Chapter Forty-Seven: A Gamble

The matches for official disciples were naturally held on Lexuan Peak. Lin Xiaobao and Wang Dashan strode forward, chatting and laughing along the way; though not intentional, their pace was remarkably swift.

In the final half-year, Wang Dashan occasionally ventured to the back courtyard to play with Lin Xiaobao, but this was their first time going out together. Wang Dashan, like a guileless child, appeared truly delighted.

“Dashan, you’d better be careful. Someone might challenge you today. You’re now a direct disciple of Songyan Peak!” Lin Xiaobao, rarely at ease, felt himself slowly regaining his old self.

Wang Dashan’s expression suddenly darkened. “If anyone dares challenge me, I’ll beat them half to death! If it weren’t for the sect rules, I’d have jumped up and taught the guy who challenged you a lesson already.”

Lin Xiaobao nodded, choosing not to argue. He knew Wang Dashan wasn’t bluffing; anyone foolish enough to challenge him would surely regret it. Though Wang Dashan looked simple-minded, his Divine Strength physique was no empty boast. Now, as a seventh-stage innate martial artist, he was barely able to rank among the top tier of the direct disciples.

Lin Xiaobao had been resentful about this for days. He had nearly crippled himself training for a year and a half to reach the ninth stage, while Wang Dashan, quietly and without fuss, had advanced to the seventh stage. Of course, Lin Xiaobao understood that Old Mo’s imparting of the Wild Desolation Technique played a significant role.

Lexuan Peak, Frost and Wind Hall.

As the venue for the official disciples’ tournament, this year’s top ten official disciples had unprecedentedly requested to challenge the direct disciples. The hall was packed with disciples eager to watch the spectacle.

“Lin Xiaobao has arrived!” Someone shouted, and once again Lin Xiaobao found himself the center of attention. Yet the looks in their eyes annoyed him; not a single gaze held admiration.

Unfolding his spiritual sense, Lin Xiaobao finally spotted a familiar figure in the crowd and hurried over.

“Thank you for what you did last time!” Before Lin Xiaobao could speak, Cen Shuya pointed to another beautiful woman by her side. “Let me introduce you—this is my senior sister, Nie Feiyan. You’re both from the same hometown!”

Lin Xiaobao knew Cen Shuya was referring to the incident at the Hall of Justice, when he had helped her out. As for Nie Feiyan, though she was attractive, Lin Xiaobao felt little interest.

But Wang Dashan, standing nearby, trembled and was about to kneel, saying, “Your humble servant Wang Dashan greets the city lord’s daughter!”

Before he could bow fully, Nie Feiyan stopped him. “Brother Wang, there’s no need to cling to worldly status. You’re both now direct disciples of Frost and Snow Pavilion. From now on, we can call each other brother and sister.”

Wang Dashan stood up, hearing Nie Feiyan’s gentle voice, and gazed at her, saying, “Then I’ll call you Senior Sister Nie from now on.”

At that moment, Lin Xiaobao noticed, to his surprise, that for the first time since he’d known Wang Dashan, his eyes no longer held their usual dull gleam but seemed somewhat shrewd. Could it be…

“I didn’t expect anyone would dare challenge Brother Lin. Surely you’ll showcase your skills today?” Cen Shuya, as always, relished chaos, but this time she genuinely believed in Lin Xiaobao.

“To display my skills would be good, but if I lose to those official disciples and set a precedent, then every year official disciples might challenge us direct disciples. That would be troublesome.” At some point, Long Xing Tian had squeezed over, accompanied by the five who had nearly ended Lin Xiaobao’s life before.

Seeing the six, Lin Xiaobao immediately felt displeased. He exchanged a glance with Cen Shuya, then covertly formed the Frost and Snow token’s hand gesture with his right hand and said, “Don’t worry, Sister Cen, I will not lose.”

Hearing Lin Xiaobao’s less-than-confident assurance, Long Xing Tian snorted coldly. He had, of course, orchestrated the challenge against Lin Xiaobao from behind the scenes; five of the top ten official disciples were under his orders. “Let’s see if you can say that after the match.”

“I believe Brother Lin will win!” Cen Shuya, understanding Lin Xiaobao’s intent, glared at Long Xing Tian, as if in defiance, and added, as if to prove herself right, “I’ll bet on it!”

Witnessing Cen Shuya’s superb acting, Lin Xiaobao had to admit her nickname, ‘Little Enchantress,’ was well-deserved.

Long Xing Tian fell for it. He had planned to mock Lin Xiaobao, but upon hearing Cen Shuya propose a bet, he immediately shut his mouth, afraid she might lose confidence. “What shall we wager, Sister Cen?”

Cen Shuya pretended to ponder, then said, “Let’s bet contribution points.” She produced her Frost and Snow token, which displayed a hefty three thousand five hundred contribution points.

Long Xing Tian glanced at Cen Shuya’s token, then looked at Lin Xiaobao and said, “Sister Cen is indeed well-off. Since you’re in the mood, we brothers will join you for a round.”

The six of them produced their tokens, totaling twelve thousand contribution points.

“Bring out all your tokens!” Cen Shuya maintained her competitive stance.

Lin Xiaobao took out his own Frost and Snow token, showing seven thousand five hundred points. Wang Dashan and Nie Feiyan’s points added up to a thousand. Thus, both sides wagered twelve thousand points each.

“Wait for the dividends!” Wang Dashan squeezed next to Nie Feiyan and whispered, “Forget the official disciples—even these six aren’t a match for Brother Xiaobao!”

Coming from the same city, Nie Feiyan knew Wang Dashan wasn’t lying, yet she still found it hard to believe. Perhaps the official disciples weren’t Lin Xiaobao’s equals, but these six were top-tier direct disciples, all eighth-stage or higher innate martial artists. Among them, Long Xing Tian, Yu Yongming, and Ye Jingming were ninth-stage.

“Everyone quiet down!” At that moment, a figure appeared atop the arena at the center of Frost and Wind Hall—it was Elder Zhicheng, chief referee for the tournament.

With Elder Zhicheng’s arrival, the hall fell silent. “This year, official disciples finally dare challenge direct disciples. This is something we elders are pleased to see—it shows Frost and Snow Pavilion’s disciples do not lack fighting spirit. For a sect to survive…”

After Elder Zhicheng’s lengthy speech, he finally invited today’s main character, Lin Xiaobao, to take the stage.

Summoned, Lin Xiaobao slowly approached the arena. Upon reaching its edge, he stamped his feet and leaped onto the high platform.

His entrance drew a chorus of boos.

“Let us welcome the first challenger: tenth place in the official disciples’ tournament, Zou Wenshan!” Elder Zhicheng announced, then stepped aside.

A figure landed on the stage like a giant eagle spreading its wings, and Lin Xiaobao immediately sensed an invisible wall of energy surrounding the arena, sealing them both inside.