Chapter 33: The Challenge

Named directly by Wu Shu, Ying Mei'er realized there was no further need for concealment. Back in the Giant Elephant Mountains, she had used her secret treasure, the Shadow Demon Mirror, to remain hidden, yet Wu Shu had still managed to detect her.

Dropping her invisibility, she stood in the garden, appearing to admire the flowers with great interest.

Meeting her again, Wu Shu said in a deep voice, "Is it not a good thing that you managed to come out of the Giant Elephant Mountains alive?"

The subtext of his words was clear: she had no business being here.

Ying Mei'er ignored his tone, smiling sweetly. "Dongsu City is truly different, isn't it? The mountains are beautiful, the water is clear—I really wish I could live here from now on."

She was highly skilled in the arts of seduction and, as she spoke, attempted to enchant everyone present.

"Enough!" Wu Shu barked.

While Wu Wen, Wu Jing, and the others were unable to resist her charms, Ying Mei'er knew better than to think she could easily control Wu Shu, having clashed with him before. This attempt was merely a probe to gauge the strength of the Wu family members.

Rebuked by Wu Shu, she let out a charming laugh. "I only saw you being bullied by your own kin and thought I’d help you teach them a lesson."

Sitting nearby, Zhao Fenxing could not stand to watch someone flirt with Wu Shu right in front of her. With a playful, mocking tone, she said, "A natural charming physique, the bloodline of a Heavenly Fox—if I’m not mistaken, you must be that vixen from the Shadow Demon clan."

To everyone's surprise, Ying Mei'er showed no temper at such a blunt attack. Instead, she said elegantly, "Wu Shu, although I think very highly of your future, I am concerned that there might be no worthy beauty in the Kun Kingdom to accompany you. That is why I came uninvited—to help open your eyes, so you can see that the world is treacherous and true beauties are hard to find."

Not only was she unfazed by Zhao Fenxing’s words, but she also used her grace to mock her in return.

To Wu Shu, this was utter boredom. He wondered if the descendants of the Demon clan didn't need to cultivate at all. If they had the leisure to stand around bickering and posturing, they could have circulated their inner energy through their meridians several more cycles.

Zhao Fenxing, being a clever woman, realized she had lost her composure during their first exchange. She stood up, poured some tea, and said calmly, "It is rare to see such kindness from you, sister. I had always assumed everyone from the Demon clan was wicked, but meeting you today, I see there are indeed women among your kind who are at least presentable. Come, sister, don't be shy. Try the tea I’ve just brewed."

When women engage in a war of wits, words like "insinuating," "honeyed words with hidden daggers," and "needles hidden in silk" can hardly describe the feeling of those listening.

Zhao Fenxing’s counter-attack left Ying Mei'er feeling disgruntled. In her eyes, Zhao Fenxing—hailing from the Zhao family of the Dongtu Empire’s capital—was her equal in both beauty and cultivation talent. Since they had crossed paths, she naturally wanted to compete, hoping to crush Zhao Fenxing in both strength and wisdom.

Little did she know, as a prodigy of the Human race, Zhao Fenxing felt exactly the same way.

Almost forgetting the purpose of her visit, Ying Mei'er smiled with a feigned, naive look. "Sister Fenxing, you really are quite bold, aren't you? If I recall correctly, you have no formal ties to the men of the Wu family. You shouldn't be so impatient, sister. If word of this reaches the Zhao family, not to mention their reaction, your future husband will surely be jealous. When one is young and reckless, one must cherish their own purity."

Seeing the two of them ready to continue their passive-aggressive sparring, Wu Shu decided he had heard enough. Recalling that Zhao Fenxing was being hunted by powerful demons, he asked, "Ying Mei'er, if you came here today just to win a war of words, I advise you to leave before my mood turns truly sour."

Ying Mei'er gave a whimsical, mocking sound. "Oh? You don't say? You actually have thoughts about a woman of Lady Zhao’s status? Wu Shu, could it be that you’ve fallen for Zhao Fenxing?"

Although Wu Shu’s contact with her in the Giant Elephant Mountains had been brief, her behavior tonight was highly unusual. She was bickering with Zhao Fenxing, but she was also digging a trap for Wu Shu.

Wu Shu shook his head helplessly and smiled. "Ying Mei'er, you might as well save these little tricks."

Seeing the expectant looks on the faces of Wu Wen, Wu Jing, and the others, Wu Shu added, "To the Wu family, Zhao Fenxing is an honored guest; to me, she is an empathetic friend worth knowing deeply."

Hearing this, Zhao Fenxing seemed satisfied. "Hmm, very well said!"

"Truly mature beyond your years." Knowing that verbal confrontation would not reveal any chinks in Wu Shu’s armor, and that there was no way to drive a wedge between him and Zhao Fenxing, Ying Mei'er acknowledged his wisdom while producing a challenge letter. "Wu Shu, your actions in the Giant Elephant Mountains have successfully caught the attention of our clan’s powerhouses. I am here to issue a challenge to you on their behalf."

A public challenge from the Demon clan? Were they truly so bold as to challenge him on human soil, completely disregarding the human front line that had sworn to resist them to the death?

Wu Shu had no intention of accepting, which Ying Mei'er had anticipated. She continued, "Perhaps you don't understand the relationship between our two races. Our secret entry into the Giant Elephant Mountains did not violate the Human-Demon Pact. Our presence in Dongsu City now has the tacit approval of the Kun Kingdom's top leadership. You are a smart man, Wu Shu; the Kun Kingdom is but a small nation among the humans."

She emphasized, "Weak nations have no true allies."

Since the signing of the Human-Demon Pact after the last great war, the supreme leaders of both races had agreed to a cease-fire to allow their people to recover. Small-scale clashes had been tacitly accepted by the powerful on both sides.

What she said was true. The Kun Kingdom was weak, and since the Demon incursion had been covert, even if the Kun Kingdom had leverage, it could not be proven as a violation of the pact. No other country would want to intervene. Furthermore, the Shadow Demon clan alone was a behemoth compared to a small state like the Kun Kingdom; without sufficient incentive, no one would want to muddy these waters.

Because of the Kun Kingdom’s lack of resources and thin spiritual energy, many humans would have liked to see it expelled from the ranks of human nations, were it not for historical reasons and its position on the front line of defense.

Wu Shu was forced to respond, "It is not that I refuse to accept a challenge from the Demon clan. As long as you can offer sufficient rewards, I don't mind taking this opportunity to leave your people with a memory they will regret for the rest of their lives."

Speaking of rewards, Ying Mei'er grew more confident. "You know very well that many of the geniuses the Kun Kingdom sent to the Giant Elephant Mountains are currently under our control. If your side wins this challenge, we will not only release them but also offer two million low-grade spirit stones and five hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

"Of course," she added, "if you lose, the Giant Elephant Mountains will belong to the Shadow Demon clan for the next ten years."

The reward was indeed significant. Spirit stones were incredibly scarce in the Kun Kingdom; those amounts were astronomical. But the idea that the Shadow Demons wanted to use the Giant Elephant Mountains as a stake, trading such a small cost for ten years of control, struck Wu Shu as a pipe dream.

"Your clan is truly arrogant," Wu Shu sneered.

Ying Mei'er remained calm. "Arrogant or not, I cannot say, but I can tell you that our clan has already discussed this with the Kun Kingdom’s royal family. If that were not the case, the Wu residence would be having a much more chaotic night."

The royal family negotiating with the Demon clan? Thinking of Zhao Zhenlu, who led the royal faction in Dongsu City, Wu Shu had to believe her.

"In that case, I suppose I should thank you," Wu Shu said with a smile.

"No need for thanks," she replied nonchalantly. "Just keep it in mind."

She gave a wink to Wu Wen and the others. "I came here personally to tell you all this—don't forget my good intentions."

As she prepared to leave, Wu Shu called out, "Miss Mei'er..."

She interrupted him, looking at him with deep meaning. "I can tell you this, and you can trust me—I am even willing to swear a heart-demon oath beforehand."

Wu Shu was deeply concerned about Zhao Fenxing being hunted; had it not been for that, his younger brother, Wu Zhen, would not have been left so helpless.

Just as he was about to ask what she wanted in exchange, Ying Mei'er unleashed her Heavenly Fox bloodline and the full power of her charming physique. She appeared instantly before him, and taking advantage of his momentary trance, she kissed his cheek.

In full view of everyone, the sudden act left them all stunned.

Afterward, she feigned a pitiful expression. "You are truly wicked, taking advantage of me to steal my first kiss."

She added, "However, I rather liked it."

With that, she vanished, leaving behind only one sentence: "The Jiang family, White; the Zhao family, Fire. Sister Fenxing, good luck!"

Zhao Fenxing knew exactly what those words implied, but she no longer cared about the hint. Her mind was entirely filled with the image of Ying Mei'er kissing Wu Shu.

Even though she knew perfectly well that Ying Mei'er had done it solely to provoke her, she was furious. Women’s jealousy is not terrifying, but when it crosses a line, it can lead to madness.