Days passed. The paper slowly filled, until at last Hui had a batch of every type of talisman. Every so often, he paused to check the back of his hand, but the mark remained a blur of silver, unchanged.

It seems there’s lots of matchups going on out there. Either that, or they’re giving competitors a chance to heal and recover after the first match. I’m benefiting from it, so I can’t complain. Hui stretched, yawning, then climbed out of his sit. He stored the talismans in the ring. Well, now that I’m done with that… it’s time to cultivate life qi!

Eh, but… that’s boring. I’ve just sat on top of this mountain for days on end. I’ll take a break first, then get back to studying.

Besides, I haven’t left my body in days, not since Master gifted me the life qi. Maybe it’s enough to keep my soul fixed in my body, already! And the rabid Li Xiang fans should have forgotten about me by now… probably.

Hui breathed in, feeling the mountain’s natural qi circulate in and out of his body as he did so. Feels good to be home. I didn’t realize how little qi Bai Clan had until I returned here.

Humming a tune to himself, he descended the peak, following the well-trod path toward Starbound Peak.

Starbound Peak brimmed with cultivators. Green-, blue-, white-, and expensive-robed cultivators mingled. The other peaks had set up stalls in Starbound Peak. Jade Garden disciples peddled fresh fruits and spiritual ingredients. Cauldron Peak disciples offered pills, incense, and elixirs, and one particularly familiar, slightly shady stall offered masks, as well.

The one peak Hui had never trod on, Butterfly Pavilion, had the most diverse stalls. Fairy maidens whose beauty rivaled Li Xiang’s or Bai Xue’s offered snacks and tea, perfume sachets, and ornaments. Unlike Li Xiang, who had a fresh, raw beauty, or Bai Xue, whose beauty shone through despite a seeming lack of care, their beauty had a polished air to it. Makeup perfectly done, a beguiling fragrance in the air, even a shimmer of qi to brighten their eyes, they looked as perfect as models in a magazine, and knew it. Butterflies flapped in the air around them, never straying far from the fairy maidens.

Hui nodded to himself. Dangerous, they’re the most dangerous of all. This small disciple should steer clear of them. Instead, he approached the familiar stall. Despite being no older than a few days, it somehow had the same air of dilapidation, clutter, and general disrepair as the shop itself.

“Recovery pills! Qi recovery pills, only fifty spirit stones!” Xixing shouted through the hubbub. “Oh, treasured customer, please—” her eyes alighted on Hui’s face, and she scowled. “Eh. What are you doing here?”

“Spirit stones?” Hui asked, looking around the shop.

Xixing nodded. “We’re required to sell internally for gold, but externally, we can sell for whatever we like. Even with the spirit stone tax, getting these suckers’—er, valued customers—spirit stones is worth it, compared to the usual gold. Thanks to Jade Garden Peak, we’re mostly self-sustaining when it comes to pill ingredients, but it’s nice to be able to afford outside materials from time to time.”

“Spirit stone tax?” Hui asked. First I’ve heard of that.

“Thirty percent, I think? It’s hefty. The Sect Master’s committing daylight robbery, I tell you. Ah, oh well. It just means I’ll have to hike the price up for these suckers that much more. Sixty spirit stones, fourth-stage qi recovery pills!”

Mmm… I’ll pretend like I didn’t hear that. I’d never repay my debt if I had to pay a thirty percent tax on all the spirit stones I made, on top of everything else! He glanced around. “What’s all this about, anyways?”

Xixing shrugged, glancing around as well. “After the opening ceremonies and fights, it’s been mostly talks and banquets. The fights resume tonight, and from there, the tournament truly begins.”

Hui blinked. Eh… no way. This small cultivator missed all the good parts? As an inheriting disciple, I could’ve wormed my way into those banquets! I’d have to say I was sent in lieu of my master, but… that’s a lie only Li Xiang would detect!

Oh well. With the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect plotting against my master, it’s probably best I missed it. He nodded at Xixing. “Did elder sister enter the tournament?”

She waved her hand, dismissive. “Do I look like a sword cultivator to you? No, no. I’d rather trade spirit stones than blows. There are a few from my peak who entered the fights, but I’m certainly not one of them. In fact, it’s mostly Starbound Peak who’s represented. I believe both Jade Garden and Butterfly Pavilion followed Cauldron Peak’s lead in bowing out, save the few disciples who wanted to test their strength.”

Mmm, if Master hadn’t decided to make the ploy of bluffing the Sect Master in front of all the other sect masters, this small cultivator would have bowed out as well! Ah, oh well. This way, I can rend hearts, build a reputation for myself, and bluff my way out of all kinds of future fights!—if everything goes well.

“Has your next opponent been decided yet?” Xixing asked, tapping the back of her hand.

“Eh? Oh.” Hui checked the back of his hand, then held it out to her. “Ding Bo.”

Xixing snorted. “That guy? I’m impressed he got past the first round. Apparently he’s the favorite of Sect Master Mu of the Mysterious Heavenly Forest sect, or something. None of their disciples are happy about him being in the tournament. They’re calling it favoritism.”

“Is he weak?”

“I thought so, but… I’m not a sword cultivator,” Xixing said, shrugging. “One way or another, he won the first round, and it was less cheating than what you did, so…”

“You accuse this small cultivator of cheating?” Hui asked, taken aback.

Xixing leveled a look at him.

“I didn’t cheat.”

“No, but you didn’t fight fair, either,” she argued.

Hui crossed his arms. “Only idiots fight fair.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure, say that on the battlefield. In an honorable tournament with our fellow righteous sects? Not so much.”

“Do you think I could win any fights fairly?” Hui sighed.

“Then why enter the tournament?”

Hui opened his mouth, then sighed and shook his head. “Never mind. It’s too much trouble to explain.”

Xixing leaned against her counter. “Are you here to buy, or just chat?”

“Elder sister, does this small cultivator need a reason to seek out—”

“Yes. Shoo, you’re disrupting the customers,” Xixing said, waving him away.

Hui furrowed his brows at her. “What customers?”

“Ah, this Hui, are you asking to die?” Xixing burst, jumping at him.

“Apologies, apologies, sister, I forgot, my tongue, lately, it’s been—” Stumbling over his apologies, Hui backed out of the shop and back into the plaza. His back struck a small form, and a girl cried out.

Hui whirled, already bowing. “Apologies! It’s all this small cultivator’s fault, apologies.”

“Eh, Xiao Hui?” a soft voice asked.

He looked up. Su Caiyi stood there, her head tipped to the side, small hands clutched together. Hui smiled. “Oh! Greetings.”

“Greetings,” Su Yan grumbled back, standing over her shoulder. He glared fiercely at Hui, arms crossed.

Hui’s smile wilted. Su Caiyi, please call off your guard dog! He’s going to glare me to death, seriously!