Ze Tian Ji Chapter 159

Chapter 159 – Then Let’s Do It This Way

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Even Zhexiu, someone whose life had offended the solitary star Heaven’s Curse, was stunned by Tang Thirty-Six’s sincere attitude.

He looked at Tang Thirty-Six, planning to say something, but ultimately remained silent. However, the look in his eyes somewhat hurt Tang Thirty-Six, as this was the same look that Zhuang Huanyu and his other schoolmates in the Heavenly Dao Academy often gave him. He was keenly aware that this sort of look was meant for gazing at idiots.

“If you think I’m no good, what about Chen Changsheng? Earlier, I said to you that this guy is very similar to you. He’s also afraid of death and is very picky about what he eats. You chew on rice twelve times? Hey, he’s a monster that will chew on rice twenty times! To find someone so like you in the vast sea of people is not easy, so shouldn’t you cherish this chance?”

Tang Thirty-Six waved his arms and excitedly said.

Zhexiu still had no response, continuing to eat the food provided to him by the Li Palace.

Tang Thirty-Six felt rather helpless, and pointed at the towering demi-human youth at the forest’s edge. “If you don’t find humans trustworthy, then I heartily recommend Xuanyuan Po, the world’s most honest and sincere person!”

Zhexiu continued to ignore him.

“Are you forcing me to use my most powerful weapon?”

Tang Thirty-Six continued, “Fine! Your reputation can’t be considered small, but having Princess Luoluo as a friend should still be worthwhile? What do you say? I think that you couldn’t pick a better choice of friend. You are both human demi-human, no, demi-human human, so your background and the problems you face are similar. If you become friends with her, not even speaking about all the benefits you could obtain from Her Highness, can’t you at least discuss with each other whenever you face any problems?”

At this point, he no longer had that bearing of the young master of Wenshui who floated above the mundane world. He had completely transformed into an outstanding merchant selling products.

Upon hearing Princess Luoluo’s name, Zhexiu finally raised his head and looked to the forest’s edge, his gaze holding a mixture of emotions, his mind seemingly occupied.

Just when Tang Thirty-Six thought that there might be a chance, Zhexiu said in his slow voice, “I don’t need friends. Only the solitary can be strong.”

Tang Thirty-Six was not angry to hear this reply. On the contrary, he calmed down and his expression turned grave.

He stared into Zhexiu’s eyes and said, “Wolves have never been as people imagined, have never been lonely.”

Zhexiu stared back, his gaze slightly sharp.

Tang Thirty-Six calmly continued, “You are lonely because your clansmen won’t accept you.”

Zhexiu’s gaze suddenly chilled, transforming into a blade stained with frost.

Tang Thirty-Six pretended he did not see. “The Wolf tribe has always battled as a group, no? After learning of your identity, many examinees began to speculate as to why you left the snowy plains and traveled vast distances to participate in the Grand Examination in the capital. Chen Changsheng believes that you aren’t willing to be pushed down from second on the Proclamation of Azure Sky by Princess Luoluo, so you want to correct the rankings by defeating Her Highness in the Grand Examination.”

Zhexiu furrowed his brow at this as if surprised at the wariness the Orthodox Academy had towards him.

Tang Thirty-Six continued, “Before Su Moyu was heavily injured by you, he said that you were someone who fought purely for enjoyment, and that the matches of the Grand Examination offered you such an opportunity.”

Zhexiu asked, “You…what do you think?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, “Chen Changsheng’s worries are certainly reasonable, but they are not enough, or you would have fought your way to Holy Maiden Peak in these past two years and made trouble for Xu Yourong.”

Zhexiu shook his head. “I can’t beat her.”

Tang Thirty-Six was startled, but did not correct this problem, continuing, “I also don’t believe Su Moyu’s conjecture to be correct. Even if you enjoy fighting and want to use battles to improve yourself, they would have to be battles of life or death. In your eyes, the matches of the Grand Examination should be no different to games, so how can they attract you?”

Zhexiu’s silence expressed his agreement.

“So just what do you want? Just why have you come to participate in the Grand Examination?”

Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and said, “Say it, and perhaps I can fulfill it.”

“I…don’t want friends.”

Zhexiu continued to speak very slowly, and listening to him was rather painful. He looked into Tang Thirty-Six’s eyes and enunciated each word. “I want…money.”

There was silence. A breeze rustled the edge of the oil paper, somewhat dulling the oily smell of the roast chicken.

For a very long time, Tang Thirty-Six did not speak, as he was simply too shocked.

When he left the forest’s edge to speak with Zhexiu, he had naturally made ample preparations. No matter what Zhexiu wanted, no matter how strange, he would not be surprised, and would even be willing to get it for him. If Chen Changsheng wanted to take first rank of the first banner in the Grand Examination, Zhexiu’s help was required, so any price was worth it for the Orthodox Academy.

But he had never imagined that what Zhexiu wanted was money.

In the younger generation of the continent, Zhexiu was undoubtedly the most aloof and solitary youth, but what he wanted was the crudest thing in the world.

Tang Thirty-Six needed a very long time to confirm that Zhexiu was not joking, that his words were sincere, which further added to his astonishment.

“Money?”

“Yes, I want money, lots of money.”

“Why?”

Zhexiu did not answer.

The breeze rustled the oil paper and the roast chicken gradually cooled.

Tang Thirty-Six also cooled down, saying to him, “I have lots of money.”

Zhexiu answered, “I know.”

Tang Thirty-Six asked, “Amount?”

Zhexiu answered, “Depends on the situation.”

After a pause, Tang Thirty-Six said, “Deal.”

Zhexiu looked at him and said indifferently, ” I need a few more things that I hope that you can give me.”

Tang Thirty-Six slightly frowned. “We have those things?”

Zhexiu replied, “Yes.”

Tang Thirty-Six looked him in the eyes and said, “So…your goal in taking part in the Grand Examination has always been the Orthodox Academy?”

Zhexiu affirmed, “Yes.”

Tang Thirty-Six asked, “Is it Her Highness or someone else?”

Zhexiu replied, “It’s not you.”

Tang Thirty-Six understood. Zhexiu had come for Chen Changsheng.

He considered this proposal, then said, “He really wants to get first rank of the first banner, so I think that as long as you don’t want his life, he can give you anything.”

Zhexiu replied, “I don’t want his life.”

Tang Thirty-Six nodded. “Then let’s do it this way. We’ll discuss what to do after the results from the drawing of lots are out.”

Zhexiu did not continue on this line, instead asking, “Can I eat it?”

His gaze was on the roast chicken.

……

……

After returning to the forest’s edge, Tang Thirty-Six ignored the gazes aimed at him by the other three and took up the teapot, pouring and downing three cups of tea. Only then did Chen Changsheng notice that Tang Thirty-Six’s back was completely soaked, his forehead glistening with sweat. He quickly extracted a handkerchief from his sleeve and offered it, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Zhexiu was known to be cold-blooded and ruthless, but given Tang Thirty-Six’s personality, he naturally couldn’t have been scared into this state.

“I was scared.” Tang Thirty-Six used the handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, his face still holding some lingering fear.

Chen Changsheng was somewhat stunned as he thought, just what did Zhexiu do that even you got scared?

“I never imagined that this wolf cub was actually…so desperate for money.”

Tang Thirty-Six looked at them, placing emphasis on the word ‘desperate’.

He didn’t just want money, he was desperate for it.

“Impossible!”

Luoluo and Xuanyuan Po shouted as one. They were both from the land of the demi-humans, where rumors of Zhexiu abounded, so they simply couldn’t believe what Tang Thirty-Six had said.

“He really does just want money!”

Tang Thirty-Six somewhat angrily said, “If you don’t believe, wait a while and see for yourselves.”

Chen Changsheng thought this over, then asked, “Besides money, what else does he want?”

“Yeah, he also wants something from you,” Tang Thirty-Six replied.

“You’ve agreed?” For some reason, Chen Changsheng felt a little nervous.

Tang Thirty-Six said very matter-of-factly, “It’s not like he wants your life, so why shouldn’t I agree? I certainly don’t think there will be a second chance at this sort of opportunity.”

Chen Changsheng rather helplessly said, “You don’t even know what he wants; how could you agree on my behalf?”

Tang Thirty-Six asked back, “Do you want to get first rank of the first banner?”

Without even thinking, Chen Changsheng replied, “I don’t want it, I have to get it.”

Tang Thirty-Six continued, “If that wolf cub doesn’t help, how much chance do you think you have?”

Chen Changsheng glanced at the stream bank. Guan Feibai was currently speaking with his junior brothers, perhaps discussing Zhexiu’s fights with Guan Feibai and Qi Jian. From Gou Hanshi’s expression, he was probably instructing Guan Feibai and Qi Jian and not planning to gain anything for himself from reviewing these matches.

He looked back at Tang Thirty-Six and uncertainly answered, “Thirty percent?”

Tang Thirty-Six sneered, “Can you be a little bit more shameless?”

“Be more respectful to my teacher.”

Luoluo unhappily reproved, then turned to Chen Changsheng and anxiously said, “Thirty percent…isn’t that a little too much?”

Tang Thirty-Six roared with laughter, attracting sidelong glances from many examinees.

Chen Changsheng spread out his hands and said, “Fine, if I were to fight against Gou Hanshi right now, I don’t see any hope of winning.”

Luoluo commented, “If I can draw him as my opponent in the next round, perhaps Teacher’s chances will be a little higher.”

Tang Thirty-Six shook his head. “We have to have Zhexiu fight with him in order to have a little chance.”

Chen Changsheng noted, “But the drawing might not proceed according to how we want.”

“It doesn’t matter which opponent Zhexiu draws. Right now, just like Her Highness, he’s responsible for sweeping away your opponents.”

Tang Thirty-Six added, “He and Her Highness are the two door gods that will help you get first rank of the first banner.”

Upon hearing the words ‘door god’, Chen Changsheng recalled that pitch-black cavern, those two legendary Divine Generals on the wall, and the chained Black Dragon. He suddenly felt very worried.

“Is now really the time to be absent-minded?” Tang Thirty-Six rather angrily asked.

Chen Changsheng said, “Continue.”

Tang Thirty-Six responded, “What I want to say is that converting Zhexiu from your most dangerous foe to your most powerful aid is worth any price.”

Chen Changsheng considered this, then agreed. “That’s reasonable.”

Tang Thirty-Six added, “So you have to thank me. Not everyone can convince that wolf cub, and talking with him is exhausting in both mind and body.”

Chen Changsheng replied, “Thank you.”

“Aren’t you all thinking too much?” Xuanyuan Po looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “First, you have to defeat your own opponent. It might be Zhuang Huanyu, it might be Zhong Hui, and you might even have to fight Gou Hanshi in the next round. If you can’t win, even if Zhexiu really is willing to help, it won’t have anything to do with us anymore.”

A deathly stillness settled over the edge of the forest.

Tang Thirty-Six was quite annoyed. “The words of a child that’s too earnest can easily make others angry.”

Unconvinced, Xuanyuan Po shot back, “That’s because the words of the earnest child are the truth.”

Chen Changsheng looked at that place far away from the crowd where Zhexiu was currently sitting on that rock, silently eating the chicken.

“Let’s do it this way. We’ll discuss what to do after the drawing of lots concludes…and also, next time, get him an entire chicken to eat. It looks rather pitiful right now.”