Book 3 Chapter 9 (Part 1) Dead Against Taking a Wife

  Splashing waves, I rush out of the Fragrant River, holding high the Fire Kirin's wings.

  The surroundings erupted in thunderous applause, and as I gazed out at the sea of bobbing heads, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. If only those three beauties were also among the crowd, that would be even better.

  Hua Shengguo excitedly ran over and shouted: "Lin Fei big brother, I knew you'd definitely make it!"

  Huashengpi, Huashengke and Datuhu were all stunned, staring at me with wide eyes. Suddenly, they stomped their feet and sighed: "Alas, foolish people have foolish luck." Then, in a low voice, he said to Huashengpi: "Meimeng Liu Cuiyu seems to be here alone, Shidi, let's come up with a sinister plan to take him down together."

  After inspecting the Fire Wing in my hand, Wei Tuo had me and Liu Cuiyu, Juru stand together, loudly declaring: "The three winners of this Fragrance Gathering have already been decided!" He turned his head to smile at us: "Please report your sect, name."

  "My name is Ah Gui, from the southern border of the Red Dust Heaven."

  Wei Tuo and Liu He Dong furrowed their brows, while He Ping stuck out his tongue: "Ah, so you're the Ah Gui who left Mo Sha Tian decades ago and established the Wan Chong Mountain Villa in the southernmost part of Hongchen Tian."

  A Hui smiled faintly, but didn't respond. Liu Cuiyu then introduced himself, immediately causing a stir on the scene. The three Wei Tuo solemnly congratulated him, speaking humbly and not daring to be rude.

  Liu He Dong smiled and said: "Old Hei, your daughter is really attractive, even the master of Luo Shengtian came from afar."

  He Ping smiled slightly and said to me: "Where is this friend from? Your puppet magic is quite good."

  My heart skipped a beat, amidst the chaotic slaughter outside the tower, this old man could actually see that I was controlling two puppet water people, indeed having a set. After a slight pause, I said: "I am Lin Fei, from the Armor Adept Sect of Luo Shengtian."

  He Ping was taken aback, a faint smile on his face: "Is it really so?"

  Bai Guangguang rushed forward and shouted: "A thousand truths, a myriad of proofs! He is my master's nephew! Having learned less than half of my master's kung fu, he still has a long way to go!"

  "Could this be the White Palm Door of the Bingqi Jiayipai? It's been many years since we last met, I didn't expect you to also attend the Fragrant Prosperity Gathering."

  Bai Guangguang said with a lively and spirited tone, "Luo Shentian is suffocating from staying inside for too long, let's go out for a stroll." His gaze met Liu Cuifei's, and he hastily looked away with a gloomy expression.

  He Ping smiled and said, "Since the three of you have won the prize, it's only right that you should compete to be my son-in-law. I think you're all tired, so why don't you condescend to rest at our humble abode for a night, and we can have a good competition tomorrow?"

  He Saihua smiled with a pout, her sparkling eyes curiously sizing up the three of us. I hastily waved my hand: "I'm out of the competition! I just want to get the prize money, don't want to discuss marriage!"

  The crowd was in an uproar, and someone shouted: "He defeated Liu Cuifei that day, I saw it with my own eyes at the restaurant!"

  Another burst of shocked gasps, and the three headmasters stared at me in disbelief. He Ping coughed heavily: "Lin Xiaoge, don't tell me you think my daughter is ugly? Or do you think our Triple Reversal Sect is too inferior, and not a good match for your noble sect?"

  This old fellow is quite good at teasing people. I flattered him by saying: "It's because I'm too ugly, not worthy of being with a flower from your esteemed family, so I'm ashamed of myself."

  "Nonsense!" Bai Guangguang hastily interrupted: "Although you are far from my majestic appearance, you have a few points of my youthful demeanor, and He Saihua is indeed a perfect match. Our Baoqi Xiaoyu and Diansandao schools are even more compatible, such a good match, how can you refuse?" After pausing for a moment, he said to He Ping: "Actually, I am more suitable for He Saihua, why don't I replace him?"

  He Pingyi was stunned: "Bai Zhangmen is joking."

  "Lin Fei, since you participated in the Fragrant Gathering's treasure hunt and marriage recruitment, you must see it through to the end. Now that you're withdrawing midway, aren't you making things difficult for Master He? It will also affect Sai Hua's reputation."

  "Wei Tuo also said: 'Lin brothers, if everyone were like you, the Fragrance Gathering would be in disarray. Without rules and regulations, there is no square or circle; it's better for you to rest early and prepare for tomorrow's competition.'"

  Oh my, they're pushing me to put on a show, forcing me to do something against my will! Seeing no way to decline, I've also made up my mind. As long as I intentionally lose tomorrow's match, that'll be it, right? Nodding, I finally agreed. My gaze swept over, and a complex expression appeared on Liu Cuiyu's face.

  "He Ping burst into loud laughter: 'Everyone, tomorrow is the little girl's matchmaking day, please come and give her a good show. Next, let everyone have a good time and enjoy the Fragrant Prosperous Meeting to their heart's content.' With a clap of his hands, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and countless golden lotus flowers floated in from the river surface at dusk. The petals slowly opened, and inside each flower was a colorful-clad young girl, dancing gracefully."

  The surroundings immediately became lively, with many stages set up along the riverbank, where humans and demons sang and danced. The loud firecrackers sounded, followed by a burst of fireworks shooting into the sky, colorful and vibrant, blooming magnificently in mid-air. Amidst the crowd's noise, our group quietly left and was taken to a grand mansion in the city center.

  After the maid presented a strange tea soaked in white down, Wei Tuo said: "The three of you who can snatch the colorful head from the Soul-Tower are all extraordinary talents with profound magical powers. I wonder what plans do you have for the future?"

  Judging from his tone, he seemed to want to recruit us. I lazily said, "No plans, just muddle along as usual." Bai Guangguang immediately scolded, "You gutless kid, thinking of what I was like back then..."

  "Weiduo smiled and said: 'If the three of you are willing, our Vajra Secret Path Sect, Lion's Roar Secret Path Gate, and Tiantan Daxi Aoyu Sect all welcome you to join. Lin Fei, for example, although you come from the Bingqi Aoyu Sect, you can also serve as a supplier or protector in my sect. The salary is 5,000 taels of silver per month, and at the end of the year, we will give you rare fruits and herbs that can enhance your skills.'"

  I suddenly realized that the Fragrant Gathering was actually a means for the three sects to recruit talent. No wonder they could stand tall in this fertile land of Dacheng City, because people with strong skills were all taken in, and naturally there would be no masters who would oppose them. Shaking my head, I said: "I like being unrestrained, not interested in being a servant." Wanting silver? My Chaotic Armor Technique is still within reach!

  Ah Gui's eyes sparkled, and she didn't say a word. Liu Cuiyu said: "If I can tie the knot with Sai Hua Miss, I will be satisfied."

  The three leaders exchanged a glance, and Liu He Dong said somewhat disappointedly: "This time's Fragrant Gathering is the most fortunate for Lao He, and the inverted Sanzuoyi Jia Yu Pai will add another master."

  "Hehe, it's because my daughter is blessed."

  After another round of pleasantries, the three headmasters stood up to bid farewell, and the maids led us separately into our restrooms. As soon as they left, Huashengpi suddenly bowed deeply to me, his face filled with gratitude: "I was blind to your exceptional skills, Lin young master. If it weren't for He headmaster's revelation, I wouldn't have known that the great benefactor who saved my granddaughter by displaying the puppet magic in the Long Snake Strait was right before my eyes."

  I couldn't help but smile, and now I can no longer hide it. The peanut fruit even added fuel to the fire, exaggerating how I defeated Liu Cuiyu, and proudly said: "Big Brother Lin taught me the Air Wind Jia Yu Shu, which allows me to fly in the sky."

  "Blowing Wind? That's a lost flying art! Young Master Lin, I'm deeply grateful for your great kindness to my family. Peanut Fruit, quickly kowtow to Young Master Lin!"

  I hastily pulled the peanuts, and sincerely said: "Old man let me take a boat, asked me to drink sea otter meat soup at that time, did not ask me to repay. Everyone is so familiar with you, don't be polite."

  The peanut skin laughed, his face full of wrinkles, and asked about my origins. I just said that I had made a very powerful enemy, so I deliberately concealed my identity. The peanut skin solemnly said: "Your enemy must be an extraordinary master, I, the peanut skin, although my magical powers are ordinary, but I will fight to the death to protect you."

  My heart warmed up, and I listened to the white light on the side for half a day, and finally understood. With a smile, she pulled me and said: "You're not bad, you actually defeated Liu Cuifei. In fact, it's not difficult for Lao Fu to defeat him, but he doesn't want to be on an equal footing with him. Hurry up and kill Liu Cuifei, we'll happily return to Luoshengtian."

  Just as Huashengpi was about to speak, I waved my hand and said: "This matter is on me. It's just that tomorrow's battle, I don't want to marry He Saihua that woman, so I will deliberately lose to Liu Cuiyu."

  "Bai Guang's eyes widened: 'Deliberately lose? Once Liu Cuifeng enters, the three factions of Yunzong will unite and support each other. By then, we will be in a desperate situation.'"

  "Hua Sheng furrowed his brow and said: 'Elder brother, Lin Gongzi is not a member of our Bingqi Aoyu Sect, how can you force him to marry He Saihua?'"

  I smiled slightly: "Actually, I'm also a member of the Bingqi Jiawei School." To avoid misunderstandings, I made up a bizarre story, saying that in a certain deep mountain, I saw a corpse with many secret books piled up beside it, including the Bingqi Jiawei technique, and was lucky enough to learn it.

  Peanut shell and White Light were shocked speechless, after a while, White Light resentfully said: "That corpse must be the book thief! Good riddance, better to die early!"

  "I said: 'I will silently write out the secret book of the military equipment and armor technique, and return it intact to Zhao.'"

  Bai Guangguang laughed so hard that his mouth couldn't close, and he repeatedly praised me for being a good teacher. Huashengpi choked with sobs: "Young master, how can we repay this kindness of yours?"

  The peanut shell stared at me for half a day and said, "Hey, was it really you who saved me that day?"

  "I blinked: 'As genuine as can be.'"

  "Hmph, so you're just pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger. Don't expect me to be grateful to you. By the way, that He Saihua is barely passable, why don't you want her?"

  Peanut Fruit interrupted: "Big brother was dumped by a woman, bitten by a snake in one year, and feared well ropes for ten years."

  I was in a state of mixed emotions, when Hua Shengpi said: "It's getting late, let Lin Gongzi rest after a long day." Bai Guangguang still wanted to nag, but was dragged out by Hua Shengpi.

  After they left, I blew out the lamp and had just lain down on the bed for a while when there were several light knocks on the window paper, followed by a woman's deliberately suppressed soft cry outside the window: "Lin, come out!"