Chapter 298: Bold

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The first stage of the Crimson Cloud Tournament does not take place in the Imperial Palace or even in one of the surrounding districts. Instead, four large warehouses near the city limits are repurposed for the occasion. All the merchandise is cleared out, and over a hundred fighting rings are moved in. This allows for multiple matches to take place simultaneously, but even at that pace, it will take many days for the first stage to reach completion.

Pushed against the walls of the warehouses are multiple rows of seats for the audience. The view they offer is by no means great, but people still pay money to sit on them and watch. Industrious citizens are already selling vision-enhancing items outside each warehouse. In the coming days, memory jades will be worth their weight in gold.

While the audience members vibrate with anticipation and try their best to spot the most famous fighters, the competitors all move in nearly perfect silence. Their minds are busy going over their preparations. For most, this will be a grueling test of endurance. The fate of certain Sects might be altered forever depending on the outcome of the matches.

Liu Jin cannot help but feel out of place.

His qualification to the next round is a forgone conclusion that requires only his attendance. If he had his way, he’d be watching the Blue and Green Groups. However, considering the caliber of competitors involved and their masters, sending a soul fragment to spy on them is unlikely to be successful.

“You could try to look a little less threatening. Your opponents might cry if you greet them with such a fearsome scowl.”

“It is a tournament, is it not?” Liu Jin replies, glancing back at Song Daiyu while he takes his place in the ring. “One would assume being threatening is the point.”

Song Daiyu merely smiles in reply, as though she knows something he doesn’t.

She probably does.

“Should you even be here?” Liu Jin asks. “This is hardly something you needed to make time for.”

“Small venue matches have their own charm,” Song Daiyu replies. “Besides, some people, such as Lu Mei, have offered to pay for a memory jade of this.”

“Does something like this really merit recording?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised,” Song Daiyu says as Liu Jin’s first opponent of the day enters the ring.

“I greet Emperor Qing Jin of the Storm Dragon Empire,” the man says, bowing before Liu Jin with his hands clasped together. He wears colorful robes and carries a long spear on his back. His age seems to be near the limit for competition in the tournament. “Your reputation and deeds are known far and wide. This one cannot compare, so there is no need for you to bother even hearing this one’s name.”

Liu Jin raises an eyebrow.

“Shall I take that to mean you surrender?” Liu Jin asks his opponent. He notes, not without some annoyance, that several people in the surrounding rings are not even pretending to fight. They have their attention focused exclusively on him instead of their opponents.

“In a moment, Your Majesty,” his foe replies. “While my name is not worth learning, I cannot say the same about the Hundred Flower Sect from which I come. We might be a mere hundred-year-old organization, but our affinity for textiles is unmatched! This robe I am wearing is one of our latest designs. I guarantee that I would die from your attacks long before these clothes began showing signs of damage. They are exceedingly comfortable and good for warm and cold weather alike.”

“…What are you doing?” Liu Jin asks.

“I am merely proclaiming the many good aspects of my Sect, Your Majesty,” his opponent replies, “Do not believe for a second that I am suggesting His Majesty’s clothes are in any way inferior to my own! I merely wish for His Majesty to know we are willing to offer our services to the Storm Dragon Empire. Please keep us in your consideration.”

The disciple of the Hundred Flower Sect keeps speaking like that for five more minutes before finally surrendering and removing himself from the ring. Liu Jin spares a look at Song Daiyu, who seems to be trying her hardest not to laugh while hiding her face behind her fan.

“You knew this would happen.”

“Did I know that people would think this is their best chance for an audience with the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire?” Song Daiyu asks, putting a hand over her heart. “It is a possibility.”

Liu Jin blinks. When she puts it like that…

“Don’t feel bad for not having realized it sooner. You have been occupied with other matters,” she says while taking out a thick binder from a spatial storage hidden within her fan. “By the way, your next match is against the heir of Swift Steel Valley. They have a decent enough reputation, but there’s no point humoring them. Your mines offer more than theirs ever could.”

“You have prepared for this,” Liu Jin notes. Song Daiyu smiles at him.

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“The Storm Dragon Empire is a client of our Five Blessings Group. I could not possibly let you make an inferior deal.”

“Or allow too much competition for you,” Liu Jin points out. Song Daiyu’s eyes twinkle. “Fine. Let’s try to finish this quickly.”

“How optimistic of you.”

Unfortunately for Liu Jin, what follows is a thoroughly annoying experience.

“…We of the White Door are prepared to offer..”

“…so as you see, Our Thousand Vines produce much in the way of fruits and other delicacies.”

“…The Thundering Gallop merely seeks the opportunity to train under the storms of your country. To that end, we offer…”

The sheer number of people, as well as the diversity in their requests, soon makes Liu Jin very glad that he has Song Daiyu at his side. Her input allows him to quickly and efficiently sort through everyone.

“Those from the White Door are known debtors and only know how to peddle inferior products. There is no need to entertain them.”

“…You should consider their offer. The Thousand Vines produce great fruits. Your nobles will thank you. They also make fantastic wines.”

“… That one should be left to your judgment, Your Majesty.”

Despite that, some things remain far beyond Liu Jin’s expectations.

“…my womb is guaranteed to produce only male offspring. Should the Emperor wish it, I will gladly dedicate this body to-”