Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1221: Chapter 469: Is It That the Concubine Is Affectionate but the Lover Is Uninterested? (Part 2)

”She really is exceptional...”

”Completely different from her father.”

The teahouse on the mountaintop.

Gu Qing stood with his hands hanging down in front of Zhao Hansheng.

He lost again!

If the first defeat was due to his carelessness and being ambushed by Ning Zhuo, then in the second fight, he truly gave his all, only to watch helplessly as his image projection was crushed by the Divine Separation of the Earth Guardian True Monarch.

A sense of powerlessness filled his heart and mind.

At the same time, he had many doubts.

He could understand Ning Zhuo, but why did Zhu Fenxiang not show any sense of camaraderie either?

Isn’t she part of the Righteous Path?!

Invoking the Earth Guardian True Monarch to fight must be costly, a trump card Zhu Fenxiang had kept hidden. Isn’t it unnecessary to go this far against him?

”I’m just an outsider!”

”I never intended to join the Myriad Images Sect; we could be friends!”

He really wanted to shout this to Zhu Fenxiang.

Zhao Hansheng calmly drank his tea: ”So, what will you do next, my student?”

Gu Qing took a deep breath: ”Teacher, I’ve thought it over.”

”After the battle with Zhu Fenxiang, my situation worsened.”

”Her final words intensified public perception of me, greatly urging others to fiercely battle against me, aiming to win in the shortest time possible.”

”I’ve become a benchmark of combat strength, which is extremely disadvantageous for me!”

”However, I still can’t truly give my all...”

Gu Qing could only fight using image projections. This had been specified in the letters inviting each other for friendly spars.

At the time, he wanted to spar without hurting harmony, so he chose this method.

Many top-tier geniuses agreed to the challenge because it was merely a spar.

But now, after the battles with Ning Zhuo and Zhu Fenxiang, those top-tier geniuses’ feelings probably have drastically changed. If someone drags out the fight, it surely damages their reputation.

The public loves watching excitement, especially the affairs of top-tier geniuses.

Gu Qing, with a serious expression, said: ”I must fight with image projections, but the current public opinion is extremely unfavorable to me.”

”The third fight is especially crucial.”

”If the opponent still wants to defeat me quickly, I fear that even if others want to have a tacit battle with me later, they would be constrained by the situation and unable to act accordingly.”

”So, teacher, I plan to take it slow.”

This plan earned Zhao Hansheng’s approval: ”Not bad, a true man can be flexible.”

The sparring agreement stipulated that neither side could use their true body in battle.

The current situation is quite unfavorable to Gu Qing, so handling it coldly to reduce public attention is the best strategy.

Of course, Gu Qing couldn’t delay too long. If the delay is too long, he would be considered fearful of fighting, and his reputation would suffer.

In fact, just announcing a pause in the sparring would undoubtedly spread rumors, slandering his reputation, calling him cowardly and without the spirit to fight.

Gu Qing didn’t need to guess; he could be certain: among the rumors, there would surely be Ning Zhuo’s handiwork!

But since he thought up this countermeasure, he naturally had already prepared for this point.

Gu Qing looked at Zhao Hansheng: ”The third Feiyun Conference of the Confucian Cultivators, the Xingyun Trial, should be able to held soon.”

”I need to prepare for this trial—this claim can silence the murmurs.”

”At the same time, it is also the stage more suited to me. If Ning Zhuo chooses not to participate, rumors of him being afraid to fight and unwilling to confront me again will spread.”

Zhao Hansheng nodded, stroking his beard: ”Indeed, attacking with one’s strengths against the opponent’s weakness is a good strategy.”

The forms of righteous path confrontations vary.

Just like the previous negotiation between Ning Zhuo and Zhu Guizhi, it was a righteous path confrontation.

Gu Qing would no longer propose to spar with Ning Zhuo, at least not for now.

Although he had a lot of confidence in combat with his true body, he wasn’t aware of Ning Zhuo’s full capabilities, thus understanding there was immense risk involved.

Exceptional righteous individuals do not take risks lightly, striving for the greatest possible success with every move.

Gu Qing knew that to salvage the situation, he needed to trample Ning Zhuo down and wash away the shame.