My Master Knows It All

28: Chapter 25: Face is given by others, but losing face is one’s own doing_2 28: Chapter 25: Face is given by others, but losing face is one’s own doing_2 Zeng Yicheng at this time turned to Elder Copper Plate and shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he had tried his best.

Elder Copper Plate heaved a long sigh and heavily shook his wide sleeves, revealing a face of helplessness.

Cao Zhen, seeing Elder Copper Plate’s expression, once again marveled in his heart at how his martial uncle was taking his acting skills to the extreme for Four Treasures Peak to make money in this gamble.

Those unaware would doubt if his uncle was truly afraid that he would lose, which is why he found an elder from the Law Enforcement Immortal Palace to help dissolve the duel.

“Since that is the case, Peak Master Cao, please step onto the platform.” Zeng Yicheng happily pointed to the platform, thinking to himself that he not only gave Elder Copper Plate face but also bet that Starshine Peak would win, so he managed to gain both favors and Spirit Stones.

Cao Zhen approached the Magic Duel Arena and saw that there was already a full row of people sitting on the side of Starshine Peak.

Li Xingyao was sitting calmly in the center of the Starshine Peak crowd, leisurely sipping tea; she didn’t get up to greet Cao Zhen when he appeared.

Cao Zhen took his seat at the Four Treasures Peak area, immediately stirring up a commotion in the spectator stands.

“Look!

People from Four Treasures Peak have arrived!

They really only brought one person!”

“Of course!

The rest of the people from Four Treasures Peak have all gone to the pawnshop!”

“Doesn’t that mean today’s match will decide the outcome?

There’s no chance for a rotation battle?”

“If Cao Zhen wins once, then it’s not a match that decides the outcome, right?”

“Peak Master of Four Treasures Peak win a match?

With what will he win?

Haven’t you heard the rumor that he became a lunatic from cultivation deviation?”

Listening to the conversations not far behind him, Cao Zhen was also curious: who was spreading these rumors to stabilize the odds for him?

“Is that so?

I haven’t heard about it!

Who told you?”

“Elder Copper Plate said it himself!”

Hearing this, Cao Zhen was moved again.

Truly, his good martial uncle!

To help him stabilize the betting odds, he even lied in public!

But by doing so, had his uncle not put his many years of reputation on the line for the sake of Four Treasures Peak?

“Elder Copper Plate speaking personally does make it somewhat credible…”

“Somewhat?

Elder Copper Plate publicly bet five hundred taels on Starshine Peak winning!

How credible do you think that is?”

“That’s iron-clad credibility!

Can I still bet?

I have to go and bet some more…”

“No chance!

The big gambling houses closed the bets shortly after the news broke yesterday…

Maybe they’re afraid they can’t afford to lose?”

Cao Zhen, listening to the conversation of several people behind him, felt so touched he almost cried!

This is what a real martial uncle is like!

To stabilize the odds, he really went out of his way to put on a show with his own money!

He definitely had to take good care of his martial uncle in the future!

“Look, this Four Treasures Peak Master is still sitting there, looking so composed like the rumors that he’s gone crazy, it’s just too similar!”

While the crowd was talking, a disciple from the Hundred Peaks Sect, dressed in a judge’s attire, walked onto the Duelling Platform.

He opened his arms and lightly pressed down into the air, and the boiling spectator stands immediately quieted down.

“Wait a moment!”

As Elder Copper Plate watched Cao Zhen’s performance from the elders’ seats, he sighed silently to himself, deciding that for the sake of Four Treasures Peak, he would cast aside his pride.

With a swift cry, he flew down to the dueling platform and whispered to the referee, “Could you give this old man some time?”

The referee, caught off-guard by the sudden arrival, was somewhat bewildered.

The Hundred Peaks Sect was simply too large for everyone to recognize Elder Copper Plate.

Still, because of his elder’s attire, the referee nodded in agreement.

Elder Copper Plate hurried over to Cao Zhen, grabbed his wrist in one motion, and turned, dragging him towards the people of Starshine Peak, while muttering complaints, “You’ve taken this obsession too far!

Now’s not the time to show off your stubbornness!

I can’t let Four Treasures Peak be defeated by your hand!

Today, even if it means losing face, I will persuade Li Xingyao not to stoop to your level…”

Cao Zhen followed with a wry smile.

The bets were already closed; there really was no need to continue this act…

His uncle master was taking it too seriously.

“Xingyao, long time no see…” Elder Copper Plate, holding onto Cao Zhen, came before Li Xingyao and made a sheepish expression as he said, “I’ve heard about your situation.

There’s no big conflict, really.

I’ll vouch this time, let Little Cao apologize to you and admit his fault, let’s call off this duel for the sake of this old man’s face, shall we?”

“Elder, it’s not that Xingyao does not respect your age,” Li Xingyao, sipping her tea without any intention of putting it down or standing up, barely gave Cao Zhen a glance, and casually spoke, “This challenge for the duel was initiated by Cao Zhen.

Now he wants to back out?

Does he get to make all the decisions?

What about my face then?”

“I’ll have Cao Zhen lend that third-grade Spirit Field to your Starshine Peak for two hundred years…”

“Stop right there!” Li Xingyao raised her hand, “You’re making it sound like I covet that Spirit Field of his.

I’m doing this duel entirely out of justice.

So many people here have their money on Starshine Peak winning; I need to lead them to a profit…”

Suddenly, Li Xingyao raised her voice to a shout, addressing the countless spectators around, “What do you say?

If I don’t fight now, and if we let Cao Zhen off easy, would you all agree to it?”

“We do not agree!”

“How can we not fight?

We want to make money!”

“Master of Starshine Peak is so magnanimous!”

“Elder, please step down!

Don’t get in the way of us making money!”

Standing in front of Li Xingyao, Elder Copper Plate’s face flushed from red to white with embarrassment, his heart filled with anger.

He had once helped Starshine Peak and Li Xingyao, and now was this the worth of his favors?

Thinner than paper?

Cao Zhen felt Elder Copper Plate’s grip on his wrist tighten, and the trembling hand revealed the old man’s loss of face due to the surrounding people.

Hurrying to reassure him, Cao Zhen said, “Uncle Master, it’s okay.

Don’t worry; I can win…”

“You really won’t give face?” Elder Copper Plate’s face turned the color of iron, pretending not to hear the roaring jeers around him, he asked, “Didn’t I once save your life?”

“Referee…” Li Xingyao did not respond directly to Elder Copper Plate; instead, she shouted towards the referee on the Duelling Platform, “Are you going to manage this or not?”

The referee, unable to regard Elder Copper Plate’s status at this time, could only proceed with resolve and said, “Elder, you should be aware of the rules of our Hundred Peaks Sect.

Please don’t make it difficult for me, okay?”

“I will remember you!” Elder Copper Plate left in resentment, dropping these words before turning towards the lower reaches of the Duelling Platform.

He left a message for Cao Zhen, “Boy, if the tide turns against you, concede.

Your uncle master can afford your keep.”

Watching Elder Copper Plate depart, Li Xingyao finally stood up, her expression somewhere between a smile and not, as she looked at Cao Zhen and said, “Pressuring me with Elder Copper Plate?

How does a man with a diminishing lifespan, about to resign from his elder position to hide away in Hidden Sky Cave and escape his fate, hold any sway over me?

Talking about giving face?

What face is there to be given?

Respect is given by others, but you throw your own dignity away.”

Cao Zhen turned back to look at Copper Dish below the platform and realized that his predecessor, although seemingly old-fashioned, actually lacked compassion.

It turns out he was unaware of the old man’s dire situation.