Chapter 50: Get Your a.s.s to the Western Hills
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
For the final match, another Ma clansman had already prepared to enter the stage but was held back. The rest of the Ma clansmen had received the order: no other Ma clansman was allowed on stage.
Ma Kui’s plan for today was an obvious one. He wanted to righteously defeat Jiang Yi and become a topic of gossip for people. But now that the plan had some changes due to the circ.u.mstances, the Ma clansmen didn’t know how to pretend and overdid it instead. So much that everyone saw through their plan. Afterward, when Ma Heiqi got provoked into going on stage earlier than expected, the plan had failed completely.
Had Ma Heiqi emerged victorious, then everything would go according to plan. Now that Ma Heiqi lost, it wouldn’t seem appropriate for the Ma Clan to continue sending people on the stage. It was understandable for his clansmen to have a heart of revenge, but if they would to send another clansman up the stage right now, it might leave a bad impression on the three mentors and officers of the West Garrison Army. By then, everything would have become a wasted effort.
If the descendants of the Ma Clan didn’t go on-stage, all the more would the other clansmen from various clans not go on-stage. Those that were truly strong wouldn’t want to take advantage of Jiang Yi’s current state while those were weak wouldn’t dare to go. Just the thought of those cruel methods of Jiang Yi sent chills down their spine.
There was a sudden stalemate. As time pa.s.sed, Jiang Yi had become weaker; and it was the bad situation for him.
“Bang!”
Like playing the zither in mid-air, Ji Tingyu’s hands struck through the air and easily knocked her opponent off the stage. She looked over the Jiang Yi’s side, and she scowled. Seeing Jiang Yi struggling to stand and drenching half the stage in his blood, Jiang Yi stubbornly refused to withdraw from the tournament. Ji Tingyu couldn’t help but have a flash of unacceptance.
She sighed slightly, but finally bit on her lips while sending a look at one of the Ji Clan’s martial artist. That martial artist immediately understood her meaning and jumped on Jiang Yi’s stage.
“Uhh… third stage of the Cast Tripod Realm?!”
With everyone’s attention on Jiang Yi, when they saw a Ji Clan’s martial artist who was at the third stage of the Cast Tripod Realm, they immediately looked over at Ji Tingyu. They saw her concerned eyes while she looked at Jiang Yi; it was as though she admitted to making this arrangement. Everyone began to speculate, could it be that… this Fairy Ji, who looked down upon all men of the Skyplume City, finally had a change of heart and fancied Jiang Yi?
Ji Tingyu was undoubtedly outstanding; she was a girl who had both beauty and intelligence—most importantly, absolute talent. She was the G.o.ddess in the hearts of countless youths, who was like a fairy that stood high above didn’t have any good impressions on all men. Jiang Henshui, Ma Heiqi, and Liu He courted her for years; and she was always cold and indifferent. Today, she actually risked inviting gossips for Jiang Yi by asking her clansman to go on-stage to sacrifice?
Jiang Henshui had a flash of hatred in his eyes and turned up his ferocious attacks by a few notches. In just a few moves, he knocked off a Yang clansman, leaving him in severe injuries. Jiang Henshui’s eyes looked over at Jiang Yi with resentment that couldn’t be concealed.
Jiang Yi felt odd when he saw a martial artist at the third stage of the Cast Tripod Realm appearing on stage. But his frail body was on the verge of collapsing, and he could care about such details anymore. His eyes turned serious as he managed to stand firm and circulated his essence force. He channeled his last wisp of black essence force and rushed at his opponent like a violent dragon.
“Ah?”
This Ji clansman was just here to be cannon fodder and was prepared to leave the stage at good timing. He naturally didn’t want to have a real fight with Jiang Yi. But when he saw Jiang Yi’s fierce beast-like eyes and those overwhelming presence, he instantly got a shock as his body trembled. He took a few steps back and actually fell off the stage.
“Hahaha!”
A wave of laughter could be heard, which helped to relieve some of the plaza’s high tension. This tournament was supposed to be a place where partic.i.p.ants display their skills, but it was transformed into a killing ground by Jiang Yi. The entire atmosphere was so uptight that no one dared breathe with their tensed-up heart. Everyone expected today’s matches to be intense, but not to this extent.
“Clang!”
After confirming his tenth consecutive victories, Jiang Yi could endure anymore; his body dropped into a high kneeling position. He used one hand to support himself while trying to prevent his body from collapsing.
“Swis.h.!.+”
A shadow from the balcony of the Martial Arts Hall swooped in like a hawk. He landed securely on the stage, grabbed Jiang Yi by the waist, and flew back towards the Martial Arts Hall. In just a few blinks of the eye, they vanished from the eyes of the audience.
“Huh?”
Only a minority of the people present know Jiang Yi was serving as a sparring partner in the Martial Arts Hall. Everyone felt weird for no one from the Jiang Clan brought Jiang Yi back for recuperation? It was the Martial Arts Hall that offered a.s.sistance instead. Could it be—like Jiang Yi mentioned—he didn’t even have the status of a dog in the Jiang Clan’s views?
Soon enough, Jiang Yi vanished into the Martial Arts Hall. The audience turned to look at the other stages, but with their emotions stirred up, they could help but recall the intense scenes of Jiang Yi’s battles. So much so that the fights in front of them now—all looked like child’s play.
…
Young Master Jiang Yi! Young Master Jiang Yi, you must stay well and endure! If you die, I’m afraid Xiaonu wouldn’t want to continue living anymore!
What Jiang Yi didn’t know was—in a corner of the plaza, Chunya’s body couldn’t stop trembling. Today, Chunya was actually on the way out to buy some groceries; but unintentionally, she noticed Jiang Yi—what’s more—on the tournament stage.
Chunya was delighted to see Jiang Yi victorious after each and every match. But at the same time, she grew worried when she saw him get injured every single time. She was only able to let out a breath of relief after she witnessed Jiang Yi brought away by the member of the Martial Arts Hall.
Alright, time to head back. Xiaonu must be worried that I am out for such a long time!
Chunya mumbled a few sentences and looked in the Martial Arts Hall’s direction one more time before quickly heading back to the Jiang’s residence. Along the way, she considered whether to tell Jiang Xiaonu about Jiang Yi’s current situation? She understood clearly that Jiang Xiaonu was worried about Jiang Yi. Had it not been for Jiang Xiaonu’s leg in a bad condition, she would definitely be out looking for Jiang Yi.
Mmm, I shall tell Xiaonu that I saw Young Master Jiang Yi at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, but I shall not tell her that Jiang Yi is partic.i.p.ating in the recruitment ceremony!
When Chunya was back the Jiang’s residence, she finally came to the conclusion that if she were to tell Xiaonu about Jiang Yi partic.i.p.ating in the tournament, Xiaonu would definitely drag her injured leg out to see Jiang Yi’s tournament. If that happened, it would affect Jiang Yi’s performance.
“Xiaonu, I’m back.”
When she walked into her own courtyard, Chunya opened her doors and screamed. The entire courtyard should be empty and silent. She looked around and had an instant change in expression—the courtyard looked so messy as though a stranger came in.
“Xiaonu!”
During the day, her parents wouldn’t be at home. Her family was poor and didn’t have anything valuable in her house, which meant it wasn’t a thief. The only explanation was that Jiang Xiaonu was in trouble.
“Bang!”
As she frantically ran into her room, a shadow jumped out of the room in a flash. Before she could even react, a hand blade hit the back of her head, causing her to faint immediately.
“Tie her up and gag her mouth. Aside from this, let Chief Rong delay her parents. Before everything is settled, I do not wish for any information here to be leaked.”
A cold voice could be heard from the outside of the courtyard. The individual in the courtyard tied up Chunya securely, gagged her mouth, and put her in the room. He then brought out a fainted frail girl who was apparently Jiang Xiaonu.
There were a few individuals standing outside the courtyard. The leader had a body as fat as a pig, with one of his legs still limping and had obviously not recovered yet. Who could it be aside from Jiang Ruhu? His eyes looked at Jiang Xiaonu and scoffed. “To the Western Hills! Jiang Hong, you pa.s.s a message to Jiang Yi at the Martial Arts Hall. Ask him to get his a.s.s to the Western Hills immediately. Remember, do not alert the people of the Martial Arts Hall. Just say that you are his cousin.”
“Brother Hu is intelligent! Now that Jiang Yi suffered serious injuries, he would surely die if he dare comes to the Western Hills!”
Jiang Bao, who was short and frail like a jackal, immediately raised his thumb up. But he asked with some concern, “With Jiang Yi’s current strength, can we defeat him? Would Brother Long be coming?”
Jiang Ruhu nodded, “My brother will surely go. How could my brother tolerate this if he didn’t personally kill Jiang Yi? Don’t worry; this time, it ain’t just us. We are going to have reinforcements. You will know when the time comes. Bring your weapons and go to the hills!”
Due to the recruitment ceremony of the Mt. Spirit Beast College, the Jiang’s residence was extremely peaceful. The few of them carried Jiang Xiaonu in a rucksack and quietly avoided the servants of Jiang Clan and headed out if the Jiang Clan’s western gate and towards the Western Hills.
…
“h.e.l.lo, I am looking for Jiang Yi. Also known as Lone Wolf. I am his cousin!”
One hour later, a collateral descendant of the Jiang Clan, Jiang Hong, arrived at the outside of the Martial Arts Hall and whispered to a guard. Jiang Hong could tell on one look from the face of the guard that Jiang Yi was heavily favored by the Martial Arts Hall Master. This was why he dared not casually go in to pa.s.s the message.
Soon enough, the guard came back out and told Jiang Hong, “Lone Wolf is currently recuperating and still in a coma. Manager Yang said no one can see him. You should come back later.”
“Oh. Then I shall come back later!”
Jiang Hong walked away with a gloomy expression. He came back four hours later to inquire, but Jiang Yi was still in a coma. He came back for a final time during the evening time, but Jiang Yi had not awakened yet. He had no choice but to head over to the Western Hills and report.
Jiang Yi was indeed recuperating, but he wasn’t in a coma. He had already awakened four hours ago. But Manager Yang didn’t want anyone to disturb Jiang Yi and told the guards to hold back Jiang Hong.
The medicinal effects of an earth-tier recuperation elixir are indeed insane!
The sky was completely dark when Jiang Yi opened his eyes. His expression was restored with the color of blood. After half a day of recuperation, his injuries were almost healed up.
The Martial Arts Hall didn’t lie to him. As long as he didn’t die, they would be able to restore him to good health. Of course… the Martial Arts Hall paid the price of five earth-tier elixirs. Manager Yang had to personally circulate his essence force a.s.sisting Jiang Yi’s recuperation for four hours.
20 consecutive victories!
Jiang Yi let out a long breath. Most of the Ma clansmen were severely injured and coupled with the bad impression they gave, they wouldn’t continue to brazenly pit against him right? He knew at least the other clans wouldn’t dare to do so. He had endured the worst day of the entire tournament. There shouldn’t be a such great resistance from tomorrow onward. He estimated that he would easily achieve ten consecutive victories tomorrow. It was only on the final day that he would face the toughest opponents.
Cultivate, recuperate. By tomorrow morning, I will be completely healed up!
Jiang Yi closed his eyes while seated cross-legged; he could feel the excitement in his heart. If he was truly able to achieve 100 consecutive victories, he would be able to bring Jiang Xiaonu far away to the Mt. Spirit Beast College and never fear anyone would threaten their lives.
However, the thought was perfect, but the reality was cruel.
The next day, Jiang Yi got on stage. Before the veteran could announce the start of the tournament, an individual immediately came on-stage. It was a martial artist who was at the second stage of the Cast Tripod Realm and someone Jiang Yi was familiar with!
Jiang Hong!
From the outsider perspective, this Jiang clansman was prepared by Jiang Clan for Jiang Yi to have a free meal. But Jiang Yi knew it wasn’t like this. He stared at Jiang Hong with severe eyes and emitted an intense killing aura.
“Swis.h.!.+”
Jiang Hong rushed at Jiang Yi, and when he was about three meters away from Jiang Yi, he lowered his voice and said, “I am not here to fight with you. I am here to pa.s.s a message. Brother Hu wants me to tell you that if you do not want Jiang Xiaonu to die, then immediately get your a.s.s to the Western Hills. If you don’t appear one hour later, Jiang Xiaonu shall be raped and murdered!”