On the day the Martial Arts Convention began, as the rooster crowed at the third watch while the common folk were still fast asleep, many wanderers of the jianghu had already set out, stepping into the night dew as they rushed toward the outskirts.
The matches for the Martial Arts Convention had been announced five days prior, and Lin Yue's first arena match was scheduled for three days later.
Lin Yue had arranged to meet Hong Mei and her companion at the city gate. Following the flow of people out of the city, she saw many figures standing to the left and right in front of the gate, mostly disciples from various sects, filling the air with noisy chatter.
Lin Yue wove through the crowd, sweeping her gaze around several times without spotting the two. Just as she began to wonder if they had missed the notice she posted or if something had happened to them, a voice called out from behind her.
"Lin Yue?"
Before Lin Yue could even turn around, her back was nudged by a donkey's head. It let out an excited "hee-haw, hee-haw," instantly drawing the eyes of those around them.
Lin Yue stroked its coat to soothe it, and seeing Hong Mei looking her up and down, she smiled and said, "It's me."
Hong Mei chuckled upon hearing this, scanning her up and down once more. "Not bad! A quite handsome young fellow—I almost thought you were your brother!"
"Where's the kid?" She looked left and right, seeing no sign of the little boy named Chen Zhiyi.
"Sent him back."
Hearing this, Hong Mei raised her eyebrows. Lin Yue briefly explained the situation. After listening to the whole story, Hong Mei nodded in agreement. "You did the right thing. We couldn't protect him, so sending him back to his family was the best choice."
"Where's Siyan?"
"Her sect has matches, so she went to assemble with them."
"Brother Lin, who is this..." Fang Heng and the other three walked over.
"I am Hong Ying of Yunzhou Prefecture. Greetings, everyone!" Seeing four weapon-toting youths, Hong Mei immediately introduced herself.
"I am Fang Heng of Jizhou Prefecture..."
After introducing themselves to one another, the group headed toward the competition venue.
Looking ahead along the way, figures moved in dense throngs, with countless vendors lining both sides of the road, giving off a lively vibe like a grand country fair. Since horses and donkeys could easily injure people in such a crowd, the group left their mounts in a shed.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Around the high platform, four burly men wearing red kerchiefs on their heads and red sashes tied around their waists struck massive drums, the rumbling reverberations shaking people's hearts. Right in the center sat the organizers of the Martial Arts Convention and the leaders of the top ten sects, lined up on red chairs with solemn expressions and torch-like gazes, exuding the grand aura of martial masters.
The man in the middle stood up and walked forward. Clad in a sapphire-blue gauze robe, he appeared to be around forty years old. With his hands behind his back, a straight spine, and steady steps like a snarling tiger or leopard, he merely raised a hand and pressed downward slightly, instantly hushing the crowd below into total silence. Cupping his hands, he spoke:
"Welcome, all martial sects and friends of the jianghu, to the Twelfth Martial Arts Convention! I am the host of this convention, the owner of Longmen Escort Agency, Zhang Tianhu."
Zhang Tianhu raised a hand toward a thin, long-faced old man with a goatee in a white gown sitting to the left. "Allow me to introduce to you all: this is the Sect Master of the Quanzhen Sect, Wang Kuncheng!"
The old man stood, cupped his hands to all four directions, and sat back down. Zhang Tianhu shifted his gesture further back.
"This is the Grand Elder of the Yuanshan Sect, Tie Zhenshan!"
A white-bearded elder wearing a navy-blue robe embroidered with soaring cranes stood up to offer greetings, and Zhang Tianhu continued his introductions.
"The Sect Master of the Meishan Sect, He Jing."
An elderly woman in Daoist robes rose and cupped her hands.
"This is the Sect Master of the Baijian Sect, Wei Zhu..."
After introducing all the spokespersons, Zhang Tianhu began explaining the competition rules and rewards.
"I now declare the official start of the Martial Arts Convention!"
Cheers erupted below the platform. Amidst the lively clamor, the audience dispersed with laughter and chatter to take a brief rest before the referees took the stage and the first match began.
The sect competition featured five fighters from each side in a gauntlet-style elimination; the last person standing on the stage would be the winner.
The Huajian Sect had not taken the stage yet. Hong Ying was also set to compete today; having already stepped into the Second-Rate realm, her stage was different from Fang Heng's. After discussing it, the group decided to watch Fang Heng's match first before heading over to Hong Ying's.
On Arena Stage Eight where Fang Heng was assigned, two men were already fighting with sabers, both using broad, powerful styles. Matching each other in strength, their fight was purely a test of endurance.
Arena matches were divided into challenging for the stage and defending the stage. Currently, it was a defense match with a time limit of one stick of incense, and the hourglass below was already more than half full.
Though the autumn weather was crisp and clear, the two men on stage were drenched in sweat. If a victor was not decided within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the match would be deemed a draw: the challenger would have two chances remaining, while the stage champion would have to pack up and head home.
Neither man was willing to yield to the other, ultimately ending in a draw, and both stepped down from the stage.
After a brief stir in the crowd, a man immediately vaulted onto the high stage with a press of his hands. He looked up, and holy smoke—someone else had vaulted onto the opposite side at the exact same moment! Where was the guy he had set up?! The two exchanged glances, both of their eyes conveying sheer bad luck, but at the referee's order, they had no choice but to fight.
Probing, exchanging blows, stopping short of landing lethal hits—both were terrified of being hurt by the opponent's sword. In the end, it was the big guy in black silk who mustered his courage, let out a loud shout, and drove his opponent back, successfully claiming the stage.
In the defense round, a nimble guy moving like a monkey immediately darted onto the stage. As the match began, the two exchanged glances, confirming each other's identities. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the monkey-like guy fell to the ground, and the big guy in black silk successfully defended the stage!
Lin Yue and the others watched in utter dumbfoundedness. The fix was so blatant—was the referee senile and blind?
Referee: No, my sight is fine. It was just temporarily blocked by something dirty, but now I can see clearly again.
The crowd bustled and jostled once more. A big fellow leaped onto the high platform, cupping his hands. "I am Zhu Dachang of Jingzhou Prefecture!"
As everyone scrutinized him from below, a loud shout suddenly erupted from the crowd: "I'll do it!"
The newcomer lightly pushed off his toes and landed on the stage. "I am Wu Zhenniu of Yunzhen Prefecture."
The two battled, their moves fluid and seasoned, striking with caution. Well-matched as they were, Wu Zhenniu ultimately succeeded in taking the stage.
Everyone watched for a long time without anyone stepping up to challenge him. Wu Zhenniu sat cross-legged on the stage to meditate. With only one day available, nobody dared to go up needlessly.
As Fang Heng pondered the man's moves to gauge his own chances of winning, someone nudged his arm. Turning his head, he saw his dear sister winking at him, making confusion flash through his eyes.
"Sister, what's wrong with your eyes?"
"Brother, go on up!"
"Who's your brother?" Fang Heng took a few steps to the side, moving away from her.
"Your brother's martial skills aren't good enough; I'm no match for him."
"Who says so!" Agitated, Fang Heng turned to look, then instantly glared. "Brother Wu, if I'm no good and you are, why don't you go up!"
"Have any of you noticed that whenever he exerts force, his center of gravity leans to the left? He definitely has an old injury on his right foot. If you feint toward his right side and then launch a heavy assault on his left, you might break his defense."
Hearing such a detailed analysis, the group could not help but look toward the blue-robed figure.
Seeing her watch the stage with an aura of effortless calm, her entire presence practically radiating reliability, they listened as she continued:
"Furthermore, there is a slight lag when he turns to defend. You can seize that split second to launch a surprise attack."
"Brother Fang, you are young and lack experience. You can first pretend to be panicked and evade temporarily. If the opponent underestimates you, striking when he least expects it will give you another edge."
Hearing this, Fang Heng felt a stir in his heart. For some reason, he inexplicably believed her: "Brother Lin, really?"
"Mm." Lin Yue nodded slowly.
Fang Heng drew a deep breath, his gaze turning resolute. Looking toward the stage, he said, "I'll go face him!"
With that, he drew his sword with a sharp shhhk and flew onto the stage. As the autumn wind blew, the youth's sleeves fluttered in the breeze, his eyes calm and his spirit high.
"I am Fang Heng of Guanghong Prefecture."
Wu Zhenniu stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and charged forward.
A stick of incense later.
"Brother, we thought you'd only last a few rounds, but you actually fought for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea! That's really impressive, totally beyond our expectations."
Fang Heng widened his eyes upon hearing this. "What's that supposed to mean?" He looked toward Lin Yue. "Brother Lin?"
He saw her maintaining the same calm composure, saying in a reassuring tone, "Wu Zhenniu is a Second-Rate expert. You haven't crossed the threshold of the Second-Rate realm yet, yet you managed to hold out against him for so long. You are quite a bit stronger than I expected."
Hearing this, the youth's eyes lit up, and he immediately broke into a foolish grin. Brother Lin really knew how to say nice things. "Then wouldn't that make me amazing?"
Fang Yu patted his shoulder and praised him as well: "My brother is the most amazing!"
And so, the others joined in praising him too.
"Brother Fang's martial arts are high and profound..."
"Big Brother Fang is wise and mighty..."
The group took turns praising Fang Heng until he was overjoyed. They then helped him select a suitable opponent, whereupon he successfully took the stage and defended it smoothly, advancing into the next round.
With Fang Heng's match settled, everyone moved over to Arena Stage Six, where Hong Ying was stationed. As it happened, Hong Ying was just stepping up to challenge for the stage. Forgoing her red whip, she wielded a broadsword instead, her gaze sharp and fierce. In no time, she successfully claimed the stage. Seeing the group cheering her on from below, she gave a confident smile.
During her defense round, a burly man stepped up to challenge her. Also fighting with a broadsword, he held the advantage in size and strength. Hong Ying played to her strengths and avoided her weaknesses, maneuvering deftly until she successfully defended the stage just as the sand in the hourglass ran out, advancing to the next round.
Rate on N.U.
