Meeting Tian Ran Again
“Dustfallen Sect versus Air Wielding Sect!”
Mu Yu’s first match was in the ring to the south. Air Wielding Sect was ranked twelfth, thereby classifying them as an average sect. Dustfallen Sect wasn’t a name anybody anticipated since they never participated.
Nobody gave Dustfallen Sect and chances of winning. They were still carrying on about the rumours of the sect employing unorthodox methods to cultivate. As a matter of fact, they burst into laughter when Mu Yu entered the ring. Mu Yu ignored the commentary and focused on a youth, his opponent, roughly twenty years old sporting stubble. The youth was a Foundation Establishment Realm First Layer cultivator, meaning he was far ahead of Mu Yu’s suppressed level. Hence, he condescendingly remarked, “You’re the best Dustfallen Sect can offer?”
“Dustfallen Sect’s Mu Yu,” stated Mu Yu, following the etiquette practice, where one had to introduce themselves before competing.
“I don’t care for you name. Dustfallen Sect’s disciples are clowns. I suggest you shoo and spend a few more years cultivating.”
Dustfallen Sect became stress relief for the tense audience and contestants. They didn’t even want to waste their time watching Air Wielding Sect’s youth slap Mu Yu around. Hence, they headed off to spectate at other rings. To be fair, they were trying to see what the competition was to make the appropriate preparations. There was no point in worrying about fodder, after all. They could probably learn a thing or two if they watched Green Pine Sect or Jiuhua Sect’s matches.
The youth didn’t want to waste time on Mu Yu. He’d rather invest his time in preparing for real challengers. “You going to show yourself off the ring, or am I going to have to get you off?”
Mu Yu nodded. “Let’s not keep each other waiting, then.”
The youth drew his magic weapon to begin. Before he could strike, Mu Yu was nowhere to be seen. By the time he turned to face his left, where the wind suddenly started whistling, he saw Mu Yu with a smile. Before he could recollect himself, Mu Yu already dealt a blow to his low back, lifting him off the ground. He hastily swung his weapon to take flight. Mu Yu gave his shoulder a light finger jab, somehow draining the youth of all of his spiritual energy. As a result, the youth made a sloppy landing.
“Tch!”
“Dustfallen Sect wins!”
“I told you Dustfallen Sect would l-, huh?”
“What?”
Disciples nearby turned around to see Air Wielding Sect’s disciple already standing below the ring. The youth was going to get back at Mu Yu for launching a sneak attack, but he lost before he knew it. Meanwhile, Mu Yu was shaking his head from above.
The youth’s embarrassment burnt his face. “You cheated! I wasn’t ready!”
“Remember to be ready next year, then, hehe,” responded Mu Yu, before descending from the ring.
Mu Yu didn’t cheat. The youth was just so absorbed in mocking Mu Yu.
The audience in disbelief conjured a plethora of justifications to why Mu Yu won, such as Air Wielding Sect’s disciple being too lax. In reality, nobody saw how the match kicked off or ended. The announcer merely announced the result before his eyes.
“You’re a cheat!” exclaimed Air Wielding Sect’s youth, fingernails stabbing into his hands.
The spectators mocked Air Wielding Sect’s youth as they left. Mu Yu couldn’t care less what anyone thought. Let his arrogance torment him.
“I won,” exclaimed Mu Yu, cackling as he returned.
Feng Haochen lifted the corner of his lips subtly.
Cheng Yan asked, “Didn’t you want to broaden your horizons? Why did you choose to win using that strategy?”
Mu Yu pulled a funny face.“I helped him broaden his horizons, didn’t I? I hope he remembers he can’t talk his way to victory in the future. Plus, I have to fight nineteen matches; I need to preserve my energy.”
Cheng Yan chuckled. It didn’t matter. Mu Yu was just enjoying himself and didn’t attract attention. If people kept underestimating Mu Yu, they were going to suffer unenviable losses needlessly.
Mu Yu went off to watch other matches. He had no clue how matches were organised. Each competitor was granted a one match break between their matches. All he knew was his next match was in the North ring. The two Foundation Establishment Second Layer disciples were still going at it in the ring. Mu Yu couldn’t put names to either of the faces. He only discerned one of them was from Textless Sect. Mu Yu wasn’t a fan of Textless Sect after Elder Wu Yan had a go at Feng Haochen. Mu Yu wouldn’t mind slapping them one as payback for it, but it probably wouldn’t be so easy against a sect of Jiuhua Sect’s calibre. His match was after they were done.
Mu Yu inadvertently looked to the ring in the East and saw a familiar face – Tian Ran. He glanced back at his shifu. Feng Haochen was watching another duel. Mu Yu stood up and said, “Shifu, I am going to and scout out the other sects,” and raced off to Tian Ran instead of waiting for a response.
Prior to interacting with his target, Mu Yu looked back to check Feng Haochen wasn’t paying attention. He tapped Tian Ran, who was dressed in a blue robe, on the shoulder. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here? What a coincidence?!”
Mu Yu scratched his head. “I think I should be here at a sect competition. You don’t belong to any s-”
“Sh!” Tian Ran covered Mu Yu’s mouth with her hand. Next, she casually pulled him away by his hand to a secluded place before letting go. “I sneaked in. That Daoist Qing Song might detect me if you make a fuss.”
Mu Yu nodded, impressed with Tian Ran’s boldness. He warily queried, “Are you still searching for Sword Shadow Dust Gale?”
Tian Ran glumly pouted. “Nobody has heard of him. He’s too good at hiding himself.”
If only you knew…
“What are you looking for him for? What if he doesn’t want you to find him?”
“I just happened to find out some information about him. Forget it. You don’t know, either. I’m not here to find him, having said that. I’m here for something else.”
“The elemental demons?” asked Mu Yu, since it was all the rage at the moment.
Tian Ran shook her head. “No. If it was for them, I’d have already personally gone and dealt with them. Who runs a tournament before searching for elemental demons? Do they think the demons would just wait around to be captured? I came here because I noticed someone and tailed him here. He, like me, doesn’t belong to Moyun Mountains. He’s an advanced cultivator and quite a handful.”
“Who is he? Surely he wouldn’t start here,” asserted Mu Yu, trusting Daoist Qing Song would’ve noticed if somebody infiltrated.
“By chance, I picked up on news about Sword Shadow Dust Gale from him. Daoist Qing Song is no match for him. I, as a matter of fact, doubt anyone here could defeat him. He’s after Sword Shadow Dust Gale; he might be trying to harm Sword Shadow Dust Gale.”
Mu Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
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