Cohabitation with Sword Spirit

Chapter 496 - 81: Transaction of Feelings

May 5, 2018

Looking at this small, smooth little girl in front of her, Zhao Chenlu finally had a different feeling than before.

No longer was she that flesh target seemingly written with "please bully me" all over her face, but a genuine threat as a competitor.

Before this, Zhao Chenlu had never regarded Shen Qingming seriously. Although this world-renowned beauty had large eyes envied by countless people, these eyes could only accommodate a very few. Now, Shen Qingming had forcibly occupied a place.

Overnight, Shen Qingming transformed as if reborn.

Zhao Chenlu’s expression turned slightly somber, no longer overlooking her due to her low abilities, because this little girl had already realized something much more important than so-called hard strength.

She had become shameless.

No one is unbeatable when shameless, especially in emotional battles, where the one who discards their pride gains an unparalleled advantage, and Shen Qingming is currently in such an unbeatable state, thus standing on an equal platform with Zhao Chenlu.

If that’s the case, what Zhao Chenlu must do is remove this enemy at all costs.

"Dear, help me with something."

Wang Jiu glanced at Zhao Chenlu: "What is it?"

Zhao Chenlu said: "Please terminate all contracts with Shen Qingming, including the relationship contract, the master-servant contract, and never see her again from now on."

Wang Jiu asked: "Why?"

"Because I hate her," Zhao Chenlu said confidently, "I hate you being with her even more. My distorted feelings towards you are strongly exclusive; there’s no possibility of coexisting peacefully with her. So either keep her by your side or keep me; you can only choose one."

Wang Jiu was very surprised by Zhao Chenlu’s decisive statement, and for a moment, he examined Zhao Chenlu up and down, using every means within Sword World to assess how serious she was when she said those words.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingming shivered all over.

This move was ruthless! Completely unexpected.

The next moment, deeper cold surged over her, making the girl tremble uncontrollably.

Because she instantly realized she was at the edge of an abyss.

The competition between Shen Qingming and Zhao Chenlu is like a rogue small country confronting a hegemonic large country. The small country can repeatedly challenge the big country with a sacrificial posture, forcing the big country to make concessions. For the big country, spending too much effort to eliminate the small country isn’t worthwhile. The big country has many concerns, facing numerous competitors, some rogue small countries are just one of countless issues.

However, Zhao Chenlu now chooses to go all out, regardless of the cost, to eliminate this inconspicuous opponent.

In this situation, Shen Qingming has no ability to resist.

Although Zhao Chenlu’s request can be said to be extremely shameless, with her life-and-death relationship with the Celestial Divine Sword, it may not go unmet. After all, Zhao Chenlu’s bond with Wang Jiu is much deeper than Shen Qingming’s...

Suppressing the trembling in her body, Shen Qingming asked: "Ah Jiu, you wouldn’t agree, right? Such an absurd ultimatum..."

Zhao Chenlu added: "Dear, this request is indeed absurd, but for the sake of old times, no matter how absurd the request is, please agree."

After speaking, Zhao Chenlu let out a breath, looking calm as she awaited Wang Jiu’s response.

He should agree...right?

After all, it’s a request from the Jiu Immortal Venerables, and the opponent is just a little girl who’s known him for less than a year.

When forced to choose between the two, Zhao Chenlu believes her chances of winning are far higher than Shen Qingming’s, although this ultimatum comes with significant side effects. Zhao Chenlu judges it’s far more important to quickly nip the enemy in the bud.

On the other side, Shen Qingming attempted to speak a few times but didn’t know what to say.

Facing Zhao Chenlu’s all-out strike, any words seemed powerless, and the final result could only depend on the Celestial Divine Sword.

In the heart of the Sword Spirit, how does it weigh the importance of the two of them?

While the two women waited, Wang Jiu pondered for a long time before finally speaking.

He turned his gaze to Zhao Chenlu and asked, "In the second year of the Immortal Demon War, the night before the Red Peak Mountain battle, when the nine of us were discussing the strategy of the war, Zhu Junsen mentioned that in his hometown, many women liked to ask their lovers a certain question: ’If your mother and I both fall into the river, who will you save?’ Everyone shared their views at the time, do you remember what your answer was?"

Zhao Chenlu was stunned for a moment, then helplessly nodded: "Of course, I remember, I said that anyone who asks such a ridiculously stupid question deserves to drown in the water."

"So why are you asking such a stupid question?" Wang Jiu asked, "If you just want to compare your status with Shen Qingming, then it’s undoubtedly higher. When both you and Shen Qingming are in dire straits and I can only save one, I will choose to save you. But now you are deliberately putting yourself and Shen Qingming in a desperate situation, forcing me to choose between a severe loss and an even greater loss. Such a question can only be raised from an opposing standpoint. Chenlu, are you choosing to become my enemy?"

Zhao Chenlu said, "You should know, under no circumstances would I ever be your enemy."

Wang Jiu said, "I also know that when a person’s mind is severely distorted, there is no one they can’t become an enemy to. When the Demon Race first invaded Jiuzhou, many cultivators were driven mad by them, and I witnessed many who killed their loved ones with their own hands. Those scenes where people laughed crazily as they tore open the chests of their heart-sworn loves to dig out their hearts, I’ve seen more than once. And you are undoubtedly currently in a state of severe mental distortion..."

Zhao Chenlu finally couldn’t hold back her eyebrows and raised them, thinly angry: "Of course I’m in a twisted state. I have been twisted for a long time now, don’t you know? You should be well aware! Even if you’re inexperienced in worldly matters, you are still a genius with an Intelligence Index alongside Shang Girl! Even the Chaos strategies of the Demon Race can be grasped clearly by you, and you have repeatedly seen through the Demon Emperor’s plots. Can you truly not understand my mind?! Whether you call it a distorted rut or say my brain is full of water, I just like you and admire you, and for this, I am willing to become an enemy to anyone—but not to you!"

Wang Jiu said, "Of course I know. Back then, both you and Shang Lanfei were battle comrades going through life and death together, yet you always enjoyed hurting each other. Before the Black Leaf Forest battle in the first year of the Immortal Demon War, Zhu Junsen came to talk to me, hoping I could make a choice between the two of you to put an end to the meaningless internal exhaustion as soon as possible."

"Oh?" Zhao Chenlu was quite surprised. "Zhu Junsen, that old virgin...he talked to you about these things?"

"Yes, he suggested I should, from a rational perspective, choose Shang Lanfei."

"Haha, that’s absolutely ridiculous!" Zhao Chenlu laughed in anger, "What does that old virgin understand about rational perspectives? Rational thinking makes it clear that he should have chosen me, the undisputed first beauty of Jiuzhou, with a perfect figure. Aside from being a bit smarter, what else does Shang Lanfei have to compare with me? Old Zhu actually chose her? I suspect he’s secretly gay."

Wang Jiu said, "I questioned his eligibility to give suggestions at the time because, out of everyone I knew, he had the least romantic experiences. However, Zhu Junsen said it’s precisely because he’s an outside observer that he’s not influenced by subjective factors. I think this explanation has some truth."

"Reasonable? An outside observer? But dear, you’ve been watching for so many years, yet you still understand nothing about human relationships?" Zhao Chenlu shook her head helplessly, "But, before and after the Black Leaf Forest battle, your attitude towards us didn’t change, so did you refuse Old Zhu’s advice back then?"

Wang Jiu said, "Yes, because his suggestion didn’t make sense. Let’s put aside whom between you and Shang Lanfei should be chosen, in my view, there isn’t any senseless internal exhaustion, only seeing you both in fierce competition, making progress much faster than under normal circumstances. If your competition arose because of me, then what I should do is maintain this competitive relationship, not end it."

"..."

Wang Jiu then said, "That’s why I decided to invest in Shen Qingming, to make her your new competitor."

"I don’t need any competitors!" Zhao Chenlu was almost crying and laughing, "Dear, I promise you, as long as you let this little shorty roll far away, I will surely cultivate wholeheartedly in the future and not disappoint your expectations, alright?"

Wang Jiu said, "I think such promises are meaningless, just like Shen Kaishan saying he will definitely read two more pages tomorrow, Li Jiulong saying he will work hard on Swordsmanship, or Shang Lanfei saying she will eat less snacks. These are bound to result in the opposite, and when caught, surely you will find all sorts of ways to make excuses."

"...You really don’t trust me."

"Yes." Wang Jiu nodded without hesitation, "After all, Shen Qingming and I have signed a companionship contract and will decide the next steps based on your cultivation progress. If your progress doesn’t reach the expected level, I will consider taking further actions."

"Further actions mean..."

"Such as a marriage contract."

"Absolutely not!" Zhao Chenlu immediately made a decision, "Starting today, within three days, I will breakthrough to the Sea Overturning Realm, is this okay?"

Wang Jiu said, "With your accumulated knowledge, even in the Xiangzhou where the rules have changed, you should have long broken through to the Sea Overturning Realm, this is nothing."

"Breakthrough to the mid-Sea Overturning Realm within a year, is that enough?"

"Alright, then we’ll conduct an assessment after a year. If you haven’t met the criteria, I will marry Shen Qingming."

Shen Qingming stood listening nearby, mixed emotions in her heart.

Zhao Chenlu asked again, "Then if I exceed the task?"

Wang Jiu said, "Then I will break up with Shen Qingming."

"It’s a deal!"