Chapter 229: with translation of chapter title

229 The pressure is now on you, choose well.

Mysterious Gate duels, as long as both parties are willing, life and death are at their own risk, no one may interfere—this is the jianghu rule.

After a day passed, on the third day that Tushan Jiu and they came to Lingling Town, the second duel between the Luo family and the Xiang family officially began.

Luo An and Xiang Yichu went up the mountain, and no one knew how they would duel.

In the end, all we knew was that Luo An was carried down, and his life or death remained unknown.

When Xiang Haox received this news, his furrowed brow finally relaxed a little.

After Xiang Yichu entered the gate, no one saw him; he simply returned to his room.

Xiang Haox thought he was just throwing a tantrum and paid no attention.

The other members of the household were also accustomed to him retreating to review after each great achievement, assuming he was just going back to his room to review and prepare for the final match.

Today the Xiang family finally won back a round; a smile appeared on Xiang Haox's face as he prepared to send someone to inquire about that Luo family kid's situation.

Then Xiang Baihu said, someone outside came looking for Xiang Yichu—they were fortune‑tellers, plus the three from Zhengyi and Maoshan.

Xiang Haox furrowed his brows again, saying, 'I haven't even looked for them yet, and they dare come to the Xiang household? Perfect—since they've come, I'll sever ties with them on Xiao Chu's behalf, to cut off his thoughts of taking the Nan Cheng exam.'

He told Xiang Baihu, 'Bring them in.'

Xiang Baihu nodded, 'Yes.'

Tushan Jiu and her two companions were brought to the parlor, where they saw that the person seated was not Xiang Yichu but Xiang Haox.

Wang Dongqing had seen Xiang Haox once when he was young, so he recognized him, clasped his fists and spoke first: 'Greetings, Senior Xiang, sorry for the disturbance—we've come to find Xiang Yichu.'

Tushan Jiu and Maomao also clasped their fists, but said nothing.

Xiang Haox set down his teacup, lifted his chin to gesture them to sit, and said, 'Please sit, I have something to say to you.'

Wang Dongqing didn't think much of it, clasped his hands and sat down.

Xiang Haox glanced at Tushan Jiu, sizing her up for two glances; Tushan Jiu returned his look, openly sizing him up as well.

Their gazes met, and a shock rose in Xiang Haox's heart.

He had seen a Tushan disciple before; his ability was ordinary.

Thinking of that not-so-secret secret of the Tushan family—that female infants are born the strongest—he felt a bit curious, wondering just how strong she could become.

As for the last time, in the netherworld rift, she and his little Chu actually tied for first place; he subconsciously thought that those below must all be from the Tushan family, and he still didn't know how her scores came about.

Moreover, his son was someone he had personally nurtured, so he naturally knew his strength.

Thinking of this, a hint of pride appeared on his face, but he still needed to push him a bit; otherwise, how could he possibly unleash all his potential? He would soon go check on him, apply some more pressure, so that he could have the motivation to win the final round.

He also wanted those people to see clearly that the Xiang family is the number one corpse‑chasing clan!

Little did he know, every bit of his current thinking was seen through by Tushan Jiu, who was also sizing him up.

Xiang Haox picked up his teacup again, took a sip, and then said lightly: 'Although I don't know what you three want from my little Chu, as his father I want to tell you this: don't come looking for him anymore; I won't let him hang out with you. With half a year left before the exam, he needs to prepare well at home—his scores are still too low, he needs to work harder.'

Upon hearing this, Wang Dongqing and Maomao simultaneously rolled their eyes.

Anyone who isn't stupid can hear that this old geezer is taking a jab at them.

Even the first place score is too low—so aren't theirs practically zero?

In the parlor, silence fell for two seconds.

Tushan Jiu spoke up: 'Does Xiang Yichu know?'

Xiang Haox gave a derisive chuckle: 'He doesn't need to know these things; I'll pull out any weeds around him that could lead him astray.'

Wang Dongqing furrowed his brows, thinking, 'Who the hell is he calling weeds?!'

Tushan Jiu also chuckled, but instead of arguing with him she asked Xiang Haox: 'Head of the Xiang family, do you know what Xiang Yichu is doing right now?'

Xiang Haox curled the corner of his mouth: 'My son is surely, as usual, reviewing today's duel with Luo An—he's been doing this since childhood; it's become a habit.'

'Wrong.' Tushan Jiu said.

Xiang Haox frowned: 'What's wrong?'

'I'm saying you're wrong, and terribly so.'

Feeling his authority as an elder challenged, Xiang Haox slammed down his teacup and said, 'Tushan family, what do you mean?!'

Tushan Jiu glanced at the tea spilled around his cup, rose, and said lightly: 'Since you feel we're bothering you, Head of the Xiang family, we'll take our leave—but whether Xiang Yichu continues to be friends with us is not for you to decide; we'll wait for him to tell us himself.'

Wang Dongqing beside them had also lost his earlier pleasant attitude; he chimed in: 'Xiang Yichu is an individual—you lot, with your insufficient strength, just dump all the pressure on him; his spine is already tough enough, otherwise you'd have crushed him long ago.'

Maomao on the other side also stood up and said: 'Tsk, Tushan Jiu is still the last fortune‑teller; the Tushan family isn't like yours, is it?'

The three of them, each saying a sentence, had so angered Xiang Haox that he slammed the table: 'You three youngsters really know no etiquette at all—defying your elders, is this your upbringing?'

Maomao wanted to step forward, but Tushan Jiu pulled her back.

Tushan Jiu pulled out a pair of scissors and asked Xiang Haox: 'Head of the Xiang family, shall we do a fortune‑cut? To predict whether the Xiang or Luo family will ultimately win.'

Xiang Haox glanced at the scissors in Tushan Jiu's hand.

Everyone knows the skill of fortune‑cutters; honestly, who wouldn't want to know the answer in advance?

Moreover, this concerns whether the Xiang family can become the number one corpse‑chasing clan in the future.

He wanted to know the answer; if it were an omen, he would have gained a heaven‑defying chance to change fate, and could then press Xiao Chu harder or make more preparations.

Xiang Haox thought for only a moment, then rose, walked over to Tushan Jiu, and took the scissors from her hand.

'I'll take this scissors for a fortune‑cut—tell me, what is your prophecy?'

Tushan Jiu curled her lips in a smile and withdrew her empty hand.

'The deal is tentatively sealed; in the match the day after tomorrow, the Xiang family will win and the Luo family will lose—but...'

Xiang Haox curled his lips, thinking 'Winning is good enough,' but asked, 'But what?'

'Xiang Yichu, his inner demon accompanies him for life!'

Tushan Jiu looked into his eyes and said, 'Head of the Xiang family, I've given you the chance—whether you save your son or not, the pressure is now on you; choose well.'