Chapter 28: A Doorstep Challenge
At that moment, everyone had the same thought pop into their minds: “Using the heart of a petty person to measure the belly of a gentleman!¹”
“You’re not sore losers, are you?”
“Exactly. The Song clan’s reputation has always been solid. Saying that is going too far.”
Gradually, disapproving voices rose from the crowd against Qiu Wenxiu. He had no way to refute them. After all, the facts spoke for themselves.
“Qiu Wenxiu, are you questioning the Song clan’s centuries-old reputation?” Song Luyuan could no longer sit still. He stood up and glared angrily at Qiu Wenxiu.
The clamor against Qiu Wenxiu grew louder and louder. His face turned increasingly grim. He understood that the Song clan had taken the upper hand today. If he stayed any longer, it would only be self-humiliation.
He shot a venomous glare at Song Changsheng, then grudgingly left behind three hundred spirit stones and took the treasure pearl, slinking away in defeat.
A chorus of jeers erupted from the crowd.
But Song Changsheng had no intention of letting him off easily. He called after him loudly, “Fellow Daoist, please do inform the artifact master of Hundred Treasures Pavilion, this junior Song Changsheng will be visiting tomorrow to request guidance in the art of artifact forging!”
Qiu Wenxiu staggered at the words. He turned back with hatred in his eyes, but in the end said nothing, fleeing in disarray.
The onlookers burst into uproarious laughter. Those who had loudly claimed the Song clan would lose were now trying to blend into the background, afraid they’d become the next laughingstocks.
One particularly tall cultivator tried to quietly slip away amidst the commotion, but just as he turned to leave, he found himself surrounded.
An older cultivator held out a slab of bluestone flooring in front of him and said with a menacing look, “Well now, my friend, do you want to eat it piece by piece, or shall we grind it into powder for you?”
The tall cultivator was completely cornered, on the verge of tears. He begged and pleaded until, in the end, he had to lick the stone tile clean before he was let go.
He practically fled the scene with his sleeve covering his face.
At that moment, someone called out to Song Changsheng, “Master Song, are you really going to challenge Hundred Treasures Pavilion tomorrow?”
The crowd instantly quieted. All eyes turned to Song Changsheng in anticipation.
Song Changsheng shook his head with a serious expression. “Fellow Daoists, I am merely going to ask the master at Hundred Treasures Pavilion for guidance tomorrow, not to challenge him. Please don’t misunderstand.”
The crowd of gossiping onlookers all broke into knowing smiles. Whether it was guidance or a challenge, what difference did it make? Either way, it promised to be a good show...
After Song Changsheng won this round, the benefits he reaped were visible to the naked eye. Many of the spectators swarmed into Seeking Treasure Pavilion, and Song Changqian and the others were so busy they were practically spinning in place.
Song Luyuan looked ready to burst with joy. He pulled Song Changsheng aside and said sincerely, “Nephew, we truly owe you for cleaning up after my daughter this time.
“She may be a few years older than you, but in terms of handling matters, she’s clearly far behind. If she were half as capable as you, the family would never have been put in such a position.
“Fortunately you were present. Otherwise, I truly wouldn’t know how to face the clan. This is a small token of appreciation my daughter prepared. Please, don’t refuse it.”
As he spoke, he pushed a delicate box in front of Song Changsheng.
Just one glance was enough for Song Changsheng to tell that the contents were of great value, but he directly pushed the box back and said frankly, “Uncle, there’s no need for this. The matter is resolved, so let’s leave it at that.
“You’ve held this post for over ten years and contributed greatly. Just be more mindful in the future. The clan won’t punish you over such a minor incident, please don’t worry.”
He knew exactly what Song Luyuan was worried about, he feared Song Changsheng would report the matter to the clan and cause punishment to fall on Song Changqian.
After all, her handling of the situation had been terrible. If she had Qiu Wenxiu’s level of cunning and cast just a little doubt on the artifact’s quality, it would’ve prevented the whole mess.
But Song Changsheng hadn’t come to inspect family businesses, he came to improve his artifact forging. There was no need to cling to such matters. Solving the issue was enough.
A trace of shame appeared on Song Luyuan’s face. He sighed. “Nephew, your sense of honor is admirable. But since this all began because of my daughter, I must do something.”
“Just prepare more artifact crafting materials for me, then. Please take this item back.” Song Changsheng shook his head. He had his own principles, taking the gift would feel like a bribe.
“In that case, we’ll follow your wishes. All crafting materials in the shop will be prioritized for you.” Song Luyuan understood Song Changsheng’s hidden meaning and no longer insisted. He picked up the box and left.
He hadn’t asked anything about the so-called challenge, likely because Song Changsheng’s confidence and capability had already won him over.
The next day, Song Luyuan personally accompanied Song Changsheng to Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Meanwhile, news that Song Changsheng was going to visit Hundred Treasures Pavilion had already spread like wildfire across the entire Drifting Cloud Market thanks to gossipers. Many cultivators who wanted to watch the drama had arrived early, waiting for the show to begin.
Inside Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the shopkeeper Bai Ruofeng looked down from a crack in a second-floor window. He saw that the place was packed, people flooded the streets and even more were still arriving.
His face was so dark it seemed ready to drip water. He turned to Qiu Wenxiu and snapped angrily, “Look at what you’ve done!”
But Qiu Wenxiu wasn’t having any of it. He retorted, “Shopkeeper Bai, now that’s unfair. This whole thing was decided by your Earthfire Sect. I was only following family orders to assist you.
“Yesterday, in front of everyone, I took all the ridicule and insults for your sake. And now you’re blaming me? What kind of reasoning is that?”
With that, Qiu Wenxiu stormed off, not sparing Bai Ruofeng the slightest courtesy.
Bai Ruofeng nearly exploded on the spot, but there was nothing he could do, after all, Qiu Wenxiu was from the Qiu clan.
Left with no recourse, he turned his gaze toward the young man seated nearby and said urgently, “Nephew Cheng, what should we do about today?”
The young man replied calmly, “Uncle, why are you so anxious? Do you think I’ll lose to him?”
Bai Ruofeng wanted to say “yes,” but considering the young man’s identity, he tactfully said, “Nephew Cheng, that Song Changsheng forged his artifact in just ten days. You, however-”
“Uncle, artifact crafting isn’t just about speed. I admit that Song Changsheng has some skill, but in a proper competition, it’s not just speed that counts, it’s the final quality that matters.
“I examined his artifact closely. The crafting technique is crude and shoddy, the quality is inferior. It’s nowhere near the level of mine. I’m confident I can defeat him.” Cheng Xiao said with full assurance.
Bai Ruofeng’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course. Today, I’ll be sure to give him some pointers,” Cheng Xiao replied with a cold smile curling at his lips.
“Hahaha, excellent. So I was worrying over nothing!” Bai Ruofeng’s troubles vanished instantly.
He immediately called over a servant. “Go out and announce that, due to the large number of spectators and lack of space here, everyone is to move to the central plaza of the market. The artifact forging competition will be held there.”
As he watched the noisy crowd stream toward the plaza, Bai Ruofeng sneered, “This time, I want the Song clan to lose utterly in front of the entire market!”
(Chapter End)
¹ To assume others have bad motives based on one's own narrow or malicious thinking. “小人之心度君子之腹” is a traditional Chinese idiom rooted in Confucian thought, contrasting the morally upright “君子” (gentleman) with the selfish “小人” (petty person)