The Chen Family of Clear River Commandery

The crowd had not yet fully dispersed.

Yin Luoheng appeared at the edge of the Martial Practice Ground, and the disciples parted to make way for her.

Jing Chiyuan followed half a step behind her. Nothing seemed amiss from his expression.

Qi Li had already been carried away. A pool of blood remained on the bluestone arena floor, like a hurried stroke of ink.

Yin Luoheng glanced at the arena, then at Ye An, whose breathing was steady. Finally, she looked toward the departing Qi Li and said lightly to the disciples, "A Four Symbols Sect disciple and one of our Jade Balance Sect disciples had a 'friendly' spar."

"As the champion of the Cangwu Grand Competition, it was only natural that Chief Disciple Ye won."

Yin Luoheng did not look at Jing Chiyuan, but her gentle tone made it clear she was asking him. "Wouldn't you agree, Vice Sect Master Jing?"

Jing Chiyuan's mouth twitched as thoughts raced through his mind.

If the news that Zhao Xuanji had reached the Open Palace Realm was true... Given his temperament and his old friendship with Yin Luoheng, if my faction kept targeting her...

Zhao Xuanji wouldn't care about the martial rules everyone observed in public. An Open Palace Realm martial artist had plenty of ways to deal with someone at Late Essence Gathering in secret.

And Ye An was now the Four Symbols Sect's Chief Disciple. If anything happened to him, I'd be as good as dead.

Jing Chiyuan lowered his eyes and forced out the faintest "Mm," conceding the point.

Yin Luoheng betrayed neither pleasure nor anger at that quiet answer. She merely called toward the Martial Practice Ground, "Continue the Sect's minor competition."

"Yes."

The disciples echoed her and gathered around the arena again, though every face bore a