Chen Wu heaved a sigh. There was neither joy nor disappointment on his face. He turned to look at Fei Luo and Wu Tie who are facing against each other before they turned to look at Chen Wu who looked calm. Neither of them knows what he is thinking.
"Then, let's decide who will be the first one to attack. The one who got the longest stick, or the shortest stick?" Chen Wu asked.
Fei Luo and Wu Tie started. It was then that they all remembered that they haven't decided this matter yet. In their minds, they have already decided that the one who got the longest stick would be the first to strike. But, they haven't decided it earlier, as their attention was drawn to drawing the longest stick. They also weren't given the time to react since Wu Lian has caught their attention next by taking out the sticks and box.
They have realized that Chen Wu had manipulated them! But, they immediately calmed themselves. If it was really as they thought before, that the one who got the longest stick wins, then this matter already would be decided. The other two could only accept the result.
But, Chen Wu's manipulation gave the other two the chance to turn the table against the one who got the longest stick. If it was before, they each would vote for themselves to be the first one to strike xiao Bao and xiao Ling. After all, this is a competition. However, right now, with this small game, each of them will be given an equal chance.
Now, in this game, it will be two against one. But, the one who got the neither long nor short stick can side with the one who got the shortest stick and go against the one with the longest stick. Or… he can side with the one who got the longest stick and go against the one with the shortest stick.
Fei Luo, Sun Yan, Wu Tie and Jin Yu wanted to look at Chen Wu. But, they didn't. Why? Because they will expose whether they got the longest, shortest, or the other stick. It will be very disadvantageous. The one who got the longest stick or the shortest stick would be afraid to be turned against by the other two. Meanwhile, the one who got the neither long nor short stick also is placed in a disadvantageous position, since he has to offend one person to help the other person.
Damn Chen Wu! Fei Luo, Sun Yan, Wu Tie and Jin Yu inwardly cursed. He is really Cheng Sheng's nephew! They thought.
…
"Hahahahaha! Oh, god! How did this happen?! That Chen Wu?! 'that' Chen Wu did this?!" Jing Hei, the loudest and liveliest person, asked and almost rolled in the floor because of laughter.
Qian Lin apologetically smiled at the others and looked away from Jing Hei, feeling very embarrassed of him.
Chen Han, the other uncle of Chen Wu, was dumbfounded. "Ah Sheng…" he called.
The other elders. "…" what do you want to say, or ask? Of how did Cheng Sheng turn the obedient and honest Chen Wu into this cunning person?! They thought and pitied Chen Han for one second.
Chen Wu, who is as upright and obedient as his big uncle Chen Han, and completely the opposite of his small uncle Cheng Sheng, right now is exhibiting the same cunningness like his small uncle Cheng Sheng.
Poor Chen Han, his heart must have broken now… they all thought and looked at Chen Han, who is now crying in Li Tian's arms. "…" fck. Although we were right that Chen Han was brokenhearted by his eldest nephew's act, we can't feel joy because we were forced by dog food again! They thought as their faces darkened. They retracted their gazes and turned to resume watching the competition.
They are curious as to what Chen Wu is planning.
…
Chen Wu, the mastermind, spoke in a calm voice. He is the one who proposed this game so no one would suspect him if he spoke at this time. After all, they still have to know the next conditions of this game.
"Two to one." He said. "If there are two votes for the one with the longest stick, then the one with the longest stick will be the first to strike. The same applies for the vote for the one with the shortest stick. Then, we will set a time limit before the next one to strike." He told them.
"Isn't this the same as earlier?" Wu Tie asked.
"Of course, it isn't." Chen Wu turned to him. "This time, no one knows who will be the first to strike." He explained.
Wu Tie nodded as he finally understood. This way, only them their selves know their discoveries as the other two parties won't peek at them while they fight against xiao Bao and xiao Ling. On the other hand, earlier, if they vote for each other right on their faces, there will be a grudge born since someone might want to be the first but then because of the other two, they became the last to strike.
But, Chen Wu gave them an alternative voting method. This way indeed is fair and covert. And since each of them joined this small game, naturally, they will abide by the rule to not take a peek while one of the parties are fighting against xiao Bao and xiao Ling.
"Jie, did you see who got the long, short and the other stick?" Lei Ling asked Lei Qing.
"No." Lei Qing shook her head.
"How about you?" Lei Ling turned to Jing Kang.
Jing Kang shook his head. "No." he answered. "It was too fast… I was caught off-guard and didn't react enough so I didn't see." He explained.
The other elders nodded in agreement. "That Wu Lian… who would expect for him and Chen Wu to do this trick?" Xi Ming asked and helplessly smiled.
They nodded. "Even Sun Yan and Jin Yu at the scene couldn't react." Tang Zhe spoke.
"But, Wu Lian also closed his eyes to be fair to them. Thus, he also shouldn't know which sticks did Fei Luo and Wu Tie, and Chen Wu, got." Jing Cheng said.
"That's my son!" Sun Yi smiled, feeling proud as he looked at Wu Lian's poker face. His smile froze and he turned to look at the man who wore the similar poker face.
If it was Sun Yi who raised Wu Lian, he would definitely have misguided the child. Fortunately, his upright husband Wu Yuan also raised Wu Lian and honed Wu Lian to be who he is now. Just that… he became as abstinent as his father.
Sun Yi helplessly sighed, doesn't know whether Wu Lian's abstinent personality is a blessing or a curse to his future partner.
…
Wu Lian's unknowing chosen future partner Chen Wu, looked at Fei Luo and Wu Tie, before he spoke. "Let's use the Revealing Talisman to vote, then." He suggested when neither of the two spoke.
Fei Luo and Wu Tie turned to him, looking at him with a suspicious gaze. He seems so eager… did Chen Wu pick the shortest stick? They thought. But, they can't confirm this right now so they kept their thoughts.
Sun Yan and Jin Yu looked at each other before they retracted their gazes. Wu Lian's move was too fast earlier and before they know it, Fei Luo and Wu Tie have also chosen the sticks. They were stunned at this unexpected move of Wu Lian that prompted Fei Luo and Wu Tie to make their decision fast, that they didn't notice the remaining falling stick that Chen Wu caught.
Cunning. The Youxiwang Sect can actually be this cunning! Now, neither of them knows which stick did the other person have and only knows what stick they have.
"The Revealing Talisman can hide messages before it reveals the message after a period of time." Chen Wu explained as he took out a talisman, injected his qi on it to cast his vote.
Fei Luo, Sun Yan, Wu Tie and Jin Yu felt speechless at this. Chen Wu took the initiative to cast his vote first not only because he was the one who proposed this, but also to relieve their suspicion on him of cheating in the game that he proposed.
"I'll go first." Fei Luo spoke as he took the talisman.
Wu Tie raised his hands and shrugged. "My turn." He said and took the flying talisman after Fei Luo also casted his vote. He injected his qi before he released the talisman.
Everyone watched the Revealing Talisman flew mid-air and held their breaths as they waited. Then, their eyes widened in shock when the result was finally shown.
"… what the heck?!" the audience exclaimed when they saw the result.. "Why… why is it the one with neither the long nor short stick that has the three votes?!" they asked.