On the Eve of the Sword Debate

The servant disciples around them all whipped their heads around, staring at Xie Yuan in surprise.

This was already the second time Senior Brother Qin had come to the Servant Courtyard recently. In the previous few years, he might not have come even once. Yet both times, he had come looking for Zhang Shan?

What could the chief disciple of the sect master, the foremost disciple, possibly want with Zhang Shan?

Questions arose in many hearts. Those who knew how "diligent" he was—including the servant disciples from the woodshed and rear hall—could not help wondering whether he had truly caught the eye of those above. Even Senior Brother Qin seemed to regard him with special favor.

For a moment, the disciples were consumed by envy and jealousy. Some even cried out inwardly that this could not be true—he must have gotten himself into trouble...

The servant disciples' eyes displayed every face of human nature, yet they did not know that Xie Yuan's heart had tightened. He would rather Qin Zhenyang had not come looking for him.

Coming over at a time like this—had he discovered something?

Thoughts flashed through his mind, countless notions turning in an instant. Yet he answered with complete respect on his face:

"Yes, Senior Brother Qin!"

Xie Yuan followed Qin Zhenyang out of the Servant Courtyard to a quiet tree outside.

Qin Zhenyang looked Xie Yuan over from head to toe and asked quietly:

"Junior Brother Zhang, you did not go to the rear hall today, nor did you go to the Flower Valley Guest Courtyard, did you?"

Xie Yuan was startled. He had expected Qin Zhenyang to test him, but he had not expected him to be so direct!

What should he do?

Had he been exposed?

Or should he find some excuse?

He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Qin Zhenyang sighed softly and said in a grave voice:

"Junior Brother Zhang, the sect has been overwhelmed lately. It is not good to slack off at a time like this. The outer sect stewards have nothing but praise for you. We have been short-handed these past few days, and I came to find you today because I intended to put the four guest courtyards at Stream Valley, Pine Breeze, Red Rock, and Sea of Clouds on East Half Mountain under your care. They need to be properly arranged over the next few days. Yet today, you..."

He shook his head and said calmly:

"The stewards said you have never made such a mistake before. Everyone has simply been too busy lately. Everyone has moments of laziness; I am no exception. Let this one pass, but do not let there be a next time.

"Therefore, I will still entrust these four guest courtyards to you. They must be arranged before the sword debate. Junior Brother Zhang, the stewards all praise you, and I trust that with your thoroughness, you can handle it?"

Xie Yuan paused, then revealed an expression that was equal parts ashamed and excited, without the slightest flaw.

"Yes, Senior Brother Qin. I certainly will not disappoint you again!"

A faint smile appeared on Qin Zhenyang's face. He patted Xie Yuan on the shoulder and strode away.

Xie Yuan respectfully watched Qin Zhenyang leave, his gaze unchanged in the slightest.

Only after Qin Zhenyang had vanished to who knew where did he turn back, his face resolute and his fists clenched, looking full of drive.

This Senior Brother... I had long heard that he personally handled everything, leaving no detail overlooked, always a capable assistant to the elders—but surely not to this extent? Last time, he specifically questioned me. Perhaps the commotion when I broke through at the Flower Valley Guest Courtyard has already made him suspicious of me. I need to keep an even lower profile from now on. If it really comes down to it, I'll run...

Xie Yuan did not know whether Qin Zhenyang was silently watching him from somewhere, but he had already raised his guard, warning himself never to rest easy simply because the Heaven Concealing Art could deceive Grandmasters.

There were countless experts here, and many situations that the Heaven Concealing Art could not solve.

Upstream by the creek, among the clustered courtyards where outer sect disciples lived.

Qin Zhenyang stood beside a courtyard, silently looking down at the Servant Courtyard below like a statue.

Watching the entirely normal-looking Xie Yuan, he thought to himself:

This junior brother deserves further attention.

He withdrew his gaze, took out a small notebook, and ticked off a line. Looking at the many unresolved matters listed below, he sighed, shook his head, and walked into a nearby disciple courtyard to give instructions.

Autumn was gradually rising. The lands of Cloud Province below the mountain still retained the lingering warmth of summer, marveling at the ferocity of the autumn tiger, while autumn winds had already begun to blow across Yunshan Mountain.

In the golden month of September, the eyes of the entire cultivation world in Cloud Province—and indeed throughout the Great Li Dynasty—had turned toward this beautiful mountain covered in crimson maples.

In two days, the East Lake Hidden Sword Pavilion, one of the Four Sects, would have its pavilion master personally lead more than a hundred elders and disciples to the Yunshan Sword Sect for a sword debate.

Countless nosy figures from the martial world had crowded into Cloud Province, into Yun Mountain County, and packed Yun Mountain Town to bursting. Xie Yuan had even been forced to pay more once again to keep the room where he stored his belongings.

So many martial artists gathering here gave the Cloud Province authorities a tremendous headache. Wherever people of the martial world went, the place became a mess of chicken feathers.

Fortunately, the Great Li authorities were formidable. The Six Doors, which specialized in martial world affairs, and even the Spring Rain Pavilion possessed considerable strength. Yun Mountain County was also the territory of the Yun Mountain Prince, a martial arts Grandmaster. They had long prepared, dispatching many people to maintain order around Yunshan Mountain. The Yunshan Sword Sect had also sent disciples to assist, preventing any major disaster.

Yet while no great disaster occurred, disorder was unavoidable. In recent days, martial contests and vendetta killings had taken place beneath Yunshan Mountain every day. Quite a few small sects and major martial halls wished to seize this opportunity to make a name for themselves, or settle old scores. Numerous fighting stages, gambling houses, and courtesans had appeared below the mountain. Yun Mountain Town was more lively than ever before, surpassing even Yun Province Prefecture City.

The people of the martial world gathered here as though for a carnival. But they knew who the main characters were. Although the Yunshan Sword Sect had closed its gates to visitors recently and barred idle outsiders from climbing Yunshan Mountain, people still gathered here, wishing to learn at the first possible moment how this sword debate—which would affect the martial arts landscape of the realm—would end.

The Sword Sect declined spectators, but there were always people who could obtain invitations. Besides representatives of major sects friendly with either the Yunshan Sword Sect or the Hidden Sword Pavilion, the local Yun Mountain Prince and Situ Qin naturally qualified to go up the mountain.

Thus, two days in advance, Situ Qin visited the Flower Valley Guest Courtyard once more.

"Chief Escort Leader Xie, how come you've been so busy? Aren't you the steward of this guest courtyard? You're never around all day."

Situ Qin complained somewhat. She had originally wanted to speak at length with Xie Yuan about the grand event, but he had had no time at all these past two days. Only with difficulty had he managed to make time to drink tea with her.

Xie Yuan sighed.

"I got promoted. Now I have to manage several guest courtyards on this half of the mountain. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility..."

"Tch, aren't you pleased with yourself!"

Situ Qin curled her lips, then flashed a radiant smile.

"So you have time now, right?"

"Mm. I found that I don't need to handle everything myself. I just need to send a few servants over to clean. The moment I say it was arranged by Senior Brother, they work harder than anyone. Tsk, I've been a workhorse for so long that I don't even know how to order people around."

Xie Yuan shook his head, grabbed a pastry from Situ Qin's food box, popped it into his mouth, and happily chewed away.

"Hey, that was the last one! It's my favorite! Couldn't you eat one of the others?"

Situ Qin glared at him, her exquisite little face full of anger and urgency. Snowy skin, peach-blossom cheeks, beautiful eyes wide open—utterly enchanting.

Xie Yuan casually smiled.

"Oh, I didn't do it on purpose..."

"You absolutely did!"

Situ Qin glared at him with puffed cheeks. She had long since grown accustomed to his strange remarks.

She snorted softly and did not fuss over it further. Picking another pastry, she placed it between her rosy lips. Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons at once.

After eating the pastries, Situ Qin wiped her mouth with a brocade handkerchief before asking eagerly:

"So? The grand event is about to begin. Are you looking forward to it?"

"I am. I'm even a little nervous. Thinking about our sect's disciples about to take the stage for such an important sword debate makes my hands tremble."

Xie Yuan took another pastry, looking rather lazy as he said:

"But then I suddenly remembered that I'm a servant and don't need to take the stage, so I instantly stopped being nervous."

Situ Qin giggled and could not help swatting him.

"So you don't have any sense of sect honor at all?"

"I'm just a sweeper. What do major sect affairs have to do with my thirty-cash monthly allowance?"

Xie Yuan chuckled, though he became a little more serious.

"But honestly, after spending the past few months on the mountain, I think the Yunshan Sword Sect is genuinely pretty good. The people are good, the mountain is good, and it's comfortable staying here. I hope they win this time."

"Difficult."

Situ Qin shook her head.

"The people from the Hidden Sword Pavilion are already on the road, and the list is no secret. Looking at their lineup, aside from the forces necessary to remain behind, it would not be an exaggeration to say they are coming out in full force. They clearly take this very seriously."

"Is that so? Which famous figures are coming?"

Xie Yuan asked with great interest.

Situ Qin teased him:

"With your knowledge, you might not know them even if I told you."

Xie Yuan did not mind, smiling as he said:

"Then I'll have to trouble Miss Qin to introduce them. Once you tell me, won't I know?"

"You certainly know how to say nice things. Then I'll reluctantly explain."

Situ Qin took a sip of tea and theatrically cleared her throat.

"Cough, cough. Mm. Let's start with the first: the master of the Hidden Sword Pavilion, fifth on the Soaring Dragon Ranking, 'Ocean Overturning Sword' Wei Dong. His Ocean Suppressing Tide Calming Sword Art has reached great mastery. When his sword emerges, the sea is calmed—this is no empty claim. It is said that not only is his swordsmanship incomparably profound, his cultivation has also reached the pinnacle, just one step from the realm of a Great Grandmaster. That is why he ranks fifth on the Soaring Dragon Ranking."

Xie Yuan nodded. He had heard the name of this top expert before.

"Then there are the elders of the Hidden Sword Pavilion. Two are coming, both Grandmasters. One of them is thirty-second on the Soaring Dragon Ranking, 'Autumn Water Divine Sword' Song Qingping. There is no need to say more of his cultivation; his place on the Soaring Dragon Ranking proves enough. But the main reason he is famous is his handsome, romantic air, his carefree nature, and his many colorful tales. Quite a few male and female martial artists throughout the realm regard him as an idol."

Situ Qin smiled.

"For example, Master Jingchen of Bright Heart Monastery. Before she entered the monastery, she was one of the foremost beauties of the martial world, with countless suitors. In the end, she entered Bright Heart Monastery because of him, and now she has become a Grandmaster on the Soaring Dragon Ranking... Hehe, I'll tell you about those things slowly another time."

Bright Heart Monastery and the Hidden Sword Pavilion were both among the Four Sects. Xie Yuan had naturally heard Master Jingchen's name as a Grandmaster on the Soaring Dragon Ranking from Bright Heart Monastery, but he had never known of such old affairs. He had gained some knowledge indeed.

"Below the Grandmaster realm, the Hidden Sword Pavilion has also sent quite a few people. He Jin, seventh on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and the Hidden Sword Pavilion's chief disciple, is naturally coming as well. He will certainly clash with your Senior Brother. The chief disciples of the two sects will fight with swords for their sects. Both are outstanding figures on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, so naturally it will be a much-discussed battle. It is just that Qin Zhenyang is only ranked twenty-sixth, far behind He Jin. His chances of victory are slim.

"Below He Jin is another man named Huang Hao, ranked sixty-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. He entered the ranking not long after breaking through the second Qi and Blood Transformation, so his strength cannot be underestimated."

Xie Yuan nodded silently. The format of this contest had already been decided in advance. Swordsmen all sought simplicity, and the rules were not complicated.

The two sect masters would certainly have a match. That had been Wei Dong's purpose in initiating this sword debate in the first place: he wanted to know precisely how far Li Xingtuo had progressed in his breakthrough.

Below the sect masters, the Grandmaster elders would each send one representative to compare the upper-level strength of their sects.

Below the Grandmaster realm, in the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm, each level would send one Elite Disciple. There was no need to mention the third transformation—the two chief disciples would face one another. But above the second transformation, the Yunshan Sword Sect was somewhat stretched thin. They had no disciple on the Hidden Dragon Ranking at the second Qi and Blood Transformation.

As for the first Qi and Blood Transformation, their disciple was even more obscure, known only within the sect and by few beyond it.

Below the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm, several additional matches had been arranged for external training disciples, both to assess the talents of new disciples and to warm up the event.

Looking at it this way, Xie Yuan felt that aside from the roughly equal strength of the sect masters, the Yunshan Sword Sect seemed to be completely at a disadvantage in every matchup.

Leaving aside the external training matches, Xie Yuan remembered there was still one bout Situ Qin had not introduced, so he asked curiously:

"What about the first Qi and Blood Transformation? Who will they send?"

Situ Qin took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, then said leisurely:

"Most likely that boy Yao Tianchuan."

"Yao Tianchuan?"

The name sounded familiar to Xie Yuan, but he could not recall why.

However, seeing Situ Qin's expression, he vaguely understood and asked:

"A descendant of the Jinling Yao Family?"