Ling Xiao rose early the next morning. Chunlan and Qiuyue had already prepared breakfast. After he ate, he went into the courtyard to stand for a moment, calming his breath and focusing his mind. He sensed the abundant Spiritual Qi in the world around him. Though he couldn't yet absorb it for his own use, it at least calmed his mind and refreshed his spirit.
Forty-five minutes before 7:00 AM, the training grounds for the junior classes of the Imperial Academy were surprisingly packed with people. A crowd thronged around the not-so-large training field, which was bustling with excitement.
Some enterprising student merchants had even set up shop, peddling drinks and snacks. And surprisingly, they had plenty of customers!
This was normally an unbelievable sight. The Imperial Academy had a relaxed atmosphere, and its students were generally just as lax. With different interests, they all came to train at different times. Outside of the specialized courses taught by the martial arts teachers, the training grounds were usually all but deserted.
Who would have thought that a fight between two junior-class students would attract so many gawkers? This was, of course, largely due to the promotion by Wulan Tuo's entourage. Most people wanted to see the "disgrace of the Imperial Academy" get his face beaten to a pulp.
"If you ask me, Ling Xiao is a disgrace to the Imperial Academy! With him around, I'm too embarrassed to even tell people I'm a student here!" a noble from a senior class complained angrily to a few of his friends.
Someone beside him chimed in, "Tell me about it. I was at a party in the noble circles recently, and people kept asking me, 'Is it true a student at your academy raped his fiancée?' Ugh, can you believe how vulgar? I tried to explain it was indecent assault, not rape! That he didn't succeed... but they just gave me this scornful look and said it amounted to the same thing. Heavens, if this goes on, I think I'll transfer. I hear the Noble Academy over in the Zichuan Empire is quite good..."
The young noble to the right, who had been silent until now, shrugged and drawled lazily, "I actually think there's something fishy about the whole affair. Still, it all comes down to Ling Xiao being a total waste. I think the real reason he's called the disgrace of the nobility is that he got played by a commoner's daughter. Tsk, a commoner's daughter... Young Master Ling really knows how to be tender with women!"
From the conversations among many of the nobles, it was clear this was the real reason most of them despised Ling Xiao. It wasn't their publicly spouted, sanctimonious line about how "only an animal would assault a female classmate."
...
"Young Master, look! See? I told you everyone would be on our side!" Li Jiang said, fawningly holding an umbrella to shield Wulan Tuo from the less-than-scorching sun. He smirked and winked as he spoke.
An exquisite, comfortable chair was placed on one side of the ring. Wulan Tuo, who was sitting in it, laughed smugly, a sound like a grating squawk. "Don't you worry. It was just one kick, wasn't it? I'll get revenge for you!"
"Young Master is wise!" A venomous glint flashed in Li Jiang's eyes. 'Ling Xiao, you're going to die a miserable death!' he thought. "Young Master, look. With so many people here to watch, do you think Ling Xiao might get scared and not even show up?"
Wulan Tuo shook his head and sneered, "I'd actually prefer if he didn't come. If he's a no-show, the entire Ling Family's reputation will plummet!" There was more he left unsaid. 'At that point, even Ling Xiao's father, Ling Tianxiao, would take a hit. Their Ling Family has held control over West Lake for far too long! Wulan Tuo's second uncle, Wulan Nu, is also an Imperial General. If Ling Tianxiao runs into trouble, given the Wulan Clan's formidable power, Wulan Nu could very well take his place.'
'Wulan Tuo never considered himself a useless sack of straw. He was already fifteen years old; it was time for him to start sharing the Wulan Clan's burdens. Even if he couldn't achieve his main objective, just causing trouble for the Ling Family was good enough!'
With only fifteen minutes to go until 7:00 AM, the crowd of onlookers around the training grounds grew restless. Some of the more short-tempered ones had already started cursing Ling Xiao. Many people silently resolved that if Ling Xiao dared to stand them all up, they would organize a school-wide petition tomorrow to have this disgrace and degenerate expelled from the Imperial Academy!
In a corner of the training grounds, the lovely Yisha prayed with a worried look on her face, "Big Brother, you have to win! You have to!"
Mary, who was standing beside her, grew impatient. She turned her head away as if she didn't know Yisha, pouting as she muttered under her breath, "He might not even have the guts to show up, and here you are talking about winning..."
......
Shangguan Yutong intercepted Ling Xiao, Chunlan, and Qiuyue on the way. Her face was cold as she said, "Ling Xiao, how can you be so thoughtless! Have you forgotten what I told you?" She then turned to Chunlan and Qiuyue. "And you two. He may not know the danger, but surely you two understand the gap between a Tier Nine Sword Attendant and a Tier Five Sword Attendant? How could you indulge your young master in this foolishness? Ling Xiao, turn back at once. I'll go and declare the duel invalid..." Shangguan Yutong commanded.
"..." Chunlan and Qiuyue looked like they wanted to speak but held their tongues. In front of an outsider, they had to maintain the proper decorum for a maid, so they lowered their heads and said nothing.
"Teacher, I know you're worried about me." Ling Xiao gave a bitter smile. "But as a member of the Ling Family, to be constantly provoked, to have someone point a finger in my face and call me trash... I admit, I couldn't endure it. My personal reputation is a small matter, but the Ling Family's is a great one. Surely you agree, Teacher? Please rest assured. I wouldn't do something I'm not confident I can win."
A confident smile spread across Ling Xiao's face. If he'd been uncertain before yesterday, after sparring with Chunlan, he now had a basic understanding of this world's Tier Nine Sword Attendants. 'With a well-laid plan against an unsuspecting opponent, my chances of victory are actually quite high.'
Shangguan Yutong knew that if she rashly canceled the duel, her own reputation would suffer immensely. More importantly, the Ling Family's prestige would plummet. Fleeing... that was something only cowards did.
Taking a deep breath, she knew the matter was irreversible. Shangguan Yutong let out a soft sigh. With a flip of her fair hand, a strangely shaped longsword appeared. It was much narrower than a typical sword. Its scabbard was simple and unadorned, worn down in many places. If you didn't look closely, you might mistake it for a club the thickness of an infant's arm.
"Take it." Shangguan Yutong tossed the sword to Ling Xiao. "It's an Enchanted Sword, made with a Tier-Two wind-elemental Magic Beast Crystal Core. It's called the Fine Willow Sword. I hope it can help you when used with your family's sword techniques."
"Uh..." Ling Xiao caught it. He could tell this sword had seen countless battles; the grip of the hilt was worn to a polished sheen, unlike the brand-new Red Flame Sword that Yisha had lent him.
Ling Xiao glanced at the Red Flame Longsword on Chunlan's back, but he swallowed whatever he was about to say. Refusing another's help could be hurtful, after all.
Besides, given his current strength, this wind-elemental Enchanted Sword would be more effective. Wind-elemental Enchanted Weapons made the user's weapon lighter and faster!
Just as the deadline approached and the crowd in the training grounds was growing agitated, someone suddenly yelled, "Ling Xiao is here!"
Instantly, all eyes shot toward Ling Xiao. However, the scornful looks on their faces quickly froze, because walking with Ling Xiao was an academy teacher, Shangguan Yutong. When it came to Shangguan Yutong, she was the dream girl of countless people, from many of the male teachers down to the scions of the great noble houses.
She was gentle and kind, always spoke softly, and was skilled at encouraging her students and helping those in need... Clearly, none of these people had been as fortunate as Ling Xiao, who had witnessed Teacher Shangguan's shrewish roar.
"By the Sword God, why is Teacher Shangguan with that trash? This is unbelievable!"
"Heavens, has Teacher Shangguan gone mad?"
"That piece of trash Ling Xiao... he must have used his family's influence to threaten Teacher Shangguan..."
The grounds erupted in an uproar. Everyone's faces were filled with astonishment as they stared in disbelief at the four of them. Many even pitied the two beautiful maids beside Ling Xiao. 'Such a shame for them to be stuck with a brutish master like that...'
"Go on, Ling Xiao." Shangguan Yutong said no more. She gave him a deep, encouraging look.
Ling Xiao took the Red Flame Sword from Chunlan, carrying the Fine Willow Sword from Shangguan Yutong in his other hand, and slowly walked up to the ring.
Murmurs spread through the crowd. "Haha, he's carrying two swords! Has his brain been addled by a fever? Does he really think having more swords means he can win?"
"Seriously. He's not just trash, he's an idiot!"
When Shangguan Yutong saw the Red Flame Sword, however, she froze for a moment, a pensive look appearing on her face.
Wulan Tuo also watched Ling Xiao with a jeer on his face. He stood up, stretched his arms and legs, and taunted, "Third Young Master Ling, you don't really think you can beat me just because you have two swords, do you?"
Wulan Tuo's duck-like voice was incredibly grating. Beside the ring, his followers roared with laughter. Li Jiang mocked loudly, "Young Master Ling must think having two swords is like multiplying a Tier Five Sword Attendant by two, which makes him a Tier One Sword Master! Hahaha!"
The spectators below roared with laughter as well. Yisha pressed her lips together, her eyes fixed on Ling Xiao in the ring. 'Big Brother Ling Xiao,' she prayed silently, 'you have to beat him! Show everyone you're not a waste!'
Beside her, Mary sneered at Ling Xiao. She was already fantasizing about what he would look like with his face beaten to a pulp. 'It'll be hilarious!'
"Enough talk." Ling Xiao lifted his head, his gaze cold as he looked at Wulan Tuo. "You want to fight? Then fight!"
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