35 The Last Four

The match concluded, and swiftly, attendants rushed onto the stage. They tightly wrapped Xue Yong's wounds to staunch the bleeding.

"Move," a commanding voice resonated.

The attendants parted ways for an elderly man draped in a grey robe who knelt beside Xue Yong. He opened Xue Yong's mouth and slipped a small, brown pill inside, coaxing him to swallow.

The old man, stroking his lengthy beard, ordered the attendants, "Take him to the healing room." He rose to his feet, leaving one last command: "And clean up the stage."

Obediently, the attendants bowed and set to work, cleaning the stage of blood and debris. Wan Lijuan watched as Xue Yong was escorted away, then she herself descended the stage's stairs.

Once the stage was cleared, the announcer called forth the next contestants. The battles ensued, and eventually, the last four contestants stood at the foot of the stage.

Guo Xuanfeng, Wan Lijuan, Tang Mu, and another young man named Yuan Bao — a long sword user — had emerged as the most advanced of the original 16. Their presence sparked a wave of interest amongst the attendees on the third floor.

Guo Xuanfeng was the heir of the Guo Branch Family and a trusted subordinate of the third young master, Yi Wang. Although the branch heads watching from above didn't invest much in him — primarily because of Yi Wang's endorsement — this association secured him a formidable position within the family. Any ties to a member of the main family were of immense value and the likelihood of providing support he didn't have was low.

Wan Lijuan may not have been as popular, but she undeniably showcased exceptional skill. Her family, the Wan Branch Family, was evidently wealthy, given her possession of a weapon that many would consider a small fortune. The Wan Branch Family was, in fact, affluent, governing three districts near the city's heart and a trade route second only to that of the Li Branch Family. This route extended from Yifeng City to Juyuan City, the only other city within the Xuanwu Province.

Tang Mu was an often overlooked contender, hailing from a branch family not as affluent as the others. Yet, despite this, he demonstrated considerable talent, which caught the attention of the main heads on the third floor.

Lastly, Yuan Bao was the heir of the industrious Yuan Branch Family, proprietors of the Qingshan Mine. This mine, named after the surrounding village, brought great wealth to the family, supplying tons of rare ore. Despite making it to the final four, his petite, skeletal figure didn't draw much attention.

The branch family heads perched on the third floor grappled with a challenging decision. The choices before them were far from straightforward. Each contestant carried their own set of advantages and disadvantages, leaving some heads hesitant to make hasty decisions. They often retreated to consult with their family members. The gravity of this decision lay in the potential mutual benefits that the right youth and their family could enjoy.

Despite the main family's wealth and considerable authority within the city, the lands beyond were vast, teeming with opportunities. Branch families had the chance to establish schools and towns outside the city, some even extending their lineage to other cities and setting up holds. However, such governance was never a guarantee. The imperial family held the highest authority over the expansive dynasty, a position that remained unquestioned.

The young talents they chose to support could potentially become the figureheads of their respective families. Having a strong bond with such an individual could pave the way for extensive cooperation. This presented opportunities beyond the reach of the main family. Held under the careful watch of the imperial family, the main family was expected to maintain neutrality at all times. The main patriarch was tasked with overseeing decisions made in Yifeng City, and he reported directly to Emperor Qianlong Zhen.

To establish any hold beyond the city limits required both reporting to, and obtaining approval from, the monarchy through a royal decree. This stringent stipulation tempered the ambitions of the main family, compelling them to navigate within the bounds of their established domain.

...

An additional guest joined Yi Hua's group at the table. It was none other than Liu Jun. The young teen leaned back in the elegantly carved wooden chair, a carefree expression on his face. He had exchanged his martial hanfu for a silk robe of grey and purple. His medium-length hair was neatly brushed back.

"That inconsiderate woman," muttered Liu Yue, indignation lining her voice.

Her anger was directed at Wan Lijuan, the one who had dared to leave a mark on her younger brother's face. As she dabbed an ointment-soaked cloth on Liu Jun's facial cut, her thoughts were consumed by harsh judgments about Wan Lijuan. She deemed martial arts as unsuitable for a lady and criticized Wan Lijuan for not conforming to the standards of a proper maiden. Inflicting injuries on people was, in her opinion, completely unacceptable.

"It's okay, sister," Liu Jun responded, looking up at his older sibling. He saw the match as a valuable learning experience and wasn't disheartened, considering most of his competitors were four to five years older than him. Therefore, he didn't expect himself to outshine them all.

"Yes, Liu Yue, he's right. This is merely a minor setback," Yi Hua affirmed with a comforting smile. Observing the sibling pair, her mind drifted into reminiscence.

She remembered a time when she was even younger than Liu Jun. She was playing in the grand gardens of the main family palace with Yi Tian. The laughter echoed around the lush greenery as they chased each other through the winding pathways. Eventually, she caught up to Yi Tian, who was standing on a bench overlooking the vast expanse of the garden, with distant pagodas and buildings just visible.

Climbing onto the bench with Yi Tian, a young and breathless Yi Hua gently slapped his shoulder, exclaiming, "You're it!"

Yi Tian responded with a grin, "Nah!"

Caught off guard, Yi Hua felt Yi Tian's hand on her stomach, as he exclaimed, "You are!"

Amidst their laughter, she attempted to tag him back. However, he backed up and, to her horror, tripped over the bench's railing, falling into the garden's winding stream.

Looking down at Yi Tian splashing in the water, Yi Hua extended her hand towards him, her other hand gripping the wooden railing tightly. Overwhelmed by her youth and fear, she began crying, scared that Yi Tian might have gotten hurt. To her surprise, his hand found hers. Using her for leverage, he managed to grasp the outer edge of the bench, guiding himself towards the shallower water where he could stand.

Jumping into the water, Yi Hua wrapped her arms around him, still shaken by the possibility of what might have happened. Yi Tian, just a little boy himself, didn't quite understand why she was crying. Gently pushing her off him, he held her at arm's length, smiled at her, and reassured, "Yi Hua, I'm okay."

At his words, Yi Hua's sobs quieted, and she realized he was indeed alright. She nodded and returned his smile, whispering, "Yeah."