Chapter 56: A Conversation With Xiao Fang

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The Top 16 have been chosen. The first day of the tournament is over, and people start leaving the arena, happy and content. They talk about the matches on their way home, some of them trying to reenact them with wild, exaggerated movements. Others, the ones who bet wisely, collect their winnings for the day and go celebrate.

Most of all, people talk about the fights tomorrow would bring. The tournament brackets have been announced. Whether they are competitors or spectators, there is one fight that has caught everyone’s eyes.

Liu Jin vs. Yun Han.

The Young Master of the Yun Sect against the Xiao Sect’s Patriarch’s son-in-law. This will not be just a regular fight between disciples of the Yun and Xiao Sects. It will be the clearest conflict between the top Sects of Eastern Port City so far. It is no wonder people are excited about it.

This should go without saying, but no one thinks Yun Han will lose.

It is not that people think Liu Jin is weak. Certainly, that was the case when the tournament began. Liu Jin was carrying the stigma of being in the First Level of the Inner Realm for three years. That is not something people can overlook, and surrendering the first match had not won him any admirers.

However, the subsequent matches were quick to change people’s minds. Once they saw how easily Cui Tian was defeated by Yun Han, they understood why Liu Jin had given up. Once they saw how easily Liu Jin defeated Cai Chin, they acknowledged his strength. His fight against Fu was similarly well-received.

Unfortunately, the opponent now is Yun Han.

Yes, it is not that people think Liu Jin is weak. They just understand how incredibly strong Yun Han is. While Liu Jin managed to defeat people with higher levels of cultivation than him, those people cannot be compared to Yun Han. As the Yun Sect’s Young Master, he is stronger than his level of cultivation would suggest.

It is a lesson Cui Tian learned the hard way.

It is only natural for the audience to assume Yun Han will win.

To be honest, even Liu Jin doesn’t know whether it is possible for him to win or not.

“Boss! Come on! Let’s go celebrate!”

Su An’s voice breaks him out of his thoughts, and this time, Liu Jin finds the interruption is a welcome one. The girl is grinning from ear to ear, and with good reason. Not only has she passed to the next round of the tournament, but the Xiao Sect has taken seven spots out of the Top 16.

Of the remaining spots, six belong to the Yun Sect and three to the top disciples of other factions.

Though some would try to deny it, the Xiao Sect has won the first day of the tournament.

“I don’t know if I should,” Liu Jin says. Right now, what he wants is to talk with his father and see if he will share a few more stories about his past with him.

“Brother-in-law, please. This is a night for celebration,” Xiao Fang tells him. “Do join us.”

“Of course,” Liu Jin replies, putting a smile on his face. “How thoughtless of me.”

Since the Xiao Sect had a good performance tonight, it is only natural that they’ll want to celebrate. How can Liu Jin be missing from such an occasion? It is not something Liu Jin thinks about often, but he is an important figure within the Xiao Sect now. His actions reflect on the reputation of the Xiao Sect, whether he likes it or not.

“Allow me a moment to tell my father. He is probably wondering where I am.”

“There is no need,” Xiao Fang says. He looks at two of the disciples who lost and barks out orders. “You two! Go see Doctor Liu and inform him his son will celebrate with us. If Doctor Liu needs help with anything, you will do your best to help him.” A pause. Xiao Fang frowns. “If he wishes to join us, he is free to do so.”

Liu Jin blinks.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

When Xiao Fang started talking, Liu Jin wasn’t sure if he wanted to annoy him or if he was just clumsily trying to help. Now… he is still not sure. Regardless, those words just now were not something Xiao Fang would have uttered even a few weeks ago.

“Why the two of us, Young Master?”

“Because you lost,” Xiao Fang snapped at the foolish disciple who had spoken. “And unlike Hou Tao, you cannot even say you lost to Yun Han.”

Dejected looks appear on the disciples’ faces, but they accept their punishment regardless.

“Alright,” Xiao Fang says, slapping his hands together. “Let’s go.”

~~~

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To Liu Jin’s surprise, they do not go to the Xiao Sect’s compound but rather to a well-known establishment within the city where even one dish costs more than some people make in a month. A normal person would have to make a reservation many moons in advance, but they are the Xiao Sect. They are given a private room right away, and servants bring them food and wine. Some even play music for them.

In hindsight, Liu Jin should have expected something like this.

Certainly, the Xiao Sect has nothing to envy of a place like this, but what is the point of celebrating in one’s own home? They are meant to be treating themselves. More importantly, they are meant to be seen treating themselves. As with many things, it is all about appearance. The Xiao Sect must be seen indulging in extravagance, so the people will see how wealthy and successful they are.

It is the way of things.

“And then I said, ‘Kowtow before this daddy!’”

“We know. We were there. We were all there.”

“Ha! Jealousy is such an ugly thing! If the crowd did not cheer for you as much, then it is simply because my fights were more entertaining.”

“Entertaining? Why, I guess the sight of a fool almost losing because he played with his opponent for too long can be considered entertaining for some. People do love to watch dumb animals.”

“Y-You dare!”

“You are not drinking. Is it not to your liking?”

Liu Jin blinks, suddenly distracted from the argument between Su An and Big Nose Li. Xiao Fang is seated beside him, and Liu Jin is not sure when that happened.

“There is no point,” Liu Jin says, holding up his still full cup. “Even if I drink, I will not get drunk.”

“Some people drink just to enjoy the taste.”