Chapter 75
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu was naturally a little surprised.
From the moment she learned that Xie Yijun would be taking the winner of the new disciple competition as her apprentice, Yin Qiu had been preparing to move towards that goal. Even though Gongzi Fan had given her some advice and she no longer wanted to be number one, she never slacked off in her martial arts training.
Unexpectedly, Man Jiangxue made a clear request to her at this moment.
It should be noted that Man Jiangxue never interfered with any of her thoughts from the very beginning. Even though she always taught Yin Qiu to be confident, she never said that she had to win the competition.
Why has it suddenly changed?
Seeing the confusion in Yin Qiu's expression, Man Jiangxue withdrew her hand and said as she sat down, "In the past, I only hoped that you would participate for the sake of participation, and that the ranking was not important. But now the situation has changed. Your biggest opponent is only Fu Xiang. If you can defeat Fu Xiang and become the sect leader's disciple, I will naturally be more at ease than having someone else as your master."
Yin Qiu understood this perfectly well. Man Jiangxue and Xie Yijun were disciples under their master, and their relationship was much closer than that of other fellow disciples. If she could stay by Xie Yijun's side, Man Jiangxue would definitely feel much more at ease.
But what Yin Qiu didn't understand was: "What situation has changed?"
Man Jiangxue said, "You previously said that Fu Xiang was hiding her skills, and that she might have other purposes for entering the palace. Mingyue Tower is not as docile as it seems on the surface, so Yunhua Palace must be on guard. However, the sect leader has already said that whoever wins the tournament will become her closed disciple. As the saying goes, a person cannot stand without integrity, and there is no reason to take back what has been said. Now that Fu Xiang has been added to the list of those who cannot be allowed to live, you must do your best to defeat her and prevent her from becoming the sect leader's disciple."
In other words, Yin Qiu must win first place this time to prevent Mingyue Tower from actually profiting and thus nip Fu Xiang, this variable, in the bud.
It should be known that the disciples of the sect leader can access many important matters of the palace and have the right to freely enter and leave the Mingguang Hall. For example, Ye Zhilan knows more unknown things than Ji Wanshu and Lu Huaiwei. If Fu Xiangruo really has other plans, then if she becomes Xie Yijun's disciple, it will be tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house.
Even if Xie Yijun is on guard, it is impossible for her to be perfect in everything. As long as Fu Xiang wants to, she will eventually succeed.
Yin Qiu couldn't help but feel alarmed and said, "But Fu Xiang explained it to me, and I also relayed it to my martial uncle, didn't I? She came to Yunhua Palace for a reason."
Man Jiangxue said, "But you don't know whether what she said is true or false."
Yin Qiu was taken aback: "This... but Fu Xiang shouldn't be lying to me." She paused, then said, "Besides, my master knows that Fu Xiang will eventually return to Mingyue Tower. As long as she becomes the sect leader's last disciple, she will have the opportunity to leave Yunhua Palace and won't stay for long."
Man Jiangxue said, "Have you ever considered that maybe she never intended to go back? Maybe she always wanted to enter the Mingguang Palace? The most important point is, if she really became a disciple of the sect leader, would Fu Cen definitely promise to take her back?"
What if the father and daughter were acting together from the very beginning? That's not impossible.
Yin Qiu's expression was complicated.
She hadn't thought about any of what Man Jiangxue was saying.
"Whether Fu Cen knew Fu Xiang knew kung fu or not, we have no way of knowing. Perhaps he always knew, but Fu Xiang deliberately lied to you. Everything you heard was only Fu Xiang's side of the story. If it was indeed Fu Cen who sent her here to become the sect leader's disciple, so that he could more easily access the inner workings of the palace and harm Yun Hua, then we absolutely cannot let her stay if we have any doubts."
Man Jiangxue's expression remained calm as she said this: "My senior sister and I don't necessarily want to make malicious assumptions about a junior. It's just that her identity is special and her behavior is suspicious. There are some things we have to be wary of."
Unexpectedly, things had become so difficult and involved so many stakeholders. Yin Qiu's emotions were in turmoil, and she couldn't help but fall silent.
She was still young and just a minor disciple of the palace. She hadn't experienced much of the ups and downs of the martial world, so her options were naturally limited. Even though Yin Qiu still believed that Fu Xiang wouldn't do anything bad, she had to admit that Man Jiangxue and Xie Yijun's considerations weren't entirely unreasonable.
This unexpected situation presented Yin Qiu with a tremendous problem.
She was determined to lose to Fu Xiang. Even if she had to beg and plead, she wanted to stay by Man Jiangxue's side. She never cared about being number one.
However, now Man Jiangxue has personally made a request to her, demanding that she surpass Fu Xiang and become Xie Yijun's disciple. This means that Yin Qiu's wish to go to Jingyue Peak has been completely cut off from any possibility of being realized.
At the same time, this was the first time that Man Jiangxue had clearly and explicitly asked her to do something.
Yin Qiu couldn't refuse, yet she was also somewhat unwilling.
She wondered, why did it have to be her? Didn't she have the right to choose what she wanted to do?
While she thought this way, she was also very clear that as a member of Yunhua Palace, everything had to be done with the sect in mind. Her master had said that one should always prioritize the big picture and not personal interests. Knowing how to sacrifice and compromise was the mark of a chivalrous person.
·
As night deepened, the moonlight grew stronger, and many disciples emerged from the bathhouse, their laughter and chatter making the silence inside the room all the more apparent.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Man Jiangxue looked at Yin Qiu, her tone very gentle.
Yin Qiu looked at her listlessly with a bitter expression.
Knowing that Yin Qiuding couldn't digest these complicated matters in a short time, Man Jiangxue said, "You don't need to think too much. Just do your best tomorrow. If you really can't beat Fu Xiang, the sect leader has other arrangements. Don't worry."
Yin Qiu raised her eyes: "Does the sect leader have any other plans?"
Man Jiangxue said, "Either notify Fu Cen as soon as possible to pick up Fu Xiang, or arrange for Fu Xiang to go down the mountain to gain experience. In short, it doesn't matter where she goes, she just can't stay in the palace."
After a moment of silence, Yin Qiu couldn't help but ask, "But is this fair to Fu Xiang?"
Man Jiangxue sighed softly: "From a moral standpoint, it is naturally unfair, but from a strategic perspective, it is a precaution. To maintain fairness for the sake of a potential threat is to risk losing more than you gain in the end. You must remember that there is no absolute fairness in this world."
Yin Qiu remained silent for a long time, then closed her eyes and said, "I understand."
Seeing that Yin Qiu looked somber, Man Jiangxue comforted her gently. The two sat in the room for a while, then took clean clothes to the bathhouse to bathe. When they returned, the disciples' rooms in the courtyard were all dark. Most of the disciples had to participate in the conference the next day, so they all went to bed early.
After extinguishing the candles and getting into bed, Yin Qiu nestled in Man Jiangxue's arms, her mind filled with countless thoughts, unable to fall asleep.
She recalled Fu Xiang's words and actions that day, the kindness Fu Xiang had shown her since they met, Meng Jing's well-intentioned reminder, and what Man Jiangxue had said tonight. Various images flashed through her mind, like a shadow play, one scene after another appearing before her eyes. Yin Qiu's heart was clenched with worry and confusion about the coming of tomorrow.
So what should we do?
With this question constantly weighing on her mind, Yin Qiu was filled with worry and dared not sigh. She could only force herself to calm down and gradually drifted off to sleep in the warm embrace of Man Jiangxue.
The next morning, the bell in the courtyard rang as usual. Man Jiangxue washed up first, and then called Yin Qiu to get up. The two ate in the room, and then Man Jiangxue left the disciples' courtyard to meet Xie Yijun in the Mingguang Hall. Yin Qiu went to the training ground to assemble, following the procedure that Xu Lianzhi had instructed the day before.
Today the weather was clear and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky. The field was filled with a dense crowd of people, all of whom were new disciples who had entered the palace last year.
Xu Lianzhi called out names one by one according to the roster, gave some instructions on the precautions for the conference, and then led everyone toward the dueling platform.
The new disciples' assembly finally arrived, and the disciples were naturally overjoyed. They couldn't hide their excitement and chatter incessantly along the way. Xu Lianzhi was also exceptionally tolerant today. Hearing the noise behind them, which sounded like sparrows chirping, he didn't scold them. Instead, he would occasionally turn around and say a few words of laughter. The atmosphere of the whole group was very joyful and harmonious.
Upon arriving at the Sword Debate Platform, the stands were filled with figures. The older disciples who had participated in the tournament before were all sitting in the stands waiting to watch the excitement. When they saw Xu Lianzhi leading the group, they all stood up with great enthusiasm, shouting and cheering. For a moment, the area around the Sword Debate Platform was filled with loud voices, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Yin Qiu walked calmly through the ranks. He looked up and saw Xie Yijun and Man Jiangxue sitting in the center of the stands, with elders from various peaks on either side. Ye Zhilan, Lu Huaiwei, and other senior disciples from the peaks were also standing behind them, all casting expectant and smiling glances in their direction.
Outside the arena, several disciples counted the time and rang the bell. After the ethereal and melodious bell sound subsided, the exciting sound of drums followed.
Xu Lianzhi instructed her disciples to take their seats in the empty stands and announced loudly, "In a moment, senior brothers and sisters will perform sword dances to entertain the guests, followed by a series of songs and dances. After they leave, the competition will officially begin. According to the list I have, you will compete in pairs. Those whose names are called will enter the arena to compete, while those whose names are not called will remain in the stands to watch and are not allowed to leave their seats at will." She then emphasized, "During the sparring, remember to stop when you have made your point. Do not use any killing moves, and do not injure your fellow disciples. Anyone found to have overstepped the bounds will be expelled from the palace on the spot. Do you all understand?"
The disciples quickly answered in unison, "We understand!"
Xu Lianzhi looked satisfied and encouraged everyone loudly before taking his seat and looking down at the disciples who were about to enter and perform their sword dance.
·
A cool breeze swept by, bringing with it the lingering chill of autumn. On the sword-fighting platform, the senior brothers and sisters, dressed in matching disciple robes, began their sword dance, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The surroundings were filled with laughter and joy, and everyone was excited and beaming with happiness. Only Yin Qiu remained indifferent and showed no emotion from beginning to end.
A moment later, the figure beside her moved a few times. Yin Qiu turned her head and saw that Fu Xiang had switched seats with the disciple next to her. Fu Xiang was holding a bag of food in her hand and said with a smile, "I got up late and missed breakfast. Luckily, I had some leftover pastries from last night. Do you want some?"
Yin Qiu glanced at her twice and slowly shook her head: "I've already eaten, you can eat."
Fu Xiang said "Oh" and squatted down next to Yin Qiu to eat heartily. She stared intently at the figure dancing with a sword below, clearly in a good mood. As she ate, she kept cheering along with the other disciples, her face beaming with excitement and high spirits.
Seeing her like this, Yin Qiu unconsciously frowned. Several times, the words she wanted to say were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back.
She didn't know how to start the conversation.
Fu Xiang, however, seemed to notice her unusual behavior and turned to ask, "Why are you so calm? You don't even have a reaction. Aren't you happy?"
Yin Qiu subconsciously clenched her fists, paused for a moment, and then said, "It's nothing, I'm probably just a little nervous."
Fu Xiang looked at her and laughed: "Just a few days ago you said you were going to beat me to a pulp, why are you getting nervous now that it's happening?"
Yin Qiu looked at her, hesitant to speak, but ultimately suppressed her inner impulse and replied, "After all, it's going to be a martial arts competition in front of so many people in the palace, so it's a bit nerve-wracking."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Fu Xiang said excitedly. "I've already asked my instructor, and I'll be competing before you. With me leading the way, I'm sure I'll give you a good start. Don't be nervous, just wait and see how I perform!"
Listening to her words of comfort, Yin Qiu felt both touched and tormented. She remained silent, her gaze blank, her mind wandering again. After a while, the senior brothers and sisters who had been performing the sword dance bowed and withdrew, and another group of singing and dancing disciples took the stage. Yin Qiu sat there for a long time, her mind heavy with thoughts, before finally making up her mind to take Fu Xiang's hand and say, "Come with me."
After she finished speaking, she got up and walked away. Fu Xiang was pulled back and stumbled. Looking at Xu Lianzhi's back, she whispered, "Where are you going? I told you not to leave the table without permission!"
Yin Qiu didn't say anything, but walked to the back of the stands with a stoop. He found an empty spot to sit down and saw that there was no one on either side of him. The disciples in front of him were all playing around and didn't notice that someone was coming from behind. So Yin Qiu lowered his voice and said, "Fu Xiang, do you really want to go back to Mingyue Tower?"
Noticing Yin Qiu's serious expression, Fu Xiang knew she must have something important to say, so she also said seriously, "Yes, didn't I already tell you?"
Yin Qiu held her wrist tightly, her brows furrowed, and said, "Then I'll ask you one more time, why did you come to Yunhua Palace?"
Fu Xiang was slightly taken aback, then said with a strange expression, "What's gotten into you again? I already told you this months ago, why are you asking me again now?"
Yin Qiu's expression turned serious: "If you win first place in the competition and become the sect leader's last disciple, will your father definitely take you back?"
Fu Xiang looked her over, thought for a moment and said, "Probably... Actually, he said this on the way to Yunhua Palace." Fu Xiang sighed, "My father said that if you don't get first place, you're no different from a good-for-nothing, and he doesn't want to raise a good-for-nothing. So if I want to go back, the only way is to defeat everyone and win the tournament."
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu stared intently at Fu Xiang and asked, "You're not lying to me?"
Fu Xiang rolled her eyes: "What good would it do me to lie to you?"
"Then swear an oath."
"Do we need to swear an oath for this?"
"You don't dare?"
Fu Xiang said speechlessly, "What's there to be afraid of? What's wrong with you today?"
Yin Qiu didn't answer, but urged, "Swear an oath first!"
"What... what's wrong with you?" Fu Xiang was completely baffled, but she still complied with Yin Qiu, putting two fingers together and saying, "Alright, alright, I, Fu Xiang, swear to heaven that what I just said was absolutely true, otherwise may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death, okay?"
Seeing that she had indeed sworn a solemn oath, Yin Qiu's expression softened somewhat. Hesitantly, she said, "Fu Xiang... I truly consider you a good friend, and I genuinely hope you won't lie to me." She looked directly at Fu Xiang and said, word by word, "You are indeed someone I can entrust with my life, aren't you?"
Meeting those sincere eyes, Fu Xiang's heart skipped a beat for some reason. She quickly grasped Yin Qiu's hand and said, "Of course! I truly consider you a good friend too!"
“Very good,” Yin Qiu said. “When it’s our turn to fight later, you must go all out and not hold back at all.”
Fu Xiang glanced at her with a smile and said, "Only a puppy would give way to you. I have to hurry back before my stepmother gives birth and get the position of young master as soon as possible. If I miss this opportunity, it will be as difficult as climbing to the sky later. I definitely won't give way to you."
Amidst the clamor, Yin Qiu gazed at her for a long time before finally managing a smile and saying, "Then after you return to Mingyue Tower, you must remember to write to me often."
Fu Xiang patted her chest: "Does that even need to be said? Of course I wouldn't forget to write to you!" After she finished speaking, she felt that something seemed wrong and glared at Yin Qiu, saying, "We haven't even started fighting yet, why are you acting like I, Wei, am going to win? You keep saying that Uncle Man taught you to be confident, but I don't think you've learned that at all."
Yin Qiu lowered her eyelashes and said softly, "Yes, I still haven't learned it..."
Author's note: Happy Labor Day everyone!
It's good to send out red envelopes during the holidays, and leave a comment before midnight!
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