Chapter Ninety-Three: Two Women Meet

As the Heavenly Dust Bell rang out, more and more inner sect disciples gathered in the square. Even if most of them could not attend the Four-Sect Tournament in person, merely witnessing who won the right to compete would still be useful for future connections.

Of course, among these inner sect disciples, there were also a few outstanding outer sect disciples mixed in. The reason was simple enough: they were here to run errands and do miscellaneous chores, and at the same time to see the proceedings for themselves. After all, it was impossible for the competing disciples to handle every minor task personally.

That would have been unreasonable.

"Quiet!"

Just as Chu Qingchen and the others were about to say something, a booming voice suddenly rang out from the central platform and spread outward in a circle, striking the heart.

At the sound, the surrounding noise visibly died down.

"That is Hall Master Yi!"

Though Tianming could not clearly see what was happening on the platform, he recognized the voice at once. It was none other than Yi Wudi, the very man he had first met when he had entered the sect.

Ahem.

"All you exceptional talents, the once-in-a-decade Four-Sect Tournament is about to begin! I trust many familiar faces already know what this means, though there are also many fresh new talents among you. First, let me, Wang Fan, give a brief introduction. This tournament is jointly held by Heaven Sword Sect, Water Dream Sect, Splendid Scroll Sect, and our own Heaven Manifest Sect. This time, the venue will be Heaven Sword Sect, our ally..."

"The Third Elder is right, but there are a few more things I must add. Although all of you have reached the second rank of the Spiritual Void realm, many of you will still have nothing to do with this tournament. Of course, if any of you are willing to devote yourselves, you may follow the team and serve tea and pour water. That is entirely voluntary..."

On the platform, beside Wang Fan, sat a woman of ethereal, dreamlike beauty, dressed in flowing silk brocade. She was speaking continuously.

"...Who is she?"

Looking at the woman beside Third Elder Wang Fan, Tianming was sure he had never seen her before. Still, her status must have been far from ordinary; after all, anyone who could sit beside a Third Elder could hardly be insignificant.

"Hey!"

Just then, Xun Qing, who had been standing behind Tianming the whole time, lightly poked him with a finger.

Noticing the movement behind him, Tianming turned around and looked at her with some confusion. "What is it?"

"I want to get up there and look."

Ignoring Tianming's expression, Xun Qing lifted a small finger and pointed upward, speaking without the slightest reservation.

"You sure? That probably won't do, will it? Men and women shouldn't be too physically familiar, after all."

Tianming hesitated after hearing that.

"I don't care. Let other people say whatever they want." Xun Qing shook her head hard and flatly refused.

"This..."

Tianming looked at her helplessly. This girl was a little too bold, wasn't she?

Just as Tianming was about to ask Chu Qingchen for help, he glanced aside and realized he did not even know when the two of them had moved over to another side.

"I'm not even afraid. What's there for a proper big man like you to be afraid of?" Xun Qing glared at him and said with clear disdain.

"All right."

With that, Tianming had no choice but to give up arguing. He crouched down. At once, he felt a warm body press onto his shoulder. Breathing in the faint fragrance beside him, Tianming stood up directly.

"Oh, right, Qing girl. Do you know who that woman next to Elder Wang Fan is?" he asked suddenly.

"Tianming, who gave you permission to call me Qing girl?"

Xun Qing's face darkened a little, and she tugged at Tianming's ear.

"So what if I call you Qing girl? Qing girl, Qing girl, Qing girl!"

Tianming had not expected Xun Qing to strike so directly. After a brief daze, he lifted his head in stubborn defiance. Since she had addressed him that way too, he would not stand on ceremony either.

"You bastard!"

After cursing him angrily, Xun Qing ignored Tianming no further. She lifted her chin in proud indignation, silently fuming.

"Hey, you're really going to be angry over this?" Tianming asked hurriedly, still somewhat at a loss.

He knew Xun Qing had a sharp temper, but he had not expected this to be beyond even his expectations.

Pfft.

Seeing Tianming's bewildered look, Xun Qing could not help laughing. Then she said, "I was teasing you. Who told you to hesitate and refuse just now?"

"The one beside Third Elder Wang Fan is Shui Muxi, the sect's Fourth Elder. Her cultivation has already reached the sixth rank of the Spiritual Silence realm. Why are you asking about her? Don't tell me you have some ulterior motive. Or are you trying to flatter your way in again?" Her expression returning to calm, Xun Qing went on, though a trace of suspicion appeared on her face.

In truth, she had always wondered why Granduncle and Second Granduncle treated Tianming with such care. If it were only a matter of sweet words, that would obviously be impossible. So Xun Qing could only uncover the answer little by little from Tianming himself. Right then, she fixed a serious gaze on him below.

"You're really quite mischievous. Whoever marries you is bound to be unlucky." Tianming shook his head, the corner of his mouth twitching.

That scene earlier had almost fooled him completely. But if he knew what Xun Qing was thinking at this very moment, he would surely keep far away from this Qing girl. Tianming disliked trouble above all else, and if not for Xun Qing, there probably would have been no quarrel and no enmity at all.

"Who said I was going to marry anyone? Hmph, if someone's going to be unlucky, it'll be you!" Arms folded, Xun Qing snorted softly, feeling a little indignant in her heart as she shot back.

"All right, enough fooling around. Pay attention. I'm determined to secure a place in this Four-Sect Tournament." Making a gesture for silence, Tianming waved a hand.

Seeing this, Xun Qing said nothing more. Instead, she rested her other hand on Tianming's opposite shoulder to keep her balance.

"This time, the total number of spots for the Four-Sect Tournament is one hundred. Next, our sect leader, Xiao Tianji, will announce the names. Everyone, remain calm. Those who were not chosen need not be discouraged. Cultivate well! Protecting the sect is also one of your great responsibilities..."

...

Not far behind Tianming, separated by only a few people, stood a young woman in a snow-white dress with a pen case hanging at her waist. At that moment, she had her head lowered gloomily. Each time she saw the two people up ahead laughing and chatting, her fists would clench tightly. Whether it was jealousy or a touch of envy, she felt an indescribable discomfort in her heart.

"...Miss, what's wrong?"

At that moment, a very pure and innocent-looking girl walked over. Seeing the woman before her, she seemed somewhat surprised, as though she had noticed something was amiss.

"May I ask who you are?"

The woman quickly turned around only after steadying her emotions, then asked.

"My name is Wang Shangshang."

"So you're Shangshang. My name is Shu Meng."

As the girl gave her name, the woman, whose tense expression had just eased a little, nodded. She seemed to have heard the name before, though for the moment she could not quite remember where.