The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 579: Your Sister!

Your Sister! . . .

Ling Wuxie displayed a disinterested expression and responded, "Don't play this game with me. I don't believe it. Besides dan-making, I doubt he possesses anything that could truly astonish me."

Master Bai, on the other hand, remained unwavering. "I trust my judgment. You'll see for yourself, Wuxie. You'll see."

"I've never been mistaken in my ability to read people."

Ling Wuxie raised an eyebrow, humor in his tone. "Shall we make a wager?"

Master Bai inquired, "What sort of wager do you have in mind?"

"Well," Ling Wuxie chuckled, "if I lose, I'll grant you ownership of one shop on Star River Street. If you lose, you'll present me with a single drop of Star Tear. What do you say?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Master Bai agreed. "Deal."

"Agreed?"

"Agreed."

The two brothers exchanged three claps of their hands to finalize the bet. Their demeanor suggested that they had wagered nothing more than a single silver coin. Unbeknownst to anyone else, the stakes involved in this wager were exceedingly valuable.

A shop on Star River Street represented a lucrative source of income in the Human Realm Upon Heavens, sought after by all. Ownership of such a shop virtually guaranteed financial prosperity. Even East Heaven King's most loyal generals struggled to obtain one casually.

On the other hand, the Star Tear was a priceless treasure. A mere drop could elevate one's cultivation experience by eight thousand years. While it might not be swiftly absorbed, it would remain steadily within the body, ensuring that one did not explode due to its immense energy. Star Tears were the East Heaven's most valuable items, available solely to members of the royal family.

Although both wagers were incredibly precious, the two men had made the bet nonchalantly.

"Let's make one thing clear, though. You can't inform Feng Monarch," Master Bai cautioned. "And you can't resort to any tricks that may influence him. Fair play."

Ling Wuxie was taken aback. "Do you really think so poorly of me?"

Master Bai retorted, "What else should I think of you? Aren't you truly that devious?"

Ling Wuxie became vexed. "Can't you refrain from dwelling on that one incident? I did it just once in my entire life..."

"Once is more than enough," Master Bai responded curtly. "While I was in the Land of Han-Yang, I learned that the first impression you form of a person, even a child as young as three years old, often proves accurate. No matter when, even a billion years from now, I'll never forget what you did during that time."

He gazed disdainfully at Ling Wuxie. "You worthless swindler!"

"Me? Worthless swindler?" Ling Wuxie was stunned, momentarily speechless.

"One should never commit such a mistake," Master Bai continued, his voice quivering with emotion. "Particularly not with a scoundrel like you. Once you ensnared me in your trap, my entire existence was marred..."

The root of Ling Wuxie's inhibition in Master Bai's presence was a phrase uttered by Bai Chen, Master Bai's sister. The phrase in question was none other than 'Your sister!', though it actually referred to Ling Wuxie's female cousin. This incident occurred a long time ago when they placed a bet: the task was to make the most distant lady in the realm smile with a single sentence. Master Bai lost the bet, and the embarrassing phrase continued to haunt Ling Wuxie to this day.

The bet's outcome was singular: Ling Wuxie emerged as the victor, successfully claiming his rightful half drop of Star Tear from Master Bai. This seemingly harmless outcome had far-reaching repercussions. East Heaven King, Bai Chen's father, meted out severe punishment to Bai Chen for losing the precious substance.

The half drop of Star Tear had a profound impact on Ling Wuxie, dominating his thoughts from that point onward. To Master Bai's confusion, he couldn't fathom how Ling Wuxie had won. The young lady in question was renowned as an enigmatic beauty who had never been seen smiling, even after numerous attempts by admirers.

Master Bai viewed their bet as a casual pastime, never expecting anyone to win. Yet, to his astonishment, Ling Wuxie emerged victorious. However, Bai Chen had gone to great lengths to craft a humorous joke, and while others found it uproarious, the lady's stoic demeanor remained unchanged.

Ling Wuxie, in a surprisingly cheeky move, casually approached the reserved beauty and asked, "Hello, beauty... Am I not handsome?" Miraculously, she smiled, marking the end of the wager, and in doing so, Bai Chen's loss and Ling Wuxie's win.

The victory appeared utterly implausible to Bai Chen, who couldn't comprehend why the young lady had smiled in response to such a simple, albeit unsophisticated, compliment.

Upon receiving a stern rebuke from East Heaven King, Bai Chen sought solace and answers from his mother, Meng Huaiqin, but instead, he received a second scolding. This time, her disapproval was not centered on his loss of the Star Tear, but rather his impulsive decision to engage in a wager without fully understanding the circumstances.

His mother chastised him, berating, "You fool! She is Ling Wuxie's cousin! She was aware of your intentions all along, and you foolishly accepted her challenge! If you had won, it would have been truly astounding! How could you engage in a bet without fully comprehending the conditions? I'm not angry because you lost the Star Tear; I'm upset because I have such a foolish son."

This castigation left an indelible impact on Bai Chen, instilling a sense of anger and frustration within him. Despite the passage of time, he remained deeply perturbed by his mother's words.

Ling Wuxie had been the one to propose the wager, and his cousin's involvement had added an unforeseen layer of complexity that Bai Chen couldn't have anticipated.

Frustration and anger marred his relationship with Ling Wuxie, and his friend couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt over the entire situation.

Whenever they engaged in arguments, regardless of the validity of their respective positions, Bai Chen wielded two words like a weapon, capable of silencing Ling Wuxie instantly. Those two words were "your sister."

In the context of their shared history, these two words possessed a potent and cutting significance that surpassed the impact of any mere profanity.