Chapter 211: Xiao Wu's Bargain (Part 1)
"Big Brother, I need to step away for a moment," Xiao Wu said, looking at Tang San.
"Be careful, and don't take too long," Tang San replied, his gaze lingering on her briefly before nodding.
Under Tang San's intense gaze, which almost seemed to see right through her, Xiao Wu instinctively touched her Acacia Heartbroken Red flower resting on her chest, finding a bit of comfort in it. She waved goodbye to her teammates and quickly walked away.
Scanning the area around the fighting platform, her eyes narrowed as she spotted the figure in the moon-white robes from Oakland Academy.
"Tomorrow is our match against Oakland Academy," she thought to herself. "Third Brother wants to beat them so badly; I have to help him! I need to get Dai Yao to agree to a one-on-one match to decide the victor."
The current matches had become so dull that Dai Yao yawned in boredom. He thought back to the teasing from his teammates when they returned to camp yesterday, feeling somewhat exasperated. Suddenly, his ears perked up, and a slight look of surprise crossed his face.
"What's wrong, Young Master?" Feng Wutong, who was always alert to Dai Yao's actions, asked quietly.
"I have something to take care of. You all continue watching," he said, waving a hand and leaving.
Moments later, he arrived in a quiet corner of the forest, glancing around before chuckling to himself.
"Come out now; do I need to invite you?" he called.
A flash of pink light appeared, and a lithe figure with slender legs and soft, black hair tied into a neat scorpion braid down to her calves emerged. She wore a pink dress that hugged her developing figure, with a thin waist and strikingly long legs, creating a charm that was hard to ignore.
"Last time, I made a mess out of you. I didn't expect you'd dare to call me out with a sound message. So, tell me—what do you want this time?" Dai Yao asked, giving Xiao Wu a curious look. As he spoke, he casually raised a hand, forming a soundproof barrier with his soul power that enveloped them both.
He was genuinely interested in what Xiao Wu wanted from him, though he also carried a trace of caution, suspecting her purpose given his theories about her connection to a larger soul beast plan.
"Hmph, truly underhanded and deceitful as ever," Xiao Wu scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.
Dai Yao couldn't care less about her opinion. The same moves, he mused, were called "crafty and deceitful" when he used them but "carefully shrewd" when Tang San did. And as far as Tang San's tactics—hidden weapons and poisons included—one could hardly call them just or righteous.
What can I say? Birds of a feather, Dai Yao thought dismissively, before saying coldly, "Get to the point. If there's nothing important, you'll deal with the consequences."
Xiao Wu flinched at his tone, recalling how he had unleashed his terrifying Ten-Thousand-Year White Tiger Thunder God Strike on her during the preliminary rounds. At that time, she had sensed a bone-chilling intent to kill. If she hadn't been at level thirty-nine and capable of using part of her Invincible Golden Body, she might have been left gravely injured or even on the brink of death.
Despite that, she had still needed a full month of recovery afterward. Trembling slightly, she suppressed her fear and spoke carefully:
"Dai Yao, can you agree to settle tomorrow's match with a one-on-one duel?"
"You're saying I should face Tang San in a one-on-one, and the winner's team takes the match?"
"Yes," Xiao Wu replied, nodding.
Dai Yao was a little taken aback. In the original storyline, it had been Feng Xiaotian who requested a one-on-one showdown with Tang San, but now it was Tang San who wanted a single duel against him. Strange how things turn out, he mused, before giving a cold laugh.
"And why should I agree to that?"
Sensing his reluctance, Xiao Wu took a deep breath and tried to bait him. "You're so powerful, even your fourth soul skill is a ten-thousand-year skill. Are you really too afraid to face Tang San in a one-on-one?"
Of course, Dai Yao understood that Shrek wanted to leverage Tang San's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to beat him. Though Dai Yao had prepared a counter, Xiao Wu's attitude left him unwilling to yield.
"Who do you think you are, trying to bait me with that?" he said, his voice dripping with contempt. Xiao Wu and her teammates never seemed to consider others' perspectives—he'd deliberately refuse just because she demanded it.
Xiao Wu's face paled, her lips trembling. Since assuming a human form, anyone who dared speak to her this way had either been reprimanded by her or by Tang San. Typically, she would have retaliated with her Eight-Stage Throw technique, leaving the other person injured, but she couldn't do that with Dai Yao.
Even now, needing a favor, her attitude was anything but conciliatory. Imagining her brother's desire to defeat Dai Yao, she swallowed her anger and finally managed to say, "Fine. I'm sorry; I was wrong."
"Just name your price. I can agree to whatever you want—within reason. You already know my true identity, so even a ten-thousand-year spirit bone isn't out of the question."
"A ten-thousand-year spirit bone?" Dai Yao glanced at her with no interest in her offer, his eyes trailing up and down her figure thoughtfully.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu's face turned red, and she covered her chest indignantly, snapping, "Don't even think about it!"
"I never said a word," Dai Yao replied calmly. He wouldn't risk anything inappropriate, knowing full well that Tang Hao, while supposedly only appearing at the finals, might already be hiding nearby in the spirit hall arena.
His life wasn't worth risking over some reckless impulse, he thought grimly. But then, his ears picked up on faint footsteps. Whoever it was had strong spiritual energy, though their overall power didn't surpass his.
Could it be Tang San?
Dai Yao's gaze darkened. If Tang San truly wanted this duel, why hadn't he asked himself? Why send Xiao Wu to arrange it?
Perhaps Xiao Wu was acting on her own, and Tang San had followed her here, silently observing. Knowing Tang San's nature, a plan formed in Dai Yao's mind. If it worked, it could plant a wedge between him and Xiao Wu. If it didn't, there would be little to lose.
With the sound barrier protecting their conversation from eavesdropping, Dai Yao said softly, "You must know that your Third Brother possesses quite a few unusual items: his inner strength techniques, mechanical hidden weapons…"
"You want those weapons?" Xiao Wu began, already reaching for her Sand Blasting Shadow Shooter on her wrist. Tang San had provided her with a full set of hidden weapons.
"No, my terms are clear: I want the designs for all of Tang Sect's mechanical hidden weapons."
"No way!" Xiao Wu's face flashed with fury. "Those hidden weapons mean everything to him—I could never hand them over to you!"
Xiao Wu knew how much the Tang Sect's hidden weapons meant to Tang San; they were as important to him as life itself. Her heart brimming with anger, she felt a flicker of suspicion—how did Dai Yao know about these hidden weapons?
An answer clicked into place. It must have been Ning Rongrong. The girl's relationship with Dai Yao had always seemed ambiguous, and she knew Tang San had made considerable money selling hidden weapons to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"So, it's Ning Rongrong behind this! Sure, her clan is wealthy, richer than any other, but just because Third Brother earns some gold, she's tattling about it to Dai Yao? Some friend she is!"
If Dai Yao could read her thoughts, he would be astounded by the conclusion she had jumped to—his motives had nothing to do with money.
"If you won't agree, I won't agree to a one-on-one with Tang San, either," he said, nonchalant.
"Forget it! I'll never agree to this!" Xiao Wu retorted, rejecting him outright.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10