Chapter 103 - The Scum Is Resolute

"Fifth match – " Qi Ling said, then sighed as he picked a nameplate. This is tiring… he thought and his mind was about to wander when the emcee nudged him. He was pulled back. "Zunjingde Sect – " he said when he saw the orange nameplate. " – Jing Kang." He said.

"Oh! Finally, someone from a big sect!" the audience exclaimed. 

"The previous matches are actually thrilling." someone said. 

"Yeah." someone nodded in agreement.

On the Zunjngde Sect's side, they turned to Jing Kang who was named.

"Good luck!" Jing Hei and Jing Bai said and they patted Jing Kang's back as encouragement.

"Thank you." Jing Kang nodded at them.

"Do your best." Jing Cheng told him and patted his shoulder.

"I will." He answered.

"Good luck!" Qian Lin said and waved at him.

"Good luck!" Xi Ming smiled.

Jing Kang nodded at them. "Thanks." he said before he went up the stage.

"Huh?" the audience said when they saw he wasn't carrying a sword. "A mage?" they were surprised.

"Ah! I remember now!" someone exclaimed. "He's from the second main branch of the Jing Clan!" he said when he recognized Jing Kang. "The previous patriarch's younger brother is his father, who is now an Alliance elder." He explained. "They were recognized as also a main branch since they're special." he added.

"How are they special?" someone asked, curiosity in his eyes. 

"The first main branch are all sword cultivators. The second main branch are all mages!" He answered. 

"Mages?!" they exclaimed. 

"Yes. You're just new in Zhongyang, aren't you? It isn't a secret really, but it also isn't something to talk about." He said. 

"Why?" they asked. 

"The previous patriarch's younger brother was almost disowned since he abandoned the sword and chose the alchemy. However, their predecessor took pity on him and he was let to stay in the family." he answered. "However, others looked down on him since he's a mage." he sighed and shook his head in pity. The prejudice towards mages can be seen in this family. They are the prime example. "Later, it turned out he's a master. He was treated highly important now in the family." He continued. "And his heir also became a mage like him." He finished as he looked at Jing Kang who's up the stage.

Jing Kang can hear the gossips around him. However, he ignored it and faced his opponent who is from a known sect in the south.

"A mage? Heh." His opponent said and grinned. "Let's see what a mage from Zunjingde Sect can do!" he said as he draw his sword and infused it with his qi.

"Idiot." Cheng Sheng, watching from below the stage, said. His face is serious. 

"Hm? Why, Cheng-shixiong?" Lei Ling asked. He knew Jing Kang is strong since he had fought with him before in the Talisman Making Test. It was a crushing defeat! He thought and cried. However, Jing Kang's opponent looks really strong. 

"Lei-shidi. You fought with him before, right?" Cheng Sheng asked as they observed the stage.

"Yeah." Lei Ling never hid anything from Cheng Sheng. He already told him about his first encounter with Jing Kang. Then, he told Cheng Sheng about his defeat from Jing Kang during the Talisman Making Test. 

"He's too soft towards you." Cheng Sheng told him.

"Huh?" Lei Ling was puzzled. 

"If it were me, I would've already beaten you half to death." Cheng Sheng said. Lei

Ling's eyes widened and he was terrified. He knew how strong Cheng Sheng is, especially in the talisman area.

"As I said, he's too soft towards you." Cheng Sheng said again when he noticed Lei Ling's mind is wandering. Then, he looked at the stage. Jing Kang's opponent was flying towards him.

"Why do you say that, Cheng-shixiong?" Lei Ling asked after he was pulled from his thoughts.

"After all – " Cheng Sheng said as he watched Jing Kang's arms rose and countless talismans flew out of his sleeves that wrapped around his opponent. " – he could have beaten you half to death." He said and looked at Lei Ling who has a stunned expression on his face after he saw the talismans around the body of Jing Kang's opponent exploded one by one, making noise after noise on the stage that stunned the audience to silence.

Lei Ling's expression turned from astonishment to horror when they heard Jing Kang's opponent screamed in agony as the talismans on his body exploded slowly as if torturing him. No... they're torturing him. 

"Be gone with your arrogance." Jing Kang said as he looked at his opponent whose bloodshot eyes can only be seen after he was wrapped by talismans from his head to his feet. Jing Kang's face has an icy expression. "Mages aren't weak." he said. "Remember this." He told him as he flung his sleeves and there was a loud explosion on the stage when all the talismans exploded. The sound of explosion overlapped with the scream of Jing Kang's opponent.

The dust settled down but the fear in their heart hadn't yet faded. The mages… are this strong? The people who thought that mages are weak were trembling in fear and almost pissed their pants. They already have seen Li Tian's match and he defeated Xi Shi with only his spells. However, Jing Kang's match is more impacting. 

They stared at Jing Kang whose cold expression has yet to leave his fair and handsome face. Because of the explosion, the crown on his hair fell and his ink-black hair was afloat, fanning his back. His sleeves and clothes billowing. He's like an immortal.

"Amazing…" they exclaimed and looked at the stage that has yet another crack.

"E-erm…" the emcee said and cleared his throat. He looked at the charred skin of Jing Kang's opponent. His head became bald after being burnt. Fortunately, only the outer layer of his skin was burnt. He's really strong himself. "W-winner, Jing Kang of Zunjingde Sect!" he announced.

"YEAAAAHHH!!!" the audience cheered and made a loud applause as Jing Kang went off the stage.

"Congratulations!" Jing Cheng patted his shoulder. His expression is delighted because they won. 

"Congratulations, Jing Kang!" the twins greeted as they patted him repeatedly on his back. 

"You're terrifying." Qian Lin told him as he covered his mouth with the tip of his fan. 

"Congratulations, fourth young master Jing." Xi Ming told him. Jing Cheng is the eldest young master, Jing Bai is the second young master, and Jing Hei is the third young master. Jing Kang who is from the second main family is the fourth young master. 

Xi Ning, who was silent since earlier, spoke. "You're handsome~" she told him and winked at him. Xi Ming rolled his eyes at her while Xi Xing and Gong Xian were sleeping on the side as they sat on the bench.

"Thank you." Jing Kang said and nodded at them before he went back to his seat.

"Sixth match – " Qi Ling said. " – Xinfaxian Sect, Lei Ling." he said. 

Jing Kang paused and turned when he heard the name. "… it's him." He muttered and looked at Lei Ling who had gone pale and was shaking in fear as he stood beside Cheng Sheng. His elder sister and fellow disciples surrounded him. Their face is filled with worry. 

"Opponent – " Qi Ling said and took out a blue nameplate. " – Shanliangde Sect, Xi Xing." he said. 

"Ah." Xi Ming muttered and turned to see Xi Xing was dozing off with Gong Xian. "Ah Xing, wake up!" he called and shook Xi Xing. "Ah Xing!" he called again.

"…" the bubble on Xi Xing's nose was popped and he woke up. "Hm?" he said and rubbed his eyes. He's sleepy.

Xi Ming wanted to face palm. "Ah Xing, it's your turn." He told him.

"Oh…" Xi Xing said, then his eyes started to close again.

A vein popped in Xi Ming's forehead. "Not your turn to sleep! Wake up!" he said and shook Xi Xing awake again. He's like a puppy… he thought. And a big dog is sleeping beside him. He looked at Gong Xian.

He sighed and tried to wake Xi Xing again. 

On the Xinfaxian Sect side - 

"Lei-shidi." Li Tian called. "Just tell us if you don't want to fight. We can forfeit." he said. "Our safety is more important than the match." he told him. 

"We're only here to gain experience, not to seek death." Fei Yin said. "Experience can be found again. But our life is more important." He explained. 

Feng Mo nodded. "Lei-shidi. Don't push your self if you're scared. Just tell us!" he said. For a person like Feng Mo who is filled with fighting spirit, to say these words, shows that he truly cares for Lei Ling. 

"Lei-shixiong... we're here for you." You Rou said. 

"Ah Ling. If you're scared, then don't fight." Lei Qing told him. He's her younger brother, after all. "I don't... want to see..." she said and bit her lip. She rarely shows her affectionate side. 

"Jie... shixiong..." Lei Ling teared up. He's really, really scared. Among them, he's the weakest. Even You Rou is stronger than him. He only knows how to make talismans. He has zero fighting skills. During the training, however, his body somewhat improved. Thus, he will... 

Cheng Sheng saw Lei Ling's expression. "Let him go." he told them. 

"Huh?" they said. 

"This is his fight." He said. 

Lei Qing looked at Cheng Sheng, then turned and saw Lei Ling's resolute expression. "... okay." she said.

"Shijie..." the others looked at her. 

"Let him grow up." Lei Qing said, her voice choked. 

This'll be a painful sight.