After a long while, Mu Yuan slowly turned around, glanced at Xue Zhi, and whispered, "Young Palace Master... I'm sorry."
This was Mu Yuan's first defeat in his life, a defeat that not only shattered his own pride but also that of Chonghuo Palace.
Just a few hours ago, Xuezhi was thinking how good it was to have left Chonghuo Palace, but at this moment, she wished she could stay more than ever before.
Xuezhi shouted from behind the crowd at Chonghuo Palace, "Brother Muyuan! Don't worry, we still have time! Even if the Hunyue Sword fell, we still have Father's Lotus God Nine Forms! We can turn it around next time..."
The crowd had long since dispersed.
Someone whispered from behind, "Poor little girl, she didn't even know she failed the Lotus God Nine Forms competition right after it ended last year."
Chong Xuezhi overheard these words.
She immediately turned around: "Don't talk nonsense!"
The people who were speaking glanced at her and then quickly turned and left.
Xuezhi rushed to the martial arts ranking list as if she had lost her mind. The first place was clearly written: Emei Sect's "Nirvana Skill".
Because the concept of the martial arts rankings is too broad, allowing anyone, regardless of their moral character, to be included, opinions vary widely. Therefore, the results of this ranking are not solely determined by the tournament organizers but also heavily influenced by public opinion. Even though Chonglian only participated in the weapons rankings at the age of fifteen and overwhelmingly won with his "Nine Forms of the Lotus God," changing the history of the rankings, he never participated again, and no one dared to challenge him. The "Nine Forms of the Lotus God" remained at the top of the list for a long time. It wasn't until three years after Chonglian's death that Fengcheng, the head of the Huashan Sect, declared his intention to challenge the "Nine Forms of the Lotus God" to break this stalemate.
With Chonglian dead, there was no successor to the "Nine Forms of the Lotus God," so naturally no one responded.
Therefore, the various sects have been competing fiercely, both openly and covertly, for the top spot in recent years.
The rules of the Weapon Ranking Tournament stipulate that if a challenge goes unanswered for five consecutive years, the player will be automatically removed from the list. Feng Cheng challenged the Lotus God Nine Styles nearly three years ago, and even without a response, the top spot should remain for another two years before being dethroned.
Xuezhi read through the list line by line, from the second-ranked Wudang School's "Dragon Flower Fist" to the third-ranked Shaolin Temple's "Eighteen Hands Arhat Divine Strike," and so on, carefully reading each word. Even up to the twelfth-ranked Chonghuo Palace's "Crimson Flame Divine Skill," the nineteenth-ranked Chonghuo Palace's "Heavenly Revelation Divine Dragon Claw," and the unknown minor sects and third-rate martial arts manuals after the hundredth-ranked list, she still couldn't find the four characters "Lotus God Nine Styles."
Chong Xuezhi didn't care about the weapon ranking or the outcome of the contest.
However, after Chong Jiuzhi composed the Lotus Wings, Chong Lian was the only one who mastered the "Nine Forms of the Lotus God".
The concept of "Double Lotus" already existed in the martial arts world of the Central Plains: it was the Nine Forms of the Lotus God.
Chong Xuezhi simply couldn't bear that the person she admired most in her life, a legend in the martial arts world who should have been sung about for generations, had been forgotten and inexplicably erased from history less than seven years after his death.
51
I've heard people whisper about it more than once: without Chonglian, Chonghuo Palace is nothing.
Now, she has witnessed the decline of Chonghuo Palace, but there is nothing she can do.
Xuezhi rushed over, tore the yellow notice to shreds, and knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. However, everyone was focused on the duel between Shaolin and Emei, and no one noticed this small corner.
After a long while, a pair of boots trimmed with white velvet came to rest in front of her. She was too weak to lift her head and just stared blankly ahead.
The man knelt down in front of her, paused, and then, as if making a decision, put his arm around her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I was too impulsive just now..."
"Stop pretending!" Xuezhi dodged him and stood up. "I told you not to go looking for women, and you defeated Chonghuo Palace for your ridiculous reason! Besides, that person is the one I hate the most! She's your woman, right? You feel less dignified if you don't stand up for her, right? Well, let me tell you, without Chonghuo Palace, don't talk about dignity, I don't even have a reason to live!"
“I didn’t go because of her.” Shangguan Tou quickly stepped forward. “You have to believe me, I really have nothing to do with Lin Fengzi.”
"That's none of my business! You can be friends with whoever you want from now on, I won't interfere anymore! The enemies of Chonghuo Palace are my enemies!"
"Zhi'er, don't be angry. I swear to you, I will not participate in any future martial arts competitions that you do not allow."
"What's the point of saying anything? What's done is done!" Anger almost completely overwhelmed Xuezhi's reason. "Ever since that disgusting thing happened, you've become more and more repulsive! Now, I don't even want to look at you!"
After saying those words, Xuezhi immediately regretted it.
Shangguan Tou stared at her, completely unable to react to her words. Soon, seeing her visibly hurt expression, Xue Zhi felt even more regretful. She took a step forward: "I..."
The rest of his words were cut off by a sudden kiss.
Xuezhi immediately pushed him away, her eyes filled with disbelief, and she took two steps back in a panic. Shangguan Tou, however, pulled her into his arms and kissed her almost frantically. Xuezhi's mind went blank, and she could barely stand. She groaned twice, struggling to get away, but she couldn't move at all, and could only punch him in the chest a few times. Only then did Shangguan Tou react and gradually released her.
As soon as Xuezhi broke free from his embrace, she slapped him across the face without hesitation. Then she turned and left.
A red mark quickly appeared on Shangguan Tou's fair face. But he didn't even touch his cheek, just leaned against the wall in a daze. The fierce fighting on the stage and the deafening cheers from below were completely inaudible to him.
He seemed to hear only Xuezhi's voice.
She was saying, "You're becoming more and more annoying, I don't even want to look at you."
Half an hour later, Shangguan Tou returned to Qiu Hongxiu and Zhong Tao's side.
Qiu Hongxiu nudged Zhong Tao with her elbow and whispered, "Shangguan really is a master of deception. Although he's never had a crush on anyone, he really looks like someone heartbroken in love right now. No wonder he fooled so many people. His expression almost made me cry. How could anyone not believe him?"
Zhong Tao laughed and said, "That's why I've always admired Baldy."
At this moment, Xuezhi stood outside the Shaolin Temple gate, hugging her knees and squatting on the ground, curled up in a ball, her mind uncontrollably replaying what had just happened. Even if she was slow to react, she knew what Shangguan Tou's actions represented.
If he treats her this way, what difference does it make to all the women he treats equally?
With both fathers gone, she finally found a kind older brother who treated her well, but he did such a despicable thing.
Xuezhi was already very upset, and now she felt even more aggrieved.
From then on, Shangguan Tou eliminated Lin Xuanfeng and rose to second place on Xuezhi's list of most hated people, below Lin Fengzi.
52 53 54
52
For the next few days, Xuezhi stayed at an inn at the foot of the mountain. Shangguan Tou assumed she had gone to see people from Chonghuo Palace, and the people from Chonghuo Palace assumed she had gone to see Shangguan Tou, so no one paid any attention.
Until the last day of the Weaponry Tournament.
Although the positions of sects on the Martial Arts Ranking have not changed much, many sects consider it an official ranking and attach great importance to it.
Because weapons are forbidden in martial arts competitions, Shaolin and Emei, skilled in finger and fist techniques, have always held a significant advantage. On the arena, Wudang and Emei had just finished their battle when Shi Yan announced Emei's victory. At that moment, a fiery red figure leaped onto the stage.
Xuezhi stood empty-handed on the other side of the arena, and forcefully clasped her hands in a fist salute towards Abbess Ciren:
"Chong Xuezhi of Chonghuo Palace, please enlighten me, Master."
Master Ciren's face showed utter surprise.
Many people present stared in disbelief at Chong Xuezhi on the arena, including Shangguan Tou and others.
Master Ciren quickly regained her composure and said, "Benefactor Chong has been expelled from Chonghuo Palace and is not qualified to participate in the competition."
"Then, please produce the evidence that I was expelled from Chonghuo Palace, and I will immediately step down from the stage."
Master Ciren looked around, but no one stepped forward to speak. The people from Chonghuo Palace had left Shaolin Temple after the battle the previous day. Xuezhi had chosen this moment to come and challenge them.
Master Ciren said:
"In that case, please."
At this moment, Shangguan Tou took a step forward, intending to go up and tie Xuezhi up. Qiu Hongxiu stopped him, saying, "Since my sister wants to go up and fight, she must have thought it through carefully. If you try to stop her, she might hate you."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Shangguan Tou stood still.
The martial arts ranking competition is relatively more lenient. Those who enter the arena can use any move, including those equipped with weapons, but they must be unarmed. The move used most frequently at the end is the move that is ranked on the leaderboard.
On the arena, Xuezhi had already begun to unleash the Crimson Flame Divine Skill, while Master Ciren continued to use the Nirvana Skill as always. Both were stubborn old hands who habitually used the same moves; in a head-on clash, the one with stronger skills would undoubtedly win. After less than ten moves, Xuezhi was clearly at a disadvantage, forced to retreat repeatedly, dodging left and right.
Even Zhong Tao couldn't help but say, "Master Ciren was the one who won first place for Emei last time. How could you possibly beat her?"
On the stage, Master Ciren's unexpected attack was like a hailstorm, crashing down on Xuezhi. Xuezhi struggled to parry, losing to her opponent in strength, cultivation, and lightness skill, let alone retaliating. Before long, Master Ciren struck her shoulder with a palm, sending her sliding heavily backward several steps, but she managed to suppress a cry.
Instead, Feng Zi, who was sitting in the audience, cried out in alarm and grabbed Yuan Shuangshuang's arm tightly: "Master, Master, please go and save my sister!"
Yuan Shuangshuang said, "Feng Zi, why are you talking so much? I think she's perfectly fine."
Master Ciren, seemingly wanting a quick victory, pressed forward relentlessly before Xuezhi could even regain her footing, throwing another punch. Unfortunately for Xuezhi, she couldn't dodge again; taking the brunt of one of the world's most powerful punches was quite strenuous. She stumbled several steps, almost falling off the platform. Just as Master Ciren was preparing a fatal blow, Xuezhi suddenly bit her arm. A scream rang out as Master Ciren was struck repeatedly in the abdomen by Xuezhi's punches.
Shangguan Tou clenched his fist: "Zhi'er, well done."
Unfortunately, her good fortune didn't last long. While the two blows hurt, they were nothing more than a tickle to the old nun Ciren. After a brief pause, a reverse lotus kick struck Xuezhi's shin. Xuezhi cried out in pain and knelt down, unable to get up, forced to continue the fight from the ground. Soon, her arms, thighs, and chest were all struck. Xuezhi groaned several times before being thrown heavily, her head slamming into a pillar of the arena. Half her body was now above the platform, several meters high. The crowd below gasped. Xuezhi grabbed the wooden pillar and struggled to her feet.
Master Ciren said, "Benefactor Chong, can we stop fighting now?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Xuezhi lunged at her again, crashing into her. Master Ciren stumbled back two steps, too frightened to retaliate. Xuezhi, eyes closed, shouted, “You are all despicable people! My father has passed away, and you just casually canceled the ranking of the ‘Nine Forms of the Lotus God’? I refuse to accept this!! I refuse to accept this!!”
Master Ciren said, "The Nine Forms of the Lotus God is the most inhumane evil technique in the world. Back then, all the major sects were afraid of Chong Lian's strength and feared that he would bring disaster to the world, so they included it in the weapon list. In fact, this manual has never been recognized by anyone. I hope Benefactor Chong can calm down and think it over carefully."
"You're talking nonsense! When has my father ever brought disaster to the world?!" Xuezhi bit her arm again, refusing to let go.
The nun Ciren punched and kicked her from the front and back. She was already injured and could no longer withstand such attacks. Blood flowed from between her teeth, it was unclear whether it was hers or the enemy's. Finally, she could no longer hold on and was heavily knocked down on the ring.
She didn't stand up for a long time.
Master Ciren stood aside, wiping the blood from her arm: "Chong Xuezhi has gone mad; this martial arts competition cannot continue."
Just as Shi Yan was about to announce the results of the competition, Xue Zhi suddenly said in a hoarse voice, "It's...it's not over yet..." After saying that, she pressed her hands on the table with trembling hands, barely stood up, pressed her chest, staggered a few steps, and finally couldn't hold back anymore, spitting out blood.
"Zhi'er!" Shangguan Tou called out urgently from below, "Stop fighting, come down!!"
Xuezhi tried several times to remove the hand pressing against her chest before she was able to raise it above her head, assuming a fighting stance. Master Ciren, unable to bear it, closed her eyes and knocked her down with another punch.
“You’re all talking nonsense,” Xuezhi frowned deeply, coughing up a mouthful of blood. “Chonghuo Palace is a renowned family throughout history; Chonglian is a figure of lasting fame… No one can change that, no one… can change that…”
At this moment, Shangguan Tou ignored Qiu Hongxiu and the others' attempts to stop him, stepped off the platform, leaped up along the edge of the arena, wrapped Xuezhi in his cloak, and then jumped off the platform.
53
Xuezhi squinted, looking up at the person holding her. She couldn't see his face, only his slightly pointed chin and thin jawbone. Her vision was blurry, and if she wasn't careful, she would have the illusion that it was Chonglian. Xuezhi put her hands under his armpits and hugged his back tightly: "Big Daddy, Zhi'er knew you were alright... Zhi'er missed you so much." She closed her eyes, her half-closed eyes were a little moist, but the tears stubbornly refused to fall.
Shangguan Tou didn't dare to say a word, he just held her tightly and walked outside.
“Valley Master Shangguan,” Shi Yan called from behind, “Benefactor Chong is seriously injured. Going down the mountain rashly like this will probably worsen her injuries. Let her recuperate in this temple.”
Shangguan Tou nodded and, following some Shaolin disciples, escorted her to a guest room. A short while later, Qiu Hongxiu and Zhong Tao also entered, saying they were going down the mountain to fetch medicine and a doctor for her, and asked Shangguan Tou to stay by her side. After they left, Shangguan Tou laid Xuezhi flat on the bed, brushed aside her bangs, and saw her disheveled appearance and the lingering blood at the corner of her mouth. He felt an indescribable pang of heartache and dared not touch any other part of her body.
The martial arts competition outside continued, but Xuezhi had fallen into a semi-conscious state, only able to vaguely hear some sounds and still possessing a shallow level of consciousness.
In a half-asleep state, Xuezhi dreamt of many things that happened when she was a child.
When Uncle Daddy and Uncle Er defeated Bu Shu and returned to Chonghuo Palace, they bought Feng Zi many beautiful little floral dresses. Feng Zi looked stunning in them, yet what they said was, "You're so ugly!" Feng Zi was incredibly upset, but instead of complaining to her fathers, she took out a dress that Xue Zhi couldn't fit into and handed it to her, saying, "Sister, this is for you. Don't be upset." At that time, she was so petty that she didn't even want to talk to her.
Whenever someone asked about her eldest uncle's awkward gender identity, she always avoided answering. As she grew older, she understood more deeply that for a man, marrying someone who was neither male nor female was actually more embarrassing than marrying a man. Therefore, she thought her second uncle was great because he had given up his first love and stayed by her eldest uncle's side, who was mentally unstable, without caring about anything, until his death. Her admiration for her eldest uncle was unmatched. However, this affection was tainted by Feng Zi's background. When she learned that Feng Zi wasn't her second uncle's child, she genuinely disliked the little girl. But when Feng Zi was taken away by the protectors, and she lost even the chance to see her sister one last time, she was so heartbroken that she hid and cried secretly for many days.
Xuezhi often complains that life is too contradictory, yet she can't help but adapt to it, and she feels very tired.