Chapter 108 — Three Places for Great Liang

CHAPTER 108

Three Places for Great Liang

One challenge remained before the final bell closed the board.

Fourth-ranked Qian Heng, a mid Foundation Establishment swordsman who had spent the afternoon watching third place slip out of reach, stepped forward and called a desperation challenge against Ling Qingzhu for second.

Ling Qingzhu walked onto the stone platform in her white veil, her slim scabbard still at her waist. When Wen Shou gave the signal, Qian Heng drove forward with a whistling three-step thrust that split the air across ten paces.

Ling Qingzhu drew and sheathed her sword in a single breath.

A line of pale frost ran across the flagstones. Qian Heng's blade stopped an inch from her sleeve, coated in rime to the hilt, while a clean cut parted the silk tie of his shoulder guard before he could take a second step. Even Wen Shou straightened in shock: she had released only enough qi to freeze the strike, hiding her true ceiling so cleanly that not one spectator could tell whether she stood at late or peak Foundation Establishment.

Watching from the third-place post, Shi Feng's eyes brightened. Her courtyard pointers hadn't shown a tenth of that speed.

“Second and third places confirmed,” Wen Shou announced as Qian Heng bowed and stepped down.

The final challenge period ended beneath a clear afternoon sky. Shi Feng stood beside the ranking board while an attendant replaced the temporary token with a carved jade plate. His name sat beneath Sima Yu and Ling Qingzhu.

Three names. Three representatives for Great Liang.

Wen Shou handed him the plate without ceremony. Shi Feng turned it over. The kingdom's crest was carved on the back, with a small identifying seal beneath it.

“Keep it until Qingyun City,” Wen Shou said. “The regional officials will check the seal against our list.”

“Can I travel separately?” Shi Feng asked.

“Yes,” Wen Shou replied. “As long as you arrive before registration closes. You'll receive the route and dates with the other representatives.”

Shi Feng nodded. He didn't need the court choosing every inn along his road.

Ling Qingzhu received her own plate nearby. Sima Yu accepted his from another official and walked toward them beneath the shade of two royal attendants.

The surrounding candidates stepped aside. Late Foundation Establishment cultivation was impressive among Great Liang's young generation. The royal crest made it more impressive still.

“Congratulations, Brother Shi,” Sima Yu said warmly.

Shi Feng looked at him.

“Your Highness,” Shi Feng replied.

No smile followed. The prince's warmth didn't change the men he'd sent or the killing intent behind their blades. Sima Yu glanced at Ling Qingzhu, then back at Shi Feng's plate.

“Great Liang needs capable representatives,” Sima Yu said. “I look forward to seeing what you can do beyond our borders.”

“So do I,” Shi Feng replied.

Wen Shou felt the coldness beneath the ordinary words. He quickly cleared his throat and lifted the departure notice.

“The Great Kingdom Tournament isn't this qualification,” Wen Shou said. “There will be candidates from every surrounding kingdom. Don't assume today's ranks will mean anything there.”

“How many will the Great Sects recruit?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

“The top ten,” Wen Shou replied. “Martial Palace, Hundred Flower Valley, and Artificer Hall will send representatives. The champion can choose direct inner-disciple entry among the nearby Great Sects.”

Several defeated candidates listened from a few steps away. Their expressions were filled with envy. Even an ordinary outer-disciple place in a Great Sect was far beyond what their families could buy easily.

Shi Feng thought of Xu Changhe's worn notes. The dead sect enforcer's sword art brought him to the third position today. Artificer Hall remained his intended destination.

He didn't need to explain that to the Crown Prince.

“Arrive on time,” Wen Shou continued. “A kingdom's recommendation won't reopen closed registration.”

Sima Yu smiled and left with his attendants. Ling Qingzhu waited until the royal group moved away before looking at Shi Feng.

“You don't like him,” Ling Qingzhu said quietly.

“No,” Shi Feng replied.

She didn't ask him to pretend otherwise. That pleased him more than the qualification plate in his hand.

By evening, the capital seemed to have recovered his meridians on his behalf.

At one tea stall, Shi Feng heard that a mysterious elder healed him. At the next crossing, someone insisted that Ling Qingzhu gave him a priceless pill. Outside a fabric shop, two women confidently agreed that he'd never been crippled at all.

Shi Feng passed them without stopping.

Ling Qingzhu listened beside him, her expression growing stranger with every version.

“Apparently, I'm a wonderful physician,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“You should charge,” Shi Feng replied.

“Don't tempt me,” Ling Qingzhu said.

A silk merchant nearly walked into them while carrying two sample bolts. He recognised Ling Qingzhu first, then looked at her husband and hurriedly moved aside.

The silk merchant bowed in greeting.

Shi Feng nodded and continued walking.

He wasn't especially interested in the change. People who once looked past him were now afraid of standing too close. Their opinion had followed his visible strength, just as he expected.

Ling Qingzhu noticed the indifference and felt a little ashamed of her own excitement. She was proud of him. She also liked seeing people acknowledge that he belonged beside her.

Those weren't quite the same feeling.

At Qingliu Lane, Jiang Meilan was waiting outside the gate. The landlady carried a broom, but her smile was much too bright for someone cleaning.

“Third place!” Jiang Meilan exclaimed. “I always said this courtyard had good fortune.”

“You said the roof leaked because I hung herbs too near it,” Shi Feng replied.

Jiang Meilan's smile faltered for one breath.

“Small things!” Jiang Meilan said. “The roof's fixed now. Very good courtyard. A fine young couple.”

Ling Qingzhu coughed to hide a laugh. Shi Feng opened the gate before the landlady could discover a qualification fee among the fallen leaves. Ling Qingzhu waited until the gate shut before removing her veil.

Inside, nothing had changed. The pear tree stood beside the table. The kitchen was too small for all his trays. His bedding was still rolled in the corner of their one room.

He liked that more than the cheers outside. Ling Qingzhu set her plate on the table beside his. She looked at the two carved names for a while.

“We qualified together,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“Yes,” Shi Feng replied.

“You could look pleased,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“I am,” Shi Feng answered.

She turned toward him. He wasn't looking at the plates anymore.

Her cheeks warmed. She picked hers up quickly and went inside to put it away.

Shi Feng made a simple supper after washing the arena dust from his hands. He didn't arrange a banquet to celebrate defeating Gao Zhen and Han Zong. There were ingredients to inspect later and a collection promised for the following day.

Ling Qingzhu sat at the table with her sleeves tied back. She took a bowl from him before he could place it down.

“Are you injured?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

“No,” Shi Feng said.

“Not even your hand?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

He held it out. She looked at the fingers that caught Gao Zhen's sword and found no cut.

“That really was a refined artifact,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“I noticed,” Shi Feng replied.

She gave him an annoyed look and returned his hand. For a moment, he wanted to tell her how much stronger he was than the platform showed. Then he saw the genuine relief in her expression and decided she didn't need another reason to worry about his judgment.

He'd tell her things when they mattered.

Ling Qingzhu took the first bite of supper and smiled. The food tasted familiar. After the noise at the arena, that familiarity made her strangely happy.

She reached for the vegetables and noticed the plain sword leaning beside the doorway. Tomorrow, people would probably offer him much finer ones.

“Will you change your sword?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

“Not unless I find a reason,” Shi Feng replied.

“Half the capital will want to give you something now,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“And ask for something afterward,” Shi Feng answered.

She considered that and nodded. Her clan received gifts too. Rarely did the giver forget to mention a cousin seeking employment or a shop needing protection.

“Don't let them disturb your work,” Ling Qingzhu said.

Shi Feng smiled slightly. Hearing her care about his work pleased him. He still remembered how she once looked at his medicine board as though the ink was the most valuable thing on it.

“I'll shut the gate,” Shi Feng said.

Outside the gate, somebody shouted his name.

Shi Feng paused with his chopsticks raised.

A second voice joined the first. Then came a knock and the rustle of several people arguing over who arrived earlier.

Ling Qingzhu looked toward the gate.

“Your customers?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

Shi Feng put his chopsticks down with a sigh.

“My cultivation's recovered,” Shi Feng said. “Apparently, everyone else's memory has too.”