I've never felt happy to become an immortal.

Chapter 188 Koko's Weakness
The first day of the Sword Tournament has ended.

The White Plum Sect held a banquet to entertain all those who participated in the sword-fighting tournament.

The top five finishers in the sword-fighting tournament qualified to enter the secret realm.

The top five are Bai Xuan, the unremarkable Wai Jing, the eldest disciple of the Huanhua Sect (one of the six major sects), Xu Tingfeng, and Zhuque Jian.

Aside from the unremarkable-looking actress who was a dark horse, the fact that the others made it into the top five was well-deserved.

After all, there are only three famous swordsmen on the Crouching Dragon List.

The true disciples of the Huanhua Sect were granted entry through a formation composed of disciples from the six major sects.

Although some tricks were used, no one said anything. After all, they are a top-tier power in Qingzhou, and they should be given the respect they deserve.

During the banquet, Yue Qianqi and the others did not rush to leave.

The group sat down around the table, and amidst the clinking of glasses, they began to discuss the events of today's sword-fighting tournament.

Everyone complained that the White Plum Sect was truly despicable, actually bringing out the Heart Demon Sutra.

"So, what exactly is your inner demon?" Xi Qingqing's question seemed to break the silence, causing even the most unrestrained martial arts practitioners to break into stiff and embarrassed smiles.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can’t say,” He Bi suggested, seemingly eager to stir things up. “How about this, either you punish yourself with three drinks, or you tell us what you saw. It’ll be good for the fun.”

Cui Che glanced at the wine on the table: "This is plum wine. Although it's not the original plum wine, three cups will definitely get you drunk."

“How else can this be considered punishment?” Why not just say, “How about I go first? My inner demon… is the painful memory of being forced to practice martial arts by my master, and being caught every time I tried to sneak away.”

Yue Qianqi suddenly realized, "So you were practicing martial arts by hanging from the roof beam?"

"What a thief!" Cui Che picked up his wine glass. "I won't say anything more; it's all in the wine."

Kuku drank three cups in a row, then slammed his head on the table and passed out drunk.

Xu Tingfeng, being an honest man, casually said, "My inner demons aren't anything special. I just dreamt of lots of snakes, lots of rats, and cockroaches crawling all over me, crawling into my nostrils, mouth, and ears..."

"Don't say that! It's creepy!"

How did you develop this inner demon?

“There is a place in the Sword Forest of Western Shu called ‘The Land of Withered Bones’, which is filled with miasma all year round. It is the place where all the beasts in the area die. There is a cultivation method that requires one to survive alone here for half a year.” Xu Tingfeng said, “During those six months, it was impossible to find any decent food. It was good enough to eat cockroaches. Being able to catch snake meat was enough to make me happy for several days.”

"What's the point of this?" Wang Zhiyuan felt a chill run down his spine.

“Train your poison resistance. This method is actually quite common in some hidden sects. The famous Snake King Valley in Northern Zhou has a trial called Ten Thousand Snakes Devouring the Body. Only one in a hundred can pass it. Once you pass it, your future will be extremely high.” Xi Qingqing rested her chin on her hand: “This kind of physique has to be trained slowly. It’s not enough to just take poison from childhood. You also need to go through enough poison tempering. In the end, you will become a poison person.”

Xu Tingfeng said, "Not entirely. This kind of cultivation is also based on personal willingness. The reason I participated is because..."

"Are you M?" Bai Xuan asked.

"What is Ai Mu?" Xu Tingfeng asked, puzzled. "I participated because I was framed by my fellow disciples. Someone submitted my name, trying to kill me so that they could take my place."

"Good guy."

"So, if you can't pass the exam, you resort to underhanded tactics, right?" Bai Xuan thought of some outrageous motives for murder: the second-place student kept failing the exam, so he chose to kill the first-place student, only to find out that it was actually the third-place student who instigated it.

"What then?"

"Later, I left the Land of Bones alive and engaged in a life-or-death battle with him during the sect competition, successfully killing him to avenge myself," Xu Tingfeng said casually.

Those who can roam the martial arts world and rank high on the Crouching Dragon List are all extraordinary individuals.

“You are all incredibly skilled,” Bai Xuan said. “Who’s next?”

“I don’t have such a dramatic story.” Wang Zhiyuan also picked up his glass: “I’ll punish myself with three drinks.”

"Why punish me? Your inner demon is just lost love, isn't it?" He Bi laughed, "What's there to hide?"

Wang Zhiyuan gave a bitter smile, said nothing, and just drank. After drinking two cups, before picking up the third cup, he mustered up his courage and said, "I killed her with my own hands."

The table fell silent.

"It was an incurable disease, and the pain was too much. She begged me to do it... Perhaps I can never escape this inner demon in my life." Wang Zhiyuan took a swig of strong liquor, then collapsed onto the table and passed out drunk.

Everyone sighed and remained silent.

“This topic is too heavy. Let me speak then.” Yue Qianqi picked up his wine cup, drank a glass of wine to bolster his courage: “My inner demon… is the fear of death.”

He recounted, "I once met an old Taoist priest who told my fortune and said three sentences."

"His first words were that I would become famous in my youth; his second words were that my life would be smooth sailing, but I would encounter a major upheaval; his third words were that he advised me to leave the monastic life as soon as possible, get married, and leave the martial world, otherwise I would not live past thirty."

Yue Qianqi was a top disciple of the Wudang Sect, and with the protection of the old master, even those on the Earth Ranking dared not kill him.

"It's better not to believe the words of such charlatans." Xu Tingfeng sneered: "I once met a fortune teller who said that I was arrogant and domineering and that I should spend money to avoid disaster."

"How to say?"

“Because I’m arrogant.” Xu Tingfeng pointed to his eyes.

"..."

Isn't this funny?

After a brief silence...

The group looked at the Vermilion Bird Sword. He paused for a moment and then said, "My inner demon... is my parents. I want to find their whereabouts, but in my memory, I was abandoned by the roadside on a snowy night."

It's not uncommon for people to start out as orphans in the martial arts world.

“It’s okay, I understand.” Xi Qingqing empathized: “We are orphans too, raised by the sect.”

Xu Tingfeng: "Me too... My parents sold me. They had seven or eight children in the family, and they couldn't support them, so they had to send me away. I don't blame them. I still occasionally go down the mountain to visit... Oh, I mean to visit their graves."

Bai Xuan noticed the stares around him: "Just talk, why are you all looking at me?"

Why ask, "You're Jiang Baichuan's adopted son, right? So you're also an abandoned orphan?"

Bai Xuan: “…”

...You know what, you really shouldn't have said it! Xi Qingqing exclaimed in surprise: "Are all swordsmen orphans?"

Bai Xuan muttered to himself, "I don't even get this high percentage of orphans when I play a game of League of Legends."

Zhuque Sword shook his head: "I'm not trying to outdo others in misery, I just didn't expect to keep this in my heart for so long that it's become a mental demon."

"Alright, alright, let's change the subject," Bai Xuan suggested, requesting that they skip the topic.

"Don't rush, you haven't told us what your inner demon is yet," He Bi pressed.

“What inner demons could he have? He slept the whole night,” Xu Tingfeng said. “It’s obvious he’s sleep-deprived.”

Bai Xuan sighed: "I also have inner demons, or rather, mental illnesses..."

"What is it?"

"What should I do if I'm too popular with women?" Bai Xuan asked, casting a questioning glance. "Can anyone tell me?"

"My white moonlight, thank goodness I can't beat you right now."

"So none of you have ever experienced this feeling of being popular."

"You drink this, and drink it all up!"

After three rounds of drinking.

The group began to discuss their next steps.

Yue Qianqi said, "I originally came to Qingzhou to travel around the martial arts world. There are some famous martial arts masters from the Wudang Sect living in seclusion here. I need to pay them a visit, and also to see some renowned figures in the martial arts world whom I want to challenge."

He Bi smiled and said, "I plan to steal something, the heirloom of Bahe Manor, the Golden Thread Robe, which is said to be the relic of Bai Wuji, a famous general of the Qin Dynasty."

"You just said it so openly and honestly?"

"It's alright, I'm not the only one eyeing this thing." He Bi rubbed his hands together. "Besides, I've already sent out invitations beforehand. This isn't stealing, it's called..."

"Rob?"

"Pick!"

Bai Xuan said calmly, "Although I'm not sure if Bahe Manor actually has the Golden Thread Robe, I'm certain it's a fake."

"How to say?"

"Bai Wuji never wore the Golden Thread Protective Robe; he always wore only light armor."

Bai Xuan testified: "Only one of his belongings is genuine, the silver spear 'Three Armies'."

He Bi's eyes lit up: "Oh? I've also heard of the Three Armies. They're also at Bahe Manor, so the Golden Thread Robe is fake, and the Three Armies is the real one? Then I must take it and see."

After the meal, the group dispersed and said their goodbyes.

Before leaving, He Bi found Bai Xuan alone and said, "Actually, I came to participate in the Sword Debate Tournament specifically to see you."

"Me?" Bai Xuan asked in confusion, "Do we...know each other?"

“I haven’t met you before, but… you helped me get rid of the traitor in our sect, so my sect owes you a favor.” He Bi explained, “I am a successor of the Tan Yun Sect. In the previous generation, there was a traitor nicknamed ‘Miracle Hand.’ We had been searching for him, but in the end, he died at your hands.”

Bai Xuan remembered: "That clumsy thief who stole from the wrong person, right?"

He laughed and said, "His strength was indeed not very good. He was a traitor who poisoned others and stole our sect's secret techniques. Now that he is dead, it can be considered that the grudges of the previous generation have been settled... I did not reveal my sect before because I did not want to attract attention."

"The Tanyun Sect is not strong, but it is good at theft, which will attract a lot of trouble. If they are coerced into doing something they don't want to do, alas, what happened back then was a painful lesson."

Bai Xuan understood: "I understand, so why are you revealing your background now?"

“I’m leaving now, and I owe you a favor. I was looking for an opportunity to repay it, but I owe you another favor this time. It wouldn’t be right not to report it to my sect.”

"Are you so sure about the golden robe?"

“I believed you 70% the moment you opened your mouth, even though I had my doubts.” He Bi said seriously, “I will definitely repay you for these two favors.”

Bai Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Then do me a favor."

He nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead."

"Aren't you sure what it is before you agree?"

"The white moonlight is a true gentleman, and I believe I have the discernment to see that."

"It's not a big deal. If you gain control of the three armies, can you give them to me? I can exchange them for precious medicines or silver."

"So it was just this little thing." He Bi waved his hand and said, "I'll just give it to you. I stole it because I didn't like Bahe Manor. It's useless to keep it."

After they finished speaking, they immediately agreed.

"I'll take my leave now." He Bi clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, then laughed and said, "I won't disturb your rendezvous tonight, hahaha—!"

He left laughing.

Bai Xuan turned around and looked.

Under the moonlight, Xi Qingqing's face was flushed, and she swayed as if she were drunk.

She floated over quickly, giggling, "The moonlight is so beautiful..."

Then he added, "Don't you think this moon looks like the... hiccup, one hundred taels of silver you owe me?"

Bai Xuan said, "If you keep pretending to be drunk, I'll exploit your weaknesses, and I guarantee you'll surrender immediately."

Xi Qingqing blinked, the drunkenness in her eyes slightly fading, and muttered under her breath, "You scoundrel...where do you want to deduct?"

Bai Xuan: "Salary!"

"No! I was wrong!"

(End of this chapter)