Chapter 96 - The Scum Is Embarrassing

Intersect Competition, fourth day. 

"Welcome to the second stage of the Intersect Competition!" the Righteous Alliance's member, the emcee, said as he looked at the crowd cheering loudly. "The 1v1 Stage!" he added. "The 90 contestants, please walk forward." he said as he faced the contestants. 

Pai Lie's eyes are shining as he looked at Cheng Sheng. His expression is excited. Meanwhile, Zheng Fu Gong, Jing Xian, Qi Ling and Su Yuan's expression is serious.

"Ah… I want to see Wen's expression when he read my letter…" Xie Lan said and smiled as he imagined Fan Wen's reaction. He sent him a letter last night.

"Elder Fan will be overjoyed." Qian Shan told him.

"Right?" Xie Lan said and foolishly laughed. He's obviously smitten to Fan Wen - his childhood sweetheart. Fei Huang tiredly sighed and rolled his eyes at Xie Lan while Wu Yuan forced his expression to remain blank because Xie Lan is really embarrassing. The sect leaders near them awkwardly laughed with Xie Lan, who is now talking non-stop about his and Fan Wen's history. Fei Huang, who is clear to Xie Lan and Fan Wen's story the most, almost pulled Xie Lan's tongue and cut it just to make him shut his mouth. 

Cheng Sheng almost covered his face while Fei Yin and the others looked away when they saw their embarrassing sect leader. "We've already lost face even the competition of the second stage has not yet started!" Cheng Sheng exclaimed when he felt his eyes became sore after seeing Xie Lan's dumb expression while talking about Fan Wen. "I feel sorry for shifu..." he muttered. Fan Wen must be sneezing non-stop in the sect right now. He isn't wrong, though. 

Chen Han coughed and looked away while Sun Yi smiled in understanding. Xi Ming, Jing Cheng and the others felt their views were broken after they saw the display of Xie Lan's foolishness.

"The first 45 contestants, please stand on the left side. The other 45 contestants, please stand on the other side." The Alliance's member who is acting as the emcee said. Even though the Zunjingde Sect is the host, but the Righteous Alliance does most of the work – including acting as the emcee.

Jing Rui is a taciturn person, thus he can't act as the emcee. His nephews are contestants, and the elders of the Zunjingde Sect are all old so they don't have the energy to be the emcee. Thus, the Alliance provided their emcee.

"The contestants, please place your nameplate inside the box." The emcee said and handed the box to Chen Han who's on the right side. On the left side, Zheng Yi, who was holding the other box, gave the box to Jing Bai who's nearest to him. "After you're done, pass the box to the next contestant." The emcee continued. "The second stage will last for five days. The elders of the Alliance will pick from the boxes the nameplate of the contestants who will be matched against each other." He explained. "Elder Zheng will pick the names of the contestants who will be matched today." He added and turned to Zheng Fu Gong who was observing the 90 contestants. "Elder Zheng, if you may." the emcee said and bowed. 

Zheng Fu Gong rose from his seat and walked towards the stage. The Alliance's disciples immediately gave him the boxes, each box containing the 45 contestants' nameplates. The Zunjingde Sect, Shanliangde Sect and Qian Lin stood on the left side while the Youxiwang Sect and the Xinfaxian Sect stood on the right side.

"Ah… this is always exciting." Chen Jing said as he watched Zheng Fu Gong picked from the box on the left. "Right. Do you know where is Wuran located?" he asked Mu Jun.

"No." Mu Jun answered, his face emotionless. Only when Fei Huang is near him would his face show colors. 

Chen Jing was surprised. "You're not from there?" he asked.

"No." Mu Jun answered. 

"Then, where are you from?" Chen Jing asked, feeling curious.

"I didn't even tell it to Fei Huang, so why should I tell you?" Mu Jun asked Chen Jing.

Chen Jing stared at him before he smiled. "Because you know Fei Huang can guess it." He said. "As well as I." he added. Mu Jun, he's from outside of Huilong.

Mu Jun just grinned and didn't speak more. Chen Jing, his suspicion was confirmed, didn't speak again. They then focused on the competition that's about to begin.

Zheng Fu Gong looked at the nameplate and saw it's blue. "Shanliangde Sect – " he said when he saw the Shanliangde Sect's mountain crest. " – Xi Shi." He read the name engraved.

"It's the Shanliangde Sect…" the audience said.

"Xi Shi… he's from the Xi Clan!" one of the audience exclaimed. 

"Yeah. Just from a branch family – " someone said. 

"Do you have something against with the branch family?!" 

Xi Shi ignored the whispers from the crowd. "Xiao Shi." Xi Ming called. "Good luck!" he told him. Xiao Shi is their cousin. However, he sighed when Xi Shi also ignored him and then walked towards the stage.

"Hmph!" Xi Ning scoffed. "Who does he put on airs for?" she frowned. She clearly dislike Xi Shi. Xi Xing just glanced at her while Gong Xian already started to travel to the dreamland. 

Zheng Fu Gong then picked from the box on the right. He saw it was a green nameplate with the crest of a bamboo and a leaning flower. "Xinfaxian Sect – " he said.

The audience gasped loudly. "Xinfaxian Sect!" they said. 

"Isn't that the sect where the genius second young master of the Chen Clan is studying?" someone said. 

"Its sect leader, Xie Lan, studied in Shanliangde Sect before. Then, he built his own sect." another one said.

"Wasn't it at the banquet during the first night of the competition, elder Xi from the Shanliangde Sect called him 'elder brother'?" one of them asked. 

"Eh?! Then, their sects will fight?!" someone exclaimed. 

"This is a fair match. What's wrong with it?" the man beside him asked and frowned. 

"I wonder if we'll see second young master Chen…" a person on the other side of the venue said. 

"Yeah! I want to see how a genius fights!" someone said. He's obviously excited. 

Zheng Fu Gong flipped the nameplate. " – Li Tian." He read the name engraved.

"Eh?!" Lei Ling exclaimed and looked at Li Tian standing beside him. "Li-shixiong…" he called.

Li Tian smiled. "I'll be fine." He said.

"Li-shixiong. Good luck!" Cheng Sheng said as he raised his fist to cheer him on.

"Lei-shidi. Do your best." Fei Yin told him.

"Good luck." Lei Qing told him as she patted his shoulder.

"Li-shixiong… I'll pray for your win!" You Rou said as she clasped her hands.

"Good luck." Sun Yi smiled.

"Ah Tian, good luck!" Chen Han said and hugged him. Worry and fear are in his eyes.

Xi Shi saw Chen Han fretting over Li Tian and his eyes narrowed. So this is Chen Han's type? So ordinary. He thought as he watched Li Tian walk up the stage.

"Li Tian? Who's that?" someone asked from the audience.

"Comparing to the Shanliangde Sect, it looks like this'll be a loss to the Xinfaxian Sect." somebody said. 

"Don't speak when the match hasn't started yet! I'll bet the Xinfaxian Sect will win!" someone told him. 

"You'll lose both your faith and money. I'm in for Shanliangde Sect!" someone said and took out his money. 

On the other side of the venue where the Alliance's elders and sect leaders are staying to watch the competition. 

"Aren't you worried for your disciple?" Qian Shan asked Xie Lan and watched as the favor of the audience went to the Shanliangde Sect's side.

Xie Lan smiled as he crossed his chest. He looked at Li Tian's expression as he and Xi Shi both draw their sword. "That's why I'm not worried, since I have faith in my disciples." He answered. His voice is filled with confidence. Both of his disciple...a and himself. He believes his eyes are good to pick Li Tian as one of his disciples. 

On the stage, Xi Shi scoffed as he looked at Li Tian from head to feet. "You took the alchemy test instead of the martial arts test. You're a mage." He said.

Li Tian smiled. "My swordsmanship is still okay." He said.

Xi Shi frowned. "Be prepared to lose, mage!" he said as he unsheathed his sword. Li Tian didn't speak and also unsheathed his sword. 

The emcee looked at the both contestants before he spoke. "Whoever knocked his opponent off of the stage, or making his opponent admit defeat, wins!" he said. "Start!" he said and immediately leapt out of the stage.

"AAAAHH!" Xi Shi yelled as he advanced towards Li Tian, his sword infused with qi.

"Ah Tian!" Chen Han cried as his eyes widened in horror.

"Li-shixiong!" Lei Ling and You Rou called, their voice and face are filled with worry and anxiety.

"Li-shidi!" Lei Qing called. 

"Go, Li-shixiong!" Cheng Sheng cheered as he raised his fist.