***
(MC POV)
The final hours of Jinzi's test were coming to an end soon, but they were quite similar to the first day. The only difference now was that there now happened to be another person around. They occasionally killed beasts together whenever they ran into them and seemed to try their best to split kills with one another.
The atmosphere between the two was a bit odd though. Even though they had been traveling together for a while now they didn't seem to be speaking much with each other. Occasionally I would see them speak a few words with one another, but it didn't seem to really evolve past that.
'How long have they been together for? Jinzi doesn't seem like a shy person, at least when she was around me, so maybe they had only met recently. Is it that dangerous that she needs another person to watch her back though? She seemed just fine on her own the first day.
Hmm, that's a little disappointing. I thought she would be able to handle herself, but maybe my expectations were a bit too high. I think it makes sense though, after all it didn't look like she even held a weapon before when I found her in that alley.'
Seeing the two together now, just after what Ying'er showed me, I wondered if they would fall for each other too. Love is usually slow after all, from a small sapling to a massive pine. Who knows, perhaps they will get together and she just doesn't know it yet.
Watching the footage was starting to bore me a bit, after all it was like the first day: small segments of action followed by long periods of watching someone play a walking simulator. The only real change was the frequency of battles increased by a small margin and there happened to be another person accompanying Jinzi.
"What's wrong darling? Are you a little sad? I know just how to cheer you up! Take a little peek over here!"
Turning my head to the side I was met by an amazing sight for the eyes. With her free hand she pulled down the front part of her robes, revealing a cavernous valley to behold. From there she slowly kept revealing until an entire mountain and its peak was seen. The beautiful color of the peak shone and a wide smile started to stretch across my face.
Without hesitation I grabbed a hold of that mountain. A soft and supple sensation spread around my fingers as they were slightly enveloped.
"Ah! Not even a second thought, huh?"
"Why would I need to? You offered yourself up and I feel I might have been a bit negligent of you lately."
"Oh?~ You finally realized how lonely you've been making your wife? Ugh! I'm such a lonely woman! My husband has been spending his time the past month with a plump little girl, who's full of youth!~ How could I, an old lady, dare to compete with her?!~"
"Ying'er, can't this just be counted as the start of my repayment?"
Looking up I saw, adoring her charming face was a cheeky playful smile followed with a slight blush. Seeing such a look made me feel I've been had, so with a swift movement I wrapped my free arm around her waist and pulled her onto my lap.
"Whoa! Fufu~ oh my!♥ What might that rod be hidden within your robes?♥"
"Now wouldn't you like to know? Hmm… this could be considered your punishment! You must wait another day or two!"
"H-huh?! Pu-punishment?! For what?! What has your poor wife done to deserve this! Another two whole days!! This, this is abuse! *playful sob*" She brought both her hands up and covered her face as she slightly turned away from me.
"Oh? You're talking about abuse? This poor, poor husband of yours has been sentenced to countless times of teasing. Speaking ill of him right in front of his face!"
"H-how could that be?! I have done nothing! I'm clearly being framed here!" She lowered her hands and looked at me with a slightly offended expression. At this point I immediately noticed that she had already changed her own terms from third person back to first.
"Oh? So what were those words about when you spoke of that 'plump' little girl with him but mere moments ago?"
"T-that?! Husband must be taking words out of context! I-I had never meant such a thing! So I believe that my husband was quite wrongful in punishing me! In fact you should lift it! And perhaps now would be a great time to do so.~♥" She leaned onto my chest and she looked like just a weak woman.
"Humph, this husband believes you, but only a little! Your sentence shall be reduced to but a single day!"
"Ah! Thank you, thank you! You are merciful, but why not reduce it to nothing? Please, I beg of you to cancel the sentence altogether!"
"Oh? Looks like this wife of mine is quite greedy. I already gave in once, there won't be another time!"
"Fufu~"
"Hehe~"
We laughed together, ending our little playful act.
"Darling, you weren't serious about that right?"
"Oh no-" She cut me off.
"Phew! I was a little worried there for a sec-" Yet I cut back!
"I was completely serious about that."
"HUH?! D-darling!! It's been so long already!!! Adding an extra day is torture to me! Please, let's just do it now! You've been playing with my chest for so long already, yet I don't get anything in return?! My darling is so cruel to me!"
Her words from me for a second, but I didn't let it get to me. I removed my hand from her mountain and connected it with my arm down below, holding her waist. After straightening her sitting posture on me I grabbed the jade tablet that she let go of. Lying on the bed together with a blanket wrapped over us, we watched the rest of Jinzi's little adventure play out.
…
In the end Jinzi managed to acquire 101 points before she exited the forest. With that Hao child together they emerged from shrubbery into the large open field which the opening was held in. From the time I knew there was only just a little bit left so grabbing Ying'er we left the building and headed to the field. Of course we made sure Ying'er's clothing was straightened out and looked untouched before we left.
When we arrived there the field was once again filled with people, yet there was always room for Ying'er and I. The atmosphere wasn't exactly the same as the opening though and the amount of people here wasn't as many either.
The moods of people around us varied from group to group. Some were joyous and ecstatic, while others were sorrowful and grieving. The group of contestants were separated from our group and as they separated it was quite easy to see how many didn't make it back. In total there was less than a quarter who didn't make it back, but even then, the grieving people still seemed to outspeak those joyous.
But we weren't here for that. We were here to test Jinzi and to hear whether or not she would make it to be at least mentioned. If she was, then that's great and she can continue her current life. If not, then I guess I would expel her from my sect. I had already done a lot for her, in fact probably way more than I should have. If she couldn't return anything then I would simply release her.
..
Soon the whole field began to quiet down. A good number of people left once knowing that their loved one had already died during the event. All those who remained most probably still had someone up there. There was the possibility that there were still some people who were coming back now as we spoke, but even if they returned now they wouldn't get much.
Slowly the old man from the opening appeared once more and began his speech.
"First of all I would like to say a word or two to those who didn't make it. I'd like to thank them for valiantly fighting against those monster beasts, their sacrifice will not be in vain. With this little competition of mine the beast horde should have been delayed for just a while longer.
Now, let's get onto the winners of the competition. First of all we'll begin with honorable mentions from 25th place upwards.
Number twenty-five with 37 points, Wang Shu…
Number twenty-four…"
From 25th place he went up the list, but I wasn't hearing Jinzi's name at all yet. Of course that was because I knew her score. It kinda spoiled the competition for me, but I wasn't here for that anyway.. After each name was called there was a small allotted time which was used for an applause. Finally we were getting close to the top. They had just called out fourth place.
"Third place with 87 points is Young Master Hao Fang! Congratulations, you've won a…"
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
"Hey, Ying'er it's that Hao kid! He did pretty well huh?"
"He did alright, but let's see what my Little Sister gets!"
"Hmm? You seem quite confident about her. You don't think she got first, do you?"
"I don't know I guess we'll see~"
"Second place! With a total of 101 points is a young woman named Xue Jinzi! For her prize we have a defensive treasure. Bring it up!"
As a man walked up with a small case I looked at Ying'er.
"It's not bad! She has already reached the point of asking something from me. But I wonder who first is?"
"I really hope it isn't who I think it is!"
'Hmm? Is it that young man from before who wore my sect's robes? I wonder where her dislike of him came from?'
The case in the man's hands opened and a slight light was emitted from the case.
"I would like to present to you this defensive treasure! It's of quite a high quality especially considering your current cultivation. This defensive treasure can block a total of 5 attacks from a 4th realm, or Foundation establishment, expert! All you have to do is wear it and it should automatically activate whenever there's danger. Of course it's best used against Foundation Establishment experts, but it could still be used against those of other realms."
The man with the case presented it to Jinzi on the platform above and she in turn accepted it with a bow.
As soon as she did we walked off the platform and the case disappeared in a flash. Once it was gone she looked around in the crowd before spotting Ying'er and I within the crowd. While she was coming toward me the old man continued his little reward ceremony and called out the last name.
"Now for our first place! With a grand total of 203 points! This young man, named Ye Chen, is this event's champion! For his reward we have brought…"
When he was mentioned I looked up and saw the man I believe my dear wifey seemed to dislike. With a quick sideways glance I could see my Ying'er's disgust on her face.
At this time Jinzi seemed to finally arrive.
"Big Brother! Big Sister! Let's get out of here! It's too loud and I've already got my rewards! Besides Big Brother, about my request…" As she asked about her promised request he did this cute little action as she touched the tips of her fingers together. She seemed nervous that I wouldn't keep my word.
"Alright, Jinz, let's go then. Also don't worry about the request too much! I'll fulfill it for you ok? I won't go back on my word. Besides, you earned it! I have no reason to deny your little request."