Star Odyssey

Chapter 3820: A Slap

Farther away, Lang Ruyu, Si Jiushi, and the individuals from the Spirit Coalition all watched on carefully. However, none of them took action. It was clear to everyone that something significant was about to unfold.

Ying Mei’s expression turned grim. “Are you not being a bit too presumptuous?”

Lu Yin's lips curled into a smile. “You’re welcome to try to make me pay.”

How arrogant. Everyone stared at Lu Yin. No matter how the day ended for him, there was no question that this moment would be recorded down in history. The man was just too skilled at being provocative.

Granny Ya barely held herself back from charging down to attack Lu Yin.

Qian Shu clenched his fists. That man has to die.

A powerful wind blew across Ridgeplain, flattening the lush grass in waves of green that surged into the distance.

Ying Mei stared intently at Lu Yin. “It’s true that the Autumnspring Slip did indeed harm you once. Even if it was unintentional, it still happened. We are not bullies who abuse our power, and we did nothing when you insulted our sect just now. Even when you disrupted our Worldscript, we treated it as you venting your anger. From now on, your grudge with the Autumnspring Slip is considered settled. Take care of yourself.”

Lu Yin chuckled. “Settled? You think that you get to decide that?”

Ying Mei’s tone turned cold. “Everyone here has seen your actions and heard your insults. Even an ordinary person will fight back to protect their dignity, but the Autumnspring Slip has done nothing to you. Consider that as us paying you back what we owed. Please, don’t push things any further and let the matter end here. If you're willing to reconcile with the Autumnspring Slip, then you are welcome and can come speak with us. If not, please leave. We will not make things difficult for you.”

Lu Yin again praised the woman, but this time in an openly sarcastic tone. “Well said! Such magnanimity from the Autumnspring Slip, dressing cowardice as righteousness. You want to resolve the grudge between us? Fine. Let's make a bet.”

Ying Mei was taken aback. “A bet?”

If not for having so many people watching the exchange, she would have already attacked Lu Yin. Even if she was wary of Lu Yin’s strength, she would not normally allow anyone to insult her in such a manner, especially not with that one young woman watching. Everyone else could be forgotten, but that young lady’s opinion was extremely important.

For the Autumnspring Slip to firmly establish itself above most other powers in the Nine Heavens Megaverse, that young lady was absolutely critical.

Besides, Ying Mei still did not believe that Lu Yin was capable of overpowering all of the Autumnspring Slip. Not even the High Seraph possessed that much strength. Even if Lu Yin was more powerful than the High Seraph, he could not be more than a peak Dukkhan, and no Dukkhan could overwhelm all of the Autumnspring Slip alone.

Once or twice, they might be willing to step back in a demonstration of generosity, but a third time... If this man kept pushing, even that young lady might side with the Autumnspring Slip. Besides, the man had a critical weakness. If he pushed any further, Ying Mei would ensure that he suffered eternal ruin.

However, it was completely unexpected for Lu Yin to suggest a wager.

The suggestion instantly reminded Ying Mei of Ming Xiaochou. Could Lu Yin have a connection to the Everchange Valley? Ming Xiaolong was also present for the Worldscript; was it really just a coincidence? No, Ming Xiaolong should not have visited Ridgeplain.

Atop the bamboo slip, Ming Xiaolong’s eyes bulged. Gamble? Is that his plan? Does he want to gamble my brother back? No, that’s impossible. It can’t be done. The Autumnspring Slip is capable of winning any wager.

She wanted to stop Lu Yin, but there were too many people around them who were already staring at her. Everyone was aware of the wager that had been made between the Everchange Valley and the Autumnspring Slip. One by one, people started to suspect that Lu Yin’s appearance was related to Ming Xiaolong.

All she could do was helplessly worry.

“What do you suggest we bet on?”

“I’ll name the stakes, and you can decide the rules.”

Ying Mei frowned, sizing Lu Yin up. “Are you really willing to allow me to determine the rules?”

Lu Yin smiled. “That’s fair enough, isn’t it?”

Ying Mei could not understand Lu Yin’s goal. If he had been sent by the Everchange Valley, he should already be aware of their loss. While it did seem fair to have her set the rules, anyone with a bit of knowledge should be able to guess that the Autumnspring Slip had a secret means of guaranteeing their victory, especially since even Wan Lou had lost. Why was this man still willing to gamble?

Was it possible that he had no connection to the Everchange Valley?

If Lu Yin had insisted on being the one to determine the rules of the wager, Ying Mei would have immediately assumed that he was working with the Everchange Valley. The fact that he instead handed that power over to the Autumnspring Slip just felt off.

The odder the situation, the more hesitant Ying Mei was to accept the bet. She found Lu Yin’s confidence unsettling.

“So you’re afraid,” Lu Yin said with a sneer, “The great Ying Mei of the Autumnspring Slip doesn’t dare to make a bet with me? If word of this gets out, your reputation will be ruined.”

While he was capable of dealing with the Autumnspring Slip with brute force, there were too many outsiders present who were watching. He intended to eventually contend for the title of Lesser Sancte, so while he had no problem making enemies, he needed to have the moral high ground. Without that, there would eventually be trouble.

Besides that, he was genuinely curious. Just how had the Autumnspring Slip managed to ensure victory despite what should have been a fair game?

Ying Mei gravely asked, “What are your stakes?”

Lu Yin’s expression turned serious. “If you win, all grudges between us will be considered settled. I’ll never trouble your Autumnspring Slip again. On the other hand, should you lose...”

He paused, and at that moment, Ming Xiaolong’s heart leapt into her throat. As soon as Lu Yin stated what he wanted if he won, everyone would know that he was related to the Everchange Valley. It would not take long for her sect to be mocked as sore losers who relied on outsiders to recover their losses.

Still, that did not matter to Ming Xiaolong. As long as her brother returned, she did not care about ridicule. All that mattered was that Lu Yin had to win. He simply had to.

Lu Siyu grew tense, her lips pursed tightly.

As everyone stared at him as Lu Yin slowly stated, “I want the lives of Qian Shu and that wretched servant.”

Ying Mei’s eyes flared in shock.

Everyone stared at Lu Yin in disbelief. Wanting to kill Granny Ya was one thing, but Qian Shu? He represented the future of the Autumnspring Slip. After all the effort that it had taken for the sect to produce a youth who was qualified to enter the Scion Spire, how could his life be risked in a wager?

High above on the bamboo slip, Qian Shu’s gaze grew vicious.

Granny Ya was livid. Wretched servant? She was one of the Autumnspring Slip’s few Senior Scribes!

Ming Xiaolong felt terribly confused. The stakes that Lu Yin had proposed had nothing to do with her brother! What was he even thinking?

Ying Mei’s expression fell. “Do you not think that you are pushing things too far? You offer nothing more than a clean slate, but in exchange, you ask for the lives of one of the Autumnspring Slip’s Senior Scribes and Qian Shu?”

Lu Yin slowly smirked at the woman. “If you knew me, you’d understand that a clean slate with me is the best deal you’ll ever get. I’m not offering to erase a grudge, but rather the lives of everyone in the Autumnspring Slip.”

Ying Mei instantly lost her temper. “Arrogant!”

Another voice rang down from high above. Granny Ya shouted, “Sect Master, this man is from the Spirit Nidus. He created a false token and trespassed into the Skyward Gate, conspiring with the Luo family to defile our Nine Odysseys Megaverse! His conduct is reprehensible, and his background is utter garbage. Creatures like him are unworthy of even setting foot in our megaverse, let alone of making a wager with the Autumnspring Slip. He’s nothing but trash, and yet he dares to strut about so arrogantly! He should be executed now—why waste words on him?”

Lu Yin’s eyes instantly grew cold, and he simply disappeared.

Ying Mei’s pupils shrank. Not good!

She leapt into the sky. “Be careful!”

The Autumnspring Slip was surrounded by an invisible barrier that only allowed those deemed worthy to pass through. Any potential intruder had only two options: retreat, or break through the barrier.

There was no question that Lu Yin was unwelcome. So, he raised his hand and pushed against the air before him. The space around the bamboo slip could be seen twisting and breaking. With that, he stepped forward, arriving on the mirebound artifact. With a flick of his wrist, he slapped Granny Ya across the face.

Pa!

Granny Ya had accepted a Seed Transfusion to become a peak Dukkhan. This meant that she was one of the Autumnspring Slip's most powerful experts. Even so, she was unable to avoid a simple slap, despite clearly seeing Lu Yin’s hand approaching her. Space, time, her various senses, and even her own mind and thoughts all seemed to freeze. She was utterly helpless and was unable to put up any sort of resistance at all as she was slapped away. She slammed to the ground with great force.

Ying Mei then appeared, unfortunately a step too late. Granny Ya had already been slapped. How is this possible?

Lu Yin had taken a single step, broken through the Autumnspring Slip’s defenses, completely invalidated Granny Ya’s impressive strength, and slapped her. It had all happened in just one movement.

While he had appeared to take just one step, he might as well have crossed an unbridgeable chasm.

Ying Mei was not alone, as everyone present was absolutely stunned.

Who could have imagined that a dignified peak Dukkhan could be slapped away? How was it even possible? Not even a Greater Sancte could pull something like that off, could they?

As Lu Yin’s hand struck Granny Ya’s face, everyone’s minds went completely blank.

That was true even of the young lady.

A single slap had struck a blind spot in everyone’s understanding of things.

Granny Ya lay on the ground, dazed and completely stunned. She had not been able to even try to block the slap. How had he rendered her so helpless?

“Slander me again, and I’ll kill you then and there.” Lu Yin casually lowered his hand.

As he did, everyone looked at him in an entirely different manner.

It was at this moment that people finally understood that the young man had never once acted arrogantly; he actually possessed the strength to threaten the Autumnspring Slip.

Where had such an expert come from?

Ying Mei’s expression fell, her feature twisting in a terrifying manner as she glared at Lu Yin’s back, bloodlust blazing in her eyes. “You have insulted my Autumnspring Slip again and again. This time, you’ve gone too far. You can’t blame us for what comes next.

“Autumnspring Slip, everyone attack!”

Mr. Mo and a host of the Autumnspring Slip experts instantly surrounded Lu Yin, each of them radiating overwhelming killing intent. Soul legacy skills appeared as multiple Blood Towers and Awe Gates took form. Everyone was cautious and had prepared themselves.

While Lu Yin had demonstrated terrifying strength, that was not enough to make the Autumnspring Slip too afraid to act against. After all, he was not an Immortal.

Granny Ya rose to her feet and shot a vicious glare at Lu Yin. She radiated more bloodlust than anyone else present.

Lu Siyu shouted, “Autumnspring Slip, you’re clearly in the wrong here. That wretched servant spat out multiple insults. What? Is he not even allowed to strike her for such an offense?”

Ming Xiaolong also spoke up. “How admirable—the Autumnspring Slip isn’t satisfied with just killing. You also need to break their spirit and then accuse the victim of being the bully. How utterly despicable.”

Ying Mei completely ignored the two women, instead focusing on the young lady who stood near them. “Please, young lady, go inside and rest. If this battle were to accidentally harm you, the Autumnspring Slip would have committed an unforgivable sin.”

The young lady calmly replied, “It’s fine.”

Lu Yin looked at the young woman. Was this who Ming Xiaolong had been so wary of? So many delays and so much stalling, all to wait for this woman to leave. Who could have such an impressive status that even the Seven Fairies were afraid of her?

Hmm... Huh? Qing Yun?

Lu Yin stared at the young woman in shock. Isn’t that Qing Yun?

While half of the woman’s face was concealed by a veil, Lu Yin knew the person before him all too well; that face, hands, and figure were all completely identical to Qing Yun’s. How is she here?

In a single moment, scenes of Lu Yin’s interactions with Qing Yun flashed through his mind. He saw Qing Yun, Jiu Xian, the Awe Gate, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, and more.

“Qing Yun?”

The young lady looked at Lu Yin in evident confusion. Does he know me?

“Insolent! How dare you speak the young lady’s name!” Granny Ya snapped.

Ying Mei stepped in front of Qing Yun, her eyes fixed on Lu Yin. “We can overlook the fact that you are from a foreign megaverse. We can tolerate you insulting the Autumnspring Slip. But addressing the young lady by her name? That’s a grave offense and is punishable by death.”

Lu Siyu grew anxious. “You old hag, don’t be ridiculous! He was just surprised to see Big Sister here. It was just a slip of the tongue. Please, Big Sister, don’t be offended.”

Ming Xiaolong also started pleading with the young woman. “Please don’t be offended, Sister.”

Qing Yun peaked past Ying Mei to meet Lu Yin’s gaze. “You know me?”

Lu Yin grew bewildered. Isn’t she Qing Yun? But if she is, how could she not recognize me? And yet, her appearance, and even her voice, are all exactly the same.

“You are Qing Yun, aren’t you?”

“Yes, my name is Qing Yun, but I’ve never met you before.”