Chapter 585: Lu Lihong’s Good Intentions

After hearing those words, Zhang Xiaohua was stunned. He stared at Lu Lihong for dozens of breaths.

“What is this guy trying to do?”

“Just now he deliberately exposed my background so openly, and now he’s immediately trying to make up for it?”

“Besides, these herbs are worthless weeds in other people’s hands, but in mine they’re far more precious than medicinal pills. You think I’ll let you snatch away my treasures, then even owe you a favor and sing your praises to everyone?”

“Right, speaking of stealing my things, the first time this fellow met me, he snatched away my Dragon Scale Fruit. And now he’s got his eye on my other herbs too?”

“No way!”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua remain silent, Lu Lihong kept his gentle smile and said, “What? Junior Brother Ren, are you unwilling to do me this favor?”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head. “Not at all, not at all. These herbs have been giving me a headache. I can’t bring myself to throw them away, yet keeping them isn’t much better. If Senior Brother Lu can help me deal with them, that would be for the best. It’s just that, Senior Brother Lu…”

“I understand what you mean, Junior Brother. I’ve also heard about your magnificent performance in winning all three betting matches. Speaking of which, I’d long heard of the gambling contests on Tianmu Peak. It’s just that while I was in the Tuodan Hall, I was always stationed on Baiyue Peak. Later, after entering the Outer Sect, I was assigned to Wuming Hall, so I never had the chance to come to Tianmu Peak. Now that I’ve heard how impressive you were in those wagers, I can’t help but feel eager myself. How about this? I’ll take out…”

Before Lu Lihong could finish, Zhang Xiaohua interrupted him just as Lu Lihong had interrupted him earlier. Putting on a look of surprise, he exclaimed, “What? Senior Brother Lu, are you planning to offer one hundred and fifty taels of gold in exchange for the herbs?”

“Cough, cough…” A flush spread across Lu Lihong’s face. Fortunately, the wine masked it enough that it wasn’t obvious. Embarrassed, he said, “Junior Brother Ren certainly made a fortune, winning medicinal pills worth one hundred and fifty taels of gold all at once. But think about it—even Chief Chen and Wu Dalang don’t possess that much gold. How could a poor Outer Sect disciple like me possibly have it?”

A look of disappointment immediately appeared on Zhang Xiaohua’s face, though his eyes still gleamed with expectation. “Gold isn’t necessary. Medicinal pills worth the equivalent of one hundred and fifty taels of gold would be acceptable too!”

Every time Zhang Xiaohua repeated the words ‘one hundred and fifty taels of gold’, Lu Lihong nearly choked. He gritted his teeth again and again before finally suppressing the urge to explode. Maintaining his amiable expression, he said, “Little Brother is… rather fond of money. Of course, that’s only natural for a man. Haha. But since you weren’t actually able to collect those medicinal pills worth one hundred and fifty taels of gold that day, and instead accepted those worthless herbs, then those herbs can no longer be valued at one hundred and fifty taels of gold.”

“Hah, isn’t that obvious? I only said that because I knew you couldn’t possibly produce that much.” Zhang Xiaohua silently calculated to himself. Then, pretending not to understand, he asked, “Then what does Senior Brother Lu mean?”

Lu Lihong looked utterly speechless and replied irritably, “I understand how you feel, Junior Brother, but could you at least let me finish what I have to say first?”

Zhang Xiaohua chuckled innocently. “My mistake, my mistake. Please explain it clearly, Senior Brother Lu.”

From the side, Chen Fengxiao raised a cup of wine in Lu Lihong’s direction. Only then did Lu Lihong slowly continue, “I’ve admired the betting matches on Tianmu Peak for quite some time, but I’ve never had the opportunity to participate. Now that I’m an Outer Sect disciple, it’s even less within my control. But after meeting Junior Brother Ren today, I couldn’t help but feel delighted. How about this? Let’s use Junior Brother Ren’s herbs as the wager and have a match between the two of us. Although I can’t officially participate in Tianmu Peak’s betting matches, if I can compete against Junior Brother Ren just once, I’ll have no regrets in this lifetime!”

“What? No regrets in this lifetime??” Zhang Xiaohua’s face was covered in black lines as he thought, “It would sound much more appropriate if he had said, ‘Even if I die afterward, I’ll have no regrets.'”

The others nearby were likewise taken aback. After all, Lu Lihong was an Outer Sect disciple, and one who had been promoted out of the Tuodan Hall at that. His martial arts were obviously superior to those of the disciples in the Tuodan Hall. Yet now he wanted to compete against Zhang Xiaohua, a mere herb boy who had only recently entered the Tuodan Hall. Wasn’t that like an adult playing around with a child?

But then they quickly understood. Hadn’t he just said that he wanted to make up for his earlier mistake and help Zhang Xiaohua recover some of his losses?

As a result, Lu Lihong’s image in everyone’s hearts grew even loftier than before. If it were possible, Chen Fengxiao would have organized another “Advanced Deeds Commendation Meeting”. “Hmm, if possible, I’ll even record it in the Herb Division’s journal. The title can be: ‘A Senior Brother of the Tuodan Hall Guides His Junior Brother, Demonstrating the Herb Division’s Unity and Friendship.'” Chen Fengxiao thought excitedly.

Zhang Xiaohua also wore an “excited” expression as he cried out, “Oh, that’s wonderful! But Senior Brother Lu, what kind of medicinal pill are you putting up as the wager?”

Then, looking somewhat dejected, he added, “But Senior Brother Lu’s martial arts are so formidable. How could I possibly be your opponent?”

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua had agreed, Lu Lihong took a jade bottle from his robes and said, “Inside is a Jade Restoration Pill that I happened to receive from the Hall Master. Although it’s only a single pill, it’s still something rarely seen even in the Outer Sect. I wonder if Junior Brother Ren finds it acceptable?”

“Well…” Zhang Xiaohua didn’t know how to answer. To be honest, he had no intention of making the exchange in the first place, not to mention that he already had four Jade Restoration Pills in his robes.

Although Zhang Xiaohua remained silent, the people around them erupted with excitement. Back then, even the ruined Jade Restoration Pill that Wu Zhouxu had was still worth thirty taels of gold in Zhang Xiaohua’s hands. Needless to say, this genuine pill was worth even more. Chen Fengxiao, in particular, looked as though a hand was about to reach out from his eyes. He knew that Zhang Xiaohua understood very little about the Incense-Spreading Sect’s medicinal pills and couldn’t possibly appreciate the importance of a Jade Restoration Pill. So if Zhang Xiaohua won and exchanged that pile of useless herbs for a Jade Restoration Pill worth even more than gold, who the pill would ultimately end up with… was still hard to say.

Well, actually, there wasn’t much uncertainty about it.

Chen Fengxiao was the Chief of the Herb Division on Tianmu Peak, so the Jade Restoration Pill would certainly end up in his hands. Zhang Xiaohua was merely a herb boy with an unstable foundation. No matter how skilled he was in martial arts, how could he possibly stand against the Six Arhats, let alone Chen Fengxiao?

Besides, combining rewards with pressure was Chen Fengxiao’s greatest specialty. He could always exchange it with Zhang Xiaohua later using some other medicinal pills.

In the span of a single thought, Chen Fengxiao had already considered all of this. He turned to glance at Wu Zhouxu, who wore the exact same expression. In that instant, they silently understood each other. Last time, Chen Fengxiao had taken that ruined Jade Restoration Pill, leaving Wu Zhouxu heartsick. Wouldn’t this genuine Jade Restoration Pill perfectly settle the matter between them?

“Appropriate? Of course it’s appropriate!” Chen Fengxiao immediately cut in. Smiling, he patted Zhang Xiaohua on the shoulder and said, “Little Brother has been worrying over these herbs all this time. Tell me, what does our Tuodan Hall do? These herbs are no different from worthless weeds. Junior Brother Lu is being so righteous that Junior Brother Ren is too delighted to even know what to say.”

Zhang Xiaohua sighed. “But how could I possibly be Senior Brother Lu’s opponent? Once we get on the stage, I’ll be knocked down after just a few moves. I’d rather not go up at all.”

How could Chen Fengxiao possibly let him back out? Frowning, he said to Lu Lihong: “Junior Brother Ren is absolutely right. Junior Brother Lu is an Outer Sect disciple. In the martial world, that already makes you a first-rate expert. Your martial arts are more than two levels above Junior Brother Ren’s.”

“That’s easy to solve.” Lu Lihong declared proudly, “Tomorrow’s match, I’ll only use one hand and one foot. If I so much as move my other hand or foot, then I’ll count it as my loss!”

“Excellent!” Chen Fengxiao slapped the table and stood up, raising his wine cup. “For Junior Brother Lu’s boldness alone, I have to drink a toast with you. Impressive indeed—that’s the bearing of a true expert!”

One would think Chen Fengxiao himself was the one about to step onto the stage.

After Lu Lihong finished his wine, Zhang Xiaohua spoke timidly from the side. “Many thanks for your generosity, Senior Brother Lu. Then the wager for tomorrow’s match will be my pile of herbs against your Jade Restoration Pill?”

“Hm, that’s right.” Lu Lihong nodded.

“And in this match, Senior Brother Lu will fight me using only one hand and one foot. If you use the other hand or foot, you’ll be judged the loser?”

“Of course.” Lu Lihong nodded again.

“Oh.” Zhang Xiaohua continued, “Then if I win, this pile of herbs will belong to Senior Brother Lu, and if I lose, this medicinal pill will belong to me?”

“That’s right. That’s how it is.” Lu Lihong was already beginning to lose his patience.

Zhang Xiaohua beamed with delight. “Then many thanks, Senior Brother Lu.”

“Don’t mention it, don’t mention it.” Lu Lihong waved his hands repeatedly. “Just now…”

But halfway through his sentence, he noticed the expressions of the others around him. Recalling what had just been said, he finally realized the problem. He waved his hands even more frantically and hurriedly explained, “I misspoke, I misspoke…”

Smiling broadly, Zhang Xiaohua said, “It’s all right, Senior Brother Lu. Once the doors are closed, we’re all brothers here. There’s no need to worry about things like, ‘A gentleman’s word cannot be taken back even by a team of four horses.'”

Whether Zhang Xiaohua had simply misused the saying or had done so deliberately, a trace of embarrassment and anger flashed through Lu Lihong’s eyes. Still, he truly didn’t dare take Zhang Xiaohua’s words at face value. If Zhang Xiaohua won, the herbs would belong to Lu Lihong. If Zhang Xiaohua lost, the medicinal pill would belong to Zhang Xiaohua. No matter how one looked at it, Zhang Xiaohua came out ahead. Lu Lihong suddenly found himself in an awkward position, unable to back down.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaohua burst into laughter again. Raising his teacup, he said, “I’m just joking, Senior Brother Lu. Come, let me offer you a toast. If I win, the herbs will be yours and the medicinal pill will be mine. If I lose, the herbs will still be mine, and the medicinal pill will still be yours.”

This time, Lu Lihong didn’t dare agree so casually. After thinking it over, he smiled and said, “Junior Brother Ren is quite the joker. Very well, we’ll do as you say. Let’s finish this drink, and tomorrow morning we’ll begin the match.”

“Good. I just hope my luck will still be as good tomorrow.” Zhang Xiaohua smiled as he finished his tea.

Then he immediately added, “However, it’s already rather late today. Senior Brother Lu should get a good night’s rest first. How about we postpone the match until tomorrow afternoon instead?”

Chen Fengxiao and Wu Zhouxu exchanged a glance before Chen Fengxiao said, “Junior Brother Ren makes a good point. If Junior Brother Lu has no objections, then let’s arrange it that way.”

Naturally, Lu Lihong had no objections. “This is my first time participating in one of these betting matches as well. I’ll simply follow your rules.”

With the matter settled, everyone resumed their seats. Those drinking wine continued drinking wine, those drinking tea continued drinking tea, while Yang Yao quietly asked Zhang Xiaohua about how he’d been doing lately.