Chapter 54

Xiao Ningxun just wanted to retort, but Master Xuanqing's words just now rang in their ears; they glared at several people, took their sister's hand: "Come, Tuan Tuan, ignore them." They turned to leave.

Lv Zheng saw the two trying to leave, thought they were fleeing in panic, and immediately got an idea: "Sister, that's right, this person's luck—how can it be predetermined? I don't believe you'll always have only good luck! Xiao Third Brother, don't run, how about we make a bet?"

Tuan Tuan stopped, turned back: "A bet?" A bet is great! Just like Lu Er that time betting with the wind in the polo match, how fun!

But she's only a five‑year‑old kid, truly easy to trick! Lv Zheng laughed: "Right! A bet!"

"Let's use this wish bell as proof, bet on 'Heaven's will'! Let Old Heaven Lord tell everyone that your little lucky star is nothing but an empty name!"

Tuan Tuan pulled her brother's hand, walked up to him: "How do we bet?"

Lv Zheng raised his hand and pointed at the row of wish bells, his voice suddenly rose: "Bet on this! You pick one, I pick one. Whoever's bell is first rung by the wind wins."

"If I win," he pointed at Tuan Tuan, "you'll kneel and apologize to Sister Huo Wenxuan, bow three times, and shout three times that I am not a lucky star!"

Huo Wenxuan was delighted and cast an admiring glance at him.

"Great! This bet! If Prince Ning's family loses, let's see what face they'll have when they try to step into Aunt Mother Chen Hui Hall again!"

Lv Zheng saw this, felt smug inside; indeed stepping on the siblings was the best way to please Huo Wenxuan.

Parents always told us and our sister that as long as the Crown Princess remains, the Huo family is an unshakable force; if our Lv family can share honor and disgrace with the Huo family, we too can stand firm in Jingcheng.

"What if we win?" Tuan Tuan asked.

"If you win," he sneered coldly, full of contempt, clearly not believing he could lose; he was convinced from the bottom of his heart that the so‑called crane rescue was merely coincidence, birds always like to pick up twigs, what's so special?

Of course Prince Ning's brother and sister have good luck, but precisely because of that, whose good luck can last forever? They're not gods!

"I, Lv Zheng, will bow three times for you! How about it? Dare to bet?!"

"Lv Zheng! You bastard!" Xiao Ningxun trembled with anger, refusing to let Tuan Tuan kneel and bow for anyone—no way! What a lousy bet!

"What? Too scared?" Lv Zheng pressed closer step by step: "Weren't you just blessed with good luck, the crane rescue, earlier? Since your luck is so good, what are you afraid of? Why won't you bet?"

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, looked at him, "Because you, you scoundrel, say whatever you want, I have to agree? I refuse: 'It's boring, not fun at all.'"

Lv Zheng frowned: "Then how will you bet?"

He hates bowing the most, finds it not fun at all; he needs to win something from her to make it fun, but what does her family have?

Tuan Tuan looked at him, asked very seriously: "Does your family have the finest medicinal herbs? If so, bring them back for big brother! When dad was ill, mother boiled medicine every day to nourish his body; when big brother wakes up, he'll need to eat them too!"

Lv Zheng was stunned, never expected a little kid to ask that, and instinctively showed off: "Hmph, you know your stuff! My family has a thousand‑year‑old snow ginseng! That's the finest herb! Eating it can extend life!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her head and looked at Xiao Ningxun: "Third Brother, is the snow ginseng he mentioned really the finest?"

Xiao Ningxun instantly understood her intention, a warm yet sour current rose in his heart; Tuan Tuan wants to win that snow ginseng for big brother! He looked gently at his sister, nodded.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up instantly: "Then great! Besides bowing, if you lose, you must bring it to my house!"

Her little mental abacus clicked loudly; when big brother wakes, give it to him, then he'll have strength to play with me!

"……" Lv Zheng was bewildered by this sudden extra wager.

Since sister wants it, bet with him! At worst I lose and bow! Xiao Ningxun hardened his heart, stared at Lv Zheng: "Exactly! Lv Zheng, do you dare to bet? Bet your family's thousand‑year‑old snow ginseng!"

"If you lose, immediately bow to my sister, admit fault, and within three days deliver the snow ginseng to my Ning Prince's Mansion!"

"Brother! No! That snow ginseng is father's treasure!" Lv Qianru was a little worried, trying to stop him; Lv Zheng's heart thumped, hesitated.

Tuan Tuan hummed: "Coward! Not playing with you!" She grabbed Xiao Ningxun's hand and tried to leave.

Seeing the siblings about to leave, Huo Wenxuan lifted her eyes and glared at Lv Zheng; the anger and contempt in her gaze cut like a knife, making Lv Zheng's face flush hot.

At this moment he was riding a tiger, unable to get off; if he backs down now, how could he ever face Huo Wenxuan again! Moreover, he simply didn't believe he would lose!

"Bet it, then! Am I afraid of you?" Blood boiled in his celestial spirit dome, and he answered outright.

The children's voices were not low; already many Taoists and pilgrims among the onlookers had gathered around, watching with interest.

Xiao Ningxun looked around: "Fine! It's settled! If we lose, we'll kneel and shout that we're not lucky stars; if you lose, you'll bow and deliver the snow ginseng to Prince Ning's Mansion! Everyone here bears witness!"

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands excitedly, satisfied: "Start, start! You choose first."

After staking his family's fortune, Lv Zheng became cautious, "Let me choose first? There must be trickery, no way! 'You're young, I'll give you a chance, you pick first!'"

"Alright, you're quite nice! Then… I choose this one!" Tuan Tuan pointed casually.

She chose a low‑lying, unremarkable little bell: "Little bell, sing for me later!"

Lv Zheng laughed loudly: "Ha ha ha, you're so stupid! Don't you know the higher the place, the stronger the wind?"

He swept his gaze sharply over the wish bells, without hesitation pointed at the highest, a cyan bell: "I choose this one! You're doomed to lose! Get ready to bow and kneel."

At that moment, not a breath of wind stirred; even the pine needles on the trees were frozen.

Everyone's hearts rose to their throats.

Huo Wenxuan was both nervous and excited, Lv Qianru wore a worried face.

Others wore expressions of looking forward to a show.

The air seemed to solidify, the mountain wind held its breath.

Suddenly, a wisp of clear wind, as if from the nine heavens, brushed precisely over the low bell Tuan Tuan had pointed at!

"Ding—ling—"

A crisp bell tone, like celestial music, rang suddenly, crystal clear, echoing on the silent balcony, reaching every ear!

Tuan Tuan leapt into her brother's arms: "It sang for me! Third Brother! Is it beautiful?"

On the railing, hundreds of bells remained silent, only that one kept ringing.

What kind of wind is this! So precise, so… undeniable!

"Wow—" the onlookers let out incredulous low exclamations.

Lv Zheng's arrogant grin froze completely, full of shock and bewilderment, he blurted: "No! How can this be! It's impossible!"

"Hahaha!" Xiao Ningxun's earlier fury turned into a hearty laugh; he pointed at Lv Zheng: "Lv Zheng! Do you see? This is Heaven's will! Weren't you looking for Heaven's will? This is it! You lost!"

He stepped forward, stared at the pale‑faced Lv Zheng, and squeezed two words from his teeth: "Contract, agreement."