The next day, the sun rose as usual. The people of Dazhu Peak arrived at the square, only to discover that four of the original eight arenas had already been dismantled. The remaining four were arranged in the four directions: east, south, west, and north.
Tian Buyi and Su Ru walked at the front. Zhang Xiaofan’s injuries seemed to have improved overnight, and as he walked among the others, he looked rather overwhelmed by the unprecedented attention he was receiving. He turned his head and said quietly to Du Bishu beside him, “Sixth Senior Brother, are Eldest Senior Brother’s injuries very serious? How could they be so bad that he can’t even walk?”
Du Bishu shook his head and said, “Master examined Eldest Senior Brother this morning. He said that in yesterday’s match, Eldest Senior Brother and Senior Brother Chang Jian of the main branch fought too fiercely. One attacked while the other defended, and in the end both sides suffered. His meridians were injured, and I’m afraid his cultivation has been damaged quite badly.”
Zhang Xiaofan was greatly shocked. “Even Eldest Senior Brother couldn’t beat him. Then in my match with Senior Brother Chang Jian today, won’t I—won’t I be beaten to pieces even worse?”
Du Bishu rolled his eyes and said, “If things went according to common sense, naturally that would be the case. But if things went according to common sense, in your matches these past two days, most of the senior brothers who bet on you would have bet that you’d lose!”
Zhang Xiaofan was left speechless and could only shut his mouth.
Beneath the largest arena to the north, people were packed shoulder to shoulder. Needless to say, Lu Xueqi was naturally competing there today. Tian Buyi glanced in that direction and snorted. Of course he had no favorable impression of the person who had defeated his daughter. At once, he led his disciples toward the western arena.
They had only taken a few steps when Zhang Xiaofan’s body trembled. He saw a group of people walking over diagonally from ahead. Leading them was an elderly man with an aged appearance, and walking shoulder to shoulder beside him was, astonishingly, Zeng Shushu. Behind the two of them followed fully a hundred or so disciples of Fenghui Peak. Zhang Xiaofan saw Senior Brother Gao and his group among them, but Peng Chang alone was nowhere to be seen.
As if noticing Zhang Xiaofan’s searching gaze, when the two groups brushed past each other, Zeng Shushu suddenly said to Zhang Xiaofan, “Senior Brother Peng didn’t come. He’s recuperating at his quarters!”
Zhang Xiaofan forced a smile, but saw that Zeng Shushu’s expression was grave, and even the gaze he cast over seemed cold as ice.
The aged elder leading them was naturally Zeng Shuchang, the head of Fenghui Peak. He glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, and Zhang Xiaofan felt that although the old man’s gaze held no sharp edge, it was unfathomably deep, as though with a single look he had seen into the depths of his heart.
He could not help shrinking back slightly. Just then, he heard Tian Buyi say, “Senior Brother Zeng, how are you?”
Zeng Shuchang returned the greeting. “Senior Brother Tian, how are you? I hear that among your esteemed branch there has emerged an extraordinary talent named Zhang Xiaofan, whose Daoist arts are most peculiar. Yesterday, after a match with that unworthy disciple of mine, Peng Chang, he beat him until he was gravely injured and near death.”
Zhang Xiaofan’s face changed, and he cried out despite himself, “What? Senior Brother Peng is injured that badly?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the disciples of Fenghui Peak erupted in an uproar. They all felt that this person was truly vicious—after injuring someone, he still pretended to be surprised, either to show that he had not intended it or to mock Peng Chang.
A flash of anger passed through Zeng Shuchang’s eyes, but facing a junior, he could not very well lash out. He could only give a cold laugh and say to Tian Buyi, “Senior Brother Tian, what a fine disciple you have taught!”
Tian Buyi had originally been frowning deeply, feeling that Zhang Xiaofan, this brat, truly did not know how to speak. But hearing Zeng Shuchang say this, with what seemed to carry a hint of mockery, Tian Buyi—strong-willed by nature and protective of his own—immediately smiled at Zeng Shuchang and said, “Not at all, not at all. Senior Brother Zeng flatters me. Xiaofan, come over and pay your respects to Martial Uncle Zeng.”
Zhang Xiaofan froze. Zeng Shuchang’s expression changed; with a sweep of his sleeve, he said coldly, “No need.” With that, he flung his sleeve and left.
Zeng Shushu glanced at Zhang Xiaofan and said indifferently, “I truly didn’t see that you were hiding your abilities so deeply. To think I even begged Senior Brother Peng to show mercy. I never imagined I’d be harming him instead.”
Zhang Xiaofan grew anxious and said, “I didn’t—”
He had only spoken halfway when Zeng Shushu had already turned and walked away. The Fenghui Peak disciples followed after him, and every gaze cast toward Zhang Xiaofan was cold. Zhang Xiaofan felt miserable. Just then, however, he suddenly saw Senior Brother Gao pass in front of him among the crowd, and Senior Brother Gao unexpectedly blinked at him.
Zhang Xiaofan was stunned, but Senior Brother Gao had already walked away.
Tian Buyi glanced at the Fenghui Peak disciples, gave a cold smile, waved his hand, and once more led everyone toward the western arena for today’s match. When they arrived nearby, they discovered that two hundred or so people had gathered here as well. Heads bobbed in the crowd; from the look of it, aside from Lu Xueqi’s arena, this was the liveliest spot in the Sea of Clouds Square.
Zhang Xiaofan sucked in a breath of cold air and quietly said to the senior brothers beside him, “With so many people here, that Senior Brother Chang Jian must be very formidable, right?”
Everyone laughed. He Dazhi said solemnly, “There’s no need to say that Senior Brother Chang’s cultivation is profound, but from what I see, most of these people have still come to see you, Little Junior Brother!”
Zhang Xiaofan was greatly startled. “H-how could that be?”
He Dazhi gave a chuckle and said, “As of today, only eight people remain in the Seven Peaks Tournament. Among them, the greatest dark horse is none other than you. Who wouldn’t want to come see whether you’ve grown several mouths or several extra hands?”
Zhang Xiaofan was rendered speechless.
Tian Buyi led everyone beneath the stage. Along the way, when the crowd saw that they were of the Dazhu Peak line, they all moved aside, opening a path. Tian Buyi looked around and saw that there were quite a few disciples of the main branch among the surrounding crowd. Presumably, because Chang Jian of the main branch was competing today, many disciples of the main branch had come to watch. But he did not see many elders of the main branch, and Reverend Daoxuan, the sect master of Qingyun Sect, was not here either.
Tian Buyi frowned and said quietly to Su Ru beside him, “Why hasn’t Senior Brother Sect Master come? Are there other disciples from the main branch competing?”
Su Ru shook her head. “No. For some reason, the aptitude of the main branch disciples this year has not been very good. Only Chang Jian remains now.”
Tian Buyi pondered for a moment, then walked to the center beneath the stage. Five or six chairs had been placed there, but only one white-bearded old man was sitting there. Seeing Tian Buyi and the others arrive, the old man also stood up.
Zhang Xiaofan froze, recognizing that this white-bearded old man was the one who had sat beneath the stage the day before yesterday during his match with Chu Yuhong.
The white-bearded old man clearly remembered Zhang Xiaofan as well. His gaze drifted over Zhang Xiaofan for a moment, then he said to Tian Buyi, “Senior Brother Tian, I never expected that this year, a talent would emerge from among your disciples.”
Tian Buyi seemed to be on fairly good terms with this old man. He laughed and said, “Senior Brother Fan, you flatter me. Please sit, please sit.”
At that moment, the sound of bells and cauldrons rang out behind the stage. Tian Buyi turned back and said to Zhang Xiaofan, “Old Seven, go up.”
Several hundred gazes in the arena instantly swept over and landed on Zhang Xiaofan. Never in his life had Zhang Xiaofan been stared at by so many people. His face flushed hot, and he answered, “Yes.” With that, he turned his head away, not daring to look behind him again, and walked toward the stage.
After only a few steps, however, Su Ru pulled him back. Zhang Xiaofan was somewhat surprised. “Master’s wife, what is it?”
Su Ru smiled faintly, but there was concern on her face. “Do the injuries on your body still hurt?”
Zhang Xiaofan shook his head. “Master treated me personally. They’re mostly healed.”
Su Ru, however, also shook her head. “External wounds are easy, but internal injuries don’t heal so quickly. Xiaofan, the Chang Jian you are facing today is no ordinary opponent. Even with your Eldest Senior Brother’s cultivation, he still lost to him. Though I heard your Eldest Senior Brother say that even if Chang Jian won, he himself did not have an easy time of it, with your half-baked cultivation, I’m afraid it still won’t do. Later, don’t force yourself. If you can’t continue, just admit defeat. You absolutely must not risk getting injured again. Do you understand?”
Warmth rose in Zhang Xiaofan’s heart, but he did not nod. He only mumbled, “Master… will be angry…”
Su Ru smiled and shook her head. “Silly child, go without worry. Your master cares for you more than he can even show.”
A great rumble sounded in Zhang Xiaofan’s head. He immediately turned to look at Tian Buyi, only to see that Tian Buyi was chatting and laughing happily with the white-bearded old man surnamed Fan, without so much as glancing this way.
Su Ru gently patted his head. “Go.”
Zhang Xiaofan slowly walked up onto the arena and stood there alone, but Su Ru’s words still echoed in his mind: “Your master cares for you more than he can even show!”
His mind was in chaos. From childhood until now, ever since he had entered Qingyun, in his heart Tian Buyi had been no different from a divine being. Although Tian Buyi had never treated him well, receiving his master’s approval had always been young Zhang Xiaofan’s greatest wish.
And now, suddenly hearing these words from his master’s wife, for a moment he could not bring himself to believe them.
He stood on the stage thinking for a long while, while below the stage people began discussing animatedly. After quite some time, even Zhang Xiaofan finally sensed that something was wrong: his opponent still had not arrived.
Below the stage, the disciples of the main branch looked especially anxious. Most of them kept turning their heads and looking around. Just then, a main branch disciple came running quickly from afar, his expression worried. Ignoring the strange looks of those around him, he rushed to the side of the white-bearded old man and hurriedly whispered a few words into his ear.
The white-bearded old man’s face changed drastically. As if unable to believe it, he asked, “Is it true?”
That disciple looked hatefully up at the stage, then finally nodded heavily. In an instant, the white-bearded old man’s face turned ashen. Dejected, he collapsed back into his chair. Seeing this, Tian Buyi found it extremely strange and asked, “Senior Brother Fan, what has happened?”
The white-bearded old man looked at him weakly, let out a long sigh, gathered his spirit, and stood once more. In a clear voice, he announced, “Chang Jian, disciple of the main branch, was too seriously injured in yesterday’s match and is unable to rise from bed. He forfeits today’s match.”
Above and below the stage, there was complete silence.
A moment later, the crowd exploded into uproar. Although most of the Qingyun Sect disciples were cultivators, there were still quite a few who cursed out loud. As for the Dazhu Peak line, their first reaction was not delight; instead, each of them wore strange expressions and looked at one another. Only after a long while did they shake their heads and smile bitterly, filled with emotion.
While countless expressions shifted among the people behind him and the clamor of voices surged, Tian Buyi and Su Ru slowly stood. Looking at their youngest disciple, who was still stunned on the stage, Su Ru smiled faintly and said quietly to Tian Buyi, “I told you long ago—this little disciple of yours truly has luck far beyond the ordinary!”
Tian Buyi was left speechless, then could only smile bitterly again and again.
That entire day, Zhang Xiaofan spent under the peculiar gazes of others. Almost every Qingyun disciple who passed by him had to take a few extra looks, as though he were some rare and exotic beast. At the same time, by the end of the day, the results of the matches had also come out. Zhang Xiaofan was “fortunate” enough to stand alongside Qi Hao, Lu Xueqi, and Zeng Shushu as one of the four semifinalists.
Qi Hao had originally been the greatest favorite to take first place, and Lu Xueqi’s popularity had soared these past few days. But Zeng Shushu and Zhang Xiaofan entering the top four was beyond the expectations of the vast majority of Qingyun elders. Before this, Zeng Shushu had been known as Zeng Shuchang’s only son. Although he was recognized within the Fenghui Peak line as a young talent, he was not especially famous within Qingyun Sect. This time, however, he had defeated opponent after opponent, his Daoist arts exquisite, causing everyone to regard him with new respect. By comparison, Zhang Xiaofan standing among the four of them seemed extremely out of place.
Upon the arena, the four stood side by side. Sect Master Reverend Daoxuan and Daoist Cangsong, head of Dragon Head Peak, stood in front. Reverend Daoxuan still wore a smile, and one could not see at all whether he was displeased by the unexpected total elimination of the main branch disciples in this grand competition.
Below the stage, nearly a thousand Qingyun disciples gathered together. Seated in the front rows were the heads and elders of the various lines. Su Ru looked up at the stage and said softly to Tian Buyi, “Xiaofan looks a bit nervous!”
Tian Buyi snorted and said nothing. Under everyone’s gaze, how could he fail to see what his wife saw? Of the four on stage, Qi Hao was graceful and composed, Lu Xueqi was cold as frost, and Zeng Shushu also stood there smiling. Only Zhang Xiaofan stood rooted in place, his eyes fixed on the ground before him, his hands seeming to have no idea where to rest. He looked very awkward.
On the stage, Reverend Daoxuan glanced at the four of them, a trace of a smile passing over the corner of his mouth. Then he turned to those below and said, “Everyone, as of today, the Seven Peaks Tournament has determined its top four disciples. They possess exceptional talent and exquisite Daoist arts. All are elites of our Qingyun Sect, bearing the heavy responsibility of bringing glory to our Qingyun line in the future…” He had only spoken halfway when, from somewhere below the stage, a “pfft” of laughter suddenly rang out. A moment later, the Qingyun disciples burst into a wave of roaring laughter.
Reverend Daoxuan frowned and subconsciously glanced sideways at Zhang Xiaofan, the youngest among the four behind him, then shook his head slightly. At this moment, laughter continued below, and the originally solemn scene had become somewhat comical. Daoist Cangsong, standing to the side, darkened his face and stepped forward. His gaze was like a blade as it swept across those below.
The laughter among the crowd immediately diminished. Wherever Daoist Cangsong’s gaze passed, the laughter ceased at once. In no time, calm returned to the scene. Daoist Cangsong had administered Qingyun Sect’s punishments for many years, and among the disciples, the weight of his authority was even greater than that of Sect Master Reverend Daoxuan.
Only after the scene had completely quieted did Cangsong step back and say to Reverend Daoxuan, “Senior Brother Sect Master, please.”
Reverend Daoxuan smiled and said, “I have nothing more to say. Junior Brother Cangsong, you do it.”
Daoist Cangsong nodded, turned toward those below the stage, and said in a ringing voice, “Tomorrow’s matches will be: Qi Hao of Dragon Head Peak against Zeng Shushu of Fenghui Peak; Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak against Zhang Xiaofan of Dazhu Peak…”
Cangsong was still speaking, and the gazes of those below were all fixed on him. Only now did Zhang Xiaofan let out a breath. Under the focus of countless gazes just now, he had nearly been unable to breathe.
“Why are you sweating so much?” Suddenly, Zeng Shushu’s low voice sounded beside him.
Zhang Xiaofan was startled. Ever since he had unexpectedly defeated Peng Chang yesterday, Zeng Shushu had been cold toward him in front of others. He had not expected Zeng Shushu to take the initiative to speak to him. Although they had only known each other for three days, Zhang Xiaofan had already regarded him as one of his good friends.
At once, he secretly glanced at Zeng Shushu, only to see Zeng Shushu standing beside him with a solemn expression, eyes looking straight ahead, a smile on his face as he watched those below, as if he had not spoken at all just now.
“Idiot, don’t turn your head,” Zeng Shushu said, the expression on his face not changing in the slightest, only his lips moving faintly. “Is it not enough that you got me scolded half to death by my old man?”
Zhang Xiaofan felt apologetic and quickly shifted his gaze away. He also said quietly, “I’m sorry. At the time, I… I… sigh, is Senior Brother Peng all right?”
“Senior Brother Peng’s injuries are heavy, but not serious enough to be life-threatening. He’ll recover after a few days of rest. Otherwise, how could I let this matter rest with you? But I truly didn’t expect that you were actually hiding your abilities so deeply.”
“That’s not it. Sigh, at the time, I didn’t know what was going on either. Most likely Senior Brother Peng was giving way to me, and I lost my head for a moment, so…”
“I asked Senior Brother Peng. Though he lost, he had quite a lot of praise for you, and said that at the time he used his full strength and did not yield to you. So you needn’t take it to heart.”
Zhang Xiaofan was surprised again, then said, “Then what you said about being scolded by your father…”
“Hmph. Wasn’t it because that group of idiots led by Senior Brother Gao ran their mouths and told everyone how I had pleaded with Senior Brother Peng on your behalf? Although Senior Brother Peng spoke up for me, I still got scolded by my old man. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had to act that way toward you in front of others.”
“…Shushu, I really am sorry.”
“It’s a small matter, not worth mentioning. In any case, I’ve been scolded by him since I was young, so I’m used to it. But you brat, your luck really is… Still, I think you’d better be careful. In the next match, you’re up against that ice-cold beauty from Xiaozhu Peak. Be careful you don’t get cut down by Tianya in a single strike!”
With a bitter face, Zhang Xiaofan said quietly, “I know. If only I were competing against you instead…” He stopped halfway through his words. He and Zeng Shushu both felt a chill in their hearts at the same time and could not help looking to the side. They saw that Lu Xueqi, standing nearby, had at some point fixed her pair of icy eyes upon the two of them.
Zhang Xiaofan instantly fell silent as a cicada in winter. Zeng Shushu also sucked in a cold breath. Neither of them dared speak further, and both put on the appearance of listening earnestly as they heard Daoist Cangsong’s instructions on the stage.
With great difficulty, they finally waited until Daoist Cangsong finished speaking. The crowd dispersed, preparing for tomorrow’s matches, which would gradually bring the tournament to its climax. Zhang Xiaofan and Zeng Shushu stepped down from the stage, yet still felt a chill at their backs. Zhang Xiaofan could not help clicking his tongue inwardly. This Lu Xueqi—who knew whether she had come from the far northern ice plains? A single look from her could chill a person to the heart.
He was just about to bid farewell to Zeng Shushu and turned his head to glance at him, only to see Zeng Shushu suddenly draw his face taut, his eyes filled with contempt as he looked at him. Then he gave a loud, disdainful “hmph,” lifted his head, and left proudly. Not far away, surrounded by a group of Fenghui Peak disciples, his father was standing there looking toward them.
Zhang Xiaofan smiled bitterly, then turned and walked back to where the Dazhu Peak disciples were gathered. Tian Buyi glanced at him and said, “Let’s go back.” Then he looked at Tian Ling’er and said, “Ling’er, come with me for a moment. Your mother and I have something to say to you.”
Tian Ling’er answered, and before leaving, she even smiled at Zhang Xiaofan.
Everyone returned to their quarters. As soon as they entered the room, the Dazhu Peak disciples immediately burst into excitement. Wu Dayi and the others hurried to tell the good news to Song Daren, who was lying on the bed, while Lü Daxin picked Zhang Xiaofan up and laughed heartily. Only Du Bishu stood to the side, shaking his head and sighing, “No justice, no justice in the heavens!…”