Master, they are clearly targeting you. If my abilities weren't suppressed by the rules, I would have helped you uncover their plot long ago.
The Dayan monarch and his ministers: Blushing with shame JPG.
Especially the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, You Mingmin. These people were right under his nose, yet his subordinates failed to detect their scheming.
To form an alliance secretly under his watch... could it be since that time in Peach Blossom Lane...
"The State Preceptor of Muyang is correct. This Junior Mentor has no intention of shying away from a challenge. It's just that without some interesting stakes, this Junior Mentor lacks the enthusiasm for a contest."
A faint smile played on her lips as she glanced around at the group. "So, esteemed guests, let's agree on the stakes first. It's not too late to decide how to compete afterwards."
Otherwise, what if these people got cold feet when she announced what the contest would be!
Tai Li stroked his thick beard. "I wonder what we might possess that could catch Junior Mentor Yue's eye. Please, speak freely."
Yue Fuguang shook her head. "This Junior Mentor's life is quite comfortable; there's nothing I particularly lack."
She paced back and forth on the steps, her small hands clasped behind her back, as if deep in thought.
Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of something amusing. Smiling, she said to Emperor Mingxi, "This Junior Mentor wants to play something interesting. The stakes should come from Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to part with them?"
Emperor Mingxi understood. He knew the Junior Mentor was setting a trap for someone, so he absolutely couldn't drop the ball.
He declared clearly, "Junior Mentor, just name it. As long as it exists within our Great Dayan, I, your emperor, will grant it."
Yue Fuguang turned and asked the Minister of War, Huo Ying, "Minister Huo, does the Ministry of War have any maps, even the simplest kind will do?"
Huo Ying immediately replied, "Junior Mentor, this official has one right here."
As he spoke, he didn't send anyone to fetch it from the Ministry of War. Instead, he pulled a map from inside his robe. The map was over two feet long.
The mountains, rivers, and geography within Dayan's borders were quite vague, with some areas completely absent. However, the neighboring countries... one couldn't say they were extremely detailed, but one could certainly distinguish which place was which.
The moment Huo Ying produced the map, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
Everyone looked at him with astonishment. What kind of proper person carries a map around in their robe all day? And drawing the rivals' territories more clearly than one's own? What was the intention?
Huo Ying: Intending to fight! Besides, it's a personal hobby, nothing to make a fuss about!
Ignoring their meaningful glances, Yue Fuguang spread the map on the table. "How about we each put up a piece of land as the stakes?"
Upon hearing her proposal, everyone present who wasn't already in the know gasped in shock.
This Dayan Junior Mentor had such a big appetite? Opening her mouth and demanding land as a wager? Was land something they could decide on?
"Junior Mentor, this is rather putting us in a difficult position. Unless our emperors give their consent, who among us would dare to wager land?"
"Exactly. If the Junior Mentor sincerely wishes for a contest, perhaps you could choose something else."
Yue Fuguang seemed to remember this point only then. With an expression of sudden realization, she said to the princes and princesses, "Look at me, I forgot you haven't ascended the throne yet and cannot make decisions for your own countries."
The Princes and Princesses: You know it, no need to say it out loud!
Such blunt truths are not something everyone enjoys hearing!
She looked at the map and asked Huo Ying with feigned curiosity, "Minister Huo, where is this place? Why isn't its belonging to any country marked?"
Huo Ying said, "Junior Mentor, this area lies at the junction of Dayan, Western Qiang, and Northern Li. Because ownership is undetermined, it's currently a no-man's-land."
"State Preceptors Tai Li and Muyang, why not ask your princes if they have the authority over this land? Can it be used as a wager?"
Beiyue and Xi Yan: We are right here. You could ask us directly. Having the state preceptors relay the message, who are you looking down on?
Without needing intermediaries, the two princes spoke in unison, "We can!"
"Then it's settled. The three of us will use this land as the stake. Whoever wins takes the land!"
"Now that our three parties have stakes, have you two seniors from Nanzhao and Nanyue thought of anything of comparable value to match this piece of land?"
Ji Po and Wu Yun both looked towards their respective prince and princess.
Lan Xuan'er said, "My Nanzhao can offer twenty thousand sheep as the wager."
Prince Qi Yun of Nanyue said, "Same as Nanzhao, twenty thousand sheep."
Yue Fuguang nodded in agreement. "If Dayan loses, we will likewise give you twenty thousand sheep." What followed was Yue Fuguang, as the banker, drawing up a contract with the others. Yes, this was also Yue Fuguang's requirement.
She didn't trust these princes, princesses, shamans, and state preceptors who hadn't yet taken power.
What if they lost, went back to their countries, and their emperors reneged?
When Yue Fuguang finally signed her name, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The few years of calligraphy practice in elementary and middle school hadn't completely been returned to the teacher.
Her most frequently practiced signature didn't let her show weakness in front of this 'allied' army.
Seeing her goal achieved, Yue Fuguang no longer held back. She stated directly, "Since we consider ourselves extraordinary individuals, we should undertake extraordinary deeds.
How about we borrow something from heaven? What do you think?"
"Borrow from heaven? Borrow what?" Tai Li looked utterly bewildered.
"Wind, rain, thunder, lightning, anything will do. Are you all willing?"
She glanced around at the group, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth. "Of course, you can withdraw if you wish. But, the stakes, I'll keep!"
"This... Fine! Let's agree first, I'll borrow the wind!" Muyang believed his internal energy was formidable; by channeling his energy, he could naturally stir up wind.
Clearly, the others had thought of this too. Although Yue Fuguang wasn't very familiar with their martial arts styles, she wasn't without a way to break the deadlock.
She said, "The power we borrow can be used to attack the opponent. The first one to fall loses."
Muyang, Wu Yun, Ji Po, and Tai Li exchanged glances, a silent understanding already reached.
Yue Fuguang and the Dayan monarch and ministers saw everything. Some wanted to speak up to stop it, but Yue Fuguang silently waved them back.
"Little Zhu, I told you you'd get to zap people randomly. Well, here's the chance. When you strike later, be gentle. Don't kill anyone with one blow, or they might very well renege on our stakes."
[Understood. Master, rest assured, Little Zhu knows how to measure the force!]
In the system space, the snow-white tuanzi held several low-level Thunder Summoning Talismans in its hand. Just semi-activating them according to the instructions would be enough to give those people a hard time.
The group then moved to an open area outside the main hall, each choosing a spot to stand.
Yue Fuguang looked up at the sky. Stars dotted the firmament like a galaxy waterfall, covering the entire dark gray canopy. Tonight, there was no wind, no snow—a fine night.
In the distance, a dense crowd stood watching the spectacle. Led by Emperor Mingxi, the Dayan officials were the most composed, as they already knew the answer to the riddle.
Of course, there were also those still kept in the dark, whose feelings were much more complicated at this moment. Some were genuinely worried. After all, although that land didn't previously belong to Dayan, it didn't belong to Western Qiang or Northern Li either.
Not gaining it for oneself while others also didn't have it maintained a certain balance.
Now, deciding its ownership in such a seemingly frivolous manner was somewhat reckless.
