Chapter 42: The Prince's Proposal

  Xiao Qiu didn't repeat Xin Yu Tao's words to his companions, simply stating that he had come to make a statement and was refused. The talk of games and battles sounded like nonsense, but seemed to be hiding some ulterior motive. Xiao Qiu didn't want to believe it, but he couldn't control his thoughts and began to intentionally or unintentionally observe the people around him.

  Deng Zilai and Mufei Huang are indeed competing for who can get closest to Shen Hua. This position originally belonged to Mufei Huang, but he recently lost Shen Hua's favor and had to recompete. The competition process is pleasant, no more than who takes an extra step, who says an extra sentence, or who pats kindly.

  Even Shen's two brothers have changed. In the past, it was always Da Liang Shen Xiuming who walked beside Xiao Qiu, but now it is Er Liang Shen Xiuyi.

  Games are indeed more than just games, it's just that participants usually aren't aware of this fact.

  Xiao Qiu found himself having to stop at the right time, if he continued to observe like this, friendship would become utilitarian and cruel, and he himself would also become another Xin Yutao.

  The prince's high theory is not the truth, most children still take games as games, after a small dispute in the dining hall, everything returns to normal. The five Taoist disciples quickly established the most popular small group in the mansion, and each member was recognized as a superior person, but that's all. Everyone has their own circle, living in peace, Fangfang and Xiaocitao also made new friends again. Only Pei Zihan and Pei Ziqi brothers still had no friends, they seemed to be used to it, practicing boxing and comparing sticks as usual, eating food without any less than other children.

  Only Xinyin Tao would make a fuss about nothing, making simple things sound complicated and gloomy. In just a few days, Xiao Qiu forgot about Wangzi's words and focused on practicing his skills, preparing for the martial arts competition at the end of the month. He hoped to surpass Shen Geng and others in his cultivation journey.

  Both of them, Meng Yuan Hou and Xiao Qiu, were very concerned about the little autumn. Every day, at least three times, they would cast inquiring glances at him, occasionally even giving him private pointers: "Now that your ears are just opening up, you must be careful and mindful, try not to use it too much. Once you discover any signs of loss of control over your hearing, tell me immediately, I will arrange a quiet place for you to focus on getting through the thunderbolt ordeal."

  The final stage of the ear canal opening is a sudden increase in hearing, with countless sounds rushing in at the same time, like thunder, hence the name "thunderbolt". Meng Yuanhou usually encouraged his disciples to work hard, but on this matter, he was as cautious as possible.

  "Don't reveal this matter to anyone." He reminded Xia Qiu early on, "Whether it's admiration or jealousy, neither is good for you."

  Xiao Qiu kept it a secret, even Er Liang Shen Xiu Wei and Fang Fang didn't know that he had already opened his ears.

  The tribulation has not arrived yet, and Meng Yuanhou is actually a bit happy. "It's better to be late, when you arrive at Yangshen Peak, you can pass the tribulation more safely. Focus on cultivating your body, I hope you can get those three golden souls, sooner or later you will need your own magical weapon, they will be very useful."

  Xiao Qiu also wanted to win and get the reward, so he practiced harder in his Bone Fist and Staff techniques. He had once tapped into unprecedented potential on Mount Yang Shen, and now all he needed to do was tap into it again during the martial arts competition.

  He regarded Shen Gang and the other five Taoist disciples as his greatest opponents, carefully observing their staff techniques every day at dawn, but couldn't see anything extraordinary about them. They fought in a mediocre way, it was clear that they had practiced for many years, but that was all, without showing any greater power, especially lacking the desperate spirit that Meng Yuanhou valued most.

  But the rumors continued to grow, with the most exaggerated claims being that all five had already condensed their energy into a dan and would, according to convention, go to the Nurturing Spirit Peak for a walk and then disperse to each department to cultivate even more profound techniques.

  Having heard this many times, Xiao Qiu was also a bit confused. One time, she asked Meng Yuanhou about the truth of this matter, and after listening to him finish, he burst out laughing. "You guys think cultivating is too easy," he said. "When you encounter obstacles and stop making progress, that's when you'll understand. The technique of defying heaven is difficult, extremely difficult. If I had a chance to start over again, I'd rather cultivate my body until I'm 20 years old. Unfortunately... Focus on practicing your staff techniques. As long as you can use your full strength, then you're the winner."

  Less than ten days before the end of the month, the competitive atmosphere in the house is getting thicker and thicker. When Xia Qiu practices boxing and stick skills at night, he will no longer be alone. Even in the second half of the night, there are still a few children who refuse to go back to their rooms to sleep. Sometimes they even ask Xia Qiu for advice, not showing any signs of estrangement, but instead taking his opinions very seriously.

  The Taoist disciples aren't so easy to talk to, they only communicate with the chosen elite, those lucky ones regard this as an exclusive secret and never share it with others, not even good friends.

  Xiao Qiu himself is still exploring and doesn't have many conclusions to share with others, but he never hides anything. Whenever someone asks him a question, he answers it without hesitation. For techniques that he's confident about, he teaches them wholeheartedly. As for things that he only partially understands or doesn't understand at all, he tells the truth as it is.

  As a result, the interpersonal relationships of the young people in Yelin Town have not only not weakened, but have become more numerous and better.

  Er Lang Shen Xiu was only motivated by the success of reaching the top, and he desperately hoped to perform well in the martial arts competition at the end of the month. Therefore, from morning till night, he followed Xiao Qiu's side, practicing boxing and listening carefully to every word he said, even if he had heard it several times, he would not neglect a single word.

  Fang Fang and Xiao Qing Tuo also often came over to practice boxing together, but they soon gave up the idea of fighting, most of the time just practicing bone-strengthening fist, then sitting on the stone bench at the edge of the field, either watching Xia Qiu and others fight, or discussing in a low voice the book they had just read.

  Er Liang Shen Xiu initially ignored Xiao Qing Tao, but soon openly expressed his dislike. What's strange is that Xiao Qing Tao was a bit afraid of the gentle and kind Xiao Qiu, but showed no fear towards the rude Er Liang. The two would quarrel once or twice every day.

  Five days before the end of the month, Erliang surprisingly shouted out "Xiao Qingtuo" in his dream, startling Xiao Qiu, Daliang and Shen Huan who were sharing the same room. After waking up, he refused to admit it, but afterwards, when he saw Xiao Qingtuo again, his attitude became much friendlier.

  Days passed day by day, and Xia Qiu became more and more mature in digging up potential. Although it was still far from the extent of lifting a giant stone at the moment of life and death, it had already far exceeded that of ordinary children in the pavilion.

  Three days away from Li Biwu, in the private debate about who can win three gold medals, Xia Qiu's point of view has quietly surpassed Shen Geng.

  The day before the martial arts competition, the usual stick fighting took place at dawn, with a lot of noise around. Xīn Yòutáo took advantage of the opportunity when Jiě Xiǎoqiū was on the defensive and approached him, saying in a low voice: "There's something I want to discuss with you."

  Xiao Qiu grasped the stick tightly and pushed Xin Yu Tao away, "There's nothing to discuss."

  Xin Yutao didn't give up and took advantage of a feint to get close to Xiao Qiu, "Tomorrow is the martial arts competition, give me some face and I'll formally give you the dagger."

  "What dagger?"

  "My dagger, the one with a ruby inlaid, last time we climbed the mountain and made a bet, you lost but I didn't take it back."

  Xiao Qiu remembered that it was still on the road of escape outside Ye Lin Town, he took a dagger from Xin Youtao's body. The two had indeed made a bet when climbing Laozu Peak a few days ago, and Xiao Qiu had not been able to climb the one-thousand-step stone ladder. After that, he fainted for a day and forgot about it completely.

  "Tomorrow, climb the mountain again and gamble once more."

  Xin Youtao didn't have such an idea, he knew that with Mu Xunqiu's current strength, it wouldn't be particularly difficult to climb the Old Ancestor Peak. "No, no, my suggestion is this: tomorrow morning you let me make three moves, just three moves, and I'll go all out, then you can fight however you want, in the end, you'll definitely still win. As a thank you, I'll formally give you the dagger, that's not an ordinary dagger..."

  Everyone told Meng Yuanhou to come over, Xin Yutao hurriedly shut his mouth. After that, Xiao Qiu's offensive was stronger and stronger, he could only dodge around, no longer having the opportunity to speak.

  Xiao Qiu didn't believe Xin Yu Tao, this prince of Western Xiao was cunning and always came up with ways to instill some extremely selfish ideas. During breakfast, he quietly told the people at the same table about Xin Yu Tao's three-move suggestion, and Er Liang Shen Youwei only had one reaction: "Beat him, beat him hard, don't even give him a knife back. If he can't protect himself, then he can't blame others."

  If these words were spoken by Xiao Qiu, Xiao Qingtong would not have dared to retort. She admired Xiao Qiu and was a little afraid of him. However, when it came to Er Liang Shenxiu, she always spoke out against him, "What do you mean 'he can't protect himself'? You're not robbers, are you? If the dagger belongs to Xin Yutao, then return it to him or let San Zhao handle it tomorrow. I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

  Xiao Qingtao suddenly lowered her voice, with a hint of mystery, saying: "They are very strict with the people around them. They've said it before, if anyone performs too poorly in the martial arts competition, they won't be qualified to be friends with them."

  This sounds like something Shen Geng would say, Xiao Qiu hummed in understanding. Xin Yu Tao's strength in staff techniques was mediocre, if he wasn't allowed to make a few moves, he wouldn't even have the chance to take out his staff, let alone use a few points of strength.

  Xiao Qiu didn't take Xin Yu Tao's suggestion seriously and spent the whole day practicing his staff in preparation for tomorrow's martial arts competition. Meng Yuan Hou's words about "what you think" kept churning in his mind, he felt that he could definitely not lose to the five Daoist disciples.

  The day of the martial arts competition had finally arrived, and all the children came to the courtyard early, without waiting for Zhang Ling to wake them up. They stood in their usual positions with their sparring partners, eager to show off the results of their hard work over the past few days.

  The stick I got today is slightly different from usual, although it's still early in the morning, many people have found that one end of the stick has a small yellow paper stuck to it. Some people tried to pull it off, but it couldn't be pulled off or torn apart.

  Xin Yutao exclaimed in a low voice, "Talismans! Pangshan also has talismans!"

  Marquis Mengyuan arrived, loudly saying: "These staffs will judge how much strength you have used up. When you swing with force, they will change color - white, black, red, green and yellow, five levels in total. Yellow is the highest level, indicating that you have used at least 80% of your potential. Believe me, having an opponent will definitely allow you to exert more strength than practicing alone, so find a suitable opponent, think about the beatings you've suffered, and strike back fiercely. The martial arts competition will be divided into three rounds: one round before breakfast, and one round each in the morning and afternoon. If there is still no winner, we will continue in the evening."

  Xiao Qiu tightly grasped the stick, and before she even made a move, it had already turned white, similar to the color of Xin Yu Tao's face.

  "Give me three chances, one will do, except for sending a dagger, I'll tell you another secret." Xinyu Tao said in a low voice.

  "You go first."

  Xin Yutao glanced around, intentionally scraping the stick on the ground, then said in a lower voice: "You'd better be careful, Shen Geng is coming today for real. If I were you, I'd let up in the second round to avoid running into him."

  (Collection needed, recommendation needed)