Chapter 289 : Departure, Third Realm Competition

Chapter 289: Departure, Third Realm Competition

Inside the small courtyard, Mo Qingmei keenly sensed that something seemed off about Niu Yuanshan.

Yet she could not discern the reason.

They were merely accompanying the team to the imperial capital of Moon Country to handle some affairs.

In this regard, Niu Yuanshan should have been the most adept. The hardest, most exhausting, and most tedious tasks had always been handled by him.

“Steward Niu, is there something troubling you, or something weighing on your mind?” she asked with a frown, feeling a trace of concern.

Too unusual!

After a moment, however, a smile appeared on Niu Yuanshan’s face.

He did not answer her question, but instead suddenly asked:

“It’s getting late. Junior Sister Mo, why not stay for a meal?”

Mo Qingmei immediately refused, “No need.”

Ever since her confession had been rejected years ago, she had never given Old Niu a pleasant expression.

“Didn’t Junior Sister Mo once say my fish soup tasted fresh and delicious? I haven’t made it in many years—why not try it today and see if my skills have declined?” Niu Yuanshan persisted.

Mo Qingmei looked at the sincerity on his face. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, “I do happen to have nothing to do today.”

But she added, “How about I invite a few other stewards to join us?”

She clearly showed reluctance to be alone with him.

“Alright.” Niu Yuanshan thought for a moment and agreed.

Those two words extinguished the faint expectation that had just risen in Mo Qingmei’s heart.

Her expression grew colder as she turned to leave.

“You prepare the soup. I’ll go call them.”

Watching her back and hearing her indifferent tone, a faint smile appeared on Old Niu’s honest-looking square face as he thought:

“Junior Sister Mo… if you invite the other stewards to my courtyard for a meal, those who are tactful won’t come.”

Just as Niu Yuanshan expected, only Mo Qingmei returned in the end.

On the way, several familiar stewards had teased her, each with meaningful smiles.

“So many years have passed—could it be that Senior Brother Niu has finally come to his senses?” one female steward even joked.

Their words stirred ripples in her heart.

The heart she thought had long gone silent began to feel a faint sense of anticipation again.

And anticipation was a subtle kind of poison.

Once a person had expectations, they also had troubles.

Even on her way back, she felt slightly nervous.

But when she saw Niu Yuanshan, she returned to her usual cold demeanor and said in a low voice:

“The other stewards are busy today. I should head back as well, so Steward Niu doesn’t have to trouble himself hosting.”

“No trouble. The soup will be ready soon,” Old Niu replied without turning his head as he worked in the kitchen.

Looking at the boiling fish soup, he seemed slightly distracted.

“Perhaps this is the last time I’ll dine alone with Junior Sister Mo in the Dao Gate as Niu Yuanshan,” he thought.

Perhaps once he returned to his hometown, there would only be Mu Bingjiu in this world—no more Niu Yuanshan.

After bringing the fish soup to the table, Old Niu immediately said:

“Junior Sister Mo, please wait a moment. I’ll go get something.”

He entered the house and brought out a jar of Erlang Wine.

Back then, Chu Huaixu had given him two jars. He had always been reluctant to drink them.

Until one day, he drank one jar alone.

“Hm? This is wine Chu Huaixu gave you?” Mo Qingmei asked.

Though Niu Yuanshan was usually honest and reserved, he had once shown it off in front of the other stewards.

“That’s right,” he replied.

“Weren’t you always reluctant to drink it?” Mo Qingmei asked in surprise.

“Well, wine is meant to be drunk eventually,” he said casually.

“That’s true. Huaixu is a good child. Even though he’s already a True Disciple, with a noble status and an immeasurable future, he would still treat you as a respected elder.”

“During holidays, how could he not think of you?”

“So there’s really no need to be so reluctant to drink it,” Mo Qingmei said.

In the past, such words would have filled Niu Yuanshan with satisfaction.

But ever since Chu Huaixu had laid everything bare, his feelings had become complicated.

And yet, what Mo Qingmei said was not wrong.

Niu Yuanshan had long realized that although Chu Huaixu sometimes seemed unserious, occasionally playful, and unconventional in behavior, deep down he was someone who valued relationships deeply.

If others treated him well, he would treat them well in return.

Thus, even now, Chu Huaixu’s attitude toward Niu Yuanshan remained the same as before—

Like a junior respecting an elder.

This instead left Old Niu, caught between 【The Organization】 and the Dao Gate, between His Highness the Heir and Chu Huaixu, uncertain of where he stood.

Mo Qingmei, of course, knew nothing of this. She was still reminiscing.

“Speaking of which, Huaixu saved my life as well. I never expected that day at the Evil Cultivator Altar, he would rush in like that to save me.”

“If not for him, I might have truly been in mortal danger.”

Hearing this, Old Niu could not help but sigh.

Mo Qingmei immediately grew displeased.

“What are you sighing for?”

“I just didn’t expect the child to value relationships so much,” Niu Yuanshan said.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Mo Qingmei looked at him with confusion.

Aren’t most disciples of the Dao Gate people of loyalty and righteousness?

“For the Dao Gate, it is indeed good,” Niu Yuanshan said—only half of what he truly meant, swallowing the other half.

After that, he opened the wine jar and began pouring for her.

After three rounds of wine, as they ate fish and drank soup, Old Niu asked:

“Junior Sister Mo, have my skills declined over the years?”

Memories surged within Mo Qingmei. From the very first sip, fragments of the past had already flooded her mind.

But she simply said, “Not bad.”

A faint smile appeared on Old Niu’s face, as if those two simple words were the highest praise.

In truth, Mo Qingmei did not eat much. Yet today, with the fish soup and rice, she finished an entire bowl.

The Erlang Wine was strong, leaving her cheeks flushed red.

Looking at her, Niu Yuanshan felt that the youthful aura she once had was gone. She was no longer the girl in his memories.

In its place was a trace of maturity refined by time.

She had always been the kind of person whose beauty grew with age—now, she seemed even more charming.

Yes… the junior sister who once called him “Senior Brother Niu” had now become an Outer Sect Steward capable of handling affairs independently.

Since that unforgettable night, however, she had never called him that again.

Usually, she addressed him by name or as Steward Niu.

At this moment, slightly drunk, Mo Qingmei noticed him staring and could not help but say:

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

Niu Yuanshan immediately turned his head away and buried himself in drinking.

Mo Qingmei lowered her head as well.

By the end, it felt like they were drinking in silence.

Eventually, she grew more intoxicated, half lying on the table, her eyes hazy.

For some reason, even after all these years—even though today was just a meal—her once quiet heart stirred again, restless and unwilling.

Yes… she was still somewhat unwilling.

In her drunken state, she buried her face in her arms and murmured:

“Senior Brother Niu.”

She suddenly called out.

Niu Yuanshan’s hand holding the wine cup froze slightly.

“Junior Sister Mo, I’m listening,” he said.

His heartbeat subtly quickened.

“Senior Brother Niu… all these years… all these years…”

“Have you ever… ever…”

Her voice grew softer and softer.

But the response she received was only Mu Bingjiu’s dry voice:

“Steward Mo, you’ve had too much to drink.”

Three days passed in a flash.

It was time for the Dao Gate disciples to set out.

Early in the morning, Niu Yuanshan woke up early and walked around the Outer Sect.

Every disciple he encountered greeted him with a smile:

“Steward Niu.”

Their attitude wasn’t overly respectful.

But that casualness instead felt closer.

Among the Outer Sect stewards, Niu Yuanshan was the easiest to approach.

After making his rounds, he went to the Outer Sect market and bought a jin of his favorite spiritual tangerines.

These were grown on Medicine Mountain—different from those outside.

Sweet, but not purely so, always carrying a slight tang.

He took one out, storing the rest in his Storage Token.

Then, eating as he walked, he headed toward the Martial Arena.

Today, the Martial Arena was especially lively.

The Third Realm Dao Gate disciples who had passed the selection would soon depart together for the imperial capital of Moon Country.

Groups of three or five gathered, chatting noisily, many with excitement on their faces.

Many of them had never been to the capital of Moon Country—some had never even left the Eastern Continent.

They were all young, and their mood was naturally different from usual.

Some discussed the customs of Moon Country, while others bragged loudly about how they would deal with cultivators of the Western Continent.

Yet no matter how spirited they were, no one declared that they were going to seize the championship!

It wasn’t that these Dao Gate prodigies lacked ambition.

They simply knew very well who was most likely to take that throne.

Before long, the surroundings quieted slightly.

Those at the front turned back, thinking a senior had arrived.

But approaching were three people of the same generation.

The one in front wore a signature black-gold robe.

To his right stood a girl with a cold temperament, holding a spiritual sword.

To his left stood a delicate-looking youth carrying a sword case.

The inner sect disciples began bowing one after another.

“Champion Chu.”

“True Disciple Han.”

“True Disciple Xu.”

Among this generation of disciples of the Gentleman Temple, only these three newcomers were still in the Third Realm.

The others were already too advanced to participate.

Some had already become major cultivators.

Thus, among all participants, the three of them held the highest status.

Most gazes were fixed on Chu Huaixu.

Many also secretly observed the massive sword case on Xu Ziqing’s back.

After all, during the First Realm Eastern Continent Competition, the ugly Bronze Sword inside had left a deep impression on everyone.

That androgynous-looking youth—once he drew his sword—was terrifying!

Yet since that competition, he had not been seen carrying the sword case.

Even when going down the mountain for missions, Xu Ziqing had always been empty-handed.

Now, Chu Huaixu led Big Ice Block and Little Xu forward.

Everyone made way, allowing them to stand at the very front.

He stood at the center position without the slightest hesitation.

If they didn’t stand there, it would only pressure others—better to be open about it.

Among the crowd, Chu Huaixu saw many familiar faces.

Chang Le, Ding Bolin, and others—

All former opponents from the Eastern Continent Competition.

Back then, his name hadn’t even been on the betting list.

Yet he had risen as a dark horse and seized the championship with overwhelming dominance.

No one could refuse to accept it!

Still, many were surprised.

“Why is Chu Huaixu only at the Seventh Heaven of the Third Realm?”

“With his talent, that shouldn’t be the case.”

“Chang Le and the others have already reached perfection. Ding Bolin even reached the Ninth Heaven after taking pills in seclusion.”

After the recent missions, Dao Gate disciples deeply understood Chu Huaixu’s strength.

No one believed his Seventh Heaven cultivation meant he was weaker.

They simply hoped he could bring glory again.

After all, reaching perfection would be more secure.

Chu Huaixu did not conceal his aura.

He could tell what others were thinking.

“Seriously? Little Xu is only at the Fourth Heaven—why does no one think he’s weak?” he thought.

He wasn’t worried about breakthroughs anyway—he could enter the 【Imperial Pool】.

Recently, the Dao Gate’s high-level forces had been sweeping outside.

The remnants of the Black Moon Sect had long fled.

Those who ran slowly had already been wiped out.

“I can’t even find monsters to farm,” he thought.

Fortunately, he knew a bit about the 【Imperial Pool】.

At its core, it was similar to a medicinal bath—just far more powerful.

In 《Borrowed Sword》, only a few Moon Country players had ever gained entry through great contributions.

And as for silly players?

There had been one idiot who actually urinated inside the Imperial Pool.

“Thankfully… it should still be clean now, right?” Chu Huaixu thought.

Soon, Niu Yuanshan and Mo Qingmei also arrived at the Martial Arena.

Not long after, three streaks of light cut through the sky.

Three major cultivators arrived at incredible speed.

Jiang Zhi appeared together with Nangong Yue and Chu Yinyin.

Everyone immediately bowed.

“Greetings, Little Martial Uncle Ancestor.”

“Greetings, Ninth Elder.”

“Greetings, Tenth Elder.”

Jiang Zhi glanced over the crowd and gave a slight nod.

Without a single extra word, he waved his sleeve and declared loudly—

“Descend the mountain!”