The Abandoned Wife’s Rebirth - Chap 149
The fourth level practitioners’ competition officially began. All the competitors went up onto the competition platform. Just as the third level practitioners’ competition, everyone looked for their own clan members and lined up accordingly.
With the lesson from the previous competition, the Gaoling City Wu family members were a lot more well-behaved this time around. They had also teamed up with each other a lot more, and were more quick-witted. They cooperated with each other against their enemies and had mixed themselves into the Huangdu City Wu family’s group. If the Song, Zhang, Yao and Shang family members wanted to kill them, they had to first prioritize not harming the Huangdu City Wu family members. In the end, they could only focus on fighting against the other five families’ people2.
Although three people of the Gaoling City Wu family had still died after one joss stick’s time, but the majority of them were still able to retreat off of the competition platform unscathed. They left this place that made them feel scared and anguished, and returned to the sub-hall to rest.
When Wu Ruo and the others saw Wu Xi coming off the platform, they all sighed in relief in that instant.
Wu Xi said softly, with fear lingering: “After participating in this competition once, I don’t want to participate in it a second time. This doesn’t seem like a competition at all. On the contrary, it seems like a massacre, everyone is fighting to the death.”
Just now, there were quite a few times when she had almost been struck. Fortunately, she had been able to narrowly dodge them all.
Wu Chenliu patted her shoulder: “As long as you’re alright.”
Wu Xi looked toward Wu Qianqing: “Dad, during the fifth level practitioners’ competition later, you have to be careful.”
Wu Qianqing nodded.
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Wu Chenliu said: “There aren’t many fifth level practitioners in the Gaoling City Wu family, they probably won’t waste too much of their energy dealing with all of you. However, it’s still better to be safe than sorry3.”
His words here were quite logical but Wu Ruo felt that if Wu Chenzi was especially targeting him, then Wu Chenzi would definitely also get people to specifically target his family members.
After half a shichen, the fourth level practitioners’ competition concluded with the Wu family winning. Closely after, it was the fifth level practitioners’ competition.
After Wu Qianqing went up onto the platform, he stood together with Wu Bofang and seventeen other elders.
“After one joss stick’s time, hurry off the platform.” Wu Bofang quietly said. After that, he led all of them to stick close to the Huangdu City Wu family members.
The copper gong rang and the competition began. The Gaoling City Wu elders put up five consecutive defensive arrays, but two practitioners still easily broke through their defences and attacked them. Wu Bofang’s expression changed slightly. He clearly sensed that the other party’s cultivation levels were above theirs, and their skills were relatively powerful. The fortunate thing was that the two practitioners only attacked Wu Qianqing and not them.
He and the other elders hurriedly helped Wu Qianqing to defend for a few moves, but their abilities were not equal to their ambition and so they could only retreat to a safe spot: “Qianqing, be careful!”
Wu Xi saw that Wu Qianqing was being forced to retreat consecutively, yet Wu Bofang and the others weren’t helping him. She was angry, anxious and worried: “Dad! You must be careful!”
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Wu Ruo instantly narrowed a cold gaze: “The cultivation level of the people attacking Dad probably isn’t just the fifth level.”
“Hn. They’re at least the sixth level.” Wu Chenliu said.
Wu Xi said, both shocked and angry: “Sixth level? How did sixth level practitioners get mixed in with the fifth level group?”
Wu Chenliu explained: “When they were evaluated and registered, they really were only fifth level practitioners. They waited until after they had registered to raise their cultivation level. This sort of situation has happened before in the past, but it’s not common. The average person will immediately raise their cultivation level as soon as possible, and they won’t purposefully suppress their own spiritual energy. So, the competition rules do allow this sort of situation to occur, and also allow someone who has just raised their cultivation level to remain in the competition at the level that they had registered for.”
“How could this be?” Wu Xi was so angered that she stomped her feet.
Wu Chenliu looked toward Wu Ruo, and said with a frown: “Your entire family has probably been locked in on. The previous five competitions didn’t bear your name, but it may not be the same for the later four competitions.”
Wu Xi was so anxious that she was about to cry: “Then won’t erge die like this?”
How could a common person survive the attacks of practitioners higher than the sixth level?
Wu Ruo opened his mouth, seeming as if he wanted to say something, when someone next to them shouted urgently: “That person’s dead for sure!”
Wu Xi and the others quickly looked toward the competition platform, and were met with the sight of Wu Qianqing crashing to the ground.
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“Dad, Dad! Are you okay?!” Wu Xi called out agitatedly.
The practitioner attacking Wu Qianqing didn’t give him the opportunity to take a breather. They controlled their summoned spirit to attack at Wu Qianqing. Their demeanour was aggressive and brutal. It seemed simply as though they wished to strike Wu Qianqing dead in a single move.
Wu Xi’s expression was pale, she screeched in a panic: “Dad———!”
Wu Chenliu also didn’t want to see his disciple’s father dying during the competition. He quickly mustered his spiritual energy but just as he was about to help Wu Qianqing, suddenly, a white silhouette rapidly tunneled out of Wu Qianqing’s waist pouch. The silhouette swept towards Wu Qianqing’s attacker and their summoned spirit.
“Ah——!” The two practitioners who had been attacking Wu Qianqing let out pathetic cries, flying off of the competition platform and meeting violent deaths on the spot.
Wu Chenzi, who had been sitting somewhere else to spectate, instantly stood up and stared fixedly at everything that was happening on the platform.
Everyone was stunned, discussing with surprise among each other.
“What was that?”
“Was that a magical equipment? But didn’t they say magical equipment couldn’t be used?”
“Using a magical equipment to survive isn’t strange.”
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“He’ll probably be punished for breaking the rules?”
“All of you, look quick! It’s not a magical equipment!”
The white silhouette returned to Wu Qianqing’s side, perched atop his shoulder. Everyone fixed their eyes on the sight: it was a tiny dog that was only the size of a palm.
“Is it a dog? But it doesn’t look quite like one either.”
“It’s probably a beast pet.”
“Are beast pets allowed in the competition?”
“According to the rules of the previous competitions, beast pets are allowed to be brought along. Other people have also brought beast pets into the competition in the past. On top of that, the rules this time never said anything about not allowing beast pets.”
When Wu Xi saw that Wu Qianqing was alright, she was so happy that she burst into tears: “That’s wonderful! Dad is alright.”
Those two practitioners had died, so there shouldn’t be anyone else purposefully attacking her dad anymore.
“Erge, what kind of Yao beast is that standing on Dad’s shoulder? When did Dad start raising a pet like that?”
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Wu Ruo replied: “That’s Jiaojiao.”
Wu Xi said, shocked: “Jiaojiao can turn himself so small?!”
Wu Chenliu said: “Yao beasts’ corporeal bodies can be enlarged and shrunk at will. It’s a relief that your dad was witty enough to hide a Yao beast on himself.”
Wu Xi shook her head no: “No, it wasn’t my dad who did that; my dad can’t command Jiaojiao. Erge, it was you, wasn’t it? You were the one who told Jiaojiao to hide in Dad’s waist pouch, right?”
Wu Ruo nodded in admittance: “There’s one on you as well.”
It was precisely because he was worried about accidents happening, that was why he’d gotten Jiaojiao and the others to hide in his dad’s waist pouch.
“There’s one on me too?” Wu Xi looked down at the pouch on her waist in disbelief and was met with the sight of it twitching, then a little bird’s head tunneled out of it: “Jiujiu——!”
She said delightedly: “It’s Jiujiu! Erge, that’s wonderful! Later on, no matter which level’s competition you participate in, you only have to bring Jiaojiao and Jiujiu along with you, then you can hide from the other practitioners’ attacks!”
Wu Ruo said, pregnant with meaning: “In the next round of the competition, Yao beasts might not be allowed.”
On the competition platform, Wu Qianqing looked at the Yao beast on his shoulder in shock. It was only a long while later that he recognized it as Jiaojiao.
Wu Bofang saw that the danger for Wu Qianqing had been resolved, so he hurriedly went forth to help Wu Qianqing up.
Wu Qianqing gave a word of thanks, but showed no sign of letting Wu Bofang help him and climbed to his feet by himself.
Wu Bofang hastily said: “Qianqing, just now, we…”
Wu Qianqing interrupted him: “Grandfather doesn’t have to say anything, Qianqing understands.”
He could sympathise with Wu Bofang and the others’ fear of death, however, their behaviour deeply disappointed him. So, he really didn’t want to bother with these people. Once a joss stick’s time had passed, he quickly exited the competition platform.
Wu Xi hurriedly asked: “Dad, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Wu Qianqing put on a comforting smile, but after that, his expression turned heavy: “Those people clearly wanted to kill me, so who’s the one who wants me dead?”
Wu Chenliu said: “They’re probably in cahoots with the people who want to kill the Gaoling City Wu family members.”
Wu Qianqing: “…”
If it was really Wu Chenzi who wanted to kill them, then it really wouldn’t be an easy matter to deal with. They had no power within Huangdu City, and none of their spiritual levels was as high as Wu Chenzi. The entire situation was very unfavourable for them.
Wu Ruo could roughly guess Wu Qianqing’s line of thought: “We’ll block enemies with troops, and block floods with soil4.”
Wu Qianqing nodded in agreement.
If Wu Chenzi wanted to kill them, then no matter where they went, Wu Chenzi would send people after them to take their lives. There was no reason not to face his attacks straight on, and come up with solutions to all of Wu Chenzi’s schemes.
“Erge, this is for you.” Wu Xi took off her waist pouch and handed it to Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo looked at her curiously: “Why are you giving it to me?”
“Jiujiu’s inside here. Later when you have to compete, you can use him to deal with other practitioners.”
Wu Ruo didn’t want to refute her good intentions either, so he accepted the waist pouch.
Wu Qianqing carried Jiaojiao, who was splayed over his shoulder and yawning, down: “You were the one who told it to follow me, right?”
It was a relief that it had been around. Otherwise, he would’ve been dead for sure.
“Hn.”
Wu Qianqing handed Jiaojiao over to Wu Ruo: “Then you should bring it along with you as well. I’m worried that the later rounds will include you.”
Earlier on, when he had found out that the first level practitioners’ competition name list didn’t have Wu Ruo’s name on it, he had been quite relieved internally. Now that he thought about it, there was a chance that Wu Ruo had been swapped to a different round like Wu Chenzi. Furthermore, there was a possibility that Wu Chenzi had swapped his own match with Wu Ruo’s. If this was really the case, then things would be terrible. How could a person with no spiritual energy go against ninth level practitioners?
After half a shichen, the fifth level practitioners’ match ended with the Ling family winning.
After the winner came down from the competition platform, the judge quickly went up and said: “After the ten major families’ discussion just now, there’s not much of a difference between Yao beasts appearing during the match and the usage of magical equipment. Therefore, the proceeding matches will not allow the appearance of Yao beasts.”
Wu Ruo’s lips curled up at the ridiculous announcement. He had already predicted that it would turn out like this.
“How could this be?” Wu Xi shot a few glares at the judges.
Wu Qianqing frowned.
Wu Ruo returned Jiujiu and Jiaojiao to them: “Since Yao beasts aren’t allowed to battle, then I won’t be bringing them.”
There weren’t many people who raised Yao beasts. Besides, everyone hadn’t thought of bringing Yao beasts along with them from the start either. So when the judge announced this matter, there weren’t any opinions against it.
“I’ll go take a look and see if I’m in the next competition.” Wu Ruo turned around and returned to the sub-hall.
“Erge, I’ll go together with you.”
Wu Xi hurriedly followed after him.
When they arrived at the sub-hall, all of the Wu family’s sixth level practitioners were already waiting for the Wu family’s clan leader to take their attendance. As well, there were clearly less than half the number of people this time compared to the fifth level practitioners. It was clear that it wasn’t an easy feat to rise to the sixth level.
When Wu Ruo entered, it attracted everyone’s attention.
“Xiao-Ruo, how come you’ve come back to the sub-hall as well?” Wu Yu walked over and asked when he saw Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo smiled slightly: “I’m here to see if I’m included in the next round of competitions.”
Wu Shunren walked over and snorted coldly: “The next round is the sixth level practitioners’ match. As if a loser like you can participate too? Don’t embarrass yourself.”
“What are you trying to say?” Wu Xi blocked Wu Ruo behind her own body, fuming to high heaven. She glared at Wu Shunren angrily.
“I meant exactly what I said.”
Wu Yu looked at Wu Shunren helpessly: “Shunren…”
Wu Shunren snorted coldly.
At this moment, the Wu family’s clan leader entered.
1
兵来将挡，水来土掩 (bing lai jiang dang, shui lai tu yan): literally translates to ‘block enemies with troops, block floods with soil’. It means to use the appropriate measure for a situation, and to adjust measures according to the situation.
2
The Ling, Wen, Yun, Lu and Yan families.
3
万事要小心 (wan shi yao xiao xin): literally translates to ‘to be careful in ten thousand matters’. Or, to be careful in all the things that you do.
4
This is the same idiom as the chapter title, but I’ve opted to use the full form of it within the chapter text since the space allows for it.
