Journey to Great Li Imperial City, Martial Artist Lin Ye

After all, for ordinary martial artists, a grand event held once every thirty years was often something they could only attend once in a lifetime.

How many thirty-year spans did a person have in life?

Seeing her agree, Tie Tu revealed a gratified smile.

Tie Ling'er, however, was reluctant to part with her. She clutched Su Yueli's sleeve and refused to let go.

Over these five years, the two had been together day and night. Su Yueli was not only the backbone of Ironbone Martial Hall, but also the only sister Tie Ling'er could confide in.

"I'm only going to compete. Once it's over, I'll return to Qing Province." Su Yueli patted the back of her hand.

Only then did Tie Ling'er nod with pursed lips.

Night fell.

Beside a stone table in the inner courtyard, Tie Tu unusually did not drink. Instead, he brewed a pot of strong tea.

"Great Li Imperial City is nothing like our Qing Province. All sorts of people are mixed together there, and immortal sects and martial sects are as numerous as the hairs on an ox."

Tie Tu's expression turned solemn as he warned, "The imperial family has deep foundations. There are no shortage of Martial Dao and Immortal Dao geniuses raised with resources gathered from across the land. Those great clans and aristocratic families have also piled up rare medicinal herbs to produce quite a few powerful experts."

"When Old Lu and I went thirty years ago, we suffered for underestimating our opponents."

"Though you have already reached the Fourth Realm and your killing moves are fierce, you must never let your guard down."

Su Yueli lifted her teacup and took a sip, committing every word to heart.

Ever since she had begun training under Lu Chen more than thirty years ago, it seemed she had yet to fight with her full strength.

In fact, she had rarely even made a move. This tournament was the perfect chance to see just how far she had come.

The night passed, and the following morning arrived.

Before dawn had fully broken, Su Yueli had finished packing and slung a simple bundle over her back.

The wine gourd still hung at her waist.

Tie Ling'er stood at the martial hall's entrance, waving her hands. "Sister Yueli, do your best! Bring back the championship!"

Su Yueli did not turn around. With her back to her, she merely waved a hand and strode into the morning streets.

The journey from Azure Province City to Great Li Imperial City was exceedingly long.

Even for a Fourth Realm martial artist traveling day and night without rest, it would take around seven days.

Walking along the official road, Su Yueli raised her head and watched the occasional streaks of light flash through the clouds overhead. She could not help sighing inwardly.

Immortal cultivators truly had it easy.

A journey that took mortals seven or eight days of crossing mountains and rivers would likely take immortals riding swords only half a day.

That was the uncrossable chasm between immortals and mortals.

Su Yueli was not discouraged. She withdrew her gaze and, for two days straight, sometimes traveled with merchant caravans headed her way, and sometimes sped alone along the official road.

By the evening of the third day, she arrived at a small city called Lingshui.

The previously clear sky suddenly darkened.

A fierce wind sprang up, and a curtain of fine rain instantly shrouded the entire city.

Su Yueli was not in the habit of traveling through rain. After entering the city, she found a fairly large inn nearby to shelter from it.

The first-floor hall of the inn was packed with merchants, travelers, and wandering martial artists seeking refuge from the rain. Voices rose in a roaring clamor.

Su Yueli shook the droplets from her sleeves and walked to the counter.

"Innkeeper, one upper room."

Her voice was cool and clear, cutting through the surrounding noise. The sounds in the hall immediately quieted.

Countless gazes converged on her at once. Her pale blue dress, high ponytail, and peerlessly beautiful face untouched by worldly dust, combined with the cold, proud bearing honed through years of boxing practice—

The people around her stared dumbfounded, drawing sharp breaths as they whispered among themselves.

"Could she be some fairy maiden from an immortal sect descending to the mortal world?"

"She must be an immortal! How could an ordinary woman possibly possess such a bearing?"

Hearing their remarks, Su Yueli lowered her eyelids slightly, feeling utterly speechless.

An immortal?

Were these people blind? There was not even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation on her body. She was purely a martial artist with vigorous blood and qi.

The blind worship ordinary people held for immortal cultivators had already reached the point where they judged a dish by its appearance.

Ignoring those stares, Su Yueli paid for her room and went upstairs.

After setting down her bundle, a pang of hunger rose in her stomach.

Fourth Realm martial artists consumed an enormous amount of blood and qi. Having gone two days without a hot meal, she truly was hungry.

Su Yueli took some broken silver downstairs and left the inn, finding a restaurant next door that looked reasonably clean.

It was mealtime, and rain poured outside. The restaurant was packed to the brim, its clamor shaking the heavens.

Su Yueli was fairly lucky. A small table in the corner had just become vacant.

She went over and sat down, ordering a jin of cooked beef, a roast chicken, and two baskets of white-flour steamed buns.

Since she began practicing martial arts, Su Yueli had felt her appetite grow much larger, especially as her martial cultivation improved.

In the past, a roast chicken or a jin of beef alone would have stuffed her. Now, even after eating both, she needed some steamed buns to feel full.

The food was served quickly.

Su Yueli did not care much about her image and began eating in large mouthfuls.

As she ate, a young man entered through the restaurant doors.

He wore a black, waist-cinched robe and carried a long saber wrapped in cloth on his back. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and rainwater still clung to his shoulders.

He swept his gaze around the restaurant, his brow faintly furrowing.

Every seat was occupied. There was not even room to stand.

After looking around once, the young man's gaze settled on Su Yueli in the corner.

That was the only table with just one person seated at it.

The young man strode over.

"Miss, there truly aren't any empty seats. Would you mind sharing a table?"

He cupped his hands in greeting, his tone fairly polite.

Su Yueli paused her meal and looked around.

There truly was barely even a place left to stand.

Sharing a table did not matter much. She nodded without saying anything, then lowered her head and continued dealing with the beef on her plate.

The young man pulled out a long bench and sat down, calling over the waiter to order several dishes.

While waiting for the food, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the wine gourd hanging from Su Yueli's waist.

The gourd was somewhat old, its patina smooth and lustrous. It was clearly something she had carried by her side for many years.

"Waiter, bring two more jars of the finest strong liquor!"

The young man called out, then turned to Su Yueli with a hearty smile. "Meeting is fate, Miss. Would you care to share a drink with me later?"

"I don't drink." Su Yueli swallowed the food in her mouth, her tone calm. "I rarely drink alcohol."

The young man froze, pointing at the gourd on her waist. "If you don't drink, Miss, why do you carry a wine gourd with you?"

Su Yueli's gaze followed his finger.

This had originally been a parting gift for her master, Lu Chen, but unfortunately, she had not made it in time.

Back at Blackwind Ridge, she had always thought that one day, once her master came around, she would personally pour him a cup of wine.

Yet until his death, this gourd had never served its purpose.

"The wine in this gourd was originally meant for someone."

Su Yueli withdrew her gaze. "I simply never got the chance to give it to him, so I kept carrying it myself."

Hearing this, the young man saw the cold aloofness in Su Yueli's expression, a distance that kept people a thousand miles away. He did not ask further.

When the wine and dishes arrived, the young man poured himself a large bowl of strong liquor and drained it in one gulp.

"Refreshing!"

Wiping his mouth, the young man introduced himself to Su Yueli. "My name is Lin Ye. I'm from Shuo Province, and I'm heading to Great Li Imperial City to take part in the Martial Dao Tournament."

"From the way you're dressed, Miss, you're a practitioner too. Are you going to the Imperial City to watch the excitement?"

Su Yueli's hand froze as she bit into a steamed bun.

She raised her head, and a flicker of surprise crossed her cool eyes.

Great Li Imperial City? The Martial Dao Tournament?

She raised an eyebrow, looking at the young man before her with the long saber wrapped in tattered cloth on his back.

This man was going to compete too?