Chapter 88: Finally Endured Until the Beauty Trap!

Swearing along both riverbanks filled the sky and covered the earth.

Wei Lu and Zhang Huaiyu stood on the boat, faces filled with shame, yet also feeling unable to explain themselves despite having a hundred mouths!

After all, the Golden Tower had arranged for the two to fight on the stage; the entire process was designed in advance by the Golden Tower, completely tailored to the two's cultivation levels.

This first round was an appetizer, meant to spark the interest of all the spectators.

The purpose of the second round was to filter out all the shortlisted minor opponents, creating the dramatic effect of two geniuses breaking through simultaneously; this way, the Golden Tower wouldn't have to pay out silver, and the audience's anticipation would be maxed out!

According to the Golden Tower's prediction, only two seed players in the second round would barely manage to hold on, while everyone else would fail; they never expected Xie Jinhuan to appear!

Moreover, even if he appeared, Xie Jinhuan's foundation was so solid that he blocked all the hidden weapons, creating a momentum so terrifying that it forced Wei Lu and Zhang Huaiyu to avoid his sharp edge.

Thus, the situation arose where "actions were correct, yet the rules declared defeat"; the onlookers present certainly would not accept this.

The owner of the Golden Tower discovered a live broadcast accident and felt a moment of confusion in his heart, but as a long-time host, his reaction was extremely fast; he quickly smoothed things over:

"Young Master Xie is truly skilled in martial arts. Young Master Wei and Young Master Zhang did not wish to withhold their help, but this trial was poorly considered by the Golden Tower, leaving little room for assistance. The responsibility lies with our Golden Tower. As compensation, everyone in this round will receive one hundred taels of silver, which will be carried over into the third round!"

The audience, who had been fierce and aggressive, finally calmed down a bit:

"That's more like it..."

"I think Young Master Xie should win the championship directly; besides him, who is worthy of that plaque?"

"No, if he wins directly, there will be no show left. Young Master Xie will definitely be first..."

Seeing that everyone had passed the round and he was not being disqualified, Xie Jinhuan also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Wei Lu was the initiator of today's "social death situation"; after two rounds, the hypocrite Zhang Huaiyu did not suffer social death, but was instead startled by Xie Jinhuan, feeling somewhat dissatisfied in his heart as he looked at the owner:

"Young Master Xie is peerless in chivalry and highly skilled in martial arts; everyone present knows this. But today's trial is to see who is the hypocritical villain!

"Although the first two rounds had difficulty, even failing them proves nothing; this is not my original intention in setting up this challenge here."

The onlooking crowd of bystanders also joined in the commotion:

"Yes! We came to see who would 'fall from grace and be disgraced'; if we wanted to see who was more chivalrous, would we need to come to your place?"

"If the third round is again irrelevant to the topic, your Golden Tower's reputation will be ruined!"

Since the Golden Tower had accepted the challenge, they certainly had to arrange matters properly; Fan Guangyuan smiled and suppressed all the noise:

"The first two rounds were about 'leaving a line for others to pass'; even if you lose, you can still keep your dignity.

"If no winner is decided, this final round will be to the death; there will be only one winner!

"And the loser, even if not falling from grace, will likely become the laughingstock of Jingcheng.

"Therefore, everyone present, before we begin, may withdraw from the competition on your own..."

As long as one passed the round, one hundred taels would become one thousand taels; how could those who had survived by luck give up? They immediately spoke out:

"We have come all the way to the end; how can we admit defeat without fighting? Just show us what the test is."

"Correct."

The owner of the Golden Tower stroked his beard, smiled, and said loudly:

"As the saying goes, 'Heroes find it hard to pass the beauty test'; this third round..."

"Whoa!!!"

The thousands of onlookers around, finally waiting for the "meat dish," immediately became excited.

Some men let out wolf howls; even Lin Wanyi, who loved gossip, had her eyes light up, obviously wanting to see Xie Jinhuan in trouble.

However, amidst the mixed sounds, there was also a voice:

"Ah?"

Gulping, gulping...

The drumbeat was like thunder!

The entire venue instantly fell into dead silence; everyone turned their heads together, searching for which young hero had broken his composure first!

Zhang Huaiyu and Wei Lu looked at each other simultaneously!

But very soon, both were stunned again and turned their gaze toward the chivalrous and pure-hearted Xie the Young Master!

Linghu Qingmo's eyes widened a bit, looking at Xie Jinhuan in disbelief; the meaning in her eyes was probably:

Why are you reacting so strongly?

Are you afraid, or are you excited?

Xie Jinhuan had finally endured until the "beauty trap"; at this moment, he felt both emotions, glancing sideways toward "Danyang's One Red Spot"!

The heir apparent Zhao De slightly spread his hands, revealing an expression of helplessness; the meaning was clearly:

"This heir is one of the question-setters and cannot reveal secrets! Besides, I only said there would be no courtesan dancing; I did not say anything else."

You little Wang Ba!

Xie Jinhuan had been tricked and truly wanted to rush up and break Zhao De's legs, but noticing everyone was looking over, he could only suppress the ripples in his heart, maintaining a normal expression as he indicated his chest:

"I was shot a few days ago; just now, I exerted myself and moved my qi, but it's not a big deal; I just need to rest a bit."

"Oh..."

Everyone suddenly understood.

Fan Guangyuan quickly said, "Young Master Xie can rest well before starting; there is no rush; everyone present understands."

Zhang Huaiyu sighed with his eyes, "Brother Xie is injured and still fought demons and monsters overnight; this state of mind truly shames us all."

Wei Lu also looked on with admiration; he had lost to Xie Jinhuan today with full conviction, as long as he didn't lose to Zhang Huaiyu; at this moment, he spoke with great heroism:

"The winner today must be Brother Xie!

"Even if both I and this scoundrel fall beneath the 'beauty test,' falling from grace and displaying all sorts of ugliness on the spot, if I can be behind this scoundrel, I will be content..."

"Huh? Brother Xie, can't you stabilize your qi channels? Need Wei Mou to help?"

"No need, I'll just calm down."

Gulp, gulp…

Xie Jinhuan faced the coming true social death scenario, and there was only one winner—he couldn't possibly be without pressure.

After all, he was confident in other areas, but the "beauty trap" was precisely attacking his weak spot…

He had worked hard to build his image as a righteous young hero; if he collapsed first in the opening, he'd be utterly ruined.

But he'd already endured the ghost bride, the glasses girl, Big Seeing Mo Mo, and the little princess—surely he wouldn't be felled by these common courtesans…

Thinking of this, Xie Jinhuan first suppressed his inner distractions and turned to the Golden Tower's proprietor:

"Since we're fighting to the end, the 'opening thunderclap' method won't work—and there are two Misses present. How should the third trial be conducted?"

The Golden Tower's proprietor smiled and continued:

"Young Master Wei's original intent was to see who would be the first to suffer social ruin. If a mere ordinary beauty merely flirts and preens, Brother Xie's noble character would surely remain unmoved—and the others would be the same."

"To determine a winner, this 'beauty trial' is special—the Golden Tower guarantees that every one of you, even Brother Xie and Lord Linghu, will feel ripples in your heart's lake."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn.

Wei Lu, as a contestant, didn't know the trial's details and asked:

"Then how do we tell who's a hypocrite?"

"A true man is judged by deeds, not intentions—judge by intentions, and no one on earth is a sage!"

The Golden Tower's proprietor scanned the crowd and spectators:

"To be moved by beauty is human nature; to lose over that alone, no one would accept it—and the spectators would understand. That wouldn't count as social ruin."

"So the third trial is 'judging by deeds.' The echo drum's sound is normal, but whoever can't resist and reaches beyond the echo drum to touch what they see—even to kiss, to rub, to lick…"

"Hehe~ With thousands watching, this will be remembered for life!"

"Whoa…"

All onlookers nodded, feeling this contest method was far more reasonable.

To be stirred by beauty is human nature.

But to act, to lick, to touch—that's unquestionably a lecher. No excuses needed!

Xie Jinhuan never denied he had an appreciation for beauty, but even when Lin Da was tied to a tree, he held back from touching her—how could he lose control before a few flouncing common courtesans?

Thus, Xie Jinhuan abandoned the thought of withdrawing and sat upright, like a Buddha in a sacred hall.

Seeing the trial tested only 'action,' not 'thought,' even though the consequence of failure was worse, everyone else felt confident they wouldn't lose—and their spirits soared!

Only the two female contestants felt deeply confused, unsure how the Golden Tower would design the challenge.

Ye Hongshang, ever at his side, seemed to grasp the meaning and whispered to Xie Jinhuan:

"It must stir the heart—only possible through illusionary charm."

"You see illusions every day—you're already used to them. Unfair, right? Should big sister raise the difficulty? Afterwards, you can hold me and dance?"

Hold me and dance…

Xie Jinhuan found the condition tempting; as for the ghost bride raising the difficulty, in his view, it meant she'd personally perform for him—maybe a wild swing, a sun-shaking dance…

But last night he lost control because they were bathing alone—no need to restrain then.

Now, in public, he refused to believe he couldn't control this damn hand from reaching out to touch.

Thus, Xie Jinhuan calmed his breath and steeled himself into a resolute posture: "Bring it on!"

Seeing this, Ye Hongshang naturally said no more, readying herself…

…

(End of Chapter)