Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Drawing Lots
"Tsk. Brother Su, you picked a nice spot. I nearly ran into a pack of Gale Wolves on my way up. If I weren’t so fast, I would’ve been their dinner." Xiao Yunchen raised his wine flask, took a long gulp, and spoke.
Su Chang smiled faintly. "Heh, Brother Xiao, you jest. What could mere Gale Wolves possibly do to you? Oh, Su Ming and Mo Fengyu are here."
With a soft sound of surprise, the two looked over to see Su Ming and Mo Fengyu arriving together. Su Ming was dressed in a white robe, his expression aloof, while Mo Fengyu wore straw sandals and a gray, patched robe, the very picture of simplicity.
"Brother Su, Brother Mo."
Su Ming and Mo Fengyu entered the pavilion and found seats for themselves.
"My apologies, I ran into a wild boar and was delayed." Just then, Lu Yin, clad in a silver robe, arrived. Spotting Mo Fengyu, he sneered, "Brother Mo, I’m surprised you’ve come out of seclusion."
Mo Fengyu shot Lu Yin an indifferent glance. "The Hidden Dragon Secret Realm is about to open. Naturally, I came out of seclusion. As did you, I see."
"The Hidden Dragon Secret Realm... truly a place to look forward to." Lu Yin licked his lips, a fanatical gleam flashing in his eyes.
Just then, Qin Ya and Gong Cang arrived.
The moment Lu Yin saw Qin Ya, he snorted, his expression darkening. He was clearly still brooding over his defeat at Qin Ya’s hands.
"Haha, Teacher Qin, Brother Gong."
Everyone exchanged greetings.
"I wonder how many people Brother Su invited today."
Su Chang smiled faintly. "Not many. There’s just one more person to arrive."
"That would be Nangong Xinzhi, correct?" Mo Fengyu said.
"Precisely," Su Chang said with a smile.
"The seven great prodigies of the Imperial Capital, all gathered in one place. Heh."
A short while later, a young man in a golden robe slowly made his way over.
The newcomer was handsome and clad in a golden robe. His features bore a slight resemblance to the current sovereign, His Majesty Nangong Wen. His every move and gesture exuded the air of a hegemon.
Upon arriving, Nangong Xinzhi gazed upon the others as a King would his subjects and spoke with indifference, "So, you’ve all arrived."
"Hmph. Your airs are as grand as ever," Lu Yin said coldly, his tone laced with displeasure.
Nangong Xinzhi merely shot him an indifferent glance before turning his attention to Qin Ya. "You must be Qin Ya."
"I am."
Qin Ya was puzzled. He keenly sensed a hint of hostility in Nangong Xinzhi’s gaze. ’But this is the first time we’ve met,’ he thought. ’There shouldn’t be any conflict between us. Where is this animosity coming from?’
"Excellent," Nangong Xinzhi said with an aloof smile.
Seeing this, Su Chang stepped in. "Now that everyone is here, let the gathering begin. I have prepared some humble refreshments. Please, take your seats."
Everyone sat down, discussing their insights on Martial Arts as they drank.
Everyone present was a prodigy with an extraordinary understanding of Martial Arts. After a period of discussion, all of them felt they had benefited greatly. Half an hour passed.
Lu Yin suddenly spoke up. "Su Chang, you didn’t call us all here just to chat, did you? This is getting rather dull."
"Heh, it seems Brother Lu is itching for a fight."
Su Chang chuckled.
"Hmph. Are you all really going to just keep talking?" Lu Yin said coldly. "Endless discussion is worth less than one real fight."
Su Ming stated impassively, "He’s right. Knowledge from books is ultimately shallow. Discussion can enhance our understanding of the Martial Arts, but only real combat allows one to apply it flexibly."
Su Chang said, "Very well."
He then turned to Qin Ya. "Teacher Qin, do you recall what I said at the Martial Tower Banquet? Ever since that day, I have held the deepest admiration for your strength. How about we take this opportunity to have a friendly spar?"
Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Qin Ya’s eyes. "I accept."
Just then, the golden-robed Nangong Xinzhi suddenly interjected, "Brother Su, I too have taken an interest in Teacher Qin. Why don’t you let me take this match instead?"
Su Chang smiled faintly. "I’m afraid that won’t do. Teacher Qin and I have a prior arrangement. Brother Nangong, surely you must respect the principle of first come, first served."
Though Su Chang’s expression was placid, his tone carried an unyielding edge.
Even though Nangong Xinzhi was an Imperial Prince of superior status, they were both among the most brilliant prodigies of the Imperial Capital, each with his own pride. Su Chang was not about to change his mind because of a single sentence from Nangong Xinzhi.
"First come, first served? No. This is a command!"
The moment he spoke, the atmosphere grew tense and cold.
Su Chang smiled faintly, but a sharp light suddenly flared in his eyes as he stared directly at Nangong Xinzhi. "Brother Nangong, are you being serious?"
"What do you think?" Nangong Xinzhi retorted, his expression frigid.
Qin Ya’s brows knitted together as he spoke with indifference, "Gentlemen, who I fight is my own affair. I don’t believe I require either of you to make the decision for me."
Hearing this, Su Chang said, "My apologies. I overstepped."
"Oh? Are you unwilling... or just afraid?"
Nangong Xinzhi said with a cold smirk, raising an eyebrow.
Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile. "Heh, I have a prior engagement with Brother Su. If you also wish to spar with me, Brother Nangong, then how about we have our match after I’m finished with him?"
BOOM! A tyrannical aura instantly descended upon the scene.
Nangong Xinzhi’s icy voice slowly rang out. "Qin Ya, what is the meaning of this? Are you suggesting I fight you when you are not at your peak?"
"If you’re not willing to wait, you can both come at me together," Qin Ya stated calmly.
"Are you... insulting me?" An icy glare shot from Nangong Xinzhi’s eyes. "Qin Ya," he said frigidly, "do you understand the consequences of what you’ve just said?"
"The consequence... is that you will lose to me."
A chill went through the hearts of the onlookers. Xiao Yunchen turned to Su Ming, who was beside him. "Well, this is just great. What was supposed to be a friendly spar has now turned into a formal challenge."
"All three of them are proud and arrogant to the core. This won’t be resolved easily."
Hearing this, Nangong Xinzhi’s eyebrow twitched. "Lose to me? Hah! How arrogant and ignorant. Why don’t you and Su Chang come at me together? I’ll defeat you both all the same."
"Hah, now that is something I cannot agree with," Su Chang said. "Brother Nangong and I have shared a similar reputation for a long time, yet we’ve never had the chance to settle who is superior. Why not take this opportunity to see who is truly stronger and who is weaker?"
At this, Xiao Yunchen suddenly spoke up. "Why must we make things so hostile? How about we draw lots to decide?"
With that, his figure blurred. In the blink of an eye, he returned from the woods with a long, thin branch, which he broke into eight pieces. "Those who draw pieces of matching lengths will be opponents. What do you all think?"
"Agreed."
"I’m in."
"Heh. It’s better than this standoff."
Nangong Xinzhi snorted. "Fine. Let’s do it that way."
After the lots were drawn, Qin Ya looked at Nangong Xinzhi, who was holding a branch of the exact same length as his own, and said, "It seems I’ll have to break our agreement."
Su Chang gave a wry smile. "Alas, it must be fate. It seems I am not destined to spar with Teacher Qin today."
