Threads 206-Opening Day 4

It felt strange to be among the audience rather than down on the field, Ling Qi thought, moving to take her seat in the Duchess’ observation box. It was set high in the stands, overhanging the lower seats. Its thick walls were constructed to dampen sound and qi from the outside as well as contain the power within from flowing out.

The older cultivators took the largest and most comfortable seats, just below the empty throne of living wood and metal reserved for the Duchess, but even the seats at the balcony’s edge left for them were luxurious constructions of polished wood and comfortable silk cushions. Cai Renxiang was seated behind her with the ambassador and Bai Suzhen’s husband. She tried to ignore the deathly presence that accompanied him. Although… should there not have been someone else as well?

She dismissed the idea as a bit of anxiety caused by her company and settled into her seat. Bai Meizhen sat on her left side and the two young men on her right. In this scenario, Meizhen had told her, putting her at the center was something of an intimidation play. Not malicious really, but just… habitual to the Bai. Ling Qi retained her pleasant smile and allowed a bit of her own qi to leak out, adding a real chill to the air to go with the spiritual one.

“The high air in the Wall is bracing, isn’t it?” Ling Qi commented idly, looking down onto the four tournament platforms and the green fields.

“I have found it clears the mind well,” Bai Meizhen replied.

“I am sure it only takes some acclimation.” Xia Anxi,seated beside her, leaned imperceptibly away from her chill.

Ling Qi turned her head just a little and raised her eyebrow a hair.

The young man beside her pursed his lips for the briefest moment and settled into his seat, lazily letting his hand fall on the armrest beside hers. Ling Qi kept her expression neutral, but she allowed herself an internal smirk. Respectful, but never subservient, as Meizhen had said.

<Snakes aren’t the only ones who can play games.> Sixiang snickered.

On his other side, Lao Keung sat down as well, looking uncomfortable as he settled into the thickly cushioned seat. “What standouts can we expect to be worthy of watching, Baroness?” he asked.

“There is your own Xiao Fen of course, but I doubt she will find challenges here in the preliminary,” Ling Qi said politely.

“I should hope not.” Bai Meizhen sniffed haughtily, crossing her hands in her lap.

“It would be terribly rude,” Ling Qi said dryly. Given the Duchess’ machinations, she felt it extremely doubtful that the Sect would arrange for Xiao Fen to find herself in a preliminary with any of the other genuinely troublesome entrants

“Rude, yes,” Lao Keung said neutrally. “Is it expected for all the matches to be so polite?”

“Doubtful,” Ling Qi said. “Between the previous year and new talent rising, there are more third realms than there are Inner Sect slots.”

“How prosperous,” Xia Anxi said. “I am sure the Sect is almost troubled by such overflowing abundance.”

“Most likely,” Ling Qi replied blithely. “I would recommend keeping an eye on Gan Guangli. As my fellow retainer, he is no doubt eager to make up for the errors of last year.”

“It is most unfortunate that he found his footing troubled by unwanted weeds,” Bai Meizhen said coolly. “I wish your fellow good fortune, Baroness Ling.”

“My thanks, Lady Bai,” Ling Qi said.

“Weeds, hm,” Lao Keung said.

“Such troublesome things,” Xia Anxi commiserated.

“As someone who has recently begun to dabble in the art of gardening, I must agree,” Ling Qi said innocently. “But look, Sect Head Yuan is about to begin speaking.”

The speech was not so much different from last year. There was a greater emphasis on unity and looking forward perhaps but not so different. However, Ling Qi could not help but feel that some of the energy and drive had gone from the old man’s voice.

It worried her for if she could notice, surely, most of the audience could.

Soon enough, the Outer Sect entrants were streaming into the arenas. There were even more than last year. She would have thought the number of greens, of which she had counted twelve already, would be discouraging. She recognized Gan Guangli and a young man beside him and one of the twin sisters who had been her bodyguards last year, Han Jian and Han Fang, Lu Feng and two others wearing western colors, Xiao Fen, and a tall, muscular girl who she felt she ought to recognize, and two other older looking disciples. Perhaps the Sect had bolstered their spirits in some way.

She let that thought drift away as she focused on Gan Guangli, standing in the upper right ring as the formations went active and the stage transformed. She could sense its function more clearly now, the way it created a bubble in space by disrupting the qi in the area, weakening and stretching its bonds.

Gan Guangli appeared at the top of a high cliff overlooking a rushing river, running fast and whitecapped through a cleft in two mountains. A part of the Wall? He stood still for only a moment, his white and gold armor gleaming under the sunset. The cloak of fourth realm spidersilk he had acquired on their journey to the south billowed behind him in the wind, and she saw that it was now edged in gold and embroidered with crimson butterflies, the symbol of the Cai.

Then his hand rose to his ear, and Ling Qi saw his lips move. “Report location.”

She wasn’t able to hear whatever response he was undoubtedly hearing as he rapidly scanned the landscape around him. She could feel the communication though and trace the expression through the air like shimmering threads, going out to nearly a half dozen others. A young man in armor similar to Gan’s, though of much lower quality, leapt from river rock to river rock with a spear on his shoulder. There, Ma Lei, one of the pair of sisters who had once “guarded” her in the Outer Sect, was standing in a cave with her hand on the cool stone wall. The threads also went to other faces, who she couldn’t even pretend to recognize.

“So many allies. It is difficult to see him failing,” Xia Anxi noted, his voice echoing from outside the bubble.

“Part of his task was to maintain Lady Cai’s control of the Outer Sect. That his network is extensive is a sign of his success,” Ling Qi explained.

Gan Guangli himself continued to hold his hand to his ear as he turned toward the mountain rising behind him and began to climb in swift, bounding steps. Plumes of dust rose from cracked stone with each leap, carrying him higher and higher up the slope. Moving back until his soldiers could take care of more of the opponents? No, Ling Qi realized as he reached a wide plateau overlooking the whole of the artificial battlefield, that was what she would do.

<My cousins don’t do subtle,> Sixiang drawled.

Gan Guangli turned on his heel, and she saw liquid gold gleam in his eyes as he clapped his hands together, and three further thunderous claps followed. The sun rose over the mountain, and blazing light obliterated every shadow and veil on the upper mountain, drawing startled cries from disciples who had been trying to hide. Her own stealth arts could have resisted that, but it would be hopeless for a second realm.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“He has learned, I think,” Meizhen commented.

In the arena, a figure burning with golden sunlight leapt like a meteor from the riverside, his own third realm cultivation drawing her attention. His spinning spear sent a pair of disciples dogging his heels down to crash into the rushing mountain waters. Stone bubbled and melted, and Ma Lei rose on a pillar of clay, her spirit bearing the signs of several failed breakthrough attempts. The wind whipped, and three more of Gan’s soldiers dropped in formation onto the cliff he had originally stood upon.