Dare Not to Bet! . . .
Bai Chen spoke with gravitas, "Indeed, you are my opponent in the Land of Han-Yang."
Listening intently, Cha Eun Xiao responded in a low voice, "You'll find that I am your opponent not only in the Land of Han-Yang."
"Perhaps someday, you might become too weak to be my adversary," Cha Eun Xiao added, lifting his head to fix Bai Chen with piercing eyes.
Bai Chen's eyes glinted with a sharp light, and he smiled, saying, "I'll eagerly await that day. If you truly become that powerful, I'll watch you and admire you."
"When that day arrives, I'll show you no mercy," Bai Chen asserted.
Cha Eun Xiao retorted, "The same goes for you. I won't show you any mercy either. Just wait and see. I'll be the one to defeat you in every aspect."
Master Bai chuckled, and then in a more solemn tone, he said, "However, for what you gave me earlier, I will never forget to be grateful. Whether we become enemies or friends, I'll always remember your deeds."
Deep within, Master Bai knew he owed Cha Eun Xiao a substantial debt because Wan-Er and Xiu-Er received those remarkable dan beads from him. It was his responsibility now to ensure they were used wisely.
Cha Eun Xiao downplayed the gratitude, saying, "Brother Bai, you're being too formal. I gave them those dan beads because they've helped me considerably. It wasn't about you at all. Don't overthink it. You're taking this too seriously, and it makes me feel embarrassed."
Master Bai expressed his gratitude sincerely, saying, "Thank you."
Cha Eun Xiao responded in kind, "You're welcome." He also sensed Master Bai's special attachment to Wan-Er and Xiu-Er.
This was what a man should do—protect and respect those dear to him.
Meanwhile, Ling Wuxie let out a long sigh, looking rather disheartened. He felt like he had already lost the bet as he watched the two men showing respect and admiration for each other.
[Aren't they supposed to be enemies?]
[They're becoming friends, not foes. In fact, it's clear that they consider each other their greatest enemy now!]
To respect and defend one's adversary was the ultimate form of self-respect.
Cha Eun Xiao gave the dan beads because he understood this well.
Master Bai agreed to Cha Eun Xiao's requests because he comprehended this too.
"I will help you ascend to the upper realm, and we'll meet there," Cha Eun Xiao was essentially saying to Master Bai. "We'll fight in the firmament, and I will win."
From this moment, they both recognized each other as life-long rivals. Their aspiration was to defeat one another, and in their eyes, the other was the ultimate opponent.
Master Bai wouldn't slack when he returned to the Human Realm Upon Heavens. In this lower realm, Cha Eun Xiao could stand as his equal. Being in such a dominant position, Master Bai was determined not to let Cha Eun Xiao catch up. Anything less would be a significant failure, and a competition between them wouldn't even be necessary to determine the outcome.
It was a moment of utter disgrace.
Master Bai was beginning to feel the weight of competition from his adversary, Cha Eun Xiao. However, rather than succumb to the pressure, this stress seemed to invigorate him.
[Feng Monarch, I will not let you catch up!]
[The gap between us will only grow wider! I will pull further and further ahead of you!]
Cha Eun Xiao was also driven by this stress, his determination steeled.
[Despite you being high in the sky!]
[Despite your elevated status!]
[Despite your prominence in the Human Realm Upon Heavens, while I am just a mortal man!]
[Despite you being godlike!]
[I will catch up with you! I will reach you! I will defeat you utterly!]
[I will do it at any cost!]
[I believe I can!]
When he was initially reborn, his sole ambition was to return to the Qing-Yun Realm and exact revenge, aiming to dominate it. But he had now completely altered his course.
[Master Bai!]
[Bai Chen!]
[He is my destined rival!]
Ling Wuxie, the lone witness to this momentous turning point in history, remained blissfully unaware of the gravity of the situation. He remained preoccupied with his own vexations and anger.
"It's time for me to depart from this mortal world," Master Bai said. "It's inevitable. My life here is ending, thanks to someone I didn't hold in high regard before, someone blessed by fate."
Bai Chen offered a smile and declared, "I am here to bid you farewell, Brother Feng. Perhaps for the next thousand years, we may never cross paths again."
His eyes gleamed with sharpness as he added, "Or perhaps you'll never have the chance to see me again in your lifetime."
Cha Eun Xiao responded with a smile, "In my lifetime? How about we make a wager?"
Master Bai appeared somewhat taken aback and then chuckled. "I doubt it. I only bet when I have at least an eighty percent chance of winning. I've rarely lost, except for that one time when I was set up. With you, I'd estimate my chances of winning a bet like this are no higher than thirty percent. I don't think I'll take that bet."
Ling Wuxie mused, [Bai Chen! Can't you stop harping on the past? It's ancient history. Yes, I set you up at that time. So what? You lost the bet to me! ... He never bets unless he's got an eighty percent chance of winning. No wonder he's always been a winner. Now I get it. I should never bet with him!]
[Eighty percent! Only a fool would bet with you!]
[Just a few days ago, I was that fool...]
He recalled his bet with Master Bai in the bamboo forest, which revolved around whether Feng Monarch would present them with a gift or not. And now, as events had unfolded...
He had lost another wager!