Chapter Twenty-One: The Wager

“You… You just have to refuse, that’s all. I don’t want to hurt you,” Shangguan Yijing said, her face pale. Suddenly, as if waking from a dream, she asked, “Could it be that you would rather die than refuse?”

Li Hu was taken aback by her words and turned to look at Lu Zhe, who kept his head lowered in silence. At that moment, Xue Ling’er, who was in the audience, rushed onto the stage and knelt to check Lu Zhe’s injuries.

A sudden, low laughter broke the silence—Lu Zhe, who had kept his head bowed all this while, started to laugh.

Everyone was startled and turned their gaze on him.

“Avoid your sword? Why should I avoid your sword? If I dodged it here, before so many eyes, wouldn’t my last shred of dignity be ground to dust? I grew up without family, mocked by others, with no one to rely on, no affection—only the dignity I claimed for myself. And now, even that, you trample underfoot,” Lu Zhe said after the laughter faded, raising his head to fix a piercing gaze on Shangguan Yijing, his voice icy.

Shangguan Yijing was momentarily stunned. Before she could reply, Lu Zhe continued, “What your grandfather said was true—I agreed. But—” He broke off. With a sudden motion, he drew the sword from his chest. Blood welled up, crimson and bright, and he pressed a hand to his wound, speaking in a faint voice, “But I do not care for you.”

Shangguan Yijing froze, then exclaimed in shock, “What did you say? You do not care for me?”

Lu Zhe nodded, pale-faced but with a faint smile. “You’d be more suited to serve as my maid.”

Anger flashed across Shangguan Yijing’s face. She bent to pick up her sword and pointed it at Lu Zhe. “Fine. I was out of line this time, but do you dare make a wager with me?”

Lu Zhe was a little surprised. “What sort of wager?”

Shangguan Yijing raised her left hand, holding up three fingers. “Three years. Three years from today, come to Windward Sect and challenge me. If I lose, I’ll serve you as your slave. If you lose, you’ll serve me. Do you dare?”

Before Lu Zhe could answer, Shangguan Hong, standing beside them, spoke sternly, “Jing’er, don’t be reckless! You are the only daughter of the Shangguan family. If you become his servant, what will happen to our family’s reputation?”

Shangguan Yijing turned and said, “Grandfather, I want to prove to you that I am stronger than he is.” She looked back at Lu Zhe. “Well? Do you dare?”

Lu Zhe said nothing at first, then suddenly threw his head back and laughed, the sound bold and hearty, like a warrior facing the execution