65. Second Stage
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As the crowd chatted away, and the disciples milled around in groups, a talisman discreetly appeared in Luoyin's hands.
The talisman instantly dissipated into a trail of white light, which rose to the center of the Arena and formed a gigantic image of Duan Xiu.
Gasps erupted around as people began to point.
"What is that?!"
"Isn't that the late Zhang Furen?!"
"She's a restless ghost?!"
"Didn't the Zhang family say she had died peacefully?!"
Duan Xiu had the appearance of the last time Luoyin had seen her, her eyes normal, her long black hair and red robes blowing in the wind.
She looked right at Zhang Furen, whose eyes widened in fear.
"Sister... Why did you kill me?" She asked, her sorrowful voice echoing around the arena. "Why did you harm me and my son?"
The crowd was instantly filled with mutters, but Zhang Furen recovered herself quickly.
"N- Nonsense! Sister, how can you accuse me like this? I loved you so much, and I mourned your death for years!"
"Who is pulling this trick?!" It was one of the two Luoyin had identified- the father from Huofeng Sect. He suddenly shot to his feet and waved a hand, making Duan Xiu's image dissipate. "Who is slandering an innocent woman with these cheap illusions?!"
"I say we find the culprit and eliminate them at once!" His son had risen as well, but...
"Enough." Xu Fengyan quietly thundered. "I have given our esteemed guests enough face in letting them attend a tournament usually hidden from the eyes of outsiders..."
Naturally, the Xu elders had interfered, as these so-called 'guests' had been invited by the Zhang family! But there was a limit to what he would allow, and Sect Leader Xu sent a meaningful glare at the father-and-son pair.
"Surely you do not mean to interfere in my Sect's affairs? Hmm?"
"Ah, no, no." The father bowed, and his son followed.
"Forgive us." They chorused and sat down.
Given recent events, Xu Fengyan was inclined to believe what the Apparition had said... Zhang Furen was fast proving to be the type who did anything to gain power, and once again, he recalled Luoyin's accusations against her...
There was certainly no smoke without fire!
Still, he had his duties as Sect Leader, so he rose to his feet. "Everyone, please desist from drawing conclusions about the Zhang family because of this apparition. It might simply be an illusion, but I and the Sect Elders will look into it."
His words caused light whispers to fly, as people wondered what to believe.
But down below, Luoyin had sown the small seed of doubt he needed for the next phase.
Sect Leader Xu resumed his seat and turned to Elder Zhou, who nodded and rose to the center of the Arena, where the image of Duan Xu had just been.
"Welcome to the Second Stage of the Junior Tournament!" Elder Zhou announced in his usual voice, which slowly raised a cheer from the crowd.
A burst of fireworks went off around him, sending brilliant colourful sparkles around the arena, and there was a wave of thunderous applause.
Even Luoyin found himself grinning at the display, as he followed Xu Min and Xu Wen to the centre of the platform, where the thirty-four proud victors from the 1st round were gathering.
Amidst the brilliant fireworks, his eyes couldn't help but wander, and he already knew who they sought out.
A few feet away, a slender figure adjusted her sleeve, her dark hair flowing down her back in a beautiful style, and her light blue robes fluttered gently in the morning breeze.
Xu Weiyan...
"Aiyu, there are fireworks, but a pair of eyes are straying to a lover's face!" Xu Min teased Luoyin, who playfully punched his arm in retaliation.
Barely anyone heard it amidst the cheer, but Weiyan turned to Luoyin then, and her gaze held his for a breath.
'S- Smile!' She thought. 'S- S- Smile at him!'
On that night of worries, Tong had said, "Men like it when women smile at them!"
But at present, Weiyan was swiftly acknowledging that it was easier said than done, as a muscle ticked uncomfortably on her face, certainly making her seem grotesque!
Surely the look on her face now couldn't be considered a dear smile!
And as expected, Luoyin's smile at her was forced, as he wondered how he had offended his new wife to make her look at him like this!
Weiyan swiftly looked away, and with an uncertain scratch at his nose, so did Luoyin.
"This round is another twenty-four hour hunt, but this time, it's fully monitored!"
Elder Zhou resumed when the cheer had died away, and he hovered above the arena.
"Each disciple will receive a flag. Losing your flag can only be paid off with three flags, at least! If you lose your flag and can't steal three others, you are eliminated, and the one with the most flags is the winner!!"
There was instant muttering around...
"Doesn't this mean we must hunt each other?!" A disciple wondered aloud, and Elder Zhou continued.
"Exactly! You are indeed to hunt others and seize their flags! You can choose to hide, ally, betray, ambush, and generally do whatever you want, as long as you're not using forbidden items, or summoning outside help to cheat!"
He sent a pointed look at Zhang Cheng. "But remember the rule - no lasting harm or injury, and no harm to one's cultivation."
Zhang Chang simply sneered. 'Hmph! Whatever I want, you say?' And he slid a sidelong glance at Luoyin, who pretended not to notice.
"Note, the Final stage is in just two days, so it falls on you to ensure you're not too injured during this stage." Elder Zhou was saying. "If that means surrendering to a stronger opponent and offering up a few flags in your possession, then it might be wise to do so.
"Disciples who can seize flags without harming their opponents too much, will also be awarded extra points." He waved a hand.
Bright red silken flags suddenly appeared, one before each disciple, and they found their names embroidered on it with silver thread. Luoyin reached out and tucked his into his inner robe, grinning.
"To be fair," Elder Zhou continued, "...each flag must be kept within reach, so you're not allowed to store your flag within any sealed or invisible qiankun items. Regular qiankun items are fine!
"For the next ten minutes, the disciples are to form pairs or alliances before the hunt begins!" Elder Zhou finished.
A wide smile crawled onto Xu Lian's face, as she beelined straight for Luoyin.
"Yin gege!" She began with a cute smile, which had most of the males thinking Luoyin was done for. "In this hunt we mustn't be in pairs, so please let me accompany you!"
'Y- Yin gege?!' Weiyan scowled at the pair, but she wasted no in appearing by Luoyin's side, and she grabbed his wrist.
"Y- Y- Yi... Ahem!" She gave upon calling him 'Yin gege'! But this left her at a loss for how to address him...
Calling him 'Zhang Luoyin' was too disrespectful, considering their ages and the fact that he was her husband, and she didn't dare say *'Laogong' or 'Fujun'. But addressing him as '2nd Disciple Zhang' was tantamount to admitting defeat before Xu Lian!
(*Both mean husband! (?▽? ))
Still, it might be better to admit defeat here, and fight in other ways.
"2nd disci-," She began, but a hand covered her mouth.
"Ehehe, that's too distant." Luoyin whispered, not sure why he stopped her. "'Yin' is fine. 'A-Yin' will do."
'A-Yin...' A mild flush crept onto Weiyan's cheeks, but she boldly looked up at him. "A-Yin, I think we should form the same team from the Western Forests."
She turned to Xu Lian, but couldn't resist a mild furrow of her brows. "With Lian Mei's shield being reinforced by Wen Di's wood, our defense is assured.
"Disciple Tao and I can provide the attack strength, while you be our Leader and Strategist...
"From turning the beasts against themselves in the Western forests, to your hunting technique in the plains, and with your knowledge of Seals, Formations, and Talismans... You will surely bring us an easy win!"
A silent moment passed, and of course the breeze chose that precise time to sweep a gust of petals around them.
Weiyan's sudden confidence in Luoyin made his chest swell, and he found himself a bit entranced.
"Ahem!" Xu Min gave a small cough, breaking the silence, and the two looked away from each other with hot faces.
'Tch! Can I even blame 'Zhang Luoyin's' feelings for this?!' Luoyin originally intended to go with Xu Min alone, but in the next instant, he found himself lifting Weiyan's hand.
"Hao! I'll do as my wife says!"
"Ooooooooh!" Xu Min's eyes widened, Xu Lin giggled, and Xu Wen patted a livid Xu Lian's head.
"Mei mei, just give up!"
In the end, the group was formed, with Xu Wen having to coerce his pissed off twin to join them. Xu Min and Xu Lin joined in as well, increasing their offense, and bringing the group to seven members, and all their flags turned the light blue of Luoyin's aura.
Not far off, Zhang Cheng was giving orders, and thirteen disciples stood around him, bringing their number to fourteen, all their flags turning the deep violet of his aura.
Fourteen members easily made Zhang Cheng's group the largest, and to protect themselves, Xu Haoyuan and the remaining twelve banded together, making Luoyin's group the fewest.
"Heh! Zhang Luoyin!" Cheng shouted. "Today, you're a rabbit in the wolf's den! You've been disrespectful, so don't blame me for disregarding brotherly relations!"
"Eeeh? Is something really not wrong with this fellow?" Luoyin placed his hands on his waist. "Did you say, 'brotherly relations'? *Wo-peh! Please don't go around claiming we're related!"
(*Wo-peh- A term often accompanied by a spitting motion, and roughly translated to 'Bullshit', 'ew', 'nonsense', 'Urgh!', and the like! (??))
"Zhang Luoyin, you-!"
A gong rang and Elder Zhou reappeared at the centre, spinning with a flair. "And now, let the 2nd Stage begin!"
The disciples vanished into the same hunting plains from the first round, but this time, with all the beasts cleared out.
Also, rather than the big scoreboard, a large display appeared at the center of the Arena, showing the disciples within...
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