Chapter 175: Secret Realm Competition
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Hearing those words, Lin Muyu suddenly raised her hand and placed it on Yunduo’s forehead.
“What are you doing?”
This sudden action startled Yunduo, and she asked with confusion in her eyes.
“You don’t have a fever, so why are you acting all flirty?”
Lin Muyu’s lips curved into a mischievous smile as she teased in a playful tone.
“You little brat, so now you dare to tease me like this!”
Yunduo reacted quickly, instantly catching the teasing in those words. She immediately puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
She reached out and grabbed Lin Muyu’s hand that was resting on her head, holding it tightly in place. Her other hand slipped into Lin Muyu’s palm and gently drew circles, tickling her.
“Wait, wait! That tickles… Let’s stop fooling around and keep watching the show!”
Lin Muyu was tickled into continuous light laughter by the sensation in her palm.
She never expected that despite Yunduo’s delicate appearance, she would have such strength in her hands. Even though she was already using her full force, she couldn’t break free from the hand restraining hers.
“Do you admit you were wrong?”
As Yunduo spoke, she pushed her advantage further. Her mischievous hand moved up from Lin Muyu’s wrist, gradually heading toward her waist and abdomen.
“I was wrong, I was wrong! I really was wrong, stop tickling, stop tickling!”
Lin Muyu was scared into begging for mercy immediately.
For some reason, ever since she embarked on the path of cultivation, her body had become particularly sensitive. Even the slightest tickling sensation now felt amplified several times over, and she really couldn’t take it.
“Hmph, that’s more like it. Next time you dare tease me like that, see how I’ll deal with you.”
Yunduo let out a light snort, pretending to be serious, though her tone didn’t carry much real anger.
“She’s clearly just putting on an act.”
Lin Muyu took advantage of the moment when Yunduo released her hand to rub her slightly numb wrist, silently grumbling to herself.
Though she and Yunduo hadn’t known each other for very long, she had roughly figured out her personality. Yunduo just enjoyed playful banter.
In the brief moment while Lin Muyu and Yunduo were fooling around, the two sides confronting each other in the venue had already begun attempting to negotiate, trying to reach an agreement both sides could accept.
“Since neither side is willing to back down, why not use the simplest method, have a fight. Whoever wins gets to marry Miss Xuanxuan, how about that?”
City Lord Zhou stroked the beard on his chin, his face bearing a gentle smile as he made what seemed like a fair proposal.
“Why should we do what you say? Did you ask Xuanxuan’s opinion?”
The groom standing to the side immediately frowned, his neck stiffening as he retorted, his tone full of anger and unwillingness.
This marriage was supposed to be his, why should its outcome be decided by a fight?
“I agree.”
Just when everyone thought Xuanxuan would object, the woman named Xuanxuan suddenly spoke up. Her voice was clear and pleasant. Just from hearing her voice, one could guess she must be an exceptionally beautiful woman.
“Xuanxuan, why… why would you agree?”
The groom looked at his bride-to-be with complete disbelief.
On the other side, General Li’s expression also turned extremely unpleasant. He clearly hadn’t expected Xuanxuan to make such a decision.
“In this marriage, I’m nothing more than a tool used by the family for a political alliance.”
Xuanxuan’s tone was ice-cold, without a trace of warmth.
“Since I’m a tool, then logically, I should marry whoever has greater potential and can bring more benefits to the family.”
“Woo hoo! Are they going to start fighting? Finally, something interesting to watch!”
Seeing the situation in the venue suddenly escalate, Yunduo had no time to continue playing around with Lin Muyu. She immediately put away her playful mood and, pulling on Lin Muyu’s arm, excitedly continued watching the commotion with great interest.
“Fine! Let’s fight! Who’s afraid of who!”
The groom was already full of anger, and now, provoked by Xuanxuan’s words and City Lord Zhou’s proposal, he completely lost control of his temper and agreed through gritted teeth.
“Wait! I don’t agree!”
Just as both sides were about to draw their weapons, a steady voice suddenly rang out.
This time, the one refusing was General Li.
“Father? Why don’t you agree?”
The groom looked at General Li with complete confusion, unable to understand why his father would stop things at this moment.
Could it be that he was willing to watch his son’s bride-to-be get stolen by someone else?
Faced with his son’s confusion, General Li didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he first cleared his throat before slowly beginning to explain.
“If the younger generation of our families really fight each other, it will inevitably hurt the harmony between us, and it won’t sound good if word gets out.”
“Besides, didn’t a secret realm just open outside the city? Why not let these two young ones go in and explore? Whoever can bring out more treasures, and more valuable ones from the secret realm, wins. How about that?”
As soon as General Li made this proposal, not only was the groom stunned, but everyone present also looked puzzled.
The conflict between both sides had already reached an irreconcilable point, why was General Li still talking about harmony?
This really didn’t make sense.
Even the groom just stared blankly at his father, completely unable to figure out what he was thinking.
“Good! That’s a great proposal! Young man from the Xiao family, what do you think?”
City Lord Zhou was first stunned for a moment, then immediately recovered and asked Xiao Huo with a smile.
“I agree.”
Xiao Huo’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as he responded in a light tone.
As far as he was concerned, his goal had been achieved.
At the very least, the Li family’s boy hadn’t been able to successfully marry Xuanxuan, and that was enough.
“Why is this happening? Why did they suddenly stop fighting and instead decide to go to the secret realm to compete over who brings back more stuff?”
Lin Muyu also frowned, looking at Yunduo with complete confusion.
If they were going to the secret realm, and she also entered the secret realm later, would she possibly run into them?
“Why else? This General Li has a much more meticulous mind than he appears on the surface, and he’s much more cautious too.”
Yunduo glanced at Lin Muyu lightly, her tone carrying a note of understanding.
“Huh? Cautious? What does this have to do with being cautious?”
Lin Muyu was even more confused now, blinking as she pressed for answers.
“Didn’t I tell you before that Xiao Huo is no simple character?”
Yunduo reached out her finger and lightly tapped Lin Muyu’s head, patiently explaining.
“Think about it, since Xiao Huo dared to come, that means he has something to rely on. If the Li family’s boy really fought Xiao Huo head-on, he’d most likely lose.”
“When that happens, the Li family would not only lose the marriage, but they’d also lose face because their younger generation was defeated. How unfavorable is that? General Li obviously didn’t want to see that outcome, which is why he deliberately proposed going to the secret realm.”
“Wait, how do you know all this?”
Lin Muyu was amazed by Yunduo’s analysis and asked with eyes full of curiosity.
“Of course! I’m known as the Know-It-All of the mortal realm, there’s nothing I don’t know!”
Yunduo puffed out her chest with a face full of pride.
“If you have any questions you don’t understand in the future, feel free to ask me, your big sister.”
“Know-It-All of the mortal realm? Then let me test you.”
Lin Muyu’s eyes rolled, and she asked with a smile.
“There’s a cage with chickens and rabbits inside. We know there are a total of 109 heads and 320 legs in the cage. How many chickens and rabbits are there?”
“? You’re testing me with a math problem?”
Yunduo was first stunned, then smiled confidently.
“That’s easy. There are 58 chickens and 51 rabbits, right?”
After saying this, she even smugly raised her eyebrows, waiting for Lin Muyu to praise her.
“You did calculate it correctly, no mistakes there.”
Lin Muyu held back her laughter, then blinked mischievously and said.
“But… what normal person would keep chickens and rabbits in the same cage?”
After hearing this, Yunduo was immediately annoyed into laughter and reached out to tickle Lin Muyu’s waist.
“Fine! Just you wait! Later I’ll turn you into a rabbit and catch a few chickens to put in with you, so you can experience it firsthand!”
Just as the two were getting into another tussle, hurried footsteps suddenly approached.
Li Menghua came running over in a rush, his face showing some anxiety. As soon as he stopped, he hurriedly asked.
“Junior Sister, are you also planning to enter that secret realm outside the city?”
“Yes, Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
Lin Muyu looked at Li Menghua with confusion.
“Then… could you please help me with something?”
Li Menghua rubbed his hands together, his tone carrying a note of cautious pleading.
“Let me be clear first, I won’t get involved in the struggle between your brother and Xiao Huo.”
“No, Xuanxuan is also going. Could you please help me keep an eye on Xuanxuan?”
“Huh? Why is she going?”