CH 17

Chapter 17 – Drawing lots

In the end, Wang Qingqiao was cut down by Yi Xichen and fell to the ground.

The result was clear. This was not supposed to be a tough battle, but it turned out to be extremely difficult.

Lu Ziyao helped Wang Qingqiao, who had collapsed, to his feet: “Junior Brother, are you okay?”

Xiao Kui squeezed over, his expression ugly and scary: “Wang Qingqiao! How come you couldn’t even beat Yi Xichen?! Did you give in on purpose, or did Yi Xichen play a treacherous trick?!”

When Wang Qingqiao threw himself into the sword competition just now, he gave it his all. He didn’t think much about it, other than being surprised that Yi Xichen could have such a strong sword aura. But it wasn’t until Xiao Kui scolded him that he realized what was wrong. He represented the Sword Refining Hall, but was defeated by Yi Xichen of the Medicine Hall.

Wang Qingqiao struggled to push Lu Ziyao away and looked up at Yuying Zhenren and the elders of the four Pavilions: “Master! Sect Leader!”

Of course, he was dissatisfied with the outcome. But he knew in his heart that Yi Xichen was not playing any tricks, and he even held back his strength1. So, despite his dissatisfaction, he didn’t know where to begin for a while.

“Sect Leader!” Xiao Kui said hurriedly. “Yi Xichen asked the help of Zhangsun Zijun’s sword spirit and interfered with Junior Brother Wang. This battle can’t be counted!”

Lu Ziyao scolded in a low voice, “Xiao Kui, don’t talk nonsense. When are you going to stop making a fool of yourself!”

Even Wang Qingqiao shook his head. Xiao Kui was confused. This was indeed nonsense. Zhangsun Zijun’s sword aura astounded everyone, and Yi Xichen was also a sword cultivator. Even if he had a personal relationship with Zhangsun Zijun, he could not be exempted from competing, not to mention that he was closer to Zhangsun Zijun2. External interference wouldn’t have any effect on the sword aura or competition. Furthermore, Wang Qingqiao was aware that the sword aura belonged to Yi Xichen rather than Zhangsun Zijun!

Wang Qingqiao, on the other hand, finally remembered why he was dissatisfied. He did lose to Yi Xichen and had to accept defeat, but Yi Xichen claimed that he was the fifth in the Medicine Hall before he fight him. This is impossible!

Wang Qingqiao said anxiously: “The Medicine Hall…”

“That’s enough!” Yuying said in person, “The outcome has been set. The sword match will officially begin tomorrow, with the same list of 20 people remaining, and lots drawn at Shennong Temple an hour later. I will discuss the matter with the elders. Each of you go back and train.”

Wang Qingqiao was stunned. He couldn’t believe the elders couldn’t see the strangeness of today and didn’t point it out. Yuying Zhenren was a man of his word which meant that his decison was final, with no room for further negotiation. Even the elders’s expressions had changed. After all, they wouldn’t say anything in front of the disciples.

Yi Xichen went down to the sword training ground, and Zhangsun Zijun held him quietly. Yi Xichen’s sword aura weakened almost instantly.

Although lots were to be drawn soon, they left the crowd quickly. As soon as no one was there, Yi Xichen vomited a mouthful of blood!

Zhangsun Zijun was startled and noticed that Yi Xichen’s aura was extremely chaotic, so he quickly poured his true qi into him to help him protect his muscles and veins.

“How are you doing?” Zhangsun Zijun had a solemn expression. This was the first time he had used the deception method. He assumed everything would be fine, but he had not anticipated Yi Xichen would suffer a backlash. It seems that the seal on Yi Xichen’s body was far more powerful than he thought.

Yi Xichen waved his hand to show that he was fine, but he didn’t seem to be able to walk any longer.

Zhangsun Zijun helped Yi Xichen to sit down under the banyan tree. Yi Xichen lay down weakly, resting his head on Zhangsun Zijun’s lap.

“Zijun.”

“Hmm.”

“I really am not a false spiritual root.”

“You are not.”

Yi Xichen closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly.

His heart was racing, his chest was tight and painful, and a mouthful of blood flowed down his throat. He was about to swallow it when Zhangsun Zijun gently patted his chest and motioned for him to just vomit it out.

After a while, Yi Xichen spoke again.

“Do you know who killed my parents?”

At this point, he finally believed. Zhangsun Zijun’s magic barrier was weird, and he knows some things that he shouldn’t know.

“I don’t know.”

Yi Xichen squeezed the corner of his clothes tightly and sighed weakly after a moment.

In the past ten years of cultivation at the Heavenly Sword Sect, he has never appeared to be driven by hatred. He also does not live for revenge. Becoming a powerful man and avenging his parents were only two of the many things he needed to do in his life. No matter how many years he waits, one day, he will get his revenge3.

“That will be eight years from now.” Yi Xichen smiled calmly, “Zijun… Is it too much to say thank you?”

Zhangsun Zijun squeezed the back of his neck again: “Ah.”

“But I still have to say something.” He opened his eyes and moved his head one position up in the Zhangsun Zijun thigh.

“Hmm?”

“Could you please stop putting that thing on my head?”

“…”

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, Yi Xichen regained some strength and was assisted by Zhangsun Zijun to stand up and prepare. They would return to the Shennong Temple to draw lots to determine who would compete for tomorrow’s competition.

They hadn’t taken a few steps yet when a person flew from the sky with a sword that was blocking their way.

The two hurriedly saluted: “Master.”

Yi Xichen was terrified when he saw the Master’s enraged expression. He smiled and stepped back, about to hide behind Zhangsun Zijun.

“Yi Xichen, didn’t I warn you to be honest!!!” Yao Budu roared full of anger. His voice was so loud that even the stout banyan trees on the roadside shook with fear, and he nearly broke Zhangsun Zijun and Yi Xichen’s eardrums.

“This disciple is very honest.” Yi Xichen brazenly opened his eyes and lied. “I was practicing with Zijun yesterday, and we had no idea what was going on. It was completely unintentional. Isn’t it right Zijun?”

Zhangsun Zijun looked up at the sky and pretended to know nothing.

“Yi Xichen!!! Zhangsun Zijun!!!”

“Master, this is not good.” Yi Xichen suddenly became serious.

Yao Budu was not angry for a moment before exploding in rage. This shameless bastard dared to lecture his own Master! He was about to yell at him when Yi Xichen adamantly jumped out and squeezed his shoulders: “Master, you are always so fierce. If you think your disciples are a little stupid, can’t you see it means that you’re concerned about your disciples? That’s not good!”

Yao Budu was stunned for a moment. His anger was like a flood that opened the valve. It flowed thousands of miles and couldn’t be stopped. He opened his mouth and shook his head, “You guys…”

Yi Xichen tightened his grip on his shoulders more frequently.

Yao Budu glared at Zhangsun Zijun: “I thought you were steady and could control him, but as a result, you would only spoil him.”

“Hmm,” said Zhangsun Zijun, “I’m not spoiling him, hmph!”

Yao Budu: “…You didn’t take the medicine?”

Yi Xichen hurriedly pulled over Yao Budu and acted coquettishly at him: “Master~”

Yao Budu turned around and placed his hand on Yi Xichen’s head. Yi Xichen was about to lower his head because he was so flattered, however, Yao Budu grabbed his ear and pinched it hard.

“Ouch, it hurts, it hurts…”

“I’m afraid that one day even I won’t be able to protect you.”

Yi Xichen just cried out in pain when he heard such a serious remark and thought in a trance that he had misheard it. Is this something said by Yao Budu?

“I’ll protect you.” Zhangsun Zijun said lightly.

Yao Budu loosened Yi Xichen’s ears and stared at Zhangsun Ziju with complicated eyes: “You have no idea of the immensity of heaven and earth! Do you really think you can do it? What kind of person are you?”

Zhangsun Zijun said seriously, “I am amazing.”

“Huh?”

“I’m just amazing.”

Zhangsun Zijun was feeling down. He couldn’t figure out why Yao Budu didn’t believe him. Is it necessary for him to say something like, “well, I’m not very good,” so that others will believe him…?

Yao Budu was angry with them, pointing to this and that, and pondering how to teach them a lesson4. Then, suddenly, a man on a flying sword appeared. It was Lin Zhen, the elder of the Sword Guardian Hall.

The Sword Guardian Hall and the Sword Refining Hall both suffered significant losses today. Lin Zhen landed when he saw a few people.

“Yi Xichen, I can’t see what you’re hiding,” Lin Zhen said after noticing the strange yin and yang.

“Fuck off!” Yao Budu roared like an old hen protecting its chick, “They are my disciples, it’s not other people’s turn to talk!”

“Elder Yao, I’m praising your disciple, haha.”

“You can’t praise these bastards!”

Lin Zhen rolled his eyes and flew away as he was too lazy to argue with him.

Look, isn’t this excellent protection for a shortcoming!

After all, Yao Budu’s rage has already been vented, and he can’t bring himself to bring it up again as he scolds them bitterly. He had no choice but to drive them away when he realized he was about to postpone the drawing of lots.

The other eighteen disciples were already waiting in the Shennong Temple. They saw Zhangsun Zijun and Yi Xichen enter with different expressions, but elder Yuying Zhenren sat in the temple, so no one dared to say anything.

The draw was decided by wooden kites. There were ten wooden kites on the temple. Ten wooden kites will first fly into the hands of ten disciples after being prompted by spiritual power. The ten wooden kites will then lead ten people to the other ten, so the two people who receive the same wooden kite will become opponents for tomorrow’s competition.

Despite the fact that these twenty people were drawn from five people in each of the Great Halls, the next match has nothing to do with the disciple’s origin. In other words, any two people could be matched, regardless of whether they are from the same or different Halls, or whether they have a bad or close personal relationship. Further down, there was a competition between the winner and the winner, as well as between the loser and the loser until all of the rankings were determined. Each disciple had to compete in at least five matches, with each win or loss being crucial. If you lose one match early on, your final ranking could be drastically different. The one who won every match was naturally the ultimate winner.

Yi Xichen was still a little nervous despite winning one match today. He has no idea how many points he will be able to get tomorrow in his current state. He can only hope that the wooden kite matches up to a weak opponent for him.

The wooden kite soon flew up and into the hands of ten disciples. Yi Xichen exhaled a sigh of relief as he swept the situation in his field of vision. He, Zhangsun Zijun, and Lu Zixuan all received the wooden kite, so he won’t face them in the first match tomorrow.

When the wooden kite took off again, all of the opponents in the first match were confirmed.

Yi Xichen smiled as he looked at the unfortunate man who had received the same wooden kite as himself. He took a step forward and tapped Sun Xiaoqian on the shoulder: “Younger brother, you are lucky. Remember to be merciful tomorrow.”

Sun Xiaoqian slumped and wanted to cry, but in the end he smiled: “Well, Brother Yi, I will try my best!” As a disciple of the Medicine Hall, he did not expect to get a high ranking. Being able to compete in the sword competition is already a special honor and he can receive a lot of spirit stones. Although he came up to fight, even if Yi Xichen wasn’t drawn, he was going to lose anyway, so it didn’t make a difference.

Yi Xichen’s heart had finally calmed down. The law of deception’s backlash is quite powerful. He can’t take another risk for this enchanted material, so he’ll have to rely on his own strength. He understands Sun Xiaoqian’s strength, so winning this first competition will be easy.

After confirming his opponent, Yi Xichen was concerned about Zhangsun Zijun, but he wasn’t to worried because of Zhangsun Zijun’s strength. Even Lu Ziyao was not Zhangsun Zijun’s opponent. No matter which opponent he had drawn, it wouldn’t be difficult for Zhangsun Zijun to be the winner this year.

However, when he took a closer look, his smile froze.

Zhangsun Zijun’s opponent was ——the iron blood younger martial sister of the Sword Refining Hall, Yue Xiaorou!

“Motherf****r!” Yi Xichen’s hand was on his forehead, and his heart was half-cold. Zhangsun Zijun’s luck was absolutely terrible. Unexpectedly, he chose the only female disciple among the twenty disciples!

He couldn’t talk to women, and he would never attack women—this was Zhangsun Zijun’s biggest weakness. How could he even fight during tomorrow’s competition…?

放水 – Literally “to release water to irrigate a field.” However, depending on the usage, it can also mean the opposite “holding back the water” or, in this case “hold back one’s skill to deliberately lose a game.” Uh, but I’m confused since Xichen didn’t lose, lol. So maybe just the meaning of “holding back his strength.” But the other implication is that he is accusing Wang Qingqiao of throwing the game.Meaning, he is friends with Zijun, so why would he lose to Xichen deliberately?This just says “there will be one day.” I added a bit to make it clearer.给他们点颜色看看 – Literally “give them some color to see.” I was stumped by this idiom for some time.