Chapter 41#

Taking Down That Gentleman (4)#

The person who came was from Ten Absolute Island. He informed Shen Jue and Liu Xuan to bathe and change clothes immediately, then proceed at once to the main hall of Qianxin Palace on Ten Absolute Island.

Before Liu Xuan could react, Shen Jue already knew what day it was.

Today was the day he had been chosen in previous lifetimes. In just a few days after this, he would be sent to Sang Xinghe’s bed.

After the Ten Absolute Island person left, Liu Xuan grew worried. They had been here for so long and had never been summoned before. This sudden summons—who knew what it was about? He couldn’t even eat and wanted to go ask the others about their situation, but as soon as he stepped out, he saw people guarding the courtyard gate.

They were from Ten Absolute Island.

They were stationed there to strictly prevent any Tianluo Body from escaping.

Liu Xuan wasn’t particularly dull. Seeing this setup, he knew the upcoming summons was probably no ordinary matter.

Among this group of Tianluo Bodies, Shen Jue was the youngest. Just a couple of days ago, Shen Jue had turned eighteen, and Liu Xuan had even specially cooked him a bowl of longevity noodles. Now that Shen Jue had turned eighteen, it meant all twenty-plus Tianluo Bodies could choose their masters.

A Tianluo Body couldn’t hide whether they had turned eighteen, because upon reaching that age, a small cinnabar-red mole would appear on their earlobe. If they lost their virginity, another identical mole would appear on the other ear—so it was obvious at a glance.

Liu Xuan bit his hand in fear, while Shen Jue, unwilling to eat the fatty meat, had long since put down his chopsticks. Seeing Liu Xuan pacing nervously in the room, he couldn’t help but remind him, “If we delay too long, the people from Ten Absolute Island might get angry.”

Liu Xuan’s face was twisted with anxiety, nearly dripping with worry. Seeing Shen Jue so unfazed, he thought Shen Jue simply had no heart—choosing a master was such a big deal, yet he didn’t seem concerned. But tension, worry, and fear were useless; what would come would come.

The two bathed and changed clothes, then left the courtyard, guided by Ten Absolute Island people toward Qianxin Palace. On the way, Liu Xuan saw other Tianluo Bodies and understood the situation even more clearly.

It was summer, and at noon, walking under the sun made everyone break a sweat. Some Tianluo Bodies were drenched in sweat by the time they reached Qianxin Palace. Liu Xuan’s forehead was also beaded with small sweat drops, but Shen Jue wasn’t sweating at all.

When their group entered Qianxin Palace, they were ordered to remove their veiled hats. Everyone immediately began tidying themselves up, but Shen Jue stood there, refreshingly cool, making others feel at ease just looking at him.

The Calamitous Heart Technique Shen Jue practiced seemed to subtly affect his constitution. Even on a scorching hot day, he didn’t feel hot, and his body temperature was even slightly lower than normal.

Liu Xuan wiped his own sweat and instinctively moved to help Shen Jue, only to see his fair, clean little face. He was taken aback. “Aren’t you hot?”

Shen Jue gently shook his head.

They stood in Qianxin Palace for a while, and then a group of people entered from outside.

The leader wore black robes, with a tall waist and long legs, exuding a fierce aura. Shen Jue only needed a glance to know who it was.

It was Yu Ci, the Island Master of Ten Absolute Island.

Yu Ci’s appearance was actually somewhat effeminate, but because of the murderous air in his brows and eyes, no one dared to treat him like a woman. He sat down in the main seat, one long leg slightly bent, looking arrogantly at the crowd in the hall.

“All here?”

Standing beside Yu Ci was the Left Protector of Ten Absolute Island. The Left Protector slightly bowed and nodded. “Reporting to the Island Master, all twenty-seven Tianluo Bodies are present in the hall. The oldest is twenty-two, the youngest eighteen.”

After speaking, he turned to the crowd in the hall and said, “Line up by height.”

Shen Jue looked left and right. In previous lifetimes, he had grown a few more inches during these months, but this time he hadn’t. Naturally, he ended up at the end of the line. Liu Xuan, who was half a head taller than Shen Jue, stood near the middle-back.

Thus, the person originally beside Shen Jue was no longer Ji Lian.

Once they were lined up, Yu Ci stroked his chin, glaring down at the people below. He swept his gaze over each face. Admittedly, Tianluo Bodies were all beautiful, but when a row of them stood before you, it just caused face blindness—same fair skin, same delicate features, same watery blue eyes.

When his gaze swept over Shen Jue, Yu Ci paused slightly.

Why was there such a short one?

But Yu Ci’s gaze lingered on Shen Jue for only a moment before moving on. He glanced at the Left Protector, who immediately nodded slightly, stepped forward, and announced loudly, “We have called you here today for one matter. At Yishui Pavilion resides a distinguished guest of Ten Absolute Island, and the guest lacks attendants. We need one Tianluo Body to serve there. Does anyone wish to volunteer?”

Although most people didn’t know the distinguished guest at Yishui Pavilion was Sang Xinghe, they all knew Yishui Pavilion housed the person cherished by Island Master Yu Ci. They had even heard some absurd rumors—how Yu Ci had searched the world for treasures for this guest and killed a Tianluo Body who had shown disrespect.

Tianluo Bodies were extremely precious, yet Yu Ci had killed one just for speaking a few idle words about the Yishui Pavilion guest.

They dared not go to Yishui Pavilion. In name, they’d be serving; in reality, they’d be a bed-warmer. Being a bed-warmer for the person their Island Master cherished meant a short life.

Ever since Liu Xuan had grown wary of Ji Lian, he had secretly inquired around and learned of the Yishui Pavilion guest’s importance to Yu Ci. Even if it was Sang Xinghe, he didn’t want to go. He had specifically warned Shen Jue: going to Yishui Pavilion was asking for death.

So when Yu Ci’s words fell, Liu Xuan immediately glanced at Shen Jue. Seeing the boy hadn’t stepped forward, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

No one wanted to go.

The Left Protector looked at Yu Ci.

Yu Ci’s expression didn’t change. He again swept his gaze over the faces in the hall. Sang Xinghe was extremely averse to using Tianluo Bodies to restore his martial arts, so Yu Ci still had to pick one that Sang Xinghe would like.

But what kind did Sang Xinghe like?

Yu Ci thought of Sang Xinghe’s junior sister.

He had met her a few times. Every time, she clung to Sang Xinghe, impossible to tear away, and Sang Xinghe was especially gentle with her, even when she said stupid things and did foolish things.

Maybe Sang Xinghe liked that junior sister a little.

Thinking of this, Yu Ci’s gaze turned cold. He shifted his eyes and landed on Shen Jue. In terms of build, this Tianluo Body was the closest to Sang Xinghe’s junior sister.

This time, Yu Ci looked at Shen Jue more seriously. Upon closer inspection, he noticed Shen Jue was different from the others.

The other Tianluo Bodies all had slightly flushed cheeks from the sun, and some even had sweat dripping down their necks. But Shen Jue stood there refreshingly clean.

Yu Ci was a cleanliness freak. The two Tianluo Bodies currently serving him were also the type who sweated little.

But this one seemed too frail—couldn’t withstand rough handling; probably wouldn’t last many rounds.

Yu Ci leaned toward picking a stronger one.

So he looked at the ones near the front of the line—tall and slender, standing at the front. Those being examined by Yu Ci broke out in cold sweat, their backs unconsciously bending.

Seeing how much they were sweating, Yu Ci frowned in disgust. His gaze involuntarily fell back on Shen Jue. This one was clean and refreshing, pleasing to the eye.

But really too delicate. Who knew if he could even last one round?

Yu Ci looked at the Left Protector. “Why was such a weak one sent up?”

The Left Protector glanced at Shen Jue, then leaned in. “Island Master, that Tianluo Body fell into the water a few months ago and had a serious illness. That’s why he looks so frail.”

“Fell into the water?” Yu Ci squinted. “How does someone just fall in?”

The Left Protector said, “This subordinate doesn’t know.”

Yu Ci had some guesses. The lakes on Ten Absolute Island all had waist-high railings; normally, no one could fall in unless they were deliberately pushed—or that Tianluo Body had sought his own death.

“How are his relations with the others?” Yu Ci asked.

The Left Protector thought for a moment. “He and his roommate Liu Xuan are among the most recent batch sent to the island. He’s not very close to the other Tianluo Bodies.”

So, not well-liked?

That was an advantage.

But Yu Ci didn’t decide immediately. He had the Left Protector lean in and whispered a few instructions.

The Left Protector nodded repeatedly. Straightening up, he announced to the crowd, “Since no one volunteers, you will settle it through martial arts. The winner will serve at Yishui Pavilion.”

At these words, everyone was startled.

The winner goes—meaning they had to lose inconspicuously.

Liu Xuan, hearing this, wanted to find Shen Jue. He thought he could just defeat Shen Jue first, so Shen Jue wouldn’t have to go. But before he could reach Shen Jue, he was entangled by Ji Lian.

There were twenty-seven Tianluo Bodies in total. As soon as the Left Protector finished speaking, everyone started fighting. In the chaotic hall, only Shen Jue was left out, because everyone thought losing inconspicuously to Shen Jue would be too hard.

Shen Jue was notoriously poor at martial arts.

Yu Ci found the abandoned Shen Jue somewhat amusing. What was even more interesting was that no matter how they fought, no one engaged Shen Jue. Ji Lian kept Liu Xuan occupied, preventing him from reaching Shen Jue. And Liu Xuan didn’t dare lose—if he lost, Shen Jue wouldn’t be able to lose to him.

Half a cup of tea later, Shen Jue was still the only one standing alone.

Only seven Tianluo Bodies remained on the floor.

After another round, Liu Xuan ultimately couldn’t defeat Ji Lian and was knocked out. Only three were left.

One of the other two glanced at Shen Jue, then charged at Ji Lian without hesitation.

With fewer people on the floor, losing inconspicuously became even harder.

Seeing the two locked in combat, Shen Jue shifted his gaze and directly attacked the other man. That man saw Shen Jue coming at him, rejoiced inwardly, pretended to be ambushed, and conveniently fell to the ground, conceding. Ji Lian frowned slightly, but there was nothing he could do. He had originally planned to lose in this round.

In the end, it came down to Shen Jue versus Ji Lian.

Ji Lian looked at Shen Jue, forcing a smile. “Fists and feet have no eyes. Don’t go easy on me.”

Shen Jue’s eyes were serious. “Brother Ji, I won’t go easy.”

Ji Lian gave a light snort and attacked Shen Jue. As he brushed past him, he lowered his voice and said quickly, “Xiao Jue, do you want to go?”

Shen Jue shook his head slightly. Ji Lian continued, “Then lose on purpose later. Don’t be afraid—I’ll protect you.”

Ji Lian’s move was to retreat in order to advance. He thought Shen Jue would be moved to tears and couldn’t bear to let him go.

But he never expected…

The moment his words fell, Shen Jue fell to the ground in a very clumsy manner.

Ji Lian: “…”

Yu Ci, sitting above: “…”

Did this little shorty think he was blind?

Others at least pretended; he didn’t even bother pretending?

After falling, Shen Jue seemed oblivious to the surrounding silence. He slowly got up, lowered his head, and said to Ji Lian, “I’m outmatched. I concede.” Then he moved to step aside.

Ji Lian’s face had already turned extremely ugly.

Yu Ci, however, kept his eyes fixed on Shen Jue. Seeing him try to blend into the crowd, Yu Ci gave a light cough.

At that cough, someone immediately grabbed Shen Jue, who had been trying to slip into the crowd.

Yu Ci curled his lips. “Just now, the fight was too fast; I didn’t see clearly. One more round.”

Ji Lian was overjoyed. He suppressed his delight, pretending to look regretfully at Shen Jue, while Shen Jue shrank back, seeming very unwilling.

The second round began.

This time, Yu Ci thought, that little shorty would have to pretend a little.

But before three moves, Shen Jue fell to the ground again—even without Ji Lian’s palm wind touching him.

Even the Left Protector couldn’t bear to watch. He glanced subtly at Yu Ci, who was indeed already angry.

Yu Ci felt that this little shorty was testing his patience. Hadn’t he spoken clearly enough? Couldn’t this shorty understand?

He looked at the Left Protector beside him.

The Left Protector was extremely clever. Catching Yu Ci’s gaze, he understood his meaning. He gave a slight nod, then turned to announce below, “Since a victor has been decided, there’s no need for further fighting. Shen Jue, congratulations.”

Liu Xuan let out an “ah” and said urgently, “Shen Jue lost! He fell to the ground!”

The Left Protector’s expression didn’t change. “No one said falling first means losing. He made his opponent stop first, so he wins.”

Yu Ci kept staring at Shen Jue. Seeing his face turn pale, he pulled the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.

Such a sneaky, muddling-through type—no wonder he couldn’t grow tall.