The Abandoned Wife’s Rebirth - Chap 150
“I’ll begin attendance-taking.” The Wu family’s clan leader said.
Wu Yu and Wu Shunren returned to the group of practitioners.
The Wu family’s clan leader looked down at the name list: “Wu Shunren…”
Wu Shunren quickly responded: “I’m here.”
The Wu family’s clan leader continued: “Wu Yanlan…”
Wu Yanlan responded: “I’m here.”
The Wu family’s clan leader continued calling out twenty over names before he reached Wu Yu: “Wu Yu…”
Wu Yu responded: “I’m here.”
Ruan Lanru, who had been resting at a side, said excitedly: “It’s our Xiao-Yu’s turn!”
Wu Qianli was both happy and worried. When he thought of the previous matches, he was still filled with grief and anguish. He was afraid that his son would be in danger.
Advertisement
The Wu family’s clan leader finally read out: “Wu Ruo——!”
With an uproar, everyone who knew Wu Ruo looked toward him.
Wu Shunren snorted coldly: “A person without spiritual energy like him participating in the sixth level competition is a guaranteed death, no doubt about it.”
Wu Xi said agitatedly: “When we were originally evaluated and registered, the competition that was written down had clearly been the first level competition! How could it become the sixth level practitioners’ match? My erge has no spiritual energy, if he goes up onto the competition platform, he’ll die! Clan Leader, please help him to explain the situation and don’t let my erge go up to fight!”
“I don’t know why Wu Ruo was written into the sixth level practitioners’ competition name list either.” The Wu family’s clan leader had a face full of confusion. He had clearly told the disciple in charge of registrations to place Wu Ruo to the eighth level practitioners’, how had it become the sixth level?
In the beginning, the reason why he had told the disciple to change Wu Ruo to the eighth level was because they had worried that Wu Ruo would be able to block the attacks of other practitioners’ with magical equipment. However, if Wu Ruo was placed in the ninth level match, as State Tutor, it wouldn’t have been appropriate for Wu Chenzi to ignore this junior in front of all and sundry. That was why they had chosen the eighth level. Luckily, with everyone’s agreement, the rule to forbid magical equipment had been set. Even if Wu Ruo had been changed to the sixth level, it wasn’t a big deal either. There was absolutely no way a crip who didn’t have spiritual energy could block the attacks of sixth level practitioners.
The Wu family’s clan leader said awkwardly: “You’ve all seen it for yourselves, even when Lord State Tutor wanted to change to a different match, it wasn’t allowed, much less others. So, it’s really not that I don’t want to help but that the other clan leaders don’t agree. If you really don’t want to participate, you can only skip the match and accept the punishment for doing so. However, I want to let all of you know, the punishment for skipping matches is extremely harsh. Those without spiritual energy absolutely won’t be able to endure it.”
Wu Xi’s expression was ugly: “Aren’t there any other ways to avoid participating in the competition?”
Advertisement
Wu Ruo patted Wu Xi’s shoulder: “I had better participate. I believe my wuge will protect me well. Wuge, isn’t that right?”
He looked toward Wu Yu.
Wu Yu was stunned. Under everyone’s attention, he nodded his head in agreement.
Wu Shunren glared at Wu Ruo angrily, and was just about to say something when he heard someone saying sharply: “Wu Ruo, my Xiao-Yu is aiming to win the competition. Why should he sacrifice this opportunity to protect you?”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. Ruan Lanru stood up agitatedly, facing in Wu Ruo’s direction and she said angrily: “If you don’t have the skills, then you should obediently go and accept the clan’s punishment. Don’t go for the competition and hold my Xiao-Yu back!”
Wu Ruo looked at her with a pained expression: “Erbomu, these words of yours are really very hurtful. Wuge only has to protect me for the duration of one joss stick, then I’ll be able to safely get off the competition platform. After that, I won’t hinder him from competing. Can it be that wuge can’t even do something like this? Erbomu, would you so ruthlessly watch me be punished to death? Isn’t that a bit too heartless? After I die, I don’t see how any of you would benefit.”
The last sentence carried a bit of a reminder. If Wu Ruo were to die, then the imperial edict would become invalid1. Then they could forget about continuing to hang around at the Huangdu Wu estate to recuperate from their injuries.
Wu Qianli wasn’t stupid and he immediately understood the meaning behind Wu Ruo’s words: “You, sit down. Isn’t it just protecting Xiao-Ruo for the duration of one joss stick? It’s not like it’s a big deal.”
Ruan Lanru replied infuriatedly: “It’s not like you don’t understand the dangers on the competition platform. What if Xiao-Yu gets injured protecting him?”
Wu Qianli: “…”
Advertisement
Just now, when he’d gone up on the competition platform, he had indeed experienced it. Those people simply wanted to take their lives. Now, their Xiao-Yu had made them proud by rising to the sixth level after much difficulty. He couldn’t afford to have his future ruined because of Wu Ruo.
“Now that his son has skills, they’re thinking of abandoning us.” Someone muttered faintly.
When the other Gaoling City Wu family members heard this, they immediately resented Wu Qianli and his wife. If something happened to Wu Ruo, Wu Qianli and Ruan Lanru could still rely on Wu Yu, who was becoming more and more successful. But who could the rest of them rely on?
Ruan Lanru’s expression was ghastly: “I just want my son to be safe and sound, is that so wrong?”
When Wu Yu saw that everyone’s criticisms toward Ruan Lanru were growing worse, he hurriedly spoke up to stop her: “Mum, that’s enough. I’ll work hard to protect myself well.”
After that, he turned around and said to Wu Ruo: “Xiao-Ruo, during the competition, it’ll be extremely chaotic. I can’t guarantee that I can protect you well, do you understand?”
“I understand.”
“Then let’s go.”
Wu Yu walked toward the entrance.
Wu Shunren hurriedly followed after him, asking in a low voice: “Are you really going to protect him?”
Advertisement
Wu Yu didn’t say anything. When Wu Shunren was about to assume that he was really going to protect Wu Ruo, Wu Yu suddenly said: “How could I do that?”
Wu Shunren broke into a grin: “I know what to do later.”
Wu Yu’s lips curled up.
Behind them, Wu Xi looked at Wu Ruo with a worried expression: “Erge, do you really believe that wuge will protect you?”
Ever since she had seen Wu Yu’s true colours, she no longer believed that Wu Yu would truly and sincerely help Wu Ruo.
“Xiao-Xi, you have to believe that I’m absolutely not as useless as you think I am.” Wu Ruo smiled as he brushed back her bangs, a harshness flashing in his gaze: “Watch and see. I won’t let you and Dad be disappointed.”
The two of them walked out of the sub-hall, and Wu Qianqing and Wu Chenliu walked over: “How did it go? Is Wu Ruo included this time?”
Wu Xi said, with reddened eyes: “Yes.”
Wu Qianqing was stunned. He opened his mouth and was about to tell Wu Ruo not to compete, but he also felt that it wasn’t quite possible, so he asked: “Xiao-Ruo, what do you plan to do?”
Wu Ruo said simply and assertively: “I’ll compete.”
Advertisement
Wu Chenliu said: “After you choose to compete, you must prioritise your own safety. Don’t bother about those rules that those people set. If you run into life-threatening danger, just take out your magical equipment and protect yourself. Don’t foolishly let others attack you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wu Qianqing was extremely worried, and he sighed: “You must be careful. When the time is right, use the things that your shifu gave to you.”
“Hn.”
The Wu family’s clan leader only came out of the sub-hall after Wu Ruo and the others had left the main hall. He headed over to where Wu Chenzi was spectating the competition: “Lord State Tutor, Wu Ruo is part of the sixth level match.”
Wu Chenzi glanced at him: “Have you arranged everything properly?”
“Yes, sir.”
Wu Chenzi narrowed a cold gaze: “I hope there won’t be any mistakes this time.”
During the fifth level match, they clearly could’ve killed Wu Qianqing, but a powerful Yao beast suddenly appeared and caused him to lose two talents.
“There won’t be any mistakes. Once the competition begins, they will immediately kill Wu Ruo.”
“Very good.”
Wu Chenzi watched as Wu Ruo went up onto the competition platform with the other competitors.
Wu Ruo’s unparalled beauty very quickly attracted the attention of everyone present. They were all discussing the identity of this person with a beautiful appearance.
When Ling Mohan, who was sitting among the royals, saw Wu Ruo, he almost lost his composure and almost jumped to his feet in shock. On the day that Wu Ruo had registered for the competition, he had received information that Wu Ruo had clearly registered for the first level practitioners’ match. Previously, when he hadn’t seen Wu Ruo competing, he had even thought that Wu Ruo’s participation had been cancelled because he didn’t have spiritual energy. Afterward, Ling Mohan had sent someone to check it out and found out that Wu Ruo was actually going to be part of the sixth level match.
Ling Mohan had originally thought that with Wu Ruo’s smarts, he wouldn’t stupidly deliver himself to his own death by competing. However, he had never thought that Wu Ruo would run onto the competition platform so boldly.
As the number of competitors for the sixth level match had lessened by more than half of that of the fifth level match, Hei Xuanyi and the others who were sitting in the spectator stands could spot Wu Ruo within a short span of time. In order to watch the competition, they had spent a huge sum of money before they were able to get good seats.
“It’s Daddy, it’s Daddy!” Dandan madly jumped around all over Hei Xuantang’s body in excitement.
Hei Xuantang quickly made him sit down: “I saw him, I saw him too. My dear little ancestor2, please don’t jump anymore. My legs are about to be broken by all your jumping.”
Dandan pouted.
Nu Mu asked worriedly: “What’s Xiao-Ruo doing in the sixth level match?”
A year ago, he’d only just helped to cure Wu Ruo of his gu parasite. It had only been a short period of time since then, was Wu Ruo already so powerful? Or had Little Hei given Wu Ruo some kind of miracle pill to consume, so that he could rise to the sixth level in a short period of time?
Hei Xuanyi said: “I don’t know.”
He truly didn’t know the specifics of the situation. On the registration day, after Wu Ruo had come back, infuriated, he hadn’t mentioned which level’s competition he would be participating in at all.
Guan Tong was also a little worried.
The third, fourth and fifth level matches were all so dangerous, much less the sixth level practitioners’ match. Although she knew that Wu Ruo had spiritual energy, but not having practical battle experience or having an insufficiently low cultivation level was also a huge trouble. If it weren’t because she couldn’t speak about her maternal clan or its secret techniques, she wouldn’t be this anxious either.
“Dage, dasao will definitely win, right?” Hei Xuantang lamented: “I bet all my assets on dasao, if he doesn’t win, I’ll have to sip on the Northwestern wind3. In the future, I’ll have to rely on dage for my wife’s bride price.”
Dandan excitedly turned around and said to his own sishu: “I also betted on Daddy winning!”
Hei Xuantang raised an eyebrow: “Where did you get the money to do that?”
Although his dage and dasao doted dearly on their child, but the child was still young. They had never given their son money to spend. They were always just buying whatever their son needed.
Dandan said smugly: “I used Jiujiu’s red packet money. After I win the money, we’ll split it 50:50.”
Hei Xuantang asked curiously: “Where did Jiujiu get red packet money from?”
“Father gave it to him!”
Hei Xuantang said, surprised: “Dage, you actually gave that big beast red packet money?!”
Hei Xuanyi: “…”
Nu Mu patted Hei Xuantang’s shoulder: “Don’t make a fuss. They’re about to begin.”
On the competition platform, Wu Ruo walked straight to Wu Yanlan’s side.
Wu Yanlan turned to glance at him and squared his shoulders in a slightly arrogant manner. However, he didn’t intend to avoid Wu Ruo, nor did he seem to want to chase Wu Ruo away.
The corners of Wu Ruo’s lips curled up slightly, broadening into a beautiful curve. A brilliant light seemed to shine from his obsidian-like eyes. He seemed like a white lotus that had only bloomed after slumbering deeply for a thousand years. He was so beautiful that Wu Yanlan was distracted and dazed.
Wu Ruo waved at Wu Yu: “Wuge, come over quickly! Let’s work together.”
Wu Yu: “…”
Wu Shunren: “…”
Wu Yanlan: “…”
In the past, Wu Yanlan had seen Wu Ruo when he was at his fattest. At that time, he had been shocked that a person could be so fat. Later on, he had been extremely sympathetic toward Wu Ruo. He had already been that fat, yet they had even married him off to a man. However, when Wu Yanlan saw Wu Ruo again, he had been stunned by his beauty to the point where he had even mistaken Wu Ruo for a maiden. He had been deeply attracted to Wu Ruo, so when he found out that Wu Ruo had been the fatty from the Gaoling City Wu family, he was thunderstruck. Even now, he still couldn’t believe that a person could become such a stunning beauty after losing weight. So, all this time, he couldn’t find it in himself to hate this crip without spiritual energy.
When Wu Yanlan’s companion saw that he didn’t speak up to chase this person away, it wasn’t appropriate for them to say anything harsh either.
Wu Yu and Wu Shunren met each other’s eyes: “Shall we go over?”
Wu Shunren considered it: “Let’s go.”
The previous few matches had already revealed murderous intent, so this match was not a joke either. It was still better to group up with as many people as possible. As for Wu Ruo, they didn’t care whether he was alive or dead.
Wu Yu walked over to Wu Ruo’s side and looked at Wu Yanlan strangely. This person had always been haughty and arrogant, why would he let Wu Ruo tag along with him?
Wu Shunren and a few other companions also walked over. Suddenly, with a clang, the gong was struck and the judge yelled: “The competition begins—!”
The moment the words were said, the people on the competition platform immediately unleashed ferocious flames of attacks.
The person who had been bribed by Wu Chenzi directly mustered their utmost spiritual energy and attacked Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo quickly hid behind Wu Yanlan.
Wu Yanlan’s companion quickly intercepted this attack. With a loud ‘ping’ sound, the spiritual energy exploded apart. Everyone in the vicinity was forced back several steps by the concussive force.
“Fuck, they’re so aggressive from the start.” Wu Yanlan’s companion said angrily.
Wu Yanlan said: “It’s practically a fight to the death.”
Wu Chenzi, who was watching all of this from the spectator stands, frowned deeply. That Wu Ruo was really quite quick-witted and actually knew to hide behind his great-grandson. If he had known this would be the case, he would’ve reminded Wu Yanlan not to bother with Wu Ruo. However, because he hadn’t handled Wu Yuxue’s matters well a while back, Wu Yuchu, Song Yan and Wu Yanlan all had some resentment towards him, so they had been avoiding him lately.
Wu Yanlan’s companion said, feeling that it was peculiar: “Aren’t they from the Yao family? Why are they attacking us? Shouldn’t they attack the Lu, Yan, Yun, Ling and Wen family members first?”
“Perhaps the Yao family is bearing a grudge against us because of my xiaogugu‘s matter.” Wu Yanlan narrowed his eyes: “Regardless, if they attack us again, then we don’t have to be too polite with them either4.”
“Hn.”
The person who had been bribed to kill Wu Ruo was internally especially gloomy. The person who had bribed him was State Tutor Wu, but State Tutor Wu’s great-grandson kept protecting Wu Ruo. What was all this about? How were they supposed to kill Wu Ruo? How were they to be responsible if they accidentally injured State Tutor Wu’s great-grandson?
“What do I do?” The person who was supposed to kill Wu Ruo asked their companion: “A joss stick’s time is going to go by very quickly. When the time comes and Wu Ruo gets off of the competition platform, then we won’t have any other opportunities to act.”
Their companion’s expression was also ambivalent.
Their other companion said: “Later, we just have to attack Wu Ruo. I believe the Wu family members won’t be so stupid as to not understand our actions. When they realize this, perhaps they won’t protect him anymore.”
“Alright.”
They attacked toward Wu Ruo once more. However, their attacks were extremely gentle. Their goal was to let Wu Yanlan and the others understand that they wanted to target Wu Ruo.
Wu Yanlan and the others weren’t stupid either. They very quickly understood their intentions.
Wu Yanlan’s companion said: “It seems like they want to kill Wu Ruo.”
Wu Yanlan turned back to glance at Wu Ruo: “Did you offend them?”
Wu Ruo looked at him innocently: “You know that I haven’t been in Huangdu City for long, so how could I have offended someone from the ten major families?”
“Then why would they want to kill you?”
“I also want to know that as well. Why don’t you ask them for me later? How about that?”
Wu Yanlan: “…”
When Wu Yu heard their conversation, his gaze flickered slightly.
1
The imperial edict was bestowed upon Wu Ruo, which means that if he dies, then the terms of the imperial edict would be null.
2
In case anyone is confused, Hei Xuantang is being fondly sarcastic. He doesn’t actually mean that Dandan is his ancestor.
3
喝西北风 (he xi bei feng): meaning to suffer from the cold and hunger, to become destitute. The literal translation was such an interesting expression, I decided to leave it in.
4
Wu Yanlan is referring to minding the alliance/ties between their families, so they’re refraining from being too harsh with each other even during the competition.
