Wu Jian, Hou Jingshu, Zhou Lihua, and Yu Qiang decided to take their meals at their residence that day. The mess hall was likely to be crowded. There were already thousands of people wandering around the Saintly Sword Sect’s main complex. Wu Jian watched several of them through the window as he sat at a long table with his friends and lovers.

They weren’t alone. Yu Chenguang, his wives and daughter, and Zhou Wen were also present. They sat further away, allowing the younger members to converse privately.

“Are you three ready for the tournament?” asked Zhou Lihua.

“Of course,” Wu Jian said.

He turned away from the people watching through the window to focus on his food. A lot of different types had been breakfast, including dumplings filled with egg custard, freshly grilled salmon, rice, congee with berries, and mushroom soup. Wu Jian was sticking with the salmon, rice, and congee. The congee did not go well with the salmon or rice, but he thought it would make a good dessert.

“I am more than ready,” Hou Jingshu added. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

“It’s good to be excited, but let’s not get carried away by enthusiasm,” Yu Qiang decided to be the voice of reason. “I’m sure we won’t have a hard time beating many of our opponents, but there are several that will give us a lot of trouble if we become overconfident.”

Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu nodded. There were a number of very strong contenders that they might not be able to beat if they were arrogant. Underestimating an opponent was the single greatest way to lose a match. Many of Wu Jian’s enemies had lost their lives because they underestimated him.

The most unknown variable in all this is Mei Xilan. I have no idea how strong she actually is, but she’s definitely not an ordinary cultivator.

It was unheard of in the Shang Kingdom for a seventeen year old cultivator to reach the Human Limit Realm. Either she was a heaven sent genius who could reach this level with very little aid, or the Ice Phoenix Sect had spent a lot of resources on cultivating her.

They finished breakfast and made their way to the arena. The walk there was… stuffy. Everyone else was also traveling that way, and their group was lost in a throng of people. Wu Jian held Hou Jingshu and Zhou Lihua’s hands so they wouldn’t get separated. He’d already lost sight of Yu Qiang and the others.

“Did someone just touch my butt?!” Hou Jingshu squawked.

“Several people have tried touching mine… but I broke their fingers,” admitted Zhou Lihua with a shrug.

“It’s hard to tell who’s doing what in this crowd. Keep your eyes open,” Wu Jian warned.

They pushed through the crowd and soon made it to the arena. The group walked inside the lobby as one. The crowd seemed to even out as Saintly Sword Sect disciples directed the flow of traffic. Wu Jian’s small group moved off to the side so they wouldn’t disrupt everyone.

“This is where we part ways for now. The Zhou Clan has a private viewing booth. Several members from various branches will be coming to watch the tournament,” Zhou Lihua said.

“Will your father be there?” asked Wu Jian.

The fox-like woman smiled. “That is my hope.”

Zhou Lihua looked around, then quickly grabbed Wu Jian’s mask. She moved it aside before he could do anything, leaned down, and kissed his mouth. He was so stunned that all he could do was stand there as she returned the mask to its rightful place and leaned back with a smile. She looked very satisfied. Meanwhile, Hou Jingshu was gawking.

“Well, then, I’ll see you two later,” Zhou Lihua gave them both a cheery wave before walking off with a sway in her hips. He wondered if she was doing that on purpose. The way her hips swayed from side to side was so mesmerizing that he found himself staring at her until she disappeared.

“Ouch!”

Pain lanced his backside. He turned to find Hou Jingshu glaring at him with a red face and swelled cheeks.

“Pervert,” she accused.

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who asked me to do them in the butt,” said Wu Jian.

“That… was just because I figured it wouldn’t count as actual sex!” Hou Jingshu defended herself. It was a weak defense, but he had to give her credit for trying.

The tournament’s waiting room for competitors was already full of people. This place had been prepared specifically for the tournament proper, which was why they hadn’t used it during the preliminaries. Most everyone was doing what they could to prepare. Some were stretching, others were meditating, and a few were talking. Everyone seemed to have different ideas of how to spend their time.

Wu Jian’s eyes were easily drawn toward the biggest contenders in this tournament. Mei Xilan and the other two Ice Fairies were standing in one corner of the room. Lots of men surrounded them, but none dared get too close. The three were dressed in similar silvery white hanfu, but each one had slightly different designs. Mei Xilan’s looked the most elaborate, with long flowing sleeves and ice blue snowflake patterns on the hem.

The woman he’d been staring at suddenly looked up and their eyes met.

“Is she staring at you?” Hou Jingshu asked.

“Seems that way,” Wu Jian muttered.

Mei Xilan said something to her companions, then parted from them, making her way over to where he and Hou Jingshu stood. The people parted before her. It was an impressive sight. This girl wasn’t much older than him, but the presence she commanded was incredible. Her cold, icy aura left those watching her in awe.

She stopped before them and offered a traditional martial bow. “Greetings, Your Highness. We did not get the chance to speak yet, but I wanted to offer my greetings.”

Hou Jingshu was adept enough at maintaining her persona to respond instantly. “Thank you. I’m happy to make your acquaintance. Out of all the people in this tournament, you’re the one I believe will be the hardest to defeat.”

“You honor me with your words,” said Mei Xilan. Then she turned to Wu Jian and offered another bow. “And you, Jian Wu. I have been watching your participation in this tournament. You are very strong.”

Wu Jian returned her bow. “Thank you. That’s just the result of training.”

“Indeed. I can tell you have trained your body quite thoroughly. You did not even use any techniques. That will make fighting you difficult since I was unable to figure out how you fight normally. The same can be said of Her Highness, of course.”

“You’re a lot more talkative than I thought you would be,” Wu Jian said suddenly.

Mei Xilan smiled. It was cold, but it wasn’t unfriendly. “I apologize if my demeanor is off putting. I am unused to speaking with people who are not from my sect.”

He waved her off. “It’s fine. There are all kinds of people out there. I kinda figured this was just how you were.”

“You have my thanks for your understanding.”

“Was there something you needed from us?” asked Hou Jingshu.

Mei Xilan shook her head negatively. “No, I merely wanted to offer you my greetings. I also hope that I will have a good match with whoever among you two faces me in the tournament.”

“We hope for the same,” Hou Jingshu said for the two of them as they both offered the woman a martial bow. Mei Xilan returned the bow before departing back to her group.

“Strange girl,” Wu Jian said as he watched her go.

Hou Jingshu didn’t say anything, but she nodded in agreement.

***

“Welcome, Young Miss. We have been waiting for you.”

A maid dressed in the Zhou Clan’s maidservant uniform bowed Zhou Lihua into the Zhou Clan’s private viewing booth. Many people were already present. Some stood near the buffet table, a plate in hand as they picked at hors d'oeuvres. Others stood near the glass window, a glass of alcohol in hand as they conversed with their fellow clansmen in excited voices. Most of the people present were men. The few women were simple servants. Zhou Lihua found Zhou Wen off to one side.

Quite a few people ceased what they were doing as she made her way inside. Zhou Lihua walked with her head held high as though allowing these men to drink in her presence. Men were naturally drawn to beautiful people. That was why she didn’t mind if these men looked at her, so long as they kept themselves to merely looking.

Is Father not here?

Zhou Lihua wished she could furrow her brow. It was unbecoming of a woman of the Zhou Clan to look troubled. She was taught at the Shang Kingdom capital branch to always act with confidence and poise when in public. Times like this made her wish she could do away with such masks.

“Excuse me, are you Zhou Lihua, by chance?” someone asked her.

Wearing the bewitching smile expected of her, Zhou Lihua turned to find a man nearly a decade older than her. His hair was of a similar color, as were his eyes, and he stood about one head taller. His lean body was clad in a hanfu with the Zhou Clan colors and coat of arms. She didn’t recognize him, and his cultivation was close to hers, so he must have belonged to a branch.

“I am. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Zhou Lihua gave the man a martial bow.

The man returned her bow. His smile was somewhat slimy, but she expected that from most men. “Ah. I thought it was you. Rumors of your beauty of spread quite far, but I can see now those rumors did you no justice. You’re even more stunning than the rumors say.”

“That is quite kind of you to say. Might I ask your name?” asked Zhou Lihua with a curious tilt of her head.

The man’s cheeks turned red. “My name is--”

A sound echoed around the room as the door opened once more and three people entered.

The person who stood at the forefront of this group was Zhou Chaoxiang, whose overbearing presence forced everyone to stop what they were doing and look at him. He gazed at the people around him with his intense eyes. Zhou Lihua froze as he gazed at her. It felt like her entire body had seized up, and she was only able to relax after his gaze swept over her.

Two other people stood on Zhou Chaoxiang left and right. She immediately recognized the man on his right, and his face lit up in a smile when he saw her, but they could not just meet and talk yet. That being the case, she looked at the man on Zhou Chaoxiang’s other side.

He was a handsome man with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a scholarly appearance. His pure silver robes looked like moonlight made wove into silk threads. While his appearance suggested a delicate physique, Zhou Lihua could sense the quiet power within him. She couldn’t sense his cultivation, but she knew, without a doubt, that he had reached the Human Limit Realm.

“You may all be at ease,” said Zhou Chaoxiang. His voice reached everyone’s ears and caused them to relax the guard they had raised. This man’s very presence put people on edge.

“Uh… excuse me.”

The man she had been talking to tried to renew their conversation, but she cut him off with a smile.

“I apologize, but there is someone I must speak to.”

“Ah… but…”

The man raised his hand as though to stop her, but she slipped away from him with ease and made her way toward one person in particular. He noticed her approach and smiled.

“Father.” She bowed to him. “It is good to see you’re in such great health.”

“Li’er, I see you are doing well. I was quite worried about you after… well, I’m glad to see you look so happy,” her father coughed into his hand after making his faux pas. Zhou Lihua smiled. She knew he had been about to mention the Wu Clan’s destruction. She had been in the capital at the time, and he had been at the Zhou Clan estate in Zahn City, so they had not seen each other, but he knew his daughter well.

“Thank you. I am doing very well. Not only has my cultivation increased, but I can refine high-grade tier 4 alchemy pills.”

“I’m very proud of you,” her father said. She could hear the pride in his voice, which made her flush with pleasure. It had been so long since she’d seen her father. She had missed him.

“Zhou Zu, is this the daughter you have been bragging to me about? I must say, she’s even more beautiful than you described.”

Zhou Lihua and her father turned as the handsome man with Zhou Chaoxiang strode up to them. His amiable smile was probably meant to put people at ease. She thought it made him look condescending and arrogant. However, she knew not to judge someone by their appearance.

“Ah. Zhou Xie’e,” her father smiled and placed an arm on the other man’s shoulder. “Come. Come. Let me reintroduce you to my daughter. Li’er, you remember Zhou Cie’e, right? He is the auxiliary member of the Zhou Clan who scouted you out--one of our up and coming stars. He’s already accomplished several important missions for the clan.”

“Though we aren’t allowed to talk about those,” Zhou Xie’e said with a mild smile.

Zhou Clan auxiliary members were pureblood members of the clan who specialized in the Zhou Clan’s special cultivation method, a secret method handed down only by the clan head. Their job was to travel across the continent, eliminating threats to the Zhou Clan using any and every means available. No one outside the Zhou Clan knew this, however. To the world at large, they were merely representatives who spoke with the voice of their clan head.

“Of course, I remember. It is a pleasure to see you again, Elder Brother Xie’e.”

Because of his position and apparent closeness to their clan head, Zhou Lihua used the honorific of referring to him as an elder brother.

Zhou Xie’e smiled as he raised a hand like he was warding something off. “You needn’t refer to me with so much respect. I’m only a few years older than you. Just call me Xie’e, though you can call me ‘Big Bro’ if you want.”

Zhou Lihua maintained her polite smile. “I apologize, but it would be disrespectful for someone such as myself to refer to you so familiarly. I hope you don’t mind if I stick to elder brother for my own peace of mind.”

“Suit yourself,” Zhou Xie’e said with a sigh.

Perhaps sensing the situation growing tense, her father began speaking. “Did you know that Little Brother Xie’e has already traveled to every country on the Xaio Continent? He even took a trip to the Da Continent.”

“I did not know that,” Zhou Lihua said with an indulgent smile.

She listened patiently as her father extolled the virtues of the man before her. The whole reason she called him by the “elder brother” honorific was to draw a line between them. She knew what her father’s intentions were when he introduced this man to her. They were made all the more obvious when he called Zhou Xie’e “little brother.” Referring to him with such familiarity made it obvious that he wanted to have a more intimate relationship with him, and she was his means of doing that.

She did not blame her father. He came from a small branch of the clan. They were, in fact, the weakest among every branch, especially now that Zahn City didn’t have a Wu Clan to maintain dominance.

It was difficult to deny her father, and even more difficult to outright deny someone with such high standing, but she had grown used to navigating the political landscape of her clan. She would be fine so long as she remained respectful.

Oh, Father. Don’t you know that your daughter is a taken woman?