A great number of Elders in the gathering were disappointed by Xuan Zi's approach to resolving the deadlock.
Han Xuhan's unpredictable answer suddenly shifted their expressions. Xuan Zi himself had a calculating look on his face as he slowly nodded.
"Go on, let's hear it."
"This choice depends not just on me, but also on Xuanyuan Zhou. Sect Master, I'd like to have her opinion on it beforehand."
While many Elders flashed Xuhan a smile of approval, Xuan Zi ordered Lao Jun to bring the girl over from the testing site.
About fifteen minutes later, Xuanyuan Zhou emerged from the fog, jogging behind a heavily sweating Lao Jun. The confusion on her face was apparent.
As she came closer and stopped to greet the crowd of senior cultivators, Han Xuhan walked over and stood face-to-face with her.
She seemed to recall the result of his ancestry test and almost took a step back in fear.
"Did Senior Jun explain anything to you, Sister Zhou?" Han Xuhan asked with a faint smile. He preferred this version of Xuanyuan Zhou more, truth be told.
"No, but I've learned quite a bit from the discussions among the participants after you were taken away, Brother Xuhan.
"Having a lineage cursed by heavenly design is considered both a disaster and a blessing in powerful sects. The rules would make you the winner of our wager. I should congratulate you, Brother Xuhan."
There was no sarcasm or disappointment in her tone. Perhaps her congratulations were genuinely heartfelt.
What a pity! If the loss of her slot had pained her, it would've been better for him.
After all, his quest was to make her indebted to him. For that, she had to cherish what he was going to surrender.
"Your guess is correct, Sister Zhou. I do automatically qualify for your slot as an outer court disciple. But I cannot sleep comfortably at night knowing that that slot belonged to someone else rightfully. It'd leave me feeling like a thief."
Xuanyuan Zhou opened her mouth to argue, but he cut in.
"That's why, I have made a different choice, a choice that requires some cooperation from you."
Enjoying the flabbergasted look on her face, he announced his own path, the fourth choice.
"Sister Zhou, I'd like to request a job from you. Please take me in as a personal attendant when you enter the Crimson Snow Sect as an outer court disciple!"
Faced with his slight bow and sunny smile, Xuanyuan Zhou was left stunned. The mountain peak was just as silent. The Elders, the Sect Master, the servants—nobody seemed to have anticipated this outcome.
This idea had taken birth in Han Xuhan's head when recalling Xuanyuan Zhou's first duel, where a guy had boasted that after he defeated her and took her slot, he would allow her to enter the sect as his maid.
Han Xuhan had guessed that such a tradition did exist. After all, almost every selected disciple came from an impressive background. It'd be unrealistic to expect them to waste their time doing chores when they could be cultivating.
Xuan Zi's declaration made him more certain. Since the position of formal servant disciples had been more or less abolished, who else would take care of miscellaneous daily tasks for the disciples, if not their personal attendants?
Although he doubted that the sect would allow the personal servants of the outer court disciples to cultivate alongside them, he wasn't too interested in cultivating under this sect anyway.
So why not grab this golden opportunity to complete both of his Quests and earn the goodwill of every party involved? This way, he would also be avoiding all the traps hidden in the three choices Xuan Zi had given him!
From the corner of his gaze, Han Xuhan noticed the unsightly look flashing across Xuan Zi's face and became even more certain that he had made the right choice!
"I... Taking you as my attendant? You can't just... Why would you make such a choice? You're harming your own destiny, your potential! I cannot accept that!"
Xuanyuan Zhou looked agitated, torn between jubilance and denial. She clearly couldn't believe that someone would throw away an opportunity so precious and choose to become an ordinary servant.
Han Xuhan's smile grew broader.
"Sister Zhou, please don't turn me down! The sect would also prefer it if I didn't disappear into the mortal world. Staying in contact with this sect without hogging someone else's position... This is the only righteous way ahead in my eyes!"
For a moment, Han Xuhan was afraid that Xuan Zi would shout something about the position of formal servant disciples. That would ruin his momentum and give Xuanyuan Zhou a chance to refuse his proposal.
But perhaps Xuan Zi himself wasn't willing to open a tradition he himself had abolished. The old man kept his mouth shut and watched the distressed girl reach a decision.
"Brother Xuhan, are you sure you won't regret leaving this opportunity to me?" She asked, her voice becoming firm.
"What is there to regret? You cannot lose what you never had. I never wanted your slot to begin with!"
Han Xuhan responded. His face was starting to hurt from holding the goofy smile for so long.
Xuanyuan Zhou took a deep breath and bowed at him, her hands coming together to form an odd salute.
"Then I can only be impolite and accept you as my attendant, my benefactor!"
Han Xuhan performed the salute he used to give old man Ming Zi. The smile no longer hurt his face because he now had a reason to smile. Xuanyuan Zhou's response had triggered his system!
[ Congratulations to the host for completing the Main Storyline Quest: Benevolent Beginning. Distributing reward... ]
[ +10 Survival Points × 4 ]
[ Congratulations to the host for completing the Secondary Storyline Quest: Xuanyuan Zhou's Debt. Distributing reward... ]
[ +10 Survival Points ]
Han Xuhan quickly checked his personal data panel and discovered something new.
[ Survival System ]
[ Host Body: Unique ]
[ Survival Points: 50 ]
[ Survival Tokens: Available ]