Chapter 174 — The Night Before

CHAPTER 174

The Night Before

“Join Martial Palace,” Wei Chengyuan said. “The Yunze matter disappears.”

Shi Feng sat across from him in a private room above the arena offices. Two cups stood untouched between them. The delegate's late Golden Core aura remained concealed, but everyone outside the door knew whom the room belonged to.

“The matter Wen Shou already heard?” Shi Feng asked.

“Wen Shou serves Great Liang,” Wei Chengyuan replied. “The Wei branch has its own dead to remember.”

“Their elder attacked first,” Shi Feng said.

“I read the account,” Wei Chengyuan replied.

“Then read it again,” Shi Feng said.

The delegate's expression cooled. He'd expected refusal to require coaxing, not a reminder that his threat wasn't an honest accusation.

“You're talented,” Wei Chengyuan said. “Talent still needs a place to grow. Some roads close when a young man chooses badly.”

Shi Feng looked at the untouched tea.

“So that was an offer,” Shi Feng said.

“It was advice,” Wei Chengyuan replied.

“Keep it,” Shi Feng said.

He stood without waiting for permission. Wei Chengyuan didn't rise. His fingers rested beside the cup, and his gaze followed the plain sword at the young man's waist.

“You won't always be fighting juniors on a protected platform,” Wei Chengyuan said.

Shi Feng stopped beside the door.

“Then don't always speak as though I am,” Shi Feng replied.

He left before the delegate could turn the same threat into a fourth polite sentence.

Outside, the evening air felt cooler than the room.

Shi Feng walked through the busy street without looking back. Wei Chengyuan's strength was real. A late Golden Core expert was a genuine danger he couldn't take lightly at his current realm.

That didn't mean he needed to accept a sect chosen through a threat.

He hadn't tried to kill the delegate for insulting him. The man hadn't attacked. But the warning was clear, and Shi Feng would remember who delivered it.

The Yunze deaths weren't suddenly a crime because someone powerful wanted a useful disciple.

Shi Feng thought, Finish tomorrow first. Then choose my own road.

At the inn, Kang Liu asked whether he wanted a larger meal before the final. Shi Feng ordered an ordinary supper and paid the named price. The owner looked pleased enough that he didn't try to explain what champions ought to eat.

Duan Yichen joined him near the end of the meal.

“Martial Palace sent for you,” Duan Yichen said.

“Yes,” Shi Feng replied.

“A good offer?” Duan Yichen asked.

“A loud one,” Shi Feng said.

The sabre user studied his expression, then put down the question. He wasn't obliged to share every opinion of the sect he might enter, and Shi Feng wasn't going to choose his future for him.

“They've offered me a place after the final papers,” Duan Yichen said.

“Earn what you can from it,” Shi Feng replied. “Don't stop thinking after you enter the gate.”

Duan Yichen nodded seriously.

“I won't,” Duan Yichen said.

They finished supper without turning the conversation into an oath against every person in Martial Palace.

Shi Feng checked his sword before lying down. The new grip binding held well, and the edge showed only the ordinary wear of several matches.

His pills were packed separately from the travel provisions. He swallowed one from his own stock and let its strength settle through the foundation.

The late stage was approaching through accumulation, not grief or tomorrow's applause. He didn't need to force it before the final to be confident.

Mid Foundation Establishment was enough.

He put the bottle away and extinguished the lamp.

Three breaths later, someone knocked hard enough to shake the door.

“Shi Feng!” Gu Zhan called. “Are you asleep?”

“Not anymore,” Shi Feng replied.

He opened the door. The one-eyed spear user stood outside with his weapon in hand and an expression much too cheerful for the hour.

“I found a better angle,” Gu Zhan said.

“For knocking?” Shi Feng asked.

“For the thrust after your first turn,” Gu Zhan replied.

Shi Feng looked at the spearhead. Gu Zhan immediately lifted it clear of the door frame, having noticed the possible misunderstanding.

“Not here,” Gu Zhan added. “Tomorrow.”

“Good,” Shi Feng said. “Go to bed.”

“Can't,” Gu Zhan replied. “Tomorrow's too good.”

Shi Feng let him sit in the courtyard rather than explaining sleep through a closed door. Gu Zhan used a twig to draw two lines in the dust.

“Your sword comes back here,” Gu Zhan said. “If I turn the shaft first, I can stop it there.”

“You're telling your opponent?” Shi Feng asked.

“I want to know what you'll do,” Gu Zhan replied.

“Tomorrow,” Shi Feng said.

Gu Zhan stared at the lines and looked briefly disappointed. Then the disappointment became excitement again.

“Good,” Gu Zhan said. “Don't tell me.”

Shi Feng leaned back with his arms folded. He'd spent the evening listening to one man hide threats beneath advice. Now another man openly explained the attack he hoped to use against him.

He much preferred the second conversation.

Gu Zhan drew a third line, scratched it out, and began talking about Bai Chenxi's frost field. His questions were precise whenever the fight interested him. He wasn't a fool. He simply didn't care about many things other people found important.

At last, Shi Feng took the twig away.

“Enough,” Shi Feng said. “You have a match tomorrow.”

“So do you,” Gu Zhan replied.

“Which is why I'm going to sleep,” Shi Feng said.

Gu Zhan considered arguing. Then he stood and picked up the spear.

“Don't oversleep,” Gu Zhan said.

“Don't knock again,” Shi Feng replied.

The spear user laughed and left through the gate. Kang Liu watched from the front hall with visible relief that nobody practised inside his courtyard.

Shi Feng returned to his room and closed the door.

He checked the window latch and tested the repaired sword grip with a short thrust. The leather stayed tight beneath his palm. He lowered the blade, laid it beside the bed and relit the lamp to check the reporting time once more.

He lay down and slept.