Chapter 299: To The Clouds

~~~

No one else fights Liu Jin for the remainder of the day. In fact, what is left of the first stage ends up being fairly uneventful. Those with the courage to stand before him and plead their case after sensing his terrifying aura can be counted on one hand. When looked at in that light, it can be argued that confronting the Wandering Wind was the most correct choice.

All the same, Liu Jin has never felt comfortable being feared.

“You frown so deeply despite sharing a room with me. An ordinary lady might feel offended.”

Liu Jin looks at Lu Mei. She is already on the bed, having changed into her sleeping clothes. Meanwhile, he sits by the windowsill, staring at the Crimson Cloud. Even in the evening sky, the form of the red stadium floating above the Imperial Palace is impossible to miss.

“I suppose I am fortunate that you are no ordinary lady,” Liu Jin says.

“Was that ever in doubt?”

Liu Jin smiles. “Not at all.”

Unlike him, Lu Mei is quite pleased by the events that transpired. The Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire publicly confronted the Wandering Wind and lived. Those strong enough know better than to be swayed by such tales, but it is yet another addition to his legend.

All the same, Liu Jin hadn’t meant to tap into his Dao so publicly. While it was always going to happen, Su An’s appearance rattled him far more than he’d expected.

“Do you miss her so strongly?” Lu Mei asks him.

“To a degree that surprises me,” Liu Jin says. “Su An was a dear friend to me back in Eastern Port City. However, I would be lying if I said I thought much about her after the city’s fall. She was just… just another person I failed.”

Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t thought about her much. Everything that reminded him of Eastern Port City… it was easier for his mind to ignore it. Anything else hurt a bit too much.

Liu Jin takes a deep breath. His Qi relaxes.

“Everything changed after I found out she was alive,” Liu Jin says. “Every moment that passes without her by my side feels like a personal affront. When the Wandering Wind arrived with her, I couldn’t control myself. Failing to act would have been too much. That is how it felt…”

“Interesting,” Lu Mei says, hugging a pillow to her chest. “Just so we are both clear on this, you do realize a part of this is tied to how possessive you have become about people, right?”

Liu Jin grimaces. He’d hoped it was just a baseless worry, but Lu Mei bringing it up means it is anything but. The number of times Liu Jin has caught himself speaking or thinking about people with anything resembling a sense of ownership is…not insignificant.

“Do not misunderstand. It is very endearing. A lady likes to feel desired, and sudden bursts of possessiveness are appreciated,” Lu Mei says. “However…”

Liu Jin hangs his head. “I am a dragon.”

“That is the most likely explanation,” Lu Mei says, shrugging. “Does it bother you?”

“Not nearly as much as it once would have,” Liu Jin replies. “I have been changing since the day I left Eastern Port City, and I can think of worse things than valuing those who matter most to me. Besides, if you thought it was a problem, you would have spoken to me about this long before today.”

“Oh? You trust me that much?”

“Completely,” Liu Jin says. Lu Mei’s cheeks turn crimson.

“Always so gallant,” Lu Mei says, “But can I really call you gallant if you ignore a beautiful lady all night just too brood?”

Liu Jin smiles and stands up.

“That would be terribly uncouth of me, wouldn’t it?”

~~~

Once the first round of the Crimson Cloud Tournament is over, the remaining competitors are given a few days to rest and prepare for the next stage. Those who made it to the Top One Thousand are now known throughout the city and beyond, while those who failed to carve their names among that number have already faded into obscurity, becoming nothing more than faces in the crowd.

Memory jades of the most memorable battles thus far can be found in nearly every district. They are enjoyed by adults and children alike and studied meticulously by experienced gamblers and second-stage competitors.

Throughout it all, the Crimson Cloud grows. The red stadium floating above the palace already boasted an impressive size, but ever since the first stage finished, it has become larger still. Its crimson color is more vivid, and the clouds it is made of have spread, forming a thick red carpet that covers the Imperial Palace at all times of the day.

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Thus, when the first day of the second stage arrives, the remaining competitors gather under the shadow of the Crimson Cloud.

“Just as the wheat is separated from the chaff, you have all risen above your peers by virtue of your own excellence,” Emperor Xiang says to the one thousand competitors still in the tournament. “However, that is not enough. A thousand is far too many.”

The air is heavy with tension. Gathered in front of the Emperor are the brightest talents this generation has to offer. They are standing in the palace courtyard, arranged in twenty lines of fifty people. Those ranked highest stand closest to the front, while the last places stand at the back. Even as the Emperor talks, they look at each other with measuring gazes.