Quartex The System

Chapter 14: Bet?

When Brother Mu turned around and saw this young boy's face, he froze. "What the...?"

Looking carefully, he found that this young boy in front of him had a resemblance to Zi Yun, which made him tongue-tied. Before he arrived, he had felt that there was a fight nearby which made him tense. It was because he knew Zi Yun the best, maybe even better than those caretakers at the orphanage.

Mu Cheng knew that although Zi Yun was a cripple, he had a strong and seemingly unbreakable will. No matter how many times Zhen Yuting would beat him to the ground, or any of the other bandits for that matter, Zi Yun would take the beatings in silent. Not so much as complaining about how unfair his life was.

The reason Mu Cheng wanted to be good friends with Zi Yun was because of the respect he held for Zi Yun. On the path of cultivation, talent and luck weren't the only things required to be successful. It was the heart. No matter how slow your progress, no matter how difficult the trials one faced. As long as one didn't give up, as long as one persevered through the difficulties, they would still make some kind of progress.

His grandfather had told him about this, which was why Mu Cheng held such respect for Zi Yun. Even though his life was hard, he still believed that it was possible to cultivate spiritual energy despite being a cripple.

The determination and powerful will to overcome his difficult situation was what inspired Mu Cheng to train harder.

Looking at this white-haired boy that had some resemblance to Zi Yun, Mu Cheng couldn't help but mutter: "Brother Yu-"

He was quickly interrupted by Zhao Yun raising a finger to his lips, gesturing for Mu Cheng to be quiet.

In realisation, his eyes widened, and his pupils dilated from shock. What was he witnessing? How was this possible? Was this really Zi Yun? He almost couldn't believe it.

Although he was shocked to the point of being stunned, he hurriedly snapped out of his stupor, realising what Zi Yun was doing. A small smile came upon the side of his face.

Turning around to look back at Shen Tang, he spoke: "Shen Tang, why are you here? Could it be that you forgot the last beating I gave you when I warned you about making trouble for Zi Yun?"

With a dark face, Shen Tang snorted: "What makes you think that I would want to waste my time on a cripple from a small shop? What can I gain hiding a wastrel from you? Besides, it was this guy that walked out of his shop; maybe he has something to do with this?"

"Now, get out of my way! He seriously injured Yuting's arm; if he doesn't die today, my name isn't Shen Tang!"

Mu Cheng was a bit more stunned when he heard this. The guy he was accusing who seriously wounded Yuting's arm, was Zi Yun? If not for him forcing himself to put on an indifferent expression, he was sure that his eyes would come out of his head.

He couldn't help but doubt his eyes, was this boy really Zi Yun? He was just a cripple half a month ago, even if Zi Yun had a miraculous encounter that healed his broken spiritual veins. His cultivation should not be at a level that could threaten Zhen Yuting.

Mu Cheng knew that Zhen Yuting was quite popular in Qingwei Town and is known for reaching a high level in his Iron Skin Body Technique. His cultivation was also at the Eighth Stage of Elementary Realm, with his Iron Skin Body Technique he could fight cultivators at the peak of Elementary Realm!

How could Zi Yun have reached such a level in such a short amount of time? If this was Zi Yun, then his talent was simply heaven-defying!

No matter how much he looked at this boy with white hair, the resemblance was still there. A bead of sweat rolled down the back of Mu Cheng's neck when he thought about this.

Watching Mu Cheng stare at Zhao Yun the way he did, Shen Tang couldn't help but frown, he felt that something was wrong: 'What is he up to?'

Mu Cheng turned his head back towards Zhao Yun and asked calmly: "Is it you?"

With a nod of his head, Zhao Yun replied in the same indifferent tone: "Hmm, It is me, I did it."

When Mu Cheng heard this, his head almost started to spin. To the rest of the crowd, Zhao Yun was admitting to Young Master Mu that he was the one who injured Zhen Yuting. But to Mu Cheng, Zhao Yun was telling him that it was him, the Zi Yun he knew.

'I see, it seems he wants to keep this a secret. Haha, then let me help you once again.'

Cupping his hands towards Zhao Yun, he asked: "Brother Daoist, I would like to invite you to my home residence for a good talk. I wonder if the brother is willing?"

Zhao Yun, who was watching from the side, smiled a little seeing that Young Master Mu understood him. But he was hesitant in accepting Brother Mu's invitation: "I-"

Before Zhao Yun could answer, he was interrupted: "Mu Cheng! What are you doing? You dare to interfere in my matters again? Do you think that just because you beat me once means that you can do anything in front of me? Your arrogance will be the reason for your defeat!" Shen Tang yelled.

Mu Cheng replied slowly: "What am I doing? Well, you said it yourself. This brother might know something as to the whereabouts of my Little Brother, how could I not ask? How is this interfering when it involves my matters also?"

Pausing for a moment, he continued: "And If I can beat you once, I can certainly do it again. Is this your way of asking for a rematch? If that's the case, come. I, Mu Cheng, am not afraid of you!"

"You..." Shen Tang's fists balled into fists in anger.

Although the Mu Family was viewed weaker than the Shen Family, it was not by much. It did not mean they were afraid of them.

When Mu Cheng was just a stage behind Shen Tang in the Nascent Realm, it was Mu Cheng who won the duel between them. This was humiliating for Shen Tang, which is why he was so desperate to beat Mu Cheng to clear the stain on his record.

Despite Shen Tang's act of anger, inside his heart, he was laughing. He continued his act and spoke in a cold tone: "Mu Cheng, it seems you understand quite well. Three days! In three days we will have a rematch at the Qingwei Fighting Arena! Do you dare?"

With a wave of his hand, Mu Cheng replied: "I already told you that I was not afraid of you. Why wouldn't I dare? I accept your challenge."

"Good! But... That guy has to leave his life behind, or cripple his arm. He seriously wounded Yuting's arm. If he doesn't compensate accordingly, everyone will start to think that the Shen Family is easy to bully."

Before Mu Cheng could say anything, Zhao Yun took a step forward: "Compensation? It was he who attacked me first, mind you, it was a sneak attack. You wish for me to compensate you? If I hadn't defended myself, I would be the one seriously injured, yet you ask me for compensation? I should be the one asking for compensation. The people around can all testify to this."

Although Zhao Yun said this, many of those in the crowd turned their heads away as if they heard nothing. They didn't wish to make an enemy out of the Shen Family. However, there were still a few that were dissatisfied with them.

"Indeed shameless, he was sneak attacked by Zhen Yuting and yet demands compensation? He can only blame himself for not being strong enough."

"That's right."

"This is how one of the big influential families act? They have opened my eyes."

Mu Cheng raised an eyebrow as he turned to the blackened faced Shen Tang: "Oh? It seems Brother Tang is becoming more unruly hmm? Just because your family is considered the strongest in Qingwei."

Veins threatened to pop on Shen Tang's forehead. Since when was he ridiculed in public like this?

"Good, very good! You best be careful rat, lest you offend someone you can't afford. Otherwise, you might find yourself dead!" Shen Tang scowled lowly.

Zhao Yun merely nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders at in the face of his threat.

His scowl slowly turned into a malicious smile as he put his attention on Mu Cheng: "In three days we will have a rematch... but a rematch without some stakes is not fun. So I propose we place a bet."

Mu Cheng's brows furrowed a little, and he thought: 'Is this what he was after?'

"What kind of bet?"

"If you lose, you have to hand over your two-star peak-grade defensive array formation!"

When the crowd heard this, they all let out a collective gasp in shock.

"What the hell?"

"Tsk tsk, only one of the most influential families could afford to bet something such as a two-star peak-grade defensive array!"

"Indeed"

"A two-star peak-grade defensive array formation such as this could go for hundreds of thousands of spirit stones!"

"Hmm, maybe even higher if it was auctioned at the Treasure Pavillion!"

Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow: 'There isn't a lot of information on the ranks of treasures from my memories. Only that the higher the star rank, the more costly and power the treasure.'

"Oh?" Mu Cheng's eyes flashed, and his brows slanted slightly: "You have a big appetite. In the world of betting, one must bet something of equivalent value; otherwise, how could this be fair?"

Shen Tang raised his hands and responded slowly: "Naturally. I will place two two-star high-grade treasures up for the bet. If I lose, they are yours."