Just then, a timid Qingcheng Sect disciple approached Hua Yan.
Before he could get close, Senior Sister Tao dragged him away.
Zhao You shouted, “Senior Sister, let go of me! Why are you pulling me—”
Senior Sister Tao said, “She’s already spoken for, stop pestering her!”
Zhao You blushed, “I’m not—”
Senior Sister Tao poked his head sternly, “Junior Brother, look at Lu Chengsha, and then look at yourself. Wake up!”
***
After breakfast, Hua Yan followed the Qingcheng Sect group to the arena. Today was the final day of the disciples’ battles, the most exciting day. The morning would see twelve contestants reduced to six, and the afternoon would feature the top six battling for the championship.
Lu Chengsha had won the championship two years in a row, and this year he was still a favorite to win.
His match against You Weitian was scheduled first.
As soon as You Weitian appeared, the Qingcheng Sect disciples started booing loudly. Mu Xuelang, sitting in the front row, tried to calm them down, but it was futile. In stark contrast, the Dangshan Sect sat silently and solemnly with Ling Tianxiao presiding.
Zuo Jingshuang also sat in the front row, looking even more nervous than before.
Hua Yan was also very tense. Lu Chengsha appeared on the other side of the arena in his usual black attire. He stood there, looking around as if searching for something. Soon, he saw Hua Yan, who was looking back at him.
The moment their eyes met, it felt like the noise around them suddenly quieted.
Hua Yan gave Lu Chengsha a big smile and a cheering fist gesture.
Lu Chengsha nodded at her from a distance.
As the drum sounded, the match officially began.
Almost immediately, You Weitian swung his heavy, fierce blade. The red ribbon on his forehead accentuated his menacing aura. Lu Chengsha raised his sword to block the blade effortlessly.
Unlike Mu Xuelang, Lu Chengsha showed no signs of being overpowered.
In fact, he was even more dominant.
The blue sword tassel traced near-phantom arcs in the air, and the clash of the sword and blade produced a constant metallic ringing.
After about twenty moves, it was already clear to many that You Weitian was no match for Lu Chengsha.
He was clearly on the losing end.
Though it was not surprising, it did dampen the excitement a bit.
Someone predicted, “At most a hundred moves, and this Young Hero You will be defeated.”
At that moment, Lu Chengsha’s sword clashed against You Weitian’s blade. You Weitian took the hit, his feet digging into the ground, leaving two small indentations from the force. Meanwhile, sweat dripped from his forehead, but he continued to smile.
“A once-in-a-century genius of the righteous path, Lu Chengsha indeed lives up to his reputation.”
“Is this what a genius is? Hahaha.”
He laughed as if it were a joke.
Hua Yan watched him closely, noticing a sudden flash of blood in his pupils. It was so quick it seemed like an illusion. The next moment, You Weitian’s speed increased drastically, and the force of his blade strikes doubled. The sound of his nine-ring broadsword clashing against Lu Chengsha’s sword was deafening.
The crowd was astonished; You Weitian’s previous attacks were already fierce, but now they were even more so!
Hua Yan wanted to scream; he was cheating!
Few people present recognized the gu poison, but she did. The flash in You Weitian’s eyes was a gu worm called “Fengrao Tian.” Its name sounded auspicious, but it was extremely dangerous and twisted. This gu worm usually lay dormant near the neck. When activated, it traveled to the brain, stimulating and greatly enhancing the host’s potential while eroding their mind.
Overuse could turn even the smartest person into a madman.
No, You Weitian might already be insane.
From being suppressed, You Weitian suddenly turned the tide, almost overpowering Lu Chengsha.
This was bad.
The crowd immediately started murmuring.
Hua Yan, lifting her skirt, rushed to the edge of the arena, genuinely worried. Who knew what other tricks You Weitian had up his sleeve?
Lu Chengsha would definitely win in a fair fight!
Though she was still confident Lu Chengsha would win, her mind raced. Suddenly, she had an idea. Pretending to go to the restroom, she circled near the Dangshan Sect’s seating area. Everyone was focused on the match, not noticing her at all.
Hua Yan quietly released a sleeping gu.
The gu worm crawled slowly, and she walked back nonchalantly.
After a while, she heard someone shout, “Sister Zuo, wake up! What’s wrong with you?”
Zuo Jingshuang had collapsed next to her seat.
On the arena, You Weitian narrowed his eyes and glanced over, distracted.
In such a match, even a momentary distraction was tantamount to seeking death.
He slowed down, while Lu Chengsha sped up. Within three moves, Lu Chengsha completely reversed You Weitian’s advantage. Meanwhile, the Dangshan Sect members quickly called for the doctor from Cixin Valley to take Zuo Jingshuang to the nearby clinic, causing You Weitian to be distracted again.
In the next moment, Lu Chengsha heavily slammed him to the ground, his sword grazing You Weitian’s temple as it pierced the ground.
In just a short moment, the situation on the field had changed dramatically.
You Weitian looked at the tip of Lu Chengsha’s sword, laughed once, then again, “Haha, hahahaha…” He burst into uncontrollable laughter, as if he would laugh out his heart and lungs. Supporting his forehead with one hand, his laughter was intermittent, almost like sobs, “This is so funny… How can there be such a funny thing, haha… It turns out…”
No one knew what he was laughing about.
Lu Chengsha had already withdrawn his sword and left.
You Weitian murmured behind him, as if talking to himself, but clearly audible to Lu Chengsha, “…You like her so much now, but what about later?”
Without looking back, Lu Chengsha walked to the Qingcheng Sect’s seating area.
Hua Yan skipped down, still a bit nervous, “Next time, don’t fight him. There’s something wrong with him.”
Lu Chengsha replied, “Hmm.”
After all, it was You Weitian who cheated first! She didn’t harm Zuo Jingshuang; she just made her sleep for a while.
She didn’t feel guilty at all!
After comforting herself, Hua Yan couldn’t help but say to Lu Chengsha, “That guy is really weird, don’t listen to him!”
Lu Chengsha responded again, “Hmm.”
Then, he reached out and patted Hua Yan’s head.
Hua Yan felt happy from his touch and decided to put the unhappy things aside. She asked, “Can you win the championship this afternoon?”
Lu Chengsha thought for a moment and said, “I can.”
So confident, Great Hero Lu!
Hua Yan immediately brightened up, “If you win, we’ll go have a great meal!”
Lu Chengsha nodded, looking somewhat pleased as well.
***
And then Lu Chengsha really won the championship again.
Hua Yan had once thought about betting on Lu Chengsha at the Dongfeng Buye Tower, but the odds were so low that betting a hundred taels might not even yield a hundred and one taels, so she gave up.
With Chu Jun, Mu Xuelang, and You Weitian out of the way, Lu Chengsha’s remaining opponents were clearly no match for him. He won his matches in a crushing manner.
While the matches became less exciting, the spectators were more than satisfied. The Qingcheng Sect started cheering first, chanting Lu Chengsha’s name as if he were one of their own—mainly because he had eliminated You Weitian.
The spectators felt honored to witness such a scene, as the Sword-seeking Tournament, held every three years, provided great stories to tell.
The Dangshan Sect had prepared a special prize for the champion of the disciples’ battle: a palm-sized, perfectly crafted jade pendant, inscribed with the words “Sword-seeking Tournament Champion.”
To be honest, when Hua Yan received it, she thought the inscription ruined the aesthetic of the jade!
Such a beautiful piece wasted!
The Dangshan Sect really lacked taste!
Lu Chengsha, thinking she liked it, asked, “…Do you want it?”
Hua Yan shook her head, put it back in the brocade box, and handed it back to him.
Lu Chengsha didn’t say anything, but he looked a bit disappointed.
Hua Yan patted him, “Come on, let’s go eat!”
She found a small tavern recommended by Senior Sister Tao, known for its great reputation, and led Lu Chengsha inside.
The tavern had no private rooms, so they sat in the main hall. The tables around them were quickly cleared, leaving three empty tables. Fortunately, Hua Yan had become accustomed to such attention over the past few days.
After ordering, Hua Yan swung her legs and chatted with Lu Chengsha.
Mostly, she talked, and Lu Chengsha responded with “Hmm.”
While they were chatting happily, a boy of about ten walked in. He wore a green-gray sword robe, had a sword at his waist, and still had a bit of baby fat on his face. He looked around, then fixed his gaze on Lu Chengsha, taking a deep breath as if to muster courage.
After repeating this a few times, he looked determined and strode over to Lu Chengsha.
Hua Yan thought to herself, he doesn’t look like he’s here to cause trouble… Could it be…
The boy stopped a step away from Lu Chengsha, dropped to his knees, and said, “Master, please accept my bow!”
Hua Yan: “?”
Lu Chengsha: “?”
“Great Hero Lu! Please take me as your disciple! I promise to be obedient and diligent in my training, to carry on your legacy, and to honor you and… um…” He paused for a moment, “And the Master’s wife!”
Hua Yan: “???”
Lu Chengsha: “…”