Chapter 240: Bet
"Are we going to live there?" Albert asked, pointing upward."
"Ah? The top is for Master. We’re going to live a bit lower that area. I’ll show it to you, but for now, there is one thing we need to do. Basically, it’s the rule from Master."
"Rule?"
"Yes. You can simply fly away when leaving the mountain, but when you come back, you need to climb from the bottom. There are 2280 stairs to climb this place, so if your body can handle the stress, it won’t take longer than thirty minutes."
"Seriously?" Albert widened his eyes.
"Well, this is also a part of training. I mean, you need a good body to be a good element cultivator. Sometimes, Master even asks me to carry some stones while climbing." Shi Lan chuckled.
"So, that’s how it is." Albert nodded in understanding.
"Now that I see you again, it seems that you are at Golden Core Stage. Mhm? Around Mid-Phase Golden Core Stage?" Shi Lan frowned, examining Albert’s body.
On the contrary, Albert also took a look at Shi Lan’s strength.
Name: Shi Lan
Level: 267
"Mhm. You’re stronger than me." Albert nodded.
"Well, I have been learning from Master since I was young... But my cultivation is still at Late-Phase Golden Core Stage... I still have a long way to go to reach Peak Phase." Shi Lan sighed. "Anyway, let’s descend. The stairs are over there."
They agreed as they could talk more while climbing the mountain.
"This is troubling..." Gin frowned before climbing the stairs.
"What’s wrong?" Shi Lan asked in confusion.
"I can feel trouble ahead. Senior Sister is beautiful, so I am assuming we will pass troublesome people. They’re going to court you and look down on us before fighting us." Gin revealed one cliche plot in his mind.
"What are you talking about? Master wants me to take care of you, so..."
"That’s exactly the reason. Their jealousy will rise to the peak and they’ll create trouble for us." Gin sighed while facepalming.
"Eh?" Shi Lan scratched the back of her head. She never had a junior to take care too, but when she thought about it, there might be some jealously when going to the peak. That was why she suggested another thing. "How about I go first and wait you at a level above those people?"
"Well, this is a place for Core Disciples, right? They will find people like us weird because we’re new here. They will think we’re trespassing and attack us." Gin raised another possibility.
"Why are you raising all these scenarios before climbing the mountain? It’s a hassle. Then, what would you like to do?"
"That’s the problem, I don’t have a solution." Gin sighed. "Maybe we should just fly there."
"That’s a no. Rule is rule. If you break the rule and think you can get away with it, why is there a rule in the first place?"
Shi Lan seemed to be adamant with this rule, so Albert suggested. "Then how about you take Natasha with you? You both are women, so it won’t cause any jealously. The problem lies with us and since we’re new, we will just break the rule because we don’t know anything yet. This is the first and last time."
"..." Shi Lan sighed. "I can’t let you break the rule. It’s the same as you coming to another influence and kill their people simply because you don’t know their rule of not killing other people. This is not that severe, but you get the point. Well, you can call me annoying or whatever... I’m simply not allowing you to break the rule."
"Well, whatever. Natasha can go with you while Gin and I will follow not far behind you. Just with enough distance so that we’re not near you." Albert changed his suggestion. "Also, is there anything to prove our identities?"
"Not yet. That’s why I’m here. It’s to be the proof of your identity."
"This is troubling." Albert sighed.
"You’re annoying too. We just want to climb the stairs... That’s all." Shi Lan sighed. "Then, let’s make a bet. This time, you won’t encounter any problem with me here. If there’s a problem, I’ll take care of it. If you lose, just follow my words... I don’t want more annoying conversations like this."
"What if you lose?"
"What do you want?" Shi Lan asked.
"Mhm? Money?"
"Fine. This is just a small bet, so how about 10,000 Spirit Stones?"
"Eh?" Gin rolled his eyes while Albert patted his head, saying, "Fine."
It seemed that Albert didn’t want to continue this conversation. Unlike Gin who seemed to want to take advantage of this situation, Albert thought of a bigger picture. Nonetheless, Li Mu was going to take care of them, so it would be best to not burn the bridge with his disciple.
Besides, if they came, Albert had the confidence to kill them unless the elder came as well.
"Then, let’s go." Shi Lan sighed. She didn’t know why there was so much trouble just by climbing the stairs.
While they were climbing the mountain, Shi Lan explained some situations in the Five Elements Mountain. It seemed she used this conversation just for a distraction for her messy head that was caused by Gin and Albert.
Of course, Albert took this opportunity to learn more about the True Disciple where they fought each other to become the next mountain master.
On the contrary, Gin asked a few things about the peaks and their elders, including the system inside the sect to learn more. It seemed he was quite interested in managing the sect. Though, Albert knew the exact reason for Gin to learn all that stuff. He simply wanted to learn how to take advantage of the system.
Lastly, Natasha was silent most of the time. Although she had the talent, her strength couldn’t be compared to Albert or Gin. That was why her only option was to get stronger first before doing anything.
However, it seemed Albert and Gin were going to win the bet as a man followed by two other people met them in the middle of the mountain.
