Chapter 52: Merciless

Chapter 52: Merciless

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His three matches after defeating Chang Wei all go in similar ways. The match after that, Liu Jin wins by default. His would-be opponent was incapacitated during a previous fight. With six wins and one loss, Liu Jin is guaranteed to pass to the next stage. Even if he were to lose the two fights that remain, his position as second in the group would not change.

That doesnt mean his remaining opponents surrender without a fight.

For some, this is their only chance to fight someone from the Xiao Sect. Even if they lose, they can tell themselves, At least I lost to someone from the Xiao Sect. They probably intend to take that sort of story with them.

Besides

Their opponent is someone who has already fought several matches. Surely, he must be getting tired. Surely, they have a chance of beating him? Imagine if they could defeat Xiao Zhengs son-in-law during the Eastern Port City Tournament? What a boon to their reputation and that of their Sect that would be!

They do their best to defeat Liu Jin with those sorts of thoughts in their heads.

Its possible Liu Jin made a mistake in making himself look weak. If he hadnt, they would have undoubtedly surrendered out of fear. All the same, he didnt want to give away all his skills too early. The stares coming from some of the other groups during his fights were not hard to miss.

In the end, Liu Jin wins eight out of the nine matches he has to fight in the group stage.

Why?

Cui Tian finishes as first of the group, but he does not go to his fellow disciples to celebrate. Instead, after the announcement has been made, the teen chooses to walk up to him.

If Liu Jin were Xiao Nan, he could intimidate Cui Tian with a smile. If he were Xiao Fang, he would already be halfway through a rant about Cui Tians lack of proper decorum. To walk up to a member of the Xiao Sect and address them as though they were equals is neither proper nor smart.

In the end, Liu Jin decides to do as his Master would.

Why what?

Cui Tians face twitches with annoyance. Obviously, Liu Jin knows exactly what Cui Tian wants to know. However, he is under no obligation to make things easy for Cui Tai.

While Cui Tian has not done anything wrong, being looked down on for so long has worn down Liu Jins patience.

This one is not so foolish as to believe an honored disciple of the Xiao Sect would willingly shame his Sect. When you surrendered our match, I was shocked, but I never once believed the honored disciple of the Xiao Sect before me did so out of fear.

That made him smarter than most of the people around him.

The honored disciples performance in the latter matches only confirmed this. That is why this one is forced to come to the following conclusion. The honored disciple before me wanted to finish in second place.

Liu Jin holds Cui Tians gaze for several seconds. A tense silence fills the air between the two. Beads of sweat start appearing on Cui Tians forehead.

Finally, Liu Jin nods.

I did.

Cui Tian looks shocked, not having expected for Liu Jin to admit it so bluntly.

Why?

Liu Jin sighs.

I cannot blame you for not knowing how the groups and brackets were arranged ahead of time. However, you should have kept an eye on the strongest participants of the tournament. If you had, you would know what awaits you.

Liu Jin leaves him with that. He knows a confused Cui Tian will soon go to see the brackets, and he knows exactly what he will find there. Usually, the first place of one group will fight the second place of another group, but that is not always the case. Even if Liu Jin finds this whole situation particularly suspicious, it will not change what Cui Tians next match will be.

Yun Han of the Yun Sect vs. Cui Tian of the Seven Leaves School.

~~~

Did you all see that? That is what happens to those who challenge the Xiao Sect! Kowtow before this daddy!

Big Nose Li is not a gracious victor.

With a perfect record of nine wins and zero losses, he will pass to the next round as the first of his group. Rather than being satisfied with that, he has taken to strutting around the ring, throwing his arms up high and shouting for all to hear. This behavior is sure to earn him many enemies. Already he is being looked at with venomous glares.

As he is of the Xiao Sect, it is unlikely that this will have any negative repercussions on him.

He really should learn when to shut up.

Su An looks like she wants to go to the ring and slap his face. Just like Liu Jin, she passed the group stage. Unlike Liu Jin, she finished first in her group. The two are watching the groups that have yet to finish from the comfort of the Xiao Sects private room.

Ah, I can only imagine how angry the fellow disciples of those that oaf beat are going to be, an Inner Disciple says, shaking his head melodramatically. I dont need someone swearing to avenge his brethrens wounded honor. It is so tedious.

He is exaggerating for effect, yet there is some truth to his words.

Does it matter? Another disciple asks. Those at the top are hated no matter what.

Nevertheless, that does not change what we must do.

At Xiao Fangs words, everyone sits a bit straighter. Hes finally done with his matches. There is no need for anyone to ask him how things went.

It is almost sad watching the realization of his futile struggle dawn on Cui Tian. He probably never even considered the difference between them could be this big. After all, he is in the First Level of the Nascent while Yun Han is in the mid-stages of it. Why should there be such a large gap? Indeed, Liu Jin is pretty sure there are many people in the audience wondering the same thing.

The difference between Yun Han and Cui Tian is not just a matter of cultivation level.

Yun Hans foundation is just incomparably larger than Cui Tians.

Yun Han is someone who has been trained since childhood by the Yun Sect. He has learned better breathing and meditation techniques. He has received better resources to purify his body and knows how to better channel his Qi throughout his body.

If you were to compare the purity and efficiency of their dantian, Cui Tians might as well be trash compared to Yun Hans.

Though older than Yun Han, Cui Tian might as well be a child to him.

When Cui Tian jumps back to get some distance from his foe, Yun Han doesnt even bother trying to chase after him, another sign of how not seriously he is taking this match. Some people in the audience laugh. Cui Tians face flushes with impotent rage.

If Yun Han wanted to end the match, he could have done it already. Hes just using Cui Tian to show his superiority to those watching.

It wouldnt surprise Liu Jin if Yun Han were doing this only to show Xiao Fang how strong he is.

Someone like Cui Tian is not even reflected in his eyes.

Dont give up, Brother Tian!

Chang Weis voice comes from the stands, loud and clear. He almost looks like he wants to jump into the arena.

Remember! We promised wed make the Seven Leaves School known throughout the city!

Liu Jin truly wishes he hadnt said anything. The grim resolve on Cui Tians face is not something he enjoys watching. Cui Tian assumes a combat stance once more, his Qi rising higher and higher. Cracks appear on the ground all around him. He says something to Yun Han, but Liu Jin is too far away to make out his words.

He does, however, understand what is happening.

Iron Skin.

Metal-attuned Qi surges all around Cui Tian, coalescing around his skin and merging with it. The ground breaks apart as Cui Tian rushes at Yun Han, his body now reinforced to the extreme.

One hit.

A single hit knocks Cui Tian out of the ring.

Liu Jin barely sees the movement. For most of the audience, Cui Tian is just suddenly launched out of the ring, his back crashing against the walls of the arena. The metal-attuned Qi he had summoned shatters and fades away.

Just like that, Cui Tians Eastern Port City Tournament is over. His body is put on a stretcher and taken away for treatment. The people from the Seven Leaves School go to him with worried looks on their faces.

If they only knew.

Yun Han didnt just hit Cui Tian.

In that attack just now, he had struck Cui Tians lower dantian with merciless accuracy.

Liu Jin would be surprised if Cui Tian ever manages to cultivate again.

I wonder. Why do you think he did that?

Liu Jin blinks in a surprise. A cloaked figure had approached him without him noticing. The voice reveals her as female, and her height is not dissimilar from his, which probably puts them at similar ages.

Why did he do what?

The girl laughs. Under her hood, he can see bright green eyes.

Please, do not tell me you didnt notice. Id be scared if you glare like that at just anyone.

He was glaring?

His dantian. I am, of course, talking about his dantian. Thats not something one can easily recover from. As I understand, the school he comes from is relatively new. Theyre unlikely to have the resources to heal him. A pity. He could have risen to greater heights otherwise. Perhaps that was the reason the Young Master of the Yun Sect struck him like that?

Of course that was the reason. To be able to use metal-attuned Qi like that was impressive considering his circumstances. Yun Han saw a chance to crush a potential problem and took it.

In one move, he crushed the Seven Leaves Schools strongest disciple and their chances of gaining notoriety. They will now have to rely on the pity of the stronger factions if they wish to get ahead.

Does it matter?

No. The girl smiles under her hood. I suppose it doesnt.

As Liu Jin walks away, the girl calls out to him.

Oh? Not going to ask who I am?

Not really.

I suppose it doesnt matter. If you keep looking at all the matches with such intensity, you will know my name soon enough. Should you win your next match, well have the chance to meet each other formally. I look forward to your guidance.

~~~