The clearing fell silent.
Everyone looked at Si Chen, waiting for his answer.
Si Chen looked at the challenge Ye Jing held out, at the jade box lying on the ground, then at Ye Jing's taut face, and nodded.
"All right."
Ye Jing's shoulders visibly relaxed, though he might not have noticed it himself.
On the Eastern Region's side, several people exchanged looks, then began making room for the two of them.
Red Wind had already pulled a large, bulging kraft-paper bag of sunflower seeds from his Storage Ring.
He tore it open, grabbed a handful for himself first, then began handing them around.
"Come on, everyone, try some. Just looted these."
Red Wind stuffed a handful into Black Mountain's paw beside him, then poured another into Zhou Yan's hand.
Black Mountain took the seeds and began cracking them with practiced ease. "This Third Highness... certainly has a unique way of seeking death."
Zhou Yan leaned against the nearest tree, cracking seeds as he spoke. "He certainly has the presence for it."
Xie Changsheng took some seeds and shared a handful with the gray donkey. The donkey caught them in its mouth and crunched noisily.
Song Chi held his sword and snorted. "He doesn't know his own limits."
Then he grabbed a handful of seeds too.
Black Mountain walked over to Luo Qingyin, who was still facing a tree in self-reflection, and nudged her arm. "Fellow Daoist Luo, want some?"
Luo Qingyin stiffened, then slowly turned her head, a lingering blush still on her face.
She looked at the handful of seeds that had suddenly appeared in her hand, then at the two facing off in the clearing. After a moment of silence, she quietly picked up a seed and put it in her mouth.
"Crack."
A crisp sound rang