While Yang Zhen was "discussing" things with Duan Langcai in the grove, a sea of people had already gathered near Ghost's Sorrow.
The Youzhou Grand Assembly encompassed every sect from the three countries near Youyang Kingdom, and even some major sects from overseas had come. Whenever one of the widely known chosen appeared, waves of gasps inevitably followed. There were also many elites no one had ever seen before, each a dragon or phoenix among people, brave and extraordinary.
"Look! That's Zhang Zongjin, the Number One Sword Under Heaven from the Tonglin Sect. His swordsmanship is unparalleled. They say he's already reached the pinnacle and has no equal among his peers."
"Heavens, I didn't expect even Zhang Zongjin to come! It looks like this Youzhou Grand Assembly is no ordinary gathering. Zhang Zongjin seems to have come for that legend too."
"Wait, that legend is only a legend, after all. We don't even know if it exists. Look at that person over there, bathed in golden light. Could that be Fang Shenhe from Turtle-Snake Island?"
"What? They say Fang Shenhe is the most gifted disciple of Turtle-Snake Island's younger generation. He hasn't left the island in five years. I can't believe he came too."
"One is Zhang Zongjin, the Number One Sword Under Heaven, and the other is Fang Shenhe, the most gifted of all. It seems this Youzhou Grand Assembly really is a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons."
"That's nothing. Look at the mountain hollow to the east. That's where the truly remarkable person is."
"Hiss... what a beautiful woman. Even though I can't see her face clearly, her bearing and presence alone are enough to make every other woman under heaven pale in comparison."
"What do you know? That's Su Qingyu, Elixir Valley Lake's foremost genius. They say she's already a Foundation Establishment Realm Ninth Layer expert at such a young age, and she's cultivated an exceedingly powerful martial skill. She's renowned throughout the seven countries of Youzhou."
"The leading figures of the seven countries are over there too. So many chosen have gathered at this Youzhou Grand Assembly. It's a gathering of heroes, and I'm afraid there won't be anything left for us."
"Much as I hate to admit it, disciples of small sects like us really can't measure up to them. We'll have to follow behind them and make do with the soup."
"Not necessarily. There are people among us from small sects who can compete with them."
"Who?" someone scoffed in self-mockery, then shook his head and said, "What kind of joke is that? The cultivation methods and martial skills of small sects can't possibly compare with theirs. Even if we have geniuses, what of it? Could they really stand shoulder to shoulder with them?"
For a moment, everyone fell silent. Then, someone turned their gaze toward the grove where Yang Zhen was.
"Wait! There's still Yang Zhen. He shot to fame at the Youzhou Grand Assembly. He'll definitely be able to compete with those chosen."
"Don't be so sure. Yang Zhen may be devious, cunning, shameless and despicable, but his cultivation is only at the Foundation Establishment Realm Third Layer. How could he compete with those chosen?"
Almost none of the crowd thought highly of Yang Zhen's chances. Some even gloated, saying, "The tree that stands above the forest is bound to be battered by the wind. Yang Zhen may have made a name for himself at the Youzhou Grand Assembly, but that's exactly why he's the most likely to be shot down as the bird that sticks its head out."
"That's right. Yang Zhen's best course now is to lie low. Otherwise, I'm afraid he'll come to a miserable end."
"Huh? Yang Zhen's coming out."
The crowd's hearts tightened, and they turned toward the grove.
Yang Zhen walked out looking thoroughly satisfied. Behind him, Duan Langcai staggered along, glaring at Yang Zhen with resentment and bitter indignation. His pale face turned ashen, and he looked as though he wished he could bite Yang Zhen to death.
At the sight of Duan Langcai's bedraggled state, everyone sucked in a breath and instinctively took a step back.
"Those looks in your eyes... could you stop looking at me so strangely?"
The crowd gave Yang Zhen a fright. Hadn't he just discussed a few things? Was there any need for them to be so scared?
Sensing that the atmosphere was a little strange, Yang Zhen looked back and saw Duan Langcai's aggrieved, resentful expression. Anger flared up in him, and he kicked him.
"Can't you act normally? If someone gets the wrong idea, won't my lifelong reputation for rising unstained from the mud be ruined?"
Duan Langcai could barely walk steadily, so how could he dodge Yang Zhen's kick? He landed on the ground with a thud, then let out another wail and got back up, as though he couldn't sit down.
Yang Zhen had merely given Duan Langcai a good, satisfying beating, then threatened to tie him to a tree and let ants bite him. Did he have to grit his teeth like that?
After glaring away some of the people who had gathered to watch the commotion, Yang Zhen came before Princess Changyang and looked curiously at the group of flashily dressed, prideful people around them. "Who are these people?"
Princess Changyang gave Yang Zhen a strange look and asked, "You don't know who they are?"
"Are they famous?" Yang Zhen curled his lip. "More famous than me?"
Princess Changyang was taken aback. She burst out laughing and shook her head. "Not as famous as you. By now, the great name of Yang the Skinflint has probably resounded like thunder in the ears of everyone at the Youzhou Grand Assembly."
Hearing this, Yang Zhen immediately wore a pleased, smug expression. "So should I know them?"
"Apparently... not?" Princess Changyang blinked.
These chosen naturally had the pride befitting chosen, and every one of them was dressed splendidly. If Yang Zhen stood among them, the difference would probably be obvious at once, like that between clouds and mud.
Yang Zhen, however, didn't seem to care. He even plopped down without the slightest concern for his image.
Princess Changyang looked speechlessly at Yang Zhen, who was acting as though he were in his own home. Just as she was about to speak, a hearty voice rang out.
"So Your Highness is here. We parted in haste last time, and it has been half a year since we last met, hasn't it?"
Yang Zhen looked up toward the voice and saw a young man in splendid robes approaching, looking like a scholar with a feather fan and silk headcloth. Of course, he had no feather fan in his hand, but a dark blue-green longsword gleaming with cold light.
Princess Changyang had already resumed her royal bearing. Hearing him, she nodded lightly, parted her delicate lips and said slowly, "So it's Young Master Zhang. We've been apart for half a year, and your cultivation has grown ever more profound."
Zhang Zongjin's eyes lit up. A gentle, refined expression appeared on his face, and he gave a courtly bow. "I was fortunate enough to receive my sect's guidance. How could my talent compare with yours, Princess? I imagine worldly matters have kept you too busy to cultivate."
Yang Zhen glanced up at Zhang Zongjin, then, under the dumbfounded gaze of Princess Changyang's attendant, snatched the attendant's water jug and tipped his head back to gulp it down, making himself completely at home.
Hearing the exaggerated sound of Yang Zhen drinking, Zhang Zongjin frowned and was about to speak when he suddenly heard Princess Changyang say slowly, "Not at all. Compared with the title of Number One Sword Under Heaven, a princess like me is nothing remarkable."
Pfft!
Yang Zhen sprayed out a mouthful of water and stared dumbfounded at Zhang Zongjin from head to toe.
No one could blame Yang Zhen. He really hadn't expected anyone these days to have such a grand and lofty name as Number One Sword Under Heaven.
"Who is this fellow? To be so vulgar and rude is an affront to all that is civilized," Zhang Zongjin said with a frown, looking at Yang Zhen with annoyance.
Princess Changyang was about to speak when Yang Zhen waved a hand and said, "Hello, Number One Scoundrel Under Heaven. Our names are pretty similar. I'm the Number One Handsome Man Under Heaven."
(End of chapter)