Volume Twelve: Invitation to Hell - Chapter Forty: Overestimating One's Capabilities

On the way back, the group chatted and laughed.

"Sir, are you still coveting my Golden Pupil?" Huo Mingkun asked, looking at Huang Quan with a grin.

"Are you teasing me? Even the Black Pupil Yin-Yang Eyes are rare in a millennium, let alone the Golden Pupil. I can only admire it from afar; otherwise, Phoenix would tear me to pieces," Huang Quan laughed.

"Tear you to pieces? Is it really that serious?" Huo Mingkun asked, surprised.

"I dare not act rashly against the closed-door disciple who holds the Phoenix Gold Token," Huang Quan replied sheepishly.

"How did you know I have the Phoenix Seal?" Huo Mingkun was even more astonished.

"The skills of the Mountain-Lineage are not something you can fully grasp yet, you silly boy," Yaoguang said with a smile.

"Phoenix, you were so high-profile and flamboyant in there just now. That doesn't seem like your usual style," Xuan Chen interjected at this moment.

"Hahaha, you noticed," Yaoguang laughed.

"What exactly are you up to?" Chu Tianyou paused for a moment before suddenly realizing: "You..."

"The Buddha says, it cannot be spoken of..." Yaoguang offered a mysterious smile.

Seeing Yaoguang’s laughter, the others understood without needing words and joined in, drawing many gazes filled with envy and jealousy. It was no surprise; those who could associate with a master of the Mountain-Lineage were clearly no ordinary people.

However, when they entered their dormitory, they all froze. A man was sitting brazenly in the room, legs crossed, head propped up, tapping his thigh impatiently with one hand—it was Du Ping.

"Surprised to see me here?" Du Ping looked at Yaoguang and suddenly let out a wild, arrogant laugh.

Yaoguang frowned slightly, leaned casually against the doorframe, and said to Nalan Yu, "Ah Yu, look—there’s a difference between people. When you smile, it’s graceful and refined. When some people smile, they look like mangy dogs, and the ridiculous part is that they actually think it looks good."

"Indeed. Why is it that my smiles bring people joy? Perhaps I should teach that old dog a thing or two?" Nalan Yu put on a look of deep, earnest contemplation.

"You bastards!" Du Ping stood up abruptly. Just then, Jiang Yun walked in, poured a glass of water without haste, and said, "Master, have some water."

Yaoguang walked in, sat down, and said to Jiang Yun, "Yun'er, come here. Don't let the dog bite you."

Jiang Yun sat down beside Yaoguang with a giggle.

Du Ping was a repulsive person, but he was certainly not a fool. Faced with Yaoguang's indifference and mockery, he quickly calmed down, straightened his collar, and regained his composure.

"Phoenix, stop with the useless talk. I came here for one reason: do you dare to fight me? Of course, according to the rules, you can refuse, but I cannot guarantee that I won't go out and tell everyone you were afraid." As he spoke, his eyes were full of confidence.

Yaoguang had been prepared for this. She hadn't brought it up earlier precisely because she knew Du Ping would eventually seek her out. Having Du Ping initiate the challenge only for him to lose miserably would be far more effective.

Back when she was a cultivator, Yaoguang had never feared anyone, let alone now.

Yaoguang smiled and said to Du Ping, "You’re in high spirits, aren't you? Skipping the Undercurrent Ghost Market just to wait for me—how thoughtful of you."

Du Ping replied, "Quit the nonsense. Are you going to agree or not?"

"If I just agree like that, it would be so boring. You were already defeated by me a hundred years ago. Since you're a loser, I'm not afraid of what you say. Go ahead, say whatever you want, and while you're at it, tell them how I beat you until you were scrambling for your teeth." Yaoguang had her own plans; she wouldn't agree to Du Ping so easily. This time, she intended not only to take him down but to fleece him for everything he was worth.

"You?!" Du Ping was rendered speechless by her words.

Yaoguang actually understood Du Ping quite well. He was lecherous and cruel, but he still had a shred of pride. This revealed his weakness: he was desperate to prove himself, possessed an inflated sense of self-esteem, and placed too much weight on his own capabilities. Perhaps it had to do with his status; the infighting within their hidden faction must be quite intense. After all, they were none of them exactly "good birds."

"What about me? Du Ping, honestly, I don't want to fight you because it’s too dull. You’re a repeat loser to me. Unless you can give me a good reason," Yaoguang sneered.

With someone like Du Ping, the more arrogant she appeared, the better. She had to strike his pride hard to get him to bite the hook.

"What do you mean?" Du Ping stared at her intensely.

"Let’s put up a wager. We both put something on the table," Yaoguang said, tilting her head and picking at her ear.

The others nearby looked at her feigned roguishness and burst into laughter.

Nalan Yu smiled and said, "Sister, your impression of a hooligan is quite convincing."

"Pfft," Yaoguang rolled her eyes at him.

She knew clearly that by acting indifferent, she could lower Du Ping's guard. If there wasn't a wager, he wouldn't fall for it—he wasn't a fool.

"Haha, fine! You can choose money or magical artifacts. But what could you possibly offer me?" Du Ping took the bait.

"I don't have an eye for your artifacts; are they even as good as mine? Tell you what: if I win, I want your natal sword," Yaoguang said.

"My natal sword?" Du Ping’s expression shifted slightly.

"Yes, that is a non-negotiable condition. Otherwise, I won't agree to fight you! Du Ping, don't be too clever. There are experts from all over gathered here. If you want to use me to make a name for yourself, you have to pay the price. You can refuse, of course—it’s not as if your natal sword is so tempting that I absolutely must have it." She added the last sentence intentionally to ensure he took the bait.

Du Ping’s expression flickered, but finally, he nodded: "Fine. Tomorrow at 9:30 AM, after the Ghost Market closes, I’ll be waiting for you."

Then, as if unable to contain his emotions, he let out a loud laugh and said, "Phoenix, if you lose, you will marry me." With that, he turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Yaoguang found it somewhat amusing. Since when had killing a hooligan become such a tedious chore?

Du Ping reached the door, suddenly turned back, and looked at Yaoguang: "You woman—you're clearly just an ordinary person, yet you always act so high and mighty. It's truly annoying!"

Yaoguang didn't even look up, as if he weren't talking about her at all, and simply continued to drink her water.

Du Ping didn't bother to humiliate himself further; he sneered and walked away.

The others were left looking at one another in confusion. Phoenix was an "ordinary person"? How so? An ordinary person from the Divine Realm?