Chapter 52: Merciless

~~~

His three matches after defeating Chang Wei all go in similar ways. The match after that, Liu Jin wins by default. His would-be opponent was incapacitated during a previous fight. With six wins and one loss, Liu Jin is guaranteed to pass to the next stage. Even if he were to lose the two fights that remain, his position as second in the group would not change.

That doesn’t mean his remaining opponents surrender without a fight.

For some, this is their only chance to fight someone from the Xiao Sect. Even if they lose, they can tell themselves, “At least I lost to someone from the Xiao Sect.” They probably intend to take that sort of story with them.

Besides…

Their opponent is someone who has already fought several matches. Surely, he must be getting tired. Surely, they have a chance of beating him? Imagine if they could defeat Xiao Zheng’s son-in-law during the Eastern Port City Tournament? What a boon to their reputation and that of their Sect that would be!

They do their best to defeat Liu Jin with those sorts of thoughts in their heads.

It’s possible Liu Jin made a mistake in making himself look weak. If he hadn’t, they would have undoubtedly surrendered out of fear. All the same, he didn’t want to give away all his skills too early. The stares coming from some of the other groups during his fights were not hard to miss.

In the end, Liu Jin wins eight out of the nine matches he has to fight in the group stage.

“Why?”

Cui Tian finishes as first of the group, but he does not go to his fellow disciples to celebrate. Instead, after the announcement has been made, the teen chooses to walk up to him.

If Liu Jin were Xiao Nan, he could intimidate Cui Tian with a smile. If he were Xiao Fang, he would already be halfway through a rant about Cui Tian’s lack of proper decorum. To walk up to a member of the Xiao Sect and address them as though they were equals is neither proper nor smart.

In the end, Liu Jin decides to do as his Master would.

“Why what?”

Cui Tian’s face twitches with annoyance. Obviously, Liu Jin knows exactly what Cui Tian wants to know. However, he is under no obligation to make things easy for Cui Tai.

While Cui Tian has not done anything wrong, being looked down on for so long has worn down Liu Jin’s patience.

“This one is not so foolish as to believe an honored disciple of the Xiao Sect would willingly shame his Sect. When you surrendered our match, I was shocked, but I never once believed the honored disciple of the Xiao Sect before me did so out of fear.”

That made him smarter than most of the people around him.

“The honored disciple’s performance in the latter matches only confirmed this. That is why this one is forced to come to the following conclusion. The honored disciple before me wanted to finish in second place.”

Liu Jin holds Cui Tian’s gaze for several seconds. A tense silence fills the air between the two. Beads of sweat start appearing on Cui Tian’s forehead.

Finally, Liu Jin nods.

“I did.”

Cui Tian looks shocked, not having expected for Liu Jin to admit it so bluntly.

“Why?”

Liu Jin sighs.

“I cannot blame you for not knowing how the groups and brackets were arranged ahead of time. However, you should have kept an eye on the strongest participants of the tournament. If you had, you would know what awaits you.”

Liu Jin leaves him with that. He knows a confused Cui Tian will soon go to see the brackets, and he knows exactly what he will find there. Usually, the first place of one group will fight the second place of another group, but that is not always the case. Even if Liu Jin finds this whole situation particularly suspicious, it will not change what Cui Tian’s next match will be.

Yun Han of the Yun Sect vs. Cui Tian of the Seven Leaves School.

~~~

“Did you all see that? That is what happens to those who challenge the Xiao Sect! Kowtow before this daddy!”

Big Nose Li is not a gracious victor.

With a perfect record of nine wins and zero losses, he will pass to the next round as the first of his group. Rather than being satisfied with that, he has taken to strutting around the ring, throwing his arms up high and shouting for all to hear. This behavior is sure to earn him many enemies. Already he is being looked at with venomous glares.

As he is of the Xiao Sect, it is unlikely that this will have any negative repercussions on him.

“He really should learn when to shut up.”

Su An looks like she wants to go to the ring and slap his face. Just like Liu Jin, she passed the group stage. Unlike Liu Jin, she finished first in her group. The two are watching the groups that have yet to finish from the comfort of the Xiao Sect’s private room.

“Ah, I can only imagine how angry the fellow disciples of those that oaf beat are going to be,” an Inner Disciple says, shaking his head melodramatically. “I don’t need someone swearing to avenge his brethren’s wounded honor. It is so tedious.”

He is exaggerating for effect, yet there is some truth to his words.

“Does it matter?” Another disciple asks. “Those at the top are hated no matter what.”

“Nevertheless, that does not change what we must do.”

At Xiao Fang’s words, everyone sits a bit straighter. He’s finally done with his matches. There is no need for anyone to ask him how things went.

He is Xiao Fang of the Xiao Sect.

From the beginning, taking the first place was the only alternative for him.

“Those who stand at the top are always envied. That is true. There is nothing we can do about it. No matter how they feel about us, we must keep winning. That is all.”

He is trying to smooth things over. It won’t do if they are not seen as a united front right now. Still, Liu Jin can tell he’s not exactly pleased with Big Nose Li. He’ll probably shout at him once they are back at the Sect.

Xiao Fang’s eyes find his.

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“You finished in second place.”

At that moment, everyone but Liu Jin and Xiao Fang tenses. Liu Jin wants to sigh but doesn’t. This is something he knew was coming.

“I did.”

To Liu Jin’s surprise, Xiao Fang’s face does not show any anger. Instead, the Xiao Sect’s Young Master just stares at him for a minute in silent introspection.

“Under the circumstances, it was the best choice possible. However, do make sure to win your next match in a way that makes up for it. We have an image to maintain.”

It is rare when Xiao Fang manages to surprise Liu Jin.

Today, it has happened twice already.

~~~

The tournament proper starts an hour after the group stage is finished. The audience buzzes with anticipation as a large ring is installed in the center. A tournament official stands in the ring and announces the true start of the tournament.

Liu Jin barely hears him.

His attention is all for the medical attendant standing at the side. Liu Jin has even come down to the arena floor to better watch the proceedings.

It is entirely necessary to have medical personnel ready to act in a tournament like this one. Wounds, both big and small, are common even in sparring matches. When one adds the pressure of representing an entire Sect and personal pride, it goes without saying that some fights can become rather heated.

It would be weird if there isn’t at least one serious injury before the tournament is over. Even permanent damage is something that people expect.

Death… is something that has happened in previous tournaments.

This time, the medical assistant is Wu Yan, Doctor Wu’s son. Liu Jin carefully watches each of his movements. However, nothing out of the ordinary happens. Even when Wu Yan checks the disciples of the Xiao Sect for wounds, Liu Jin detects nothing unusual.

“Yun Han of the Yun Sect vs. Cui Tian of the Seven Leaves School!”