The scholar sneered again: "What I want is the most skilled craftsman, not you!"
A surge of rage rushed to the young Yue man's head. Amidst the girl's gasp, he charged at the scholar, grabbing his long robe at the chest. The scholar remained motionless, his cold gaze not even glancing at the young Yue man. The young Yue man took a few rapid breaths and said, word by word, "I...will...not...let...you...go!" He forcefully tore open the scholar's robe, turned, and ran away. The remaining Yue men exchanged glances and scattered into the woods.
The scholar covered his long robe, but in that instant, Li Jun noticed something strange: on the scholar's chest, there was a Taoist Tai Chi symbol on the left and a Buddhist swastika on the right. This discovery greatly surprised Li Jun.
After a brief discussion with the driver, the scholar and the Yue girl boarded the two-horse carriage. As they got in, his icy gaze swept over Li Jun, who felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cave.
The Yue girl sat alone in a corner, while the scholar ignored her completely. Li Jun saw that her breathing was getting more and more rapid, and finally couldn't help but cover his face and cry bitterly.
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Note 1: The Yue people: Standing only about three-fifths the height of an average person, they originally lived in hilly areas. During the "Million Ears" war, they spread to various parts of the world. It is said they are distributed across continents other than Zhongping Shenzhou, but are called "dwarfs." They are extremely confident and proud of their height, believing that the goddess Nüjing first meticulously created the short Yue people when creating humans. Later, the goddess grew tired of them and casually molded other human races. Therefore, they possess a talent for creation and crafting that no other race has. However, the Yue people split into two groups. One group lives in caves, belonging to the metal element (metal-based attack and defense increase by 50% to 100%), and are excellent casting masters. The other group lives in tree nests, belonging to the wood element (wood-based attack and defense increase by 50% to 100%), and are superb mechanical designers. Although the two groups of Yue people look down on and distrust each other, they maintain a facade of respect and tolerance. In addition to their religious beliefs, they also worship the legendary god of craftsmen, Gongshu Pan.
Note 2: All three religions have markers indicating the qualifications of their followers. Confucianists wear blue or cyan robes and are called Confucian scholars. After rigorous training and passing tests in various countries, they can have a white border added to their robes, becoming known as seasoned Confucian scholars. Further trials allow them to have a yellow border added, making them sages. While there are many wise men, sages are extremely rare. As a Confucian scholar's rank increases, their abilities also improve. Because Confucian followers are the primary source of officials in the Divine Continent, although their numbers are vast, most are obsessed with officialdom, few are dedicated to rigorous training, and even fewer master true Confucian arts, let alone reach the level of sage.
Section 2
Haiping City, the capital of the Hong Kingdom and its largest port, has far surpassed the prosperity of the small mountain town of Linzhou, despite years of constant warfare. To the east lies the sea, providing access to the East China Sea and the South China Sea, with merchant ships from various regions constantly coming and going. To the south lies a vast alluvial plain, where the mighty Hong River brings bounty to agriculture on both banks. Thanks to the favorable climate, major crops can be harvested twice a year, earning it the nickname "granary." To the north and west lie forests and mountains known as the Wanyun Mountains, teeming with countless rare treasures and exotic creatures. The only drawback is the lack of gold and silver deposits. Due to its abundant resources, the Hong Kingdom has become the object of covetousness among surrounding nations. Millennia of internal and external wars have turned forests into charred wastelands, rivers into blood-red stains, and plains into barren deserts. Despite this, thanks to the superior conditions bestowed upon it by heaven, Haiping, the capital of the Hong Kingdom, remains one of the largest cities in the Divine Continent.
When Li Jun arrived in Haiping, seeing that it was still early, he decided to gather some information. To his surprise, everyone on the street was crowding towards one place. He asked a vendor and learned that today was the day the results of the monthly Haiping Games would be announced.
"The Haiping Sports Meet?" Li Jun asked in surprise as he followed the crowd toward the market square. The square, which could hold tens of thousands of people, was already packed with people. Amidst the clamor, Li Jun could only see a high platform in the center of the square, where several people were doing something.
A moment later, the crowd erupted into chaos. Li Jun heard some laughing loudly, others weeping uncontrollably, and still others whispering amongst themselves. These ten thousand-plus people seemed to have gone mad, leaving Li Jun unable to contain his astonishment.
As he struggled to squeeze to the middle of the square, before he could even figure out what was happening, a hand grabbed him.
Li Jun looked at the man and realized he was the scholar who had come with him. Before Li Jun could say anything, the scholar said calmly, "You're a mercenary, aren't you? I'll hire you."
His tone was calm, but Li Jun sensed an unyielding resolve in his voice. The rebellious nature of youth began to stir within Li Jun; he struggled to free his arm from the scholar's grasp, but the scholar's withered fingertips exerted a powerful force that prevented him from breaking free.
“I can give you what is most useful to you,” the scholar said, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination. “For example, I can double your abilities!”
Li Jun suddenly realized that despite the surrounding clamor, the scholar hadn't exerted much effort, yet his voice still reached his ears very clearly. The strange price offered was also irresistible. Although Li Jun didn't know how the scholar could double his abilities, he trusted this unfamiliar scholar. Therefore, Li Jun gave up struggling and, led by the scholar, squeezed through the crowd onto the stage.
"Our people are all here," the scholar said to a man who looked like a clerk sitting on the platform. "When will the competition begin?"
Li Jun nodded to the Yue girl already on the stage and noticed a grinning boy beside her. Before he could greet him, the clerk asked, "Name, race, place of origin, special skills."
“Lei Hun, an ordinary person, from the Su Kingdom, a mage.” The scholar answered the question almost without uttering a word more. Then the Yue girl replied, “My name is Mo Rong, from Dongyue, my home is in Yue Ren Ridge of the Hong Kingdom, and my special skill… I am the future number one craftsman of the Divine Continent.”
Upon hearing the Yue girl's almost boastful answer, the advisor couldn't help but chuckle and softened his voice, saying, "Are you really going to participate in this competition? You don't look like someone who can endure such hardship."
Mo Rong nodded firmly: "No problem. My father told me that to become the greatest craftsman, one must have the greatest courage. The great master craftsman Gongshu Pan will be with me!"
The advisor shook his head, somewhat exasperated with his own meddling. He turned his gaze to Li Jun. Li Jun hadn't thought much of it when Li Jun didn't look him in the eye, but when their gazes met, he felt a powerful pressure emanating from the advisor's eyes, making it impossible to lie. Clearly, this advisor was a master of mental magic. Li Jun instinctively became wary: "What?"
The clerk sensed Li Jun's mental resistance, smiled slightly, and the immense pressure immediately vanished. He asked, "I need to register your name, race, place of origin, and special skills."
After exchanging a glance with the scholar Lei Hun, Li Jun replied, "Li Jun, ordinary man, from the State of Su, murderer."
The clerk quickly took notes while repeating Li Jun's words, pausing on the last word: "What are your special skills?"
“Killing people,” Li Jun said to the scholar Lei Hun with a distinctly threatening tone, feeling as if he had been tricked. “I am a mercenary, and my specialty is killing people.”
"Strange things happen every year, but there seem to be more than usual today." The advisor shook his head again and noted down Li Jun's "special skill".
The grinning boy knew it was his turn and said, "Tu Long Ziyun, a commoner, from the Lan Kingdom, specializes in slaying dragons."
His voice, in stark contrast to the dull smile on his face, was fast and clear. When the audience heard his talent, they were first taken aback, and then burst into laughter.
The advisor shook his head for the third time, a smile creeping onto his face: "So the Dragon-Slaying Clan of Lan Kingdom still has descendants... How many dragons have you killed?"
Blushing at the sarcasm in the advisor's tone, Tu Longzi stammered, "...No...I didn't find the dragon..."
The advisor seemed to want to tease him a bit more: "Dragons disappeared thousands of years ago, so of course you can't find one. You'll never be able to use your special skill in this lifetime."
With a cold snort, Lei Hun interrupted the clerk's mockery: "Enough nonsense, are the formalities completed?"
The advisor glanced at the sky and said, "Alright, all you need to do is put your fingerprints on your own names."
When it was Li Jun's turn to put his fingerprint on the document, he realized that the clerk had started filling out a "life or death waiver".
Seeing Li Jun hesitate, Lei Hun urged, "Are you afraid of dying?"
Li Jun quickly pressed his finger down and said proudly, "How could a mercenary in chaotic times be afraid of death?"
A smile flashed across Lei Hun's face; this was the first time Li Jun had ever seen this strange scholar smile. He had so many questions he wanted to ask Lei Hun, but before he could, the advisor gestured to someone nearby to lead the four of them down from the platform.
As he walked through the crowd, people on both sides automatically made way for him. He hadn't gone far when he heard a thunderous roar from the crowd again. He looked back and saw that the clerk had stood up and was speaking loudly on the stage.
"...There are twelve groups of forty-eight people in this competition. Their information will be posted tomorrow, everyone is welcome..." Li Jun vaguely heard this half sentence, and he suddenly realized that he had participated in the famous "Desperate Gamblers" gambling competition in Hong Guohai Ping City.
The "Desperate Gamblers" tournament has been running for several years; it's an official event organized by the city of Haiping. Participants are randomly banished to a dangerous island, only to be picked up by ship a month later. Each participant is allowed only three days' worth of rations; to survive, they must steal food from others. In extreme hunger, cannibalism occurs, and usually only a very few survivors remain. Because of the tournament's bloodshed, cruelty, and unpredictable excitement, countless people in Haiping City place bets, and even gamblers travel from distant lands to participate. One-third of the total winnings go to the last survivors, with the remainder going to the organizers. Because the prize money is extremely substantial, often reaching hundreds of thousands of gold coins, people always risk their lives to sign up for each tournament. Li Jun had heard mercenaries talk about it before, but only now did he remember it.
The four were led to an inn called "Outlaws." After arranging rooms for them, the person left. Lei Hun disappeared without a trace, and it wasn't until dinner time when he returned and called everyone to his room that Li Jun was able to question him: "Why did you trick me into participating in this competition?"
"It doesn't matter if I lie to you." Lei Hun's tone remained emotionless. "Because this competition is a group event, we are one person short, and we just happened to see you and also happened to know that you are a mercenary."
"Just a coincidence?" Li Jun smiled bitterly. "Because of your coincidence, we might end up being eaten!"
"Won't!"
"Of course it is!" Ignoring Mo Rong's astonished gaze, Li Jun shouted, "I went out and checked the contestants' information. Our group's odds are one to three thousand... the lowest among the twelve groups!"
Tu Longziyun was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Then I should place a bet on our group to win, so I can make a small fortune."