

"Chang Le and the others have recently raised their cultivation to the Great Perfection of the Third Realm. Ding Bolin was originally a little short, but recently he took pills and went into seclusion, and has also cultivated to the Ninth Heaven."

Because of those several missions to rush down the mountain to provide assistance, the Taoist disciples all came to a deep understanding of Chu Huaixu's strength.

No one would think that his cultivation level of only the seventh level would make him weaker than Chang Le and the others.

However, everyone hopes that he can represent the Taoist sect and create new glories.

Generally speaking, it would be safer to reach the Great Perfection of cultivation.

At this moment, Chu Huaixu did not conceal his true strength, and his cultivation level was laid bare for everyone to see.

He could also guess what others were thinking from their eyes.

He just thought, "No way! Little Xu is only at the fourth level of the third realm, doesn't anyone think he's lame?"

He wasn't in a hurry to improve his cultivation level, since he could enter the [Emperor's Pool] anyway.

"Recently, the high-level combat forces of the Taoist sect have been carrying out a large-scale sweep at the foot of the mountain, and the remnants of the Black Moon Sect have long since fled in all directions."

"Those who were slow to escape were all wiped out."

"It's so hard for me to even jungle," Chu Huaixu thought to himself.

Fortunately, he had some understanding of the [Imperial Pool].

Its most basic function is similar to taking a medicinal bath, but the effect is much stronger.

He remembered clearly that in "Borrowing Swords", only a few players from the Moon Kingdom were rewarded by the royal family with the qualification to enter the Imperial Pool because they made outstanding contributions by chance.

What kind of people are these silly gamers?

Once inside the Imperial Pool, there was this idiot who really peed!
"Thank goodness, I'm going to take a bath now. This Imperial Pool should be clean, right?" Chu Huaixu thought to himself.

After a while, Lao Niu and Mo Qingmei also arrived at the training ground.

Not long after the two deacons arrived, three streaks of light flashed through the air.

The speed of the three great cultivators was simply too fast.

Jiang Zhi appeared together with Nangong Yue and Chu Yinyin.

Everyone hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Junior Grandmaster Uncle."

"Greetings, Ninth Elder."

"Greetings, Tenth Elder."

Jiang Zhi glanced around at everyone and nodded slightly.

Then, without uttering a single wasted word, he simply waved his sleeve and proclaimed loudly:

"Get off the mountain!"

(P.S.: This is a combined chapter, a transitional chapter. Requesting monthly votes mid-month!)

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(End of this chapter)