Chapter 282: Imperial Martial Tournament – Part 1 (2/2)
Jia Shan, Ma Ping, Ju Shoufen, Ma Moxi, Ku'er, and Miaomiao flew over the city as they couldn't stand the dirty streets. Since they had two nascent soul cultivators in the team, they ignored the ”No Fly Zone” tradition.
Many local cultivators spotted them and were about to shoot them down. But when they noticed the cultivation base of the two elders, they lost their courage.
”T-T-Two nascent soul cultivators!?”
”They have the right to fly above the city. D-Don't mess with them!”
Even the most cliché arrogant young masters in the city kept their mouths shut. After all, their cultivation base was only 2nd-stage or 3rd-stage, which was not in the position to act domineering against the powerful group.
This was the perk of traveling with OP guardians or strong bodyguards that solo protagonists usually ignored. They could have avoided trouble and pointless provocation had they traveled with strong seniors.
As the party became the center of attention, imperial clansmen noticed their arrival and flew out to greet them.
Dong Zhongying, Li Wenyou, and several elites headed out to welcome the group themselves. They floated in mid-air and bowed 90 degrees toward the two nascent soul experts.
”Senior, sir, we didn't know that you will be gracing us with your presence! Please forgive us for the lack of courtesy!”
Dong Zhongying didn't even recognize Jia Shan and Ma Ping. He kept bowing his head, thinking that they had come here to find trouble with him because of his recent deeds.
Meanwhile, Ma Ping and Jia Shan didn't know about what Dong Zhongying did. As they had been looking for someone to clarify the tournament conditions, rules, and location, they were glad that someone with authority finally showed up.
Ma Ping approached them, ”Good timing! We're looking for a guide.”
”A guide, sir?”
Dong Zhongying slowly raised his head to look at the speaker as he had heard this voice from somewhere before.
When Dong Zhongying's eyes met with Ma Ping's eyes, the former couldn't believe what he saw. He turned toward the other cultivators behind Ma Ping by reflex.
Then, he saw Jia Shan.
”!!!”
Dong Zhongying internally screamed while he widened his eyes to the point that they almost slipped out of the sockets.
”S-S-Senior Ma Ping!? Senior Jia Shan!? Y-Y-Y-You… Have you recovered your strength!?”
Jia Shan and Ma Ping looked at each other. Then, they burst into laughter.
”Surprise?”
”O-Of course! We heard that both of you were… crippled.”
”We were indeed CRIPPLED!” Both elders laughed again, ”Anyway, we're interested in your little tournament. Our disciples want to play as well. Where do we register?”
”T-This way, senior! Please follow us!”
Dong Zhongying and his men led Jia Shan, Ma Ping, Ma Moxi, Miaomiao, and Ju Shoufen to the inner city, where imperial officials resided. No commoner or local cultivator without permission could enter this area.
The group passed through the registration area, where young cultivators had been queuing to take part in the tournament.
Miaomiao looked at them in curiosity.
The participants were teenagers and young adults, who came here with their guardians. However, all their bodyguards, followers, guardians, or friends were chased away.
”Why are you chasing their people away? Is there something wrong with this tournament?”
Miaomiao asked Dong Zhongying directly as this question had been plaguing his mind for a long time.
The elders also had the same doubt. They stared at Dong Zhongying, expecting a proper answer.
Dong Zhongying sweated bullets. He glanced at the thin late-middle-aged aide, Li Wenyou.
Li Wenyou coughed to attract their attention, ”The imperial palace is a restricted area. If we allow commoners or random cultivators inside, the palace defense can be compromised if spies from evil cults mix in the crowd. We're sorry for the inconvenience.”
Hearing the excuse, Jia Shan and others had the urge to retort, ”You allow Poison Pavillion to come and go as they pleased, but you are afraid of spies from heretic sects? Are your brain a mush?”
Still, Ma Ping and others withheld their comments. Instead, Jia Shan teased Li Wenyou, ”What about us? Can we spectate the tournament?”
”O-Of course! You can! The procedure is for commoners and no-name cultivators. It's our honor to have you as our guests!”
Jia Shan and Ma Ping snorted, dismissing Li Wenyou's flattering.
Though they had grudge against the imperial family, they pretended to be friendly for now to gather information.
…
Among the crowd of tournament candidates and their followers who were queuing to register into the tournament, an elderly man and a girl stared at Miaomiao's party and Dong Zhongying's men in the sky. Both of them frowned while they adjusted their skin masks and hid their cultivation base.
”This is troublesome. I thought we could have won this tournament and return to our Pylon Tower. How the hell can I defeat two 6th-stage girls on the stage!? They're fucking monsters!”
Liu Bian grumbled as he paid attention to Miaomiao, Ma Moxi, and Ju Shoufen. He thought that those three would join the tournament and become his obstacles.
Currently, Liu Bian had been disguising herself as a young girl. His long twin tail hairstyle, short stature, youthful face, and childish voice made it possible for him to cross-dress and pretended to be a girl.
For the sake of reentering the Pylon Tower and reclaiming the items inside, Liu Bian returned here in a hurry when he had learned that Dong Zhongying had found a secret chamber under the imperial palace.
Liu Bian's assistant and his loyal subordinate, Wang Yun, also disguised himself. He appeared as a 70-year-old Asian scholar without a cultivation base. Yet, he kept several custom-made pistols inside his grey robes.
”You're overthinking, young miss. Those little girls over there can't join the tournament.”
Wang Yun's voice was hoarse and weak. He acted as if he could die at any moment, and he pretended to be Liu Bian's grandfather.
”Huh?” Liu Bian didn't believe in Wang Yun. He turned to the elder in disguise, ”Those girls aren't a participant? How?”
”Their bone age is above the tournament restriction.”
”They… what?”
”Please relax, young miss. Although you might not win this tournament, you can still enter THAT PLACE if you follow my lead.”
”…”
”By the way,” Wang Yun leaned over and whispered to Liu Bian's ear. ”Are you sure you want to use that name as your alias? I have a bad feeling about this.”
”Why not?” Liu Bian chuckled, ”If you're using the famous historical people's name, I can use one, too!”
”What if Lu Bu descends and finds you? Won't you become his wife?”
”Ha! As if! I'll turn Lu Bu into an undead soldier if he really appears!”
”… Suit yourself.”