Junzi Mountain, bamboo grove cottage.
Chen Baiqing took a light sip of tea. Cui Hao, who would normally find a topic to chatter on and on about, now looked at the book in his hand with a slightly grave expression.
This allowed her to quietly listen to the subtle sound of the breeze rustling through the bamboo leaves.
She glanced sideways at Li Junzi, who was not far away, holding a scroll with a gentle smile on his face.
If time had not continued to be delayed, then the day after tomorrow would be the third debate.
However, among the four people in the courtyard, the least anxious was actually the protagonist of this debate—Li Junzi.
If victory were assured, that would be one thing. But with slim chances of winning...
Chen Baiqing put down her teacup and looked at Li Junzi's composed manner.
Regarding this debate, Chen Baiqing was not without means, or rather, she had many means. Whether it was to pressure Junzi Mountain or to meet each other halfway, nothing was absolute in terms of winning and losing, and the same was true for debates.
After all, only reason is absolute, not people, and it is people who debate.
However, employing these means was probably not what Li Junzi wished to see. Sometimes, doing what one thinks is a good deed can have the opposite effect.
Chen Baiqing had never liked doing things that made her own people dislike her.
The five debates would not completely end after losing three; all five had to be completed, unless one side forfeited and admitted defeat.
For Li Junzi, winning even one debate would be enough to prove that her viewpoint was not entirely useless. After all, she was truly challenging the Second Saint, and the one fighting on behalf of the Second Saint was a renowned scholar of the human world.
Chen Baiqing currently chose to do nothing for the time being. First, she was waiting for news from her senior sister and master. Second, she would wait until the third debate was over to see the situation.
If Fifth Junior Brother really was some kind of Confucianism genius and could just sweep through and win everything... Chen Baiqing thought about it for a moment and felt that this was extremely unlikely.
If it were her master, she might have believed it, but to think that Fifth Junior Brother could perform miracles before others... that was hard to judge.
Chen Baiqing turned to look at the swaying leaves. She missed her master a little, wondering how he was faring now, whether he was suffering.
Xuanqing Sect.
Bai Xueling casually wielded a spirit sword, pinning down Yun Yun with one hand until he could barely breathe. Bai Xueling's sensitivity in combat was definitely at the peak level.
She could keenly seize every opportunity and perceive her opponent's train of thought. Her extreme combat experience made Yun Yun miserable.
Naturally, for Yun Yun, the greater pressure at the moment was not from Bai Xueling.
Chu Xingchen chewed on the spirit fruit provided by Xuanqing Sect, watching Yun Yun being beaten from one side while shaking his head and sighing.
"Ai... after all this time, you haven't improved at all. I can't even watch."
Yun Yun's figure retreated, and his gaze couldn't help but glance at Chu Xingchen. Even though he had been mocked by Chu Xingchen for so long and should have been immune to his words, every time Chu Xingchen used his unique remarks to make people want to punch him.
If this person just kept his mouth shut, he would still be somewhat decent. However, glancing at people while fighting against Bai Xueling came at a price.
"Where are you looking?" Bai Xueling's reminder came, followed by an unhesitating slash from her sword.
In the next moment, Yun Yun's figure was sent flying by the sword.
Chu Xingchen sighed lightly, his gaze falling on Yu Yang Daozi beside him.
"There's nothing to be done. Being handsome is like this these days; there are always young girls who love to secretly stare at you. As a handsome man, I'm ashamed, because a perfect person like me is only one, and I can't respond to so many expectations."
Yu Yang Daozi looked at the murderous look in Yun Yun's eyes and thought for a moment before saying with admiration, "Brother Chu... you really are bold with your great skills."
Yun Yun took a deep breath, pointed his sword at Chu Xingchen, and said, "Since I haven't improved, why don't you have a match with me?"
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen shook the fruit in his hand and shook his head, sighing.
"I never thought that the great Yun Yun of Tianyan Sect would actually want to spar with a sick person."
Chu Xingchen paused, then put on a feigned expression of horror and sighed.
"No need to fight. I surrender. How could I possibly defeat the great Yun Yun?"
Although the tone was familiar and he wasn't being mocked himself, Yu Yang Daozi silently shifted a little farther away from Chu Xingchen. Not to mention that Yun Yun couldn't stand these words, even Yu Yang Daozi felt uncomfortable hearing them now.
Hearing this, Yun Yun took a deep breath, silently put down his long sword, and then looked at Bai Xueling.
"Senior Aunt Bai... can we really not practice privately?"
Bai Xueling said calmly, "That would be my fault."
Yun Yun frowned slightly, not understanding what she meant.
In the next moment, Bai Xueling continued.
"It's my fault for going too easy. I believe that when life and death are at stake, you wouldn't care what others say."
As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Xueling's figure flashed over, and the might of her spirit sword was significantly stronger than before. A vast spiritual pressure pressed down like a great mountain, and she slashed down without hesitation at the unprepared Yun Yun.
Yun Yun's figure was sent flying again. But he quickly adjusted and began a new round of being beaten up.
Yu Yang Daozi looked at Chu Xingchen's leisurely expression as he ate the fruit. Speaking truthfully, Yu Yang Daozi felt that one couldn't entirely blame Yun Yun. If it were him, he would have been unable to resist either.
After Chu Xingchen finished eating the fruit, he put away his expression and looked at Yu Yang Daozi beside him.
"How is it? Have you been feeling better recently?"
Yu Yang Daozi shook his head slightly.
"There's no need to be sad about being inferior in skill."
Chu Xingchen nodded in understanding.
Yu Yang Daozi looked at Chu Xingchen's relaxed expression and couldn't help but ask, "You don't prepare in advance? Yun Yun might not necessarily defeat Xu Jin."
Chu Xingchen stretched and said, "Then we'll talk after Yun Yun loses."
Hearing this, Yu Yang Daozi said nothing more. Their gazes turned back to Yun Yun, who was currently being beaten up.
Just a moment later, Lü Xuan walked in quickly from outside with a letter. His gaze swept over his disciple who was being beaten and said nothing, simply placing the letter on Chu Xingchen's desk.
Recent negotiations with Xuanqing Sect had gone smoothly. At least with concessions from all sides, there had been some substantial progress.
So Lü Xuan was in a pretty good mood recently.
"This is an urgent letter from your first disciple," Lü Xuan explained, his gaze fixed on his disciple. His brow furrowed—why was Bai Xueling being so ruthless?
An urgent letter? Chu Xingchen was slightly puzzled.
He took the letter, glanced at its contents, read it through, and then looked at Yu Yang Daozi beside him.
"Brother Yu Yang, have you had any urgent business recently?"
"Urgent business? I've finished my competitions, so I don't have anything urgent recently."
"Then come out with me to handle something and take your mind off it, how about that?"
Hearing this, Yu Yang Daozi hesitated. Knowing Chu Xingchen's nature, "taking his mind off things" might not be just that, but "handling something" was definitely handling business.
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen sighed lightly.
"Ai, since you don't trust me, then forget it. I'll go by myself."
After speaking, Chu Xingchen said goodbye to Lü Xuan and turned to leave.
Lü Xuan said nothing more. First, Chu Xingchen had already exceeded his quota of tasks, and second, matters of the sect naturally took priority.
Yu Yang Daozi looked at Chu Xingchen's retreating figure, thought about the wine they had drunk together, and then said, "Wait..."
Chu Xingchen's footsteps stopped instantly, and he turned back with a satisfied smile.
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