Chapter 44 – Tournament of Champions

The tournament grounds had that same festive atmosphere surrounding it once more. The decorations were more lavish, and the arenas larger, but there were still some welcome common elements. Stalls selling food, gambling and mystery rock carving games, and weapon shops all entertained the gathering crowds.

One enterprising young disciple had a huge crowd surrounding his stall, selling Surprise Dumplings. He had used some method to so completely seal in the scent of the fillings that even the sharp senses of most foundation establishment realm cultivator couldn’t penetrate. You couldn’t know what kind of dumpling you had until you bit into it. He included some intentionally odd fillings that people had as much fun discovering as the gamblers had with their rock carving.

They met Xi Yuan and went to get some Surprise Dumplings. They laughed as they discovered the strange fillings. Ling got a root dumpling that stained her teeth red. Her bloody smile reinforced the image of a sinister witch Ren sometimes had of Ling. Ren bit into a grass dumpling, but the truly surprising part was how sublime it tasted. Xi Yuan’s strangest flavor was tea, an innovation that Ren was sure Daoist Tealeaf would approve of. Saddest, however, was Hua, as he bit into dumpling after dumpling filled with regular fillings.

“It’s not fair! Why don’t I have a funny one!” he cried to general laughter.

To recoup his losses, Bao Hua decided to try his hand at the rock carving games. These rocks were formed when a peculiar, qi-sealing mud, which is often around treasures, envelops said treasures and hardens. These treasures were perfectly preserved inside, but without a hint of qi escaping, it was impossible to know what was within.

The gambling aspect of things came from the fact that the mud wasn’t only found around treasures, meaning there could be absolutely nothing inside. Additionally, there was a trick to opening them. The rocks had to be carved using qi, and a dull or rough touch could destroy the contents. And in some cases, even if there were a natural treasure inside, if left unopened for a long time, the treasures would simply lose their qi and become worthless fossils. Ren didn’t know any of the exact details and couldn’t help but find it curious.

‘What gives the mud qi-sealing properties, and why is it common around treasures? Why is the treasure preserved at times, but at others it fades?’ Ren sighed as he contemplated the countless mysteries of the cultivation world. He even got a little frustrated.

‘Always more questions but rarely any answers!’ He took a deep breath to calm himself. But then again, I haven’t been part of this world for very long. I still have a long life ahead of me, so let’s not get impatient.’

While Ren was looking off into nothing and musing, Bao Hua had spent a spirit stone for 3 attempts and was already on the third after two failures.

“Dear customer, if you would like, I could open the rock for you. But please don’t blame me for the results!” The stall owner took pity and volunteered to assist, seeing Bao Hua’s clumsy attempts to carve the rock.

“No, if I am not fated, so be it!” said Bao Hua, looking stoic.

“Stop acting all profound and mysterious! Just open it!” Mei Ling teased him from the side.

Flecks of dust were shaved from the rock in his palm. Then it finally cracked in half, revealing… nothing inside. Everyone leaned back.

After a breath, Ling put her hands behind her back and, looking into the far distance, said, “Such are the vicissitudes of life.”

Ren solemnly quoted, “The waters have receded and the rocks revealed. It was not to be.”

Then both of them started laughing. Even Xi Yuan was chuckling at their antics.

Hua looked aggrieved. “Good. Good. Good! Both of you sure do take pleasure in twisting the knife! Why don’t you have a try!”

Ling, still laughing, said, “What if I actually won? How would you feel then?”

“… Look, the tournament is about to begin! Let’s hurry or the best seats will be taken!”

The four of them hurried to the grounds amidst a fresh burst of laughter, even Hua good-naturedly joining in.

They took their seats in the audience and waited for the tournament to begin. The elders arrived soon and entered their private viewing pavilions. After some short speeches that Ren didn’t really pay attention to, the tournament began.