Chapter 442: The Wager

Hearing Lu Meng’s words, Zhang Xiaohua wore a face full of alarm and said: “Brother Lu, let’s just compete in martial techniques instead. Look at these skinny arms and legs of mine—how much strength could I possibly have? How could I be a match for you? Oh right, aren’t you one of the top experts in the Weapon Refinement Sect?”

Lu Meng replied somewhat proudly: “When it comes to martial moves, I’m barely ranked in the top ten among the younger generation of our Weapon Refinement Sect—not worth mentioning. But if we’re talking about brute strength, your Brother Lu here is definitely among the top.”

“So,” Zhang Xiaohua narrowed his eyes as though picking up on something, “are you number one or number two?”

“Number two!” Lu Meng answered with some frustration. “I have a junior brother whose strength is just a tiny bit greater than mine.”

“That’s strange,” Zhang Xiaohua asked, “he’s your junior brother, so shouldn’t he be younger than you? How is it that he’s stronger?”

“Sigh, who knows. His strength…” Lu Meng was just about to explain when he suddenly realized something was off. He immediately barked: “Brat, stop trying to change the subject. Tell me—are you going to compete or not?”

Zhang Xiaohua, seeing his trick exposed, wasn’t the least bit annoyed. He said: “I just feel like a pointless match isn’t all that interesting. Wouldn’t it be better not to compete at all?”

“What do you mean, pointless match?” Lu Meng growled. “If you lose, you have to fulfill your promise.”

“My promise?” Zhang Xiaohua looked blank. “When did I ever make any promise in front of you? Don’t try to scare me.”

Lu Meng said: “If you lose, you must keep what you said before stepping onto the stage—leave this Spring Rebirth Valley tomorrow and stay away from my little junior sister.”

Zhang Xiaohua chuckled. “Brother Lu, you truly are something else. You’re not even inside the manor, yet you know what’s happening here? And you’re a disciple of the Weapon Refinement Sect, yet your hand’s already reaching into the affairs of Spring Rebirth Valley. Aren’t you afraid the Valley Master Nie will find out?”

“That—” Lu Meng was shocked and at a loss for how to respond. He could only scratch his head with his large hand and say: “I just wanted to compare strength with you. If your strength isn’t greater than mine, then you’re not worthy of my junior sister. As for what I said earlier, that was just drunken banter between a few brothers over drinks. If you don’t take it seriously, then forget it.”

Zhang Xiaohua thought to himself, He’s actually a straightforward fellow. Qiang Sheng must have pushed him into this, just to test the waters for me. It shows that things in this Spring Rebirth Valley aren’t so simple. As for this cheap ploy of using some ‘promise’ to force me to leave—Qiangsheng likely wouldn’t stoop to such tricks. Lu Meng probably overheard it at the wine table and casually used it as a wager.

At the thought of “wager,” Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes lit up. He clapped his hands and said: “Aiyo, Brother Lu! These words of yours—feel free to say them within the manor, but don’t go repeating them to others outside, or else…”

Lu Meng waved his hand dismissively. “You think I’m a fool? I only heard a few words from Qiang… I mean, from a few people inside the sect. So, brat, how about being a bit more straightforward, eh?”

Just then, a voice came from behind them: “Senior Brother Lu? Why aren’t you up front drinking? What are you doing here?”

Hurrying over from the rear hall, with a stack of scrolls cradled in her arms, wasn’t that none other than Nie Qianyu?

“Uh…” Lu Meng gave a wide grin and said, “I heard my future brother-in-law is highly skilled in martial arts, so I came to challenge him to a little contest.”

“Senior Brother Lu, what nonsense are you up to now?” Nie Qianyu sounded a bit annoyed. “Big Brother Ren has already been fighting on the stage for so long—he’s exhausted. Stop making trouble here. Go back and drink, or I’ll complain to your Sect Leader!”

“Little Junior Sister, don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I’ll go, I’ll go—hehe, I’m going now,” Lu Meng said quickly, smiling apologetically and about to turn to leave.

But just then, Zhang Xiaohua called out: “Senior Brother Lu, don’t be in such a hurry.”

Lu Meng blinked. “You brat, you kept dodging and stalling earlier, just waiting for Little Junior Sister to show up, didn’t you? Now that she’s here, why are you calling me back?”

He wasn’t wrong—Zhang Xiaohua had indeed not intended to compete seriously with him. The idle chatter just now had all been to stall for Nie Qianyu’s return. But that mention of a “wager” earlier had sparked Zhang Xiaohua’s interest.

Zhang Xiaohua now said: “Brother Lu, you misunderstand. I had no such intentions. I merely wanted to understand your purpose in seeking a match with me. Since you say there’s no other motive, and you simply wish to test our strength without harming our friendship, of course I’m willing to accompany you.”

“Big Brother Ren…?” Nie Qianyu suddenly had a sinking feeling. It wasn’t the first time she’d had that feeling while accompanying Zhang Xiaohua back.

Sure enough, Lu Meng beamed. “Brother, you truly are straightforward. I wronged you earlier. Then, shall we begin right now?”

Zhang Xiaohua waved his hand. “A test of strength is simple, but as you said earlier, if it’s just a plain competition, it’s really too dull. Why don’t we add a little wager?”

“Wager?” Lu Meng was caught off guard and started winking furiously at Zhang Xiaohua.

But Zhang Xiaohua pretended not to notice and said: “If Senior Brother Lu wins, I’ll leave Spring Rebirth Valley tomorrow and fulfill my promise. But what if Brother Lu loses?”

“You!” Nie Qianyu’s eyes widened in alarm as she stared at Lu Meng.

Lu Meng could only wave his hands repeatedly and say: “Little Junior Sister, hear me out—I only wanted to spar with our brother-in-law, that’s all. No other intentions, I swear! Even if he spends his whole life in Spring Rebirth Valley, holed up in Peach Blossom Hermitage, I’ve got no complaints.”

“You!!” Nie Qianyu’s face flushed bright red.

Beside her, Zhang Xiaohua added with a bit of urgency: “Senior Brother Lu, if I win, what wager will you be putting up?”

Lu Meng scratched his head, unable to come up with anything for the moment. He muttered: “Why would I lose? We’re only comparing brute strength, not internal force.”

Zhang Xiaohua suppressed a grin. “I’m just saying in case, you know? I already put up a wager—if you don’t offer something as well, wouldn’t that be totally unfair?”

Nie Qianyu chimed in angrily: “Exactly! Senior Brother Lu, that’s just bullying!”

“But I didn’t bring any silver or gold—what am I supposed to use as a wager?” Lu Meng said helplessly. 

Zhang Xiaohua mocked him, “So this is how things are in your Artifact Refining Sect—trying to get something for nothing. First time I’ve heard of that.”

“Who said that?!” Lu Meng got anxious. He reached into his chest and pulled everything out in one go, dumping it all on the table beside him. “Take a look for yourself—I wasn’t lying. No gold or silver. Pick something you like and that’ll be the wager.”

A quick glance revealed a shabby sweat cloth, a few worn-out jade pendants, a small booklet of unknown content, a snuff bottle, and some other scattered odds and ends—nothing of much value.

Zhang Xiaohua eyed the booklet and smiled. “What’s this little book?”

Lu Meng replied casually: “Just some basic artifact forging techniques from the Artifact Refining Sect, nothing special.”

Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes flickered with joy. He pointed again: “And these worn-out jade pendants? Where are they from—worth anything?”

“Oh, those? Picked them up by the river. Took them to a pawn shop last time, and they weren’t worth much, so I didn’t pawn them.” Lu Meng scratched his head again.

Zhang Xiaohua laughed. “Looks like Senior Brother Lu was being honest after all. Alright then, how about we use this little booklet as the wager? It’s not like it’s gold or silver anyway.”

Nie Qianyu finally realized what Zhang Xiaohua had been aiming for all along. Still angry at Lu Meng for showing up to provoke him, she couldn’t be bothered to warn him.

Sure enough, Lu Meng frowned. “That booklet contains the forging techniques of our Artifact Refining Sect. It’s not exactly a precious treasure, but it’s not something that should be passed outside, either. Using it as a wager seems inappropriate.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled serenely. “Isn’t Senior Brother Lu confident he won’t lose? Then what are you worried about?”

“But still…” Lu Meng wasn’t a fool. “If I do happen to lose, that booklet would end up with you. How would I explain that to the Sect?”

Zhang Xiaohua’s expression didn’t change. “Relax—even if you lose, I’ll just hold onto the booklet for now. I won’t even look at it, promise. Once you gather enough gold or silver, just come redeem it. Simple as that.”

“Hmph…” Lu Meng was tempted. After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and said: “Fine. It’s a deal. Let’s start the match!”

Sigh, Lu Meng really hadn’t thought it through—what benefit was there in competing with Zhang Xiaohua? Whether he stayed or left, what did it have to do with him at all?

Zhang Xiaohua stood up and said: “Very well then. Little Fishy Nie, you’re going to be the witness, right?”

As he spoke, he walked over to the burly Lu Meng, who stood a full head taller than him, and asked: “So, Senior Brother Lu, how shall we compete?”

Lu Meng glanced around and said: “There’s nothing like stone locks or weights here—let’s head to the training grounds.”

Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes flickered, and he quickly said: “Wait, Senior Brother Lu, I’ve got an idea. We can settle it right here.”

“Oh?” Lu Meng said. “Then out with it.”

Zhang Xiaohua pointed to the longsword leaning next to the chair he had been sitting on earlier and said: “If Senior Brother Lu can raise that longsword over his head, then this round goes to you. What do you think?”

“Ah?!” Lu Meng’s face turned red at once. “You little punk, I came to challenge you sincerely, and now you’re just making fun of me?”

“Senior Brother Lu!” Nie Qianyu scolded angrily.

“Heh heh…” Lu Meng quickly forced a smile and said: “Don’t get upset, Little Junior Sister. I was just too worked up and said something stupid. Don’t take it to heart.”

Nie Qianyu said: “Since Brother Ren put it that way, just lift it and prove him wrong. Make him admit defeat.”

Lu Meng still looked reluctant and pointed at the sword. “But, Little Junior Sister, that brat’s clearly mocking me. That ragged old thing—your Senior Brother could lift ten of them in one hand. This is clearly him trying to make a joke out of me!”

Zhang Xiaohua replied, “But Senior Brother Lu, you haven’t even tried it yet—how do you know you can lift it? If you end up not being able to raise it, then that little booklet will be temporarily mine!”

“Fine!” Lu Meng clenched his jaw. “But if I can lift it, you—”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded. “I’ll head back first thing tomorrow and leave Spring Rebirth Valley, no question about it!”

“Little Junior Sister, you heard him,” Lu Meng said, pointing at Zhang Xiaohua. “I gave him a fair shot. If he loses, he’d better follow through—and don’t blame me when the time comes.”

With that, he strode over toward the longsword.