149 Giving You a Chance

Although little Yun'er knew that Sister Xue possessed peerless martial arts, seeing the perilous situation, she blurted out just like Chunyan, "Young Master Xue... watch out!" She had originally intended to shout "Sister Xue", but managed to twist it into "Young Master Xue" just in time.

Fortunately, everyone was fixating on the fierce duel in the center, and no one paid her any mind. Right as Lu Badi's spear was about to pierce straight through her chest, Bai Xuehua reached out with unimaginable speed and grabbed the red tassel of the spear, halting the ferocious spearhead dead in its tracks.

This left Feng Qingwu, little Yun'er, and the others gripping their palms in nervous sweat.

Lu Badi attempted to retract his spear, but it remained as immovable as a mountain. Panic surged within him; it was clear that this peerless young master's internal energy far surpassed his own.

Yet he was now riding a tiger and found it hard to dismount. He certainly could not simply toss the spear aside and retreat—that would be utterly humiliating. For the sake of his pride, Lu Badi was forced into a contest of internal energy with Bai Xuehua.

A contest of internal energy appeared tranquil on the surface, yet was fraught with immense peril. Only those caught within it could truly comprehend the danger, while onlookers remained completely oblivious.

This was precisely the outcome Bai Xuehua desired. By inflicting a hidden internal injury upon Lu Badi in this manner, outsiders would remain clueless about the vast disparity in their martial prowess.

She did this specifically to set the stage for her next move, drawing Zhao Wuzong into her trap so she could seize the opportunity to injure him as well.

Lu Badi's Overlord Spear was firmly held in Bai Xuehua's grasp, and the two were locked in a battle of internal strength. Had Hua Sanxiao and Zhao Wuzong chosen to launch an attack at that exact moment, Bai Xuehua would have had no choice but to abandon her plan to use concealed internal force to injure Lu Badi!

Yet both Hua and Zhao simply stood there, content to wait for the duel's outcome. This granted Bai Xuehua a golden opportunity. She channeled her internal energy with absolute precision, striking Lu Badi just enough to leave him injured, yet keeping the wound mild enough that aside from Lu Badi himself, no outsider could possibly detect it.

Watching the clash of internal energy, Feng Qingwu felt a rising tide of anxiety. After all, one participant was the man she favored, while the other was her own cousin; injuring either of them boded ill. She stood up and exchanged a glance with Feng Piaopiao, who promptly intervened, "Both of you are heroes of your generation. Let this martial arts exchange end at a draw, lest someone be hurt."

Lu Badi's father, Lu Baisheng, believed staunchly in his son's strength, which was why he had not stepped forward to interrupt the test of internal power. In truth, among all those present, only he, Wu Buzhi, and Feng Yehong possessed martial arts superior to the others; yet even individually, none of them were a match for Bai Xuehua.

The moment Feng Piaopiao's voice trailed off, Bai Xuehua suddenly released her grip on the spear. Lu Badi stumbled backward several paces, dragging the weapon behind him, his face flushed red.

Bai Xuehua smiled and said, "I yield to your courtesy..." Lu Badi felt a suffocating tightness in his chest and realized he had sustained an internal injury, yet this was clearly the result of the opponent showing mercy.

Otherwise, he would have long since been sent sprawling onto his back in utter disgrace. Though he could not fathom why his opponent had held back, he recognized that she had spared his face, so he wisely accepted the defeat and retreated into the shadows, dragging his spear in gloom.

Although the spectators could not quite discern the details, they knew Lu Badi had lost. However, the exact gap in their martial arts remained a mystery to all.

This outcome filled Feng Qingwu with boundless joy. She thought to herself that while this young master was arrogant, he possessed genuine strength. Being able to make her cousin gracefully concede defeat—his handling of the situation was nothing short of perfection.

Seeing Lu Badi step down, Bai Xuehua turned to Hua Sanxiao and Zhao Wuzong, calling out, "The two of you! I gave you your chance earlier—why didn't you both come up together?"

Hearing this, the onlookers marveled that despite this person's supreme martial arts, she met challenges head-on. The two palms collided with a resounding crash, and Zhao Wuzong was sent hurtling through the air.

Zhao Wuzong's airborne body crashed heavily into a courtyard wall, blasting a massive hole through it. Everyone present was frozen in shock; not a single person had imagined that the renowned "Northern Wuzong" of the Jianghu, the second-ranking master of Shadowless Manor, would be sent flying by a single blow.

Feng Qingwu's heart pounded wildly against her ribs. In her wildest dreams, she had never expected this peerless young master to possess such terrifying martial arts. Seeing him send Zhao Wuzong flying with one strike, she knew his claim of being able to defeat all three of them combined was entirely within his grasp. Yet why had he bothered to exchange three moves with her cousin earlier?

Given his true strength, defeating her cousin certainly did not require three moves. A sudden realization struck her, and she remembered their wager, filling her heart with nervous trepidation.

Witnessing the peerless young master send his peer Zhao Wuzong flying with a single strike, Hua Sanxiao knew instantly that he was no match. He offered a wry smile and said, "The young master's martial arts surpass all under heaven. This humble one admits defeat without needing to fight."

Bai Xuehua chuckled. "Young Master Hua is far too modest!" She then turned her gaze to Feng Qingwu with a smile. "Miss Feng, do you remember our wager?"

Lowering her head with a blushing face, Feng Qingwu replied, "I remember... I shall obey whatever the young master commands." In her heart, she thought that at worst, she would simply marry him; if nothing else, she could settle for being his concubine.

Bai Xuehua smiled brightly. "Very well, we people of the Jianghu honor our bets. Now, I require you to marry..." She left the sentence unfinished as she reached out to pull little Yun'er forward.

Hearing that she was expected to marry, Feng Qingwu thought that as one of Jianghuai's finest beauties, it was understandable that he would wish to take her as his bride. She nodded shyly. At that moment, Bai Xuehua pulled little Yun'er to her side and declared to Feng Qingwu, "I want you to marry her."

"What?!" Not only was Feng Qingwu struck dumb with astonishment, but everyone present was completely dumbfounded.

After picking himself up from the ground where he had landed, Zhao Wuzong tried to speak and expose the white-robed youth as the White-Clothed Demoness, but a surge of turbulent blood rushed up his chest. The moment he opened his mouth, fresh blood threatened to gush forth, forcing him to forcefully swallow it down and swallow his words for the time being.