Chapter 59

The most unexpected draw for the first round of the competition was none other than Zong Zi Xiao and Li Bu Yu.

One was rumored to be the youngest son of Emperor Zong who possessed the greatest talent and was particularly favored by Emperor Zong, while the other was the first grandson of the head of the Wuliang Sect and the nephew of the Empress, who treats him like her own son, yet one of these two had to be eliminated in the first round of the competition. Given the in-laws relationship between the Zong Clan and the Wuliang Sect, no matter who loses, this is not a good scene to watch.

Once the news got out, many people were betting silently in private. Li Bu Yu has outstanding roots and has learned under the head of the Wuliang Sect, while Zong Zi Xiao formed a core at the age of nine and is a rare talent found once in a hundred years, and he is three years younger. It is hard to say who will win or lose between these two, and hard to say who has bad luck.

After seeing the roster, the scene was very awkward for a while. Li Bu Yu said a few polite words, "It is delightful to be evenly matched", and then hurriedly left.

Zong Zi Heng pulled Zong Zi Xiao to a deserted place, with the look of a headache on his face.

"Big brother, don't worry, I won't lose to him." Not only was Zong Zi Xiao not half worried, but he was also even a little excited.

"I'm worried about you losing, and I'm also worried about you winning." Zong Zi Heng rubbed his brow and said with a sigh.

"Why should you worry about me winning? I am definitely going to win against him." Zong Zi Heng hummed lightly, not hiding his good nature in the slightest, "And I've always wanted to defeat him myself. This draw has fulfilled my wish."

"He is the Empress's nephew."

Zong Zi Xiao said coldly, "So what? In the ring, it is based on an individual's ability. Could it be that the Empress can still blame me if I win against him?"

"Xiao Jiu, the Empress has always been very scornful of you and Consort Chu for getting in the way of father, and because of that will not treat me like..." Zong Zi Heng paused and said in a deep voice, "Anyway, big brother hopes that you will not overdo it. Never provoke Li Bu Yu, and also don't really hurt him."

Zong Zi Xiao reluctantly curled his lips, "Got it."

Zong Zi Heng patted his younger brother's shoulder, "Big brother will watch over you, and big brother also believes that you will win."

Only then did Zong Zi Xiao reveal a smile, "I will definitely not disgrace big brother."

"Let's go."

On the first day of the Jiaolong Assembly, it will be the first match between descendants and their chosen opponents through balloting, but all the matches on this day were not as appealing as the duel between Zong Zi Xiao and Li Bu Yu.

The two youngsters, with outstanding family backgrounds, qualifications and looks, stood solemnly on the competition ground. Their boyish faces full of a stern aura, their stern gazes clashing in the air, and the mere exchange of gazes already made the people around them feel a powerful spiritual pressure.

Zong Ruo Ning whispered, "Big brother, will Xiao Jiu win?"

"He will." Zong Zi Heng said with certainty.

"But Li Bu Yu is three years older than Xiao Jiu."

"There are many formidable opponents waiting for him behind him, so if he can't even beat Li Bu Yu, then stopping here is not unjust at all."

"Big brother, why does Li Bu Yu always like to hang out with you?" Zong Ruo Ning wondered, "Isn't he the Empress's nephew?"

Zong Zi Heng whispered, "Keep your voice down."

Zong Ruo Ning quietly covered her mouth.

Zong Zi Heng lowered his head and whispered in his sister's ear, "I saved him unintentionally when he was young."

After Zong Zi Xiao and Li Bu Yu saluted each other, they drew their swords out at the same time.

The Zongxuan Sword was known as the number one sword technique in the world, but before the Zong ancestor came out of nowhere, the Wuliang Sword was the leading sword cultivator technique. In fact, there was no superiority or inferiority in the sword book. Victory and defeat depended on the person.

The fight was a good one even for adults, let alone for two teenagers.

Li Bu Yu's skills are noteworthy, and he is certainly a role model among his peers as the "son of another family", and did not disgrace the Wuliang Sect at all. It’s a pity that his opponent is Zong Zi Xiao.

Zong Zi Xiao is not tall enough and is still using a small sword, but he has shown his ability to be astonishing. His sword style is tricky, sharp and aggressive, showing the essence of the Zongxuan Sword. After only exerting 2 moves with Li Bu Yu, everyone already knew Li Bu Yu will lose.

The Zongxuan Sword and the Wuliang Sword are both top class sword techniques, but they are completely opposite in style.

The Zongxuan Sword uses offense as a means of defense to make an unexpected winning move, with brutal and sinister strokes, often resulting in a quick battle, while the Wuliang Sword is vast and limitless, pursuing waves that stack layers upon layers like the sea endlessly. This is like a drinking competition at a wine table, where Zongxuan Sword comes up and punishes itself with three cups, shocking everyone, and the Wuliang Sword still remains standing, cup after cup.

There is no difference between the two. It all depends on the skill of the swordsman. The Zongxuan Sword can often end a fight in the shortest possible time, but if the Wuliang Sword drags on until they start to deplete each other, it will be very unfavorable.

However, Li Bu Yu was still too young and did not have the "power of the sea" and was soon defeated by Zong Zi Xiao’s sword.

Zong Zi Heng sighed as he watched Li Bu Yu's eyes turn red and his face change from anger to humiliation to resignation.

This was Li Bu Yu's last participation in the Jiaolong assembly. Although the person who had defeated him was Zong Zi Xiao, the stain of being eliminated in the first round was a stain that a high-minded and arrogant young man could not accept.

Li Bu Yu, who was of noble birth, did not lose his poise even after losing, and endured the humiliation to thank Zong Zi Xiao before leaving in style.

Zong Zi Xiao jumped out of the ring happily and ran to Zong Zi Heng's side, saying excitedly, "Big brother, did I fight well?"

Zong Zi Heng whispered, "Very good, let's go."

Zong Zi Xiao looked up at his big brother, "I listened to you, I didn't provoke him, I didn't mock him, I didn't hurt him, I didn't even use my full strength. You didn’t want me to lose to him on purpose, did you?"

"Of course not." Zong Zi Heng frowned, "I'm just worried ... forget it, maybe I'm overthinking it." Zong Zi Xiao had the emperor as his backer, and although the empress also hated the mother and son, she didn't dare to do anything blatantly, so his own worries should be superfluous.

Zong Zi Xiao was talking about all the things he had done with Li Bu Yu, when Hua Yu Xin suddenly came up to him.

Zong Zi Xiao's face instantly fell.

Hua Yu Xin arched her hand and said, "Your Highness, Ninth Highness."

"Miss Hua." Zong Zi Heng's heartbeat instantly quickened, and he became slightly unnatural.

"Congratulations to Your Ninth Highness on your promotion."

Zong Zi Xiao gave a nonchalant "hmm".

Hua Yu Xin's gaze shifted to Zong Zi Heng, boldly looking him in the eye and smiling, "I've always wanted to find an opportunity to thank you personally, Your Highness, for turning my young martial uncle into a man. Allowing him to return home and be buried in peace."

"You are most welcome, Miss Hua. It is in the nature of all cultivating people to do what is right and just."

"Not only that, Your Highness also captured Chen Xing Yong together with Chunyang Sect, exterminated the Lion Alliance and avenged my little martial uncle." Hua Yu Xin's bright eyes twinkled, and between the flowing waves of light was a young girl's heart that could not be hidden, "The entire Huaying Sect is very grateful to Your Highness."

Being praised and worshipped by such a beautiful and spirited young girl with so many complimentary words, Zong Zi Heng could hardly contain his joy, and his cheeks burned a little as he said modestly, "It's nothing to mention."

Standing beside the two, Zong Zi Xiao could clearly feel the unusual flirty atmosphere in the air. He was burning with anger and pulled Zong Zi Heng's arm, "Big brother, I'm hungry, let's hurry up and go eat."

"Ah, okay." Zong Zi Heng looked at Hua Yu Xin hesitantly, "Miss Hua is new to Daming. There is a big difference between the north and the south. I’m not sure if the food is to your liking, please forgive me if I did not host well."

"Not at all, I am used to it." Hua Yu Xin said hurriedly, "I think Daming is very good. Of course, Min Nan has a different style. I don't know when Your Highness can ..."

"Big brother, let's go!" Zong Zi Xiao didn't wait for the two to finish, and dragged Zong Zi Heng away stiffly.

Zong Zi Heng was not good at forcing himself to stay and talk to people, and only after walking a long way did he shake off Zong Zi Xiao's hand angrily, "Xiao Jiu, what are you doing?"

"I already said I don't want you to take a wife. Do you think I'm only just saying that?" Zong Zi Xiao said unreasonably.

"Why are you still so ignorant?"

"So what if I am ignorant?"

Zong Zi Heng slapped his head, "Alright, aren't you hungry? Hurry up and have your meal."

At noon, during the break of the tournament, Zong Ming He hosted a banquet on the hunting ground for all the guests, and his concubines and children were all seated in order.

Zong Zi Xiao went to find his mother, while Zong Zi Heng also came to sit beside Shen Shi Yao.

Shen Shi Yao did not say a word as she looked at Zong Zi Heng, her gaze somewhat cold.

Zong Zi Heng didn’t know why: "Mother, what's wrong?" Ever since Li Xiang Tong had interfered with his marriage with Hua Yu Xin, Shen Shi Yao's temper had become increasingly odd. Sometimes she was sad and crying, looking delicate to the touch, and sometimes she was accusatory and her words were extraordinarily harsh. When Zong Zi Heng faces her, he became more cautious.

"See for yourself." Shen Shi Yao lifted her chin.

Following the direction she pointed, Zong Zi Heng saw that Hua Yu Xin was sitting next to Li Xiang Tong at some point, and Li Xiang Tong was holding Hua Yu Xin's hand, laughing and talking to each other.

"Just now I saw Hua Yu Xin went to find you, why did you walk away after saying two sentences?"

"Xiao Jiu said he was hungry, so ..."

Shen Shi Yao glared at him, "Such a good opportunity and you let it slip so easily? By taking the initiative to find you, she is showing her affection for you. Are you going to watch her be snatched away?"

"Son will find another opportunity to have a good chat with Miss Hua."

Shen Shi Yao turned her face away, leaving only Zong Zi Heng with an icy back.

---

The afternoon's competition wasn’t really that exciting. After it was over, the Zong clan returned to the palace, and the guests returned to their guest residences.

Zong Ming He invited some more famous sects for dinner, and the Huaying Sect was naturally among them.

Zong Zi Heng originally decided to take the initiative to look for Hua Yu Xin, but after seeing Yan Shu, he had no more thoughts of love between men and women. He took the opportunity to toast Xu Zhi Nan and Qi Meng Sheng and quietly agreed to meet in secret this evening to discuss how to deal with Yan Shu.

When the banquet dispersed, it was already late at night. Zong Zi Heng returned to Qinghui Pavilion, intending to see Xu Zhi Nan and Qi Meng Sheng after he had sobered up.

He had just walked into the Qinghui Pavilion, followed by the hazy moonlight, when he saw a person sitting in a chair in the darkness, which startled him.

"Who is it?"

"It's me." Shen Shi Yao's soft voice came as she lit the oil lamp and looked at her son quietly in the dim light.

"Mother? Why are you still awake at this late hour?"

"Waiting for you."

"Waiting for me for what?"

"Have you talked to Miss Hua?"

Zong Zi Heng experienced a choking sensation of stuffiness from his throat as he explained, "Miss Hua has been accompanying the Empress, and son has not found an opportunity."

"I knew it would be like this." Shen Shi Yao said quietly.

"Mother, it's late at night. You should rest."

Shen Shi Yao lifted a hand.

Zong Zi Heng helped her up and walked her back to her bedchamber.

When they passed Zong Zi Heng's bedchamber, Shen Shi Yao suddenly stopped. She looked up and gazed at Zong Zi Heng, that look was numbing to the scalp.

"Mother?"

"It seems that you cannot be counted on in this matter. You have let me down again and again, yet I cannot put my son's future in jeopardy."

"What are you talking about?"

Shen Shi Yao suddenly opened the door to Zong Zi Heng's room.

Zong Zi Heng smelled an odd floral fragrance and before he could think more, he was violently pushed in by Shen Shi Yao, and the door to the room closed behind him.

Zong Zi Heng was startled and turned back to push the door, only to find that a barrier talisman had been affixed to the door. He was wondering what exactly Shen Shi Yao was up to when he suddenly realized that the flower fragrance was different and his body was heating up rapidly.

A slight trill sounded from behind him.

Zong Zi Heng was as if struck by lightning, ran a few steps to his bed, and found Hua Yu Xin lying on his bed, her cheeks abnormally flushed, her consciousness blurred, and she was pulling at her clothes with her hands, and kept saying it’s hot.

Zong Zi Heng was so frightened that he took two steps back, drew his sword and was about to break down the door, but in the end he did not swing it down, thinking that if he made too much noise at such a late hour, he was afraid that everyone would come.

He held his breath and searched for the source of the flower’s fragrance. When he saw the incense burner on the table, he smashed it on the floor in anger, but the fragrant, sticky scent of the flowers had already filled the room, so smashing it would not help. He tried to open the window, but the window was also covered with a talisman.

It would be easy to destroy this type of talisman, either by removing it from the outside or by forcing it from the inside, but if it brought in outsiders, his reputation would be at stake, and Hua Yu Xin, an unmarried girl, could not bear such a stigma.

Zong Zi Heng was so anxious that he did not even have time to think about Shen Shi Yao's absurdity and madness. The fragrance of the flower had already invaded him. He only felt his mouth dry and increasingly hot, and he could not restrain his instinctive reaction even though he tried desperately to suppress it. He stumbled and hid furthest away from Hua Yu Xin, curling up his body in shame and wretchedness, his mind becoming more and more confused.

He can’t go on like this, no, he would lose his mind ... what to do, what to do!

In a flash of light, he thought of something. He took out a sound transmission flower from his Qiankun bag and said to the flower with a trembling voice, "Xiao Jiu, come to my bedchamber quickly." He tucked the petal out from under the doorway and a hint of spiritual energy caused it to float and fly off into the distance.

----

PS: I'll be going out to meet friends now, will be back translating later in the late afternoon...

 

Edited on 28 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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