Chapter 115 – Yan Yu Si’s Intentions
(Mustang: Hey guys, this is the seventh Regular Chapter for this week, by my count… Just one for tonight. No promises, but I’ll try to work out another grand release tomorrow.)
The much awaited annual tournament finally began.
The Quinyang Sect was bustling with excitement, and many disciples had travelled back from their adventures to partic.i.p.ate in the contest.
The first two days were allocated to the Selection tournament, and this year, there were no new major findings in the tournament, as the fresh crop this year, was even worse than the last one’s.
Bi Fan had no interest in the people who were partic.i.p.ating in this tournament, and he didn’t even witness the proceeding, as he remained in Yu Nu Feng, and continued to practice.
On the third day, the Disciple’s tournament began, and Bi Fan was fully prepared to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament.
The number of Disciples partic.i.p.ating in the tournament was fairly high, and tournament was sure to be an interesting spectacle.
The Disciples were expected to be very fierce, not for the sole reason that their ranking would govern the rewards they were to obtain, but also because this tournament would act as a curtain raiser for Quinyang Sect’s performance in the Jiu Yu Hidden Dragon tournament.
Youngsters always tend to seek fame and reputation, and are always hungry to build a name for themselves.
Bi Fan, Luo Sheng, Jing Feng and a few others were far too superior to most, almost to the point where they were invincible in comparison.
No matter who they came up against, they were able to win with ease.
Luo Sheng was an arrogant as ever, and continued to eye Bi Fan in the hope of provoking him, and even teased Jing Feng, every now and then.
Luo Sheng was using his entire strength in the early fights, and was under the impression that he’s unstoppable.
In the past, he had always lost to Jing Feng, so naturally, he wanted to get even.
“Bi Fan, Jing Feng, I will make you submit to my will, and you will learn to worship me.” Luo Sheng thought to himself.
Bi Fan and Jing Feng were, both, carrying the same idea, and wouldn’t even bother looking Luo Sheng in the eye. They were both aware that Luo Sheng isn’t capable of anything without his Grandfather, Luo Xiao Tian’s support.
In the Jiu Yu City, Quinyang was regarded as one of the finest Sects, and thousands of people had arrived to witness the tournament. The early rounds of the tournament were elimination rounds, and were to be used in order to identify the top sixteen fighters. These top sixteen, would then have to undergo a round-robin form of contest, and the fighter with the highest points would be announced the Champion.
Bi Fan hadn’t even used his Purple-feathered sword yet, and had been using the ‘Babu swimming Dragon’ and ‘Swimming Dragon’ techniques to quickly finish his opponents off, and had been succeeding with ease.
The Quinyang Sect had a few students who had reached the ‘Transformation’ layer. However, there were also a few older disciples, who had been failing to reach the landmark for a while now, and these disciples seemed too embarra.s.sed to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament, as they had gone away for undertaking closed-door practices, at the time of the tournament.
On the basis of the present displays of strength, Jing Feng was being ranked ‘first’ by the spectators. Luo Sheng was being considered as a strong contender, while Bi Fan was being dubbed as the ‘Dark Horse’, in addition to several other ‘transformation’ layer fighters, who had made a positive impact.
Soon enough, Luo Sheng, Bi Fan and Jing Feng had all made it to the top sixteen, while the round-robin stage of the contest, was to be carried out from tomorrow.
“Jing Feng, Bi Fan, I will beat you both, and then, I’ll be crowned Champion.” Luo Sheng came forward, gloating shamelessly.
Ever since he had lost to Jing Feng, Luo Sheng’s heart had been filling with hatred for Jing Feng.
As for Bi Fan, simply because he was Jing Feng’s friend, and Luo Sheng really couldn’t stand Jing Feng, he wanted to beat Bi Fan up as well.
Luo Sheng’s bet with Bi Fan was a much awaited spectacle, since most of the spectators were considering it to be a ‘fight to the death’.
Luo Sheng wanted to kill Bi Fan, but Bi Fan couldn’t harbor the same idea, which is why, he was expected to be a little depressed about the same.
However, Bi Fan’s mind was even more ruthless than most people could imagine. His intention was to humiliate Luo Sheng publicly, and then look for an opportunity to kill him later, in secrecy.
Bi Fan clearly understood that, regardless of the enemy’s strength, it was always a good measure to eliminate the weed as soon as possible.
Given Luo Sheng’s personality, if Bi Fan battered him in public, then Luo Sheng would surely seek revenge soon.
Bi Fan was ready to give him one chance; no more. And was ready to kill him if he didn’t back off.
Since he had a good follow-up plan in place, Bi Fan’s gloomy state had vanished like smoke in thin air, a long time ago.
“Do not rely on your weapons, you arrogant sn.o.b. I will break you into so many pieces, that you own grandfather won’t be able to recognize you.” Jing Feng looked at Luo Sheng sharply, as he retaliated.
Faced with the anger in Jing Feng’s eyes, Luo Sheng couldn’t help recoil a few steps, as he was unable to control his fear.
“I’ll make you regret provoking me.” Bi Fan said in a cold voice.
Luo Sheng restored his composure, smiled and said: “We’ll see what happens on the stage.”
Luo Sheng turned around and sped away, still carrying himself like he was an unequalled paragon.
Bi Fan and Jing Feng looked at each other, and realized that they both held the same disdain for the man, and broke into laughter. Neither of them considered Luo Sheng to be a worthy opponent, as he was simply too weak.
Yan Yu Si had been personally watching every match that Bi Fan had fought so far. Once they returned to Yu Nu Feng, she started giving Bi Fan instructions in order to make sure that everything was in place for the next round.
“Bi Fan, you are very strong, and it’s very good. I urge that you display your real strength in the tournament, and I believe that you will even beat the likes of Jing Feng. No one will be able to beat you.” Yan Yu Si had started thinking very highly of Bi Fan, so much so, that she was already considering him to be at par with Jing Feng.
She paused for a moment, and then continued: “You battled inside the Devil’s Abyss for months, and returned unharmed. You must be hiding several things; I think your strength is at par with the ‘transformation’ later already, and if you cast out your real strength at the tournament tomorrow, then no one can deprive you of a top spot.”
Yan Yu Si’s vision was too perceptive, and flexible. Her guess was pretty close to the actual reality.
Bi Fan was somewhat embarra.s.sed, since he had been hiding a lot of thing from Yan Yu Si. Like the Yin Yang Lotus, the Jade Book, the Blood Devil, Tian Yuan Ring, and The Bloodshed Sword (Xue Ren), amongst others. He needed to keep these things a secret. If these secrets were ever leaked, then his death was sure to find him at the hands of more powerful men.
“Yes young miss.” Bi Fan was completely taken aback, and didn’t know how to respond.
Yan Yu Si didn’t press the matter any further, and said: “Bi Fan, no matter what you encountered during your adventures, as long as you’re loyal to the Quinyang Sect, you can continue to act boldly and fearlessly, and I will support you.”
“I only think of the Quinyang Sect because of you. If it wasn’t for you, I would have turned anti-Quinyang a long time ago, since I have had so many bad experiences here.” Bi Fan thought to himself. Obviously, he wasn’t stupid enough to say it out loud. He simply nodded him head in understanding, as a reply to Yan Yu Si’s words.
With Yan Yu Si’s support, and his Master, Ling Xin Ya’s protection, Bi Fan didn’t need to fear Luo Xiao Tian as much now.
But for now, unless Bi Fan showcased his real strength, the rest of the Quinyang Sect was sure to pick Luo Xiao Tian’s side, when the time came, which is why Bi Fan would have to refrain from making him a public enemy.
Bi Fan didn’t have a choice for now, he needed to endure this. And Bi Fan wasn’t just good at tolerating; he was a master of the art.
It takes resolve to succeed, and Bi Fan was extremely resolute.
Bi Fan took his leave, and returned to his residence.
Now that Yan Yu Si and Xiao Feng were alone, Yan Yu Si said: “Bi Fan has surely had a lot of fortuitous adventures; I can see that now. If this man is allowed to wholeheartedly grow at the Quinyang Sect, then he can take Quinyang to new heights. With him in the lead, the Quinyang Sect could become the largest Sect in the Jiu Yu City, someday.”
“Young Miss, is Bi Fan really that strong? Even stronger than you? Young Miss, you could take the Quinyang Sect to the top on your own…” Xiao Feng said.
Yan Yu Si sighed: “I cannot help the Sect directly. I’m a Xuannv Sect disciple now, and I cannot break free of it. But Bi Fan still belongs to the Quinyang Sect, and will soon start attracting interests from the other Sects. We must make sure that he doesn’t get lured away by another Sect, and start harboring thoughts about Quinyang not being big enough for him.”
“Miss, given his history, and how much the Quinyang Sect has done for him, he shouldn’t defect to any other Sect, right?” Xiao Feng asked.
Yan Yu Si said: “It’s a complicated issue…in the past Bi Fan has suffered too many insults at the hands of the people in Quinyang, and now, we will have to make amends for it; otherwise the other Sects will be able to lure him away with ease.”
“Miss, we have always been very good to him, and we’ll continue to be that way. As far as I know, Bi Fan has a very special affection for Yu Nu Feng. I think that he a.s.sociates himself more with Yu Nu Feng, than he does with the Yang Shan Peak.” Xiao Feng said.
“That’s very good. You should treat Bi Fan like family; he’s always been a very lonely man. He has never known the warmth of a family, and if starts seeing us in that light, then we will be able to retain him here.” Yan Yu Si smiled.
If Bi Fan had known that Yan Yu Si thinks so highly of him, then his excitement would have broken all barriers. And Yan Yu Si had been looking very deeply into him; it would appear as she was already able to see through Bi Fan’s inner most being.