"We have seen the lord." Gu Chen and his two companions saluted with clasped fists.
Chen Yu sat at the head of the table, dressed in a flowing blue robe and exuding elegance. Upon seeing Gu Chen and his companions arrive, he offered a slight smile and said, "No need for formalities, please sit."
"How are your injuries?" Chen Yu asked, looking towards Song Yu and Wang Yan.
"My lord, we're no longer troubled by them," replied Song Yu and Wang Yan, saluting with their fists.
Chen Yu nodded and said, "There's a mission that I need the three of you to undertake."
"Please, my lord, speak," they said.
Chen Yu said, "Before long, the Sunset Sword Sect will hold its martial arts tournament. The Jing Tian Department dispatches people to oversee the event every year, and this year, the task falls to us. Therefore, I'm sending the three of you."
The Sunset Sword Sect, considering itself the leading swordsmanship authority in the martial world, conducts a martial arts tournament annually. It invites sword sects across the realm to partake — in reality, though, the tournament is just a stage for the younger disciples of the Sunset Sword Sect to showcase their prowess and promote their sect's fame.
Almost without exception, the first prize at each year's tournament has always gone to a disciple of the Sunset Sword Sect.
It also serves as an occasion for the Sunset Sword Sect to display its strength; the victors of each tournament receive rewards from the sect.
Although the other factions in the martial world know that their disciples are merely going through the motions, they are compelled to attend, because to do otherwise would be to disrespect the Sunset Sword Sect.
Once, a sect who received an invitation from the Sunset Sword Sect chose not to participate. Within a month, the sect leader died an untimely death, and the whole sect disintegrated.
With such a lesson from history, no one dares to slight the Sunset Sword Sect, one of the most formidable powers in the nine provinces.
Because the Sunset Sword Sect's event gathers various players from the martial world, the Jing Tian Department dispatches people every year to deter any possible disturbances.
"That is one task; there's another. You are to eliminate Qi Changyun of the Canghai Sect. According to our investigations, this man is akin to Zheng Jinan, a remnant of the nefarious Evil Heart Sect. Here is his dossier; take a look," Chen Yu said.
Gu Chen said, "My lord, please speak."
With his handsome features and extraordinary demeanor, Chen Yu smiled slightly from his seat at the head and said, "I want you to defeat Yu Qiushi of the Canghai Sect."
At these words, Gu Chen's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Yu Qiushi is the hope of the Canghai Sect, held in high regard. Originally, your eighth place on the star ranking belonged to him, but now you have displaced him to the ninth position. He will certainly hold a grudge because of this. Moreover, as you attempt to deal with Qi Changyun, he will not stand idly by.
If you confront him, you must win this battle; defeat is not an option," said Chen Yu with gravity.
"Understood!" Gu Chen responded, bowing with clasped fists.
Song Yu and Wang Yan exchanged glances, their expressions revealing their surprise. They hadn't been out on a mission from Tiandu for some time and weren't aware of recent developments in the martial world. They had not expected Gu Chen to have knocked Yu Qiushi of the Canghai Sect down to ninth place on the Diancang Pavilion's star ranking.
Seeing Gu Chen accept the task, a smile appeared on Chen Yu's face as he said, "If you win, I will personally give you a reward upon your return."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chen quickly stood up, saying, "Thank you, my lord."
As a commander in the Jing Tian Department, anything given by Chen Yu was bound to be substantial— at the very least, a high-quality martial arts technique.
"Both of you are at the Meridian Opening Realm, not far from breaking through to the External Qi Realm. On this mission, follow Gu Chen's lead. The three of you together should have no issue taking down Qi Changyun," Chen Yu evidently said to Song Yu and Wang Yan.
Song Yu and Wang Yan nodded. On this point, they had no objections.
"If there's nothing else, you should set out without delay," Chen Yu said.
This year, the Sunset Sword Sect had chosen to hold the martial arts tournament at Phoenix Crying Mountain in Anyang County of the Qiongtian Mansion, over six thousand li away from Tiandu.
After leaving the Jing Tian Department, Gu Chen and his companions went home to pack, taking some changes of clothes with them. They then mounted their swift horses and headed towards Phoenix Crying Mountain in Anyang County.