289: Chapter 144_4 289: Chapter 144_4 Suddenly, he understood.
The senior had nobody to inherit his swordsmanship, and he didn’t want the Sword Dao to disappear, so he came specially to instruct him.
Even though he wasn’t a disciple of the Hundred Peaks Sect, the senior held nothing back.
Truly a man of noble character and lofty integrity, how many in the world could match such magnanimity!
Cao Zhen looked around, thought for a moment, and then said, “Since you’ve come to our Four Treasures Peak, why not stay for a meal before you leave?”
Wu Jianzi had expressed his intention to give a gift when they first met.
Although they hadn’t accepted it—because they didn’t practice swordsmanship—it was the thought that counted.
As the host, Cao Zhen ought to show similar courtesy.
After all, on Earth, it was common to invite someone for a meal to reciprocate social niceties.
Have a meal?
Was he now being invited to have a meal at Four Treasures Peak?
Wu Jianzi looked at Cao Zhen’s sincere face and felt deeply moved.
The senior was treating him like one of his own, which was why he was inviting him to a meal at the peak.
But…
Wu Jianzi said hesitantly, “Senior, the disciple is bound by a master’s command to descend the mountain and engage in duels, and the mission is not yet complete.
I still have some sects to visit.
Once I have finished the duels with these sects, I will definitely come back for the meal.”
“Masterly orders indeed must not be disobeyed, so you should go then,” Cao Zhen nodded slightly.
It was like this when everyone was being polite — if they didn’t want to go, they couldn’t directly say no, they always had to find a reason.
“Thank you for understanding, senior.” Wu Jianzi knelt on the ground once more and kowtowed three times to Cao Zhen before rising and flying off into the distance, much faster than when he had left before.
Since the senior had invited him, naturally, he wanted to finish the duels as soon as possible and return.
Cao Zhen turned to look at his disciples and pointed into the distance, “Well, since I have dueled and defeated Wu Jianzi this time, we should also return and claim our rewards from the various peaks.”
Little Bei Yan asked curiously, “Rewards?
What rewards?”
“The day you weren’t here, the Sect Leader said that the winner would receive a reward, and the peak masters of those peaks…”
As Cao Zhen spoke, his eyes lit up, as if he were seeing all kinds of precious materials and countless Spirit Stones.
He saw several figures flying rapidly towards them through the sky and called out, “I don’t even have to go find them, they’re coming right to me.”
In the blink of an eye, different Peak Masters with their disciples had already descended from the sky.
The crowd looked off into the distance at Wu Jianzi’s vanishing silhouette; several of the more hot-tempered Peak Masters couldn’t help but start to complain.
“Peak Master Cao, why did you really go and block Wu Jianzi?”
“Peak Master Cao, we all told you not to come, but you didn’t listen, and now look, you stopped Wu Jianzi and in just such a short time, he has already won the duel and left.”
“Peak Master Cao, I’m not singling you out, but you are a Peak Master, after all.
Why didn’t we make a move before?
It’s because we are all Peak Masters, and in terms of seniority, we rank above Wu Jianzi.
Others send their juniors to duel with us, and if we respond by sending our seniors, even if we win, it wouldn’t be honorable.
That’s why even though we could have won against Wu Jianzi, we didn’t make a move.
But you, assuming the identity of a Peak Master, came here.
You lost to Wu Jianzi, and so quickly at that.
If word of this gets out, it would be a great loss of face!”
“Yes, even though you’re the Peak Master of the Hundredth Peak, and people outside know that the Hundredth Peak is the last of the Hundred Peaks Sect, you are still a Peak Master.
Your loss makes the face of our Hundred Peaks Sect look bad.”
Listening to the clamor of the crowd, Cao Zhen was momentarily at a loss for words: “Who says I lost?
When I struck in a duel, I naturally won!”
“Won?
How is that possible?”
“Peak Master Cao, no offense, but I am also from the Hundred Peaks Sect, and naturally, I hope our sect can win.
But the opponent is Wu Jianzi!”
“Even Wang Jian from Flying Sword Peak lost the duel against Wu Jianzi—he’s the fourth-ranked in spell battles, a master who also condensed ten Golden Cores.
He lost, so how can you say you won, Peak Master Cao?”
The crowd simply didn’t believe what Cao Zhen said.
At that moment, Bei Yan couldn’t help but interject defensively, “If he lost, it’s because he wasn’t good enough.
Just because you can’t do it, doesn’t mean my master can’t!”
“Right, our master clearly won!”
Disciples from Four Treasures Peak started affirming their master’s victory.
Around them, people still didn’t believe it.
“All right, we understand that you want to support your master, but this isn’t the right way.”
“Peak Master Cao, you are a Peak Master, just like us, and I shouldn’t have to point this out.
But look at what you have led your disciples to become, just like you, they speak falsely.”
“Lies?
Who’s telling lies?” Cao Zhen looked displeased and retorted, “The Sect Leader already declared that whoever wins the debate will be rewarded.
Plus, you fellow Peak Masters also said, if I win, you’d give me something.
Purple Feather Peak Master, didn’t you say that if I won, I could go to your Purple Feather Peak and take whatever I wanted?
You wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?”
“Go back on our word?
How could we?
I’ve never gone back on my word.
But the question is, did you win?”
“That’s right, we are all Peak Masters, and we keep our word, but you’d have to win first.”