Chapter Twenty-Six: I Don't Want This!

Jiang Zao cast a grateful glance at Jiang Zhuoran; she knew her best.

He Mobai raised his eyes, sweeping them over the clearly uncomfortable Jiang Zao, and said indifferently, "Since you are on Yuling Peak, you shall participate together." His tone left no room for negotiation.

Seeing that she could not escape her fate as cannon fodder, Jiang Zao looked to the other three for help, her expression the epitome of grievance.

Jiang Zhuoran could not bear to see her like this. Hardening her heart, she decided to plead her case once more. "Master, Zaozao is only at the second level of Qi Refining, and she is not your disciple. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for her to participate?"

"Master, Junior Sister Zaozao is not even a disciple of the Wenxian Sect. This wouldn't be fair to the others," Yan Wuqiu added from the side.

Lou Si, having not yet caught on, looked at the two of them with a blank expression. Wasn't Master asking A-Zao to participate in the Sect Tournament a sign of his high regard for her? Why were they both so unwilling? "Second Senior Brother, Junior Sister, you guys..."

Seeing that the situation was about to be ruined by the oblivious Lou Si, the other two shot him a sharp look, forcing him to swallow the rest of his words.

Feeling inexplicably iced out, Lou Si shut his mouth, looking at the three of them with a resentful expression. What had he done wrong? He only wanted to secure a chance for A-Zao. Master himself had said she could participate; he didn't understand why they were trying to stop it. Wasn't this a form of training for her?

[Oh, my dear Fourth Brother, you are truly beyond saving! You didn't pick up on my hints at all.]

[Can't you tell that I’m the one who doesn't want to participate in that ridiculous Sect Tournament? Big Sister and Senior Brother Yan are saying these things to get He Mobai to exclude me!]

Jiang Zao was furious and helpless. It was rare to be saddled with such a teammate; if he wasn't going to help, the least he could do was not hinder her. But no, he just had to show off his uniqueness. When he first started speaking, her heart had jumped into her throat. Had the situation not been so dire, she would have lunged forward to cover his mouth.

Hearing Jiang Zao’s internal monologue, Lou Si finally realized what was happening. He lightly tapped his head in regret; he had almost incurred A-Zao’s annoyance.

"Master, I think Second Senior Brother and Junior Sister are absolutely right."

He Mobai looked at his Fourth Disciple, who had suddenly changed his tune. His cold, clear eyes showed no ripples, staring until Lou Si felt guilty and flustered.

*Stay calm, stay calm...*

Lou Si took a deep breath and met his gaze, his expression composed. "Master, look, Junior Sister A-Zao is not your disciple, that is the first point."

"Secondly, Junior Sister A-Zao only came here with Junior Sister, she is not an official disciple of the Wenxian Sect."

"Furthermore, Junior Sister A-Zao only has the strength of the second level of Qi Refining. Even the weakest participant in previous Sect Tournaments was at the fifth level."

"In summary..." Lou Si snuck a glance at He Mobai and continued, "Junior Sister A-Zao is not suited to participate in the Sect Tournament."

Lou Si had listed all the reasons why Jiang Zao was unfit for the tournament in one breath, all in hopes of changing He Mobai's mind.

"My decision is made. There is no need for further discussion." He Mobai flicked his wide sleeves and turned his back to them.

Seeing his resolve, the four of them were crestfallen, their expressions filled with guilt as they looked at Jiang Zao.

"If she can achieve results in this Sect Tournament, I may accept her as a named disciple, and her treatment will be no different from yours."

This was his greatest concession. If she could survive, he didn't mind having an extra disciple. If she couldn't... it only meant her skills were inferior, and she could blame no one but herself.

[Pah! Screw you and your "Master" title. Do you think I want your approval?]

Jiang Zao rolled her eyes in silence. Thinking that she had failed to escape the fate of the tournament, she slumped, but then, a thought occurred to her, and a strange, sinister smile spread across her face.

[In that case... don't blame me for making you sick!]

As He Mobai’s disciples, they should have stopped her, but as individuals... they were curious about what she would do next to nauseate their master. In the end, their gossiping nature triumphed over their conscience, and they waited in anticipation.

[To avoid becoming the laughingstock of the Wenxian Sect, to avoid being beaten until I can't leave my bed, to avoid being publicly humiliated...]

[I'm going for it!]

Jiang Zao took a deep breath, her eyes growing firm.

"Immortal Venerable, I don't want to!"

"Waaah, please show mercy! I'm just a little weakling at the second level of Qi Refining. I can't handle the stage. Your sect's tournament is a stage for your geniuses; wouldn't my presence be an insult to them?"

Jiang Zao performed a smooth sliding kneecap maneuver, throwing herself at He Mobai’s feet and grabbing his robes to wail. It was a performance of snot and tears that would have moved the gods themselves.

The three onlookers, who had been waiting, widened their eyes in shock, unable to believe what they were witnessing. Was this the method she meant... for disgusting the Master?

Whether it disgusted the Master or not, they didn't know, but they certainly felt it was too painful to watch. This was not a tactic an ordinary person could conjure up.

He Mobai was equally stunned. Who could have imagined that she would cast aside all dignity just to avoid the tournament? His face was now so dark it looked as if ink were dripping from it. If the others weren't present, he would have slapped this insufferable Jiang Zao to death.

"Let go!"

He Mobai looked down at her, his displeasure palpable. The three disciples stood by with bated breath, watching the scene unfold. They could hear their own hearts racing and their breathing grew heavy; they didn't dare take their eyes off the pair for even a second.

"I won't! Not unless you promise not to make me participate in the tournament!" Jiang Zao clung to his leg even tighter, refusing to let go.

[I have my principles too! As long as you don't agree, I won't let go!]

She was prepared to fight He Mobai to the bitter end. Until he relented, no one could pull her away.

He Mobai had lived a long life, but he had never seen such a thick-skinned, shameless woman. She had truly opened his eyes.

"Absolutely not!"

Being treated like this by a junior, he had his own temper. *You don't want to participate, do you? I will make you participate!*

He Mobai sent a palm of spiritual wind to blast the annoying creature off him, and using the opportunity, he vanished from the spot.

"Immortal Venerable! Immortal Venerable, don't treat me like this!"

Forced away, Jiang Zao watched him disappear from sight, reaching out a hand in a desperate, tragic attempt to call him back, looking exactly like a heartbroken heroine.

The three of them looked at the spot where He Mobai had vanished, then at the still-acting Jiang Zao, feeling at a complete loss. They wanted to help her up but feared she might do something even more extreme. If they didn't help her, they felt guilty.

[Damn you, He Mobai! I gave such a sincere performance, and you still didn't budge.]

With He Mobai gone, there was no need to act. She sat on the ground, listless, mindlessly fiddling with her accessories, her eyes devoid of light.

Hearing her internal grumbling, the three finally exhaled. To avoid letting her notice anything, they put on worried faces and approached her.

Jiang Zhuoran placed a hand on her shoulder. "Zaozao, are you alright?"

Jiang Zao shook her head, listless and dejected. Unable to express her emotions, she could only rage internally.

[Why is it so hard to just not want to participate in a sect tournament!]

"A-Zao, actually... there are benefits to participating in the tournament."

Looking at the wilted Jiang Zao, Lou Si finally squeezed out a comforting remark that wasn't exactly comforting.