Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 192 - 162: Bald With Rage

December 24, 2017

Li Fengyun's unconventional opening speech plunged the atmosphere inside the venue into a bizarre fervor.

Although many high-ranking figures frowned deeply at his carefree demeanor, the unanimous cheers from the tens of thousands of spectators allowed them to see something different.

In particular, the man seated at the very back of the podium, whose presence was so thin it was almost nonexistent, yet impossible for anyone to ignore, donned a milky white mask... His silence added even more intrigue to the situation.

In similar high-profile competitions in the past, the Holy Sect envoys participating in the opening ceremony, even if neutral in stance, did not completely disregard worldly matters. The quality of the opening speech would always receive a few comments, and some enthusiastic envoys even participated in drafting it.

Now, the fact that this Holy Sect Immortal Envoy had no comment on Li Fengyun—did it imply tacit approval, or hidden dissatisfaction?

While many of the Immortal Cultivation Realm bigwigs in Cyan Cloud City were deep in thought, the ceremony continued.

After Li Fengyun left the stage, the program for the opening ceremony officially began.

A grand and magnificent large-scale Illusion Array, splendid song and dance performances... The enthusiasm of the audience, not yet abated, was reignited, as people continuously cheered and exclaimed at the increasingly brilliant programs.

Meanwhile, in the front row of the audience seats, a tall woman yawned unabashedly.

"So boring... Where did they get these performers from the outskirts? Vulgar, bloated, with no highlights. Especially those effeminate men, you can smell the stench of wanton promiscuity through two layers of Array. Hmph, the stench from the fat slob next to me almost can't cover it."

Beside the woman, a boy resembling a plump ball chuckled obsequiously: "Sister Wanqing, I, um, already used perfume..."

"Perfume from the fat slob brand? You sure know how to support your family brand... Moreover, why are you here?"

Li Wanqing turned her head slightly in curiosity: "Weren't you eliminated in the preliminaries? This is the players' seat."

Li Xinyu's smile grew more awkward: "Well, an Inner Sect sister had a mishap while attempting a breakthrough, so I got a substitute spot."

"That's how they do it? Tsk, the privilege of big families is truly ugly." Li Wanqing criticized the family privilege she was currently enjoying without hesitation, then added, "Good luck, don't get eliminated in the first round."

Li Xinyu was somewhat surprised, then nodded repeatedly: "Th-thank you, Sister Wanqing, I'll do my best... But weren't you supposed to perform in the opening ceremony event?"

"Not going."

"Huh?"

Li Wanqing said, "I'm not going. The Spirit Cat Plan was indeed invited, but only Little Sister Qingming was invited, supposedly because the committee thought my participation would cause at least half the audience to strongly object... Although I suggested that such screening would help weed out undesirable spectators, and the remaining girls might be willing to pay double to see my performance, they didn't seem to listen, so I can only sit here and criticize those performers from the outskirts."

As she spoke, Li Wanqing unreservedly booed a pair of singers loudly.

Li Xinyu watched beside her, puzzled: "Those two... actually have decent skills."

"You haven't heard me sing, have you?"

"No, I didn't dare..." Li Xinyu answered honestly, although he was curious about Li Wanqing singing and dancing in a super short skirt, he wouldn't dare to risk his life to watch.

"Hmm, smart." Li Wanqing patted Li Xinyu's shoulder, then explained, "In the outskirts of Cyan Cloud City or the base of Cyan Peak Mountain, those two are decent, but here in Cyan Cloud City, there are at least eighty or a hundred artists of similar caliber. Their only advantage is that they're cheap... Damn, is this Cyan Cloud competition so strapped for cash?! Where's the Qian Family's money?!"

"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean by that? What do you take us Qian Family for?"

Before Li Wanqing's words even finished, a very dissatisfied, spirited voice retorted beside her.

"Oh, Qian Yue?" Li Wanqing turned her head with a playful smile, "Out of seclusion?"

"Hmph, of course, my dad still dreams of keeping me locked up for a year, as if!" Qian Yue proudly puffed out her chest.

Behind Qian Yue, several Qian Family members collectively showed pained expressions.

Letting Qian Yue out early and getting a main competition spot... That was a memory they would rather forget, Qian Family's famous Boss Qian was so infuriated by this precious daughter that he went bald overnight—his fiery anger, propelled by Mountain-Overturning Realm True Essence, transformed into substance and burned off his hair...

On the other hand, this mischievous child, with her crafty mind and quirky behavior, made Qian Long reluctant to seriously deal with her. Among his four children, only Qian Yu inherited his business acuity, yet in terms of diverse tactics and cunning plots, even Qian Yu was often tormented by this little girl beyond recognition.

While Qian Yue did take advantage of her youngest daughter status to act recklessly, purely from a standpoint of intellect, the gap was evident. Unfortunately, this girl is both a romantic fool and a reckless troublemaker, making Qian Long absolutely unwilling to entrust her with major responsibilities...

"Hmm, congratulations, why don't you come over?" Li Wanqing smiled and patted the empty seat next to her—in fact, she was surrounded by empty seats, with others instinctively sitting at least two rows away from her.

Qian Yue snorted: "No way, the view is better over here."

As she spoke, she involuntarily shrank back a little.

This small action, however, made many Qian Family members' eyes light up, as if they saw hope in the darkness.

In the end, this audacious little princess, it turns out even she knows fear...

Qian Yue wrinkled her nose and sneered: "Oh, I'm afraid of Sister Wanqing, but I'm not afraid of you guys! Anyone who dares laugh, laugh out loud!"

Everyone in the Qian Family instantly fell silent, including Qian Ye, who dared not say a word.

"By the way, where is Mr. Wang Jiu? He should also be in the contestants' seats."

No sooner had the words been spoken, a familiar voice rang out from a corner of the contestants' seats.

"Over here."

Qian Yue turned around in surprise: "Mr. Wang Jiu!? How did you end up in such a secluded corner!?"

As it turned out, Wang Jiu had been sitting in the most secluded spot of the contestants' seating area all along, and today his presence was so remarkably faint that no one noticed him from the beginning to the end!

Wang Jiu explained, "The view here is the best. From a geometrical perspective, this position allows for the greatest chance to watch the exciting moments on the field. Although on the surface, the view in the center of the contestants' seats seems more open, most of the climactic moments of the finals don't actually occur in the middle of the arena, so the so-called open view is meaningless. Furthermore, the corner has the least noise interference, which also spares me from wasting precious energy on unnecessary social interactions."

Upon hearing this, Qian Yue was first taken aback, then broke into a delighted smile: "Mr. Wang Jiu, you are indeed well-learned; just one sentence from you is so enlightening!"

Saying this, she bounced over to Wang Jiu's side and sat down next to him: "Um, could you tell me more about geometry?"

Before she could settle, someone grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up.

Unbeknownst to her, a middle-aged bald man stood beside Qian Yue, his face ash-blue, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets, and hot air snorting from his nostrils.

The man's aura was so strong that many young talents in the contestants' seats had to back off, with only a few like Li Wanqing and Lu Fangchen barely managing to maintain their composure after frowning.

The least affected, of course, was Wang Jiu, who, upon seeing the man, smiled and nodded in greeting, "Mr. Qian, good evening."

Qian Long snorted, somewhat surprised by Wang Jiu's strong resistance. He nodded in response, but with overflowing anger, his expression appeared quite contorted.

With a twisted and fierce expression, Qian Long angrily glared at the troublesome young girl in his grasp.

Qian Yue's cultivation was shallow, clearly unable to act as freely as others, shivering uncontrollably as she struggled, "Requesting a will barrier, save me, a perverted uncle is abusing a young girl."

"Nonsense!" Qian Long shivered even more than Qian Yue out of anger, "Is this how you speak to your own father?!"

Saying this, he raised a barrier, blocking the views of other onlookers, and then lifted Qian Yue even higher, shouting, "Are you trying to drive me to my grave?!"

Qian Yue grinned in appeasement, "Dad, you're still quite spirited...I mean, in your prime, how could you die so easily?"

"You!?"

"Dad, I know what you're worried about; I'm not shamelessly trying to get close to Wang Jiu for personal satisfaction. I'm thinking that he's our biggest rival in this competition. If we can understand him, we might find a chance to win."

Qian Long furrowed his brows, "Really?"

Qian Yue generously said, "Just believe it, it will be better for your heart."

"You unfilial daughter!"

Before Qian Long could blow up in anger, Qian Yue finally restrained her smile and said seriously, "Dad, seriously, although my time approaching Mr. Wang Jiu was short, I think he has weaknesses. If Brother Ye gives it his all, there's definitely a chance of winning, so there's really no need for our family to carry out those plans with a mindset of damage control."

Qian Long sneered disdainfully, "You speak as if it's true; you just went up close and took a look, and you think you can see people's weaknesses? That kid's true essence fluctuations, although not strong, are at least several levels above yours! Previously, the Lu family's kid tried to use Yin Yang Pupils to see his reality, and nearly got blinded. What can you see with just your eyes?"

"I wasn't looking with my eyes, Dad. Believe it or not, I could defeat Mr. Wang Jiu without Brother Ye taking action."

If not for his residual anger, Qian Long would practically laugh out loud.

"You?!"

"If you don't believe me, let's make a bet." Qian Yue was eager to try, "How about betting on the patriarch position? If you lose, you pass it to me."

"Nonsense! How can it be so rash?" Saying this, Qian Long also felt something was off. Was this a matter of being rash or not? This was pure, whimsical nonsense!

"Since you think I'm fooling around, then let's make a bet. If I can beat Mr. Wang Jiu, dare you not bet? If you win, I will be obedient and never upset you again, as well-behaved as can be. If I win, you pass the patriarch position to me; after all, I don't think any of you would do it better than I would." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Qian Long snorted, not daring to place a reckless bet. This cunning, mischievous girl might… Wait, could it be, while I wasn't paying attention, she and Wang Jiu had some kind of secret relationship, and that's why… At this thought, Qian Long's mind was practically like an explosion of true essence, the world turned upside down.

"Dad, you aren't having wild thoughts about forbidden love or something inappropriate for children, are you?" Qian Yue blinked her eyes, putting on an innocent stance.

"Nonsense!" Qian Long scolded, but his tone softened considerably, "The family plan has already been half executed, and even significant funds have been injected into Wang Jiu's setup. Stopping now, is it that easy?"

Qian Yue pouted, "You people made reckless decisions while I was under house arrest; it's just foolish. Withdrawing the initial capital would be fine, but betting against Wang Jiu is too ridiculous."

Betting externally on others was indeed an unsightly matter; Qian Long snorted and did not bother to defend it, "Adults' affairs are not for children to understand."

Qian Yue said, "I really don't understand; you've lived so long, why are you still so stupid… Forget it; let's just wait and see."