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Chapter 53 - Who is Master Su?
Zhou Huaiqiu’s eyes surged with sharp light.
A cast-out disciple dared publically mock Blueriver Sword Manor before so many people? How impudent was he?
Ni Hao and Nan Ying’s expressions were unsightly too. Mo Tianling’s words mocked them as well.
There was an uproar amongst the prominent guests.
Blueriver Sword Manor’s name shook all nineteen cities of Cloudriver Prefecture. Their influence was enormous.
Yet Mo Tianling was mocking them in front of so many people. Of course the audience was stunned!
Suddenly, Cloudfall City Lord Li Jianyu laughed heartily, “Tianling is still full of youthful arrogance, and he’s yet to learn to hold his tongue. Brother Zhou, please don’t take offense.”
He paused, and his gaze filled with a strange light. “I won’t keep this from you: since Tianling entered the Redscale Army, he’s repeatedly achieved great military merit.
“And it’s precisely his unruly temper that won him the Cloudlight Marquis’ favor; he’s already taken Tianling as his adoptive son!”
When he made this proclamation, everyone in attendance was shocked!
The Cloudlight Marquis, Shen Jiusong!
In the last hundred years of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only twenty-seven nobles not of the imperial family had received an official title.
Their ranks included nine non-Zhou kings and eighteen non-Zhou marquis.
All of them were major powers, absolute hegemons of their respective territories. Each had their own sizable military, ruled an entire region, and possessed immense authority.
Of them, the Cloudlight Marquis Shen Jiusong and his Redscale Army were stationed within Gunzhou, the “Imperatorial Province” that Cloudriver Prefecture was a part of!
Shen Jiusong didn’t just wield immense authority; he himself was an Inner Furnace Realm Grandmaster.
And his Redscale Army had a glorious reputation. When the people spoke of them, they said, “Eight thousand armored cavalry shake the landscape as Redscale Armor dazzles the world.”
By comparison, Blueriver Sword Manor was but one faction of martial artists in Cloudriver Prefecture. They couldn’t even begin to compare with the armored cavalry of the Redscale Army.
For Mo Tianling to be so lucky as to become Shen Jiusong’s adoptive son was like ascending the heavens in a single bound; his status and position were nothing like before!
The crowd only now understood where Mo Tianling got the confidence to mock the Blueriver Sword Manor so openly. Their emotions were instantly in turmoil.
Even Zhou Huaiqiu frowned solemnly, but he ultimately remained silent.
The Cloudlight Marquis!
Blueriver Sword Manor really didn’t dare offend such a lofty, powerful authority figure lightly.
Ni Hao furrowed his brow, his expression uncertain.
Nan Ying’s beautiful eyes stared intently at Mo Tianling, and she sunk into thought.
As for Wen Jueyuan, he’d already admitted defeat and stepped off the stage.
Just moments before, he was the man of the hour, the center of attention. Yet now, he was nothing but a loser. All he could do was ‘savor’ the bitter feeling of rising to great heights, only to fall back down to earth.
“Anyone else want to play?” Mo Tianling said lazily. He relished the crowd’s shocked, fearful gazes, his expression blatantly frivolous.
Although quite a few of the youths presented had planned to participate, none of them dared speak up.
Even ignoring Mo Tianling’s status, he’d just defeated the mighty Wen Jueyuan in a single punch. That was enough to shake them deeply. Who would go up on stage just to torture themselves?
For a while, everyone looked at each other, the atmosphere silent and stifled.
When he saw this, the Cloudfall City Lord Li Jianyu laughed heartily, “Brother Fu, since there are no more challengers, this year’s championship goes to Cloudfall City!”
The people of Cloudfall City were already overcome with excitement and delight.
By comparison, many inhabitants of Guangling City wilted like defrosted eggplants, listless and dispirited.
“Not so fast!” It was then, before countless confused gazes, that City Lord Fu Shan rose to his feet.
He took a deep breath, surveyed his surroundings, and said gravely, “I have no other choice. Master Su, I’ll have to ask you to lend Guangling City a hand!”
This declaration threw the entire venue into uproar.
The audience had only just learned that Fu Shan had an ace in the hole too!
Except….
Who was this “Master Su”?
Since when did Guangling City have someone City Lord Fu Shan thought so highly of?
Everyone was confused, and their gazes scanned the venue.
“Master Su? Which Master Su?” The Cloudfall City Lord, Li Jianyu, felt his heart pound in his chest. He asked coldly, “Why haven’t I heard this name before?”
Amidst the bewildered crowd, a single indifferent voice rang out: “Since City Lord Fu’s invited me onto the stage, I naturally won’t just sit back and do nothing.”
There was a disturbance within the audience. Everyone in attendance instantly fixed their gazes toward the source of that voice.
The speaker was a youth in jade-colored robes, tall and lean. He was none other than Su Yi.
“Sir, you….” Hu Quan’s eyes widened. He looked utterly flabbergasted.
He was standing right next to Su Yi, so he could naturally tell that Su Yi was the one who’d just spoken.
Wen Shaobei was nearby too, and when he saw this, he couldn’t help but chastise him. “Su Yi, City Lord Fu certainly isn’t calling for you. What are you doing, answering him like some kind of idiot? Are you trying to get yourself killed? If so, feel free, but don’t drag the Wen Family into it!”
This was the Dragon’s Gate Banquet!
Didn’t Su Yi notice that all those Guangling City higher-ups dared not speak up? So why would a waste without a cultivation stand up? Had he gone absolutely insane?
Especially since now, everyone was looking towards them. Those standing near Su Yi felt deeply uncomfortable, and their expressions shifted. They hurriedly distanced themselves from him, as if afraid others might misunderstand.
Although Hu Quan didn’t run or hide, his legs quivered, and he broke out into a cold sweat.
So many important people were staring right at them! This sensation was simply terrifying!
Only Su Yi remained calm. Despite the countless gazes, he was as composed as ever.
“Don’t be afraid.” Su Yi patted Hu Quan on the shoulder comfortingly. “You can just wait here.”
Then, beneath countless flabbergasted, doubtful, and disbelieving gazes, Su Yi put his hands behind his back and strolled leisurely onto the stage.
“He’s throwing his life away. All of you, ignore him! Remember, he’s not one of us!” Wen Shaobei’s expression was unsightly, and he gnashed his teeth as he gave this command.
As Su Yi approached the stage, the crowd parted around him.
Everyone looked at him, their expressions strange. Who didn’t recognize the “renowned” live-in son-in-law of Guangling City’s Wen Family? Everyone knew he’d long since lost his cultivation!
Yet he’d chosen this moment of all times to stand up!
“Senior Apprentice Brother Su, he… Has he gone mad?” Nan Ying looked baffled. She covered her lips, unsure of whether to laugh or cry.
Ni Hao was stunned too. He shook his head. “He’s just grandstanding like a clown.”
“Su Yi….” Wen Jueyuan’s expression darkened. He’d only just lost, leaving him no dignity to speak of. He was already in a terrible mood.
Seeing Su Yi stand up, completely ignorant of his own weakness, Wen Jueyuan felt the urge to murder him. What, does that scumbag think the Wen Family hasn’t embarrassed itself enough yet?
Li Tianhan and the other Guangling City higher-ups who didn’t know the truth frowned as well. Despite their confusion, they resisted the urge to speak up.
As Su Yi neared the stage, Zhou Huaiqiu finally confirmed that this was indeed the Su Yi he knew. He couldn’t help but ask, “Su Yi, what are you doing?”
Su Yi paused, then said casually, “Naturally, I plan to participate in the Dragon’s Gate Competition.”
Zhou Huaiqiu felt increasingly confused, but his keen intuition told him something strange was afoot, so he said no more. He was actually curious to see just what Su Yi was capable of.
Beneath the crowd’s stunned, confused gazes, Su Yi strolled onto the stage, instantly becoming the subject of widespread contention.
“Why is it the Wen Family son-in-law?”
“Didn’t he lose his cultivation a long time ago?”
“Nonsense! Is there really no one else in Guangling City? Why are we just watching some cripple take the stage? Are they trying to bring shame upon everyone in Guangling City?”
Countless people burst into uproar, like pots blowing their lids.
The people watching from the boats filling the Great Azure were frantic, and many of them couldn’t help but curse and shout.
Mo Tianling had long since noticed Su Yi, and when he saw that Su Yi really had strode onto the stage, he couldn’t help but frown.
“Su Yi, you lost your entire cultivation, and Blueriver Sword Manor cast you out. Now that I think about it, your experience was somewhat similar to mine. I won’t make this difficult on you, so just hurry up and leave.”
Mo Tianling sighed and waved him off, his gaze rife with pity. He naturally knew of Su Yi’s tragic misfortune, and although he thought Su Yi’s current behavior was ridiculous, he sympathized with him too.
But before Su Yi could respond, a burst of mocking laughter resounded throughout the venue.
“Fu Shan, is that the ‘Master Su’ you spoke of?” Cloudfall City Lord Li Jianyu burst into laughter. “And here I thought it was some mysterious expert. So, it turns out your ‘secret ace’ was the Wen Family’s live-in son-in-law! Hahaha!”
The rest of Cloudfall City’s higher-ups laughed along with him.
A cripple without a cultivation, yet Fu Shan called him “Master Su”? That alone was an utter farce.
Many inhabitants of Guangling City’s expressions became even more unsightly. They were inwardly furious at Su Yi. If looks could kill, who knows how many times Su Yi would have died by now?
But against all expectations, Fu Shan said solemnly, “Li Jianyu, who are you to slander Master Su’s brilliance? If you dare say such nonsense again, don’t blame me for casting aside all pretense of courtesy!”
The entire venue fell silent.
Aside from Huang Yunchong, Nie Beihu, and the few others in the know, everyone was stunned.
“Su Yi really is the ‘Master Su’ City Lord Fu spoke of?” Everyone was tongue-tied; they almost couldn’t believe their ears.
Even Zhou Huaiqiu, with all his years of experience, was baffled. What’s going on?
Fu Shan is the lord of an entire city. Why does he attach so much importance to a mere youth like Su Yi?
Ni Hao and Nan Ying glanced at each other, completely flabbergasted. Master Su? He’s the ‘Master Su’ Fu Shan was talking about?
Wen Jueyuan, Wen Shaobei, and the other Wen Family members in attendance felt their eyes practically pop out of their sockets.
They understood Su Yi’s plight better than anyone. Watching this play out before them, they didn’t even know how to react.
Look at them! Haha! Huang Qianjun laughed coldly to himself.
Su Yi’s unexpected appearance came as a delightful surprise. Huang Qianjun’s heart coursed with emotion and filled with anticipation.
“Alright, I’ll be interested to see just how capable this ‘Master Su’ really is!” City Lord Li Jianyu laughed coldly.
By now, everyone could tell that the situation was rather strange. Fu Shan seemed completely confident in Su Yi. Something fishy was going on here!
“‘Master’ Su? Heh heh.” Up on stage, even Mo Tianling was stunned. Then, he snickered, his gaze glinting with sharp, icy light. “I don’t care if you’re ‘Master Su’ or not. Are you sure you won’t leave the stage on your own?”
His aura expanded, becoming incomparably terrifying, every inch of him emanating murderous intent.
Su Yi looked him up and down, then said flatly, “I’ll give you one chance to draw your blade. That way, you’ll be convinced of your loss from the bottom of your heart.”
His words were casual, but they made practically everyone’s jaws drop.
Just how brazen was this declaration!?
Seth's Thoughts
This chapter specifies that Shen Jiusong is a “non-Zhou” marquis. A more literal translation would be “outside-surnamed” or “foreign-surnamed.” I will probably use “non-Zhou” and “foreign-surnamed” interchangeably.
The implication is that most of the nobility is at least distantly related to the emperor and that they therefore share his surname. The nobles that don’t share the imperial family’s surname presumably had a higher barrier to entry. The text hasn’t said that, but it seems like a safe assumption.