Beware Of Chicken v7c57: A Very Swift Tournament

After their final drink, Meiling and her husband retreated to the mountain. Both were in high spirits from a day of exploration. When they mentioned Ye Shun to Xiulan and Rags, it turned out Rags was already aware of the man. He had been keeping an eye on Ye Shun and his family as a precautionary measure, along with several other groups of disgruntled Independents.

Regardless, the situation seemed under control. Despite Dong Chou's outwardly rough and disorganized appearance, he possessed a heart of gold and was surprisingly meticulous. He genuinely reminded Meiling of the stories her father told about her mother: a city person, rough around the edges, crass, and rude, but absolutely the kind of person you'd want at your back, willing to walk into the gates of the Underworld with you without a moment's hesitation.

Xiulan and Tigu had certainly found some good friends, and Meiling hoped to share a meal with Dong Chou again soon.

And so, the night concluded without further incident. Jin still seemed somewhat bothered by the contemptible words he'd overheard spoken about Xiulan, but as it was late, he clearly didn't know how to address it with their friend after their discussion about Ye Shun.

Her husband, for all his usual easygoing nature, did have his limits. Witnessing the fury on his face the previous night had been enough to snap Meiling out of her own anger. Even so, he had remained focused enough to simply ignore the troublemakers. They weren't worth the trouble anyway, merely individuals resentful of Xiulan's superiority.

That's precisely what it all came down to. It didn't make it any easier to walk away when she had heard those words, though.

Honestly, the constant insinuations that Xiulan was romantically involved with Jin! That was their go-to accusation. Well, they were partially correct. Xiulan often slept in their bed, but their relationship was entirely chaste, even though sometimes—

Meiling forcefully pushed the foolish, irrelevant thought aside.

Meiling cherished Xiulan with a love akin to how she adored Meihua, her sister in all but blood! Her teasing was merely playful banter!

Xiulan was a true noble hero, venturing into the unknown to defend others from predators. However, beyond the hero and the esteemed Grand Marshal, she was also a cheeky brat at times, resorting to using floating chopsticks to startle people when they least expected it. Her Go skills were only slightly superior to Jin's; she was far too indolent and demanded pampering during her downtime. Her singing voice was wonderful, and her dancing was even more impressive.

It had been a wonderful experience to be with her, witnessing Xiulan open up to them. The transformation from a reserved, stoic cultivator into the person whose presence always filled Meiling’s heart with joy. The way she held their son with such tender affection and love.

Meiling simply wished for Xiulan to remain their friend forever.

And… she knew Jin felt the same. They hadn't explicitly discussed it, but she had seen the same anger in his eyes that mirrored her own. He loved Xiulan dearly, just as he loved Yun Ren and Gou Ren, who had become his sworn brothers, much like Meihua was her sister.

That was the nature of their bond.

Meiling snuggled closer to Jin and drifted off to sleep.

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The following day brought another event, one that found them once again overlooking the Earthly Arena.

“And so begins a tournament to showcase the skills of the younger generation, and to see how much they have grown!” the announcer boomed, as Meiling sat in the “Imperial Box,” observing the proceedings. She had heard others describe tournaments and had read about a few, but had never witnessed one firsthand. To be honest, she was curious about what this event entailed, and Tigu had made it sound exceptionally entertaining.

“I still can’t believe you arranged this,” Meiling whispered out of the corner of her mouth. Xiulan was aware of her interest, which was why she had set up this small tournament, with participants chosen by a random draw.

“What else would this one do, except endeavour to please the Lady Meiling,” Xiulan replied with a mischievous grin, before continuing in a hushed tone, leaning in so only Meiling could hear. “I needed the practice anyway. These events will require both myself and Director Huizhong to work in tandem, so it’s best to identify any potential issues now.”

That reasoning certainly held merit.

The Imperial Box itself was undeniably a grand chamber, adorned with numerous carved reliefs of ancient heroes and silk tapestries displaying flags. The room maintained a perfectly comfortable temperature, shielded from the summer sun. The only minor inconvenience was that the chairs were positioned slightly too high off the ground, leaving her feet dangling—however, Washy noticed this. As he coiled around her chair, he allowed her to rest her feet upon his back, while he occupied his own couch.

“Presenting, from the Azure Horizon Sect! Disciple Feng Han!” the announcer proclaimed.

Gathered within the group's designated area were all its members. Bees were observed resting on the armrests of the seating. Bei Be stood at the periphery of the box, her gaze fixed upon the arena with a contemplative air. Zhuye, meanwhile, occupied her lap, surveying the surroundings without much interest in the ongoing events. Suyan maintained a posture of strict attention behind her chair. Lady Wu held the hand of the Lord Magistrate, while Xue Ji discreetly offered him a shoulder massage. The Magistrate, though visibly uncomfortable with the spectacle of cultivators battling, remained present, his expression betraying none of his inner unease.

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Tigu and Yin were both positioned lower in the stands, actively engaged in organizational duties.

Their family was not the sole entity present in the box. Xiulan had orchestrated their arrival somewhat in advance, allowing for exploration before the other Elders made their appearance. This afforded another occasion for social interaction, and all were keen to hear any insights Jin might offer.

The remainder of the stands teemed with a variety of cultivators, interspersed with numerous monkeys. The audience, on this trial run, appeared remarkably sparse.

“Third Stage of the Initiate’s Realm!” a resonating announcement boomed.

While it did not detract from the spectacle, Meiling had to concede that the process of each cultivator approaching the immense black stone, placing their hand upon it, and observing images and their cultivation level flash across its surface was a rather lengthy affair. Despite this, it remained quite thrilling, with the crowd vociferously cheering for every participant.

Jin, too, seemed fairly amused by the proceedings, yet he had not shown any overt reaction thus far, as the Elders engaged in quiet discussion amongst themselves.

“Third Stage—he only recently attained Inner Disciple status, did he not?” a voice whispered from behind her.

“A random selection from our sects today exhibits a level of cultivation that, in the previous tournament, was only seen among the most exceptionally talented of the Young Masters,” another voice chimed in.

“Presenting, the Young Mistress of the Crossed Branches Sect, Bai Ruyi!” the announcer proclaimed as a young woman strode forward, bearing, of all things, a broom.

“Ah, they truly commit to the broomstick spectacle…” one spectator muttered, only to be silenced as Jin leaned forward for a better view of the woman wielding the broom. A subtle smile graced his features.

Several whispers arose.

“Never underestimate one who wields the broom,” Jin stated with gravity, though his smile suggested immense amusement. “I can perceive her exceptional mastery in this art; indeed, I believe she will emerge victorious in this tournament. We must exchange techniques later.”

Every individual in the box collectively inhaled in astonishment at his bold declaration. The young woman then placed her hand upon the stone.

“Fifth Stage of the Initiate’s Realm!”

Another wave of gasps swept through the observers.

“I observe that your progress has been significant since our last encounter,” Jin remarked thoughtfully. “Even a cursory selection of sects now possesses the formidable power once characteristic of Young Masters from two years prior.”

The Elders situated behind them visibly swelled with pride.

And then, the resonant clang of the gong echoed.

The combats commenced.

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Meiling found herself somewhat unsettled by the presence of the Sect Elders sharing their vantage point in the Imperial Box. She nearly vocalized an enthusiastic “Yeah, take him down!” as one of the cultivators finally closed the distance on an opponent who had been evasive, relying on throwing knives and smoke bombs.

This urge stemmed not from genuine animosity, but from her deep immersion in the event and the societal expectation that “Lady Meiling” should maintain a demeanor of refinement. Her friends, however, could clearly perceive her excitement. Xiulan’s lips quivered with suppressed amusement whenever she directed a glance toward Meiling, and Jin, too, seemed thoroughly entertained.

The skirmishes were swift and visually spectacular, bearing a strong resemblance to the sparrings they engaged in back home, making it an enjoyable experience, albeit somewhat more brutal. The first instance of a cultivator suffering a broken arm caused her to nearly leap from the box, anxious to ensure a particularly severe fracture hadn’t ruptured a vital vessel—but the cultivator was, in fact, unharmed. A fellow disciple from his sect promptly attended to him, resetting the bone. The individual appeared entirely well shortly thereafter. The healing was not instantaneous, unlike the rapid recovery possible in their own environment, yet the resulting bruise faded at a pace that would be considered miraculous for a mortal—it was already shifting to a yellowish hue, and less than an hour had passed.

Ri Zu had also spoken of this phenomenon. The Medical Pavilion associated with the Shrouded Mountain Sect had managed all injuries during their own tournament—and those incidents were considerably more severe than anything observed thus far. Up to this point, no combatant had sustained a sword thrust completely through their body; the matches were called to a halt before such a critical stage was reached.

The bouts unfolded in rapid succession—the intention was apparently to conclude the entire event before the midday meal, and the participant roster was not excessively large.

A small part of her, way down in her Dantian, yearned to be in the fray. Witnessing the roaring crowd and the clashing Qi now, a fragment of her soul felt an undeniable pull toward the arena—a calling to fight, to conquer, and to seize the grand prize. A belief that she was a celestial body destined to ascend above all others.

Yet, this was but a whisper, a whim of the soul that vanished completely when Zhuye began idly twirling her fingers.

It was an amusing notion… for a fleeting moment. The thought receded within minutes, leaving Meiling to simply bask in the spectacle.

Occasionally, Jin would interject with observations like, “Hmm. Lacks fluidity,” or “A decent strike,” prompting hushed murmurs and analyses from those behind them, dissecting his pronouncements and insights.

At one juncture, Meiling suspected he uttered “fascinating” purely to provoke them… but his initial assessment of the Broom-Woman proved accurate.

“She is indeed a formidable competitor,” Meiling murmured, ostensibly to distract Zhuye while handing her over to Jin. This time, it was her husband who almost lost his composure, Jin suppressing a chuckle.

She offered him a knowing wink and settled back, her attention returning to Bai Ruyi. The young woman swirled her broom with masterful grace, conjuring a miniature tempest that ensnared her adversary. The opponent spun uncontrollably, like a dizzying top, before being hurled violently against the arena wall.

“Her footwork is flawless,” Xiulan commented thoughtfully.

“Hm. Powerful,” Suyan breathed, her eyes fixed intently on the skilled combatant.

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As the matches progressed, the arena ascended into the heavens, unveiling a breathtaking panorama of the Grass Sea below. Following each round, the fighting platform reconfigured itself, introducing new walls or varying elevations, thus continuously altering the tactical landscape of the duels.

The relentless, fast-paced tempo of the tournament, devoid of any respite, was clearly taking its toll on the warriors, their movements growing progressively slower and their energy visibly waning.

“It’s more satisfying when all participants can engage at their peak—but adversaries rarely grant a moment’s recovery. Fortitude remains an indispensable virtue,” Xiulan remarked.

And so, the contest continued. The crowd erupted in cheers. Blades rang against each other. Techniques were unleashed in dazzling displays—and through it all, even the Lord Magistrate seemed to shed his stern demeanor, finding enjoyment in the unfolding drama.

The final bout commenced, and Bai Ruyi, precisely as Jin had foreseen, emerged victorious. It was a hard-fought contest, likely more chaotic than the victor would have preferred… yet, a clear triumph nonetheless.

“A commendable performance, Grand Marshal,” Jin declared, a smile of approval gracing his features. “The younger generation of the Azure Hills has indeed matured. Pray, bestow a token of my appreciation upon the combatants—I have a surplus of rice and Spiritual Herbs secured in my carriage.”

The assembled Elders exchanged astonished glances.

It was almost comical how readily their agricultural bounty could impress others—still, it failed to extinguish the flicker of self-satisfied pride that ignited within her chest.

This sense of pride intensified upon witnessing the expressions on the competitors’ faces when Xiulan announced the last-minute addition to the prize pool.

“Master Jin has generously contributed cultivation resources to all participants as a gesture of respect; and to the victor, Bai Ruyi… he shall impart a single pointer.”

The spectators were sent into a frenzy of excitement.

Though… the much-vaunted ‘pointer’ ultimately consisted of Jin merely sketching a few characters in the dirt using Ruyi’s own broom.

Meiling watched, astonished by the tangible aura of Qi that enveloped the young woman, who appeared as if she had just received a truly profound revelation.

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Following the midday repast, they found themselves once again in a more discreet setting, situated within the elegant manor of the Verdant Blade Sect, partaking in tea.