Chapter 98: A Beast and A Sword

Chapter 98: A Beast and A Sword

Su Yan sniffed and wrinkled his nose. Stinks.

Brother! Su Caiyi protested, punching him lightly.

Su Yan refused to flinch this time, glaring Hui down instead. He raised his fist.

Hui threw his hands up to block.

You didnt get kicked out? Su Yan asked, tapping the back of his hand. Li Xiang was written in silver on the back of his.

Ah my condolences to elder brother, Hui said gravely. He raised his hand to show Ding Bo.

Condolences? Ill bite that small girl in two before she can raise her sword, Su Yan sneered.

Hui bowed to Su Yan silently. Ah, hes finished. Its the end of the line for this wolf-boy.

I heard you already fought. I wanted to see your match! I missed brothers, too, Su Caiyi said, pouting slightly.

Su Yan patted her head. Its too much excitement for you. Better if you stay home.

Su Caiyi pouted.

Adorable, too adorable. No need to be so strict, elder brother. Surely she can come watch the tournament. Otherwise, what did she come all this way for? Hui reasoned.

Yeah, yeah! Su Caiyi agreed, nodding at her brother.

Annoyed, Su Yan shook his head. No! You should have stayed back at the sect. Even this is too much.

Too much, too much, thats all you ever say! Su Caiyi grumbled, frustrated. She punched Su Yan on the side repeatedly.

He ignored her blows. You dont know what youre saying.

Hui stared at Su Yan from the corner of his eyes. Eh is this the extent of your siscon disease? Elder brother are you okay? Do you need counseling? Su Caiyi, blink twice if you need help.

Su Yan caught his look and grimaced. Shut up! You dont know anything, either.

Elder brother, I said nothing, Hui replied, smiling politely.

Su Yans lip twitched. He started to say something, then turned away, drawing Su Caiyi with him. Once I defeat this Li Xiang, Ill tear your throat, too.

Good luck, elder brother! Hui wished him. Unlikely.

Su Caiyi waved over her shoulder as she followed her brother. Hui waved back, smiling.

In the near distance, gongs rang out, sounding the start of the next round of tournaments. Hui glanced up. I ought to go over. My next match is soon, and it doesnt hurt to scout out the opponents.

The other cultivators in the square, likewise, started to walk in the direction of the arena. Caught in the crush, Hui cupped his hands around his neck, protecting Zhubi from stray shoulders. A knot of rowdy Azure Fang cultivators pushed by, passing a gourd of alcohol around. Hui frowned at it, brows furrowing. Come to think of it, I havent seen anyone in Starbound Sect drinking alcohol, except Master at the Bai Clan banquet, but Master doesnt count. Master pays less attention to the rules than I do.

Dont tell me, are we an ascetic sect? Maybe I really should go read the rules.

on second thought, ascetic sects always have too many troublesome rules. Id never remember them even if I knew them. Ah, in the end, its no use. Im better off as I am! Unburdened and free. Hui nodded decisively to himself.

A board at the front of the stadium laid out the next round of fights. Hui inspected it, searching for himself. At last, his finger landed on his own name. Ah, Im not in the next heat, but the one after. So I watch one fight, then go out and fight.

Scanning the board, he quickly located Su Yan and Li Xiangs match. Theyre up first, before me? All the more reason to watch. Thus decided, he headed for the stands.

Disciples filled up the stadium once more, jiving amongst one another for the best seats. Hui took a quiet spot high up the stands, squeezed into a corner where no one would bother him. Strategically settled between the Azure Fang and Starbound Sects, Hui managed to blend into both, so that neither the Starbound Peak Li Xiang fanatics nor any aggressive Azure Fang disciples would bother him.

The Starbound Sect cultivators mostly sat quietly. Some talked quietly amongst themselves or shared snacks, but no more. Well-behaved and upright, they held their backs straight and arranged themselves in neat rows.

To his other side, the Azure Fang Sect was the exact opposite. Cultivators sprawled, shouting and laughing. A few sang randomly, drunk. Gourds of alcohol and bags of snacks passed from hand to hand. A few rows up, a pair of male cultivators brawled openly while others took bets and egged them on. Spirit beasts of all description crawled up and down the stands, lazed in between the seats, or circled overhead.

Mmm there should be a limit to being unrestrained and free! Hui decided firmly.

Down below, the cultivators paired off, two to each arena. Contestants bowed to one another. Hui scanned the arenas and quickly located Li Xiang. She stood in the arena nearest the Starbound Sect disciples, facing the white-robed section. Bright eyes gazed over the watching disciples. Occasionally, Li Xiang smiled or gave a little wave. The Starbound Peak disciples leaned forward in their seats, desperately waiting for her to smile in their direction.

She caught sight of Hui and beamed, waving excitedly. Hui smiled and waved back as subtly as he could manage, half an eye on the Starbound Peak disciples.

Eh? Whos she waving at?

An Azure Fang disciple? Who? Who caught her eye? Ill beat him up!

Wait, it might be a fairy maiden shes waving at instead.

Hui pulled away. I dont understand this girl. Shes so so annoying! Ahh, give me Bai Xues straightforward sexual harassment any day!

Eh, wait. Did I just ask for mmm, my mental state has gotten more and more messy lately. Maybe I should work on my mental cultivation some more, when I get a chance.

Down below, Su Yan charged at Li Xiang. Mid-charge, his form shifted, growing fur and dropping to four paws. A massive wolf bit at Li Xiang. She parried with her sword, only for the wolf to throw its bulk against her legs. She stumbled back. Her heels hit the edge of the arena.

Hui caught his breath. Did I underestimate Su Yan?

Su Yan chased at Li Xiang, white teeth wide. Teetering on the edge, Li Xiang had nowhere to go. He bit.

On Li Xiangs blade. Li Xiang vaulted over him, using her blade as the foundation for her handspring. As she landed, she yanked the blade out of his jaws, scoring a cut at the corners of his lips. She landed, white robes pristine, and immediately charged at Su Yans back. A bright smile spread across Li Xiangs face.

Thats our Li Xiang!

Show him the might of Starbound Peak!

Su Yan jumped back. Li Xiang chased him. He backed up steadily, ducking and dodging. Her blade couldnt score a hit, but behind Su Yan, the arena steadily narrowed as he backed into a corner. At last, his paw slipped. He yanked it up before it hit the ground, but without a sturdy foundation, he had no way to fight Li Xiang. Light blows slashed over his fur, never landing a full hit but never letting him counter-attack, either. Under the sword-flurry, Su Yan had no option but to hunker down and protect his vitals.

Its not very fun to be backed into a corner, is it? Li Xiang asked.

Su Yan growled. His feet glowed, and he launched himself at her with explosive speed, barreling head-first into her.

His jaws closed on air. Li Xiang had vanished, little more than a flash.

This is it! Li Xiangs killing move!

Her ultimate third-stage attack technique! The one she developed herself!

From high in the sky, a silver flash glistened. Li Xiang dropped from the heavens sword-first, her feet wrapped around the crossbars. Earthbound Star!

Hui stared, his expression dead. Eh, that technique its not just this cultivator, right? This small cultivator feels as though hes been on the receiving end of it many times

The blade slammed into Su Yans back. He cried out and crumpled, falling to the stage.

A vital hit! Victory, Li Xiang!

Hui sat up. Did she kill him?

Eh? Elder brother Su Caiyi grabbed Huis robes and sniffled.

No, no, IIm sure she didnt, Hui said, abruptly remembering who was beside him. I was so caught up in the fight I totally forgot about Su Caiyi!

But but she Su Caiyi stared up at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

Hui looked down at the arena, then pointed. Look, theres no blood! Hes fine!

Su Caiyi stood on her tiptoes and peered down.

Down in the arena, Su Yan stood slowly and gave himself a good shake, returning to his human form. A nasty black bruise stood out through the back of his torn robes. Wincing, he tossed back a pill, and the bruise faded.

Li Xiang ran a hand over her sword. An oval-shaped light shield that left no sharp edges shone around the sword, then vanished. She bowed to Su Yan. I blunted my sword. I feared I could not attack non-fatally without it.

Su Yan glared. Underestimating me to that extent?

Please understand. It was not because of you, but because of my own failure to master the technique to the level I could control my strength, Li Xiang explained, bowing.

Hui flinched. If I didnt know Li Xiang can only speak the truth and tends to be very straightforward, that would be an incredible insult. Isnt she implying that she already saw through his strength and worried for his life before the battle even started? In the end, it implies that Su Yan is so far below her level that she might as well be his Master.

Even though this small cultivator would never look poorly on Li Xiang, even though I know she only means it literally, its still harsh to hear!

I dont need your pity, Su Yan spat. Scowling, he stomped up into the arena and grabbed Su Caiyi, immediately turning to go.

Hui grabbed her other arm. He smiled gently. Wait, elder brother. You promised spirit stones?

Su Yans scowl grew deeper. He reached into his torn robes and threw a bag at Hui. Your sect is so poor you have to run errands for other sects disciples, set up stalls in your main yard, and scrounge for spirit stones, so take it all. Its charity.

Releasing Su Caiyi, Hui opened the bag. A small spatial bag, it easily held three times the spirit stones hed been promised. Hui grinned and transferred the stones to his ring, storing the bag, then paused. Eh? My sect is poor?

He looked around them, at the grandeur of the stadium, the recently-widened field, the sleek, orderly Starbound Sect disciples, and shrugged. Hes probably just annoyed at getting beaten so soundly by Li Xiang.

See you later, Xiao Hui! Su Caiyi said, waving goodbye.

Hui waved back. If you ever need a babysitter, Su Yan, please call on this small disciple again! Poor? Su Yan has no idea what the word means! Compared to my first life, Im rich, and thats even considering the new debt Ive accrued! I can eat good food and go for walks without getting harassed, I have beautiful friends and a Master who doesnt beat me, I have a pet and a hut and a mountain. Compared to the filthy apartment full of bugs I grew up in, Im infinitely better off! Even if were a poor sect compared to Azure Fang, so what? This small cultivator is still perfectly content.