"Master, good news! Good news!"
The following afternoon, in the courtyard residence the Azure Profound Sect had provided for the Yellow Maple Valley party, Yellow Maple Valley disciple Du Ziyin shouted as he rushed into the main hall.
"Ziyin?"
At his voice, a middle-aged man seated at the head of the hall, playing a board game with his eldest disciple Shen Li, raised his head and frowned at Du Ziyin.
"Why are you in such a fluster?"
He sounded somewhat displeased.
"Master, the Azure Profound Sect's Sect Master has agreed to let us Yellow Maple Valley disciples challenge Xu Taiping to a Sword Inquiry. He asks that you go over to discuss the details."
Du Ziyin answered with excitement written all over his face.
At these words, the game piece pinched between the Yellow Maple Valley Valley Master's fingers shattered with a crack. Then, his face alight with excitement, he slammed a hand onto the table.
"Good!"
Across the game table, his eldest disciple Shen Li also looked delighted at the news.
"The nearly month-long wait you and I have endured in these mountains wasn't in vain, Master."
Smiling, Shen Li tossed the piece in his hand into its container.
"Ziyin, go and tell him that your eldest senior brother and I will personally visit Sect Master Zhao in two hours."
The Yellow Maple Valley Valley Master glanced at Du Ziyin.
"Yes, Master!"
Du Ziyin immediately turned and once again dashed out of the hall.
Once Du Ziyin had left, the Yellow Maple Valley Valley Master turned his gaze back to Shen Li and said,
"Although Du Ziyin, Xuejian, and the others will also challenge Xu Taiping to a Sword Inquiry this time, I know exactly how much weight they carry. Of all our Yellow Maple Valley disciples, you alone