No one had expected this turn of events. The originally impenetrable crowd backed off instantly, opening up a huge space for them.
Everyone was chattering amongst themselves, discussing where they could be from.
The Fu Yao sect had disappeared for a long time already. Aside from Da Neng, who has lived for probably about a thousand years, very few had even heard of it before. It was a sect that most didnât understand, yet it was also the same one to draw everyoneâs attention with their flashiness on the eastern sea coast so that everyone wanted to know more. At this point, all had heard of the corrupt ways of the sect.
Even though people who were in training should never value the mere wealth of the world, what would the lord of an islandâs respect affect that?
Yan Zhengming and the others didnât come out of reclusion often enough. Right now he and his company had become an annoyance to others.
Chen Qian, who had stepped out earlier, looked no older than twelve. He held nothing but a lonely little wooden sword and looked like a toy figurine, standing there motionless.
People were already beginning to whine in the crowd, âWhat an arrogant kid. No elders in his sect are going to discipline him?â
Someone else piped up. âWhat, you havenât heard that the lord of the island has allowed them to enter the classroom? What kind of sect would allow their own disciples into othersâ classrooms?â
âHow odd. Why would the lord be so biased?â
âWho knows? The kidâs probably from a rich family, or maybe related to royalty. His family couldâve bought up some expensive artifact to bribe his way into the sect.â
âSo theyâre just letting anyone in to train now? Is the path of training for any old dreamer now?â
Yan Zhengming was going crazy. He understood it now, Cheng Qianâs supposed methods were all nothing more than flashes in the panâtricks that looked like they were real, but were anything but.
His face solemn, he growled at him through his teeth. âChengâŠQian!â
Cheng Qian wasnât deaf. Of course he could hear others talking about him. He was beginning to understand nowâtheir days on the island wouldnât be difficult. They were already starting off difficult.
After his initial swagger, payback came too quickly. Cheng Qian almost suspected that the words his master spoke to him when he was boarding the ship were predictive of the future.
Yet things had progressed so quicklyâŠ
He hadnât planned on actually fighting anyone. He was just posing for the thousand or so people on Azure Dragon Island.
For one, his opponent had already fallen, so there was no reason to stir up further conflict. Secondly, he had the self-awareness to know that he was young. Even in the human realm without all these immortals in training, he could scarcely hope to beat a large man in a hand-to-hand fight.
This was when Cheng Qian began to realize that he was between a rock and a hard place.
If he were a bit more socially adept, he mightâve been able to argue the whole thing to a standstill. He wasnât an important figure by any stretch of the imagination. In height, he barely reached the other manâs chest. Compared with saving face, getting out of here alive was more importantâunfortunately, Cheng Qian was never a glib kid.
His mind began to whir with thoughts, reviewing all the moves that theyâd exchanged earlier onstage. After that, he not only didnât back down, but made up his mind and thought to himself, âIf weâre going to fight, then letâs fight. Maybe I donât have a reason to be afraid of you after all.â
Cheng Qian didnât back down, and ignored Yan Zhengmingâs warning. Instead he saluted the rogue cultivator. âIâve been fortunate enough to practice my swordsmanship from time to time as well, although my skills are by no means refined. My master is still not willing to let me make the switch to steel swords. Still, Iâm looking forward to learning from you.â
It wasnât clear which random sect the defeated cultivator hailed from, but he still handled the whole thing with civility, walking forth to say, âMy skills are nowhere near enough to instruct you. If you can stay in the lecture hall without even attending an exam, you must have some unique form of skill.â
The moment he finished his sentence, the people around burst into quiet laughterâprobably laughing at how shameless he sounded.
Someone in the crowd who was excited to stir up trouble spoke up. âSir Zhang, if this boy is brave enough to challenge you, you should be brave enough to accept. If you win, the lord of the island might even pull some strings for you too!â
Huan Yuan shouted out in anger. âAnd if you lose, kneel down and sayâmmphâŠ!â
Li Yun slapped a hand over his mouth, preventing him from causing even more of a riot.
The fallen cultivator raised an eyebrow mockingly. âHm, what were you saying over there? What should I do if I lose?â
Cheng Qian slowly raised his wooden sword, entering a starting pose. He spoke calmly. âNothing. My junior brother speaks out of turn, forgive him. Please.â
Yan Zhengming was almost steaming with anger. In the moment, his first reaction was to step forward and yank Cheng Qian back. After a single step, a folding fan suddenly shot out in front of him, blocking his way.