Chapter 352

Accompanied by the fiery red sunset clouds over the western hills, the four people and two beasts enjoyed a harmonious and pleasant dinner.

After the meal, Dabai and Xiaohei cleared away the leftovers, while Lin Shuangyu and Wu Changgeng bowed to take their leave, returning to Bansongping.

Han Gao remained in the small bamboo courtyard, and Liu Xiaolou pointed him to a room nearby: "My place here is humble and cannot compare to your Han Family Manor in Great Feng Mountain; I hope Han Xiong will not mind."

Han Gao waved his hand to indicate it didn't matter, as he was still focused on that one question: "Tell me, how can I get the Shuangyu Sword to accept me as a guest elder of the Three Mystical Sect?"

Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment and comforted him: "In my opinion, wanting to be a guest elder of the Three Mystical Sect has nothing to do with Han Xiong's cultivation base, nor does it have anything to do with one's background. The key is that this third guest elder position is one that Lin Shijie has reserved for someone, and she is just waiting for him to arrive."

Han Gao asked: "Who is it?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "If I am not mistaken, it should be the Thirteenth Young Master—do you know the Thirteenth Young Master? Su Shisan! Su Jing!"

Han Gao remembered: "Elder Bai's closing-door disciple? How many years has he been in Foundation Establishment? His cultivation is not even as good as mine! And you say it has nothing to do with background? It is precisely because of the background..."

Liu Xiaolou shook his head: "That is really not the case. Do you know which sect the Three Mystical Sect joined under during this great battle?"

"Zhanglong Mountain? You have always been with Zhanglong Mountain, haven't you?"

"Correct. Thirteenth Young Master coming to be a guest elder should have something to do with Elder Bai of Zhanglong Mountain."

"Something to do with Elder Bai of Zhanglong Mountain? What do you mean?"

"Figure it out yourself."

"How am I supposed to figure it out... Wait, two Elder Bais?"

"Hehe."

The night passed without incident, and Han Gao studied the Yin-Yang Scripture in the wooden hut assigned to him. He studied until dawn the next day, when he suddenly heard Liu Xiaolou say in the courtyard: "They're here."

So Han Gao walked out of the hut, stood beside Liu Xiaolou, and looked toward the mountain path together.

After watching for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they finally saw a figure stumbling up the mountain.

That figure walked to the gate of the small courtyard, saw Liu Xiaolou, revealed a smile, and called out "Brother-in-law," before suddenly rolling his eyes and fainting straight to the ground.

The person who arrived was none other than Su Jing.

Liu Xiaolou was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to support him, when he suddenly saw a figure flash from the foot of the mountain, which was Lin Shuangyu, who had rushed over from Bansongping.

Lin Shuangyu snatched Su Jing from Liu Xiaolou's arms, checked his breathing slightly, and immediately took out an elixir and stuffed it into his mouth.

Wu Changgeng also arrived shortly after and asked anxiously: "How is Su Shidi?"

Lin Shuangyu said: "Backlash from the Sword Tide injury."

Wu Changgeng was puzzled: "Elder Bai?"

Lin Shuangyu nodded: "It should be."

Wu Changgeng was extremely surprised: "Why would it be Elder Bai? How could Su Shidi have fought with Elder Bai?"

Lin Shuangyu said: "Have you forgotten that Su Shidi was still under house arrest in Shiyan Gorge? To come down the mountain, he had to pass Elder Bai's test."

Wu Changgeng patted his head: "Ah, right, right, right... So, Su Shidi passed the test? But why did Elder Bai strike so heavily!"

Lin Shuangyu said: "It's good enough that he let him out; otherwise, do you think he could have passed this test? Give me a hand..."

The two placed Su Jing on a wooden platform, each placing a hand on him to help him dissolve the medicinal power with their true qi.

Liu Xiaolou was also very anxious on the side, asking several times, and only breathed a sigh of relief after learning there was no major harm. Seeing Han Gao frowning and watching from the side, he gave him a look—see, I told you so.

Han Gao nodded slowly, pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked: "Sect Master, how many guest elders can our Three Mystical Sect accept?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "Three guest elders, plus me, that will be four people going into battle."

Han Gao was full of disappointment: "So there is no position for me?"

Liu Xiaolou comforted him: "If it really doesn't work out, you can be the substitute. What if one of us has an accident and can't go into battle? Then couldn't you fill in? Actually, I hope you can substitute for me."

Han Gao sighed: "That will have to do."

Before long, Su Jing slowly woke up, and after Lin Shuangyu asked, it was exactly as she had guessed.

Wu Changgeng praised: "To be able to pass Elder Bai's test, Su Shidi's sword technique has greatly advanced."

Han Gao probed from the side: "With such injuries, Su Shidi Su should probably recuperate well; rushing into battle would be detrimental to future cultivation..."

Wu Changgeng interrupted him: "Han Han Er Ye, my Su Shidi's injury is not a problem; he can go into battle after resting for two days. Also, even if my Su Shidi's cultivation is not as good as yours, our Nanhai fellow disciples working together can withstand a Golden Core; you, Han Han Er Ye, just can't get a hand in."

Han Gao's face looked very bad after being told this, but he knew that what the other party said was likely the truth. Unable to argue, he could only turn to calculating the substitute position.

Liu Xiaolou had just revealed his intention not to go into battle, planning to let Han Gao substitute, but Liu Xiaolou's intention did not count; it still required Lin Shuangyu's approval, so he added: "The Sect Master has only recently entered Foundation Establishment, his foundation is not thick, and rushing into battle might lead to a loss. With the Sect Master's status, if there is an accidental slip..."

Lin Shuangyu turned her head to look at Liu Xiaolou: "What is the Sect Master's intention?"

Liu Xiaolou pondered: "Guest Elder Lin's intention is..."

Lin Shuangyu said: "It is better for you to go into battle; it is beneficial for your cultivation of the Yellow Dragon Sword Art."

Liu Xiaolou felt heavy-hearted and very conflicted, nodding: "Understood..."

Lin Shuangyu added: "Han Han Er Ye, if you really want to go into battle, you can be the Sect Master's substitute. That's it, don't pester us anymore."

Han Gao made a final effort: "Can't we all go into battle? Can it only be four people?"

Lin Shuangyu said: "Just four. It's good enough that the Zhanglong Sect can give four spots; Han Han Er Ye, don't have unrealistic fantasies."

Thus, the seating was decided.

In order to solidify the substitute spot he had worked so hard to get, Han Gao turned to seek a sect position; he wanted the position of a guest elder.

But Lin Shuangyu did not agree: "There are only three guest elder waist plaques."

Han Gao looked at Liu Xiaolou, and Liu Xiaolou indicated that it was indeed the case, there were really only three.

Wu Changgeng boastfully took off his guest elder waist plaque and dangled it in front of Han Gao.

So Han Gao retreated to the next best thing: "Then can I be a substitute guest elder?"

Lin Shuangyu was so pestered by him that she had no choice but to nod: "Fine, fine, just consider yourself a provisional guest elder."

Being able to be a provisional guest elder of the Three Mystical Sect, Han Gao expressed that he was very satisfied, so his mood improved again: "Let me tell you all a secret. Actually, the Sect Master's use of the July Fragrant Orchid is not the best; there is a more fragrant additive method, which is the secret of my Great Feng Mountain. Since we are all fellow disciples, I will not hide it. I will show you all a trick at noon today."

As he spoke, Han Gao rolled up his sleeves: "Two Spirit Elders, Elder Bai—Elder Hei—let's start the fire!"

And so, smoke curled up on Ganzhu Ridge...

Amidst this curling smoke, someone suddenly came up the mountain, which greatly surprised Liu Xiaolou. The person wore a hero's headband, was draped in a bright red robe, looked thin and withered, and kept his waist bent as if he were carrying a thousand-jin burden on his back.

Although this person also called Lin Shuangyu and the others "Lin Shijie," "Senior Brother," and "Su Shidi," he was not of the same sect as them, but of the same "lineage"—the Nanhai Sword Sect lineage, Song Axia of He Mountain.

Seeing that it was him climbing the mountain, Lin Shuangyu felt both surprised and unsurprised: "It's you? You've come out of seclusion?"

Song Axia replied: "I've come out. My true qi is solid, and I have caught up with the footsteps of Lin Shijie and Senior Brother Wu. I heard that Lin Shijie issued the Shuangyu Order, so I told them not to come, and they gave the Shuangyu Order to me."

Lin Shuangyu nodded, said no more, and said to Liu Xiaolou: "He will also be a guest elder of the Three Mystical Sect."

Han Gao was dissatisfied: "Aren't there only three guest elder waist plaques?"

Lin Shuangyu said: "If it really doesn't work, I'll just make another one." She beckoned to take a short piece of bamboo and began to cut and process it.

Han Gao watched for a moment and said angrily: "You're making this waist plaque? Isn't this bullying people?"

Lin Shuangyu added: "Alright, the people for the battle are gathered. Sect Master, go back to Zhanglong Mountain again and tell them that our Three Mystical Sect is adding one more person."

Han Gao hurriedly said: "Didn't you just say we couldn't add any?"

Lin Shuangyu said: "This is Song Axia; his situation is special. Can he be the same as you?"

Han Gao asked: "Then can't we add two?"

Lin Shuangyu shook her head: "You are still the substitute—the Sect Master's substitute."

Han Gao felt a stifled breath in his chest, turned around, and left: "This meal can't be cooked; I'm going to rest for a while."