Chapter 161 - End A Story

"Yang Zhai,"

Yang Zhai was about to unseal the sealing jade when he heard a voice from outside the tent.

"Yes, elder," Yang Zhai knew to whom this voice belonged, so he went and greeted the third elder. He stored the sealing jade in the pouch hanging on his waist.

"How are you doing?" 

"Fine, I am really happy that you are worried about me."

"Who is he?" Zihao De looked at Si Yu who was standing by Yang Zhai's side and asked.

"He is a good friend of mine. I met him in the forest when I was going to the Ma clan. He was being attacked by a beast." Yang Zhai said politely and did not reject the third elder from answering his questions.

"Oh, I can see that you trust him highly. Anyway, why did he ask for the rewards from the Ma clan instead of the Bai clan: after all, if he lost, you might not have been able to save him from the Ma clan." 

Elder Zihao De was a great strategist, how could he not know about the events that took place at the betting counter today? He also knew the emotional effects that will take place on the Ma clan members from Si Yu's betting today. 

If he had not realized the meaning behind this betting and the effects that it could cause, he would not have asked Yang Zhai for something like this.

"It's simple, my friend needed essence stones for his cultivation and he wanted to bet on me. But, as he was going to bet anyway, I asked him to ask for the rewards from the Ma clan instead of the Bai clan. I did not want the Bai clan to incur any loss because of us."

Yang Zhai said with determination. He made an expression that seemed like he was waiting for praise. He was smiling again and again, showing how he could not wait to be praised for his loyalty. 

"Oh," however, the elder Zihao De still had his suspicions. He looked at Yang Zhai and tried to find hesitation in Yang Zhai's body movements or his expressions. But, he could only see the pride in Yang Zhai's expression. 

It seems that he does not realize the consequences of his action. But, this is too much of a coincidence: Elder Zihao De still had his suspicions about Yang Zhai's actions. 

Yang Zhai looked at elder Zihao De and knew that Zihao De did not believe what he said. 

I can expect no less from a great strategist. He still does not believe me. However, what can he do even if he realizes that I am lying: Yang Zhai thought to himself. 

Nobody could just punish him based on their imagination or suspicions. And he was also a participant in the competition, so the Bai clan needed him, they could not do anything to him. 

Even if they knew about his motives for the Bet, they could not do anything to him. After all, he was the strongest participant out of the three participants of the Bai clan. 

"I understand, come with me, I need to discuss something with you." Zihao De nodded and asked Yang Zhai to follow him. 

Yang Zhai and Si Yu were about to follow elder Zihao De when Elder Zihao De turned around and stopped Si Yu from following them,

"Not you, I asked only Yang Zhai." 

Si Yu turned to look at Yang Zhai. 

"Wait for me here. If you are tired, you can sleep." Yang Zhai said this and walked away with elder Zihao De. 

"Tell me, why did you say the name of elder Cu Gil?" 

Both Yang Zhai and Zihao De were sitting in elder Zihao De's tent. 

Zihao De wanted to confirm if what Yang Zhai said was true or not. If it was true, then the consequences were going to be dire. There was a chance that it might increase the conflict between the two clans. 

"Yes, it was elder Cu Gil. You can ask him about this. He instructed me to hide until the last moment before making my appearance." Yang Zhai looked confused. 

Every moment of life mattered. Even a single moment was enough to change a life, change was permanent. A single thing could make someone suspicious and a single thing or moment could make someone trustful. 

Trust was like glass, once broken, it could not be restored. Even if the glass was restored to its original shape, there would be cracks in it or it would have been completely changed. 

"Hmm, why would he do that?" Zihao De muttered to himself. He could not understand any motive that could motivate Yang Zhai to do that. But, Elder Cu Gil might have some motive behind this. 

"Tell me, do you need anything to help you? We have already given Ai Hao and Si Kim something to help them in their fight. After all, we can't lose this competition: otherwise, we would lose a lot." 

"About that, can I have Earth-Skin Ka?" 

"Earth-Skin Ka, huh? I could see from your fight that you are a body cultivator. I wonder how you became a body cultivator, or, could it be that you have a talent in body cultivation?" 

"I don't know, I can feel that my physical strength increases the more I train, but because of the limitation of my body, I can't accumulate more strength." 

"Very well, I can grant you a rank 2 Earth-Skin Ka as you are a rank 2 cultivator. But, in return, I want you to end a story." Zihao De looked at Yang Zhai with an examining look.

"What do you mean, Elder?" Yang Zhai was confused as to what Zihao De was trying to say. 

"Jun Haru," 

"Jun Haru?" 

"Isn't your fight with Jun Haru in the third round? I want you to kill him."

"What?" Yang Zhai's eyes widened. He looked at Zihao De with a stunned expression. 

"Yes, I want you to kill him."

"But, but, how can I kill him?! I have never killed someone, besides, he is the son of the second elder of the Ma clan. If I kill him, won't the Ma clan take revenge?" 

"No, they won't be able to do anything. The reason is simple, this competition is arranged in such a way that even if someone dies, nobody would be blamed for killing their opponents." Zihao De stopped for a moment before continuing, 

"You are doing this for the good of the Bai clan. And I am also giving you Earth-Skin Ka in return, right? Besides, you also need to kill someday, so why are you hesitating?" 

"But, still…" 

"Think it through, nothing is wrong in doing it. After all, killing is allowed, so even if you kill, it would not be wrong, right?" Zihao De began to pressure Yang Zhai.

He is still a kid, if I pressure him, he won't be able to endure it, and would agree. And we can get rid of him to compensate later on if a conflict arises for killing Jun Haru. It would already be considered our goodwill: in the end, we will still be compensating by killing Yang Zhai even though we would not be obligated to. After all, killing is allowed in the competition, so getting rid of the one who killed Jun Haru would be our generosity: Zihao De thought to himself. 

Yang Zhai looked at Zihao De's face. 

So, he wants to use me as bait, huh. Nothing less can be expected from him, he knows how to play around. Let's play along then: Yang Zhai smiled in his mind. He knew what Zihao De was playing at. 

Zihao De might have considered him a kid, but he could not imagine what he was playing with.

"Okay, Elder, if it's for the Clan, I am ready." Yang Zhai showed determination on his face. 


!*****!*****!