Chapter 38. Chapter 38 lets you have a few private words...

Shen Qingming stood beside her, sword in hand, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"A bet's a bet, so you can't refuse now."

The sword flashed, its sharp blade pressed against Sheng Zhiyi's neck, a chill creeping over her.

Sheng Zhiyi's confused mind gradually cleared up.

She glanced at the smoke in front of her.

The smoke was slowly dissipating, and a humanoid puppet appeared on the ground.

Substitute puppet!

A high-level magic weapon capable of withstanding a fatal blow would be fought over by countless people, yet it's being used in a regular sect competition!

She used to think Ji Fuguang was a rich young master, but that was just naive. Ji Fuguang was just a bit of a germaphobe, nothing to brag about. The man in front of her was the real damn rich guy!

Resentment towards the rich burned fiercely.

Sheng Zhiyi suddenly smiled.

Seeing this, Shen Qingming asked with some delight, "What, have you come to terms with reality and decided to surrender?"

Sheng Zhiyi's smile deepened. Before Shen Qingming could react, she suddenly swung out the "Jinghong Feather" sword, its sword energy surging and heading straight for Shen Qingming's face.

The sudden burst of sword energy caught Shen Qingming off guard. He immediately swung his sword to parry, staggering backward and almost falling out of the arena.

Shen Qingming was both shocked and furious: "How do you still possess such spiritual power?"

Was Sheng Zhiyi lying to him just now? But there's no need for that!

This time, Sheng Zhiyi's smile finally carried a hint of genuine satisfaction: "You think you're the only one hiding a backup plan? You're still too naive, young master!"

After figuring out the whole story, Sheng Zhiyi immediately used the 100 points she had earned from completing the task that morning to exchange for a Foundation Building and Qi Replenishing Pill in the Treasure Pavilion.

The pills produced by the system were indeed effective. After taking them, she felt a surge of spiritual energy in her dantian. With the stimulation of the moss-root, it became even more vibrant, surging freely through her meridians as if it were her own arm.

At the beginning of the competition, she had a vague feeling that it was unfair for her to have secretly taken pills during the battle, so she relied on her own spiritual power to barely keep going.

But the young master even used a substitute puppet. Compared to a magic weapon of this level, what does her taking some drugs matter!

Sheng Zhiyi ate without any psychological pressure, and even swallowed half a bottle whole.

We must win this game!

She swung her sword forward repeatedly, forcing Shen Qingming to retreat.

Shen Qingming originally thought that with the substitute puppet, the competition was a sure thing, but he did not expect that Sheng Zhiyi had such strength and was hiding it so deeply.

After parrying twice, he abruptly sheathed his sword and shouted:

"I'm not playing anymore, I'm tired, I concede this match."

After saying that, he looked at Sheng Zhiyi with a grin, "I've already admitted defeat. If you keep doing this, it's a foul."

Sheng Zhiyi's sword move abruptly changed direction, and the spiritual energy was withdrawn, causing her chest to feel tight.

She glared at Shen Qingming: "How can you just admit defeat like that?"

It's as if he conceded the match to her, even though she won it all on her own!

As the two were talking, a burst of light flashed in the arena, sending them out of the arena.

Shen Qingming conceded defeat, the outcome was decided, and the pre-arranged formation on the field automatically ended the match.

The people on the hillside stared in disbelief at what they were seeing.

"The handyman...won?"

"I can't believe my eyes, the young master actually...?"

"Pinch me! How could I!"

"Just who is this handyman?"

Only then did they realize that although everyone knew that a handyman was going to participate in the competition, they all thought that this handyman was just ignorant and arrogant. Everyone was more or less watching the show, and no one really thought highly of her performance.

Everyone knew she was a handyman, but no one knew her name.

It wasn't until today's battle, in which she defeated Shen Qingming, that her name began to slowly spread.

The word spread like wildfire, and soon everyone present was silently reciting the three words aloud:

Sheng Zhiyi!

The two were teleported to a path outside the arena. Sheng Zhiyi focused her divine sense into the jade slip and saw a small red character "Victory" appear after her match. Only then did she feel relieved.

Shen Qingming didn't care about the jade slip at all. Like an impatient child, he moved on to the next topic.

He tilted his head to look at Sheng Zhiyi, his expression eager: "It's a deal, if I lose I'll be your servant, and I'll keep my promise."

?

The young master actually took it seriously?

"No," Sheng Zhiyi quickly interjected, "I never agreed to that!"

Shen Qingming was stunned. "Why?"

"What do you mean, why?" Sheng Zhiyi found it quite difficult to talk to him. "Why do you look so expectant?"

No normal person would want to be a servant or slave. Saying that is an insult to others. Who would eagerly want to be a slave or slave?

Could it be that this young master doesn't see outsiders very often because he's not very bright?

“But my mother said they were all willing to be my servants,” Shen Qingming said with certainty.

"?"

Sheng Zhiyi looked over in confusion, and the two of them met eyes, both somewhat bewildered.

After much effort, Sheng Zhiyi finally understood the gist of Shen Qingming's answer.

Shen Qingming was born weak, so his family naturally doted on him. They were afraid that if they didn't take good care of him, something might go wrong. So they carefully selected some maids to serve him personally. Although they were called maids, they were more like playmates.

Of course, the Shen family, with its generations of accumulated wealth, would not make things difficult for these people.

They often lacked a solid foundation in cultivation, so they voluntarily went to serve the Shen family for a period of time and were able to receive guidance from Elder Shen along with Shen Qingming.

Several of them had already achieved some success in their cultivation and left the Shen family.

Shen Qingming lowered his head, kicking a pebble at his feet, looking somewhat sullen.

"Sister Xiaoyuan has left too, and now I have no one to keep me company."

That's why he secretly slipped out of the house, remembering that his father had casually mentioned that if he could enter the inner sect someday, he would grant him one wish, so he signed up for the competition.

Sheng Zhiyi looked down at him and asked, "So you want to win the inner sect selection so that Sister Xiaoyuan can come back?"

Shen Qingming sighed and shook his head like a little adult, "No, Sister Xiaoyuan said that her dream is to become a sword immortal. Playing with me at my house will definitely not make her dream come true."

Hearing Shen Qingming speak so maturely, Sheng Zhiyi couldn't help but laugh: "You're quite understanding."

“Yes! I’m very good,” Shen Qingming nodded, patting his chest boastfully, “That’s why I want to be your servant!”

"Huh?" Sheng Zhiyi was dumbfounded. "Why are you so persistent?"

“I want to be with you. I’m all alone at home now, and I don’t want to go back,” Shen Qingming said confidently.

From a young age, he knew that his parents held high positions. His father was an elder of the sect, and his mother was in charge of the Enforcement Hall. Both of them were busy with important matters and had to handle many complicated affairs. Each of these matters was related to the sect's major affairs and might even affect the future and fate of many people.

Compared to these, his affairs were nothing more than trivial matters of eating, drinking, and having fun.

But it doesn't matter, he still has his maid sister to play with.

Shen Qingming laughed again, revealing his little tiger teeth, "Anyway, a bet is a bet. If I lose, I have to follow you."

When Sheng Zhiyi got closer to him, she realized that when he smiled, a small dimple would appear next to his cheek.

Shen Qingming's eyes were clear and bright, his gaze piercing.

After thinking for a moment, Sheng Zhiyi spoke frankly: "I don't dislike you, but I'm currently living under someone else's roof, and I also have to cultivate every day, so I can't play with you."

After all, she still needs to find a way to stay on Shuanghua Peak; she can't have one more burden than the previous one.

Moreover, given Shen Qingming's status, he himself is unaware of these hierarchical distinctions. If Elder Shen knew that his precious son had given her a menial servant, it might implicate Ji Fuguang.

She absolutely could not agree to such a thing.

"You're living under someone else's roof now?" Shen Qingming stared wide-eyed at Sheng Zhiyi in surprise.

Sheng Zhiyi nodded.

Shen Qingming seemed to be thinking of something, and a hint of pity appeared in his eyes.

“If you don’t have a place to stay, why don’t you come to my house!” He patted his chest. “My house is very big, it can accommodate you, and my father can guide your cultivation. Anyway, teaching me is the same as teaching someone else, so I might as well give you a pointer, it won’t take much effort.”

Alas, in this way, Sheng Zhiyi will become his slave, just as he originally planned.

Shen Qingming blinked and looked at Sheng Zhiyi expectantly.

"Junior Brother Shen is truly eloquent. Does Elder Shen know about such words?" A clear and gentle voice came, with a hint of laughter.

The two looked up.

Ji Fuguang, dressed in white, walked around the lush green bamboo and came from the other end of the path. Behind him was a disciple wearing the sect's standard robe, who was half a step behind him.

Shen Qingming looked up at Ji Fuguang, then turned to Sheng Zhiyi and asked softly:

"Your senior brother... came to see you?"

Sheng Zhiyi didn't know why he suddenly lowered his voice, so she also hummed softly.

Hidden among the bamboo groves, the two whispered to each other, getting very close.

Ji Fuguang narrowed his eyes, a barely perceptible dark glint flashing in his phoenix eyes, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.

He then chuckled and looked at Shen Qingming:

"Junior Brother Shen, why aren't you answering? Could it be that you have some dissatisfaction with me?"

Shen Qingming quickly waved his hand, "Senior brother, I didn't!"

He had a deep impression of Ji Fuguang. From childhood to adulthood, Elder Shen doted on him. Only that one time did he offend Ji Fuguang and was severely scolded by his father.

Based on his limited life experience, it's best to avoid this senior brother if you encounter him.

If we're too close, we're more likely to get caught in the crossfire.

"I was just mentioning it casually, haha, haha." Shen Qingming scratched his head.

Sheng Zhiyi keenly sensed that Ji Fuguang was not very happy at this moment.

She glanced at the disciples following behind Ji Fuguang, then at Shen Qingming, unsure of who had upset the young master.

But she consciously moved closer to Ji Fuguang, took out the jade slip, and handed it over like a precious treasure:

"Senior brother, I won this match!"

Ji Fuguang lowered his eyes and glanced at the jade slip: "Oh?"

“Really! I just beat Shen Qingming.” Sheng Zhiyi pointed to the people behind her.

Shen Qingming was forced to speak: "Yes, Sheng Zhiyi just beat me."

Why force someone to admit defeat on the spot!

Ji Fuguang held a folding fan in front of his chest with one hand, gently waving it, his tone soft and concerned:

"Junior Brother Shen, I just saw Elder Shen looking for you. You should go there quickly."

This was an attempt to drive him away.

Shen Qingming couldn't help but glance at Sheng Zhiyi.

Although everyone in the sect praised Ji Fuguang, and even his father said he was good, he always felt that this guy was a bit scary. Did Sheng Zhiyi really want to go with him?

Noticing Shen Qingming's gaze, Sheng Zhiyi nodded slightly to him and then raised her chin, signaling him to hurry up and leave.

"What, you two became friends after a fight? Or perhaps you want me, your senior brother, to step aside so you can have a private chat?" Ji Fuguang's voice suddenly rang out, smiling warmly.

Before he finished speaking, he casually extended the folding fan in his hand, pointing it at Shen Qingming's throat.