The registration review for the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament had begun. Every participant had to have their rank assessed, or they would not be allowed onto the stage.
Just as Xiao Fan was heading out, Ji Xuanyuan sent someone to invite him to Cloud Rest Garden, saying he had an important matter to discuss.
Xiao Fan could stop by the Martial Arts Association on the way to have his rank assessed and register his details.
In the southern district, an enormous arena under construction stood out from afar.
Two large tents had been pitched beneath it, with lines winding outside like long snakes. This was the temporary rank-assessment site set up by the Martial Arts Association.
At a glance, there had to be at least a hundred people!
Huh? Why are so many people signing up for the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament this year? Puzzled, Xiao Fan tapped the young man ahead of him and asked.
The young man had refined features and wore a splendid silk robe. With his imposing air, he looked every inch a privileged young master out to experience life.
"Oh? You haven't heard? The rules of this year's Nine Provinces Martial Tournament have changed. It'll be more interesting than ever!" The young man held a folding fan and spoke with easy confidence.
Xiao Fan was like a country bumpkin fresh off the mountain, knowing nothing. "Oh! Is that so? Please, tell me more."
"Haha, you've asked the right person. My father happens to have a friend in the Martial Arts Association, so you can count on my information!" The young man raised his brows and smiled proudly.
Seeing the envy in Xiao Fan's eyes—entirely an act—he felt a private thrill and went on. "In previous years, the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament was a place for martial artists of the Central Plains to meet and test their skills."
"But this year is different. Besides Great Liang and Eastern Yue, the Martial Arts Association has invited the Buddhists of the Western Regions, the East Sea Dragon Palace, and warriors from the Southern Frontier to the capital to compete!"
Xiao Fan was astonished. "Whoa! That's going to be lively."
Snap!
The young man folded his fan shut. "You bet! But the excitement is only the surface. This tournament is meant to display Great Liang's national might! The imperial court has even prepared generous rewards!"
At the mention of rewards, Xiao Fan's interest turned genuine. His eyes lit up. "What rewards?!"
"Heh. Guess?" The young man left him hanging!
Guess my ass! Xiao Fan's appetite had been whetted, only for the story to be cut off at the worst possible moment. It was infuriating!
Xiao Fan suppressed his irritation and forced a smile. "If you ask me, young master, you don't actually know what rewards the court has prepared. You're just trying to fool me."
That provocation wiped the smile off the young man's face. "Who says I don't know? I was among the first to hear the news, understand?"
"Right, right, of course..." Xiao Fan's face plainly said he did not believe a word, though his mouth agreed. It was a devastating way to needle someone that he had learned online in his previous life!
The young man was properly riled. He had to show this ignorant youth how impressive he was!
"I'll have you know that the champion of this year's Nine Provinces Martial Tournament will receive a God-Tempering Pill!"
"And that's not all. If the champion is a subject of Great Liang, he can also be freed from slave status or granted a noble title!"
Whoa! Xiao Fan paused, undeniably tempted. The court has really spared no expense. Either reward is enormous!
In an age like this, what did freedom from slave status or a noble title mean? The fate of an entire lineage could change.
And a God-Tempering Pill was worth a fortune. It was an essential aid for breaking through the seventh-rank barrier in martial arts!
The thing was almost impossible to obtain privately, something money could not buy. The means of producing it were largely in the hands of the court and a few major martial arts sects.
With that in mind, Xiao Fan asked, a touch skeptical, "Is what you're saying true, young master?"
"Hmph! Would information from my own mouth be false?" The young man immediately turned haughty.
Xiao Fan kept his sunny smile, while the abacus in his mind clattered away...
This fellow knew so much inside information that had yet to be announced. He had connections... Xiao Fan had to get to know him.
At that thought, he instantly put on a performance worthy of an award. "Oh, how blind of me! I failed to recognize Great Azure Mountain standing before me. May I ask who you are, young master, to know the court's internal affairs ahead of time?"
The young man was delighted. He could hardly wait to reveal just what sort of "Great Azure Mountain" he was and leave Xiao Fan dumbstruck!
"Since you're so desperate to know who I am, I'll graciously tell you."
"My father is the chief grand secretary of Great Liang! As for me..." He paused deliberately, waiting for Xiao Fan to utter his name in the most awestruck voice possible!
"Could you be... the legendary Young Master Yu, one of the Capital City Four?!"
Just as Xiao Fan had guessed, this was Yu Hao: one of Capital City's four notorious wastrels, the King of Showing Off!
Xiao Fan did not disappoint him. That burning gaze, mingling envy and jealousy, gave Yu Hao a thrill.
"Ahem. Keep your voice down. I rarely get to go out in disguise. Don't announce it to the whole city! If my father, Grand Secretary Yu, finds out, I'll get an earful when I return!" Yu Hao affected restraint, though his voice grew louder rather than softer.
Well, now everyone nearby knew he was Grand Secretary Yu's eldest son. Many abandoned their places in line and practically slid to his feet, flattery surging in like a tide.
Everyone in Capital City knew one simple truth: getting close to this young master would save them a great many detours in life!
In the blink of an eye, the crowd had squeezed Xiao Fan to the outside. He merely smiled and took his place at the front of the line.
He had achieved his goal: he knew who the King of Showing Off was and had left a distinct impression on him. That was enough. There was no need for pointless fawning.
Once his rank assessment was complete, the Martial Arts Association gave him a token half the size of his palm to verify his identity at the tournament.
Xiao Fan put it away and headed straight for Cloud Rest Garden. A certain royal young master was waiting for him.
Once again, that grand courtyard with wings stretching in all four directions stood before him!
Standing before its vermilion gate, Xiao Fan sighed to himself. When would he be able to give his family a courtyard like this?
In a feudal age, some things could not be bought simply by carrying a sack of silver. Cloud Rest Garden was one of them.
Merchants might be wealthy, but there were rules governing the building of residences and courtyards. They could not build however they pleased.
Ji Xuanyuan had rewarded him with plenty of gold and silver, enough to buy a luxurious residence in the northern district. But whether in location or feng shui, it still could not compare to courtyards built in specially designated areas.
"Young Master Xiao! Oh, thank goodness you're here!" Before Xiao Fan could knock, the old steward hurried out from the courtyard to greet him.
Xiao Fan was taken aback. "What happened? Has something happened to His Highness?"
"Yes! Come with me, quickly!" The old steward was beside himself with worry.
No way... Wasn't he fine last night? What happened now? Xiao Fan was baffled. That young master truly seemed beset by disasters.
The moment he entered the courtyard, a clatter came from the rear hall... as though someone were smashing everything in sight!
Creak...
Xiao Fan pushed open the door and looked inside...
Oh, good heavens! Young master, stop!!!
He darted forward and caught the porcelain jar Ji Xuanyuan had thrown!
"Your Highness, don't! These are priceless artifacts!"
Xiao Fan looked at the shards of porcelain and jade strewn across the floor, his heart bleeding. Artifacts aside, they would fetch a fortune on the black market.
"What artifacts?! I'm about to die! Why would I care about them?" Ji Xuanyuan wailed as he picked up another exquisitely crafted blue-and-white porcelain jar and hurled it toward the floor!
Xiao Fan dove forward, caught the jar, and examined it carefully. Thank goodness—it was undamaged...
Before you continue