Chapter 51: Fortune's Favor

"Wind beneath my feet!" Zhao Xing controlled the Rising Wind Magic Arts, using it to aid his running. However, this Magic Arts wasn't for himself, but for the scarecrow. Moreover, he controlled the rhythm of the Rain, making the scarecrow run beneath the Cloud Layer, with its path leading to where the Rain stopped. He deliberately left two subtle differences to mislead Shen Zhui.

Shen Zhui ran to the front of the willow tree, faced with a choice between two options. After hesitating for just a second, he chased after the scarecrow.

Sensing Shen Zhui running in the opposite direction, Zhao Xing's lips curled into a slight smile.

"What? Another scarecrow?!" Shen Zhui looked at the duplicate scarecrow in front of him, speechless. Thinking back now, Zhao Xing's two flaws were clearly intentional traps for him. To react so quickly in such a short time without any hesitation couldn't be called a first reaction; it was premeditated!

"Hmph!" This time, Shen Zhui didn't speak to Zhao Xing, directly tearing apart the scarecrow, not giving the opponent a chance to delay, and immediately chased in the opposite direction.

In the Chen residence, in the study.

Chen Shijie, sensing this scene, couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't planned to pay attention because, in his view, Shen Zhui was at the seventh stage of Gathering Essence, and with his Nine Turns Method, he would soon catch Zhao Xing. He didn't expect Zhao Xing to pull off such a maneuver, making Shen Zhui run in circles.

"This kid, just using Cloud, Rain, Scarecrow, and Rising Wind, created such a favorable environment for himself?"

"If you don't join the military as a strategist, it's simply a waste of talent." Chen Shijie stopped reading, took a gourd of wine, and sat by the window, intently observing this game of cat and mouse.

In the heavy rain, Shen Zhui watched the figure running ahead in two directions, his lips twitching slightly. Zhao Xing had called back the second scarecrow he had created to cover his tracks. Now he had to make another choice. One had the Rising Wind Magic Arts for speed, with Rain above its head, and the other had nothing added.

"Last time the scarecrow had the Magic Arts, this time it must be the real body with the Magic Arts!" Shen Zhui chose a direction and pursued.

After ten breaths.

Looking at the scarecrow in front of him, Shen Zhui couldn't help but feel a bit defeated.

"This, this... another scarecrow?"

"Did he predict my prediction?" Shen Zhui felt like a fool, being played once again. Even when he lost in the martial arts room against other warriors, he wasn't this frustrated. But facing Zhao Xing, it was truly testing his patience.

Brother Zhao, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, you seem so sunny, who knew you were so adept at deception?

"Hmph!" Shen Zhui snorted coldly, his iron ruler flashing a white light, shattering the scarecrow.

Shen Zhui calmed his mind, regrouped, and continued his search.

"His mental adjustment is quite fast. Even after being tricked three times, he maintained a certain level of calmness. Although there were emotions, his actions were not affected in the slightest, subconsciously making the best recovery." Zhao Xing, after losing contact with the third scarecrow, also gave Shen Zhui a higher regard.

Because the handling of the situation was quite good.

As for the wrong choice? That couldn't be blamed on Shen Zhui.

What seemed like a fifty-fifty chance was far from it; Zhao Xing's winning calculation far exceeded fifty percent!

Because he was at the Yan Level Two of fortune!

Through this method, he dragged Shen Zhui and himself to another dimension to compete: gambling on fortune.

"Whether chasing the scarecrow or me, there's logic in any choice, but my fortune level is higher than his," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

This point, even Chen Shijie couldn't see through.

After all, Yan Level Two fortune, in this small county town, was already quite rare. Including the legitimate officials, probably only County Magistrate Li Wenzheng and Chen Shijie had Yan Level Two fortune.

"However, fortune is like a drum, once beaten, it fades, and thrice it ends. The passive triggering of fortune follows the mysterious rules of the universe. Gaining the upper hand three times is the limit."

"If I had a fourth scarecrow, Shen Zhui might find the right one next time."

"Moreover, I don't have a fourth scarecrow anymore."

Feeling the footsteps rapidly approaching from behind, Zhao Xing gave up resisting.

The clouds dissipated, the rain stopped, and the wind calmed.

Shen Zhui's iron ruler rested on Zhao Xing's neck, bringing a sense of satisfaction to his heart.

Run, go on, run!

"Brother Shen, you're formidable. I tried my best, yet I only delayed you for a cup of tea's time before you caught me," Zhao Xing clasped his hands.

Seeing this, Shen Zhui also realized he had been too serious. This was just a training game; how could he place an iron ruler on a colleague's neck? He quickly retracted the ruler, sheathing it at his waist, and clasped his hands, saying, "Apologies, Brother Zhao. Your Magic Arts are exquisite, and your thoughts are meticulous. Truly rare among strategists, I am impressed."

Shen Zhui wasn't being polite; he was genuinely impressed.

Initially, with a distance of only fifty meters between them, Zhao Xing was only at the third stage of Gathering Essence, while he was at the seventh stage. Logically, he should have caught him long ago, especially since he was a warrior and an experienced catcher who had completed many missions!

Yet, Zhao Xing managed to delay him for so long!

"I was lucky. You just encountered someone like me, a strategist, and Brother Shen adapted quickly. Your footsteps in the Rain were almost impossible to grasp. With a few more training sessions like this, I'm afraid you'll fully adapt," Zhao Xing spoke sincerely.

Opportunities for warriors to spar with strategists were rare, especially since he had the advantage of fortune.

Moreover, Zhao Xing's combat experience and techniques were honed over generations, making him unique in this small place like Valley City.

Forcing Shen Zhui to the point where he couldn't create a fifth scarecrow and had to keep running was already quite an achievement.

"Brother Zhao, there's no need for modesty," Shen Zhui smiled, "You only used four common Magic Arts. If you combined more, I don't know how long it would take to catch you."

This was true, and Zhao Xing didn't deny it.

Only using the Scarecrow Technique was somewhat monotonous. If he knew more basic Magic Arts, it would cause considerable trouble for Shen Zhui, and combining multiple Magic Arts might even have a chance to injure the opponent.

"Brother Shen, let's not flatter each other anymore," Zhao Xing pointed to the Pear Garden ahead, "Why don't we sit down and have a pear?"

"This, isn't it inappropriate? That's Chen Great's Pear Garden," Shen Zhui hesitated.

"Chen Great allows me to eat fifteen Tianyuan Pears every month. What's wrong with sharing one with you? It's on me, you can eat without worry!" Zhao Xing, without any hesitation, picked two pears from the Pear Garden, tossing one to Shen Zhui.

"Alright," Shen Zhui wasn't polite either. He could tell these pears were treasures.

After the two finished eating, Chen Shijie walked out of the study with a smile, "You, young man, are quite bold, using my pears to do favors? I only said I'd give you some to eat, when did I allow you to pick them?"

"Chen Great, this pear was picked for me," Shen Zhui stood up somewhat awkwardly, then said, "If there's a punishment, please punish me alone, it has nothing to do with Zhao Xing."

Chen Shijie nodded secretly, thinking Zhao Xing had chosen the right person.

Zhao Xing, seeing that Chen Shijie wasn't actually angry, smiled and said, "Great, if you want to punish me, I accept, but could you wait a moment?"

"Oh? What do you want to do?"

"Break through to the fourth stage of Gathering Essence."

(End of Chapter)