“I only guessed that this could be the case many years after the fact. Luck is such an elusive concept. Honestly, no one would ever normally consider it a possibility. However, it’s the only explanation how I could lose to an ordinary cultivator, or even a normal human.” Wan Lou sighed. “That woman, Ying Mei, is just as despicable as her mother. Their clan’s been depraved for multiple generations. They used every means available to seize control of the Autumnspring Slip, the mirebound artifact, and found their sect.
“Many people despise the Autumnspring Slip, but nothing can be done about them. Instead, the Autumnspring Slip grows ever more impressive, and they even produced a prodigy who was frozen in the Scion Spire.”
As his words trailed off, Wan Lou turned to look at Lu Yin. “When I bet against Ying Mei, I wagered that I would never attempt to retrieve Ming Xiaochou in the name of the Everchange Valley. That’s why, when I learned that you agreed to bring Xiaochou back for Xiaolong’s sake, I needed to meet you.
“In terms of strength, no matter how powerful you may be, how could you possibly overwhelm the Autumnspring Slip? Even a Lesser Sancte would find that difficult. If you decide to make a bet with them, luck will support the Autumnspring Slip, making it impossible to win that way. Furthermore, if you take action on behalf of my Everchange Valley, I will be considered a liar, which would completely disgrace me among cultivators.
“Xiaolong knows none of this, and I have no intention of informing her. All I can do is ask you to step back.”
Lu Yin was puzzled about something. “Is Ming Xiaochou alone really worth exposing their ability to use luck?”
Wan Lou replied, “At first, I also could not understand that, which is why I did not initially suspect them of tampering with luck. How could just Ming Xiaochou be enough for the Autumnspring Slip to reveal their trump card of manipulating luck? Everyone would be tempted by such an ability, and as soon as it is exposed, countless people would target the Autumnspring Slip.
“It was only later that we discovered that the Autumnspring Slip wants to use Xiaochou to create a second Everchange Valley. With their unique ability to manifest power by writing characters, they can pull off their plan. If by revealing their ability to alter luck they are able to create a second Everchange Valley, then it would be more than worth the risk.
“Mr. Lu, do you know how much respect my Everchange Valley has earned over all these years by cultivating the Heaven and Earth Aura?
“The Autumnspring Slip has offended too many people, especially the Fifth Night Pillar, which sees the Autumnspring Slip as their mortal enemy. They cannot stagnate or decline, which forces them to resort to any means possible to further strengthen themselves.”
Lu Yin understood. This was exactly the same as Yue Ya, as the Autumnspring Slip was risking absolutely everything on this gamble. If even a single generation grew weaker, their entire sect would be annihilated. After Qian Shu entered the Scion Spire, the Autumnspring Slip had exposed their ability to alter luck, which had been a hidden trump card. They sought to create a new Everchange Valley, which would allow their sect to soar to new heights.
It was certainly possible that everything that they had attempted was linked to luck.
Luck could not always favor the Autumnspring Slip, but by leveraging luck, they were aiming to surpass every other major power in one fell swoop.
Did Wan Lou not realize this? That was not necessarily the case. To begin with, he refused to break his word, as doing so would also ruin the Everchange Valley’s reputation. Secondly, Ming Xiaolong was also a member of the Everchange Valley. That meant that no matter what happened, their sect was backed by both Greater Sancte Green Lotus and Lesser Sancte Xing Fan; the Autumnspring Slip could not touch the Everchange Valley.
As for the other factions, they were not the Everchange Valley’s concern.
Wan Lou grew solemn as he faced Lu Yin. “I am asking you to withdraw, Mr. Lu. My Everchange Valley will reward you handsomely.”
Lu Yin observed Wan Lou. “Has she mentioned to you why I’m helping her?”
“Not really. She merely said that you owe her a favor and promised to help.”
Lu Yin nodded. “A promise. So you are saying that your promise matters, but mine doesn’t?”
Wan Lou stared at Lu Yin with growing intensity. “That’s why my Everchange Valley can offer you compensation, as well as promise that this matter won’t be made public.”
Lu Yin felt growing sympathy for Wan Lou. Lu Siyu had at least shared most of the details with Lu Sizhan, which had allowed the man to piece together the overall picture. In contrast, Ming Xiaolong had shared nothing with Wan Lou. The Valley Master was completely ignorant.
By speaking with the man, Lu Yin had come to understand what kind of person Wan Lou was. He was rather self-serving and was willing to prioritize his own reputation over others’. Still, that was merely human nature, and it was not worth criticizing. At the very least, the man had made a bet with the Autumnspring Slip in an attempt to recover Ming Xiaochou. Xiaolong likely understood the man’s character as well, which was why she had not told him anything.
Given the situation, Lu Yin had no intention of saying anything either.
At that moment, Ming Xiaolong returned, having clearly grown impatient. “Are you done yet? How much long do you plan to make me wait?”
Wan Lou let out a helpless sigh and gave Lu Yin an apologetic look. “I’ll leave this to you, Mr. Lu.”
He then left the valley. While passing Ming Xiaolong, Wan Lou tried to say something, but the glare that she gave him prompted him to leave without another word.
Ming Xiaolong let out a contemptuous snort and then looked over at Lu Yin as she slowly walked over to him.
Lu Yin calmly remained in his seat, watching her approach.
She mocked him, “You little thief, do you never take a break? It’s such a short trip between the Four Commands Sword Sect and the Everchange Valley, and yet you still managed to find a beauty. Clearly, you have a great deal of experience in such things.”
Lu Yin pursed his lips. “Didn’t Elder Le tell you what happened?”
“That merely proves your experience. Elder Le was unable to tell that anything was off.”
Lu Yin was speechless. He simply had no response to such an accusation.
Ming Xiaolong sat down and stared at Lu Yin. “What did Wan Lou tell you?”
“He told me to stay out of this.”
Ming Xiaolong became angry. “I knew it! That bastard only cares about himself!”
Lu Yin smiled, but Ming Xiaolong’s glare turned to him. “You’re not any better—you instantly turned around and sold him out.”
Lu Yin was taken aback. “I don’t have any agreement with him, and I’m here to fulfill your request. How is there any problem?”
Ming Xiaolong just mocked him, “Then why don’t you just admit that you were peeking?”
Lu Yin was stumped. He suddenly found himself understanding Wan Lou better than ever. How was anyone supposed to deal with this woman? No matter what a person said, everything was wrong. Lu Yin suddenly found himself missing Lu Siyu. That girl was much easier to deal with.
“Wan Lou miscalculated. It wouldn’t matter what he promised you, you wouldn’t agree. Even if he offered you the Everchange Valley itself, you still would have refused. Hmph, I knew that he would try to intervene, which is why I said nothing to him. Look at him, thinking that he would succeed, yet he managed to achieve nothing at all. What a joke!” Ming Xiaolong declared triumphantly.
Lu Yin shook his head. “All I need to do is bring Ming Xiaochou back for you, right?”
Ming Xiaolong looked at Lu Yin. “Can you bring him back?”
“What do you think?”
“I’m asking you.”
“Alright, then yes.”
“How do you plan to do it?”
“I don’t know.”
Ming Xiaolong glared at him. “Then why did you just say you can bring him back?”
Lu Yin started to get annoyed. “Your attitude towards me has been a problem since the moment you started talking to me.”
Ming Xiaolong snapped back, “I’ve been very friendly to you! What sort of attitude is one supposed to show a thief and a Peeping Tom?”