Chapter 94

Chapter 94

It had been a while since Qin You Rong had seen Shen Wang, and he was so excited that he wanted to give him a bear hug but was evasively avoided.

Without a word, Shen Wang's actions clearly expressed his refusal.

"Brother Shen, you've changed. You weren't like this before. Towards me, you used to..." Qin You Rong couldn't help but cover his face, feigning tears. Mid-sentence, he suddenly realized something was amiss, "It seems... not really different."

Remembering Shen Wang's previous attitude towards him, Qin You Rong sadly found that it was no different from now, equally disdainful.

He lifted his head, trying to find a trace of remaining friendship in Shen Wang's eyes: "Brother Shen, if Brother Gu wanted a hug, would you grant his wish?"

Shen Wang paused, not speaking, but returned a meaningful glance to Qin You Rong.

Shi Yan couldn't bear to watch anymore, patting Qin You Rong's shoulder: "Why do you humiliate yourself like this?"

Qin You Rong: "...I overestimated myself."

If he had any self-awareness, he wouldn't have asked such a question. Qin You Rong smiled bitterly, sighing exaggeratedly.

Seeing his amusing demeanor, the rest burst into laughter, even the typically stoic Xie Qingming cracked a smile.

With Qin You Rong around, the group's atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful, making the time on the plane less tedious.

Arriving in the capital, they took a taxi to the official hotel for the national competition, just in time for dinner.

In a hurry, Shen Wang and the others quickly stowed their luggage in their rooms without familiarizing themselves with the surroundings, and headed straight for the hotel's restaurant, ready to indulge themselves.

Just as they reached the entrance of the dining hall, they encountered several other competitors.

The opponents, brash and arrogant, blocked the entrance to the hotel's restaurant, looking down their noses: "Is this all the special department has brought?"

Shen Wang's brows raised; of the five people opposite, most were unfamiliar faces, but there were two he recognized, one exceedingly familiar.

Shi Yan's brows furrowed slightly: "Zhao Hang, if I'm not mistaken, you're from the Baiyun Temple in the capital."

Clearly a member of Baiyun Temple, yet mixing with people from the Metaphysical Society, and from different divisions at that...

The man named Zhao Hang scoffed: "So what if I am? You, a demoted man, what right do you have to question this?"

Shi Yan's expression froze slightly, as if he was beyond caring about face.

He had known that the Metaphysical Society borrowed people from cooperating sects, but he hadn't expected them to be so unabashed, not only borrowing across regions but doing so without any cover.

Watching Shi Yan's displeased expression, Zhao Hang feigned sudden realization, "Now that you're with the special department, can your department even muster up a full team?"

"It won't be like the last few competitions, right? Unable to gather enough people and having to form a scratch team, only to be eliminated in the first round?"

Before Shi Yan could respond, Qin You Rong jumped up in dissatisfaction: "Who do you think you are? With your early balding, wrinkled face, and murky eyes, you're old enough to compete? A man in his forties or fifties babbling on and on, do you even behave like a man?"

"What our special department does is none of your business. With your yellowed eyes and the look of overindulgence on your face, better take care of yourself and don't drop dead in bed."

With sharp words, Qin You Rong left Zhao Hang fuming and flustered: "Who the hell are you! Which sect do you belong to? Do you know I am from Baiyun Temple!"

Qin You Rong rolled his eyes: "So what if you're from Baiyun Temple? Don't tell me you're like a giant baby, running back to your master crying when you lose an argument?"

"Then your Baiyun Temple must really be idle, meddling in every trivial matter. Unlike our special department, we're always swamped with missions, busy saving lives."

For every word Zhao Hang said, Qin You Rong had three in retort. In just a few sentences, Zhao Hang went from a promising Baiyun Temple disciple to a bald, decrepit old man, and even a giant baby.

His face changing colors, realizing he couldn't gain the upper hand today, he glared at the members of the special department: "We're all cultivators; what's the point in verbal sparring here? Show your real skills on the competition field!"

In the past, Shi Yan might not have taken the bait, but today, with Shen Wang behind him, he felt exceptionally confident: "You? You're not even worthy."

Shen Wang watched their verbal duel, his gaze lingering on Tang Jiu, thoughtful.

In the original text, Tang Jiu was the captain of the Metaphysical Society's western division, a rising star and undoubtedly a dark horse, dazzling the audience.

But now, although Tang Jiu appeared in the Metaphysical Society's team, he was just an ordinary member, overshadowed by the parachuted reinforcements, lacking any protagonist's aura.

Shen Wang raised an eyebrow, finally turning his attention to the provoking Zhao Hang: "You want a match? Then let's not lose face... how about raising the stakes a bit?"

"Stakes?" Zhao Hang, who was confronting Shi Yan, was taken aback, turning his gaze to Shen Wang for the first time.

It was just a casual glance, but it made him startle in alarm.

When Zhao Hang initially saw Shi Yan and his group approaching, his attention was entirely on Shi Yan, barely noticing the others, with only the slightly stronger aura of Xie Qingming warranting his attention.

Upon seeing Shen Wang, Zhao Hang couldn't believe how he had overlooked such a person!

A tall and slender figure, a face so handsome it was flawless, a seemingly lazy demeanor that belied no aggression, yet his eyes were profoundly deep, as if nothing mattered to him.

Proud and lazy, like a giant tiger basking in the sun, easily mistaken for a harmless cat, but ready to strike lethally when someone got too close.

As the other party remained silent, Shen Wang couldn't help but ask, "Have you suddenly gone deaf?"

Zhao Hang snapped back to reality, warily eyeing Shen Wang: "What stakes do you want?"

"Don't worry, I'm not a devil," Shen Wang said with a grin, baring his teeth, "I think the sword at your waist looks quite nice."

Zhao Hang couldn't believe Shen Wang dared to ask for so much, scoffing, "Do you know how precious my sword is? It's a treasure forged by a master craftsman. You think you can just swindle it away with sweet talk? What a joke!"

"This sword, a treasure?" Shen Wang scoffed. "If you had anything else of value for stakes, I wouldn't even bother looking at this worthless blade. Only someone as unsophisticated as you would treasure a sword devoid of any spiritual energy."

"This is a treasure specifically found for me by my master!" Zhao Hang, enraged that Shen Wang disdained his most treasured possession, retorted, "You're just a country bumpkin, ignorant of the world. What do you know about treasures?"

"I hadn't seen you before. I wonder from which ancient tomb the special department dug you up. Is this your first time in a five-star hotel? Do you even know how to use an elevator? Have you ever eaten such fine food before...?"

Before Zhao Hang could finish, a man in a black suit approached. He scanned the crowd and finally turned to Shen Wang: "Excuse me, are you Mr. Shen Wang?"

A question mark popped above Shen Wang's head.

"Hello, I am the manager of this hotel. You are our special guest. The top-floor suite is reserved for you. We will deliver meals to your room, so you need not come out personally," the hotel manager said respectfully and politely.

Shen Wang was taken aback, his first reaction was to look at Shi Yan.

Shi Yan was also bewildered: "It's not me, I don't know what's going on."

With nearly a thousand competitors participating, booking this hotel was already a feat. Presidential or VIP suites were usually reserved for senior sect members or judges, not for competitors.

Especially since no other competitor received such treatment, only Shen Wang.

The hotel manager, noticing their confusion, explained with a smile, "Mr. Shen, our young master specifically instructed that within our properties, you are our special guest, entitled to the highest priority."

"Young Master?" Shen Wang could only think of one young master he knew: "Liang Ruri?"

No, that's not right... The Liang family has no ties with the metaphysical world, and it's unlikely they would sponsor a metaphysical competition. A thought suddenly struck Shen Wang, and his eyes brightened: "Is your young master also in the hotel now?"

The hotel manager smiled without answering, "Mr. Shen, if you need anything, please feel free to contact me. I'm at your full service."

Watching the manager's retreating figure, Zhao Hang's face looked as if he'd been kicked by a donkey.

Just a second ago, he had called Shen Wang a country bumpkin who hadn't seen the world, and then the manager suddenly appeared. He even suspected that the man overheard their conversation and intentionally chose that moment to intervene.

Feeling like he was choking, unable to swallow or spit it out, Zhao Hang felt like he was about to cough up blood.

Shen Wang, with a smiling gaze, watched Zhao Hang's displeased expression, adding, "Are you afraid of losing, so you dare not bet?"

"How could that be possible!" Zhao Hang immediately retorted without thinking, "With the capabilities of your special department, even ten years wouldn't be enough to defeat me!"

As he spoke, Zhao Hang also realized something.

Stakes are stakes, but they only matter if you lose. But this was a guaranteed win for him, so what was there to fear? Realizing this, Zhao Hang puffed up his chest again: "Let's bet. If you lose, I don't want anything from you."

"All I want is for the people from your special department to kowtow to me three times, run around the hotel three times, shouting that the special department is inferior to the Metaphysical Society, that the special department is trash."

Zhao Hang thought his idea was brilliant, excitedly looking at Shen Wang and his group, more eager about the bet than Shen Wang: "Do you dare to bet?"

"That's a big bet..." Shen Wang hesitated.

"Are you a man or not, dare you bet!" Zhao Hang, becoming anxious, raised the stakes, "If I lose, not only will my sword be yours, but I'll also bow to you and run three laps downstairs. How about that?"

Shen Wang revealed a smile: "Deal."

After finalizing their agreement with Zhao Hang, the two groups went their separate ways. Watching them leave, Shen Wang couldn't help but exclaim, "I've never seen someone so eager to bow to me."

Shi Yan and Xie Qingming, who were initially apprehensive, exchanged a look and couldn't help but laugh as well.

Quickly putting the matter aside, Shen Wang and his group swiftly had dinner, ready to return to their rooms.

Shen Wang's room had been moved to the top floor. After bidding farewell to Shi Yan and the others, he entered a separate elevator alone. After swiping his room card for the floor, the elevator doors were about to close slowly.

Suddenly, a hand stopped the door, and several people boisterously entered.

Seeing Shen Wang, these clearly older individuals showed a hint of surprise in their eyes, but no one said anything, each continuing their conversations.

"I wonder if there will be any fresh faces rising this time. It's always the same few people over and over; it’s getting tiresome."

"I'm afraid this time, it will still be the Metaphysical Society and those major sects dominating the top ranks. For small schools and sects, it’s not easy to make a name."

"Gu Daoist, you’re among the younger generation. Have you noticed any promising newcomers worth looking out for?"

Gu Dongting, much younger than these people, had an aloof demeanor. Standing among a group of imposing middle-aged and elderly people, he did not seem overshadowed. Instead, he was like a solitary, noble crane, standing out starkly amidst the crowd.

Gu Dongting wore a more lavish white robe, embroidered with silver threads depicting a crane about to take flight, understated yet luxurious: "This year’s competition might just witness some miracles."

Hearing him say this, everyone else was quite surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"Could Daoist Gu elaborate?"

Shen Wang minimized his presence, standing in a corner of the elevator, watching Gu Dongting converse with the metaphysical world's elites. Gu Dongting's demeanor was unyielding and icy, exuding an aloofness that kept others at a distance, his eyes as cold as ice.

This was entirely different from the Gu Dongting he usually saw.

For some reason, Shen Wang felt an itch in his heart, wanting to disrupt this perfect, unrippled calm and stir ripples across its surface.

Gu Dongting, conversing indifferently, suddenly felt something slipped into his palm, causing a momentary pause in his speech.

"Daoist Gu, what's the matter?"

Gu Dongting, unfazed, continued, "Ensure the competition procedures are thoroughly checked, take protective measures, especially with the ghost props, which need to be triple-checked before use in the competition..."

Calmly and methodically arranging tasks, Gu Dongting clenched the item suddenly placed in his hand.

A finger, seemingly accidentally, was also enclosed within his palm. The finger, as if in protest or playfulness, scratched the palm like a nimble little snake, entwining Gu Dongting's fingertips before swiftly letting go, as if nothing had happened.

Gu Dongting tightened his grip, feeling the object that was slipped into his hand - cold, hard, seemingly the shape of a small sword?

"...I will provide the live broadcasting equipment, ensuring the maximum safety of the participants. It will also allow for online streaming, offering a clearer assessment of the participants' abilities."

The elevator arrived, and Gu Dongting, still speaking, walked out with the surrounding people.

Shen Wang also exited, brushing past Gu Dongting.

Both looking straight ahead, neither turned back nor greeted each other, as if they were strangers who had just met by chance.

The metaphysical elites, earnestly discussing competition matters with Gu Dongting, were unaware of what transpired in the moment these two brushed past each other.

Their fingertips grazed each other.

A touch so light, so swift, like an accidental collision, leaving behind only a faint warmth.