Chapter 10

  Tests & Trials (II)

  "Then... want to bet?" I suggested in the spur of the moment.

  "Hm? A bet? With you?" Oh God, I want to punch him so badly... but I have to endure.

  "Why not?"

  "Ha ha, indeed, why not? The only question is--do you even have anything to bet?"

  "What do you want?" That was the easiest way, undoubtedly, because whatever he asked... I'd offer. There was no way to lose this unless my disciple decided to throw me under the bus and not try.

  Hey. Isn't that a real possibility, actually?!

  "Hmm, very well," Daoist Mu grinned. "If you lose, you have to cripple your cultivation and leave the Sect."

  ...

  And just like that, all my confidence was sapped out of me. If I knew Long Tao would try, I'd take it in a heartbeat. But who knew what stray thoughts filled the brain of that old monster?!

  "What? You scared?"

  "Khm, of--of course not," I quickly said. "Very well. However, if I win," I just need to ask something equivalently insane and get him to step back. "Right. If I win, I get to choose any one of your Disciples and make them mine."

  "You!!!" The man's face darkened, and a surge of Qi temporarily escaped him.

  Okay, that was an overreaction... likely to this body's original occupant's reputation.

  "How dare you?! I'd sooner kill you on the spot than let you defile a Disciple of mine!" Yup, there it was. I truly, really, desperately wanted to cry! What was this?! I wasn't a bad person! I'm almost forty years old, for crying out loud! I have no interest in these kids!!

  "Khm, you, you misunderstand, Daoist Mu," I quickly said, scrying the depths of the memories for a solution. Ah! There it was. "In fact, I swear a Blood-Oath that my intentions would not be impure, lest I be smitten by the Heavenly Retribution!"

  "Hmm? Really?"

  "Really, really! I have seen the errors of my ways," despondently, despite this jackass being, well, a jackass, he was still quite devoted to both the Sect as well as his disciples. "But the bet, are you unwilling?"

  "Unwilling? Heh," he grinned yet again; ah, these lunatics... of course they'd bet! "Very well, let the Heavens be our witness! Let's see... right. In six months' time, the first competition for this year's Disciples will be held to determine the future distribution of resources. How about this--if your Disciple beats any one of mine, you win. However, if he cannot achieve even a single victory against anyone, you lose. Do you dare?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "..." Do I dare? I don't know, man! Maybe?!

  "Just accept it, Master," a voice behind me was startling. Ah, what sweet words! What wondrous words!

  "I accept," I quickly fired off. Now that I had reassurance, it was all fine.

  Even Daoist Mu looking at me oddly, as though he was looking at a moron, didn't deter me. Just stare, you ass! One day, maybe you'll understand the gravity of those words, when that little monster behind me dominates this world as a protagonist ought to.

  Hmm.

  It looks like I'll have to visit Daoist Mu's mountain on occasion in the coming months. I only have three chances a day to note someone's talents; from what I remember, Daoist Mu took at least 20 disciples this batch, so it will take some effort to scout them all. Does he have a protagonist under his wings? Hmm.

  "... very well," he said, interrupting my dreamy thoughts. "I hope, for your sake, you will accept the loss gracefully."

  "I won't escort you," I said, waving away and turning around; ah, there he was, my little bus. I'm going to ride you--nope; I'm going to climb you--still nope. Hmm. I'm going to let you take me places--okay, nevermind.

  "You sounded confident." I walked up and struck a conversation with the kid. Considering that Daoist Mu didn't realize Long Tao's cultivation, it looks like the latter hid it. Clever.

  "Is it true?" he asked, meeting my eyes. "That the resource distribution will be determined?"

  "Partially, yes," I nodded. "It is layered. After all, there are currently seven active generations of Disciples, and every generation has resources distributed. For you and your peers, it will mostly be low-quality Spirit Stones and some Qi Condensation pills and herbs. Depending on how well you do, however, and how much talent you show, they might even include a few mid-grade Spirit Stones."

  "What about a lease to leave?"

  "To leave? The Sect?"

  "Hm."

  "I'm afraid not," I actually felt a bit of regret; if I could, I'd let loose this hound tomorrow! With his protagonist's halo, there's no doubt that he'd immediately stumble upon some ancient realm and hidden inheritance. However, it was an ironclad rule that could not be broken by anyone: First-Generation Disciples were not allowed to leave the premises of the sect until they'd reached at least the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm. "It's an ironclad rule--unless you can reach the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm in six months, they won't let you." Hm? No, wait, this monster probably can! No, no, no... "Of course, if you could, they still might not let you go and would instead lock you up at the Ancestral Mountains and force you to cultivate there."

  "... do you have no means of helping me?" Hm? What's this? What was that look? And that tone? "Maybe... a cloaking art? My father, before dying, told me of an ancient family secret, about how one of our ancestors was an Inner Elder of a sect and how he left an inheritance for us. However, at the time, I didn't have the strength to retrieve it. If I do, my father told me there were many treasures... many treasures..."

  ... this kid. No, this monster. He was like a devil! No, no, I can't; he's clearly testing me! Testing the kind of crap that I can bring! But... oi, wasn't it tempting?

  Of course, that 'father told me this' story was complete bull--this guy probably had no clue who the body's parents even were. But I had no doubts in my mind that he had a place to go to with many resources. And, honestly, even if he didn't... he'd probably stumble upon one within a month outside the Sect.

  However, if I'm discovered... I'd be hung publicly! Aiding a disciple in breaking one of the most guarded rules... there wouldn't even be a trial! And, even if he decided not to betray me, just the fact that I lost the Disciple would probably be enough for other Elders to rally the Sect Master and kick me out... ah, Disciple, you are truly a headache!!