Zanxing

Chapter 26 - First Victory (2)

On stage and off, there was silence. The only movement was the gray-robed woman with a staff, smiling at the crowd.

"What... what just happened?" After a moment, a confused disciple broke the silence.

They had all just seen Feng Hu raise his Tiger Claw Spear and lunge at Zanxing, only to suddenly freeze mid-action, allowing Zanxing to slip behind him and knock him off the platform with one strike. Feng Hu, while not the strongest of the 120 new disciples, was certainly not an unknown figure. Yet here he was, defeated by a relatively unknown disciple, leaving everyone in disbelief.

Even though earlier they had teased about a romantic connection between the two, everyone knew it was just a joke. In truth, Feng Hu had been fierce during the fight—until the last moment, when it seemed as though he had been cursed or paralyzed.

"That girl..." Xuan Ling frowned, trying to offer a critique but finding himself at a loss for words.

On the other hand, Master Yueguang, still shocked, spoke up: "She actually understood the 'Illusory Flowers on a Water Moon' technique?"

"What's that?"

"The first level of the 'Nianhua Staff' technique. I've only ever seen Qinghua Immortal use it once. For this girl to master the first level in just a few days is impressive, even if she only managed half the technique."

"Half?"

"She managed the 'Water Moon' part, but not the 'Illusory Flowers.' Even so, it's still quite remarkable." Master Yueguang glanced at Xuan Ling with a hint of envy. "A disciple who has mastered the 'Five Elements Soul Breaking Art' and another who wields the 'Nianhua Staff'—you're quite lucky, junior brother."

Xuan Ling's eyes narrowed into a smug smile as he bowed humbly. "It's thanks to the sharp eyes of our senior brothers."

The emotionless voice of the announcing disciple echoed again: "Round 36, Yang Zanxing, victory!"

As Zanxing stepped down from the platform, Tian Fangfang eagerly approached her, giving her a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Nicely done, junior sister! I was worried for you, but you really pulled through. What move did you use? Why did that tiger-head spear suddenly freeze?"

"Secret," Zanxing replied evasively.

"Looks like your training's been effective," Duan Xiangrao commented, walking over with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I hope we face each other in the second round."

Zanxing found Duan Xiangrao's hostility baffling. Logically, Wang Shao was a thing of the past, and Duan Xiangrao already had a new boyfriend. There shouldn't have been any reason for them to be at odds. However, since Zanxing had taken the coveted "Xiao Yuan Pearl"—the key to the protagonist's power—it seemed that, along with the main character's fortune, she'd also attracted the plot's need to create enemies for her. As the protagonist of a power-fantasy novel, there were always people eager to oppose and challenge her.

It was as if, much like Mu Chengxiao facing Hua Yue, the story had found Zanxing her own rival: Duan Xiangrao.

After Duan Xiangrao left, Tian Fangfang asked quietly, "Did you do something to offend Senior Sister Duan?"

"No," Zanxing replied.

"That's impossible," Tian Fangfang declared confidently. "Senior Sister Duan is beautiful, talented, and always kind. Unless you did something wrong, why would she speak to you like that?"

Zanxing raised an eyebrow. "You call that kind?"

"Of course!"

Hmph. Men.

The remaining 20 or so matches went quickly. As expected, both Duan Xiangrao and Hua Yue easily made it to the second round. Those who didn't pass the first round lost their chance to become inner disciples.

The second round would begin that afternoon, with even fiercer and more evenly matched opponents. For now, the disciples were allowed a break for lunch before drawing lots for the second round.

As Zanxing and Tian Fangfang headed to lunch, Zanxing noticed many people whispering and casting glances in her direction. "Why are they all looking at me?" she asked.

"Of course, because you knocked Feng Hu off the platform in a single move!" Tian Fangfang said, piling food onto his plate. "I thought I did pretty well today, but now you and that Mu Chengxiao have stolen all the attention. Zanxing, I'm almost jealous of you."

Zanxing thought to herself, Great... Mu Chengxiao has the protagonist's aura, and I have the Xiao Yuan Pearl as a cheat item. There can only be one protagonist in this story, and it's not like we're co-leads—unless I become his ninth wife? With the way this plot's unfolding, am I going to end up clashing with him?

Something didn't feel right.

As she was lost in thought, a sharp pain suddenly radiated from her palm. Her hand jerked, and her chopsticks fell to the table. She glanced at her palm and noticed a faint red mark had appeared. She instinctively rubbed it hard, but it didn't fade, as if it had grown out from within her skin.

"Junior sister, what's wrong with your hand?" Tian Fangfang asked.

Zanxing quickly closed her hand, hiding the red mark. "Nothing," she said, though a sense of unease welled up inside her.

After lunch, they rested for a while before returning to the tournament platform.

The number of competitors was now halved, but the crowd of spectators had grown. Senior disciples, who had been in class that morning, had come to watch the new disciples' sect assessment.

As soon as Zanxing approached, she felt many eyes on her.

"So, this is the girl who defeated Feng Hu? And she's a woman?"

"A woman? Not just that—she's ugly! Feng Hu should've gone all out against her, no holding back!"

The crowd's crude remarks continued, mostly from the disciples who had failed the morning's round.

Zanxing ignored them. Soon, the purple conch shell arrived, floating toward the remaining competitors. She overheard Duan Xiangrao complain to Hua Yue after drawing her lot, "I got the thirtieth group, the last one. The wait is unbearable."

Hua Yue comforted her softly, "Don't worry, I'll wait for you."

It seemed they were confident the inner disciple spots were already theirs.

Tian Fangfang drew lot number eight and was quite pleased. "Eighth group! That's a lucky number. I'll be rich in no time!"

Zanxing reached into the lot box and felt a chill as she pulled out her wooden lot. As she glanced at it, her heart sank when she saw the red number "three." A sense of foreboding washed over her as she realized her lot read "thirty." Her heart dropped like a stone.

Now she understood the full malice of the original plotline.