"Yes, in the past when I went to see him, he would always use Essence Power to block my path. I could never break through his barrier," Zheng Tiao dodged while counterattacking. "But that day, he didn’t cast any Essence Power to stop me, so I thought he was willing to see me. That’s why I entered the courtyard."
She Tianlin froze, frowning at him.
Ming Xian was extremely cautious—she would never stay outside without setting up an Essence Power array. Yet what he said made sense. If she had cast the array, Zheng Tiao, with his level of Essence Power, wouldn’t have been able to enter.
Could there really be another explanation?
"I only stood in the courtyard and exchanged a few words with him—just the usual about how I’d definitely defeat him this year. After that, I left immediately. I didn’t even see his face. How could I have harmed him?" Zheng Tiao seized an opening and flung a surge of Essence Power back at him.
She Tianlin was momentarily distracted and didn’t notice the incoming attack.
"Watch out!" Mingyi couldn’t help but shout.
She Tianlin jolted, snapping his gaze toward her. At the same time, Bo Yuankui shattered the Nether Battle Domain, straining to block Zheng Tiao’s strike before pulling him out.
Zheng Tiao’s Essence Power was truly terrifying. Even fully prepared, Bo Yuankui paled from the impact. Still, gaining She Tianlin’s favor made it worth it. As he stood and moved to offer more pleasantries, She Tianlin suddenly sprinted toward the back rows the moment his feet touched the ground.
Mingyi flinched, immediately ducking her head back down and squeezing her eyes shut in frustration.
The heavens were determined to ruin her. If she hadn’t warned him, Old She wouldn’t have withstood that blow. But now, her warning had exposed her.
Clutching her head, she buried herself deeper beneath the table.
She didn’t want Old She to see her like this.
"Master She," a young man suddenly intercepted him mid-path, smiling as he cupped his hands in greeting. "Might I ask if there’s any way to obtain that Divine Tool from earlier?"
His mind buzzing, She Tianlin took a long moment to register the words, his rationality slowly returning.
He couldn’t go any further. If it wasn’t her, his actions would stir suspicion among the cities. If it was her, he might endanger her.
Taking a deep breath, She Tianlin steadied himself. Glancing at the young man before him, he pulled out a Kaleidoscope as if to cover his tracks. "I noticed earlier how your eyes lit up with admiration for this Divine Tool, young master. I came specifically to gift it to you. Please accept it with my regards."
Situ Ling beamed as he pocketed the Kaleidoscope. "Master She is most generous. May all your wishes come true."
Fu Yue, watching from behind, was stunned.
That actually worked?
Murmurs of envy rose around them. Even Bo Yuankui, seated above, couldn’t hide his envy. "Master She is truly magnanimous."
She Tianlin turned and cupped his hands toward Bo Yuankui. "Thank you for your timely rescue. A newly forged weapon from my humble residence will soon be delivered to your estate."
Delighted by this, Bo Yuankui even helped smooth things over. "Seeing how furious you were earlier, Master She, I thought you were here to vent your anger. Who knew you came to spread goodwill instead? Excellent, truly excellent."
She Tianlin’s gaze flickered imperceptibly toward the obscured seat before he pressed his lips together and calmly returned to his place at the main table.
Zheng Tiao, still injured, declined the attendant’s medicinal salve and retreated to the back rows.
Mingyi caught the thick scent of blood.
It was all too familiar—especially Zheng Tiao’s blood. She had smelled it once every year in the past.
But now, for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to turn and look.Clueless as she was, Xiuyun had the audacity to turn her head and speak to the man nearby: "Lord Zheng, don't Fighters need bandages for their wounds?"
"Not usually," Zheng Tiao actually replied. "In the past, only Ming Xian or Ji Bozhai could wound me. Those two strike fast, fierce, and precise—their cuts are always clean. A dab of Essence Power seals them right up."
But obviously, She Tianlin's wound couldn't be fixed that way.
Xiuyun looked astonished and immediately tugged at Mingyi's sleeve. "Did you hear that? Essence Power can be used to dress wounds too."
Mingyi: "..." She heard nothing. Her ears were blind. Both of them.
"What's wrong with this young lady?" Zheng Tiao suddenly asked. "She's been lying down all this time. Did she drop something?"
If Mingyi had been uncertain before from his gaze alone, this question confirmed it.
Zheng Tiao had recognized her.
Even in women's clothing, with her posture altered, Zheng Tiao could still identify her—let alone She Tianlin.
Her heart sank heavily, and Mingyi didn't bother being polite: "Dropped ten taels of gold. Still looking. Did you see it, my lord?"
Zheng Tiao nodded. "If you agree to spar with me again, I'll give you a hundred taels."
Damn lunatic.
Mingyi was furious.
Was there nothing in this man's head besides fighting? They were in the middle of a crisis, for heaven's sake! Half the banquet was probably watching him, and he wanted to duel her?
Did he think she wasn't joining this year's Six Cities Tournament by choice? Hah?
Slowly turning her head, Mingyi glared daggers at him before flopping back onto the cushion to play dead.
His voice had been low, so only Xiuyun heard. The girl blinked in confusion, glancing between him and the unruly little Dancing Girl by her legs, utterly baffled.
Why would Lord Zheng want to spar with Mingyi? Over what? Dancing?
Who knew such a formidable Fighter could dance too?
When Xiuyun looked back at Zheng Tiao, her eyes shone with newfound admiration.
Countless men in this world wielded Essence Power, but one who could both fight and dance? Rarer than phoenix feathers.
How extraordinary, she thought.
Zheng Tiao studied Mingyi. His initial excitement faded as he finally noticed something amiss.
During their first meeting, he'd observed her—the faint Meridian traces on her wrists, the complete lack of instinctive reactions. That's why he'd told Ji Bozhai she had no Essence Power.
But she was Ming Xian. The Ming family heir. Seven-time champion of the Six Cities Tournament. How could her Meridians be indistinct, her Essence Power absent?
Recalling She Tianlin's earlier words, Zheng Tiao's expression turned grave.
Had someone truly harmed her?
The welcoming feast continued, but surprisingly, the Upper Three Cities didn't plunder Star Yearn City as aggressively as before. Sunspire City took only half their usual share, and Moonchase City and Newgrass City followed suit—their combined tribute didn't even reach two-thirds of last year's amount.
The Star Yearn City delegation found bittersweet relief, and the Fighters' morale surged. They eagerly challenged the Upper Three Cities' representatives, livening up the atmosphere.
As the banquet grew more relaxed, the Iris Girls began circulating. Xu Tianji finally seized the moment when Ji Bozhai left his seat to have Xiuyun dragged back.
"What were you chatting about so happily?" she asked, eyeing Xiuyun.Xiuyun's cheeks flushed with excitement as she said, "Lord Zheng Tiao said after the banquet ends, he'll personally escort Mingyi and me back!"
OpenNovel