Seeing those people all looking in this direction, Changling found it somewhat baffling and asked strangely: “What are they looking at?”
Ye Qi saw his future bride was the center of attention wherever she went, his feelings of distress and vanity intertwining in a complex way. He could only explain, half-truthfully: “Most likely they find you unfamiliar yet occupying the chief seat, and feel it strange.”
“How could they not find it strange?” After they took their seats, Fang Zhuyi said with cold sarcasm: “Over there, their highest-ranking person is Wei Shaoxuan, but Murong Fei occupies the chief seat. Clearly they know how to consider the bigger picture. But here we…”
“Miss Fang, please watch your words.” Seeing that the surrounding martial students were being stirred toward discontent, Mo Chuan immediately said: “Since this is the scholars’ decision, naturally there are reasons for it. Now that opponents are close at hand, why speak such pointless words that boost others’ morale?”
Mo Chuan held extremely high prestige among this generation of martial students. Once he spoke, naturally no one else had anything to say. Wang Xun sat upright throughout, only glancing at the Western Xia people twice before looking away, maintaining an air of “whoever comes has nothing to do with me.” Ye Qi noticed his peripheral vision fell more often toward the back, though without any fixed point.
Seeing everyone had assembled, Mo Daoyun finally stood up. As soon as he rose, the clamor from all directions naturally quieted. When the lakeside returned to complete silence, he declared loudly: “Everyone has waited long. This martial gathering can truly be called an assembly of heroes under heaven. Besides the century-old prestigious sects, quite a few emerging sects have also joined our Central Plains Martial Alliance, such as East Sea Island… and the Jiuhua Sect from Western Shu, both of which have gained fame in the jianghu in recent years. Being able to recruit more heroes through this to benefit the Central Plains jianghu is truly our fortune!”
Having made this opening, everyone naturally gave him face. For a time, flattering voices took turns, and even Old Man Shu symbolically echoed a few words. This kind of segment was just the necessary social formality. Mo Daoyun, accustomed to it, returned a courtesy and continued: “All jianghu people know that the Heroes’ Martial Gathering occurs once every three years. Besides selecting a new Martial Alliance Leader, the Jianghu Masters Ranking will also undergo a new round of changes. Having traveled far to come here, you should all strive your best for this.”
Someone in the back asked: “Alliance Leader Mo, in previous gatherings, victory was determined solely by martial prowess, but this year has added rules about multiple-person combat. For wandering knights like us with martial skills but no backing, how can we participate?”
Mo Daoyun had already prepared his response and smiled calmly: “The position of Alliance Leader is extraordinary. Besides superior martial arts and courage, one must also have the ability to lead the martial world. I ask you, how could a lone wanderer command the submission of all heroes? However, as long as wandering knights wish to display their skills, they may participate as a pair. Those who win two consecutive matches can enter the next round to continue fighting. Thus, while they cannot compete for the Alliance Leader position, as long as they have true skill and true ability, the Martial Alliance will record their names in the Masters Ranking and issue hero invitations to announce it throughout the land. This trip will surely not be in vain for you all.”
With these words, naturally no one had further objections. Mo Daoyun detailed the competition rules at length. After omitting a lengthy speech, he finally announced that the leaders of each faction should come forward to draw lots.
The drawing method followed the old rules. Several wooden boxes each contained paper slips of five different colors, perfectly corresponding to the five competition platforms. The numbers on the paper slips indicated the order of matches—one versus two, three versus four—very fair.
One after another, many people walked directly toward the lottery platform. Changling sat in front, looking too lazy to jostle with them. Seeing she wasn’t going up, Shujuan urged: “What are you standing there for? If you don’t go up, all the good positions will be taken by others.”
Changling said: “Everyone draws blindly—what’s the difference between good and bad?”
Seeing Old Man Shu about to explode, Changling finally stood up and walked toward the platform at an unhurried pace. Those who had already drawn lots were looking around everywhere to find their opponents. Just as they turned their heads and saw Changling approaching, they couldn’t help but freeze in astonishment.
In fact, Shujuan had arrived early today, and Changling had been sitting with her head lowered the entire time. Most people only knew that Eastern Xia’s imperial court chief was a woman, but hadn’t seen clearly what she looked like, only guessing she was probably some expert the Eastern Xia emperor had found somewhere.
Unexpectedly, this woman turned out to be such a young lady, and one of such transcendent appearance—clearly wearing simple light blue and with only the most ordinary silver hairpin in her dark hair, yet just by walking forward like this, the dense crowd behind her seemed to blur into background in an instant, reflecting only her brilliance alone.
As she approached, Chi Zishan, Lu Tianlan, and others who had been at Dazhao Temple that day immediately recognized her. Chi Zishan said: “Isn’t this young lady the one who descended from the sky that time…”
The several people seated in the Martial Alliance positions were also somewhat surprised. Yangxuzi frowned but showed nothing, only asking Mo Daoyun: “Who is this?”
Mo Daoyun said vaguely: “Oh, she’s General Jing’s daughter, and also a martial examination candidate this time.”
Changling didn’t pay much attention to those inconsequential strange looks. Before going up to the platform, she saw Mingyue Zhou had taken a yellow slip and Xu Laifeng had taken a green slip, so she focused on those two boxes from which many yellow and green slips had already been drawn—this way the probability of avoiding them would be greater.
She walked to the table and was about to reach out to draw a slip when suddenly a folding fan pressed down on her wrist, and someone chuckled: “Miss, please wait a moment.”
The fan handle that blocked her was inlaid with gold, as dazzling as its owner—it was none other than that “Western Xia’s Number One Handsome Man,” Murong Fei.
Murong Manor was a century-old martial family and a collateral branch of the former Liang royal family, with quite a reputation. Changling had heard of them before, though at that time, during the chaos of war, Central Plains righteous warriors were attacking the Liang court. Perhaps to preserve themselves, the Murong clan went into hiding—possessing the name but not the substance. Later, Wei Xingyun rescued the former Liang prince’s westward escape and occupied the strategic Liaozhou region. Somehow the Murong family transformed and colluded with Western Xia, reemerging in the jianghu.
Changling glanced at this descendant of the Murong clan “who couldn’t share hardships,” only to see him smile faintly: “Miss, you look unfamiliar. I wonder which school you studied under, what is your age, and how could you occupy Eastern Xia’s martial students’ chief seat?”
This question voiced exactly what was on everyone’s mind. Even the several elders seated in the Martial Alliance positions looked over. Ye Qi wanted to rise and help Changling deflect, but unexpectedly, after a moment’s pause, she spoke directly: “Who are you? What business is it of yours who occupies Eastern Xia’s martial students’ chief seat?”
Murong Fei already had considerable prestige among this crowd, treated as a star wherever he went. Being asked his identity to his face was a first in his life. If it had been some crude man, he could have mocked him as “having eyes but no sight,” but facing this extremely beautiful woman, harsh words naturally couldn’t leave his mouth. He could only cup his fists and say: “This humble one is Murong Fei, young manor lord of Murong Manor. I mean no ill will toward the miss. I only observe that the miss’s age… is probably only seventeen or eighteen…” Seeing Changling’s brow raise slightly, he coughed. “At most add one or two years—really too young. The other sect leaders present, even the youngest, are at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Regarding the miss’s qualifications, I think not only I, but others also have doubts…”
Others naturally had doubts, but Mo Daoyun was still the Martial Alliance Leader after all, and the Eastern Xia court sending whoever they pleased wasn’t something they could easily question. Now that Murong Fei had taken the lead, quite a few people echoed him.
“Right, this young lady is so young—what qualifications does she have to sit in the chief seat?”
“Could it be that Eastern Xia has no one left?”
“I heard that Young Master Wang and Young Master Mo of Qingcheng Academy are quite capable young heroes. I wonder what this young lady’s identity is, to have so many people carrying her sedan chair?”
As the whispered criticisms grew, someone from the Western Xia seats stood up and said: “Exactly! This is the Heroes’ Martial Gathering under heaven, selecting the Central Plains’ number one expert, not choosing the Central Plains’ number one beauty. I think this young lady has come to the wrong place!”
Although the Eastern Xia martial students were also dissatisfied, Changling was from their own camp after all. Seeing so many people ganging up to bully her, naturally they weren’t pleased. Zhou Qin slapped the armrest and said: “Ha! If being good-looking disqualifies one from competing, then Young Manor Lord Murong should also go compete for Central Plains’ number one handsome man. What’s he doing at a martial gathering?”
Fu Yanyang very cooperatively added: “You’re wrong to say that. Young Master Murong already has the title of Western Xia’s number one handsome man—he’s probably already competed in beauty contests.”
The Eastern Xia martial students immediately burst into laughter. Seeing them pointing at mulberry trees while cursing locust trees, the Western Xia side also became angry: “What are you saying? Our young manor lord’s martial arts are outstanding—known to all. How can some nameless girl compare?”
The scene became chaotic for a moment. Even Mingyue Zhou couldn’t help but look over with worry.
Seeing more and more eyes focusing on her, Changling wasn’t anxious to draw the lot. She first withdrew her hand and said to Murong Fei: “If Young Master Murong intends to re-establish an age minimum for the martial gathering, he’ll have to wait until after winning this time, then modify the rules from the Alliance Leader position. The competition hasn’t even started yet, and Young Master Murong is already rushing to kick me out of the competition—could it be that your fists fear the young and strong, or are you worried that wild punches might kill the old master?”
When Murong Fei called her “young,” she indirectly mocked him as “old.” Murong Fei’s heart jumped, but he smiled without showing anything on his face. “Miss, you speak too harshly. If it were merely competing in fists and feet, like other wandering knights, naturally this humble one wouldn’t investigate thoroughly. But Alliance Leader Mo just said, ‘The position of Alliance Leader is extraordinary. Besides superior martial arts and courage, one must also have the ability to lead the martial world.’ If the miss cannot let us know your lineage, how can you make the other leaders present acknowledge you?”
Hearing this, Fu Yanyang said in a low voice: “This young manor lord is truly formidable. Knowing that if things continue Scholar Mo will surely come to the rescue, he actually seized the initiative to use the scholar’s own words to block her.”
Ye Qi’s eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.
Changling took no offense and said calmly: “Even if I say I’m a student of Qingcheng Academy, and Alliance Leader Mo and Old Scholar Shu have both taught us martial arts, I imagine Young Master Murong would still question why this position isn’t occupied by Senior Brother Wang or Senior Brother Mo, correct?”
Murong Fei smiled noncommittally. “This humble one has no such intention.”
Though he said he had no such intention, that was clearly exactly what he meant. Changling knew this Murong Fei’s move was mostly intended to dampen Eastern Xia’s prestige. If she didn’t respond, everyone would surely be dissatisfied. Too much gossip could very likely affect the performance of Qingcheng Academy’s other martial students. Even if they changed people at the last minute, others would assume that Wang Xun and Mo Chuan were also mediocre, which was why they’d easily let some unknown girl steal the position.
Zhou Qin snorted. “Why waste words with him? If he’s dissatisfied, one fight will determine superiority.”
Ye Qi shook his head slightly. “Now is not the time for a match.”
Zhou Qin: “Why not?”
Fu Yanyang said softly: “Young Master Murong questions her qualifications. If we use martial prowess to pressure him, wouldn’t that confirm the lack of qualifications?”
Changling glanced around the surroundings, her gaze finally returning to Murong Fei. “Young Master Murong doubts my qualifications. May I ask, how are jianghu people’s qualifications determined?”
Murong Fei said: “Naturally by the number of victories and defeats, the opponents, or merits.”
Changling said: “Then I wonder what extraordinary battle achievements Young Master Murong has that he could share for all the heroes to hear?”
“I dare not call them achievements.” Murong Fei’s lips curved. “This humble one is without talent. In these past two years, besides leading my manor’s junior brothers to destroy the Yanluo Cult that plagued Jiangxia and cracking the case of Diancang Sect’s annihilation, I have only defeated Zhenwu Gate’s sect leader Ping Shang and Yan Kingdom’s number one sword Mu Lian. I have no other accomplishments. But if I were to recount further in detail, I fear saying too much would delay everyone’s time.”
Though his words were humble, every item he mentioned was an astounding achievement. Changling looked up at him. “Only this?”
Murong Fei paused, then heard her say: “This past year… I merely frightened away the abbot and four great monks of Dazhao Temple when Marquis He rescued the eight sect leaders. Ah, this matter was also personally witnessed by Sect Leader Yang and Sect Leader Chi. In Yan Kingdom, I also crossed hands with Tianhun and Tianpo, though that was also to assist our Central Plains martial world’s righteous warriors—it can’t really be considered a proper duel. Compared to Young Master Murong, I naturally fall short. How about this—with so many leaders present, everyone can share their contributions to the martial world over the past year or two. As Young Master Murong said, if qualifications are insufficient, we should indeed reconsider, otherwise how can we command respect?”
At this point, even Tianhun below the stage couldn’t help but quietly ask Tianpo: “You were defeated by her?”
Earlier, when Ye Qi heard halfway through, he had already smiled silently to himself—that affair of him rescuing the eight sect leaders had become famous throughout the jianghu. First, by using this matter, she outclassed everything Murong Fei had mentioned by who knows how much. Second, by putting on an air of bluffing, the other leaders would only think she wasn’t to be feared and instead blame Murong Fei for stirring up trouble unnecessarily—after all, if they really discussed qualifications, plenty of sects here just swept their own doorsteps. How many had great achievements worthy of displaying?
Sure enough, seeing that Yangxuzi and Chi Zishan didn’t speak up to deny it, those on the platform knew her words were true. Although inwardly they didn’t believe this young lady had such formidable martial arts, they also didn’t want this topic to escalate further. Someone immediately said: “At such a young age, the miss already has such accomplishments—no wonder the Eastern Xia court values her… Young Master Murong, since even the Ten Elders have no objections, why should we investigate further? Whether she has real skill, whether she can command respect—won’t we see the truth tomorrow?”
Murong Fei’s face paled slightly. Seeing the winds change, he said meaningfully: “The miss is formidable. This humble one is impressed.”
Hearing this, Changling was too lazy to waste more words. At this point, everyone resumed their previous state—those descending the platform descended, those drawing lots drew lots. She too reached out again to draw, and seeing she’d drawn a red slip, couldn’t help but breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
Being able to avoid Mingyue Zhou and Xu Laifeng in the first round was a great advantage.
At this moment, Murong Fei also drew a slip from another box, also red. He unfolded the paper slip, saw it read “Four,” and looked around, asking: “I wonder who drew the red slip with ‘Three’?”
The moment his words fell, Changling unfolded her slip. She first paused, then looked up at Murong Fei with a faint smile.
“That’s me.”