The Nine Dao Champion gave a cold glance at Huang Jiu and said, "Keep your pet in check."
Huang Jiu, furious, stomped on my shoulder, puffing out air, but since I was holding his mouth, he couldn't say anything.
Meanwhile, I quickly calculated in my mind.
No matter how distinguished they may be, the righteous sects and the Three Yin Sect are opposites. Even though there might be unsavory dealings between them, that's only among the higher-ups. These high-ranking people may have hidden agendas, but to the lower-ranking members, they still have to maintain an appearance of righteousness.
Moreover, someone like Lai Youwei is short-sighted. Besides boasting about his small circle in the world of the mysterious, he probably doesn't gather much information. I concluded that they had no idea about the Three Yin Sect's activities.
With that in mind, I felt my plan was viable. I spoke up, "Let's skip the sparring, we've already competed in both civil and martial aspects, and the results are right in front of you."
I cast a scornful and dismissive glance at He Xiaolong and Lai Youwei.
The Nine Dao Champion understood my implication, and his face immediately darkened. He coldly said, "Today is different. I, the Nine Dao Champion, am here."
Lai Youwei also chimed in, "Kid, you better understand who the Nine Dao Champion is before you talk big. Let me tell you, today—"
"Enough, enough!" I waved my hand, interrupting him. "You righteous sects only have your mouths left. Liu Changxuan is one thing, He Xiao Yun another, both the higher-ups and the lower ones are lacking."
"What do you mean?" He Xiaolong couldn't hold back his anger.
Liu, the one with the surname Liu, also chimed in, "Kid, stop being so arrogant."
Lai Youwei, sitting in the wheelchair, scolded, "Kid, in front of the Nine Dao Champion, you're not even qualified to act so arrogantly!"
I didn't respond to them. What a bunch of Avengers wannabes...
I looked at the Nine Dao Champion and helplessly spread my hands. "See? I told you."
The Nine Dao Champion's face darkened, and when Lai Youwei and the others were about to speak, he felt embarrassed and scolded, "Shut up."
The world went silent.
The Nine Dao Champion looked at me and asked, "What do you mean?"
"We can compete!" I hesitated and then said, "But fists and feet have no eyes, and Taoism has no mercy. If I injure you, I'll be scared too. Every day, it's either a nephew or an uncle coming to bother me. Do you think I can keep running my business like this?"
The Nine Dao Champion's face grew even darker.
Just based on his self-awareness, I felt that he was better than Lai Youwei, He Xiaolong, and the others.
Of course, once a person thinks they are capable, they become easier to deceive.
I thought for a moment and said, "How about this: I heard there's an empty house in the city recently. We can see who finds the house first and destroys the evil spirits inside. This way, we can prove who's better, and we'll be doing a public service. It will be a great story to spread. What do you think?"
By this point, Huang Jiu already understood my intention. I released its mouth, and it immediately cooperated by saying, "The Empty House is said to be the gate to the underworld. They don't have the guts to deal with it."
Lai Youwei also reminded the Nine Dao Champion, "Brother Nine, our goal is to deal with this kid, don't let him mislead you."
I said, "If the Nine Dao Champion handles the Empty House, it will certainly make a splash. But it's a pity, if you don't dare, this fame will fall on me."
Huang Jiu said, "Little Li, why waste time talking to him? Look at him, he's just a coward. Let's go straight to the Empty House and show these righteous sects that we from the wilds can also do great things."
I didn't respond but waited.
Reputation, fame, it was all there.
If he didn't accept, it would make him a joke to the world.
But as the saying goes, those who are not of the same family don't enter the same door. Since he was mixed up with Lai Youwei, I couldn't be sure if they were all the same kind of people.
The Nine Dao Champion remained silent for a few seconds. Ignoring Lai Youwei's advice, he said, "If I don't accept today, it will ruin my righteous reputation, letting a beast look down on me."
Huang Jiu almost exploded, but it knew not to push too hard. It pointed at the other party with its paw but refrained from insulting him.
The Nine Dao Champion said, "But since this is a bet, there must be stakes. If I win, you must ruin your dantian."
My brow furrowed. That was a bit too harsh.
If I self-destructed my dantian, not only would I be unable to stay in the city, but Lai Youwei would also likely sniff me out and chase me to my hometown.
Lai Youwei had opposed this bet before because he only wanted to see a competition of skills. But now that the stakes were about ruining my dantian, he quickly changed his attitude.
Seeing my hesitation, he mocked, "What, scared? If you're afraid, it's not too late. Cut off your legs and shout 'Grandfather' a few times!"
I nodded, "I'm scared. I'm a coward. I can't even gather the courage to injure myself or even bite my tongue. How about this: if I lose, you can come and crush my dantian yourselves."
Lai Youwei got even more excited. After all, it was more satisfying to do it yourself.
He immediately said, "You said it yourself!"
"Yes, I said it, but the competition must have a time limit. Let's call it quits by 4 AM tomorrow. If neither of us has found it by then, it's a draw, and we'll owe each other nothing. And I won't be bothered by you after that," I said, giving them a dismissive glance.
Lai Youwei said, "Don't worry, once tomorrow passes, you won't have a future."
I ignored him. A waste of words. Instead, I looked at the Nine Dao Champion.
The Nine Dao Champion snorted and said, "It's a deal."
With that, he turned and left.
Lai Youwei, pushing his wheelchair, followed behind, looking like an abandoned child.
After sending them off, I happily drank a cup of tea.
Zhan Ling asked worriedly, "Li Yang, destroying your dantian is not a small matter. Are you confident you can handle the Empty House?"
"Handle it? It's not like I don't have help," I replied, rolling my eyes.
Zhan Ling said, "But didn't you make a bet with them?"
Shen Shen chimed in, "He didn't say that when his dantian is destroyed, he can't fight back."
Caught by Shen Shen's remark, I smiled sheepishly. "If they want to destroy my dantian, they'll have to see if they have the ability."
Zhan Ling sighed, "You're shameless!"
"Face? Ever since I met the righteous sects, I've forgotten what face means," I retorted dismissively.
I quickly explained to Shen Shen, "I'm not talking about you!"
Shen Shen snorted.
Huang Jiu muttered, "This person is really boring. I'd rather communicate with Little Sun."
I agreed with that.
Zhan Ling asked, "So, your plan is to have them rescue the little girl?"
I set down my cup. "What are you thinking? Do you really think he's the Nine Dao Champion? If he were truly that powerful, he wouldn't keep his title on his lips."
The Empty House isn't something easy to deal with.
The Nine Dao Champion? Just cannon fodder.
This time, I could also drag Longhu Mountain down with me, so the Three Yin Sect wouldn't just focus on me.
I grabbed the key to the shop and glanced at the sky. "Another day gone, and I haven't even had a meal. Let's go, I'll treat you. After eating, we'll go watch a show."
Huang Jiu didn't follow and slipped away halfway.