Chapter 395 - When One Method Fails, Try Another (2/2)

Xuan Junwei hesitated yet again, downing another cup of wine before finally saying, ”Senior Apprentice Brother Wen probably already know this, but Junior Apprentice Brother Hao is now under constant supervision of the elders. Wherever he goes, an elder will accompany him. It is impossible for anyone to do anything to him.”

”If anyone feel that it is impossible, then they are just not thinking hard enough,” Xuan Wen said with a smile. ”You had the right idea when you made your previous move, but it's still not quite on point. Still, when one method fails, you just have to try another. With Hao's soft-hearted disposition, it is easiest to impact his psyche by targeting the people around him. When he realises that his decision to vie for the position of heir is only going to harm the people around him, he will naturally give up.”

”Please elaborate, Senior Apprentice Brother Wen,” Xuan Junwei quickly asked.

”Hahaha, you are a smart man, Junwei. You should be able to figure out the rest yourself,” Xuan Wen laughed. ”To give you a bit of advice, I heard that you are on pretty good terms with the Jade Shadow Gate?”

Xuan Junwei swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

The Jade Shadow Gate was a powerful influence subordinate to the Timeless Flame Sect. Xuan Junwei was the main person responsible for liaising with them, so it was not a secret that he was on good terms with them.

But that was not important.

What's important was that the Jade Shadow Gate specialised in assassinations!

They were definitely not needed if it was only to deal with a mere servant. So by mentioning the Jade Shadow Gate now, what was Xuan Wen really trying to say?

Right, didn't Xuan Hao bring back a few friends this time?

”That's all I have to say, Junwei. Why don't you go back and think about your next step?” Xuan Wen said. ”There are two paths that geniuses can take. Either fight for their beliefs and aim to become a peerless character, or concede that they are inferior and be a mere follower to those who are fearless. Whether you want to be the former or the latter, it is up to you.”

Xuan Junwei did not respond immediately, but looked at Xuan Wen seriously.

How could he not know that if he really went against Xuan Hao, Xuan Wen would be the ultimate winner?

Despite that, he knew that Xuan Wen's words made sense as well.

The only way he would ever stand a chance to rise up from his current position was to take a chance right now.

If he failed to even fight for his right to be an heir candidate, there would be no need to think about who would benefit from what, because it would have nothing to do with him anyway.

He would become a mere bystander, unable to do a thing but watch as the others fight it out to realise their ambitions!

Fighting for the heir candidate position did not mean that he would be the victor in the end. But by doing nothing, he would certainly be the loser!

Just thinking about this made Xuan Junwei understand what he must do right now.

After Xuan Junwei left the room, Xuan Wen's loyal steward Old Zheng entered.

”Young Master Xuan Wen, aren't you afraid that he will point the finger at you after sabotaging Young Master Xuan Hao?” Old Zheng asked in concern.

”With just him?” Xuan Wen shook his head with a carefree smile. ”I'm afraid you are overestimating him a little!”

***

After the talk with the elders, Young Master Xuan Hao thought about it for a while before deciding to pay Lu Tianzi a visit.

The one week deadline that Grandmaster Xiqin had given Lu Tianzi was almost up, so Young Master Xuan Hao wanted to hear what Lu Tianzi's decision was.

”I never considered it. Why would I agree to such a thing when I don't even know who he is?”

Those were Lu Tianzi's words to Young Master Xuan Hao, and the latter could not help but feel mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, he was glad that Lu Tianzi would not be going under Grandmaster Xiqin's tutelage.

On the other hand, Grandmaster Xiqin was a respected inscription master in the Timeless Flame Sect. For Lu Tianzi to disregard him to the point where he could not even be bothered to consider the offer, wasn't that kind of disregarding the Timeless Flame Sect as well?

Nevertheless, Lu Tianzi seemed really eager to return to cultivating, so Young Master Xuan Hao did not harp on the matter for long and left Lu Tianzi be.

In any case, at least he knew that he did not have to worry about Lu Tianzi being turned against him.

But as the week's deadline passed, someone else was absolutely not satisfied with Lu Tianzi's answer.

Bang-!

The servants in the room jumped in fright as Grandmaster Xiqin slammed his palm on the table, instantly reducing it into countless pieces.

”He actually rejected me? And he even asked a servant to pass the message instead of having the decency to come in person to say so?” Grandmaster Xiqin sneered at the messenger, who was trembling as she knelt down in front of him. ”Did he say anything other than that?”

”R-reporting to Grandmaster Xiqin, Sir Tianzi did not say anything else...” the messenger said hesitantly while silently cursing her luck to be selected for this task.

”Good, very good! I decided to give him an easy way out, yet he chose not to appreciate it?” Grandmaster Xiqin said through gritted teeth.

Things would have worked out perfectly for him if Lu Tianzi decided to come under his tutelage. That way, it would be the best proof that he was superior to the other party, and Xuan Wen would have no choice but to acknowledge him instead of some random brat that came out of nowhere.

But since this brat refused to do it the easy way, he could only do things by force!

”You brought me your Sir Tianzi's message. Now, I am giving you a message to bring back to him,” Grandmaster Xiqin said loudly to the messenger.

”Seeing that he's a guest, I went personally to extend my invitation. By refusing to meet me, and then rejecting me without even coming in person, this is akin to having no eyes for the deep heritage of the Timeless Flame Sect, and no respect for our prestige. Seeing that he is acting in such an arrogant manner just because he has some attainments in the art of inscriptions, I have no choice but to put him in place! Go back and tell him that I am hereby challenging him to an open competition of our inscription skills. Two months from now, we shall decide who is the better inscription master!”