Li Xiang had never guessed that the granddaughter of the Two-Lakes Martial Alliance's leader would set up an arena here to choose a husband through combat.
"That's Yingzi?"
Beside him, a sharp intake of breath broke his train of thought.
Li Xiang turned and saw Guo Kai staring at the figure holding a blade one-handed on the arena, disbelief written all over his face.
"What, you know her?" Li Xiang asked.
Guo Kai did not answer at once. He studied the arena several more times, and only when he recognized the familiar look between the woman's brows did his shoulders slump like a punctured ball.
"When I was little, my grandfather brought me to Yiling to visit Alliance Leader Guan."
"The adults talked in the main hall and sent us children off to the back courtyard."
"That was when I played with Yingzi for a while."
"Once Alliance Leader Guan and my grandfather finished talking, I left with him. I haven't seen Yingzi since."
Guo Kai's expression grew complicated. He watched the dashing woman on the arena, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade resting on one shoulder as she looked down on the gathered champions, and clicked his tongue.
"Who'd have thought? Girls really do change as they grow up."
There was a note of wonder in Guo Kai's voice. "That little girl turned out this beautiful."
"That bearing, those looks—standing up there, she'd catch the eye of anyone, man or woman, young or old. Even the daughters of noble families wouldn't be able to look away."
A faint smile touched Li Xiang's lips.
For Guo Kai, who usually respected fists and nothing else, to praise someone like that, Guan Ying truly had a presence all her own.
"So you two were childhood sweethearts, then," Li Xiang teased.
"Like hell!"
Guo