The next day, the people from the Dianjing Valley also arrived, and the small Fuyu Island was bustling with activity, and there was no need to speak of all the expensive banquets. Although the Xuan Yuan Sect was missing this year, their sect had always had a bad reputation and all the sects did not have a good feeling about them, so they were happy not to have them this year. The young disciples of each faction gathered together, laughing and joking, and it was quite lively.
Today, Linglong’s skills have been brought into play. A group of disciples of the Shao Yang Sect are restrained and shy, only she alone has eight faces[1] and long sleeves[2], and other disciples of various sects quickly played together, not to even talk of the amount of new information brought back, in the morning those who called her Miss Chu, by the night they had changed to calling her Linglong.
Xuanji has always admired her for this ability. When she returned to the room after dinner, Linglong sorted out the things she had inquired about the participating disciples, and read them to Xuanji one by one. She listened for so long that she felt as if she was dying, about whether they have more or less hair[3], and whether they like sour or spicy food.
“Tch, in the end, couldn’t ask the disciples from Li’ze Palace. Those masked freaks, when they see women, they avoid them like snakes and scorpions, as if I’m going to eat them!”
Linglong was furious, and when she saw Yu Sifeng sitting next to her, she complained to him, “You’re still laughing! That’s what I’m talking about! You’re a weirdo!”
Yu Sifeng laughed, “The rules in the palace are such that you can’t contact women freely. Besides, it’s useless to ask all those miscellaneous things about the Zanhua Conference. If there is really useful information, they will not tell you.”
Linglong waved the pamphlet in her hand and said, “Why is it useless? It depends on each person’s ability. I’ve asked them what weapons they are good at.” At this point, she suddenly turned her eyes and looked at Yu Sifeng with a smile, saying: “You are also a member of the Palace of Li’zé! Come on, how about revealing some information?”
Yu Sifeng could neither laugh nor cry, and could only say, “I don’t know exactly who is participating. But the Li’ze Palce specializes in light body kung fu, and their moves are rather strange and often unexpected. If you want to win against them, you should put more force on your sword moves and use a fierce way to overcome them, I think it will be effective.”
Linglong saw that he was talking nonsense, but this person has always been difficult, if she asked more and he decided not to say, then ask until death and he will not say, so she had to give up.
In view of the fact that the Xuan Yuan Sect did not come this year, although there were many disciples of the right age from other sects, there were very few with good skills, and finally the chief figures of each sect could only negotiate to reduce the number of people from the previous 60 to 40. In this way, the schedule is not as tight as before, and more time can be freed up to watch the battles and observe the potential of the disciples of each sect.
The first contest of the Zanhua tournament will begin early the next morning, and out of the four of them, only Xuanji will participate. There was originally Zhong Minyan’s name, but he is no longer considered a disciple of the Shaoyang Sect, so his name was automatically checked off.
Although Xuanji was the one who participated, Linglong was the one who was the most nervous. She spent the whole night chattering about how she was afraid that she would lose and that she would be injured, and she wanted to take her to the arena herself. Xuanji mentally fell asleep quickly, and nodded vigorously, making herself dizzy.
When she was tired of nagging and went back to sleep, Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief and was about to freshen up and go to bed when she heard someone knocking on the door. She thought Linglong was coming over again to say some information, her head grew three times as big, reluctantly dawdling over to open the door, only to see Chu Lei standing outside.
“Father.” Xuanji froze for a moment, hurriedly dodged, “Father please enter.”
Chu Lei shook his head, said: “Not going in, just explain a few words, you also rest early. Although the rules of the tournament allows the use of spirit beasts, but your spirit beast is really amazing, I hope you do not use him. Otherwise it will easily cause casualties.”
Xuanji hurriedly agreed, “Alright. I didn’t intend to let Téngshé play, and he wouldn’t help me at all.” He would be unwilling to help anyway.
Chu Lei said again, “Xuanji, you child … I never knew you had so many peculiarities before. Not only can you use Bēng Yù, but you can also take the Téngshé as a spirit beast. Now your eyesight should not be on this Zanhua Tournament, I came this time, not to advise you to do your best. You must first understand that the Zanhua Tournament is not a life-and-death struggle, but only a competition of power. I hope that you will do what you can and not make a big mistake on impulse.”
Originally he was afraid that Xuanji’s strong sense of victory, when encountering opponents who refuse to admit defeat, would make her use a vicious move. For example, the last time Wu Tong used a forbidden immortal technique and became a target.
Xuanji thought was that he was coming to lecture her, but didn’t expect him to advise her not to make any hard moves, so she froze for a long time before saying, “Don’t worry about this …… father. I will definitely listen to you.”
Chu Lei nodded, after a few moments, suddenly with a faint smile and soft voice, “Last Zanhua Conference, you were still a child. Father really did not expect, the earliest to become talented is actually you. Remember your headache-inducing behavior when you were a kid?”
Xuanji’s face blushed, and she whispered, “Father, why did you mention when I was a kid? I do not dare to be successful.”
Chu Lei sighed, turned his back, walked two steps, said in a deep voice, “Xuanji, I had a dream the night before your mother gave birth to you and Linglong. Vaguely, there was a divine person who threw a precious pearl, I saw that the precious pearl was bright and beautiful, round and lovely, my heart was overjoyed. After I woke up, you and Linglong were born. So I always thought that one of you two must have something in the future, not ordinary people. You were too lazy when you were young, which gave people a headache. I’m not going to lie to you, your mother and I always thought that Linglong would be a success, so it was inevitable that we were more loving to her from childhood and neglected you. Have you …… ever complained to your father and mother in your heart?”
Xuanji said lightly, “If I said I never compalined, my father must think that I was acting. However, to be honest, I have never thought about this kind of thing. Hehe, I don’t seem to have any thoughts about this matter. Father you will not think I am careless again?”
Chu Lei sighed, said, “Most intelligent people, there are always eccentricities. I was warned by He Yang, but it was only in recent years that I came to understand. Xuanji, you … eve felt what makes you different?”
Xuaji was taken aback and when she found about her identity in the previous life, she was upset for a while. If they all knew, would they reject her? Treat her like a monster? From then on, they will be separated and never pay attention to her again?
Chu Lei said again, “I saw you are able to use Bēng Yù with ease, and you also subdued the beast, must have something outstanding. Although father has watched you grow up, this aspect of yours, actually do not understand at all.”
He turned back, and saw Xuanji’s face was blue and white, a long time later, she only trembled: “I …… I am not different ah …… and everyone the same ……”
Chu Lei laughed and said, “You child, there is something to hide from father?”
Xuanji anxiously said: “No! There is really no difference!”
Chu Lei patted her shoulder as a sign of comfort, said gently, “Well. You should rest early. I have to draw numbers first thing in the morning, don’t delay.” He turned around and slowly walked away, Xuanji nervously looked at his back, suddenly clutching her head and scratching it hard. How could she sleep after he asked that question? The worst! Did dad find out something? She should not bring Téngshé? Or shouldn’t she have used Bēng Yù?
She thought about it all night, until the morning sun appeared outside the window, then she fell asleep, and was pushed by the excited Linglong to get up and freshen up.
Dongfang Qingqi finally revoked the order that no one should go to the island at will, and asked the disciples to write down the names and sects of the guests and bring them to the island in batches. Therefore, before the official start of the tournament, the martial arts arena was already crowded with people.
Following the usual routine, Dongfang Qingqi said a series of words in a loud voice, followed by the thumping of the large leather drums[3] in the four corners, and the 40 participating disciples began to draw numbers from the box and then went to the Master Rong Gu to register their numbers.
Xuanji resisted the urge to yawn, pulled out a piece of paper and turn it over to look at it: “Ding Mao.[4]” She handed the piece of paper to Chu Ying Hong, who looked at it and made sure it was correct before letting Master Rong write it down in the booklet. Seeing Xuanji’s red eyes, Chu Yinghong saw she looked very tired, and couldn’t help but softly say, “What’s the mater, did you not sleep last night?”
Xuanji shook her hear, before she had time to speak, she suddenly heard a person behind her whisper, “Bing Yin.”
The first competition of the Zanhua Tournament was arranged in order of number, Jiazi and Yichou compete, Bing Yin and Ding Mao compete, and so on[4]. When Xuanji heard that her opponent had appeared, she subconsciously looked back and saw a blue shirt, the man was standing tall, and it was actually the Senior First Brother Du Minxing.
“Ah, First Brother!” Xuanji didn’t know if she should be happy or depressed, how come she got into a fight with one of her own in the first match? So, should she win or not? Or should she not let out her Sanmei Fire and let him win the first match?
Du Minxing turned his head and smiled at her softly, and said softly, “My opponent is actually a little Junior Sister, it’s really unexpected.”
“Xuanji murmured, “First Brother accept … me, don’t you let me win.”
This is a very childish statement, the surrounding people all laughed. Du Minxing also smiled and said, “There is no relative in the martial arts arena, and the little junior sisters should not give in.” As before, he patter her head gently, turned and left.
Xuanji can’t help but go after and say softly, “First Brother, why are you ignoring me lately? Did I do something to make you unhappy?”
Du Minxing looked down and smiled faintly, softly said, “How come. The big brother just got out of seclusion and you just returned to Shaoyang Peak, so we didn’t have a chance to meet. After saying that, he suddenly turned his head and looked towards the huge wooden building behind him. In the crowd, Yu Sifeng is quite conspicuous, handsome, making many women blush. But he only smiled and looked at Xuanji alone. Du Minxing lowered his eyelashes and said, “When you grow up, I don’t need to take care of you like I did when you were a kid. There are better people to worry about you.”
This is so mysterious, Xuanji didn’t know to to react, she could only stare at him as he walked away.
On the wooden floor, Ling Long shouted: “Xuanji! Come on! Let’s give you a boost! Don’t lose!” Xuanji waved back to them, and suddenly heard Elder Heng Song of the Dianjing Valley say aloud, “Zanhua Conference begins. JiaZi, YiChou, go to the East ring. Bing Yin, Ding Mao, go to the western ring ……”
As soon as she heard the announcement, she immediately shivered and rose up with her sword, like lightning, and in the blink of an eye she was on the huge stone pillar in the west. Du Minxing had already stood on the opposite side, and next to him was Elder Song, who was the judge of the competition.
The huge stone platform was a hundred feet high, and the clouds were just overhead, as if they could be retrieved with just a hand. Xuanji’s hair and clothes were twisted and turned by the wind, rattling, leaning against the edge of the high platform, like a lotus flower dancing with the wind, as if it would be blown away at any moment.
That kind of soft, timid and delicate appearance, like a needle pierced into Du Minxing’s eyes. He finally could not help but hang his head in silence, his heart was full of feelings, the scenes of her childhood, one by one, passed through his mind. Only for a moment, he neglected her, who would have thought he lost her completely since then, and can’t return anything. The girl who pulled his sleeve and pampered himself, softly called him Senior First Brother, he really lost.
Elder Song said loudly, “Listen to my order – the test begins!”
As soon as the words fell, Xuanji drew out Bēng Yù with a ‘hing’ sound, swung her sword, and looked at each other from a distance. Neither of them wanted to fight first.
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[1]: 八面玲珑 (bā miàn línglóng) – be smooth and slick (in establishing social relations)
[2]: 长袖善舞 (cháng xiùshàn wǔ) – an idiom that translates as: long sleeves help one dance beautifully. Meaning; money and power will help you in any situation.
The above phrase and idiom are describing Linglong as someone who is good at socializing and is influential (because she is the daughter of the leader of one of the five great sects).
[3]: 大鼓 (dàgǔ) is the word used in the text, which as far as I understood is ‘Bass Drum’ or Large Drum, which is the name for a large drum made of wood and leather that is played with two sticks. Here and here are two videos that show them being played if anyone is curious.
[4]: The numbers are according to the Sexagenary Cycle.
Lazy Cat Translations 