Chapter Sixty-Three: The Chrysanthemum Waist Token

Fingers tapped lightly on the wooden tabletop, the dull "thump, thump" growing ever more rapid and urgent, like the rhythm of a battle drum.

With the deepest thud, Ling Youzi suddenly rose to his full height, facing the morning light, and spoke resolutely, "Since Swordless has bought us a year, we must make good use of it."

"Que Yue, begin training these travelers as soon as possible. Form them into a special operations squad. Meanwhile, you must open your meridians at the fastest possible pace. A year is neither long nor short, but if we wish to accomplish something, it is enough."

"Understood!" Hua Que Yue replied, then pushed open the door and strode out into the rising sun, his figure upright and vigorous in the morning breeze.

Two hours later, the travelers were gathered in the Martial Hall of the Spirit Realm.

Zhou Yu gazed at the newly laid blue stone tiles. The pits and scars from the previous battle had been filled and repaired; not a trace remained. He couldn't help but marvel at how objects and people alike change, then turned to look at Abuli.

Abuli knelt on one knee, hands clasped atop his head, paying homage in the empty Martial Hall—a custom from his homeland, to honor fallen warriors. That night, dozens of travelers had met their end here.

The crowd murmured in confusion, none knowing why the Spirit Realm had summoned them.

Jack approached Zhou Yu, speaking softly, "Do you think it concerns that letter?"

Zhou Yu lifted his eyelids, somewhat listless. "Who knows? If it's not about cultivation, I don't care."

Jack hesitated, then whispered even more quietly, "Actually... the maids of the Spirit Realm are quite something..."

Zhou Yu turned his head, staring at Jack for a moment. Gradually, his eyes brightened. "Maids? Why have I never seen them?"

Jack looked into Zhou Yu's now emerald-tinted gaze, wondering inwardly if this was the legendary wolf's hungry look.

"You always live with your master, who cares for you. You spend your days immersed in cultivation, coming and going early and late, so naturally you've never seen the maids. In truth, there are many young beauties here, tributes from various nations. All of them are exquisitely lovely, like celestial maidens."

Zhou Yu gaped, silent for a while before exclaiming, "Damn! Truly, my master makes me and breaks me..."

"What are you whispering about, so cheerful?" Hua Que Yue approached, hands folded within his wide sleeves and behind his back.

Zhou Yu jumped at the sound, but upon seeing it was Hua Que Yue, he grabbed him affectionately. "Brother Hua, I've heard there are many fine water spirit girls here—introduce me, won't you?"

Hua Que Yue, tasked with organizing and training the special operations squad of travelers, had intended to establish his authority and make an impression. Who could have predicted Zhou Yu would so brazenly pull him into an embrace, leaving him slightly annoyed.

"Let go of me, Zhou Yu!" Hua Que Yue whispered.

Zhou Yu squinted, tightening his grip, shaking Hua Que Yue vigorously, speaking slyly, "Heh, others might not know, but I do—you can't form seals with your hands now. Promise to introduce me to some girls and I'll let you go."

"You think I can't handle you just because my hands can't form seals?" Hua Que Yue replied coldly.

The two whispered while locked together, drawing astonished looks from the surrounding travelers. They recognized the handsome middle-aged man as the most outstanding disciple of the Spirit Realm, Hua Que Yue, but were surprised at Zhou Yu's familiarity with him. Envy filled their gazes.

Jack sighed, "Seems not only Earth, but even the Path of Samsara can't stop brotherhood!"

Zhou Yu paid no mind to Hua Que Yue's words, holding on tight, whispering, "Why are you suddenly so fierce today? Not your usual style. Are you angry because I want you to introduce me to those girls? Are they all yours? Or... are you interested in me?"

"Ah! I can't take it anymore!" Hua Que Yue yelled, his legs crossing and shaking rapidly, heels raised, toes flicking back, yet his body unmoved. A vast energy gathered from the air, forming a small green sphere. With a swift kick, Hua Que Yue launched the sphere at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu stared in disbelief—weren't his hands crippled? Yet he still formed a seal!

Though the seal wasn't fast, Zhou Yu was too close to evade, and the energy ball struck him squarely.

With a thunderous boom, Zhou Yu flew fifty meters, landing hard and smashing a pit into the new blue stone tiles.

Lying in the pit, his clothes shredded, Zhou Yu's eyes rolled back, mouth emitting wisps of blue smoke, limbs twitching uncontrollably.

"Impossible... forget the girls..." he muttered.

Everyone watched, stunned. The two who had just seemed inseparable had suddenly turned on each other, and Zhou Yu, the champion of the travelers' contest, was defeated in a single blow by Hua Que Yue.

"So you can form seals even with the Space Step!" Abuli remarked.

Seeing the crowd's awe and reverence directed at him, Hua Que Yue felt somewhat satisfied. Lifting his hem, he stepped forward, about to explain the reason for the gathering, but was interrupted by a tsunami of cheers and applause.

Jack pushed through the crowd, performed a one-handed Thomas spin, followed by a series of dazzling moves—handstands, jumps, and intricate street dance flourishes.

As Jack danced, the travelers became increasingly wild, enthralled by his extraordinary street dance.

Hua Que Yue watched, bewildered, wondering what Jack was up to.

As Jack's movements changed, the crowd began singing the famous "Beat It" together.

Dazzling moves, shifting footwork, powerful rhythm...

At first, heads nodded to the beat, then necks, arms, and finally entire bodies—Hua Que Yue found himself involuntarily shaking along.

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It

No One Wants To Be Defeated

How Funky Strong Is Your Fight

It Doesn’t Matter Who’s Wrong Or Right...

Zhou Yu crawled out of the pit, watching the dancing crowd, spat fiercely on the ground, and cursed, "Damn! You’re all this happy just because I got beaten? Dancing now!"

Caught up in the moment, Jack forgot he was in the Path of Samsara, forgot this was the Spirit Realm, and that the man shaking his hips opposite him was Hua Que Yue...

As was his habit, Jack ended the dance battle with a defiant middle finger.

As that finger rose, the crowd gradually quieted, yet Jack remained immersed in rare relaxation, still waving his middle finger at Hua Que Yue, eyes closed and humming "Beat It."

Hua Que Yue didn't know what "Beat It" meant, nor why Jack had suddenly started dancing, or why everyone was so excited, or even why he himself had started shaking to their rhythm.

But he understood very well the meaning of that middle finger, raised at a forty-five degree angle, as if to pierce the sky.

Though Earth and the Path of Samsara were entirely different realms, with divergent histories and progress, some things were universal—like the meaning and use of the middle finger.

Seeing Jack’s finger waving before his eyes, Hua Que Yue’s anger built. He held back for a moment, but seeing no sign of Jack withdrawing, he raised his right foot and kicked Jack.

Watching Jack fall heavily beside him, Zhou Yu was moved to tears. "True brothers—sharing hardship!"

Jack’s constitution was weaker than Zhou Yu’s, so after uttering the phrase he’d just learned, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Hua Que Yue straightened his clothes and addressed the now obedient crowd, "You have been gathered here to fulfill your life’s purpose."

"You know the Chosen One will arise from among you. Who will it be? Perhaps you! Or you! Or him!" He pointed at each in turn, and those indicated felt invigorated, as if they’d already become the Asura King, destined to be the world’s hero.

"The path to kingship is riddled with thorns. You must cut down all that hinders you, break through the clouds that obscure your brilliance, grow through constant battle, and reclaim your power as king!"

"Thus, after research by the Spirit Realm, we have decided to form you into a special operations squad! You will be assigned missions, constantly trained and tested, so you can grow faster!"

Hua Que Yue spoke passionately, his voice rising and falling, delivering the speech he’d rehearsed countless times, brimming with masculine energy.

Zhou Yu lay by the pit, watching the excited group, then glanced at Hua Que Yue, sighing, "Keep bluffing..."

Hua Que Yue drew from his robe a set of small, golden waist badges, each engraved with a flower—a blooming chrysanthemum.

"These badges are custom-made! The golden chrysanthemum, shining with the light of life, will be our squad’s flower, our symbol! Anyone who joins will receive one. With this badge, there’s nowhere you can’t go, no meal or bed you must pay for! On missions, whatever you need, just show the badge—Spirit Realm covers all expenses!"

"Spirit Realm quality! My own creation! Guaranteed excellence! Whoever wants to join, come and claim one! First come, first served, limited supply!" Hua Que Yue shouted.

Of all the travelers, only Zhou Yu had heard such slick sales pitches before. The others, from various nations, could barely contain their excitement. They surged forward, each grabbing a badge.

"As the saying goes, too many fools, not enough tricksters..." Zhou Yu muttered.

Hua Que Yue’s lips curled into a thirty-degree smile, piercing the void. He looked at Zhou Yu in the distance, satisfied. "Don’t worry, Junior Brother Zhou Yu. How could I forget you on such a good thing? Come, here's a special badge just for you."

He drew out a badge clearly larger than the others. Seeing Zhou Yu’s lack of interest, Hua Que Yue smiled meaningfully, and added, "I forgot to mention, these badges not only cover food, lodging, and girls, but also allow two-way communication over short distances, and can store items—such as... delicious food."

Hearing it could store food, Zhou Yu rushed from the pit, snatched the largest badge, and asked, "This big one—does it store the most food?"

Hua Que Yue nodded serenely. "Naturally."

Zhou Yu examined it for a long time, then said, "But isn’t the chrysanthemum on mine a bit too big?"

Hua Que Yue replied, "You dislike a large chrysanthemum? Do you not know its meaning? Such nobility and purity—a flower to adore. Love life, love chrysanthemum."

These words struck Zhou Yu like a bolt of lightning, leaving him stupefied.

Hua Que Yue’s explanation only strengthened Zhou Yu’s resolve to grind off the dazzling chrysanthemum in secret.

"Now, let me teach you how to use your chrysanthemum badge! First, the badge represents the Spirit Realm, so you can use it to go anywhere, and all expenses are reimbursed."

"Second, if you wish to contact nearby squad members, gently stroke the flower's heart three times."

"Third, to store items, stroke the flower's heart four times."

"To retrieve items, stroke the flower's heart five times."

Zhou Yu shuddered, remembering his earlier tussle with someone of such peculiar taste, and goosebumps ran over him.

"Excuse me! What does stroking the chrysanthemum once do?" Abuli raised his hand.

Hua Que Yue smiled, "Nothing at all. I designed it that way so you’ll stroke the king of flowers more often, to cultivate your temperament and character."

Zhou Yu admitted defeat, deciding to stay far away from Hua Que Yue from now on.

"Now, I declare! Our special operations squad is officially established today!" Hua Que Yue boomed.

"And now, your first mission!"

Zhou Yu’s heart thudded—what must come has finally come.

PS: Though this chapter is somewhat heavy on parody and eccentric humor, it does not affect the overall plot progression. The following chapters will seldom feature this intense chrysanthemum motif. Consider it the author’s indulgence... Please be gentle, dear readers...