As the sun climbed higher, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the gates of Sun’s Martial Arts Hall. Disciples arrived in twos and threes, and the front courtyard soon buzzed with activity.

"Senior Brother Yang is here early."

Someone whispered, their eyes filled with admiration.

In yesterday’s tournament, Yang Jing had taken first place in the seventh arena, becoming the talk of the entire Martial Arts Hall. Everyone knew his standing had soared; he was now considered second only to the exceptionally talented Senior Brother Lin Yue.

Lin Yue arrived as well. He had been injured yesterday, but whatever treasure he had taken seemed to have worked. He was already recovered, his gaze sharp.

When he saw Yang Jing practicing his forms, he frowned slightly. His pace faltered for a moment, but then he nonchalantly walked to the other side and began to stretch.

Before long, Xu Hong, Zhao Wenzheng, Qi Yun, and Liu Maolin arrived as well.

Sun Yong emerged from the inner courtyard. Seeing that nearly everyone was present, he clapped his hands. "Disciples at Bright Vigor or higher, if you wish to watch the tournament today, gather your things and follow me to the grounds."

The disciples immediately answered the call, quickly gathering their belongings. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

...

「Yuhe County, South City, Anxing Square.」

Inside a room in a spacious courtyard.

Shen Lie was propped up in bed, a thick cotton pillow at his back. A pale bandage was wrapped around his chest. Though he wasn’t completely immobilized, his face was unnaturally pale, and his lips had lost their usual color.

He gripped a Cyan Porcelain Tea Cup, his knuckles white with tension, sending faint ripples across the tea’s surface.

"Damn it," he muttered, his voice thick with indignation. "If I hadn’t been so careless, there’s no way I would’ve lost to that Yang Jing! I should be on the tournament grounds right now, not stuck in this damn bed!"

Zhao Yuman sat on a bamboo chair across from him. She wore a crisp, lake-blue martial uniform that highlighted her poised figure.

She did nothing, simply sitting with her calm gaze fixed on Shen Lie. Only when he had finished his tirade did she speak. "Don’t dwell on it. Focus on healing your injuries. Nothing else matters right now."

Shen Lie snorted and slammed the teacup down on the small bedside table with a CLANG.

"Hmph!"

Shen Lie let out a cold snort. He had boasted to Zhao Yuman that he would teach Yang Jing a lesson, but in the end...

’The memory of Yang Jing’s calm, unwavering eyes made a fire of frustration burn in his chest.’

Zhao Yuman unconsciously toyed with the silver clasp on her sleeve—the emblem of the Zhao’s Escort Agency.

’Watching his resentful display, she felt nothing but a flicker of impatience.’

’If he weren’t a Concealed Vigor master... she never would have set foot in this little courtyard.’

Zhao Yuman took a shallow breath and offered some placating words. "Just focus on your recovery. You can settle the score the next time you meet."

The words had barely left her lips when she found herself recalling the day Liu Maolin had introduced her to Yang Jing. ’It’s a shame,’ she thought. ’Who could have guessed the man I so casually dismissed would defeat Shen Lie and become an arena champion in the tournament?’

A pang of regret surfaced.

’If only she had agreed back then... Perhaps she’d be at the tournament grounds now, eagerly awaiting the next matches, instead of standing before this sickbed.’

’But there was no turning back time.’

Suppressing her melancholy, Zhao Yuman stood up. "Young Master Shen, I’ve seen that you’re not in any serious danger, which is a relief. Please focus on your recovery. I have matters to attend to at home, and the Escort Agency needs me. I’ll visit again tomorrow."

Shen Lie was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to leave so soon. "You’re not staying a bit longer?" he asked instinctively.

"No, I’ll come back tomorrow," Zhao Yuman said softly. After offering a few more words of advice, she turned and walked to the door.

...

「Yuhe County, the Tournament Grounds.」

With the cluster of arenas at its heart, the spectator stands on three sides gradually filled with people, leaving only the high platform at the front.

Sun’s Martial Arts Hall was situated in the middle section of the eastern stands, with an open view directly facing the main central arena.

Sun Yong sat in a Grandmaster’s Chair in the front row, with Sun Ningxiang standing beside him, refilling his tea.

Disciples such as Xu Hong, Liu Maolin, Zhao Wenzheng, and Qi Yun found seats in the rows behind them. Their eyes swept across the grounds as they occasionally pointed at distant groups from other martial arts halls, whispering amongst themselves.

"Look over there. The people from Po Mountain Martial Arts Hall don’t look too happy," Liu Maolin said, nudging Xu Hong with his elbow and jutting his chin in their direction. "It must be because Shen Lie lost. They’ve lost a lot of face."

Xu Hong followed his gaze and saw that the Po Mountain Martial Arts Hall disciples were indeed keeping their heads down, their usual arrogance gone. He couldn’t help but chuckle. "They’ve lost face and substance."

As they would be competing later, Yang Jing and Lin Yue sat in the very front row, flanking their master, Sun Yong.

’Yang Jing reviewed the information his master had given him last night on the other six combatants.’

Sun Ningxiang walked by with a teacup. Seeing him lost in thought, she asked softly, "Junior Brother Yang, would you like some water?"

Yang Jing looked up and accepted the cup with a word of thanks. His gaze unintentionally flickered to the pearl flower in her hair before he quickly looked away. "Thank you, Senior Sister."

Sun Ningxiang smiled, said nothing more, and turned back to the front row.

By now, the tournament grounds were churning with activity like a boiling pot. The laughter of dignitaries, the shouts of sparring disciples, and the pleasantries exchanged between wealthy merchants all blended into a roaring torrent of noise.

Banners fluttered in the wind above the grounds, and robes of every color shimmered under the sun, forming a flowing river of hues. All eyes were drawn, as if by a magnet, to the main arena at the center.

There, the most spectacular contest in the Yuhe County Martial Arts Realm this year was about to unfold.

Yang Jing sipped his tea, his mind already on the upcoming tournament matches.

Today’s competition would determine the final ranking of the eight arena champions.