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He wouldn’t even tell them his name?
The young woman couldn’t help but laugh. “Young Lord, don’t tell me your status is so extraordinarily lofty that you fear we’ll try and take advantage if we learn your name?”
Su Yi said, “No, I’m worried I’ll implicate you.”
“Implicate us?” The young woman was stunned. “Don’t tell me you provoked some kind of disaster? How about you tell us about it? We might well be able to help you.”
Su Yi laughed, “I wouldn’t call it a disaster. I can resolve it myself.”
The girl was just about to ask more questions when the young man in white stepped in and stopped her. “Junior Apprentice Sister, he has difficulties he doesn’t wish to speak of. Don’t ask any more questions.”
He paused, then said gently, Young Lord, should you need our help, so long as it’s within our power, we won’t refuse.”
His words were peaceable but full of self-confidence.
Su Yi realized a long time ago that these young sectmates weren’t just playing goody-two-shoes; they each had a rare righteous air about them.
If he weren’t mistaken, the two of them had yet to experience many obstacles or setbacks, and their hearts were still full of heroic sentiments.
The thought made him a bit rueful. I just don’t know if they’ll be able to maintain their innate righteousness and courage in the years to come, after they’ve experienced the cruelty of this world.
As they continued on their journey, although he never asked, Su Yi picked up on his companions' names. The young man in white was called Fu Qingyuan, while the pretty young woman was called Gu Caining.
Both were from the Hong Province’s Starcliff Academy.
…..
The banks of the Qinglan River, the Autumn Waters Crossing.
When Su Yi and his two companions arrived, they saw the vast river off in the distance. The current was rapid and fierce, and sudden waves crashed into the riverbanks, scattering water droplets like snow. It was quite the spectacle.
A township was moored on one side of the Autumn Waters Crossing. It was fully three thousand feet long, with a forest of masts and countless sails billowing in the wind.
“Brother Qingyuan, Miss Caining, you’re finally here!” A tall, stalwart youth in black robes smiled and waved to them. “Quick, get on board! We can talk more then. We’ll set off in just a few minutes.”
The white-robed Fu Qingyuan smiled and clasped his fist. Then, he, Su Yi, and Gu Caining boarded the tower ship together.
“Brother Qingyuan, who might this be?” The black-robed youth glanced at Su Yi and asked with a smile.
Fu Qingyuan smiled. “This is a friend we made along the way. He’s headed to the Jade Capital too, so we decided to travel together.”
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He then introduced the black-robed youth to Su Yi. “This is a core inheritor of Kongtong Academy, Yan Wenfu. He’s a prominent figure of the younger generation. He’s just nineteen years old, but he’s already a Grandmaster, so Kongtong Academy has attached tremendous importance to him.”
The black-robed youth responded with a reserved smile. “Brother Qingyuan, you’re exaggerating. Come with me; there are numerous others here to participate in the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition, just like us. In a bit, I’ll introduce them to you.”
As he spoke, he led the way to the top of the ship.
The tower ship had three floors. The top story had flying eaves and interlocking wooden brackets, along with a jade platform. If you leaned on the parapets and gazed into the distance, you had a perfect view of the Qinglan River’s splendor.
A dozen or so youths already sat in the top floor’s main hall. They were currently chatting and chatting, and the atmosphere was lively.
When Yan Wenfu led the three new arrivals, they attracted numerous gazes.
The man at the head of the table was young, with a feather headdress and amber robes. His eyebrows were sharp, and his eyes twinkled light stars. He smiled as he invited the new arrivals to their seats.
However, most spots were taken. The only seats that remained were the lowest-status seats near the doorway. They were somewhat removed from the action.
Yan Wenfu felt a bit apologetic about this. He whispered, “Brother Qingyuan, we arrived late, so we’ll just have to make do.”
Fu Qingyuan smiled and nodded.
Su Yi naturally didn’t care. He was here by chance anyway, so whatever happened, happened.
Soon, all of them were seated.
“Young Lord, the man at the head of the table is called Wen Yuchong, and he’s the top figure of Luyang Academy’s younger generation,” whispered Gu Caining, her tone admiring. “He’s extremely famous. He’s barely over twenty, but he’s already a third-level Grandmaster, and they say that His Majesty has already agreed that, so long as he makes it into the top three in this year’s Autumnal Martial Arts Competition, he’ll bequeath him with the title of marquis!”
She was referring to the amber-robed young man at the head of the table. He was also the host of the banquet.
The other young men and women were conversing with him, and all of them seemed to respect him.
“Mm.” Su Yi grunted in acknowledgment, picked up a jar of wine, and started drinking. He occasionally glanced outside at the vast waters of the Qinglan River and the deep blue skies. It was a pleasing sight, a scene straight out of an ink-wash painting.
Su Yi took a drink of wine, then asked, “Right, what is this Autumnal Martial Arts Competition?”
Gu Caining was stunned, and her expression went a bit strange. “I almost can’t help but wonder if you’re really the same age as us. You don’t even follow the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition…?”
Although she said this, she still patiently explained the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition in full detail.
It turned out that once every three years, on the first day of the eighth month, the Great Zhou would host its Autumnal Martial Arts Competition. From it, it would select the most talented martial artists of the empire’s younger generation.
Every time, disciples from the Ten Great Academies, as well as other top elites of the six provinces’ younger generation, would participate.
Anyone who made it into the top fifty would receive rewards and titles from the imperial court.
Those who made it into the top ten received opportunities to work directly for the imperial family.
Of course, the three top scorers were undoubtedly the most illustrious. They didn’t just win an audience with the emperor and receive a title; they could even enter the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect to continue their cultivation!
Take the young men and women currently seated in this hall. They hailed from all over the Great Zhou, and all of them were elites of the younger generation. All of them were headed to the Jade Capital to participate in the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition.
Su Yi understood all that, but he couldn’t help but find it strange. “Today is the fifteenth day of the fourth month. The competition doesn’t start for another four months. Why are you headed there so early?”
When Gu Caining heard this, she finally confirmed that this handsome, extraordinary, clever-looking guy really didn’t know the rules of the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition.
She thought it over, then said, “If you want to participate in the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition, you must first pass a preliminary test. Only three hundred people can participate in the actual competition. The preliminaries start halfway through the next month, and they continue all the way until the first day of the eighth month.”
Su Yi was finally enlightened.
It was then that they heard snickering from someone seated on the other side. “Interesting! You don’t even know what the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition is, yet here you are! Tell me, friend, are you just here for the free food?”
The speaker was a thin youth in a sapphire changshan. He was currently fidgeting with a wine glass, a derisive sneer on his face. It was obvious he’d overheard Su Yi and Gu Caining’s conversation.
Su Yi ignored him, but Gu Caining furrowed her brow. “Wei Xian, what does our conversation have to do with you? You’d best be more respectful.”
The youth she called Wei Xian scrunched up his lips. “How was I disrespectful? I just didn’t think anyone so ignorant existed in this world. What martial artist doesn’t know about the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition?”
He then shook his head. The look on his face said, “I can’t be bothered to pursue this any further.”
Gu Caining was extremely displeased, but she couldn’t argue, either. To the martial artists of the Great Zhou, the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition was a major event. For a martial artist not to know of it was indeed unusual.
Su Yi laughed, raised his cup, and said to Gu Caining, “I know I’m borrowing flowers to offer the Buddha, but allow me to toast you. Thank you for looking out for me throughout our journey.”
Gu Caining lit up, raised her cup, and clinked glasses with him.
Meanwhile, the dark-robed Yan Wenfu lowered his voice and asked, “Brother Qingyuan, just who is that guy you came here with? Why doesn’t he even know about the Autumnal Martial Arts Competition?”
Fu Qingyuan laughed bitterly, then whispered, “Brother Yan, please don’t take offense. Mm…. Just consider someone we met along the way.”
He couldn’t have explained even if he wanted to.
“Someone you met along the way…?” Yan Wenfu laughed, but he immediately lost interest in Su Yi.
Before long, the tower ship set off, traveling upstream through the vast waters of the Qinglan River. They had to travel about sixty miles to reach the Jade Capital.
However, due to the surging currents and the fact that they had to travel upstream, it would take at least four hours for the tower ship to reach its destination.
Within the main hall, the young man in the sapphire blue changshan, Wei Xian, suddenly cleared his throat. “Everyone, did you hear about how Su Yi killed an Earthly Immortal in battle a few days ago?”
This instantly drew the entire crowd’s attention.
Even the man at the head of the table, Wen Yuchong, laughed. “That battle shook the entire nation, causing an immense uproar. Who could possibly have missed it?”
Someone sighed, “Su Yi really is terrifying beyond imagination. They say… They say he’s only seventeen this year….”
The crowd’s emotions swelled.
When they heard Su Yi’s name, even Gu Caining, Fu Qingyuan, and Yan Wenfu’s expressions changed. Only Su Yi sat there, looking as calm as ever.
Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Wei Xian, you’re from the Imperatorial Province. Might you have seen Su Yi before?”
Wei Xian, who had only just finished mocking Su Yi’s ignorance, now sat upright and still. He cleared his throat and said, “I won’t lie to you. I was indeed fortunate enough to lay eyes on Young Lord Su and witness his magnificence firsthand.”
He spoke with a hint of admiration on his brow.
These words instantly drew everyone’s attention.
“Oh? Hurry up and tell us!” said Wen Yuchong from the head of the table. He seemed quite interested too.
Gu Caining couldn’t help but prick up her ears too.
Even Su Yi was a bit startled. Has this guy seen me before?
When he sensed that all gazes were upon him, Wei Xian felt immensely satisfied. He promptly sighed, “I still remember the Western Mountain’s Tea Party. I was there with my father at the foot of the mountain, where I saw Young Lord Su and His Sixth Highness proceed to the mountaintop….”
The words flowed non-stop, and he was so excited that he sprayed spittle as he described the entire Western Mountain Massacre. Just hearing it made his audience's hearts surge with emotion, and they exclaimed repeatedly.
Only Su Yi’s expression was a bit strange. If this guy was at the foot of the Western Mountain, how could he possibly have witnessed the battle? There’s no doubt about it; the kid’s full of hot air.
“Alas, I was too far away. I could only roughly discern what was going on, but I couldn’t participate directly. It’s truly a pity.” Having said this, Wei Xian let out a long sigh.
Finally, Gu Naining couldn’t hold back any longer. “Wei Xian, tell us, what did Su Yi look like? Is he as terrifying as the rumors make him out to be?”
“Shallow! Why is it that all you women ever care about is what a man looks like?” Wei Xian glanced at her, then said with an air of righteousness, “As a martial artist, you ought to be more concerned with just how Su Yi became so strong!”
This rebuke left Gu Caining feeling a bit sheepish and ashamed.