Chapter 308

Chapter 308: Really Made the Martial Alliance Lose Face

Following the sound, they looked over and saw Jiang Liu Yun swinging his sword with a miserable face.

Yu Zhi Yi asked him, curious: “Why are you up in the middle of the night instead of sleeping, practicing your sword?”

People who train in martial arts practice all the time, but everyone has their habits. Most prefer mornings, like Jiang Liu Yun. Ever since they met, he always rose early to practice. Even after returning to Mount Ming, he never changed that routine.

So, doing something this unusual at midnight naturally made people curious.

Jiang Liu Yun forced a smile and said: “N-no reason. I suddenly realized my skills aren’t good enough, so I want to level up a bit.”

Yu Zhi Yi raised a brow, clearly sensing that wasn’t the truth.

But since he didn’t want to talk, she didn’t pry. Martial artists are tough; a few more rounds of practice won’t hurt. She waved a hand and said: “Then keep going. I’m going to rest.”

Jiang Liu Yun visibly let out a breath of relief and said: “Alright, Sister, rest well.”

After Yu Zhi Yi left, Jiang Liu Yun’s eyes sharpened as he continued to practice. [Why was he practicing in the middle of the night? Because Big Brother punished him.]

Big Brother said that Jiang Liu Yun had gone out but failed to protect Sister, so he should be punished.

At first, Jiang Liu Yun was unconvinced: [But nothing happened, right?]

Big Brother replied that nothing happened only because Sister’s own abilities were strong; that didn’t excuse him for failing to protect her. If he had been a bit smarter and a bit stronger, Sister would not have needed to be goaded into stepping onto the field.

Why did those people want Sister to take the field? Was it truly because they worried that after Chen Xin Yue was gone, the Martial Alliance couldn’t perform?

Of course not.

They were bullying Sister because she didn’t know martial arts. A person who can’t fight stepping onto the field-especially while representing the Martial Alliance-has a nine-out-of-ten chance to lose.

As for whether someone who can’t fight, and maybe can’t even ride, might get hurt after being pushed up there-who would care?

They didn’t care. In fact, they were hoping Sister would get hurt.

Then they could mock the Martial Alliance as much as they liked.

If Sister hadn’t been able to hold her own, today’s outing would not only have completely disgraced the Martial Alliance, it might also have left Sister badly injured-on top of all the jeers and insults.

Jiang Liu Yun hadn’t considered any of this before, so he accepted his punishment.

After swinging his sword twenty thousand times, he went to the Bronze Men Formation behind the mountain. That formation is a Martial Alliance specialty. Usually it’s just a training tool, but if you trigger its punishment mode, it’s vicious. [If you can help it, no one wants to trigger it; it’s nearly a death sentence.]

Over the next few days, Yu Zhi Yi didn’t see Jiang Liu Yun. But he wore her defensive jade pendant and looked clean and uninjured, so there was no need to worry.

She didn’t think much of it. The next morning at breakfast, Jiang Liu Shuang had changed into a blue long robe, yet no outfit could hide how flashy he was. Yu Zhi Yi thought it was amazing that someone as proper as Alliance Leader Jiang and someone as proper as Jiang Liu Ting for a Big Brother could end up with such a flamboyant son and brother.

“Second Sister, I’m going out,” Jiang Liu Shuang said.

Yu Zhi Yi let her gaze sweep across his face and answered, calm: “Third Brother, suit yourself.”

He lifted a hand, wanting to pat her shoulder, but she sidestepped. He didn’t mind. He gave her a meaningful look, then swaggered away.

Yu Zhi Yi knew exactly what that look meant: [You’re telling me, “I’m about to make you eat your words.”]

She couldn’t be bothered. [He’ll probably end up in a coma and then get his yang drained in a dream. Since he won’t die, there’s nothing to worry about.]

As the date of the Earthly Ranking conference drew near, more and more people arrived at the Martial Alliance. The Alliance’s territory is large, and there are plenty of places to stay on the mountain. Aside from the few who enjoy the lively atmosphere in the county city or those not qualified to lodge with the Martial Alliance, many people brought their families and came up the mountain with invitations.

Yu Zhi Yi didn’t like crowds. After she finished exploring Mount Ming early on, she nestled in her small courtyard and didn’t bother going out unless necessary.

At dusk, the family headed to the dining hall. The Martial Alliance has few hard rules, but there is one: everyone must eat three meals together-unless you are off the mountain.

Yu Zhi Yi followed local custom and didn’t ask for any special treatment.

Just as she was about to step out, the Marquis Wu’an heir apparent returned. Li Rou visibly relaxed, though she said nothing. The Marquis Wu’an heir apparent first bowed to Yu Zhi Yi, then glanced at Li Rou and said: “Miss, I need two men.”

Yu Zhi Yi studied his face for a moment and said: “Go back and wash up first, bring more dry rations, and rest one day before you go. It will be just as good.”

The Marquis Wu’an heir apparent blinked. Such a request was a bit odd. But he knew Yu Zhi Yi wasn’t someone who spoke without reason, so he nodded.

He had been out a full day and night. He should have gone to wash and rest, but as a guard he wasn’t fussy; he planned to wait until Yu Zhi Yi turned in before doing that. So he followed the two of them toward the dining hall.

On the way they saw several strangers-people here for the Earthly Ranking conference. The Martial Alliance provides a separate place to feed them; they don’t eat with the Jiang Clan.

Yu Zhi Yi and the others looked straight ahead, not paying those people any mind. The newcomers, however, were obviously old hands around the Martial Alliance. Seeing how unfamiliar Yu Zhi Yi looked, they quickly guessed she was the newly found Second Miss.

Some faces turned very strange. A few people were about to step up and chat.

Yu Zhi Yi anticipated their move and immediately quickened her pace. One sharp turn and she slipped past them, reaching the dining hall in no time.

People of the martial world, no matter how shameless, won’t enter the host’s dining hall without an invitation. So those folks could only watch as Yu Zhi Yi and her party disappeared.

Someone couldn’t help spitting and grumbled: “What is she, anyway? Think she’s some rich young lady? Too good to talk to us? As if I was dying to chat with her!”

At that moment, the Marquis Wu’an heir apparent hadn’t turned the corner yet. Hearing that, he looked back at the speaker, his gaze icy.

People from the Imperial Court and people of the martial world feel very different. Especially the Marquis Wu’an heir apparent, who had been raised since childhood as the heir of a marquis-his nobility and presence speak for themselves.

Pinned by that gaze, the man felt a chill run through him, as if his head was about to slip off his neck. Only when the Marquis Wu’an heir apparent looked away did he feel his head stick back on again.

He exhaled, then flared up in anger: “What is he, anyway? Just a lackey, and he dares glare at me!”

He gave a cold laugh and added: “That Second Miss is exactly like the rumors say, putting on airs! Who knows where she grew up to learn such fake manners. She’s nothing like someone from the Martial Alliance-really made the Martial Alliance lose face.”