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“It’s Kui Lang!”
Elder Yun’s shifty eyes scanned Kui Lang as he walked on stage, saying to Xuan Shaoyu, “Young master, I would have never let you go up there even if it was to forfeit; you’re too important. But since it’s Kui Lang, ha-ha-ha, I have the perfect counter. Take Qingcheng’s Permafrost sword, and when you walk on stage you…”
Elder Yun’s voice lowered as he whispered in Xuan Shaoyu’s ear. The youth bobbed his head now and then with a cunning look glinting in his eyes.
Per the elder’s instructions, he took Chu Qingcheng’s Permafrost from her unconscious body, and went to meet his opponent.
Kui Lang mocked, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the great young master of Mystical Heaven Sect. You’re looking for a thrashing as well?”
“A-he-hem, do you know who I am?” Xuan Shaoyu began.
Kui Lang replied in his most sarcastic tone, “Is there anyone in this world who does not know the crippled young master from Mystical Heaven Sect with the elements in him out of whack? Are you looking for a whopping coming up here? Sect Leader Xuan must be sick of you, I guess. Wonder if he found this the best chance to get rid of you, or maybe you never were his son, to begin with, and he sent you here to die, ha-ha-ha… “
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That set the whole crowd into a round of laughter. Only Mystical Heaven Sect’s side glared back in anger.
“I am on stage to fight!”
Xuan Shaoyu ignored the taunts. His hand shone as he held Permafrost, “This sword’s previous owner, I hear, vowed never to harm a single person from Demon Scheming Sect. I wonder if the sentiment was mutual.”
Kui Lang started, his face solemn, “Permafrost? Isn’t Chu Qingcheng the one wielding it? What are you doing holding it? Think it will be your good luck charm in this fight?”
“Ha-ha-ha, I am the great Mystical Heaven Sect’s young master. I don’t cower behind anything. I am holding this sword only as a reminder…”
Xuan Shaoyu’s mouth took an evil smile, his lips moved, but no words came out. He was sending a message.
Kui Lang squinted, his face twisted in shock, then he turned pensive for a moment before sighing, “I… surrender.”
The entire arena burst into an uproar. Even the judge was taken aback. An Ethereal Stage expert surrendered to a cripple? How come?
Fiend Yang started raining curses like a madman, “Kui Lang, you damn freaking useless bastard! A slap, that’s all it would have taken! What damn surrender? Why is this always happening? Are you all trying to make me look bad?”
Demon Scheming Sect’s team looked at Kui Lang, waiting for an explanation.
Only Zhuo Fan, who witnessed it all, knew what happened, “Mystical Heaven Sect pulled out all the stops in dealing with the Demon Scheming Sect. I bet they must’ve found a way to twist his arm.”
Kui Lang’s face darkened as he left the stage, leaving Xuan Shaoyu with a sinister smile and pride for pulling such a glorious achievement with this win.
“Brother, what just happened? I was afraid that fiend would hurt you. How is it that he just surrendered?” Shui Ruohua asked hurriedly.
Xuan Shaoyu put on a vague smile, downplaying it, “Can’t say. This was Elder Yun’s plan and a little secret between us, ha-ha-ha…”
The two laughed out loud, leaving the girls out of the loop.
Kui Lang lowered his head as he took his seat among his teammates, even as he got everyone’s questioning gazes on him. He never once spoke about it, just giving them a guilty look.
Even his son, Kui Gang, struggled to understand what could drive his father to do this.
“Kui Lang, you made the entire sect pay a heavy price with your loss. Because of your forfeit, we are now four points behind. We lost the individual fights. You better have a damn good explanation, or I will put you down per the sect’s rules!” Zhuo Fan glanced over.
The others rolled their eyes at the threat.
[You’re one to talk since you started all this forfeiting mess.]
Zhuo Fan took out Xie Wuyue’s token, dangling it, “By the power vested in me by the Sect Leader, I am, for all intents and purposes, the Sect Leader here. No matter what I decide, the sect won’t make a peep. Got it?”
“Yeah, you’re awesome, sir!” They all sighed, even the venerables.
“Great then, Kui Lang, you have some explaining to do to prevent such a mishap from happening again. If you find your mouth glued, it might be easier just to send me the explanation.” Zhuo Fan pointed at his ear.
Kui Lang ground his teeth, but due to his trust in Zhuo Fan, he chose to whisper in his ear.
Zhuo Fan’s face lit up, “Oh, so that’s why. You’re excused. Now that the matter has passed, none of you will speak of it again, nor start spreading it back at the sect!”
“Thank you, Steward Zhuo!” Kui Lang cupped his hand in gratitude.
The rest were more stumped than ever. Kui Gang could not fight the question, “Dad, what happened? What made you step down?”
“Even if you were up there, you’d do the same.” Kui Lang hesitated. Zhuo Fan snorted, then took out the token, “What did I say just now? Are you disobeying the Sect Leader’s orders?”
“No!” Everyone bowed with respect.
Zhuo Fan nodded, pleased, while Kui Lang was puzzled.
The judge shouted the verdict to all the matches, “Mystical Heaven Sect has eight points, Demon Scheming Sect has four. This round goes to Mystical Heaven Sect!”
The crowd gasped, none of them seeing it coming. Against all logic, Mystical Heaven Sect, the weaker one, pulled a fast one on Demon Scheming Sect.
Everyone was baffled. Mystical Heaven Sect’s formation was a neat trick but nowhere near enough to turn the tides which made the outcome more surprising.
Mystical Heaven Sect’s disciples were smug, while Demon Scheming Sect’s side was glum.
“Next is the team fights which are conducted in another area-” The judge began.
Elder Yun butted in with a bow and a smile, “Ha-ha-ha, elder, we, the Mystical Heaven Sect, forfeit this round!”
Zhuo Fan’s brow shook, and he spared him a glance.
[Ol’ Yun here is devious alright. Confident in victory, he sacrificed his disciples over points, all just to turn it around.]
Now that his forces were cut down to size, fighting would be pointless, thus forfeiting altogether. Such confidence in one’s choices was a rarity.
[At least better than most other fools stumbling with their problems.]
Zhuo Fan glanced at Fiend Yang, who was stomping around and cursing from the missed chance to get back at them.
“Hey, Ol’ Yun, now that you caught us unprepared, you’re running away? Do you think it’s that easy? You played us well in the singles. Now fight us if you have the guts…”
Fiend Yang rambled and blustered about. Zhuo Fan had enough and left with a shake of his head.
The other left as well, leaving only Fiend Yang hooting.
When he woke up from his frenzy, he rushed after them, “Hey, why didn’t you wait for me? I’m still your Venerable…”
The comic relief helped the crowd lighten up and even laugh.
The lower three sects stage came to a close with Mystical Heaven Sect having won the singles, Demon Scheming Sect winning the team battles, and the overall score placing them in first place.
Though everyone knew Mystical Heaven Sect played the rules in their favor to squeeze a win against the deadly Demon Scheming Sect.
“Zhuo Fan, the best in Tianyu, you should be fighting in the middle three sects stage! Ha-ha-ha…” Wen Tao grinned, “Tianshang!”
He called behind him, “Where is he?”
Zhuo Fan took the Demon Scheming Sect’s disciples to their lodgings. They were all in a foul mood after today’s fights.
“If we fight again, I’ll break their formation!” Lu Xie justified himself to Qi Changlong and Bai Lian.
The two only sneered.
The outcome was quite evident. Did he have to die for him to admit defeat?
Bam!
Following the loud crack, Lu Xie’s face kissed the pavement with a crunch. He returned from the hard touch of the ground with blood running down his lips and two fewer teeth.
The others jerked, looking back to see Zhuo Fan’s angry face glaring at Lu Xie.
“Boy, I have had it with you!” Zhuo Fan was fuming now. Even the venerables looked shaken up…
