Mei Chengyu turned to explain to Yu Sui. "The order of the sacrifices hasn't been announced, but the locations are fixed: right outside the main gates of each academy. That's why the terrain around the main gates never changes."
Yu Sui nodded in sudden understanding. In the crowd, she spotted Su Xingchao walking with Zuo Qiushan. Farther away, she could also see Pu Heng of the Yin-Yang School standing with Dong Xiude.
The four of them weren't together, but every so often their gazes met across the crowd, as if they were waiting for something.
The open ground outside the School of Names' main gate was spacious. A sacrificial altar had been built in the center, surrounded by ring after ring of bonfires, dozens of layers deep. Everyone taking part in the sacrifice stood within the rings of fire. The closer they were to the altar, the more people there were; from a glance, it was a sea of densely packed heads.
Standing beside Mei Chengyu, Yu Sui leaned closer and whispered, "Senior Martial Brother, who's leading the sacrifice?"
"The deans of the Yin-Yang School and the School of Techniques," Mei Chengyu replied. "If neither of them shows up, then the dean of the host academy will take charge."
Gu Gan stared expressionlessly at the two of them, who were nearly pressed together. "What are you talking about?"
Yu Sui made a shushing gesture and said innocently, "There are so many people here. I'm afraid they'll hear us."
Gu Gan fought the throbbing ache at his temple. Looking into Yu Sui's innocent eyes, he couldn't manage to say a single word.
The wager between Su Xingchao and Sheng Zui was another subject of public interest. They were both disciples of the School of Names, yet now, at the sacrificial grounds,