Zhaang Ye hadn't gone far when he heard the laughter of Zhaang Jin and the others behind him. Zhaang Ye gave a slight shake of his head and muttered to himself, "Go on, laugh all you want. You won't be laughing after the tournament is over."
By this time, the Elders' speeches had concluded, and the drawing of lots began.
The Zhaang Family's method for drawing lots was simple. A large wooden box was placed on the Martial Arts Arena. Inside the box were one hundred and twenty-eight wooden sticks. The one hundred and twenty-eight participating youths would go up one by one to draw a stick. The person who drew the same match number would be their opponent.
Zhaang Ye casually drew a stick and saw the two words "Second Match" written on it. He handed the stick to the Steward at the recording table and heard him say, "Second Match, eh? Let me see who your opponent is. Oh, Zhaang Shui also drew Second Match. That means your opponent for the first round is Zhaang Shui."
