Chapter 159: Untitled

“No worries,” said Zhangsun Wuji as he casually walked back. “Prince Heng’s reputation as a wise man is known by all nations. Naturally, he is not wrong.”

Just as Pei Yuan looked up in surprise, Zhanhsun Wuji added, “Mrs. Yan did not admit defeat earlier on and attacked again. Though that defeats moral values, it is not against the rules. However, since Mrs. Yan’s weapon had also been struck down by Princess Ya, both people are on par.”

Pei Yuan’s complexion turned ghostly-white. Zhangsun Wuji may have seemed forgiving, but a simple line as “Though that defeats moral values” said in the setting of the True Martial Arts Meet would definitely spread into everyone’s ears. From now on, she would lose the respect of all other martial arts wielders.

Meanwhile, Meng Fuyao was not very satisfied with the results and still wanted to kick Pei Yuan out of the last round. As she glanced around, she saw how Pei Yuan shot cold looks at her, and how Ya Lanzhu stared at Pei Yuan as though she was ready to skin Pei Yuan alive.

Realization struck her — during the mixed battle of the last round, Ya Lanzhu would definitely be more focused on defeating Pei Yuan than snatching the champion title. Then, Pei Yuan would not have the chance to play dirty tricks on her. This meant that two of her strong opponents were indirectly removed.

‘Sigh, that guy’s calculative thoughts are deeper than the ocean. He even wants to utilise Ya Lanzhu, who is at least on friendly terms, in his masterplan. That’s shameless!’

Thereafter, the drawing of lots commenced. Meng Fuyao would battle Tang Yizhong, Yun Hen’s opponent was Ya Lanzhu, Pei Yuan’s was Shen Ming, Wei Shanrui’s was Yan Taiyu, and Chang Tao’s was Bagu.

Meng Fuyao heaved a sigh of relief. She was in a dilemma, thinking of what she should do if she drew Yun Hen or Ya Lanzhu. Defeat them? Ya Lanzhu was still fine since she was just a playful character, and Meng Fuyao would not feel too guilty defeating her. At most, she would only disrupt Zhangsun Wuji’s well-thought plans. But for Yun Hen, he was a man in his prime time to contribute to his nation. How could she bear to rip him of such a precious opportunity?

If Yun Hen battled Ya Lanzhu, there was an 80% chance that Ya Lanzhu would lose. She liked to play and was not as hardworking as Yun Hen, and she also lacked the rich experience that he had from his years of fighting, if not, she wouldn’t have been successfully attacked by Pei Yuan from the back.

Meng Fuyao sighed, glanced at Zhangsun Wuji and thought, ‘You’re trying to enforce your grand plan? Ya Lanzhu would still not be able to end up in the top five positions.’

Zhangsun Wuji merely smiled and ignored her provoking thoughts. He gently sipped from the teacup and chatted with Zhan Nancheng from time to time.

His demeanor successfully angered Meng Fuyao. There were just people like him who didn’t know how to spell “guilty!”.

Flipping back her robes, she took big strides towards the center of the stage. This time round, she was the first to be up.

Tang Yizhong, who had, unfortunately, become her competitor, smiled bitterly and came up to her with his sword in hand. Even before the sparring started, he bowed and spoke, “Tang Yizhong from Xuanji, wishes to battle General Meng.”

He bowed so humbly that Meng Fuyao was about to return the formalities, but he suddenly whispered, “I’m willing to admit defeat quickly to preserve General Meng’s strength. Please show mercy on me.”

Meng Fuyao stared at him with a slight beam — he was smart. He noticed that she was angry and ready to punch someone up, and knew that no matter what he would not be able to win, so he tried to please her in advance.

With a bow, she softly replied, “Don’t worry, I only beat up those who deserve it.”

That person was none other than the one sitting high up on the steps.

The two of them started fighting, and it was a spectacular sight. The pair of swords were like blossoming flowers, but that was all there was to the fight. In less than a hundred moves, Tang Yizhong jumped six feet high and exposed his front towards Meng Fuyao.

Such a posture, which resembled an eagle preying on a rabbit, usually only worked when the better wielder performed it on the weaker one, and there had to be a huge disparity in their skills. By using this move, Tang Yizhong was obviously giving Meng Fuyao an opportunity, and she could only graciously accept it.

With a kick, Tang Yizhong flew away.

He spun three somersaults exaggeratedly in mid-air before landing clumsily on the ground. Without even flushing or panting, his expression became one of “utter humiliation” and he “threw his sword away and admitted defeat”, shouting, “Your skills are admirable!”

While trying to suppress her laughter, Meng Fuyao returned the formalities. “You’ve been kind, thank you,” she said. She could not help but shoot one more look at this guy who looked average-looking. An interesting person indeed, and he was smart and fun. If she visited Xuanji in the future, she could make friends with him.

In the meantime, Zhan Nancheng clapped his hands and smiled. “This battle is extremely interesting.” Turning to Zhangsun Wuji, he asked, “Crown Prince, what are your thoughts?”

The royals of all the nations in the Five Regions Continent were skilled in martial arts and naturally would have been able to recognize that this battle was merely child’s play.

Zhangsun Wuji smiled and answered, “Interesting indeed. Mr. Tang is no weak competitor and could have lasted at least 200 hundred moves. It is honorable that he doesn’t care that much about fame.”

“Oh?” Zhan Nancheng remarked. “Crown Prince, you are very impartial. I thought that you would praise General Meng.”

“Your Majesty, you are wise, how would I dare to lie?” Zhangsun Wuji responded with a smile, as he looked at his tea in a daze.

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“I heard that you are very fond of General Meng,” Zhan Nancheng commented discreetly.

After a moment of silence, Zhangsun Wuji replied, “This lad is excellent and truly a talent that people in power would naturally be fond of.”

“Oh… so if General Meng won the champion title, how does Wuji nation intend on rewarding him?”

“Our nation is very regretful that General Guo was unable to make it to top ten,” Zhangsun Wuji said as he diverted the topic. “If he had been able to make it to top three, with the great deal of military achievements that he has, his loyalty towards the court, and his popularity as an old general, he would definitely be bestowed the title of Generalissimo.”

In other words, the Wuji court had never considered granting any significant position for little General Meng, who had neither the experience nor the achievements.

A gleam appeared in Zhan Nancheng’s eyes. He vaguely recalled hearing a rumor that though General Meng received the Crown Prince’s affection, he was more of a male lover than a treasured talent. According to rumors, the Crown Prince always brought him along wherever he went and did not avoid anyone. General Meng’s position was also very dubious; for such a paramount achievement as protecting the city gates, he was bestowed a noble but powerless title. Even that achievement sounded made-up. Riding into the enemy camp alone? Killing seven generals by himself? Being forced to commit suicide at the city gates? Acting as a spy in Prince De’s army?

Today, both his and Zhangsun Wuji’s expressions were not very right. The more Zhan Nancheng thought of the rumor, the more he felt that General Meng was the male lover. Zhangsun Wuji was someone who didn’t like trouble, so why would he accept the invitation to be a referee? Could it be because of General Meng? Though Zhangsun Wuji looked like he had nothing to hide, he seemed slightly upset. Zhan Nancheng would definitely not fully believe Zhangsun Wuji if he had purposely cleared his relationship with Meng Fuyao since he was known to be witty, but that slight expression on his face caused Zhan Nancheng to involuntarily think deeper.

On the other side, Meng Fuyao’s expression was also very natural, but she seemed to be very displeased with Zhangsun Wuji, and that emotion felt real. Could it be — there was a problem in their relationship? Was Meng Fuyao truly like what he said, a dissatisfied male lover who wanted to seek achievements in Heaven Demon?

Zhan Nancheng gently caressed his knees and sighed in his mind. Military talent was sparse in Heaven Demon; among the two best generals, Beiqi strangely died in Changhan mountain range, and Gu Lingfeng had become a useless person who could neither speak nor move. Yet Zhan Beiye was still lurking in the shadows, and this younger brother’s presence was like a shadow that heavily burdened him. He could vaguely feel that danger was nearing, but he had little talent to use. If he was not forced to such circumstances, why would he want to eye a general from a different nation?

Feeling pain in a certain body part, he could not help but gave an icy look towards Zhan Beiheng – that night in Xihua palace, the saddle that was covered in needles made him suffer quite badly. Up until now, he was still receiving treatment every day and was afraid that he would become physically dysfunctional. Every time he recalled that a noble Emperor like him had to go through such fate, he would boil with anger and tremble.

‘If I catch you, black-clothed boy, I will definitely shred you into pieces!’

While the people on the steps were absorbed in their thoughts, the fight on the stage had been in full swing. Pei Yuan had defeated Shen Ming, and Yun Hen was going to go up against Ya Lanzhu.

Ya Lanzhu flicked her dozen braids and giggled as she jumped on stage. Pointing towards Yun Hen, she said, “Fight properly, don’t think that I will be merciful towards you.”

Yun Hen merely smiled and took a look back at Meng Fuyao. There were indistinguishable emotions in his eyes, making Meng Fuyao’s heart skip a beat, but she could not understand what that meant.

However, when the two started fighting, Meng Fuyao gradually realized what that expression signified.

Ya Lanzhu, who darted across the stage like a beam of colorful light, had excellent running skills and martial arts moves, but her inner energy paled in comparison with Yun Hen’s. Furthermore, she was familiar with Yun Hen and would not use those cups that contained Guchong. Hence, fighting against Yun Hen, who had skills no less superior to hers and inner energy that exceeded hers, was definitely a defeat for her.

But that was not what happened.

The rainbow-colored butterfly fluttered around, drawing elegant lines as it continuously spiraled around Yun Hen. The energy of Yun Hen’s sword could have instantly broken past those colorful clouds, but it seemed darker and darted around the mist. The radius that the porcelain-white energy swept past became smaller and smaller. From the exterior, the rainbow colors seemed to be cornering this patch of porcelain-white light, forcing it towards the center of the mist.

How did this happen? Yun Hen did suffer injuries in the third round but it was not serious, and he had almost fully recuperated under Zong Yue’s treatment. Why was he suddenly so weak?

He was definitely not in good spirits in this fight, but where did his bravery and perseverance go? Did he not come to Heaven Demon to fight for the top three positions of the True Martial Arts Meet?

At the 308th move, the colorful beam and porcelain-white light suddenly disappeared. Ya Lanzhu’s short pike was already on Yun Hen’s throat, and she grinned. “You’ve lost.”

Yun Hen smiled gently and calmly. Then, he retrieved his sword, bowed silently, and turned to walk back.

As Ya Lanzhu stood on the stage, subtle emotions flashed by her eyes as she looked admiringly at his retreating figure; when she turned towards Meng Fuyao, the corner of her lips lifted, revealing a smile.

That smile was one of admiration.

Meng Fuyao fell silent.

She understood his expression.

Giving up, and sacrifice.

The sacrifice that the ambitious man made, just for her.

He also realised the rationale behind Zhangsun Wuji’s attempt to let Ya Lanzhu enter the top five. He worried that if he won, he might not be able to counter the poisonous Guchong that the ill-intentioned Pei Yuan brought. As such, he gave up his top five position, for the owner of the King of Guchong, Ya Lanzhu.