Chapter 31: Chap 31

“Master. Lian Hua is here.”

“Listen carefully, Lian Hua. In the upcoming tournament, if you are matched against Tie Ren, forfeit your match.”

What? Why? No, let’s calm down first. Maybe the master is worrying that I will be humiliated if I lose to Tie Ren in front of the entire sect. I must convince the master.

“Master. Lian Hua has gained a breakthrough. I am now standing on the same plane as Tie Ren. I won’t lose to Tie Ren.”

“That’s exactly why you must forfeit.” The master turned around. His eyes assessed my obedience. “If you are still as weak as before, I can trust that Tie Ren will be able to force you to surrender without too much harm between the two of you. With your current strength, you two will be blocked in a gruelling match. No matter who wins, you both will be gravely injured. I do not want your cultivation to be affected by this.”

That sounds nice and well but there is one thing he didn’t explain. I want to hear his reason.

“This disciple begs the master. Why must I surrender and not Tie Ren? Our strength is about the same. If that sounds conceited, I am willing to admit Tie Ren got more experience in the sixth level than me but I have studied under you for much longer than him. I have experience as a cultivator and martial artist as my edge. Please, master.”

He exhaled boredly. My question must have annoyed him. “Can you even say you are stronger than him? You think I say this because I favour Mo Tie Ren? You did well last week to achieve the new height, but Tie Ren is still slightly above you. Anyone with a good eyes like me will see it. This means your grandmaster and the other elders. If I let you win and you somehow couldn’t achieve anything in Gudu, people would start questioning me as a master. Why did I allow a weaker disciple to join the tournament of Gudu? They will spread rumours about you too, saying you get through because you were favoured and not because of your potential.”

I am already fourteen. This is my last chance to attend the youth tournament of Gudu. If I miss this chance, I will have nothing. If that happens, it doesn’t matter that I become stronger than Mo Tie Ren later. They would still mock me. 

“If you are so strong, why is it Mo Tie Ren that was allowed to attend and not you?”

Why don’t you understand?

“Stop thinking of nonsense and follow my words. If the opportunity arises, I will think of something to help you.”

The flame of anger scorched my innards. I held in as much as I could and retreated for the night.

“You seem distracted.” Tie Ren said. “If you are not in the fight, get lost.” He shoved those words into my face while being completely expressionless. 

“Shut your trap, Tie Ren! I will beat you and prove to the entire sect that it is me who is the stronger between the two of us.”

He scoffs. “We will see. At least, you’ve become a bit more worthy of my fist.”

“What are you doing Lian Hua?” I know that voice all too well.

He walks up near the ring. “Fang Yun. Lian Hua had already told me she wanted to forfeit. Can you announce Tie Ren as the winner for me?”

“But I can fight.”

“I know it’s not easy to admit in front of these many people, but worry not. Your master will take care of this. Just leave the ring.”

“But-”

Uh. His eyes are so scary. Damn it. I am a daughter of the Li family. How could he?

“This won’t do, senior.”

“Eh?”

Let’s make that as both of us, master. It seems junior master Fang Yun is not on board with the master.

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“This is a fight between disciples. Unless the disciple gives up or if one of them is unable to fight anymore, there is no verdict.”

“I am telling you, I am speaking on her behalf.”

“Then Lian Hua. What do you want to do?”

Me? I-

“What are you waiting for, Lian Hua? Quickly tell him you will forfeit.”

“Senior. Please, stay out of this.”

“What?”

“If you are her master, you should listen to her at least.”

“Are you lecturing me, Fang Yun?”

“This junior dares not.”

“Listen here, Fang Yun. I did this because I care for my disciples. How could I allow two of my disciples to fight each other? Don’t tell me you don’t understand this simple rule.”

“I do, senior. I also understand that this tournament is supposed to select the representatives of our sect to Gudu. The sole reason our master and the elders didn’t announce the arrangements of the matches is to ensure no one can fix the match. If so, what are you trying to do, senior?”

“I- I- E-even so. You can tell Tie Ren is superior to Lian Hua. If the outcome is clear, there is no reason to carry on.”

“It’s funny you say that, senior. I can’t really tell.”

“What? How dare you make fun of me? Y-”

“Senior. Even if I can tell which one is superior and that I can feel one should give up, I, Fang Yun, still dare not tell. A mere disciple like me is nothing to the elders or our master. If they haven’t decided, why must I do so?”

“I-”

“Senior. Do you want to decide FOR our venerable elders?”

“I- no.”

“If you have no other opinion, let’s continue. Lian Hua. Do you want to forfeit?”

I check on my master. He is still livid, but refrains from doing anything unnecessary. If I don’t listen to what he says, he will set me aside. I manage to get to where I am partially thanks to him. If he sets me aside, I won’t receive any more instructions. 

There are many other masters in the sect, but my master faction is the strongest in the entire sect. Other masters won’t take me in. They can’t afford to make an enemy of my master. I can’t ask for help from my family either. I came here because I didn’t want to be a tool. 

Would junior master Fang Yun take me in? Even if he wants to, he can’t if my master doesn’t let me go. No one will listen to my complaints either, since they can just let it be hearsay. 

Will the elders or the sect master help me? No. I know the sect master and some elders favour my master to an extent. The other elders wouldn’t want to be in conflict with their peers.

Perhaps, I should have thought about this more thoroughly.

“Yes, junior master. Lian Hua wants to give up.”

“Is that so? Then, I announce Mo Tie Ren as the winner.”

My master throws a glare at me. “Pull a stunt like this again, and you will regret it.”