50 Who Will Fight Liu Xiaochen

The crowd was silent for three seconds before exploding into a cacophony of voices. "Did I hear him correctly? Did you hear what he said?"

"Liu Xiaochen is going to give the Song of the Phoenix to Tian Haiwei if Tian Haiwei defeats him!"

"But that's such an unfair fight! Tian Haiwei is a sect chief, and Liu Xiaochen is probably only half his age!"

"With the Song of the Phoenix at stake, I think Tian Haiwei is going to be the bully."

"Didn't you see Liu Xiaochen earlier? He's really good. I think Tian Haiwei will have a tough battle."

Even Tian Haiwei was shocked into silence. Finally, he spoke, "Liu Xiaochen, are you being serious? If I win you, you will give me the Song of the Phoenix?"

"Of course I'm being serious. Unlike some people, I, Liu Xiaochen, am an honest and honorable person of my words," Liu Xiaochen stated calmly. "Chief Tian, do you accept the challenge?"

This time, Tian Haiwei could not hide the greed shining in his eyes. He could practically see himself holding the scroll triumphantly and using the Song of the Phoenix to become the best martial artist in the entire sector. He was about to accept the challenge when other voices called out, "Wait a minute!"

It was the other sect chiefs. Standing at the front of his sect's platform, Ye Xiaoyao fanned himself slowly. "Chief Tian, what about the rest of us? If I recall correctly, you begged us to join forces with you and help you attack Xuanyan Sect. I think we all deserve a share of the Song of the Phoenix, don't you?"

"I think so as well!" Abbess Huiyuan leapt out and flew on stage. "Tian Haiwei, don't forget how you swore to the heavens that all sects will be able to share the secret scroll once we got it from Xuanyan Sect. I expect you to keep that promise!"

"Abbess Huiyuan, that was then, this is now. Liu Xiaochen is challenging me and me alone. He said he would give the scroll to me, and no one else," refuted Tian Haiwei coldly.

"Chief Tian, that's not very honorable of you." Lang Yu joined them on stage. "If you think you will be able to hog Song of the Phoenix for yourself, then you are absolutely wrong. Feiyue Pavilion will be the first to disagree!"

"Emei Sect won't agree either!" Abbess Huiyuan glared at Tian Haiwei.

"You can count Luoyun Manor in too!" Ye Xiaoyao waved his fan at his fellow chiefs. "I, too, would like to have a share of the secret scroll."

Zhong Zhengran didn't say anything, but his expression stated plainly that he did not agree with Tian Haiwei trying to take the Song of the Phoenix for himself. Tian Haiwei suddenly found himself in a predicament.

"Everyone, let's not get so worked up." Tian Haiwei tried to think of a way to ensure he reaped the most benefits. "As the representative of the entire martial arts sector, Qingsha Sect promise to take good care of the scroll. We will—"

"Hold on; why does Qingsha Sect get to be the representative of the entire martial arts sector? Who voted you?" Lang Yu questioned. "What's wrong with Feiyue Pavilion? I think in terms of skill, no offense Chief Tian, but my disciples are better."

"Your disciples like Song Xinglan, the one who plays dirty?" Abbess Huiyuan sneered. "I think Emei Sect is more fitted to be the representative of the martial arts sector. After all, Emei pupils are of both righteous character and excellent skill."

"Wait a minute, Abbess Huiyuan, you're leaving Chief Zhong and myself out." Ye Xiaoyao and Zhong Zhengran finally joined the rest of the chiefs on stage. "If we are deciding who gets to be the representative of the entire martial arts sector, I think we all need to be present to make the decision."

As the sect chiefs argued amongst themselves, the crowd had their own opinions. Liu Xiaochen watched them coldly. Say what they will; at the end of the day, everyone's sole goal was still the Song of the Phoenix. Such was the hideous greed of mankind.

These were the people who killed his entire sect, including his mentor. He hated himself for not being there when the sect was under attack. As the senior brother and head disciple, Liu Xiaochen had the responsibility of protecting his junior brothers and sisters and defending the sect. And he had let them all down.

"Everyone, I have a proposition." Ye Xiaoyao tried to calm his peers down. "Why don't we let Wankong Temple keep the scroll? They have always stayed neutral in martial arts affairs, so they are the most trustworthy of us all."

"You are all talking as if you already have the scroll." Liu Xiaochen's cold voice carried over on the wind. "Don't forget, you have to win me first."

"I think whoever fights and wins should get first priority for the scroll," Tian Haiwei said. "Then the scroll can be handed over to Wankong Temple and kept safe by the entire martial arts sector."

The chiefs looked at each other. If they kept arguing, the entire day will be gone and they will still get nowhere. This suggestion was as good as it was going to get.

"How about this: all of us will fight Liu Xiaochen together. Then we'll be sure to win the scroll." Tian Haiwei followed up with another suggestion. Seeing how none of the other sect leaders refused, Tian Haiwei turned to face Liu Xiaochen again. "Liu Xiaochen! Today, the five chiefs of the five major sects are going to represent the entire martial arts sector and fight you for the scroll. If we win, you have to give us the Song of the Phoenix!"

Before Liu Xiaochen could even open his mouth, Wang Jingyuan stood up. "Hey! Are you all shameless? Five against one? What kind of battle is that?"

The sect chiefs were surprised to hear a voice of discontent.

"Who said that?" Tian Haiwei was furious. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Wang Jingyuan. Everyone else's eyes followed as he jabbed an angry finger at her. "Little girl, this is the business of the sect leaders. You just sit tight and watch the show."

Wang Jingyuan shook off Mo Xian's hand that was trying to pull her down. "If you all say you're doing this for the good of the entire martial arts sector and representing the entire sector, then maybe you should set a good example of what an honorable and just martial artist should be. I can't believe the well-known chiefs are all just big bullies!"

"You!" Tian Haiwei's face turned purple with rage. He had half a heart to jump up there and teach the girl a lesson, but some people in the crowd were siding with Wang Jingyuan. The other sect leaders held Tian Haiwei back.

"The girl has a point; five against one is really just bullying," Ye Xiaoyao said. "I think we should pick representatives from among us to fight him. Those people get first priority of seeing the scroll, and then it goes to the sects that didn't fight. How about that?"

"I'll fight." Abbess Huiyuan volunteered immediately.

"Me too." Tian Haiwei was not about to let the scroll slip from his fingers again.

Lang Yu cleared his throat. "I can fight as well." He looked at Ye Xiaoyao and Zhong Zhengran. "That is, unless Chief Ye or Chief Zhong would like to fight instead?"

"Huashan Sect will not stoop so low as to take advantage of someone, much less a youngster," Zhong Zhengran said coldly. "We are not bullies."

"Hehe, I think three people will be enough. I shall sit out on this one." Ye Xiaoyao fanned himself and grinned nonchalantly. "Chief Zhong, let us head back to watch the show?"