Chapter 22: Contest (1/2)
Ashh saw that person staring at itself with a weird look. Ashh got angry and scratched the person with its claw. The person wasn't prepared. His face almost got scratched; fortunately, he reacted fast, his neck bent back and dodged it.
Shaw Danon was surprised and told Ashh to stop. The person was also surprised. With his hand covering his cheek, he mumbled: ”That was close.”
Shaw Danon was a bit embarrassed, said: ”Shixiong, sorry!”
Unexpectedly, he didn't care. He waved his arm and smiled: ”That's alright. It was my carelessness. I forgot that 'Monkey Phantasm' have very bad tempers; very easily harm people.”
Shaw Danon was startled: ”Monkey Phantasm?”
The person was surprised: ”What? You don't know that monkey is a Monkey Phantasm?”
Shaw Danon was puzzled: ”What is Monkey Phantasm?”
That person opened his eyes wide, examined Shaw Danon, asked: ”You don't even know it's Monkey Phantasm, why would you have it?”
Shaw Danon said: ”When I was cutting down bamboo, it smacked me with pine cones, then, it followed me back home.”
The Jadeon disciple's jaw seemed to almost fall off, murmered: ”Got smacked by pine cones and it followed you back home, got smacked by pine cones and it followed you back home...”
Shaw Danon shook his head and walked away. After he took a few steps, the person followed him. The person smiled and whispered: ”Shidi, oh, no, Shixiong, you.”
It was the first time Shaw Danon had been called Shixiong. The person's age was at least twenty. Shaw Danon quickly said: ”Oh, I don't deserve that; just tell me what you want to say.”
The person grinned: ”Ho ho, Shidi is so easy to approach. Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Ceng, name Shushu. Peak of Wind's disciple. Shidi, your name is...”
Shaw Danon said: ”I am Bamboo Peak's disciple, Shaw Danon; Issa Shixiong, you are, um, 'uncle?'”
The person was startled, then smiled in embarrassment: ”Ah, I was not intentionally trying to gain advantage over you. My Shushu is books. Not uncle. It's all because of my dad. My mom named me Yingxiong. How dignified Ceng Yingxiong sounds like. However, my father saw that I love to read books, so he named me Shushu. This became a joke, really.”
Shaw Danon couldn't help but laugh. This person's name was as funny as sixth Shixiong's. The frustration in his mind was eased by this person. He said: ”Ah, so, Ceng Shixiong, you really love to read, then?”
Issa smiled: ”In regards to that, I don't need to be modest, no one in Peak of Wind reads as many books as I do. But, most of the time, I like to read about anecdotes and strange magical creatures; often that made my dad mad at me. Ah, anyway, you really don't know this monkey is Monkey Phantasm?”
Shaw Danon shook his head, said: ”No, I thought it was just a normal monkey.”
Seeming like it understood what they were talking about, Ashh suddenly screamed and pulled Shaw Danon's hair. Shaw Danon cried: ”Ouch, stupid monkey!”
Issa looked at it with admiration, said: ”So smart.”
Shaw Danon said, while bearing the pain: ”All that stupid monkey knows is how to hit people, you still call that smart?”
Issa said: ”This monkey may seem common, but with this strong spiritual mind, it is a rare celestial creature. Do you see the small line between its eyes?”
Shaw Danon turned and looked closely, and discovered a thin vertical line was under the grey fur. There was no way to discover it without close examination. He said to Issa in admiration: ”You can even notice such small details. Amazing!”
Issa spoke solemnly: ”Don't underestimate it. From what I had read in <>, Monkey Phantasm is a divine creature. It looks no different from a normal monkey when young, but it's third eye will open once it grows up. It is not only able to use magic of the five elements, it is also able to see things from thousands of miles away. The legendary faculty of 'clairvoyance' came from Monkey Phantasm.”
Shaw Danon took Ashh into his arms. He couldn't believe that the monkey had such a great background. No matter how hard he tried to picture it, Ashh looked like nothing other than a normal fat monkey. Ashh seemed to have gained a few pounds over one night at Peak of Widows.
Ashh was bewildered why so many people were looking at itself. It screamed madly. Shaw Danon made a face and tossed Ashh at Big Yella. Big Yella was surprised and jumped away. It was relieved to see it was Ashh. Ashh gestured, like demonstration, and turned its attention to Big Yella's fleas.
Issa looked at Ashh admiringly, then turned back and asked Shaw Dannon: ”Zhang Shidi also came to participate in Seven Peaks Tournament?”
Shaw Danon nodded: ”What about you Ceng Shixiong?”
Issa smiled: ”Me too. Yesterday, I got number thirty-three. What is your number? You had better not happen to be my opponent today.”
Shaw Dannon smiled as well: ”I got number one.”
Issa was surprised: ”You were the Bamboo Peak disciple yesterday?”
Shaw Danon's face flushed, nodded.
Issa smiled: ”You are so fortunate.” Then, he paused and calculated in his mind, said:”It seems like we will not meet each other until the final. This is going to be difficult.”
Shaw Danon laughed: ”With my level of cultivation, I will be out after the second round.”
Issa stuck out his tongue: ”I am afraid I can't even pass round one.”
They both laughed. They chatted for a while, then Xavion called: ”Xiao Fan, time to eat.”
Shaw Danon answered, then said farewell to Issa. Big Yella and Ashh followed Shaw Danon to Xavion. Xavion asked: ”Who is the person you were talking to?”
Shaw Danon said: ”A Shxiong from Peak of Wind. His name is Issa.”
Xavion was surprised: ”Issa?”
Shaw Danon was bewildered: ”What it is, Da Shixiong?”
Xavion turned and said: ”That person is Head of Peak of Wind: Ceng Shu Chang, Ceng Shibo's only son. He is very talented, has strong memory, high knowledge; his cultivation is also very deep. He is one of the hot topics for this tournament.”
Shaw Danon was startled; he couldn't find a word to say.
※※※
After breakfast, Jadeon disciples gathered at Cloud Sea. Hundreds of people were there.
On the large square, eight platform stages were set up while everyone was eating breakfast. Each platform was about twenty meters away from each other. They were placed in the shape of Bagua. Next to the largest platform, Qian, a tall red list displayed the disciples' names, numbered in gold characters. Shaw Danon's name was at the farthest right, without an opponent.
Shaw Danon looked at his Shixiongs. They were all smiling except for Amandla who was complaining: ”Not fair, not fair, not-”
”Shut up!” A shout came from their side. They were surprised and found it was Tian Bolis, Surin and Hidi. Bamboo Peak disciples immediately saluted: ”Master Shi Niang!”
Tian Bolis nodded and did not say anything. Surin said: ”The contest will be beginning soon. You must make us proud, understand?”
”Yes.” They said all at once.
All Shaw Danon noticed was Hidi who is standing next to Shi Niang. Today, she seemed to be more beautiful. She seemed to be in a very good mood.
Shaw Danon's heart was felt like it had been stabbed by a needle. He lowered his head.
”Xiao Fan.” Surin noticed her disciple was unusual today. She walked toward him.
Shaw Danon quickly raised his head and responded: ”Yes, Shi Niang.”
Surin asked: ”Are you all right?”
Shaw Danon shook his head: ”Nothing, Shi Niang.”
Surin took a look at Shaw Danon: ”Xiao Fan, your luck allowed you to skip the first round, but you still need to pay attention to Shixiong Shijie's duel. It is good for you, understand?”
Shaw Danon nodded: ”Yes, Shi Niang.”
Surin turned to Tian Bolis. He nodded and walked toward the platform. Bamboo Peak's disciples followed.
”Dang!” A clear bell ringing sounded in Cloud Sea. The noisy square suddenly became all silent.
On the center of the large platform, Master Doyal Shen and Master Vasp Caelo appeared. Master Doyal Shen took a step in front and announced to the disciples: ”The tournament begins.”
Then he waved his sleeve, the bell rang again. ”Dang dang” filled the sky. Shaw Danon peeked at Hidi, seeing her excited smile.
He couldn't move his eyes to anywhere else and couldn't hear what Master Doyal Shen and Master Vasp Caelo said. Then another bell ringing came again and pulled Shaw Danon back to reality. He realized the contest had already begun.
Sixty-three people, eight platforms, so there will be four groups. Within the first group, Hidi was the only one from Bamboo Peak. Her platform was at Li of the west. All Bamboo Peak disciples rushed there.
Hidi's first opponent was a disciple of Sun Rise Peak. His name was Mansa. He jumped onto the stage. The disciples cheered for him. Surrounding the ”Li” platform, most of the disciples were from Sun Rise Peak. Even their head, Shang Zheng Liang, was there. It appeared that they valued Mansa greatly.
Tian Bolis and others were covered by the Sun Rise Peak disciples. Almost everyone at the platform wore Sun Rise Peak's robes. Tian Bolis did not care. His eyes met with Shang Zheng Liang's. All they did was give a faint smile.
There were disciples already bringing the seats for the masters and Surin. Tian Bolis and Surin sat down. Hidi came and said: ”Dad, Mom, I am going up there.”
Tian Bolis looked at his daughter, said: ”Go.”