Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 216 - 183: If I Had Known, I Would Have Forfeited and Gone Home to Sleep

"Ah Jiu, as I said before, give it your all and take her down! No mercy!"

Just before entering the arena, Shen Qingming still appeared restless and angry.

Wang Jiu, speaking through the Mind Passage of their Master-Servant Contract, curiously asked, "Is your anger now because your intellect was overshadowed, leading to embarrassment and rage?"

"I'm not embarrassed and angry!"

"Then what exactly are you upset about?"

"I'm upset that there could be such a despicable, shameless woman! To actually use my intelligence..." Mid-sentence, Shen Qingming choked up, then angrily accused Wang Jiu, "It's because you keep calling me an idiot all the time that I'm starting to believe it myself! Yeah, I'm embarrassed and angry, so what!? What's wrong with that!?"

Wang Jiu said, "It's not that you can't be, just need to determine if you really need to vent. Considering the opponent's strength, victory will not come easily. The wisest choice is to adopt a straightforward, highly pragmatic tactic."

Shen Qingming was puzzled: "What do you mean by highly pragmatic?"

Wang Jiu said, "Simply put, anything can be done to achieve victory. Whatever happens during the process doesn't matter as long as you win."

"For example?" Shen Qingming asked with a bad feeling already forming.

Wang Jiu explained, "For example, you could kneel and beg the opponent to grant you victory..."

"In your dreams!" Shen Qingming firmly declared, "It's not just about winning this match, but winning decisively, leaving Qian Yue completely humiliated!"

Wang Jiu said, "Honestly, I don't think there's any need for such meaningless revenge."

"Your family's mount was bullied like that, and you plan to swallow your anger!? Would you like me to make you a sword tassel with green leaves?!"

Wang Jiu found it inexplicable but accepted Shen Qingming's request: "Fine, I'll try to utilize the limited conditions to create an advantage on the field to earn you a vain victory, to satisfy your revenge psychology from being intellectually oppressed."

"No need to explain in such detail!" Shen Qingming was practically grinding her teeth, "Besides, it's just a Qian Yue, is it necessary to be so serious? Her strength isn't even that great."

Wang Jiu said, "Not strong enough, how could she possibly make it to the top 32? Intelligence is equally a part of strength, and Qian Yue, even though her True Essence Realm might be a level lower, is still worthy of attention due to her intelligence advantage. By the way, from another perspective, don't become blindly optimistic due to recent smooth advancements in Immovable Tyrant Body and True Essence Realm..."

"I know because I'm stupid! Now let's get on the field quickly!"

——

The moment Shen Qingming stepped onto the arena, she lost control of her body, and from this step onward, Wang Jiu took over completely.

After driving the number one mount to settle into position, Wang Jiu waited quietly for the referee to announce the start of the match.

The referee for this match was an old lady with a stern face, dressed entirely in black. If not for the exposed head and gray long hair, Wang Jiu would've mistaken it for some sort of special outfit destined to get beaten.

Once both parties were in place, the old lady spoke for the final confirmation, "Are you ready?"

Wang Jiu drove Shen Qingming to nod, while on the other side, Qian Yue raised her hand high, "Reporting, I'm not ready yet!"

The old lady instantly had a murderous impulse in her gaze, "Hurry up! Five minutes later, no matter what, I'll announce the match start!"

"Got it!" Qian Yue sweetly smiled, then said to Shen Qingming, "Let's make a deal."

"Not interested!" Shen Qingming rudely refused, then returned a mocking smile, "It's probably about trying to bribe me with money to give up the match."

"Not at all," Qian Yue denied, "I've nearly used up my pocket money, and I don't want to sell property just for one match—after all, those are my and Mr. Wang Jiu's future matrimonial home—so I'm not planning to buy you off."

"I really don't know how to comment on your insane delusions, but either way, save it. I will not make any deal with you." Shen Qingming said, then instructed Wang Jiu through the Mind Passage, "Later, don't listen to what she says."

Qian Yue said, "Afraid the intelligence gap is too big, that I'll deceive you?"

"Absolutely not!" Shen Qingming declared forcefully.

"Then why don't you even have the courage to listen to what I have to say?" Qian Yue shrugged, "If you feel it's not worth it, you can refuse. If you can't figure it out yourself, you can ask Mr. Wang Jiu for help."

Shen Qingming gritted her teeth for a long time, then spoke, "Go ahead."

Qian Yue giggled and said, "That's right, at least hear me out. You see, I know I'm not your match, so this round I'm planning to concede."

"What!?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Qian Yue said, "Making it to the top 32 is already beyond my expectations. Eliminating Li Chaolu in the second round was a close call, and round three was pure luck as I advanced due to a contestant's withdrawal. Now, with luck running out, I'm facing a champion favorite. I don't aspire to go further."

Shen Qingming frowned, "Then why don't you just concede?"

"Conceding is certain, but I can't do it for free. The Qian Family's motto is to dig out profit opportunities from everything. So, I thought, why don't you buy me off, offer me some incentive, and I'll willingly concede, saving you the trouble."

"...In your dreams!" Shen Qingming was simply furious, "You're clearly weaker, yet want me to give you benefits!? Are you in your right mind!?"

Qian Yue also frowned slightly, "Ah, indeed, I didn't consider your intelligence and comprehension ability, explained inadequately. So, do you need me to explain it all over again?"

"No need! I'll figure it out myself!" Shen Qingming was dying to punch Qian Yue in the face but now wasn't the time for anger. Thinking it through, what Qian Yue intended was likely...

Wang Jiu suggested, "She's trying to say that considering each time after battle you leave with severe injuries, if she voluntarily concedes, it could spare you an ordeal. Then use this as a bargaining chip to trade with you."

"...Thanks, but I didn't need your reminder!" Shen Qingming felt mixed emotions, "Let her dream, expecting me to fall for such a low-level trap?!"

Then, Shen Qingming coldly laughed a few times and said to Qian Yue, "Don't think I care about a few flesh wounds... If I really agreed to your deal, I'd immediately be judged as engaging in a shady transaction by the referee, losing match eligibility along with you. That would instantly reduce the Li Family's champion favorite by one, also cutting down one competitor for your Qian Family. Haha, such skillful planning, I wonder how much money you'd extort from your father? Fine and delicate calculations, yet unfortunately, all wishful thinking! I won't make any deal with you, wait till the match starts to be taken down by me!"

After speaking, Shen Qingming closed her eyes and told Wang Jiu, "I won't be speaking from now on, just fight with all your might."

"Okay."

Yet before the dialogue between the master and servant was complete, Qian Yue started laughing lightly.

"Haha, just as I thought, I knew you'd refuse, but this confirms a speculation of mine. Little Sister Qingming, you can talk with Mr. Wang Jiu during the match, right?"

Shen Qingming used all her effort to keep her facial expression unaffected, but inside, she was already stirred like raging waves.

The master-servant relationship with Wang Jiu was known only by a few within the Li Family. Even Li Wanqing had only learned of it recently. How could Qian Yue know!?

"Hmm, it looks calm, but your heart must have jumped. Your relationship with Mr. Wang Jiu is so secretive; how do I know? Actually, it's simple, I tested it out."

Qian Yue's face was full of malicious delight.

"That previous deal, without Mr. Wang Jiu's hint, even if you refused, you couldn't articulate that reasoning for refusal. Being able to instantly see through my intent surely came from Mr. Wang Jiu's on-the-spot guidance. If you directly said you were annoyed hence didn't want to deal, I would rather believe that was purely your own decision."

Shen Qingming was absolutely dumbfounded! What kind of lousy theory is this! I clearly thought of this myself!

"Don't say it's purely your own idea; I won't believe it."

"I..." I really want to curse!

But Qian Yue was increasingly delighted, "Hehe, although I lost the match, yet I learned an important secret, it was worth it!"

After speaking, Qian Yue openly said to the referee old lady who had been waiting impatiently, "Sister, I'm conceding!"

The old lady being called sister had her wrinkles melt away like snow in early spring, nodded with a smile: "Good, work hard in the future, don't waste your achievements."

"Certainly!" Qian Yue nodded, then smiled towards Shen Qingming, "Mr. Wang Jiu, I'm coming to find you!"

"Do not come!"