Chapter Twenty-Six: The Wager

Seeing the newcomer, He Zimo burst into laughter.

"Is there something you need, Brother Green-Hair?"

Qian Mo was instantly incensed upon hearing this. "You're the one who's green-haired! You look like a dog in human clothing, and you don't even have a fraction of my big brother's handsomeness!"

"Actually, no! You're not even as handsome as me!"

Qian Mo tossed his hair back as he spoke, his face twisted in mockery. He had heard the rumors as soon as he left seclusion and had hurried over, only to run straight into He Zimo.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed He Zimo’s eyes, but his expression remained unchanged as he smiled. "My dear fellow, we seem to have no feud between us. Furthermore, I am merely pursuing Miss Ling'er in a proper manner. They can all bear witness!"

As he spoke, He Zimo gently gestured with his finger toward the crowd, smiling all the while.

"That's right! That's right! Senior Brother Zimo is the most handsome! Get lost, you green-haired turtle!"

"You green-haired turtle, how dare you slander Senior Brother Zimo!"

"Wow! Senior Brother Zimo is so dreamy!"

Qian Mo’s face turned awkward. He was truly inept at verbal sparring, especially in a situation like this where he was pitted against the tongues of the crowd. He found himself in a difficult position.

Watching Qian Mo trapped in the crowd's offensive, He Zimo’s smile deepened, his mind filled with scorn. *Trying to play games with me? I’ll toy with you until you’re finished! Let’s see how you back out of this!*

He Zimo remained extremely confident in his own charm.

"Qian Mo, let's go! Let's find Brother Yi! Don't pay them any mind!" Lei Ling'er, knowing that Qian Mo was not quick-witted, hurried over to help him out of the situation and began to pull him away.

"You are not allowed to leave!"

"You're not leaving until you apologize to Senior Brother Zimo!"

Before Qian Mo could even take a step, a group of female disciples swarmed around him, pointing and shouting loudly. The shrill noise made Qian Mo’s head ring.

"Don't give Junior Sister Ling'er such a hard time!" He Zimo gave a light huff, and once the crowd quieted down, he walked through them to stand before Lei Ling'er.

"Ling'er, I like you!"

"What is so good about that Yun Yi, anyway?"

"Come with me, and we shall become a legendary, enviable couple!"

He Zimo knew it was his time to shine; he stood there, beaming like a spring breeze, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Go to hell!"

Seeing this, Qian Mo was instantly enraged. He cursed aloud and threw a punch straight at He Zimo. As Yun Yi's sworn brother, if he couldn't even protect his big brother’s woman, how could he survive in this world?

Looking at the hypocritical He Zimo, Lei Ling'er felt helpless, but seeing Qian Mo’s impulsive charge, she quickly warned him: "Qian Mo! He is an alchemist!"

The moment those words were uttered, Qian Mo’s frenzied mind instantly calmed. An alchemist! How could he not know the value of an alchemist? If he landed this punch, he might be packing his bags and leaving by tomorrow!

Qian Mo’s fist stopped just inches from He Zimo’s face. Suddenly, he felt even more embarrassed.

"Oh? You wanted to hit Senior Brother Zimo?"

"What a boorish person! Senior Brother Zimo is so much gentler!"

The women on the sidelines chattered incessantly.

"Want to hit me?"

"Why don't you finish the job?" He Zimo’s face remained a mask of a smile, but he whispered with disdain, audible only to the two of them.

"You!"

"Qian Mo, beat him up! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!"

Before Qian Mo could even pull his fist back, a familiar voice rang out. Qian Mo was overjoyed.

"Go to hell, you bastard!"

"I've been enduring you for a long time!"

Qian Mo threw a punch at He Zimo, knocked him down with a single blow, and immediately straddled his back, unleashing a barrage of punches while cursing wildly. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The onlookers were stunned, and even He Zimo himself hadn't reacted in time.

The only flaw of an alchemist is their lack of martial cultivation, as they spend most of their time refining pills. Thus, He Zimo, with his cultivation only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, was no match for Qian Mo, who had reached the second level of Foundation Establishment.

Howls of pain erupted from beneath Qian Mo. The surrounding women were so terrified that they didn't dare make a sound.

"Brother Yi!"

Seeing Yun Yi, Lei Ling'er’s eyes lit up. The unhappiness on her face vanished instantly as she ran to him and hugged him.

Yun Yi lowered his head, stroked Lei Ling'er’s hair, and smiled. "Who has been bullying my Ling'er?"

"Brother Yi, he is an alchemist!" Lei Ling'er buried her face in Yun Yi’s chest and whispered.

"Hahaha, and so what?" Yun Yi replied with a hint of mockery in his eyes, then walked with Lei Ling'er toward He Zimo.

"Old Qian, if you keep hitting him, you’ll kill him!" Yun Yi said with a smile as he watched the frantic Qian Mo.

"Ah! Oh, right!" Qian Mo reacted instantly, paused, and scrambled off He Zimo.

Seeing He Zimo crawl to his feet with a face swollen like a pig’s head, Qian Mo scratched his head in embarrassment. "Sorry! I couldn't help it! That felt good!"

He Zimo stood up, his eyes dark and gloomy. He glared viciously at Qian Mo with his swollen eyes and hastily pulled out a pill to consume. Within moments, his face returned to its original state.

Watching the effectiveness of the pill, Yun Yi smacked his lips, secretly marveling at the wonder of it.

"So, you are Yun Yi!"

He Zimo’s expression was grim. As he looked at Lei Ling'er, who was clinging to Yun Yi’s arm, his smile vanished, replaced by a dark scowl.

"That's me! Do you have business with me?" Yun Yi replied with an unperturbed smile.

"Stay away from Lei Ling'er. Name your price!" He Zimo muttered, looking at the shabbily dressed Yun Yi with utter contempt.

"Heh! Are you an idiot?"

"If I want your life, will you name a price for that too?" Yun Yi’s eyes were full of playfulness, his lips curled in a constant smile.

"Then let's have a contest. Whoever wins gets to be with Ling'er!"

"Go to hell! 'Sister-in-law' is not a name for you to use!" Qian Mo slapped him again, pointed at He Zimo, and continued, "Rephrase your words! You can't even beat me, and you want to challenge my big brother?"

He Zimo, now harboring murderous intent toward Qian Mo, said in a low voice, "A contest of alchemy!"

Qian Mo became even more irritated, knowing that Yun Yi did not know how to refine pills.

"Contest your..."

"What are the stakes?" Yun Yi interrupted Qian Mo and asked with a smile.

"If you win, I'll give you ten thousand contribution points. If I win, you leave Lei Ling'er!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Yi stared at He Zimo and laughed. "Heh, how about this? If I lose, Qian Mo and I will let you do whatever you want with us!"

"But if you lose, you give me forty thousand contribution points!"

Hearing the number, He Zimo was stunned. Forty thousand! His total wealth was only thirty thousand! But then, thinking about how it was impossible for Yun Yi to know alchemy, hope surged within him again.

"Fine! See you at the alchemy grounds in two days!"

He Zimo agreed, shot a vicious glare at Qian Mo, and turned to leave.

"That guy... Boss, you should have let me punch him a few more times!" Qian Mo muttered, rubbing his knuckles.

"By the way, Boss, do you really know how to refine pills?"

Now, not only Qian Mo but also Lei Ling'er looked at Yun Yi with confusion, waiting for his answer.