Chapter 142: Unrivaled Presence, A Calm Demeanor
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
“This boy is extraordinary…”
Beneath the White Jade Terrace, Cao Jin Song couldn’t help but mutter as he watched Ji You standing on the stage.
At the start of the duel, Instructor Cao had been too nervous to watch directly. Instead, he listened to the murmurs of the surrounding spectators. It was only when Ji You first landed a successful strike, piercing Chu He’s robe, that he finally turned his head in shock.
Chu He’s Huntian Spell was too formidable. Instructor Cao had realized this the moment he witnessed Chu He slay Du Zhu with a single sword strike.
He had even prepared a white flag to throw onto the stage should Ji You need to surrender. However, he never told Ji You about this—he only advised him not to carry too much burden and to wield his sword freely.
To Instructor Cao, no Inner Court title, no Noble Clan, was worth a life. If one lost their life, everything else was meaningless.
Was Ji You merely facing Chu He? No, he was facing the Chu Clan of You Prefecture, a clan with a thousand years of heritage.
Would throwing the white flag be disgraceful? No, not in the least.
Yet, even Instructor Cao had not anticipated that the very same “extraordinary young man” he had brought from Yuyang County had grown this much in just one year.
Cao Jin Song snapped out of his daze and looked towards the direction where Chu He had fallen.
Chu He had endured seven strikes of Huntian Energy, then been sent flying by another seven strikes. Now, drenched in blood, he still stood, albeit stiffly.
The Chu Clan members had already vacated their seats. The elderly attendant behind Chu He immediately rushed forward with furrowed brows, escorting the young master back to the clan’s seating area.
Seeing this, the audience exchanged glances.
The sheer might of Sevenfold Mountain had been witnessed firsthand. Yet, despite being covered in blood, Chu He appeared as if he had suffered no substantial injuries.
Meanwhile, Ji You stood in the center of the stage, sword in hand, eyes slowly closing as he gathered himself. Spiritual energy coursed through his limbs, restoring his vitality.
“Two matches remain. How will Chu He continue?”
“The foundation of the Chu Clan runs deep. We cannot predict their full hand. There must be more to come.”
“If this is only the first match and it’s already like this… are we even cultivating the same Dao?”
“Of course not. Which of their techniques can you even use?”
“At this level… people might actually die.”
As murmurs spread, the audience’s anticipation for the next two matches only grew stronger. Yet, Wen Zheng Xin and others felt an undercurrent of worry.
They feared that Chu He still had even more unfathomable techniques hidden away.
They knew that Ji You’s sword arts from Spirit Sword Mountain only included Little Overlapping Mountain, New Willow Color, and Return and Come.
In the first match, he had used all three styles to barely defeat Chu He. If Chu He still had hidden aces, Ji You would be at a disadvantage.
However, what no one expected was that, after a long moment, Ji You suddenly opened his eyes. The golden glow in his pupils faded, and he descended from the stage. Stepping toward the Three Stewards of the Office of Affairs, his posture was striking.
“Standing tall at seven feet, he stepped down the stage with steady poise, surveying his surroundings like a tiger. His expression remained calm…”
“From a distance, he possessed an imposing aura, walking with the stride of a dragon and a tiger. He stopped before the Three Stewards of the Office of Affairs…”
“His back was broad, his muscles refined, his blood surging like a rainbow, concealing an immense force within…”
A disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain wrote furiously, filling pages with sweeping brushstrokes.
Beside him, another disciple swiftly sketched, his charcoal pencil capturing the essence of the moment, bringing the sword-wielding figure on paper to life.
When they finished, the two handed their works to a female disciple behind them, whose arms already held a thick stack of writings and illustrations.
Standing before her was the Titled Princess Chang Le of the Prince Chong’s Mansion. She had been gazing at the writings and sketches for a long time.
“May I ask for your name, young lady?” she finally inquired.
“Zhuo Wan Qiu, Inner Court disciple of Mystic Sword Peak.”
“Miss Zhuo, I, too, once studied at Spirit Sword Mountain, though as a royal relative, I was confined to cultivating in Shengjing. By all accounts, we are of the same lineage.”
Zhuo Wan Qiu glanced at her while holding the sketches. “I know you are the Titled Princess Chang Le. Speak your mind.”
The princess smiled faintly, lowering her gaze. “Would you allow me to commission an artist to make a copy of these sketches and writings?”
Upon hearing this, several other noble ladies and disciples of different sects turned their attention toward her.
They had initially been unaware of the significance behind the writing and sketching. Now, seeing the masterfully written words and the bare-chested swordsman vividly drawn on paper, they immediately regretted not requesting a copy earlier.
That moment should have been preserved forever. They hurriedly joined in, supporting the princess’s request.
However, Zhuo Wan Qiu merely shook her head and refused outright.
“No.”
The Titled Princess Chang Le frowned slightly but remained patient. “Money is not an issue. Spiritual stones either. All I ask is for a single duplicate.”
“These are Spirit Sword Mountain secrets. Not only can I not give you a copy, but you are not even allowed to look at them further.”
“Ji You is a disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy, and today is the Outer Court Autumn Duel of that academy. How does this concern Spirit Sword Mountain’s secrets?”
“That… is not for you to know.”
Zhuo Wan Qiu inwardly scoffed. This is not just a secret of Spirit Sword Mountain—it is the secret of my family’s Little Mirror Master.
Before coming here, the Little Mirror Master had given strict orders: once the sketches were done, they were to be taken back immediately. No one was allowed to see them.
Seeing our Young Master’s bare body on stage was already a privilege, yet you all dare to ask for a keepsake? Do you fear the swords of Spirit Sword Mountain?
At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed from the mountain path.
Zhuo Wan Qiu lifted her gaze and saw He Ling Xiu approaching with a serious expression.
The visit of the Heavenly Script Academy to Spirit Sword Mountain for a Dao inquiry had not been long past, and the rift between the two sects had yet to truly mend.
For instance, at this observation of the battle, the disciples of the Office of Affairs had deliberately assigned Spirit Sword Mountain a less-than-favorable seating position.
Furthermore, He Ling Xiu, having previously suffered defeat at Spirit Sword Mountain, likely still harbored resentment. This made Zhuo Wan Qiu somewhat wary.
However, what she had not expected was that this direct disciple of the Hall of Tranquility did not display hostility but instead fixed her gaze on the painting in Zhuo Wan Qiu’s hands.
“I have already sent a disciple down the mountain to find a painter. This must be copied.”
“?”
“This Autumn Duel has far exceeded everyone’s expectations. I must ensure that the academy retains a record of it. After all, this is a matter of the Heavenly Script Academy, and Ji You is my junior brother. I do not require the original draft, but I must have a copy. Otherwise, you can forget about taking it with you.”
Listening to He Ling Xiu’s righteous declaration, Zhuo Wan Qiu couldn’t help but glance at the manuscript and painting in her hands.
She hardly believed this was merely for the sake of documentation. If such records were truly needed, that should be the responsibility of the Office of Affairs, not the concern of a direct disciple of the Inner Court Hall.
At the heart of the matter, it all boiled down to the irresistible allure of their Little Mirror Master’s possessions.
[Ah, Little Mirror Master… this cannot be blamed on me. If you must blame someone, blame your husband for being such a calamity of beauty…]
Meanwhile, the White Jade Terrace was abuzz with excitement.
Countless cultivators engaged in fervent discussion regarding the battle they had just witnessed while awaiting the commencement of the second round.
However, they were soon struck with astonishment as they saw Ji You, after a brief exchange with the three stewards, sheathing his long sword and departing in a swirl of sword aura, his figure exuding a commanding presence beneath the golden sunlight.
At the same time, Cao Jin Song, standing below the White Jade Terrace, felt his chest tighten as if it had suddenly been inflated with air, swelling up rapidly.
This sight left the awaiting disciples puzzled, exchanging bewildered glances, while Ban Yang Shu, Wen Zheng Xin, Pei Ru Yi, and others quickly followed after him.
The direction Ji You headed towards was his residence—Elegant Garden by Azure Lake.
On the seventh day following Autumn’s Descent, a light drizzle fell, bringing a crisp chill to the Capital as the lingering summer heat waned.
The disciples of the Office of Affairs arrived at the White Jade Terrace, accompanied by artisans from the Capital, pulling in carts laden with sand and bricks to re-pave the stage.
Many disciples passing by could not help but pause, their gazes filled with unspoken thoughts.
For it was on this very spot, just the day before, that they had witnessed the unparalleled display of Seven Swords.
Yet, contrary to their expectations, the second and third matches never took place. The duel ended abruptly, and everyone simply dispersed.
Ji You had returned to Elegant Garden by Azure Lake, while the Chu Clan had left in carriages that same day. No one knew whether the Autumn Duel had concluded or why such a grand event had been cut short so suddenly.
“Could it be that the Office of Affairs is giving Chu He time to recover, only to resume the fight later?”
“They can do that?”
“The Office of Affairs has always played favorites. If they were to pull off such a shameless move, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
In the corridors near Azure Lake, many disciples speculated on the sudden halt of the battle, the most prevalent theory being that the Autumn Duel had been paused to allow Chu He time to recuperate.
Their reasoning stemmed from past instances of favoritism by the Office of Affairs.
Otherwise, why had the match not been settled on the same day? Why had no official victor been announced?
After all, when Chu He was sent flying off the White Jade Terrace, he had immediately stood back up, clearly still capable of continuing the fight. So why had it been stopped so abruptly?
Meanwhile, along a mountain path, Lu Qing Qiu walked under an oiled-paper umbrella, heading towards the Instructional Hall.
Following the Autumn Duel came the Autumn Enrollment, the admission period for new disciples.
Her younger sister was set to join the Heavenly Script Academy this year, and she had come to meet Instructor Ma Zhi Yuan, who oversaw recruitment in Yun Prefecture.
Pushing open the doors to the Instructional Hall, she saw Ma Zhi Yuan seated at his desk, a scallion in his left hand and half a pancake in his right.
“Instructor Ma, is this all you’re eating?”
Ma Zhi Yuan looked up at her and grumbled, “Nothing much… I’ve lost some money these past few days…”
Lu Qing Qiu responded with an understanding nod before explaining her reason for coming and extending an invitation to visit the Lu Clan of Yun Prefecture.
In truth, her clan had already discussed this matter with Ma Zhi Yuan in advance, and her younger sister possessed sufficient talent to be admitted into the academy.
After confirming the arrangements, Lu Qing Qiu was about to take her leave when she hesitated and turned back.
“Instructor, what exactly happened with the Autumn Duel? Will there still be a match?”
Ma Zhi Yuan looked up at her and replied plainly, “No more matches. Ji You has already won. He’ll likely enter the Inner Court before the Autumn Enrollment.”
Lu Qing Qiu slightly parted her lips, a trace of astonishment in her gaze. “But why wasn’t there a second round?”
“Because there was no need.”
While the Autumn Duel was structured as a best-of-three Ring Defense Match, exceptional circumstances could override the format.
For instance, Du Zhu, who had been struck down by Chu He in a single blow, had voluntarily forfeited, thus no second round had taken place.
Taking another bite of his pancake, Ma Zhi Yuan added, “There’s talk that Ji You’s physique is one that can be passed down through bloodline. Whether that’s true or not, his displayed strength is undeniable. Qing Qiu, you should give it some thought—missing an opportunity like this would be a shame.”
“But… how exactly did he win?”
“Because both of Chu He’s arms were broken.”
Ouch!