Chapter 41: Games Are Battles

  In the vast dining hall, there was only Xia Qiu alone, eating loudly.

  Shen Gang's eyes drooped, staring at the half bowl of rice and a few vegetable leaves in front of him, his expression slightly melancholy, as if he had to go against his will to eat it. At this moment, he returned to being a stubborn teenager in his early teens. Then he raised his eyes, becoming elegant and aloof again, calling out someone's name.

  The boy who was called immediately threw away his tablemates, ran over with a tray of food, confirmed that he had indeed received the invitation, and sat down with a smile, looking around at his former friends with a smug glint in his eye.

  It should have ended like this, Shen Geng picked up his chopsticks, and all the children in the dining hall were about to start eating, when another unexpected event occurred - Er Liang Shen Xiuyi stood up.

  "Xiao Qiuge is my friend..." He originally wanted to say a few more sentences, but his emotions were too tense, and he felt extremely reluctant to leave this table. His mind was in a mess, and he couldn't think of anything else to say. He just nodded heavily, making a gesture similar to a bow, then picked up the dishes and walked quickly to Xiao Qiuge's table.

  Xiao Qiu moved herself and her bowl slightly to the side.

  Er Liang Shen Xiu Wei Chong Xiao Qiu smiled slightly, and his mood became cheerful again, no longer feeling regretful.

  Shen Geng remained expressionless, even nodding his head in understanding of Er Liang's choice. He then called out another name, and the substitute rushed over more quickly, momentarily flustered, almost falling as he came. At this small mistake, Shen Geng raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of displeasure.

  Without any preparation, Shen Hao suddenly found himself becoming the new focus of attention in the dining hall. He was the only young man from Ye Lin Town who stayed at Shen Geng's table and faced a major choice.

  He hopes everyone's gaze won't be so straightforward and instead hopes that Shen Gang opposite can take a bite of food, which will give him some time to think.

  Shen Geng didn't look at Shen Huan, but he also didn't put down his chopsticks. He wasn't eating, and neither was anyone else.

  Shen Hao had never felt time pass so slowly, "Can't anyone else do anything else?" He thought, annoyed, and stood up, bowed to Shen Geng and Shen Ji brothers, picked up his own food, and didn't walk towards Xia Qiu, but returned to the side of other young people from Ye Lin Town.

  Another lucky substitute has risen, still eight people occupying a table, Shen Geng's chopsticks inserted into the rice bowl, and the hall finally echoed with the sound of crunching, Xiao Qiu was no longer eating alone.

  The atmosphere quickly returned to normal, and the children ate and chatted, discussing the upcoming martial arts competition and guessing what methods Meng Yuanhou would use to detect how much strength each person had used.

  The curious village women were a little disappointed, it was clear that it was going to be a fierce battle, but how did it end so quietly? They looked at each other, the meaning in their eyes couldn't be clearer: the world of Pang Shan's disciples is just too hard to understand.

  But for nearly 140 new disciples, this is actually just a child's play, dividing into circles, the game is over, at least for ordinary disciples who are not involved in either side.

  Er Lang Shen Xiu had never eaten so quickly before. After the initial excitement, he became listless and ignored both Fang Fang and Xiao Qing Tuo, finishing his meal and then pulling Xiao Qiu back to their room.

  "Fang Fang, isn't she being too stubborn? Why must she insist on protecting a little non-human creature?"

  "Are you regretting it?"

  "I don't regret it at all, even if the great master of Pong Mountain beckons me, I will still stand on Xiao Qiuge's side." Er Liang Shen Xiuyi felt misunderstood and raised his voice a little, "I'm saying that it's not worth it for Xiao Qiuge, what a good opportunity it is to make friends with Shengeng, in the future when we cultivate, there will also be someone to rely on, we people will only drag you down."

  Xiao Qiu smiled and punched him on the shoulder, "The Taoist root is really effective, look at you becoming so eloquent."

  Er Lang Shen Xiu followed with a smile, "I've been following you and my brother since I was young, and it will be the same in the future. Sigh, not getting along with Sheng Geng is also good, just cultivate slowly by myself. To be honest, sitting at that table, I didn't even feel like eating, always thinking about how to avoid making a fool of myself later, afraid of being laughed at, and lost interest in the meat in the dishes."

  Daliang and others finished their meal and followed, each with a dejected expression.

  "Will we end up like the three people from the Pei family, ignored by everyone and always standing at the back of the crowd?" Da Liang asked as soon as he sat down.

  Xiao Qiu was about to speak, but Shen Huan hastily replied. He had already passed the stage of despair and added a bit of fervor. "The disciples of the Taoist school can't make everyone listen to them. Just now at dinner time, not a few people nodded and greeted me. Can they really learn magic without them? I don't think so. They cultivate their own, we cultivate our own. I've heard that many powerful magicians were ordinary people in the past."

  Shen Hao stirred up some morale, but a few children still felt regretful. If Xiao Qiu and others could enter the circle of Taoist disciples, they would also be able to bask in their glory. Now, however, they can only rely on their own efforts.

  "It's almost time for the stick method comparison, everyone work hard, no one wants to lose." Er Liang Shen Xiu raised his fist, "I think Shengeng and Shenyi's stick method is not particularly outstanding."

  "They're just hiding their true strength, not bothering to show it off." Murong Mufei looked around cautiously and continued in a hushed tone: "I heard that the five of them have been running up and down Laozu Peak since they were young, over 10,000 steps are nothing to them. Especially Shen Gang, everyone says he was able to open his seven apertures on the first day he entered Yangshen Peak."

  "It's impossible." Xia Qiu said affirmatively, having just read the booklet left to him by Meng Yuanhou. He was very clear about the opening of wisdom and understood that opening seven apertures was an absolute impossibility. Cultivators would only die violently from it, not become stronger.

  "How did you know?" Meng Zixuan asked in surprise, still more inclined to believe the rumor.

  A cough was heard from outside the door, "Fellow Taoists, good noon."

  It was actually Xin Youtao, who had never been to Xia Qiu's room, nor anyone else's room in the building. To this day, he still lived alone and refused to live with others.

  "What are you doing here?" Shen Hao's face turned menacing.

  Xin Yutao's gaze evaded Shen Hao and directly asked Xiao Qiu: "Mudao friend, can I have a few words with you in private?"

  "There are several 'Mo Dao friends' here, which one are you referring to?" Shen Hao moved his feet and blocked the prince's line of sight.

  "Mu Xingqiu, I want to tell you something. There's no need to be so tense, I'm not going to hit him, what are you guys afraid of?"

  "I'll go find you guys later," said Xia Qiu.

  Shen Hao and others walked out of the room one after another, each casting a stern glance at Wang Zi as they passed by him. Xin Yutao avoided Shen Hao but smiled at everyone else.

  Xin Yutao casually closed the door and said, "You're really stupid."

  "This is what clever people think of me?" Xia Qiu said coldly, suddenly filled with anticipation for tomorrow morning's routine stick fight.

  "You misunderstood me, I'm not here to scold you, I just came to tell you a fact."

  "Well, intelligent people's perspectives are definitely different from mine."

  Xin Yutao ignored the sarcasm, took a step forward, his eyes gleaming as if Xiao Qiu was some kind of rare beast. "Do you think all this is just child's play?"

  "What's the point of playing games..."

  Xin Yutao seemed to have a lot on his mind and wouldn't let anyone interrupt, speaking hastily: "That's right, you think of this as a game, win or lose, it ends when it ends, at most giving you a bad face."

  "What's the big deal? It's just a small matter of having dinner with someone."

  "Haha, that's the fact I want to tell you." Xinyu Tao suddenly put away his smile, "Games are not just games, they are also battles! Every game is a battle that determines the future. Those who understand this principle move forward, while those who don't fall behind."

  "We're all under fourteen years old at most, no need to pretend to be adults."

  Xin Yutao's expression was not only serious, but also a bit ferocious. "Children's games are especially cruel, do you think I haven't noticed? When several of you from Ye Lin Town walk together, it's always you and Shen Hua in the middle, with your arms swinging freely..." Xin Yutao mimicked the action, like a frantic monkey. "The Shen brothers followed behind you, not daring to swing their arms wildly, while Mu Feihuang and the others fought for the closest position in front of and behind Shen Hua, every time it was like they were fighting."

  Xin Yutao's face was filled with disgust, as if he had participated in a scramble for position and ended up failing. "Mu Xingqiu, this is just a child's game. The outcome of the game determines each person's position. If the position is not determined, the game will not end. You do not accept your own position in the Pangshan Dao lineage, which is very foolish."

  "You accepted, and Prince Nishikino successfully secured a position as an attendant."

  Xin Yutao burst out laughing, his laughter still somewhat childish, but that fake tone was just like an adult's. "This is called 'being in the right place at the right time'. In the Pangshan Taoist sect, of course Shen Geng should be the leader; if we were studying talismans in Xijie City, even the son of the sect master would have to bow his head to me; if there really was a day when heaven and earth turned upside down, we'd all have to go to Yelin Town to become farmers, and only then would you and Shen Huan have the qualifications to be superior."

  Xiao Qiu extremely disliked Xin Yu Tao, but calming down he felt that the other's words had some reason, "Then please tell Shen Geng, I and all the people of Ye Lin Town have no intention of challenging his position, he can be his own leader, we will just stand by and watch."

  "Haha." Xin Youtao held his belly and laughed loudly, only straightening up after a while. "If the people all do their own thing and watch with cold eyes, then what's the point of being a king? The contempt of one lowly commoner can sometimes destroy the dignity of a ruler, leading to a string of disrespect. This is the same no matter if it's in Ye Lin Town, Xi Jie City, or this very building. You think you can cause chaos in Ye Lin Town and then do the same thing here? Ye Lin Town was destroyed, taken over by the demon kind - that's the only reason you escaped punishment. You're lucky, but luck won't always be with you."

  "Kings and nobles have their own logic, I have mine." Xiao Qiu had already understood Xin Youtao's meaning and decided to ask the guest to leave. "You're a great persuader, if there's an opportunity, I hope Shen Geng can also hear these words, but my mind hasn't changed."

  "Do you think I'm a lobbyist sent by Shengeng?" Xinyoutao asked in surprise.

  "Isn't it?"

  "Firstly, I came forward voluntarily, which would make Shen Gang happier. Secondly, I am not advising you to lower your head, on the contrary, I am here to encourage you to continue holding up your proud head."

  Xin Yutao patted his own chin, raised his head, and expressed his mockery clearly. "It's only interesting when the two factions clash. I'm not the leader, why should I calm things down? Fight on, Mu Xiangqiu, continue your game, try hard to flail your arms and squeeze out a place for yourself. You're not completely without hope, this is the Pangshan Dao sect, where cultivation is everything, and those who make rapid progress are kings. Although I don't think much of you, you still have a glimmer of hope. If you don't want to bow your head to someone with a higher status, then try hard. I'll watch your game from my position as a follower."

  This is Xinyu Tao's goal, waiting for the opportunity to fight for a higher position.

  "I'm leaving." He nodded solemnly, turned around and walked out of the house, pushed open the door and turned to face Xiao Qiu, changing his tone to one of disappointment, loud enough for the neighbors to hear - he hoped the last sentence would reach Shen Geng's ears.

  "I've said all I can say, Mu Xingqiu, this is your own choice."

  "Is a game just a fight?" Xia Qiu muttered to herself in the room, subconsciously waving her arm, and gave her own answer, "Then let's fight."

  (Collection needed, recommendation needed)