Chương 63: Distraction

That wasn't the end of it, of course. There were two more matches scheduled for the day, and both were emotionally charged. The first was between Li Kang and Chen Zhuhe, important to Bai Ning because two of her friends would be fighting each other. The second, Ming Tanglong versus Song Shaixue, was politically sensitive. She should have been paying attention.

Unfortunately, though she would later insist she had watched both matches in full, her mind was far too busy replaying her own fight, cataloging everything she could have done better. She didn't even hear the announcement. By the time she looked up, still wondering if she should have kept the Divine Water Lightning Technique hidden, her friends were… tearfully exchanging heartfelt words as they fought?

Bai Ning stared in bafflement as the generally normal – though weirdly sentimental around each other, with emphasis on the weird – Li Kang and Chen Zhuhe traded declarations:"Fight without worry, brother. No matter who wins, our friendship will endure!" Almost in tears, Chen Zhuhe cried, "Brother!" Even the crowd sounded confused. There were mutterings but no real cheers. Bai Ning wished they would get to the fighting part already. They should have learned from her bout with Jin Shihan.

For all his nonsense, he had remained focused throughout, and his words had been calculated distractions rather than actual conversation. She replayed that moment in her mind again. His attempt hadn't affected her much, but she'd have to watch for future opponents trying to grab her sword. She'd handled it well this time, but it could become a weakness if she let her guard down. A sharp clash from the ring made her refocus, blinking as she realized half the match had already passed.

Both Li Kang and Chen Zhuhe looked worse for wear, Li Kang's flying sword tangled midair with Chen Zhuhe's beads while the two of them exchanged a flurry of spells. Illusory flying swords slammed into qi blasts, detonating in mid-air. Li Kang had also tossed out two more blades, curved sabers this time, from his storage epoch, using them to try to corner Chen Zhuhe. But the bald cultivator was far from defenseless.

His beads were astonishingly versatile, switching from offense to defense with fluid precision, and the entire exchange had settled into a stalemate. A little like the one she'd been trapped in when Jin Shihan had unleashed his flame-like aura. Should she have used her sword technique at that very moment? She hadn't, worried that the activation time would leave her open and cost her the match. Yet in the end, when she had used it anyway, the technique had come almost effortlessly. Was that because of the situation?

Or because her mastery improved with each use? Or perhaps… a bit of both? A ringing clatter snapped her out of her thoughts again. She looked toward the stage with a frown; one that morphed into a guilty wince as she remembered she was supposed to be watching. Chen Zhuhe had merged all his beads into one massive, stalwart bead, and it had just sent Li Kang's three flying swords spinning away. Seizing the opening, the huge bead shot through the air like a hawk diving for prey, aiming straight at Li Kang.

He did not dodge. Instead, he pulled out a talisman that flared with light, projecting a massive golden brick in mid-air. The bead collided with the brick and shattered it into countless fragments with a sound like breaking glass. The impact sent a shockwave of dust and qi rippling outward. Bai Ning was impressed. Only talismans crafted personally during the tournament were allowed in these matches. That meant Li Kang had made this one sometime after the first round and kept it hidden. Both clever and skillful.

Maybe she should do the same? She wasn't exactly untrained in talisman crafting, but like alchemy, formations, and every other auxiliary art, she lacked true passion for it. She had learned them because a well-rounded cultivator needed to, and because they were undeniably useful, but most of the time she preferred to simply buy what she needed, or, more realistically, get them from Mo Jian. Still… it was worth considering.

A fourth-level talisman might be too complex, but even a couple of well-made third-level ones could be enough. She wasn't looking for a trump card; merely another tool. Her musings were cut short as the dust finally settled on the stage. Li Kang stood braced, one hand clenched around the smoldering remains of the used talisman, the other guiding his still-shuddering flying swords back into formation.

Chen Zhuhe's merged bead hovered protectively before him, still faintly vibrating from the clash with the golden brick. Both looked exhausted; Li Kang's robes were scorched in spots, and Chen Zhuhe was breathing hard enough that Bai Ning wondered if the emotional theatrics from earlier had eaten into his stamina. Still, neither backed down. With a shout, Li Kang launched his three swords forward again, weaving them into a twisting formation that attempted to bind the giant bead from three sides.

Chen Zhuhe responded with a forceful gesture, and the bead split apart once more, fragmenting into dozens of smaller spheres that slipped through the gaps like raindrops through a sieve. The crowd, finally deciding the fight had returned to normalcy, erupted into cheers. Bai Ning leaned forward despite herself. This was the kind of back-and-forth she had expected from those two; not tearful declarations of eternal brotherhood, but stubborn, technical brilliance.

Chen Zhuhe flicked his wrist, and the smaller beads swarmed in a spiraling vortex, darting toward Li Kang like a cloud of locusts. In response, Li Kang raised two fingers, and his sabers curved around him in tight orbits, forming a spinning shield while an illusory flying sword shot forward to break the encirclement. Both techniques collided mid-air, creating a bursting ring of light that washed over the stage. Even from her seat, Bai Ning felt the brush of qi ripple against her skin.

"Not bad," she murmured. But her appreciation faded as she noticed something off. Li Kang's flying swords were faltering, no longer moving as sharply as before. His breathing had grown ragged, and his main sword had dipped half an inch lower than it should have. Had he really spent so much of his qi already? Chen Zhuhe saw it too. His expression hardened, and the beads shifted formation, circling Li Kang like a tightening net. Bai Ning tensed. This could be the deciding moment.

If they both decided to emulate her fight with Jin Shihan, then a single, final clash could determine the victor in one move. On the other hand, there was wisdom in letting things play out naturally. She had been too caught up in the rush of her own fight to properly measure and analyze each exchange. It had turned out in her favor, but going forward she needed to remain more composed. If she had taken to the air when he used that lion-like raiment technique, couldn't she have simply outlasted him?

Unless, of course, he had a way to reach her in the air during that state. Given how drastically all his abilities had surged when he activated it, greater speed and aerial control were hardly unreasonable assumptions. So, in that situation, what was the best move? Had matching him head-on truly been the correct decision? Or should she have tried something else? The announcer's voice snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts.

"Victor: Li Kang!" She jerked her head up, absolutely shocked, only to find Li Kang standing in the middle of the stage, panting, while Chen Zhuhe sat at the edge, equally breathless. His magic beads had faint cracks spiderwebbing across them, though that paled compared to the two broken sabers lying by his side. Chen Zhuhe had clearly inflicted serious damage on Li Kang's tools, but not enough to claim victory. Even so, both men looked satisfied. Not a hint of bitterness or frustration crossed either face.

Bai Ning, however, was trapped in a loop of shock and embarrassment. Had she really missed the final clash, too lost in her own thoughts? Apparently so. She could never, ever allow anyone to learn this. With grim resolve, she straightened in her seat, narrowing her eyes at the stage as though she'd witnessed every moment with perfect clarity. There was no one in the box with her, but still, she kept her posture poised, dignified, and alert. Extremely alert. She wasn't going to blink during the next match.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. An hour later, the announcer's voice rang out again.

"Victor: Ming Tanglong!" Bai Ning's head snapped up from where she had been daydreaming; this time about how her fight might have gone if she'd drawn the monk, Fahai Sattavadeva, rather than Jin Shihan as an opponent. She blinked. Then blinked again.

"…It's over?" she asked no one in particular, as wave after wave of cheering rolled up from the stands. On the pale-white stone arena, Ming Tanglong stood alone: scorched, singed, but unmistakably victorious. His opponent, Song Shaixue, looked like he'd gone several rounds with a rank-five spirit beast, complete with gruesome injuries and blood splattered across half the stage. Ming Tanglong straightened with visible effort, then spat in his beaten opponent's direction.

"There. I return your actions from the start of the match to you," he said, voice hoarse but carrying clearly.

"You called me a dog, yet you were beaten by this dog in the end. So much for that pride you bragged about." The crowd roared its approval. Bai Ning blinked once more, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. She had missed the entire fight again. Absolutely no one could ever learn of this. Her reputation as a cultivator, as a competent cultivator, was at stake.

She folded her arms, adopting an expression of serene insight and deep contemplation, as though she had absorbed every second of the political clash with profound understanding. Inside, she was dying. But outwardly? Perfect composure. Such was the cultivation path. …………………………..........................................................................

"…and then, I knew there was only one thing to do, and you all saw me win," Li Kang boasted as they picked their way through the crowded streets of the Cloud Ring. Yue Shuangyi, with the exasperated patience of someone pushed well past her limits, repeated herself for the third time.

"And I told you, I didn't see it. I refused to watch your match at all. Do you know how embarrassing it was for me? You should be grateful I am still willing to be seen walking beside you after that ridiculous display you and Chen Zhuhe put on. If anyone thinks I behave that way…" Her tone suggested the very idea was worse than death. Seeing her opportunity, Bai Ning jumped in.

"I watched every second," she declared with loyal conviction.

"All of it, from start to finish. But since Sister Shuangyi finds it embarrassing, let's talk about something else." Li Kang deflated visibly, going from puffed-up pride to letting out a mighty, defeated exhale.

"It wasn't that bad," he muttered. But, given that he was scratching his chin sheepishly, it wasn't very convincing.

"Besides, Chen Zhuhe took it well. He would've come with us right now if he weren't off getting some kind of reward from his faction for his performance." Bai Ning nodded. There were now only six fighters left in the tournament, and the vagrant cultivators had only Yue Shuangyi remaining to represent them. Ancestor Qing's faction, by contrast, still had her, Li Kang, and Fahai Sattavadeva, putting him in the best position of all.

On the other hand, Fu Zhan, fighting under his grandfather's banner, remained the undisputed favorite to win, and Ming Tanglong's presence ensured the Song clan still had a stake in things. The next matchups would be announced at midnight; until then, they had time to relax. Among the defeated, anyone who'd performed exceptionally well was receiving rewards from their respective factions. Bai Ning supposed it was a way to bind them more tightly to their groups.

She would've thought the Lord of the Lonely Roads was the last person to care about such things, and she would be right. According to Yue Shuangyi, the so-called rogue cultivators' faction was effectively led by several orthodox sects who wanted distance from the orthodox alliance's control. Actual rogue cultivators were nowhere near the top. That was politics for you.

"All that aside," Yue Shuangyi said firmly, as if she were personally rejecting the entire topic of fights, factions, and nonsense, "we have six hours before the next matchups are announced. What should we do?" That was why the three of them were wandering the Cloud Ring together.

Mo Jian was busy with something-or-other alongside Senior Fan Mei, her parents were tied up in a meeting between sect leaders, and the only remaining option – meditating and cultivating alone – held absolutely no appeal for Bai Ning at the moment. So, she had accepted the invitation to explore the Cloud Ring with her friends. And, well… Bai Ning was paying attention to the crowd from the corner of her eye, and she definitely did not miss the looks they were receiving. Awed. Excited. Eager.

Recognition spreading like wildfire as whispers followed them: names spoken, gasps exchanged, faces lighting with realization. If not for Yue Shuangyi's icy, soul-piercing glare at anyone who so much as considered approaching, Bai Ning suspected they would have been swarmed already. If she enjoyed being popular, well, it wasn't as though it harmed anyone. Yes, Bai Ning nodded inwardly with virtuous conviction; this too was merely another trial on the path to immortality, and she was merely bearing it with grace.

"There's a famous dance show in the entertainment district," Li Kang proposed, sounding hopeful, but Yue Shuangyi was already shaking her head. Seeing that, he hurried to add, "Come on, it won't be that bad. It's a proper retelling of the siege of Nine Heavens City a thousand years ago, when the Feng line defeated the horde of demonic cultivators at their gates. Nothing, uh…" He hesitated.

"Nothing vulgar, you know." Yue Shuangyi's glare could have frozen fire itself, but Bai Ning was the one who made a face. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in history, and on any other day it might've sounded nice, but not today. A long, stuffy performance where they couldn't talk at all? Pass. She said as much.

"Maybe we can try something else? Don't they have a section reserved for bamboo pole rafting?" This time, Li Kang made a face.

"That boring old thing? All they do is race up waterfalls on bamboo poles and try to complete the dragon. I thought no one except those horrendously old elders actually liked that sort of stuff." Yue Shuangyi, whose glare had just softened, snapped it right back into place on Bai Ning's behalf.

"Have some manners," she scolded Li Kang.

"It may be boring to us, but not to everyone. How immature-" Then, realizing what she had said, she went pink.

"Ah, Sister Bai Ning-" Bai Ning cut her off, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"No, no, I don't mind. Let's think of something else." … Were her tastes really that old-fashioned? No. Absolutely not. It had to be Master Mo Jian's fault. He was the one who had rarely let her leave the cave when she was younger, and later had always dragged her to strange places like the Mistwind Cloister library or that pottery-making exhibition. Anyone would sound old-fashioned after that. Maybe coming out today had really been a good choice after all.

Bai Ning glanced around the bustling streets of the Cloud Ring. Lanterns floated above, casting a warm, golden glow over the crowd, and merchants called out their wares from every corner. It smelled of roasted meats, spiced teas, and something sweet she couldn't quite place, but it was delightful all the same. Yue Shuangyi spoke next.

"My master told me there is a shop in the western section where weavers demonstrate fuguangjin silk techniques in front of an audience. Shall we watch?" Bai Ning's eyes lit up. That sounded fascinating. She had never seen cultivators' weaving techniques in action, and it was just the kind of entertaining break she had envisioned. And while she was perfectly set when it came to clothes, she wouldn't mind browsing a little… However, the expression of sheer horror on Li Kang's face stopped them both.

He looked as if Ancestor Qing himself had descended to personally call him out for a heinous crime.

"Clothes?" he whispered, voice crushed under the weight of despair. Even his eyes looked dead. Yue Shuangyi paused, exchanged a look with Bai Ning, and both rolled their eyes. Really, what was with the dramatics?

"We can do something else, I suppose," Yue Shuangyi graciously allowed. Life seemed to rush back into Li Kang's face like the tide returning to a river mouth.

"Alright, if not weaving or bamboo rafting," Bai Ning said, "what do we want to do?" Li Kang scratched his head, genuinely stumped for the first time that day.

"We could… just wander? Explore? See what the Cloud Ring actually has to offer?" Yue Shuangyi's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Wandering without a plan? That sounds like trouble." Bai Ning grinned, ignoring the sting of truth.

"Exactly! It's the perfect kind of trouble." The three of them threaded through the crowd, stopping at curious shops and street performances. A fire-breather made them jump; a young illusionist produced a bouquet of flowers out of thin air; and a stall selling intricate jade charms kept Bai Ning lingering far longer than she intended. She finally tore herself away, hands faintly wet from the water jade she had been examining.

Li Kang was busy sampling some street food; a sweet, sticky bun that left powdered sugar clinging to his robes, while Yue Shuangyi watched him with a mixture of disapproval and amusement.

"Are you going to eat that carefully, or just smear it everywhere?" she asked. Li Kang grinned happily.

"I prefer to call it strategic sugar placement." Bai Ning laughed, shaking her head. They wandered on, passing performers painting illusions in the sky and witnessing an intricate sword duel between two cultivators on impossibly long stilts. Lanterns and dozens of small qi sources reflected off the clouds around them, casting the streets in a shimmering, magical carpet of light.

Even Yue Shuangyi allowed herself a small smile when a troupe of miniature dragon puppets danced through the crowd, breathing tiny flickers of fire that spelled out the names of legendary figures. Eventually, they found a quiet little courtyard tucked between two larger side streets. A fountain gurgled softly in the center, lanterns swaying gently overhead. Bai Ning plopped down on the edge of the fountain, letting the cool mist brush her face.

From where she sat, she could see the open sea and the endless sky stretching beyond. The sun had already set in the opposite direction, so watching the dark water below reflect the stars in the sky, and the cloud ring they were on like a celestial halo, was a strangely peaceful sight.

"This is… nice," she murmured.

"Quiet," Yue Shuangyi agreed, sitting beside her.

"A good break from the chaos of the tournament." Li Kang flopped down on the opposite side, still chewing his sugar bun.

"I could get used to this. Just wandering around and looking at stuff." For a while, the three of them simply sat there, watching the waves sway far below and listening to the distant murmur of the crowd. Lights flickered in the nearby cloud blossoms, and the scent of night-blooming flowers mingled with the warm evening air. Laughter floated from the streets beyond, drifting gently into the courtyard. Bai Ning glanced up at the star-speckled sky above, feeling lighter than she had in days.

It was a perfect, peaceful end to the day.