https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-573-Riding-the-Wind-Summoning-Lightning/13110673/
Chapter 574: The Final Trial
Chapter 574: The Final Trial
February 6, 2025
After spending half a day at the inn, just past noon, a page informed Su Chen that someone was looking for him.
As he descended the stairs, Qiu Xi Yu was waiting for him in the lobby.
Elegant and graceful, with her hands behind her back, a faint smile adorned her face.
Passersby, regardless of gender, couldn't help but glance her way.
Most of them had enough self-awareness.
A woman with Qiu Xi Yu's demeanor was not one they could casually approach.
After a glance or two, most would politely avert their eyes.
"Senior Brother Su~"
Upon seeing Su Chen, Qiu Xi Yu took the initiative to greet him.
Hearing Qiu Xi Yu's voice, everyone followed her gaze towards Su Chen.
Seeing Su Chen's appearance, the crowd seemed to hold back their gossip.
It seemed that Su Chen's looks had passed the test.
Hence, the idle chatter behind his back lessened.
If Su Chen's demeanor had been slightly lacking, like a beautiful woman afraid of being pestered by suitors or a toad eating swan meat, such gossip would have directly swarmed him.
"Senior Sister Qiu, you've gone to a lot of trouble. There must be a lot going on at the frontlines now.
Actually, I could have just returned the letter and gone to the frontlines myself."
Hearing Su Chen's words, Qiu Xi Yu shook her head earnestly.
"The last time Senior Brother Su visited our Qiu family, we didn't treat you well enough.
This time, we can't afford to be impolite again.
Once was an accident, but twice... Even I would start to overthink it, let alone Senior Brother Su."
Qiu Xi Yu's explanation left Su Chen feeling helpless.
She seemed convinced that he had been angry during his previous visit, upset because they had put him through a test.
In reality, he had simply wanted to avoid wasting too much time due to Qiu Ruo Shuang's absence.
This misunderstanding was not easy to clarify.
"Senior Brother Su, would you like to rest a bit more in Xieyun City?
The conditions at the frontlines are quite harsh.
Why don't we depart after dinner?"
Qiu Xi Yu found an excuse, wanting to spend more time with Su Chen in Xieyun City.
Hearing this, Su Chen immediately smiled and waved his hand.
"Senior Sister Qiu, you're underestimating me.
I grew up in poverty, and the hardships in Jin Kingdom are already considered good treatment for me.
The frontline affairs are urgent, and it would be inappropriate for me to cause any delays.
Let's set off as soon as possible.
If we need rest, we can wait until the situation at the frontlines eases."
Su Chen had heard about the current situation at the frontlines in Xieyun City.
Numerous problems plagued the frontline, and manpower was severely lacking.
Rest was not an option at the moment.
Hearing Su Chen's words, Qiu Xi Yu no longer insisted.
The two headed towards the frontline, conversing along the way.
Through Qiu Xi Yu's explanations, Su Chen realized that what he had heard from others wasn't entirely accurate.
The frontlines weren't as short-staffed as he had thought.
The issue was that manpower couldn't be easily withdrawn, and the constant strain was a headache.
The Qiu family's decision to send a formation master was to alleviate the strain on manpower.
The cost of maintaining over a dozen Hua Jing realm experts was enormous.
The Qiu family's current hope was to rely on the formation master's assistance to halve the manpower consumption.
For now, the available manpower could still hold on.
Until the defense formation was fully deployed, the frontline situation would remain stable.
As they walked and talked, Qiu Xi Yu shared many details, most of which pertained to the current formation situation.
Especially this time, the Qiu family's chosen deployment concept for the defense formation was the very one Su Chen had discussed with Qiu Xi Yu before.
The formation was no longer solely for defense but aimed to heavily damage the invading youwu.
They wanted to instill fear and timidity in those powerful youwu.
Su Chen naturally agreed with this approach.
These ideas came from his years of personal experience and encounters with youwu.
From Yun Yang Palace to Tian Gang City, Su Chen had been through a lot.
He had gained an in-depth understanding of the youwu's habits.
To completely block the youwu, one might need to build an impenetrable, towering wall, but even a powerful nation like Jin Kingdom lacked the resources for such an endeavor.
Relying solely on defense formations for a complete blockade was impossible.
Su Chen believed his formation skills were quite impressive, but even his formations couldn't guarantee to be problem-free.
Moreover, the Tianyao would send smaller youwu to test the defenses.
Once a breach occurred, all other defense formations would become meaningless.
"Senior Sister Qiu, is your younger cousin currently inspecting the frontlines as well?
Amidst the casual chit-chat, Su Chen finally found an opportunity to inquire about Qiu Ruoshuang's situation.
The primary reason for his visit to this place was the news that Qiu Ruoshuang was also here.
Qiu Xi Yu had given him a time limit, asking him to arrive before the end of May.
Su Chen had come according to this deadline.
Logically, he should be able to meet Qiu Ruoshuang.
However, with the current complexities, if something unexpected were to happen, it would be hard to predict the outcome.
Su Chen was well aware of this.
The situation on the frontline was ever-changing, and nothing could be said with certainty.
This was why Su Chen couldn't help but ask again.
Hearing Su Chen's words, Qiu Xi Yu, who was beside him, couldn't help but smile.
"Su Shixiong, you're so persistent about my little aunt; I can't help but wonder~"
Su Chen's face turned slightly embarrassed at Qiu Xi Yu's response.
He had certain thoughts in mind, and now they were exposed, causing this reaction.
However, it was clear that Qiu Xi Yu wasn't thinking in that direction.
She was merely joking.
"Su Shixiong, rest assured. My little aunt is also on the frontline this time.
She's been a bit busy lately, but after some time, she will meet with you.
When you see my little aunt, don't be shy~"
Hearing this reply, Su Chen was somewhat satisfied.
At least this trip wasn't in vain.
After half a day's journey, they finally reached the frontline camp.
Upon arrival, neither of them started working immediately.
There were still records to be filed at the camp.
Only after the tasks were arranged could they officially proceed.
Su Chen didn't find anything amiss; rules were rules.
As it was his first time at their frontline camp, he wasn't familiar with the precautions and warnings they might have. Still, he intended to follow them.
Qiu Xi Yu led him around the nearby area.
The accessible area was relatively small.
This was mainly due to Qiu Xi Yu's identity.
Although she was from the Qiu family, she had come here as a Zhen Fa Shi.
To ensure the safety of the Zhen Fa Shi, Qiu Xi Yu's free movement was limited to a small area.
Even at the frontline camp, her access was minimal.
That night, Su Chen stayed in the camp tent.
Finding accommodation here was easy; even if there wasn't any available, setting one up was simple.
After arriving, Su Chen didn't feel any discomfort; everything was as usual.
However, the other people in the camp seemed to have much to discuss.
The night passed.
On the battlefield, the night was a crucial time.
If there were matters to discuss, they would be postponed to the day.
The same applied to matters concerning Su Chen.
Whatever the issue, everyone waited until dawn to talk.
At three in the morning, the sky was already bright.
Qiu Xi Yu was called over by her father, Qiu Xing Chuan.
In the tent, there was also her mentor since childhood, Old Ding.
Most of the Qiu family's Zhen Fa Shi researchers had come due to the changes in the frontline defense formation's layout.
They wanted to see how the formation would be arranged and what the consequences of the changes would be.
"According to what I've heard, after this Su Xiao You arrived at the camp, he didn't show any attitude or ill temper, and his demeanor was quite good?"
Qiu Xing Chuan's words made Qiu Xi Yu feel a bit uneasy.
She knew her father too well; whenever he spoke like this, he was up to something.
"It's because Su Shixiong has a good temper, Father. The fact that you were impolite last time is undeniable.
Others may not remember, but that doesn't mean you can act recklessly again."
Qiu Xi Yu's words caused even Old Ding, who was beside them, to smile.
"Our thoughts are so transparent that Qiu Xi Yu has seen right through us before we even speak.
She's left us at a loss for words."
Qiu Xing Chuan's face visibly thickened.
Although his intentions were anticipated, he maintained a solemn expression, ready to express his thoughts.
"The frontline has a significant demand for Zhen Fa Shi.
And the demand for exceptional Zhen Fa Shi is even greater.
Qiu Xi Yu, I'm thinking of asking Su Xiao You for help this time, to assist in handling the formation issues on the frontline.
Most of the Qiu family's Zhen Fa Shi are here, which will facilitate better communication and discussion.
It's a win-win situation for both parties."
Hearing her father's words, Qiu Xi Yu pouted and looked at him.
"Father, do you mean to test Su Shixiong again?
You already caused trouble once; can't you just stay put for once?"
Shu Shixiong's abilities and talents were on full display during their last encounter, so why is he still testing me?"
Qiu Xi Yu's face was filled with discontent, and this well-behaved young lady was now genuinely upset.
A hint of helplessness appeared on Qiu Xingchuan's face.
His daughter had always been obedient and rarely opposed the elders' decisions, only occasionally offering suggestions.
But today, Qiu Xi Yu's attitude was unusually firm.
Qiu Xingchuan shook his head, but deep down, he had anticipated this outcome.
He had foreseen his daughter's strong reaction and had prepared his response in advance.
"Xi Yu, your father and Old Ding are not the types to make unreasonable demands.
This matter concerns you and your lifelong happiness.
As elders, we want to be extra cautious and confirm things one more time.
I, your father, am making a promise to you here.
This will be his final test.
If he passes this hurdle, our family will recognize and accept him.
From then on, he will be our son-in-law, and we will treat him as one of our own.
There will be no more talk of tests or assessments."
These words seemed to instantly dispel the resentment in Qiu Xi Yu's heart.
The worry on her face soon faded away.
As the worry dissipated, a hint of shyness appeared on her face.
"What are you talking about, Father? Shu Shixiong and I are just friends, and there's nothing more to it."
Qiu Xingchuan didn't take his daughter's explanation seriously and waved his hand dismissively.
"I have faith in my daughter.
In the vast Jin Kingdom, it's unlikely to find a man who wouldn't want to be my son-in-law.
If we approve of him, how could he possibly refuse?"
After saying this, Qiu Xingchuan didn't elaborate further.
He had called Qiu Xi Yu here to inform her in advance, to avoid any future misunderstandings.
This way, she wouldn't be upset when she learned about the upcoming test for Su Chen.
Qiu Xi Yu didn't inquire further about the nature of the test, but she could guess it.
It was likely related to the upcoming frontline defense formation.
If Su Chen performed well, it would not only prove himself but also earn the trust of Qiu Xingchuan's faction.
Their future son-in-law, despite his youth, would demonstrate exceptional prowess in array deployment.
In the future, the Qiu family and its affiliated forces would entrust all array-related matters to them.
Of course, if Su Chen performed poorly or was exposed as a fraud, it would be beneficial to unmask him, preventing any potential burden on Qiu Xi Yu.
Qiu Xingchuan had considered all these possibilities.
This final test presented no risks for them.
The only potential issue was Su Chen's possible anger.
However, Qiu Xingchuan wasn't overly concerned about this.
He believed Su Chen was well aware of the Qiu family's strength.
Even if he became angry or frustrated, he would eventually swallow his pride.
After informing his daughter, Qiu Xingchuan made the necessary arrangements.
Su Chen and Qiu Xi Yu would have to stay in the camp area for another day.
The noon sun passed.
Qiu Ruo Shuang had just finished her busy schedule and returned to her tent, located on the outermost perimeter of the camp.
As a Gui Yuan Jing martial artist, she was the most powerful warrior in the current battlefield.
It was only natural for her tent to be positioned on the outskirts.
Wherever she was, the various Youwu with their hidden agendas would behave more cautiously.
The aura of a Gui Yuan Jing expert was enough to keep the Tianyao at bay.
With her presence on the outskirts, others could relax.
Inside the tent, Qing Yuan had come to report on some matters.
After about half an hour, Qing Yuan had covered most of what she wanted to say.
She reported to Qiu Ruo Shuang daily, and with such short intervals, there wasn't much to report.
After discussing the important matters, Qing Yuan mentioned Qiu Xi Yu.
"Miss Xi Yu's Shu Shixiong arrived last night, I heard.
It will likely be a few days before Second Master Xingchuan invites you over.
These past few days, Shu Shixiong has been busy handling array-related matters."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Ruo Shuang nodded slightly.
After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Qing Yuan, have you met this Shu Shixiong?"
Qing Yuan shook her head. "I haven't seen him, but I heard he's quite handsome.
He's already been pulled into discussions about array deployment.
I wanted to sneak a peek, but there hasn't been an opportunity."
(End of Chapter)
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