"Why do these fellows wag their tongues like women gossiping by the roadside? Don't be upset, Taiping. Just do your best in tomorrow's contest."
Eighth Brother glared at the gossiping disciples, then offered Xu Taiping a few words of comfort.
Wu Liang was the very picture of someone meek at home but fierce outside. He behaved himself on the Seven Peaks, but once he left, he was like a honey badger: if anyone provoked him, he would sink his teeth in and never let go.
Had Xu Taiping not been there, he would already have gone over to argue with those disciples.
"Thank you, Eighth Senior Brother. I won't let those words bother me."
Xu Taiping nodded with a smile.
He had heard far too much mockery of this sort, both during his years as an outer sect disciple and back in the mortal world. By now, it could no longer affect him at all.
The only way to shut their mouths was to let your performance leave them speechless.
"By the way, tomorrow's contest is about engraving with a suspended weight, isn't it?"
Xu Taiping asked Eighth Brother.
"Yes." Eighth Brother nodded, then explained to Xu Taiping:
"You hang ship-ballast iron from your flying sword, then engrave the complete Qingxuan Seven Verses on the cliff face. You can attempt different weights. In the end, whichever side has the heavier ship-ballast iron hanging from its flying sword wins."
Xu Taiping nodded.
Engraving by controlling a sword was no longer difficult for him, but he really had never tried it with ship-ballast iron hanging underneath.
"Eldest Senior Sister! Second Senior Brother!"
As soon as they came downstairs, the two saw Eldest Senior Sister, Qingxiao, and the others.
"Eighth Junior Brother, Ninth Junior Brother."
"Let's head back. Today's contests are over."
Having