Every year after the selection trials of the Six Cities, the chosen Fighters would proceed to their respective cities' Academicians' Court. There, venerable mentors imparted knowledge, along with access to premium Crystals and profound Arcane Scrolls. Merely walking down the street clad in the Academicians' Court's Azure Mist Robe commanded such respect that even civil and military officials—let alone imperial relatives—would descend from their carriages to offer greetings and yield the right of way.
Thus, whenever the Academicians' Court opened its doors, Yong'an Street would be packed three layers deep with spectators. Whether nobles or commoners, all flocked to catch a glimpse of that year's rising talents, eager to boast about it later over drinks.
Such occasions naturally called for beauties to grace the scene. Women who had earned the Phoenix Tail Flower would veil their faces on this day, guiding the newly selected Fighters through the Court and helping them acclimate to its ways.
This process often kindled romance. In previous years, most Fighters ended up taking their guides as concubines, while those of higher status sometimes even made them principal wives. Hence, the opening of the Academicians' Court was jokingly referred to as the Combatant's Tryst.
Liang Xiuyuan and his companions had secured the best seats in a teahouse not far from the Court. From the second-floor balcony, they could observe the bustling young women below.
Xu Tianji stood authoritatively on the small steps of a side gate, dressed in a lotus-red gold-embroidered pleated skirt and a light golden cloud-patterned blouse, issuing instructions to the other girls.
"Xiuyun, take the left side later—you'll meet Luo Jiaoyang. He favors fair-skinned girls."
"Liucai, the right side is yours. Chu He has no sense of direction, so be patient with him."
"Qieyu, you'll guide Fan Yao. Yulan, handle those old foxes in the courtyard."
After deftly assigning everyone their roles, she adjusted the vermilion hairpin in her bun and rose on tiptoe to peer into the distance.
Spotting her gaze from the teahouse, Liang Xiuyuan hastily stood and waved. "See that? What woman today could match her?" he boasted proudly. "She handles such grand occasions with effortless grace—more than worthy of being a principal wife."
Shu Zhonglin nodded. "She's impressive, though I wouldn't call it masterful strategy. These are just minor arrangements."
"What do you know? The small reveals the great. She remains unflustered even at the Combatant's Tryst, and for my sake, she won't even show her face to others. Such loyalty and virtue make her an ideal match." Liang Xiuyuan snapped open his folding fan, nodding in satisfaction.
Yan Xiao watched for a while longer. The girl indeed hadn't left a position for herself, but when she looked toward the teahouse, her gaze didn't seem to land on Xiuyuan. "By the way, where's Bozhai? He was here just now," Yan Xiao asked Mingyi.
At the neighboring table, Mingyi and Granny Xun were enjoying tea snacks. Mingyi tilted her head slightly. "The time is about right—His Lordship has gone down."
Though Ji Bozhai had participated in the Six Cities Tournament once before, this was his first time entering the Academicians' Court, so he had to go through the formalities below.
Yan Xiao nodded and turned back to listen to Liang Xiuyuan's praises.
Granny Xun nibbled on a pastry and murmured, "Perhaps because of the selection trials, there's been a sudden trend of women practicing combat arts in the city lately."
Mingyi's eyes brightened. "Isn't that a good thing?""What's so great about it? Essence Power must be cultivated from childhood, accumulating over a decade before any initial results can be seen. People like us adults have endured countless hardships and sufferings to attain our current cultivation level, earning the right to be called Fighters. But these girls—after casually reading a few books and attending a couple of lectures—dare to claim they have talent for Essence Power."
Granny Xun was clearly displeased: "Being held back by birth is just an excuse. What they really want is to use it as a pretext to strike up conversations with high-ranking Fighters."
As if in response to her words, the entrance of the Academicians' Court below suddenly buzzed with activity.
Mingyi looked out from the windowsill and saw Tianji, her eyes shining brightly, leading a large group of young noblewomen straight toward Ji Bozhai, who stood on the steps.
"Lord Ji!" She stepped forward and bowed.
Ji Bozhai glanced at her, offering an elegant smile before turning back to deal with Luo Jiaoyang, who was looking for trouble.
Tianji was momentarily disappointed but quickly rallied herself and spoke again: "My lord, do you not remember me? When you attended the Six Cities Tournament, we once met briefly."
Ji Bozhai looked at her again and, adhering to his principle of never disappointing a fair maiden, asked with a smile, "May I ask the lady's name?"
Delighted, she promptly replied, "This humble girl is the third daughter of the Xu family in the western part of the city."
The third daughter of the Xu family—wasn’t she the one Liang Xiuyuan had taken a liking to?
Ji Bozhai raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the teahouse where Liang Xiuyuan was seated. The gauzy curtains fluttered in the distance, obscuring any clear view.
After a moment’s thought, since this was someone his friend fancied, he couldn’t very well embarrass her. So he nodded and said, "Greetings, Miss Xu."
Tianji gracefully returned the courtesy: "Greetings, Lord Ji. Today, this humble girl shall guide you."
"Much obliged."
Luo Jiaoyang had been discussing leadership matters with him and, seeing him still in the mood to flirt with young ladies, grew irritated: "Not only do you fail to command genuine respect, but you’re also a notorious philanderer? What a waste of the fair maiden in your mansion."
Ji Bozhai’s eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to face him: "What did you say?"
"Am I wrong?" Luo Jiaoyang frowned, looking between him and Xu Tianji before stating bluntly, "This girl likes you—even I can see it. Don’t tell me you’re pretending not to notice? Knowing her feelings yet not rejecting her—isn’t that philandering? I’ve met the girl in your mansion who begged for medicine for you. Her heart and eyes were full of you, yet I hear she doesn’t even have a proper status."
He clicked his tongue and shook his head: "You’ll get your comeuppance."
Ji Bozhai sneered and was about to retort when Tianji suddenly stepped in front of him, shielding him as she angrily snapped at Luo Jiaoyang: "I won’t allow you to speak to the lord like that!"
Luo Jiaoyang was taken aback, and the surrounding crowd turned to look.
This was the entrance of the Academicians' Court, after all. Luo Jiaoyang, for all his faults, was a newly promoted Fighter, clad in the Azure Mist Robe. How dare a mere woman raise her voice at him?
Yet Tianji did more than raise her voice—she glared at him furiously: "Lord Ji was appointed by Da Si to lead us, to bring glory to Star Yearn City! If you care for the people of this city, you should respect him!"
After a stunned pause, Luo Jiaoyang recovered and scoffed: "What kind of person is Ji Bozhai, that he dares to speak on behalf of all the people?"
"You—!" Tianji was so furious she instinctively raised her hand.
Luo Jiaoyang had no patience for her spoiled temper. He immediately summoned Essence Power to block her, intending to bind her and toss her aside.
But the moment he moved, a dark streak of Essence Power shot out like a serpent from the opposite side, shielding Tianji."Wow! Black Essence Power! Lord Ji's Essence Power is actually black!"
"They say the more powerful the Essence Power, the purer its color. Such a deep black is truly rare in this world."
"Who is that woman, to be so protected by Lord Ji?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, countless envious gazes turning toward Tianji.
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