Mingyi stood in the room, enveloping Fan and Chu with pure white Essence Power until Yan Xiao finished stitching all their wounds and applying medicine.
Yan Xiao glanced at her. "You should stop now. If you deplete too much Essence Power, how will you compete tomorrow?"
She slowly withdrew her palms, her expression cold. "For others, an hour's worth of Essence Power might be a significant drain, but for me, it's nothing. Tomorrow, I'll still step on their heads to claim the championship."
If before she had only been in it for the Shell Coins, now Mingyi's desire to win came from the depths of her heart. She even began recalling the faces of today's competitors and the city emblems on their chests. A fleeting trace of black flickered within her pure white Essence Power.
Yan Xiao felt her aura was unusually fierce and was about to advise her when a clear voice rang out from outside: "Mingyi, Mingyi!"
The hostility vanished instantly. Mingyi turned to see Xiuyun rushing toward her, tears streaking her small face. Xiuyun anxiously looked her up and down before finally relaxing. "I heard you broke the rules, and Moonchase City plans to punish you."
"Moonchase City is only hosting this Six Cities Tournament. They have no authority to punish Fighters from other cities." Mingyi's eyes sparkled as she patted Xiuyun's head. "You seem stronger now."
Xiuyun brightened. "Really? I've learned to cook more dishes lately, and I can do double-sided embroidery now..."
"No, I mean your Essence Power seems stronger." Mingyi checked her meridians and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Did someone awaken your potential?"
"Awaken my potential?" Xiuyun looked bewildered. "Lately, I've just been practicing some moves with Lord Zheng Tiao occasionally."
She wasn't like Mingyi—how could she possibly have Essence Power?
Not wanting to disturb the injured inside, Mingyi led Xiuyun to the courtyard. She extended a fingertip, releasing a wisp of Essence Power. "Try standing three steps away and pulling it toward you."
How could she possibly reach it from so far? Xiuyun hesitantly stretched out her hand, instinctively reaching forward.
Then, she saw turquoise-blue Essence Power spill from her own fingertips, hooking onto Mingyi's white Essence Power and drawing it back.
Xiuyun was so startled she nearly lost her balance and fell.
Zheng Tiao and Ji Bozhai, who had been standing nearby, witnessed it too. Zheng Tiao hurried forward to steady Xiuyun, his voice filled with astonishment. "You have Essence Power? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I—I didn't know!" Xiuyun was just as shocked. "I've never tried this before."
Though her work as a Phoenix Tail Flower girl had given her some knowledge of Essence Power and Fighters, she'd never imagined it applied to herself. Her recent training with Zheng Tiao had only been as his sparring partner. Just days ago, she'd nearly cried after getting hurt—hardly the demeanor of a Fighter.
Mingyi smiled and ruffled her hair. "Women are born with Essence Power just like men. Many simply never train to use it. You're a natural—your turquoise-blue raw Essence Power already rivals that of many seasoned Fighters."
Xiuyun's eyes lit up briefly before dimming again. How could a girl like her train in Essence Power? People would gossip. She'd never marry. She'd grow old with no one to rely on.
Yet Zheng Tiao gripped her hands, his gaze burning brighter than ever before. "Train well. I'll take responsibility for any problems that arise."Xiuyun was stunned. "You... aren't you afraid people will look down on you for marrying someone who can use Essence Power?"
Zheng Tiao frowned. "Essence Power is a good thing. Those who possess it are formidable people—why should anyone look down on them? Those who scorn you are merely those who lack it themselves and don't want you to have it either."
The gloom in her heart gradually dissipated, and Xiuyun let out a cheer, throwing her arms around his neck. As long as this person didn't mind her practicing Essence Power, she had nothing left to fear.
With so many people watching nearby, Zheng Tiao coughed lightly and quickly pulled her down, mumbling, "Talking about marriage in front of all these people... we'll discuss it later when we get back."
"Why shouldn't we say it? In my eyes, if you love someone, you should marry them and stay together for life. Since you're in my heart, I want you to be willing to marry me too—so I said it outright," Xiuyun declared confidently.
Ji Bozhai's eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing this.
He found the statement absurd. Why did staying together for life have to involve marriage? Couldn't people stay together without it? Moreover, phrasing it as if unwillingness to marry equated to not having her in one's heart—he hoped Mingyi wouldn't take it to heart.
Guiltily, he glanced sideways.
Mingyi's expression was calm, but there was a trace of envy in her eyes.
Damn it, Ji Bozhai thought. Mingyi actually feels the same way.
But he didn’t want to marry. Marriage was too troublesome—being tied down to a household for the rest of his life was far too restrictive. He’d rather drink under the moonlight and gaze at the stars over the lake, living a carefree existence.
Just as he was about to correct her thinking, Mingyi suddenly turned serious and said to him, "I’ll participate in every match from now on."
Ji Bozhai paused, then grinned. "What a coincidence—I just told Master the same thing."
"The next two days' matches are for three people each. You, me, and Luo Jiaoyang will be enough. But the day after tomorrow, there’s a match that requires four participants."
"I was thinking of bringing Meng Yangqiu—"
"No," Mingyi interrupted. "I want to take Fan Yao and Chu He."
Ji Bozhai froze. Beside him, Qin Shangwu also looked stunned. "Take them? How?"
"Though their flesh wounds are severe, their graver injuries stem from exhausting their Essence Power, which damaged their Meridians," Mingyi explained. "I can wrap them in my Essence Power and carry them on my back. That way, they can complete the match while absorbing others' stray Essence Power to replenish their Meridians."
It was a sound idea. Since neither her nor Ji Bozhai’s Essence Power was purple—the type needed to heal their Meridians—and Luo Jiaoyang’s reserves were limited (better saved for later matches), the best solution was to take the two into the arena to absorb excess purple Essence Power from others.
But the four-person matches were already challenging enough. Not only would they be short two fighters, but they’d also be carrying dead weight on their backs—how could they possibly compete?
Qin Shangwu shook his head repeatedly. Luo Jiaoyang also seemed unconvinced, and the others around them clearly thought she was being unrealistic.
Yet Ji Bozhai stroked his chin and said, "Interesting. Killing multiple birds with one stone—worth a try."
A smile lit up Mingyi’s eyes as she looked at him. "I can guarantee the people on my back won’t be jostled. Can you?"
"Who do you think you’re underestimating? I’m way stronger than you now."
Standing face-to-face, the two shared a laugh, which only made Qin Shangwu more anxious. "We’re here to win matches. If we lose because of this, the loss will outweigh the gain."Bo Yuankui's words today might have been harsh, but they weren't wrong. Everyone who came here was prepared. Perhaps Fan Yao and Chu He might never compete in the Six Cities Tournament again after these injuries, but it was their own choice. He felt sorrow, yet nothing could be changed—nor should it be.
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