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!”