Yang Jing and the other six followed Sun Ningxiang into the inner courtyard's main hall.
The hall was dimly lit. Sun Yong sat upright in the Grand Preceptor's Chair at its head.
His brows were slightly furrowed, his heavy gaze fixed on the floor. The air around him was graver than usual.
"Greetings, Master." All seven bowed in unison, their voices exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
Sun Yong raised his eyes slightly and gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgment.
The seven stood in the hall without prompting, each able to hear the others' slightly hurried breathing. Judging by their master's expression, this was clearly no ordinary lecture.
Sun Yong remained silent for a moment, tapping lightly on the chair's armrest.
Only after a long while did he slowly speak. "The Li Family sent someone here just now."
Everyone's heart rose into their throat, and they listened intently.
"In five days, they will face our Sun Clan Martial Arts School in a sparring contest." Sun Yong's gaze swept over the seven. "The County Magistrate will attend in person, and many of the city's powerful figures will come to watch and bear witness."
He paused, his tone growing heavier. "The stakes are exceptionally generous. The Li Family has put up five Purple Jade Pills, five Hundred Herbs Spirit Pills, five hundred jin of premium exotic beast meat, and ten thousand taels of silver. Our side has also offered... well, treasures of roughly equal value."
"Gasp-"
Sharp intakes of breath sounded through the hall.
Such stakes far exceeded those of ordinary contests between factions. Even clashes between the Six Great Families rarely involved such lavish wagers.
Sun Yong's gaze sharpened. "I need not say more about this contest's importance. You need only remember one thing: we must win. Defeat is not an