“Dog shit luck,” Cuilu couldn’t help but exclaim, her face full of disbelief. “To actually have such dog shit luck.”

“Truly worthy of a man who was once Long Aotian,” Qin Wanwan lightly applauded, somewhat dazed. “Too excellent.”

“I knew it,” Xie Gutang held Nanfeng, watching Jian Xingzhi with eyes full of admiration. “Senior always has a way!”

As they spoke, everyone watched the water mirror showing Jian Xingzhi walking into the Wang Family Silk Shop.

At this moment, the Wang Family Silk Shop was already packed with people, though there were noticeably fewer cultivators than before. Contestants who were already destined to be unable to reach 60 points had been eliminated from the secret realm earlier.

As Jian Xingzhi entered the main hall, he saw a rather thin and frail-looking scholar facing off against a wealthy-looking, aggressive boss with a face full of fierce flesh. The scholar’s face was full of anger: “You said that if I bought this bolt of cloth and brought it home, my wife would definitely like it, and if she didn’t like it, you could refund the money. Now not only does my wife not like it, she even had a big fight with me. If you won’t compensate me, then at least you should refund the cloth money!”

“Scholar Zhao, selling things is all about speaking auspiciously. You checked the goods, you paid the money, once it goes out the door, it’s yours. Where’s the logic in eating a steamed bun and then saying it doesn’t taste good and demanding a refund?” Boss Wang spoke unhurriedly but aggressively, raising his hand to pat a stain on the cloth. “Besides, it’s not that I, Wang, refuse to refund. A little money—I’m not that insistent. But if you’re returning goods, at least bring them back in their original condition. This cloth has wax oil on it—how am I supposed to sell it later?”

“You… you’re lying!” Scholar Zhao raised his hand pointing at the stain. “I’ve been carefully keeping this cloth since I brought it home. This stain was clearly there from before.”

“If it was there before, why would you still buy it?” Boss Wang sneered. “You’re clearly trying to extort me!”

“Your shop bullies customers with its size, you liar!”

“You damaged the goods and still want a refund, you scoundrel!”

The two sides were about to start cursing each other when Luo Xingzhou quickly stepped forward to stop them: “Everyone, don’t fight, don’t fight. It’s just a bolt of cloth, isn’t it? I’ll compensate for this money.” As he spoke, Luo Xingzhou took spirit stones from his pocket and placed them in Scholar Zhao’s hands, fawning. “Scholar Zhao, I’ll help him compensate you.”

With that, everyone else reacted and began taking out money, competing to pay: “Let me! I’ll compensate for this money!”

Scholar Zhao didn’t speak. He was pulled by Luo Xingzhou, his face flushing red. After a long while, he suddenly shook off Luo Xingzhou’s hand and said emotionally: “Do you take me for a petty person who covets money?! This money should clearly be refunded by him. If he doesn’t refund it and you do instead, just to settle things peacefully—do you think I’m a scoundrel who extorts people?!”

Hearing this rebuke, everyone present was stunned.

Outside the water mirror, Cuilu was also a bit surprised.

“This… he doesn’t want money,” Cuilu looked at Qin Wanwan. “What should we do?”

“This question is worth forty points,” Qin Wanwan looked at the scene, analyzing. “It can’t be too simple. His requirement is for Scholar Zhao and the shopkeeper to shake hands and make peace, and for him to reconcile with his wife as before. That means solving this problem isn’t just about solving the issue between the shopkeeper and the scholar—you have to think deeper and solve it fundamentally.”

“Fundamentally?”

Nanfeng didn’t understand. Qin Wanwan looked at the scene, thinking: “Scholar Zhao bought the cloth because he cares for his wife, and he wants to return the cloth also because of a dispute with his wife. That sweeping old man said his wife complained that he spent money, which shows the wife might not dislike the cloth itself—it might be because the Zhao family is poor and the wife is afraid of spending money. Scholar Zhao doesn’t know how to talk properly—he keeps saying Boss Wang went back on his word. Boss Wang is a merchant with an extremely strong temper—how could he accept Scholar Zhao’s accusations? Look at the damaged cloth—Scholar Zhao still wants his money back. At this moment, he’s probably furious and determined to settle who’s right and wrong with Scholar Zhao. That’s why they’re at an impasse.”

“So the real entry point for this question should be with the wife.”

Xie Gutang pondered, and Qin Wanwan nodded.

“I guess these forty points should be given based on the contestant’s approach to handling things. The first step in solving this problem should be to clarify everyone’s needs. What Scholar Zhao truly wants is to reconcile with his wife, while what Boss Wang wants is his shop’s reputation.”

“Secondly, you need to understand everyone’s personality and speak and interact with them according to their character, avoiding stimulating them.”

“After that, understand what kind of person the wife is and why she won’t accept the cloth.”

“Finally, address the reason why the wife won’t accept the cloth. If the wife accepts the cloth, it actually represents the couple’s relationship being harmonized. Scholar Zhao will be happy, take the cloth away, and Boss Wang’s problem will also be solved.”

“This question is worth forty points total, with points awarded for each step—ten points per checkpoint,” Qin Wanwan said nervously. “Such a complicated question—how could Jian Xingzhi possibly solve it?”

“Jian Xingzhi can’t solve it…” Cuilu looked at the scene with heartache. “But that Wonderous Words Venerable can!”

As she spoke, they saw in the water mirror that after Scholar Zhao’s outburst, everyone’s pride was a bit wounded. Some cultivators tried to approach from Boss Wang’s angle, persuading the boss: “Boss, it’s just this little money—forget about it.”

“Money is a small matter,” Boss Wang became angry when he heard this. “But this concerns my shop’s reputation. I cannot set this precedent!”

“Then…”

A youth’s voice came from the crowd. Everyone looked over to see Wonderous Words Venerable smiling as he inquired of Scholar Zhao: “Scholar Zhao said his wife at home doesn’t like it. I wonder why the lady doesn’t like it?”

As he spoke, viewing from the water mirror, a “10” appeared above Wonderous Words Venerable’s head.

Qin Wanwan and Cuilu exchanged glances, immediately understanding—he had found the right direction.

“She just doesn’t like it.”

Scholar Zhao said this with some distress: “She said the pattern is old-fashioned, expensive but not good, that I’ve read myself stupid and bought this useless thing to give her.”

“It is indeed improper for the lady to say that,” Wonderous Words Venerable comforted him. “This is, after all, Scholar Zhao’s heartfelt intention. Scholar Zhao cares for his wife, which is why he bought these things for her.”

“Exactly,” Scholar Zhao’s face showed some sadness. “I’m usually poor, making Xiangniang suffer and live poorly. I earned some writing money helping people write letters and wanted to buy some cloth for Xiangniang to make a nice garment. Who knew she would fly into a rage, saying I don’t study properly and do these useless things, not spending money where it matters. That’s when I quarreled with her…”

Hearing Scholar Zhao show weakness, Boss Wang’s expression also improved somewhat. He only said: “Your wife is concerned about the money—she doesn’t really dislike it. You don’t need to make a scene in my shop.”

“That’s right,” Wonderous Words Venerable chimed in, following Boss Wang’s words. “Boss Wang’s goods are all top quality. It’s just that the lady loves Scholar Zhao and thinks for his sake, so she doesn’t dare accept it. How about this,” Wonderous Words Venerable smiled and took out spirit stones. “Today, let me gift this cloth to the lady.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Scholar Zhao, then at Boss Wang: “What do you two think?”

This was an excellent solution.

It both resolved the wife’s concerns and solved both men’s difficulties.

Xie Gutang watched Wonderous Words Venerable propose this plan and frowned: “This situation is about to end.”

“No…” Qin Wanwan shook her head. “This isn’t the best outcome yet.”

“What do you mean?”

Cuilu looked over. Qin Wanwan contemplated: “Scholar Zhao has been poor for a long time. After getting money, he immediately wanted to give cloth to his wife—it’s probably not just to give his wife a gift, but also contains a desire to prove himself. With his proud personality, directly buying cloth to give to his wife would solve the wife’s problem, but it also loses one of Scholar Zhao’s fundamental reasons for giving the cloth. He probably won’t be willing. Even if he is willing, he’ll still be sad about his own incompetence, and in the marital relationship, there will always be that bit of resentment.”

Hearing Qin Wanwan’s words, Cuilu frowned: “Could there be an even better outcome?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t speak. She kept watching Jian Xingzhi and saw him standing by the cloth the whole time, staring at and observing that stain.

While everyone around was talking back and forth, he was touching and smelling that stain, then walking around looking.

Scholar Zhao listened to Wonderous Words Venerable’s proposal. After a long silence, he only said: “I won’t trouble you, young master. This batch of cloth was something I wanted to buy for my wife—it should be paid for by me. But since my wife doesn’t want it now, I don’t want to give it anymore either.”

“The lady meant no harm,” Wonderous Words Venerable continued persuading. “Rather…”

“What are your shop’s regulations?” Jian Xingzhi turned around, suddenly interrupting everyone’s conversation, looking at Boss Wang.

Boss Wang was stunned, then heard Jian Xingzhi ask: “Under what circumstances can goods be returned? If items are damaged, do you refund or exchange?”

“If there’s damage and you can prove it’s a problem with my goods,” Boss Wang said, confused, “naturally it should be refunded.”

“Then you won’t refund?”

Jian Xingzhi raised his hand pointing at the cloth: “I just smelled it—the scent of that wax oil is exactly the same as the smell in your shop, and the mark is also from a few days ago. You say he did it himself?”

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Luo Xingzhou couldn’t help but quietly tug his sleeve, reminding him in a low voice: “You’re supposed to make them reconcile, not create conflict.”

“Your cloth has problems, and you won’t refund the money?”

“Well said!” Scholar Zhao immediately applauded upon hearing this, saying happily, “I knew…”

“What are you happy about?”

Jian Xingzhi turned around, looking at Scholar Zhao, pressing: “What do you have to be happy about? Let me ask you—how much does your household spend in a month?”

“I…” Scholar Zhao was asked dumbfounded, confused. “I… I don’t know.”

“Don’t know? Then how much do you earn in a month?”

“Two taels.” Scholar Zhao’s expression wasn’t good. “But I usually help people write letters too, and can earn a few more taels.”

“How much is this bolt of cloth?”

“Four taels.” Scholar Zhao said coldly, “What does this have to do with you?”

“You earn two taels a month. Earlier on the road, I saw a candied hawthorn stick costs five copper coins, a handful of vegetables costs two copper coins, a piece of pork costs twenty copper coins. You earn two taels a month. You’re still dressed so decently—have you ever asked your wife what kind of life she leads? Why would she scold you? If she doesn’t eat well or dress well, making one copper coin work like two, and you still spend four taels of silver on cloth—have you asked her what she wants? You’re buying cloth for her benefit? It’s completely because this cloth can be worn on her body, can be seen by everyone, proving you can earn money, that you treat her well. Have you ever asked her what she wants?”

“You… you…” Scholar Zhao’s face turned deathly pale with anger, pointing at Jian Xingzhi unable to speak.

Jian Xingzhi raised his hand, pointing at Boss Wang: “You—a big shop bullying customers, knowing your mistakes but refusing to correct them—crooked merchant!”

With that, he pointed at Scholar Zhao again: “You—vain and ignorant, selfish and self-centered, useless waste, scoundrel! You two together are like mung beans matching a turtle—perfectly suited. Hurry up and refund his money,” Jian Xingzhi ordered Boss Wang. “Your sign can barely stay hanging, and if he goes home, maybe he can still patch up his sock holes and keep that foolish woman.”

“You go too far!”

Hearing this, Scholar Zhao couldn’t restrain himself and suddenly lunged forward to hit Jian Xingzhi.

Jian Xingzhi grabbed his hand and warned him: “I advise you not to fight with me. If you want to hit someone, pick a weak one—go hit that old turtle.”

With that, he gave a light push, and Scholar Zhao staggered back several steps, bumping into Boss Wang. Boss Wang caught him and cursed at Jian Xingzhi: “Who are you calling an old turtle?”

“You.” Jian Xingzhi said it as if it were obvious. Boss Wang breathed heavily. Seeing Scholar Zhao lunge forward again, he also couldn’t restrain himself. He grabbed a stool from the side and shouted, “Everyone, get him! I’ll pay the medical fees—beat this nonsense-spouting brat to death!”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

Jian Xingzhi watched as the shop assistants, Boss Wang, and Scholar Zhao rushed at him together, somewhat shocked: “What did I say wrong?!”

“I’ll fight you to the death!”

Boss Wang swung the stool at him. Jian Xingzhi dodged to the side, and Boss Wang lunged straight forward. Scholar Zhao grabbed him and seized the stool: “Give me the stool!”

“Brother, you can’t handle this one!” Boss Wang stopped Scholar Zhao. As he spoke, he had already changed his mode of address. He pulled out a wooden staff from under the table. “Use this!”

With that, Boss Wang took out another wooden staff from under another table and glared viciously at Jian Xingzhi: “I haven’t mixed in society for years, only to let you young punks bully me! Today I’ll definitely give you something to remember, let you know who’s the boss!”

After Boss Wang finished speaking, he swung the staff and charged forward together with his servants and Scholar Zhao. Jian Xingzhi dodged their crude movements while constantly warning them: “I don’t fight mortals—don’t force me.”

Just as the words fell, Boss Wang and Scholar Zhao attacked from both sides. He ducked down, and their two wooden staffs struck each other’s heads.

“Brother…” Blood flowed down Boss Wang’s head. “That staff of yours… hurts a bit.”

“Boss Wang…” Scholar Zhao bled, his face somewhat pale. “Your strength is also quite impressive…”

“I told you…” Jian Xingzhi just started to speak when he saw that upon hearing his voice, the two seemed to have taken stimulants and charged at him.

They seemed to have completely forgotten their original purpose, chasing and beating him all the way. Jian Xingzhi was chased into a sorry state. He jumped onto the counter and couldn’t help but shout: “If you keep hitting me, I’ll fight back!”

“Come on!”

Boss Wang and Scholar Zhao stood below with their servants, raising their staffs and shouting at him: “If you’ve got the guts, come! You just beat us to death today! I’m telling you, today we’re going to fight you to the end!”

“That’s right!” Scholar Zhao shouted with great vigor. “A real man’s death may be light as a feather or heavy as Mount Tai. Today, to have the fortune of meeting Boss Wang and dying here together with Boss Wang, this humble one’s life is worthwhile!”

“With those words from you, brother!” Boss Wang turned his head and gazed deeply at Scholar Zhao. “I, Wang Jingui, have nothing left to fear today. Going through life and death today, I acknowledge you as my brother! In the future, we don’t seek to be born on the same year, month, and day—”

“But we seek to die on the same year, month, and day!”

Scholar Zhao righteously took up the pledge.

“Good, good, good.” Jian Xingzhi watched their deep brotherhood and laughed in anger, hanging his sword at his waist. “Fine, today I’ll break my rule for you and let you know what it means to be unrecognizable even to your own mother!”

“Brothers!”

Boss Wang heard this and raised his arm high: “Charge!”

With that, everyone rushed forward together. Jian Xingzhi punched them one by one, sending figures flying.

Outside the water mirror, everyone watched this scene in shock. Nanfeng stuttered: “Dao Lord Jian… Dao Lord Jian… looks like something I saw in a storybook…”

“A villain.”

Qin Wanwan spoke with a heart dead as ash.

Everyone fell silent, watching Jian Xingzhi fighting quite enthusiastically in the water mirror, all speechless.

When they saw a woman rush into the scene, shouting “Husband!!” at Scholar Zhao who had been sent flying, then getting knocked to the ground by Scholar Zhao’s impact, Cuilu stood up: “Forget it. Pack up, let’s go home.”

“Why don’t we wait a bit longer?”

Qin Wanwan forced a smile: “We’ve come all this way…”

Under the universal forgiveness of “we’ve come all this way,” Cuilu took a deep breath and sat back down.

On the screen, Jian Xingzhi arrogantly walked out of the room while everyone stared in shock. Looking at the people outside whose faces were swollen into a mass of bruises, he calmly asked: “Still want to fight?”

“Husband!!”

A woman’s crying voice rang out. Luo Xingzhou and the others chased out to see a woman dressed in coarse hemp clothes holding the blood-covered Scholar Zhao in her arms. Scholar Zhao was spitting small mouthfuls of blood, gazing deeply at the woman.

“Xiangniang…” Scholar Zhao spoke unclearly. “I… I’m afraid I won’t make it…”

“Husband, don’t die, don’t leave me!”

“Xiangniang…” Scholar Zhao refused to look away, staring at Xiangniang. “I… I’ve wronged you… I didn’t know… how expensive firewood, rice, oil, and salt are… I didn’t know… how difficult life is… But I really, really didn’t mean it…”

“I know,” Xiangniang nodded while crying. “I know—you just didn’t understand.”

“I bought you cloth because… one day I saw you always… always looking at the shop entrance. I wanted to buy something you liked…”

“I like it,” Xiangniang held Scholar Zhao. “Whatever you buy, I like it. If you just stay alive, I like everything!”

“Xiangniang…” Scholar Zhao slowly closed his eyes. “If there’s a next life, I will definitely… treat you well.”

“You’ve treated me well already,” Xiangniang cried out in pain. “If you weren’t good to me, how would I have married you? Husband, wake up! Don’t leave Xiangniang!! Hus…”

“Stop crying,” Jian Xingzhi couldn’t help but remind her, seeing Xiangniang crying non-stop. “He’s just fainted. Quickly get a doctor—if you keep crying, he really will be gone.”

Hearing this, Xiangniang suddenly reacted. She reached out to check Scholar Zhao’s breathing, took a deep breath to calm herself slightly, then immediately showed a resolute look in her eyes: “Husband, I’m taking you for medical treatment. You’ll survive. We’ll be fine from now on, no more quarreling. In the future, we must be well!”

With that, Xiangniang found strength from somewhere and carried Scholar Zhao on her back, running all the way toward the medical hall.

Jian Xingzhi watched, quite moved, and turned to summarize for Luo Xingzhou: “You see, you still need to find a wife. Like them,” Jian Xingzhi pointed at Boss Wang and the others still unconscious on the ground, “no one carries them.”

“This…” Luo Xingzhou hesitated. “Should we help or not?”

“Either way is fine,” Jian Xingzhi shrugged. “They’re all illusions anyway—not real.”

As he spoke, he felt the ground begin to shake. Luo Bufan’s voice rang out: “Everyone, the trial is over. Please prepare to leave the secret realm.”

Jian Xingzhi turned to look at Luo Xingzhou with an “I told you so” expression.

Everyone steadied themselves, then felt the world spinning. After a moment, the light around them changed dramatically. When it finally stabilized, they found themselves back at the original lawn.

At this time, the water mirror had transformed into a light board, beginning to display results from lowest to highest.

Jian Xingzhi knew his own situation and didn’t hold much hope. He walked directly toward Qin Wanwan, sat down in the audience area, and spoke directly: “Looks like we’ll need to activate our alternate plan.”

“What plan?” Qin Wanwan was somewhat dazed.

Jian Xingzhi pondered: “Entering Xuanshan through participating in the selection probably won’t work. We can only rely on the second method. I think we…”

“Wow!!”

Suddenly, exclamations erupted from the crowd. Jian Xingzhi casually looked back, then saw on the water mirror that in second place, it clearly read: Jian Xingzhi.

The first place was Wonderous Words Venerable, which was meaningless, but for second place to actually be Jian Xingzhi exceeded everyone present’s expectations.

“I object!”

Someone in the crowd immediately stood up and said emotionally to Luo Bufan: “He almost beat Scholar Zhao to death—and he still gets full marks?!”

“Well…” Luo Bufan smiled somewhat reluctantly. “Though the method was a bit unexpected, the result was also very unexpected…”

Reminded by Luo Bufan, everyone finally realized.

Though Wonderous Words Venerable had solved the surface problem, he had only made the boss and Scholar Zhao each give way. As for Xiangniang and Scholar Zhao, they would at most maintain surface-level peace—the fundamental problems weren’t solved at all.

Jian Xingzhi’s beating, though it made him the villain, had resulted in Boss Wang and Scholar Zhao becoming sworn brothers through their fight, and Xiangniang and Scholar Zhao knowing each other’s true feelings through facing life and death together.

Except for Jian Xingzhi’s personal reputation being not so good, the result could be called perfect.

This was completely sacrificing himself alone to benefit everyone.

Realizing this, everyone was stunned. Luo Bufan coughed lightly: “Those who sacrifice themselves for others can be called noble; those who trace things to their source can be called clever. Full marks—well deserved.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan couldn’t help but look at Jian Xingzhi.

Jian Xingzhi was showing off his achievements to Xie Gutang. Sensing Qin Wanwan looking at him, he turned: “What?”

Being questioned by him, Qin Wanwan came to her senses and withdrew her gaze, somewhat unnaturally saying: “Oh, nothing.”

“Wanwan,” she withdrew her gaze, but Jian Xingzhi leaned closer, nudging her with his elbow. “How was my performance just now?”

“Pretty good.”

“I told you my luck was good,” Jian Xingzhi sighed with emotion. “I could even pass that—looks like the alliance leader position is secure.”

“You didn’t rely on luck.”

Knowing people and understanding emotions constitutes human relations; knowing roots and sources reveals worldly wisdom.

Qin Wanwan smiled as she looked into the distance. Jian Xingzhi was confused: “Huh?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t say more. She heard Luo Bufan in front begin announcing the advancement news: “Please come forward, ‘Refuse Steamed Buns and Pickled Vegetables Team’ and ‘Wuxiang Sect Must Win Team,’ to receive materials for tomorrow’s second competition. Special note: because only two teams advanced this time, the second and third rounds will be combined. Both teams please take note.”

“I’ll go get it.”

Qin Wanwan happily jumped down to get the materials and map for the next round.

After bringing them back, everyone gathered around.

“What’s the next round?”

Cuilu was somewhat excited. Qin Wanwan glanced at the map and saw four characters written on it:

Xuanshan Labyrinth.

Xuanshan…

Qin Wanwan raised her eyes to look into the distance, her heart stirring.

She was finally going to see her parents.

—

**Author’s Note:** [Mini Theater]

Jian Xingzhi: “Using a villain’s methods to walk the righteous path!”