Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Playing the hero???

Shen Wang was visibly shocked, hurriedly denying in a series, "I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!"

"After all, we're staying at their place. As guests, isn't it normal to help out when the host is in danger? What hero saving the beauty... Don't say I'm not a hero; he's not a beauty either."

Shen Wang hurriedly explained, fearing Xiao Hei Bro might once again make startling remarks.

"Is that so?" Xiao Hei Bro chuckled ambiguously, "His androgynous looks don't count as beauty in your eyes?"

Shen Wang, puzzled by how Xiao Hei Bro always skewed the focus, touched his forehead where cold sweat had broken out, "No matter how good-looking he is, he's still a man. A man, how can he be considered a beauty?"

"A man can't be a beauty?" Xiao Hei Bro asked softly, his question laden with hidden meaning.

Shen Wang: "..."

Shen Wang: "Forget men, even women are just a shell to me. No matter how they look, it has nothing to do with me."

Not sure which word struck a chord in Xiao Hei Bro, but behind the mask, one could feel a softening in his demeanor, losing the intimidating coldness.

Xiao Hei Bro walked to the window, slowly saying, "Do you think that werewolf came to harm Norris?"

Shen Wang's brow furrowed in confusion, "Isn't that the case?"

Xiao Hei Bro chuckled lightly, with an inscrutable tone, "That werewolf was emotionally deceived by Norris and came seeking retribution."

Shen Wang was dumbfounded, "What did you say?"

"Norris came here to escape the werewolf, not realizing that werewolves have extremely sensitive noses and could track him all the way here." Xiao Hei Bro turned, observing Shen Wang's reaction with a half-smile.

Shen Wang felt numb, unsure whether to be shocked by another homosexual twist or surprised that Norris had deceived him.

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind, and finally, Shen Wang took a deep breath, "It's fine, I didn't lose anything. Plus, I got a chance to observe a werewolf, so it's not a loss."

Just being unwittingly used by a kid and entangled in some petty gay drama is quite disgusting.

Hearing this, Xiao Hei Bro's tone became even softer, "So you intervened because of the werewolf?"

"It was a werewolf, after all. Aren't you curious, Xiao Hei Bro?" Shen Wang's intervention was partly because he couldn't stand by and watch their host be harmed, and partly out of curiosity about the werewolf.

The brief encounter with the werewolf was enough for Shen Wang to assess its condition.

Unlike the mythical beasts in Shen Wang's memory, these foreign werewolves didn't have demon cores, and their meridians lacked spiritual energy... Their energy was dispersed in their flesh, making their physical bodies much stronger.

Perhaps because their spiritual energy was diffused throughout their flesh and uncontrollable, the werewolves couldn't control their transformations either.

They were more like the demonic beasts in the cultivation world than mythical beasts.

Shen Wang, clearly excited, shared his findings with Xiao Hei Bro... As for Norris and the petty love-hate saga, he had already cast it to the back of his mind.

Xiao Hei Bro watched Shen Wang's eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. While amused, he also felt an inexplicable affection.

This man really was thick-headed, stubbornly refusing to see the obvious.

But it didn't matter. Xiao Hei Bro leaned casually against the window frame, a gentle and bright moon behind him, casting its selfless light over the earth.

He would keep this moon to himself.

Shen Wang, both surprised and pleased to see Xiao Hei Bro abroad, talked with him for quite a while, until Xiao Hei Bro silently left just before dawn, unnoticed by anyone.

As the household staff began their morning routines, Shen Wang stepped out of his room, encountering Gu Dongting emerging from the neighboring room.

Shen Wang paused subtly, then greeted, "Good morning, Dongting."

Gu Dongting smiled faintly, the captivating mole under his eye accentuating his charm, "I thought I heard someone talking in your room last night."

Shen Wang: "..."

Shen Wang fumbled for an explanation, "That might have been the sound of a video. I got hooked on my phone and watched videos all night."

"I see," Gu Dongting said, feigning sudden realization, seriously adding, "Though, it could also have been my mistake."

"After all, the castle is exceptionally well soundproofed."

Leaving an ambiguous remark hanging in the air, Gu Dongting walked away with an air of ease.

Shen Wang watched his graceful departure, scratching his head, wondering, "Why do I feel like Dongting is teasing me?"

The usually aloof and upright Gu Dongting seemed to have learned how to playfully tease others at some point.

Soon after, the Huaxia participants gathered in the dining hall, enjoying a noble-level breakfast while discussing the commotion they had heard the night before.

"Did you hear last night? Unexpectedly, that young master Norris, who seems so sweet and innocent, turns out to be gay."

"It's one thing to like men, but to play with people's feelings... First pursuing them, then getting bored and kicking them to the curb."

"Looks like an angel on the outside, but turns out to be a little devil."

Listening to their conversation, Shen Wang, who had been deceived due to not understanding the foreign language, couldn't help but interject, "Can all of you understand what they were saying?"

The others exchanged looks: "Not entirely, but we got the gist of it without much trouble."

"Aren't you cultivators, the cream of the young generation? I thought your focus was on cultivation. How come you all understand foreign languages?" Shen Wang asked, genuinely puzzled.

The others were equally surprised: "Even though we're cultivators, we still have to study and go to school. Bad grades would mean trouble from our parents..."

"Not getting into a top university like 985 is embarrassing when meeting peers."

"The times are different now; we practice scientific cultivation."

Hearing their explanations, Shen Wang, who was semi-illiterate, remarked sarcastically, "Times have indeed changed; you've turned cultivation into something else entirely."

"The main reason is the scarcity of spiritual energy nowadays. No matter how dedicated one is to cultivation, they can't get beyond the Foundation Establishment stage," Gu Dongting added. "Cultivators need to train well, but if their power isn't sufficient, they still need to survive in society."

Therefore, to ensure the mental and physical well-being of cultivators and prevent them from going astray due to inability to survive, the state has strongly discouraged the old cultivation style of being oblivious to worldly affairs.

Cultivators are encouraged to integrate into modern life and behave properly.

After hearing this, Shen Wang couldn't help but reflect, "The state has really gone to great lengths to accommodate cultivators..."

"It's like a kindergarten nanny, no wonder it's producing a bunch of babies."

As everyone chatted, Norris, who had been the subject of the discussion, arrived in the dining hall, yawning. Ignoring the empty seats, he walked straight to Shen Wang, his smile both coy and shy: "Brother Shen, thank you for last night. You really helped me out."

Norris appeared bashful and endearing.

However, for some reason, Shen Wang felt a chill down his spine as if a cold draft had passed through. He laughed awkwardly, "No need to thank me. Your brother let us stay here, so we owe you a favor. Helping you was the right thing to do."

Shen Wang tried to downplay the previous night's events, but Norris was not keen on letting it go: "Actually, I lied to you last night. That werewolf wasn't a kidnapper; he's my ex-boyfriend. I didn't know how to explain it to you, so I lied."

Shen Wang didn't know how to react, while everyone around, who had been chatting and laughing, fell silent and eavesdropped.

"You're not mad at me, are you, Brother Shen?"

Faced with Norris's pitiful look, Shen Wang involuntarily rubbed his arms, feeling goosebumps: "I'm not mad at you, but please don't talk to me like that. It's a bit disgusting."

Norris's expression changed slightly, pouting, "Brother Shen, you're such a joker..."

In just a few words, he had squeezed past the person next to Shen Wang and sat down confidently.

Bai Fuchun, left without a seat, stood holding his bread in a daze, until Chou Yin couldn't stand it any longer and offered him his own seat.

On Shen Wang's other side, Gu Dongting remained expressionless, his dark eyes seemingly harboring a storm, chilling to the bone.

Breakfast was tasteless and joyless for Shen Wang, who almost fled the castle, not daring to say a friendly goodbye to Norris.

Reaching the basement of the World Competition, Shen Wang was still in shock, "What's with that guy? He was fine yesterday, why is he acting so weird today?"

Bai Fuchun sneaked a glance at Gu Dongting's expression and chuckled, "Can't help it, Brother Shen, your charm is too great. It seems you've captivated that young man."

Norris made no attempt to hide his intentions, openly displaying them. He might look delicate and fragile, but his demeanor undoubtedly treated Shen Wang as his prey.

Bai Fuchun could only sigh, "Typical of a noble family. That 'get whatever you want' attitude is ingrained in their bones, an inherent predatory nature that they can't hide."

Shen Wang's face darkened.

Shen Wang could accept that someone around him was gay, but he couldn't accept being targeted himself.

It was the second round of the competition, and as before, Gu Dongting went to draw lots. This time, they were matched with a small European country.

The opposing team, not large in number or particularly strong, became visibly unsettled upon realizing their opponents were the Huaxia team.

Noticing their gaze, the speaking members of the Huaxia team offered friendly smiles as a greeting.

But this only seemed to intensify the fear in the European team, their faces turning pale.

The seemingly friendly members of the Huaxia team, like Bai Fuchun, were puzzled, "??? Why are they so impolite???"

Gu Dongting glanced over and said coolly, "They saw yesterday’s match."

The others didn’t immediately grasp Gu Dongting's meaning, "Even if they saw the match, that’s no reason to be rude..."

Then they remembered the Huaxia team's performance the previous day.

The men fought slyly, aiming low with shameless tactics.

The women were ruthless, relishing in vanquishing their foes, like bloodthirsty female demons.

Everyone fell silent.

"Well, intimidating the enemy is also a good thing."

"Psychological warfare is still warfare."

This time, Gu Dongting chose a different set of players to compete, picking the relatively average Lu Tingchun and Lin Leliu to go first, with Bo Yu as the anchor.

Everyone quickly refocused on the upcoming match, no longer teasing Shen Wang about his personal life. Shen Wang himself also shook off his discomfort, turning his attention to the three preparing to compete.

Just like yesterday, Shen Wang gave them a stack of talismans and a few words of encouragement before sending them off to the stage.

The first to compete was Lu Tingchun, facing a very tall and muscular Caucasian man. Compared to her opponent, Lu Tingchun, not particularly petite herself, seemed delicate and dainty.

As a standout among the younger generation of the special department, Lu Tingchun's strength wasn't overwhelming, but her dedication was remarkable. Training rigorously in harsh conditions, she forged a path through her peers and became the leading figure of the special department.

Lu Tingchun was well-liked; as soon as she stepped onto the stage, Bai Fuchun and the others cheered loudly.

"Go, Senior Sister Lu!"

Hearing the noise, Lu Tingchun looked back at her teammates, then gripped her long whip tighter.

The tall Caucasian man said something, to which Lu Tingchun responded unfazed, her whip slicing through the air with a sharp crack.

Shen Wang, scratching his head, asked Gu Dongting, "What did they say?"

"He said that such a young and pretty girl shouldn't be here, in case she hurts her face," Gu Dongting translated. "Lu Tingchun replied, 'Don't worry, I won't aim for your face.'"

Shen Wang couldn't help but laugh, "She's quite aggressive."

On the stage, Lu Tingchun and her opponent exchanged blows. Her whip was incredibly agile, always striking where least expected, keeping her opponent’s dagger at bay. However, she was physically less strong, leading to a stalemate.

Shen Wang clicked his tongue, "Men are just tougher. Lu Tingchun’s whip is at a disadvantage."

"She shouldn’t use a regular whip. A Red Dragon Bone Whip with barbs would be better; every strike would tear off a chunk of flesh..."

As Shen Wang spoke, everyone shivered and involuntarily moved away from him.

Oblivious, Shen Wang shook his head in regret and continued watching the match.

After a stalemate, the Caucasian man's eyes flickered; he spun his dagger and, disregarding Lu Tingchun's whip, closed in for close combat before quickly retreating.

"Senior Sister Lu is better at close combat. What was he trying to do by getting close all of a sudden?" Bai Fuchun wondered.

Lu Tingchun's agility and tenacity far outmatched her opponent, who seemed clumsy like a gorilla up close.

Soon, everyone understood the reason, and they were collectively outraged, "Damn, that's so shameless."

During the fight, the Caucasian man targeted Lu Tingchun's chest and other areas. Although he didn't truly injure her, his actions tore her clothes.

Amidst the intense battle, her torn clothes couldn't hold up, falling to the ground and revealing a large expanse of white skin. Her sports bra at her chest was barely hanging on, seeming like it might fall off any second.

As everyone watched anxiously, the Caucasian man's attacks intensified, and the dreaded moment occurred.

The last piece of Lu Tingchun's upper garment slipped down to her waist, exposing her left breast.

The crowd watching the match erupted in cheers and whistles, buzzing in different languages like flies drawn to decay.

Shen Wang's expression darkened, and he said, "See? Once you're on the battlefield, you must use every means necessary. If you don't use such low tactics, your enemies will use them against you."

"In life and death situations, there is no morality. Survival is everything."

Hearing Shen Wang's words, everyone's expressions turned solemn, anger in their eyes. Even Bai Qingxing, who usually disagreed with Shen Wang, didn't speak up.

The group watched the match in silence, none shifting their gaze.

Lu Tingchun, finding the half-fallen cloth cumbersome, simply tore it off, disregarding her bare upper body, and attacked with increased ferocity.

The Caucasian man, in contrast, became distracted, his eyes repeatedly drawn to Lu Tingchun's exposed chest.

Seizing the moment of his distraction, Lu Tingchun lashed her whip across his face, wrapping it around his neck. As he struggled to breathe, she delivered a fierce kick.

The kick landed squarely on the man's lower body, causing him excruciating pain and leaving him unable to resist.

"I surrender! I surrender!" Gasping for air, as if a venomous snake coiled around his neck, the man managed to squeeze out a few words.

Hearing his surrender, Lu Tingchun slightly loosened her whip, but she didn’t immediately let him go. Instead, she picked up his dagger and cut open his trousers.

With a sudden effort, Lu Tingchun left the now fully exposed man hanging on the edge of the platform and commented, "Quite small."

She even made a gesture with her little finger, which everyone understood, leading to a roar of laughter from the crowd.

As Lu Tingchun stepped off the stage, sporadic applause began, spreading rapidly like a contagion.

Even strangers were giving her thumbs up.

Dao Chunyan was the first to greet Lu Tingchun, draping a coat over her: "Why didn’t you castrate him?"

"My kick will keep him down for three months," Lu Tingchun laughed off the incident, showing no concern for what had just happened, "I won, mission accomplished."

"Senior Sister Lu is awesome!"

Motivated by the Caucasian man's actions, Lin Leliu's next fight was unexpectedly ruthless. He broke his opponent's arm so severely that if the opponent hadn’t surrendered in time, Lin might have broken his leg too.

After losing two matches, the outcome was clear.

But the opposing team, either to save face or enraged by the Huaxia team’s ferocity, didn’t surrender. Instead, they sent another competitor.

It was clear that this unremarkable-looking middle-aged man was the strongest on their team.

Facing him, Bo Yu stepped up. Without a word, he just gave a thumbs up and then pointed it towards the ground.

This match was about more than winning or losing; it was a battle for their teammates' honor.

A glint of cold light flashed in the man's eyes as he was about to speak, but Bo Yu didn’t give him the chance. With a sudden push from his feet, he pounced like a diving hawk, aiming straight for the man’s chest.

The man's pupils contracted, and he retreated several steps, his anger visibly diminishing and replaced by caution.

Within just a few minutes, the two exchanged dozens of blows, fist against fist, elbow against elbow, with loud impacts, visibly fierce to the naked eye.

"Brother Shen!" Bai Fuchun, watching anxiously, asked Shen Wang, "Who do you think will win?"

Shen Wang frowned slightly, "This fighting style..."

The middle-aged man's strength was on par with Bo Yu, but his combat experience was extensive. Each of his strikes was minimal in effort but direct in attack.

This technique made Shen Wang suspect he was a professional assassin.

Bo Yu, who grew up in a peaceful environment, faced a low probability of winning against this man.

Especially since Bo Yu, adhering to some principle, refrained from using underhanded tactics and instead fought with honorable and straightforward moves.

Hearing Shen Wang's analysis, Bai Fuchun became even more anxious, praying with hands clasped, "May the Three Pure Ones and the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother bless us... May Brother Bo win!"

"This is a foreign land; can our domestic gods reach here?" someone joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I won't ask for help from foreign gods either," Bai Fuchun declared stubbornly.

On the stage, after an initial phase of fierce but probing combat, the fight became more intense, with blows landing solidly. Bo Yu took a hit to his chest, coughing up blood at the corner of his mouth.

Bo Yu casually wiped his mouth, losing his previous casual demeanor, replaced by a steely resolve, "Today, I must defeat you."

After all, he was the perennial second in the metaphysical world, the foremost practitioner behind Shen Wang and Gu Dongting. Even without using any special techniques and despite his injuries, he still won.

His victory was fair and square.

As the defeated middle-aged man lay pinned down by Bo Yu, Bo Yu looked at him and asked in English, "Do you admit defeat?"

The man's face turned red, his mouth stained with blood from the impact. Just as he was about to answer, Bo Yu elbowed him in the chest.

The man's face went pale, his vision darkening. After several seconds, he gritted his teeth and conceded, "I surrender."

"Then you, and all your teammates, owe that humiliated girl an apology," Bo Yu stood up, towering over the man, "I want you to loudly say to her, 'I'm sorry.'"

Reluctantly, the man nodded. He looked at his teammates, including Lu Tingchun's opponent, and said, "I apologize."

At Bo Yu's insistence, they lined up and bowed to Lu Tingchun, apologizing in unison, "We're sorry."