Chapter 84: Golden Tower

Twilight fades into dusk.

Towering buildings stand along the inner river; the covered bridges spanning the water and the surrounding pavilions are already packed with crowds eager for the spectacle.

The Golden Tower is a renowned auction house in Jingcheng; because its large venue suits arena challenges, it frequently hosts events like 'duels, ring battles, and beauty pageants'—activities appealing to both the refined and the common—earning revenue through ticket sales or acting as the house.

Today's 'social death challenge' was initiated by Wei Lu of Snow Eagle Ridge, with the Golden Tower serving as referee; the challenged party is Zhang Huaiyu of the Imperial Academy.

Both contestants are young; in Great Qian, they are not yet top-tier figures, yet neither comes from an ordinary background.

Wei Lu is the direct grandson of Wei Wu Yi, Great Qian's foremost martial artist; if he fails the test and exposes his true form, causing public humiliation, Snow Eagle Ridge would instantly become a laughingstock across the Jianghu.

Zhang Huaiyu's master is Fan Li, the Director of the Imperial Academy; his grandmaster is the Twin Sages Ye Ci—known as the 'Fan Tendons, Ye Bones' that Xie Jinhuan learned from since childhood; Dan Yang Mu Yunling is his junior uncle.

As a direct disciple of Saint Ye's lineage, if Zhang Huaiyu embarrasses himself publicly, the Confucian reputation would plummet significantly.

Thus, this social death challenge, spoken of on a grand scale, can be considered a sectarian conflict between the Martial Arts and Confucianism!

To ensure both contestants suffer total ruin, this sparring match is an open-air public duel; the rascals of Jingcheng, full of cunning schemes and with connections reaching everywhere, devised the questions, even employing the 'Echo Drum' as the testing instrument.

The Echo Drum is an instrument used by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to examine celestial officials, primarily testing whether one's heart remains as still as water.

Emotions such as fear, excitement, nervousness, or lust cause subtle changes in the body; if the fluctuation exceeds the threshold, the drum will thunder like rolling thunder, causing public humiliation!

To witness this grand spectacle, before the competition even began, the area surrounding the Golden Tower was already overflowing with people.

Xie Jinhuan and the Dan Wang Shizi attended together, positioned on the observation terrace atop the Golden Tower, overlooking the entire scene for several li in every direction.

Below the terrace railing hung a gilded plaque inscribed with four large characters:

Upright Gentleman!

It was also adorned with a large red flower, to be awarded to today's victor.

Linghu Qingmo fed dried small fish to Meiqiu; noticing the sea of people below, with some even climbing trees to peek inside, she frowned:

"Making such a huge scene; whoever is publicly humiliated here will likely have their Dao Heart shattered. It's just about saving face, why bother?"

The Dan Wang Shizi, wearing a striking red robe and standing in the center, fanned himself and replied:

"It is Wei Lu who insists on saving face, so this battle is destined for defeat. Sister Ling'er won't arrive until the day after tomorrow; this morning she specifically sent a messenger saying that if Brother Xie participates, she wants to bet some silver on him. By the way, Brother Xie, will you try? The Golden Tower is about to close its betting."

Xie Jinhuan did not expect his landlady, far away in Dan Yang, to still be involved in the gambling; he immediately began to deliberate.

He had just inquired that the entire competition requires passing three stages: the first stage offers ten taels, the second one hundred taels, and the third stage, whoever lasts until the end, takes all one thousand taels of silver.

The medicinal herbs for refining the 'Vital Dragon and Tiger Pill', even with discounts in the Southern Border and free alchemists, would require at least twenty thousand taels of snow-white silver, not even counting the main ingredient, the sixty-year lotus root.

With such a huge sum of silver right before his eyes, it was hard for him not to be tempted.

However, for safety's sake, Xie Jinhuan asked first:

"How exactly will the competition proceed? Will the courtesan queen dance up there?"

Zhao De quickly shook his head, pointing his fan at the idlers below:

"The courtesan queen can only test these common folk of the marketplace. Confucian gentlemen and martial prodigies all possess hearts of iron; how could they fall for such tricks? Therefore, this competition is a 'Heart-Questioning Challenge'!"

Heart-Questioning Challenge?

Xie Jinhuan examined his own heart:

"Better I betray the world than let the world betray me..."

"Three wives and four concubines, five chambermaids..."

"..."

"This might be impossible to pass..."

Xie Jinhuan frowned; seeing that the Dan Wang Shizi seemed to know the inside story, he asked:

"Does the Shizi know the test questions?"

Zhao De looked around, seeing no outsiders, and spoke in a low voice:

"I contributed greatly to the test questions, but to prevent leaks, I cannot tell you the specifics.

"Anyway, there are no low-level tactics like the courtesan queen dancing; it only tests 'self-control'. The first two stages are merely appetizers; Brother Xie could pass them with his eyes closed.

"As for the third stage, Brother Xie need not worry; as long as you can summon the ruthlessness and resilience shown at the Huaijiang Bay battle, you will surely last until the end. If you lose, it will certainly be because you did not go all out."

Xie Jinhuan nodded slightly, believing Zhao De's nonsense.

As long as he confirmed there was no 'Beauty Challenge', he naturally felt confident.

Regarding remaining unmoved by a woman in his lap, he certainly could not compare to Confucian gentlemen, but in other aspects, he did not believe anyone could crush him.

Even if he lost, it wouldn't be too shameful to face people...

At this time, the sky had not yet fully darkened; seeking out Han Jingchuan too early would be inconvenient for his plans, and during the ring battle, he could not easily leave his seat.

For this reason, Xie Jinhuan deliberated briefly and then nodded:

"Since the Shizi holds me in such high regard, and I am already here, naturally I must go up and try; passing even one stage could earn me a meal's worth of wine money."

Linghu Qingmo, considering herself an ice-cold beauty with a firm Dao Heart, seeing that there were also young ladies participating below, replied:

"If you go, I will try as well."

Seeing this, Zhao De immediately laughed and waved his hand:

"Laifu, go add Brother Xie's and Miss Linghu's names; meanwhile, bet three thousand taels each for the Princess and myself to support Young Master Xie; charge it to the Wang Fu account!"

Xie Jinhuan was not certain he could clear all stages; seeing this, he raised his hand to stop:

"Impossible. I have no guarantee of victory; if we truly bet, a hundred or so taels would be enough..."

"Ah!"

Zhao De frowned and said earnestly:

"If Sister Ling'er is involved, would I dare shortchange the amount? If you truly win, no matter how much I bet, she will demand the full prize money from me; if I can't pay, she'll break my legs! Will you help me pay then?"

How could I possibly pay for you?!

Seeing that Zhao De also could not reject the landlady's bet, Xie Jinhuan, wishing for a graceful exit in case of defeat, thought for a moment and painfully took out the travel funds Wu Su had provided:

"In that case, I will join the Shizi in the fun and bet five hundred taels on myself to win. If my skills are inferior, I hope the Shizi and the Princess will forgive me."

Zhao De hurriedly said, "No harm done. No gambling dog loses every day. As long as you give your all, if you lose, just consider it Father King paying for you to spar and gain experience!"

Linghu Qingmo also prepared to join the fun, but she admitted her Dao heart was far less resilient than Xie Jinhuan's. Thinking it over, she took out a small purse and tossed it to Laifu:

"Bet two hundred taels for me on Xie Jinhuan winning first place!"

Seeing this, Yang Dabiao nearly ground his back teeth to dust. He pulled out an unbelievable 'silver ingot' from his belt:

"So stingy! I'm betting my entire fortune! Jinhuan, if you lose, I'll have to eat and drink at your place from now on."

"Gulp!"

Meiqiu picked up a small dried fish and placed it in Yang Dabiao's hand; she too seemed to have gone all in!

Even the night succubus who followed him like a shadow whispered in his ear:

"If you last until the end today, big sister will dance for you. The most lewd kind~"

Damn it...

Seeing all his friends and family go all in to support him, Xie Jinhuan, moved beyond words, felt fighting spirit ignite in his heart:

"I really want to test how ironclad the Dao hearts of famous sect geniuses are. Rest assured, even if I die today, I'll die on the arena!"

—

The last sliver of sunset on the horizon slowly sank behind the city walls.

The bustling streets on both banks of the inner river had transformed into a brilliant sea of colorful lights.

On the river platform and even on the small boats surrounding it, forty echo drums were placed. By now, many registered participants, mere background players, were sitting cross-legged, and one could hear the faint drumbeats rising and falling:

"Thump~ Thump..."

The platform space was not large, holding only eight drums arranged in a circle, reserved for competitive contestants. Seven people were seated, including two Daoist nuns with an ethereal aura.

Wei Lu of Snow Eagle Ridge, as the initiator, wore a black robe. Facing the sunset on the horizon, he sat cross-legged with eyes closed and spirit focused. His seated echo drum remained completely still until the commotion around him rose, at which point he opened his eyes and looked toward the riverbank.

"Here he comes, here he comes..."

"Young Master Zhang..."

The crowd on the riverbank parted, revealing a scholar in a green robe. His face suggested he was in his early twenties. As he hurried through the crowd holding up his robe, he apologized along the way:

"Sorry, sorry. I was playing chess with my teacher and lost track of time, keeping everyone waiting..."

His hurried appearance made him look like a shy and reserved Licentiate, seeming to be from an entirely different world compared to Wei Lu on the stage, who was posturing with cool arrogance.

As the grandson of the Great Qian's number one martial artist, Wei Lu held no grudges against the Confucian school and was not usually arrogant.

But the book "The Scandalous History of Wei Wu Yi" was simply too damn outrageous!

According to the book's records, his grandfather made his fortune selling his backside in Western Rong...

He had even touched Master Sikong Tianyuan's wife's buttocks, been tricked by Lu Wu Zhen into calling him 'father', and borrowed ten taels of silver from Monk Wuxin to aid those lost in the mortal world...

And what was even more outrageous was that Zhang Huaiyu, that scoundrel, was reading it right in front of him!

For Wei Lu to have restrained himself from drawing his sword and beheading that grandson showed extraordinary self-control. Seeing the other still putting on a show, he spoke coldly:

"Stop pretending. Whether you are a hypocrite or a true villain will be revealed soon. If you're here, get on the stage quickly."

"Wei brother speaks so harshly, leaving me no way out."

Zhang Huaiyu leaped onto the round platform and sat beside Wei Lu. Scanning the surroundings, he noticed two young ladies and chatted idly:

"Even the astronomers from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have arrived. With two ladies present, I and Wei brother probably have no chance at that plaque."

Both women wore Daoist robes. Fearing their emotions would be stirred, they sat cross-legged with eyes closed, fingers forming the Zi-Wu mudra, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Wei Lu could no longer bear it. Seeing everyone had arrived, he looked at the owner of the Golden Tower:

"Begin."

Fan Guangyuan, the owner of the Golden Tower, was checking the newly delivered roster. Hearing this, he hurriedly responded:

"Young Master Wei, please wait a moment. Another distinguished guest has just arrived..."

"Hmm?"

Wei Lu's status was not low. Seeing that Zhang Huaiyu had already arrived, he was puzzled why Fan Guangyuan was still making him wait, wondering which famous figure was coming to join the fun.

Before he could even ask, a faint sound of wind breaking came from the five-story tower illuminated by brilliant lights:

Whoosh~

Everyone looked up and saw a startling white shadow leap out from the five-story tower. Her body was like a white dragon flipping through clouds, plummeting straight down to crash into the center of the round platform!

Thud~

After the dull thud, the entire arena fell silent...

(End of this chapter)