The melee between the three ended with Xuanxiao being the first to be eliminated.
Only Jian Wuming and Nan Shiying remained on the stage.
Now that everyone knew this Fengying came from the Shadow Pavilion, what about Jian Wuming?
Before they could ponder further, the two on stage resumed their battle.
Dust flew, stones scattered, and the wind and rain raged.
The powerful winds whipped up by the swords ruffled everyone's hair. The battle before them far surpassed their imaginations. Was this the combat between those in the state of Returning to Simplicity?
Yesterday, the Gu San Sect conceded, and rumors of conspiracy spread. The discussion about whether Fengying was qualified to contend for the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader had vanished without a trace in today's battle.
Thunder rolled as if the heavens and earth were roaring.
When everything subsided, Nan Shiying stood, while Jian Wuming knelt.
Jian Wuming was defeated in this battle.
The position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader fell into Nan Shiying's hands.
"Ahhh!"
Lü Yiyi screamed with excitement, and Dai Zhiqian's face flushed with excitement. The blood in her body boiled and burned. Something in her heart emerged, took root, and sprouted.
Lin Yuzhi of the Lin family came forward, announced the end of the Martial Arts大会, and invited everyone to Chengwenyuan.
A banquet had already been set up at Chengwenyuan to celebrate the birth of the new Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
...
After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Everyone was merry.
Lin Junyi handed a brocade box to Nan Shiying, her eyes gentle, devoid of the sharpness of a martial artist. "This is a gift from the Lin family. I hope Alliance Leader Feng will not find it unworthy."
Nan Shiying opened the box. Inside lay a century-old ginseng. Judging by the number of root whiskers, it was likely three hundred years old. Three hundred years... Nan Shiying was slightly taken aback, then returned to her usual composure.
"Thank you."
She accepted the gift.
Lin Junyi actually wanted to ask some questions, but the current occasion was not suitable.
"The Lin family prepares a courtyard for every Alliance Leader. Would Alliance Leader Feng like to see it?"
The relationship between the Lin family and the Martial Arts Alliance Leader was like that of Ji Jinmo and Ji Hong. The Lin family had the power to supervise, assist, control, and even veto the directives issued by the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
The only difference was that the Lin family preferred not to meddle too much in martial world affairs.
After the selection of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, there were still matters of handover and discussion. To avoid trouble, the Lin family would prepare courtyards for all previous Martial Arts Alliance Leaders, and they would always be preserved.
Nan Shiying's interest was piqued. She tilted her head back and drained her cup, then rose and followed Lin Junyi out.
...
The courtyard was vast and different from the style of the capital.
Inside, everything was provided. According to Nan Shiying's preferences and build, dresses of different colors and types were also placed there.
There were two rooms.
One was a bedroom, and the other was a study.
Upon entering the study, a screen hung on the wall depicted a woman general.
"Alliance Leader Feng, would you like to try this chair? This is a Grand Tutor's chair personally crafted by the oldest carpenter in Fengyu City. If you find it uncomfortable, I will have him replaced."
Lin Junyi touched the chair behind the desk in the study and beckoned Nan Shiying to try it.
Nan Shiying, obligingly, sat down. Her arms rested on the armrests, her slender jade hands hanging slightly. She turned her head and looked at Lin Junyi, whose eyes were lowered, and whose hair slightly covered her forehead.
"The old carpenter of Tailing Garden, the successor of the Lu Ban lock, has he not died out yet?"
As Nan Shiying's words fell, two "clicks" suddenly came from the armrests. The entire Grand Tutor's chair transformed into a lock, firmly trapping Nan Shiying within it.
Lin Yuzhi pushed the door open, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "Who exactly are you?"
Nan Shiying remembered a folk rhyme from years ago: Lu Ban lock, Yama's clasp, tightens the neck, a god cannot untie.
The Lu Ban lock, its inheritance had not yet been broken. However, the craftsmanship of this generation was poor, their skills lacking!
"What do you mean by this?"
Nan Shiying struggled for a moment, then stopped, her voice filled with anger as she questioned them.
"Fengying, who are you?"
Lin Yuzhi stared at Nan Shiying, as if trying to penetrate her very soul.
"Fengying, Fengying of the Shadow Pavilion!"
Nan Shiying's voice was laced with anger, seemingly annoyed by their actions and the endless repetition of the question.
Lin Yuzhi pulled out a chair and sat down. He took a piece of paper from his怀, spread it out before Nan Shiying. As Nan Shiying saw the paper, her pupils contracted.
"Perhaps we can ask a different question: why are you looking for this jade token!"
Lin Yuzhi's voice carried no emotion, but Nan Shiying sensed a fleeting flicker of emotion when he mentioned the jade token.
Nan Shiying's angry expression changed, replaced by a smile. "So, this jade token is with your Lin family."
"Why did you tie me up?"
"Do you want me to disappear from this world, or are you chasing and forcing the answer into my mouth?"
"The Gu San Sect was your pawn to get Lin Junyi to become the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, right? It's a pity that variables like Jian Wuming and I appeared. What is it you want by pushing Lin Junyi to the top?"
"Why is the Living Tomb with you, and why is the successor of the Lu Ban lock with you?"
"Him?"
"Where is he?"
"Tell me, what is he doing, what does he want to say."
"I don't understand what you're talking about. I'll ask again: why are you looking for this jade token!"
"Let him come out and see me!"
"Junyi!"
Lin Yuzhi suddenly sighed. He gave Lin Junyi a look. Lin Junyi drew the dagger from his懷 and thrust it downward.
"Click~"
"Click, click, click~"
The sound of breaking metal echoed continuously. Lin Junyi was struck in the chest by the shattering chains. He took a step back, his dagger deflecting the incoming fragments.
Nan Shiying stood up from the Grand Tutor's chair, killing intent swirling in her eyes.
Lin Yuzhi suddenly took a step back, took out a jade token from his怀, and held it in his palm, kneeling and presenting it. "Greetings, Family Head."
Ancestral teachings.
He who seeks the jade token and unlocks the Lu Ban lock is the Family Head of the Lin clan.
The purpose of the Lin family's founding was solely to await someone.
A century-long plan, all for this?
Nan Shiying threw the jade token onto the table and left Chengwenyuan.
That lunatic.
...
Mu Xiaoxiao woke up three days later. She grabbed the maid serving her medicine and asked, "Is the Martial Arts大会 over? Who is the Martial Arts Alliance Leader?"
"Replying to the County Princess, it is over. The Alliance Leader is Fengying of the Shadow Pavilion."
The maid, while wiping Mu Xiaoxiao's arm with a wet towel, answered her questions without reservation.
"Fengying?"
Mu Xiaoxiao murmured.
The maid thought she didn't know who Fengying was, so she described him: "You don't know, that Fengying..." The maid's admiration for Fengying was like a surging river, endless. The leader of the entire martial world, a woman who looked no more than sixteen years old.
Fengyu City itself revered martial arts. The maids had heard of and seen many martial heroes. Only Fengying inspired such admiration in them.
"Originally, all previous Martial Arts Alliance Leaders would reside in Chengwenyuan during their tenure. But Alliance Leader Feng, for some reason, refused to stay in Chengwenyuan and is still living in an inn. It's a pity," she said at the end, with much regret.
Why wouldn't Alliance Leader Feng live here!
She couldn't even chase after her idol!
Mu Xiaoxiao, however, heard none of what she was saying. She only felt her mouth opening and closing, while in her mind and ears, the five characters "Shadow Pavilion Fengying" echoed.