Lian Li nibbled on his chopsticks, thinking back to Yun Huizhou’s initial expression, and asked, “Is that little disciple very troublesome? Why did you have that look on your face just now?”
Yun Huizhou shook his head. “That little disciple only entered the sect three years ago; he hasn’t even reached second-rate level yet. I was just speechless at Jin Manjue’s letter.”
He shook the letter in his hand and continued, “Look, three whole pages. The front is all nonsense, and the main point is only mentioned in the last two sentences.”
Lian Li gave an “oh” and took the letter from Yun Huizhou. After reading it, his lips also twitched. “There really is a lot of nonsense.”
Although the two of them complained about Jin Manjue, neither intended to give up the eleventh rank. They would definitely have to go to Linjiu City.
“If we’re going over there, we have to tell Master and Martial Uncle,” Lian Li suddenly remembered. He was currently undergoing the East Island Lord’s hellish training; today was only a temporary holiday for them to come out.
Yun Huizhou pondered for a moment and said, “If you tell them, then you’ll have to do the duel yourself. Martial Uncle and Master definitely won’t allow me to take your place.”
Speaking of this, Lian Li was also puzzled. “Can someone else substitute for this duel?”
“It’s allowed,” Yun Huizhou said. “Many people on the Beauty Ranking don’t know martial arts at all. If they couldn’t find someone to help them on stage, wouldn’t those people all be at the bottom of the rankings? However, while you can find someone, the opponent can also find someone. Once the choice is reported to Jinzui Tower, no changes are allowed. Unless you decide to go on stage yourself at the last minute, you can’t swap for anyone else.”
Yun Huizhou hadn’t originally known these things. It was only because he had told Jin Manjue back in Linjiu City that if anyone wanted the eleventh position, they should have Jin Manjue find him. Jin Manjue hadn’t said it was impossible but had agreed directly, which made Yun Huizhou take note.
A while ago, he estimated that the new Beauty Ranking for this quarter was about to come out. If someone wanted the eleventh rank, a challenge letter should be arriving around this time, so he had specifically asked Qu Tingquan about it.
Lian Li propped up his face and thought for a bit, saying, “Didn’t you say that little disciple hasn’t reached second-rate level either? I haven’t reached it yet either. In that case, we’ll submit your name. If he goes up himself, I’ll go; if he calls for outside help, you go.”
“Let’s explain this idea to Master and Martial Uncle. We can’t let them get a first-rate expert as a substitute and have me bite the bullet and go up, right? That would be making me a total sucker.”
As he spoke, he covered his mouth with his hand and whispered, “Martial Uncle West should also agree with our idea, right? Martial Uncle West looks like the type who hates losing out on such things; he cares a lot about his reputation.”
Yun Huizhou was amused and said, “That is true.”
After saying this, his expression became a bit more serious.
“Although he hasn’t reached second-rate level and hasn’t been practicing for long, it has indeed been three years. At your level, there won’t be much difference in internal energy; it’s mainly about techniques and combat experience. If you face him, you’ll be at a disadvantage. If you don’t want to lose, you’ll have to prepare well.”
Lian Li showed a bit of hesitation, thought about it, and said, “Then should we hurry back for some emergency extra training? But we just came out today, and tomorrow was supposed to be a holiday too.”
Looking at him like this, if it were before, Yun Huizhou would have definitely hauled him back to Drunken Dream Island for extra training.
But now, he unexpectedly wasn’t iron-hearted. Instead, he thought to himself that it was only one day; one day wouldn’t make a difference. He shouldn’t force Lian Li to go back.
At worst, when the time came, he would go on stage directly to force the opponent to find outside help, and he would fight for Lian Li.
Just this once. Afterward, he would definitely work with Martial Uncle to properly supervise Lian Li’s martial arts practice. If it happened again next time, he would let Lian Li handle it himself.
Just as he finished finding an excuse for himself in his heart, he heard Lian Li speak: “How about we go back and discuss it with Master? Let him record our holiday first and move it back. We can continue the break after we return from Linjiu City.”
At this point, Lian Li’s eyes suddenly lit up. “After we finish eating now, we’ll go back immediately and tell them about this. Then we’ll write off this half-day, and we’ll still have two days of holiday later.”
Lian Li spoke of his little scheme with great excitement. Yun Huizhou thought he was truly adorable; if Uncle Zhang hadn’t been there, he surely would have pulled him over for a hug.
The two of them quickened their eating pace and didn’t let Uncle Zhang leave, keeping him to eat with them.
After finishing, Yun Huizhou ordered a few more dishes for Uncle Zhang to take back to the two young boys working at his residence. Then, he and Lian Li immediately rushed back to Drunken Dream Island.
The South Island Lord was clearly a bit surprised to see the two of them return. Just like the last time he ran to their residence to ask about the marriage, he only showed a pair of eyes.
Only this time, there were two large bruises around those eyes; he was currently applying medicine.
Being caught in this state by his disciples, especially his new disciple Lian Li, his first reaction was to raise his hand and block his eyes with his sleeve. Then, with a wave of his other hand, he swept Lian Li and Yun Huizhou out.
Before Lian Li could react, he saw the scene before him change instantly, and he was moved dozens of meters away in a flash.
“This…” He turned to look at Yun Huizhou.
Yun Huizhou: “You’ll get used to it.”
The two waited outside for a while until another strange wind appeared, and they were swept back into the waterside pavilion.
By now, the South Island Lord had put on his eye mask again, returning to his previous appearance where not a single part of his body was exposed.
The South Island Lord looked up at them. Although he didn’t speak or send a telepathic message, both of them knew he was asking why they had suddenly returned.
The two sat down opposite the South Island Lord. Before Lian Li could figure out how to say it, Yun Huizhou slapped Jin Manjue’s letter directly in front of the South Island Lord.
“Master, we are going to attend this duel to keep Lian Li’s eleventh position on the Beauty Ranking.”
The South Island Lord looked bewildered.
[Then go. That smelly old man from Maple Leaf Valley’s little disciple entered the sect very late; his martial arts are quite poor.]
Lian Li: “…”
Master, when you say someone else’s martial arts are poor, have you ever considered… your own little disciple’s martial arts are about the same, maybe even worse?
And… they’ve been in the sect for three years at least, while he’s only been in for one.
You say they were late, but your own little disciple was even later.
However, the South Island Lord didn’t realize at all that he had stabbed his little disciple’s heart. If his eyes weren’t covered right now, Lian Li would have seen him blinking his innocent, deer-like eyes.
As soon as Yun Huizhou saw Lian Li’s expression, he knew the boy had been stung by Master’s words. But he couldn’t refute the South Island Lord’s words either; after all, what the South Island Lord said was the truth.
