C17 Lou Wei's Indenture Contract

The heavenly tribulation transformed into a lightning dragon, plummeting towards Lou Wei with ferocious intent.

Lou Tian's hand trembled, dropping a bean to the ground as he nearly succumbed to tears. His son was on the brink of becoming the first casualty of the heavenly tribulation in the history of Gentledawn.

But as the storm clouds cleared, a swath of crimson light painted the sky, and a gentle rain nourished the mountaintop.

The soot on Lou Wei's face faded away, revealing his true visage once more. He had triumphantly advanced to the second realm of martial cultivation, ensuring his future status as a master.

Lou Wei rose from the earth, only to be swept up in a heartfelt embrace.

The man holding him was a middle-aged elder, his eyes glistening with moved tears.

A warmth spread through Lou Wei's chest, but it was quickly interrupted by a firm pat on his back from the elder.

"My dear son, you've finally made the breakthrough—a true blessing for our family!"

A mouthful of blood escaped Lou Wei's lips.

Who was this man? Using spiritual energy to thump him like that—impressive.

And to add insult to injury, he dared to claim Lou Wei as his son. Unbelievable.

These were Lou Wei's last thoughts before losing consciousness. While he lay unconscious, Lou Tianzhong gazed at Wu Pingfan with a look of tender affection.

"In the days to come, Wei will be your junior brother, learning under the same master. He is bound to gain more from our sect than Gentledawn alone could offer. Please accept this modest token of gratitude from Gentledawn, and I hope your master will not find it unworthy."

A flash of gold zipped by, leaving Wu Pingfan staring at a heap of soulstones, assorted magical instruments, and a collection of gold, silver, and jewels that shone brilliantly enough to dazzle the eyes.

Wu Pingfan's face contorted with discomfort, and after a moment's hesitation, he said, "I will convey the message to my master."

Whether his master would appreciate these earthly treasures was another matter entirely.

Lou Tianzhong cast a lingering look at his son before departing.

Three days passed.

Lou Wei gradually came to, brushing aside the gold leaf from his face and the delicate white daisies from his body. He reached for a painting by the bed.

It depicted him, and indeed, he looked rather dashing.

He suddenly felt a peculiar heaviness around his neck and realized he was wearing a gold necklace. It was bizarre; his father's eccentric taste was unmistakable.

Just then, Ling Long burst in, her voice filled with astonishment, "You're awake! Master and I feared the worst. We even brought over an urn from the Mortal World for you, and I picked some daisies."

Lou Wei's eyes fell on the square urn, and he couldn't help but smirk. Ling Long continued softly, "Master has been so kind. He's passed on your father's gifts to you, ready to bury you with these precious items."

"My father?" Lou Wei was confused. The lightning hadn't jogged his mind, but the mention of his father sparked his memory.

"How could my father return to the sect? And the benefactor, once I've repaid my debt of gratitude, may I leave?"

Searching the room, Lou Wei watched as Ling Long shook her head gently, murmuring, "You can't leave yet. Sect Master Lou has sold you to our Junior Master. You're to remain at Starfall Peaks."

That's when Lou Wei laid eyes on the deed of servitude.

It stated he could return to the sect after a hundred years.

He could recognize his father's scrawling handwriting with his eyes shut, along with his father's message.

Son, I'm proud of you!

Had his father appeared while he was unconscious to sign this deed, ensuring he'd repay the benefactor's kindness?

Lou Wei's life seemed to unravel at his fingertips, the deed quivering in his grasp.

His father must have wanted to remind him that even the smallest kindness deserves a grand gesture in return.

Thus, the prime successor of the Gentledawn Sect became the attendant to the reclusive sage of Starfall Peaks, a tale that swept through the cultivation world. A throng of cultivators, inspired by the story, abandoned their plans to challenge Wu Pingfan, who was affectionately known as "Master Pingfan" among his peers.

But compared to the Sword Sect's figure, the Gentledawn Sect's Lou Wei's plight was beyond words.

Clueless as to how he'd made a breakthrough to martial cultivation, Lou Wei's face was a portrait of bewilderment.

The hand clutching the twin swords trembled ever so slightly. Had he truly ascended to the realm of a martial cultivator in his dreams?

Where were the Heavenly Tribulation and the bolts of lightning?

...

The Sword Trial Conference took place in Heaven's Wall City, a bustling hub for cultivators and the main city among the five great cities. The five major sects had all fostered friendships with the Lord of Heaven's Wall City.

The only exception was Zhuo Xianqun, who had been in deep seclusion for decades and hadn't had the chance to cultivate a relationship with the city's lord.

She penned a letter and, in a peculiar gesture, attached her personal shorts to the neck of a plump pigeon before sending it off with a clap of her hands.

Surely, the Lord of Heaven's Wall City would sense her earnestness!

Three days later, Lord Fang He of Heaven's Wall City joyfully unwrapped the gifts from the various sects in front of an audience.

"Here's a flying sword from the Sword Sect, a fan from the Wandering Blossom Sect, and a large, round pearl from the Gentledawn Sect! And this... What's this?"

Fang He, holding up the pair of shorts for all to see, was momentarily frozen in shock.

Once he regained his composure, his face flushed as red as a tomato, and he bellowed, "To insult me in such a manner, showing no regard for Heaven's Wall City—Zhuo Xianqun, I will never make peace with you!"

There was once a tale involving Fang He and Zhuo Xianqun.

That story had now been turned into a popular narrative widely circulated in the cultivation world.

People murmured among themselves, eagerly spreading the tale of Zhuo Xianqun's intimate gift to Fang He.

Their already complicated relationship was now rumored to be leading to an exchange of love tokens, with a wedding imminent?

With the Sword Trial Conference just seven days away and the other sects already en route, Zhuo Xianqun pondered for a moment. Her Little Junior Brother was practically turning into a simpleton, tending to his vegetables at Starfall Peaks.

Decisively, she appointed Wu Pingfan to lead the sect elders and assigned her eldest senior brother, who had just entered the Spirit Absorption Stage, to assist Wu Pingfan.

What's that? The top disciple of the Gentledawn Sect had already reached the status of a martial artist?

Excellent, then he too shall accompany my junior brother—none shall be spared.

Starfall Peaks is considered one of the wealthier sects among the major ones, and Zhuo Xianqun alone makes a tidy sum of soulstones each year just from selling shorts.

She crammed five hundred top-quality soulstones into the Hundred Treasures Bag and then handed it over to her junior brother with great seriousness.

"Spend it freely; your senior sister isn't short on soulstones."

The Starfall Peaks disciples watching were filled with envy. Having such a senior sister was like having a treasure.

Xiao Xiao was also a senior sister, with two junior sisters clinging to her arm, pleading for soulstones.

She was suddenly struck by the despair that comes with being a senior sister.

Shortly thereafter, a gaunt figure boarded the Cloud Boat nearby. It was the young master.

The young master was known for his frugality, so expectations were low.

But this time, he held two chicken pills in his left hand and a bulging bag of soulstones in his right, which he handed to Wu Pingfan with a gentle reminder, "If it's not enough, don't hesitate to contact your senior brother with a flying letter."

He then passed the chicken pills to Wu Pingfan with a smile.

Could this really be the same young master who cherished his chickens as if they were his own children?

Everyone was baffled. Moments later, the heir of the Gentledawn Sect arrived, hauling a heap of gold, silver, and jewels.

"My father thought it wasn't enough, so he sent several more boxes, all as a tribute to you."

The junior brothers erupted in protest: "This is just too unfair!"