Chapter 186: Bet
Lin Lan?
For the first time, Chu Qiguang was able to see the mysterious figure that had appeared in all three of his visions, and he was surprised to discover that it was none other than Lin Lan.
Why is it her? What is she doing here?
This version of Lin Lan was a far cry from the shy and delicate Lin Lan that Chu Qiguang knew. Instead, she seemed much bolder than usual, and she was looking at Chu Qiguang with a peculiar grin on her face.
Wait a minute, she's looking at me? No, this can't be me. Whose perspective am I seeing her from right now?
Before Chu Qiguang had a chance to figure out what was happening, the vision abruptly ended, and he reopened his eyes to find himself back in the secluded courtyard.
Looks like Lin Lan is hiding some secrets. Who was she looking at just now? She was looking at Jiang Longyu in the trainee room last time. Is she looking at Jiang Longyu this time as well? It's a shame I don't know where that room is.
After some thought, Chu Qiguang decided to go to the archive building to see if Lin Lan was there.
Before long, he arrived at the archive building, and this time, it was the gatekeeper who answered the door.
"Is Lin Lan here?" Chu Qiguang asked.
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to, kid!" the gatekeeper said coldly. "You've been trying to get close to Lin Lan because you want to read the books on the second floor, right?"
"It seems there's been a misunderstanding," Chu Qiguang said with a composed smile. "I do really want to read the books on the second floor, but that has nothing to do with my friendship with Lin Lan. We became friends simply because we get along very well."
"You think I'd believe that? I wasn't born yesterday!" the gatekeeper harrumphed coldly.
Chu Qiguang was really hoping that the gatekeeper would slam a whole stack of books down in front of him, then point at him and yell, "Here are a thousand books from the second floor! Take them and never come here to bother Lin Lan again!"
Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
Instead, the gatekeeper signed and said, "The books on the second floor contain dark and twisted secrets hidden in the deepest corners of history. If not for the fact they're all priceless artifacts, they would've been destroyed long ago. I was just like you when I was young, full of confidence and curiosity, but you have to understand that too much curiosity is not a good thing. The unknown is certainly alluring, but peering too much into the void will drive you insane."
Chu Qiguang could hear a hint of fear in the gatekeeper's voice as he spoke, the type of fear that only came from someone who had peered into the unknown and seen something that went beyond their understanding, something that broke all the rules of reality.
"Throughout history, humans have tried to study the past, but it has always ended in disaster," the gatekeeper warned. "I think the biggest blessing this world has given us is that it has kept some secrets hidden for the sake of our sanity."
"Have you read any of the books on the second floor?" Chu Qiguang asked.
The gatekeeper offered no response.
Chu Qiguang took his silence as confirmation, then continued, "You've read the books, yet you're still alive and well, so why not let me give it a try? I'm going to become a member of the Demon Vanquishing Department, so I'll have to come into contact with these things sooner or later. If you want to limit the risk, you can let me read the book that you think is the most harmless of all the ones on the second floor. I'd say I'm probably the most exceptional talent that the Demon Vanquishing Department has ever recruited. If even I can't read the books on the second floor, then who can?"
A contemplative look appeared on the gatekeeper's face, and it seemed like he really was considering Chu Qiguang's proposal.
However, in the end, he still shook his head and refused. "No, I won't allow it. No one has ever been permitted to read the books on the second floor after just a month on the mountain. You'll have to cultivate for a few years first. Besides, you're not the most exceptional talent the Demon Vanquishing Department has ever recruited. That title belongs to Jiang Longyu."
"What if I beat Jiang Longyu in the monthly examination?" Chu Qiguang asked.
The gatekeeper was very familiar with Chu Qiguang's strengths, and he knew Chu Qiguang specialized in physical cultivation.
If he continues cultivating the Primordial High Zenith Qigong and reaches the fifth state, then there's a very good chance that he'll become so formidable that he'll be able to contend against weapons with his physical prowess alone. However, as a third-state martial artist, there's no way he can overcome a saber-wielding Jiang Longyu.
Chu Qiguang seemed to have seen through his thoughts, and he asked with a smile, "You think I have no chance against Jiang Longyu, right? How about we make a bet then?"
"What kind of bet?" the gatekeeper asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"If I beat Jiang Longyu in the monthly examination, then you have to let me read the books on the second floor," Chu Qiguang said. "If I lose to Jiang Longyu, then I won't bother you and Lin Lan ever again."
The gatekeeper was rather tempted by this proposition.
There's no way he can defeat Jiang Longyu, so why not take him up on his bet? Once he loses, I'll finally get him off my back, and he'll stop harassing Lin Lan as well.
With that in mind, he said, "I'll consider it if you can defeat Jiang Longyu, but if you lose, then don't bring this matter up to me again, and stop bothering Lin Lan as well."
"Deal!"
From there, the gatekeeper led Chu Qiguang to the familiar desk, then said, "Lin Lan is still resting. Wait here while I go call her. Don't get any funny ideas, you hear me?"
Chu Qiguang nodded in response as he sat down at the desk, then cast his gaze toward the second floor, but all he could see was darkness.
Once again, his Ring of Ignorance began to heat up, constantly urging him to pursue the new knowledge on the second floor, but for now, he had to bide his time.
While waiting for Lin Lan, Chu Qiguang began to think of strategies for his upcoming battle against Jiang Longyu.
If I have to restrict my cultivation base to the third state, then even if I can win, there's a very good chance I'll be injured in my battle against Jiang Longyu. I need to think of a way to defeat him while ensuring that I emerge unscathed, but it can't be too underhanded either. Otherwise, the instructors will be unhappy with me, and the gatekeeper could accuse me of cheating and refuse to honor our bet.
With that in mind, Chu Qiguang eliminated his original list of strategies, which included stealing Jiang Longyu's saber, throwing lime powder in his face, and dumping feces onto his head.
What's taking Lin Lan so long? Is she actually not in the archive building?
It was only after nearly fifteen minutes had passed that Lin Lan finally arrived with a bleary-eyed look on her face.
"You wanted to see me, Brother Chu?"
"Have you been sleeping this whole time?" Chu Qiguang asked.
"I have," Lin Lan confirmed with a nod. "I stayed up really late organizing books yesterday, so I've been catching up on sleep. What're you doing here? Isn't the monthly examination happening right now?"
"I'm a little nervous, so I wanted to come and chat with you for a bit," Chu Qiguang replied with a smile.