novelraw Chapter 362: A Missed Opportunity
Chapter 362: A Missed Opportunity
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation.
Before Yu Zhao could voice her stance, Long Fei Fei leapt forward eagerly to share her opinion. She still harbored resentment toward the Three Heroes of the Shao Family for hunting her down.
Shao Yi Man glared hatefully at Long Fei Fei before shifting her gaze back to Yu Zhao, who remained indifferent. To strengthen her position, Shao Yi Man added, “Our Shao Family is even willing to call off the pursuit of Long Fei Fei.”
Through her observations over time, Shao Yi Man was convinced that Yu Zhao’s claims about Long Fei Fei being a captive were mere pretense; it was obvious Yu Zhao favored Long Fei Fei. Hoping to sway Yu Zhao, she used Long Fei Fei as leverage.
Unbeknownst to her, her words angered Long Fei Fei even further. With her eyebrows furrowed in fury, Long Fei Fei shouted, “Shao Yi Man! This matter is between me and your Shao Family! What gives you the right to use me as a bargaining chip with Yu Zhao?”
Shao Yi Man, who had initially decided to tolerate Long Fei Fei out of respect for Yu Zhao, held little regard for her personally. Long Fei Fei’s brazenness finally pushed Shao Yi Man to the edge, and she snapped, “Long Fei Fei! I have endured you long enough—”
“Enough!”
Yu Zhao’s voice cut through the heated exchange, silencing Shao Yi Man before she could finish. The Shao siblings clenched their fists in unison. Yu Zhao’s favoritism was blatant.
Just as the siblings braced themselves for the worst outcome, Yu Zhao declared, “The Ancient Tower was discovered together. It belongs to everyone. You may proceed as you wish.”
The Three Heroes of the Shao Family were stunned. Did they hear correctly? Yu Zhao wasn’t planning to stop them?Recovering quickly, Shao Yi Man gratefully cupped her fists at Yu Zhao and nudged Shao Yi Ming sharply, signaling him with her eyes.
Understanding the hint, Shao Yi Ming strode forward and placed his hand on the stone door. This time, the door didn’t repel him. Overwhelmed with joy, he exerted force, and the door began to creak open. An intense sword aura surged through the gap, reminiscent of the aura left on the massive boulder earlier.
“It’s sword intent! It’s exactly the same as the one on the boulder! I’ve been chosen by Xuan Yuan the Unbeaten!” he thought, ecstatic.
“Shao Yi Ming! Hurry inside!” Shao Yi Man urged, worriedly glancing back as if expecting Ji Han Zhou to appear any moment.
Snapping out of his daze, Shao Yi Ming flashed a smile at his siblings before stepping through the doorway. The door closed behind him, leaving behind traces of lingering sword intent in the air.
While Shao Yi Man maintained her composure, Shao Yi Chuan openly grinned with pride, his head held high. Meanwhile, Si Tu Jian Nan shook his head in disappointment, lamenting Ji Han Zhou’s missed opportunity.
Long Fei Fei, puffing her cheeks in frustration, turned her head away to avoid looking at Yu Zhao. She feared her anger might explode. “Why did Yu Zhao let the Shao Family go first? Isn’t she supposed to be clever? Doesn’t she understand the importance of seizing the initiative? That’s a priceless inheritance, not some ordinary sword manual! And she just handed it over!”
Observing everyone’s expressions, Yu Zhao calmly asked Monk Silence, “Master, do you also think I should have stopped Shao Yi Ming?”
With a gentle smile, Monk Silence shook his head. “All things in life happen according to fate. Those who are destined will receive it; those who are not, should not force it.”
Yu Zhao nodded in agreement, her thoughts aligning with his. She trusted that Xuan Yuan the Unbeaten wouldn’t choose a disciple based solely on order of arrival. Shao Yi Ming’s entry didn’t guarantee his success. Moreover, who’s to say there was only one inheritance? If both candidates met the requirements, they might even become fellow disciples.
Three days later, Ji Han Zhou finished comprehending the sword intent and rushed back to rejoin the group. Seeing him, Long Fei Fei sneered sarcastically, “So late! Even when given a chance, you couldn’t seize it!”
Ji Han Zhou looked confused. Was Long Fei Fei addressing him?
“Do you even know what happened while you were comprehending? Shao Yi Ming has already opened the stone door and obtained Xuan Yuan the Unbeaten’s inheritance! You’re too late!” she fumed, stamping her foot.
Glancing around and piecing together the situation, Ji Han Zhou smirked confidently. “Just because he went in first doesn’t mean anything. If Xuan Yuan doesn’t choose me, it’ll be his loss, not mine.”
The boldness of his claim left Long Fei Fei, Si Tu Jian Nan, and the Shao siblings stunned, unsure whether to admire his confidence or be astonished by his shamelessness.
Approaching Yu Zhao, Ji Han Zhou bowed slightly. “Senior Sister Yu, thank you.”
Thank you for believing in me.
“This was also Monk Silence’s suggestion,” Yu Zhao replied.
Awkwardly, Ji Han Zhou thanked Monk Silence before heading to the stone door. Under the disappointed gazes of the Shao siblings, he effortlessly opened it and disappeared inside.
The Shao siblings’ hearts sank. They were well aware that Ji Han Zhou’s potential far surpassed Shao Yi Ming’s. Now, they could only pray that Shao Yi Ming had already secured Xuan Yuan’s approval and left no room for Ji Han Zhou.
Inside the door, Ji Han Zhou traversed a long corridor before entering a grand stone chamber. As he stepped in, a disheveled man with matted hair and a scraggly beard lunged at him, locking him in a tight embrace. “Junior Brother! My dear Junior Brother! You’re finally here! I’ve waited for you for so long! Now I can finally leave!” the man cried.
Startled, Ji Han Zhou instinctively tried to shake him off, but the man clung tightly like an unyielding vine, leaving him immobile.
“Who are you? Let go of me!” Ji Han Zhou demanded.
“Never!” the man exclaimed, revealing a haggard face. “Junior Brother, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you. Let me hug you a bit longer, or I might think I’m still dreaming.”
Frustrated but helpless, Ji Han Zhou endured the embrace while analyzing the man’s words. He called him “Junior Brother” and claimed to have been trapped for years. Could he be another disciple of Xuan Yuan the Unbeaten? But why was he confined here? And where was Shao Yi Ming? Did he fail the selection, or was there another test?
A thousand questions raced through Ji Han Zhou’s mind, but the man’s incoherent babbling offered no clarity.
For a whole hour, Ji Han Zhou endured. Finally, the crazed man calmed down, brushed his straw-like hair aside, and introduced himself earnestly. “Junior Brother, I am Lou Yu Shan, and I—”
“What did you say your name was?” Ji Han Zhou’s eyes widened in shock.
Lou Yu Shan?! Wasn’t this the person Yu Zhao was searching for?
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