Page 56: Exchange for a threat
Yang Ruiya was awaken by a loud sound coming from her room's door. Still dazed from the early commotion, she could only open her eyes midway. With her morning eyes, a blurry silhouette of a young petite but adorable girl came to her view. With her shoulder level hair, her cuteness even shined as it was accompanied by her blushing cheeks taken from the exhaustion of running.
"Sister Ruiya! Wake up! There are a lot of people gathering at the north arena. The 2nd young master of the Tao household has done it again. Let's go and watch!"
Ruiya's sleeping body immediately woke up upon hearing Yuqi's loud voice. She knows that if she would not wake up immediately, the girl will jump again on her bed and do ticklish things to her.
"Alright, alright, give me 5 minutes. wait for me outside."
This will be the second day that Ruiya will be going out just to go and watch the private event at the north arena. During the last one, which was yesterday, she was able to realize the difference between her movement skills and the skills of the other households.
Yesterday, she was able to see the Tao family skill and and the Ye family skill used against each other. Today, she'd wished that someone from the Mu household will make the attempt. According to Yang Ruiya, she can tell that her household movement skill may rank 3rd or last since they only have a few predecessors. Unlike the other families that was able to produce minor branches, the Yang has adopted commoners as their predecessors and she's one of them. This has been the family tradition of the Yang household because the founder was also a commoner.
"Sister Ruiya! You're 5 minutes has already passed since a while ago! Hurry!"
Ruiya can't help but smile at her impatient sister Yuqi. She was also a commoner just like her who was scouted after the awakening ceremony. Because Ruiya was the senior, she took cared of her since she entered the household.
"I'm coming!"
The two young ladies walked in a hurried pace towards the north arena. The Yang Household is located westward of the city so they didn't have so much difficulties while walking. Unlike people who would be coming from the south part of the city, they would require more energy to spend since it is a slightly uphill walk.
After walking for whole twelve minutes, the game was already on. On the platform, it was Mu Fan who was trying to catch Tao Yin. At the end, Ruiya thought that it was a pity that Mu Fan ran out of time. She believed that if only there were more time, he would be able to catch Tao Yin. At her side, Yuqi asked a question.
"Sister Ruiya, if we compete with someone from the Mu household, do you think we can outrun them?"
Yuqi's question was also hers. Bases from the speed of Mu Fan from the fight, she can estimate that if it was her, she might not be able to last for ten seconds. After all, the skill the Yang Family is practicing was only an Earth Rank skill. Compared with the other households, they are all practicing a Sky Rank skill. The only reason she thought that the Yang Family can be ranked 3rd was their skill's great flexibility. In a race, they might be the slowest but in a combat, they can confidently fight in equal terms.
"If it is to outrun them, I don't think we can hold a candle against them. Unless its a combat, we may have a good chance. But of course, that depends also with the martial skill one practices."
"So does that mean that we are the slowest in the city?"
Ruiya almost laughed at Yuqi's question. It might be true but its not really that slow.
"Well, lets just say that we are the slowest among the fastest. Does that sound better?"
"Ehh? So we're really the slowest. Haaa.. Then won't we have any chance during the Mirage art school's qualifying exams 4 months from now?"
"Don't be discouraged. Lets just cultivate diligently. Just as our elders told us, the 1st founder was able to establish his strength through his diligence. We just need to put more effort more than anyone else."
Ruiya's answer seemed to have been able to satiate Yuqi's curiosity. When both looked back at the arena, they saw another youth that dared to challenge Tao Yin even after witnessing the previous bout. 'Is he just another fool?' Ruiya thought but then when she heard the the ante, she was taken aback.
Recalling her previous experience back at the mountains, the pill she took was the same as the one presented at the stage, a berserk pill. Now Ruiya's interest was stimulated.
A few minutes later...
Ruiya was shook to the core. She can't believe in the what she's seeing. An unknown man is executing the Yang Family skill,
"Sister Ruiya, who is this man? Could he be a family member we are not aware of? He looks strong."
"I wonder about that too. Its just that even though he is at the expert level, our
Ruiya's tongue stopped working as soon as she saw Tao Yin being caught by the unknown man. She wasn't able to follow how it happened but the fact that he was caught caused everyone's breath to pause for a few seconds. "This.. Yuqi, remind me again later that we need to talk with this man. We should invite him to our residence no matter what."
On the platform, Long Bai has just finished reading and assimilating the newly added skill into his library. All he can do is just to combine the skill later and see the outcome. For now, he must face the angry man in front of him. Since he was accused of cheating, then he can only retaliate in a way that would teach him a lesson.
"Five minutes is up. Give me back the manual." Tao Yin angrily demanded.
"Young master Yin, may I propose something? Since you are accusing me of cheating, how about you tell me when the pill that you thought I took will wear off? When that time happens, you must take this manual away from my hand or else you'll return home without it. But if you profess your defeat, I'll immediately give this back. How about that?" Long Bai wanted to make clear that he did not cheat. Although this was just a simple move, he would like to show that he was really capable.
"Nonsense! Are you trying to instigate a fight between our family? You know that our Tao household holds the greatest force among the four great families, will the Yang household be able to handle it?"
Everyone started to murmur and look around for anyone from the Yang household. Before everyone from the crowd can make another ruse, Long Bai replied.
"Huh? Why are you taking your family and someone's family in this? Are you really such incapable that you need to bring your whole family in this? I'm just doing what you're doing but since you cannot take the challenge, you can take this back. If you are not really that convinced, how about we have another round? This time we bet something else."
Long Bai threw the manual towards Tao Yin whose face just became a figure that can't be painted. It has changed from colors to colors.
"You! Lets have another round! I don't believe that a member of the Yang household can match my speed. I'll bet all of the contents of my pouch in exchange, what will you bet? I have here two thousand low grade shards, a low grade berserk pill and a grade 1 sword."
Long Bai was happy with the direction of the match. As much as possible, he doesn't want to bother anyone unrelated in his matters.
"Sounds nice. Then I'll be putting two berserk pill on the table. Since I have the upper value, it will be you who will do the chasing. Do you agree?"
After showing the two berserk pill, someone suspected Long Bai to be an alchemist. Some even thought that he might be the Yang household's young master who was sent to merchant city to study alchemy. All sorts of guesses came out of the spectator's mouths. Even Yuqi and Ruiya who was just listening are almost convinced of the opinions they heard.
"Why wouldn't I? This way, everyone can see that the Yang household skills are no match with ours. We'll begin after 15 minutes. Since temporary pill enhancers have short duration, I believe that the pill you ingested will be gone.
Everyone! I would like you to be the witness of our actions for the entire 15 minutes while waiting.
That's fine with you right?"
Long Bai agreed and both sat into a meditative stance. The crowd was quiet for the entire duration. While they were waiting, someone from the crowd made a betting table. Those who were interested joined including Yuqi who was trying to be supportive of Long Bai.
"Sister Ruiya, do you have some crystals with you? Lets bet for that unknown man who seems to be related to us. Look! Whoever bets for him triples the amount unlike Tao Yin where you'll just get double the amount. Look! The exchange has changed to four times the amount!"
"Yuqi, look at the table. Everyone thinks that Tao Yin will win. Hayy. The banker will become poor after this."
"But sister Ruiya, do you also think that the unknown man will lose?" Yuqi's question hit Ruiya's heart. If she will not bet, it was admitting to her little sister that the Yang household are not capable of fighting but if she does, she's afraid that she'll just be giving her hard-earned crystals freely. Looking at her little sister's begging eyes, she took a hundred shard from her pouch and gave it to her. Ruiya watched Yuqi ran walked with glee and happily placed the pouch on the betting table. The bank man was a bit relieved to see someone put some bets on Long Bai's table. In case that Long Bai's side losses, at least he won't be losing too much crystals to pay the bets on Tao Yin's side. In addition, 80% of the bets in Tao Yin's were 50 shards up to 300 shards. If this side wins, he would need to open his pocket to pay the rest.
Fifteen minutes have passed and the two on the platform rose from their sitting position. Cheers erupted from the crowd. Aside from the hype of watching a fight, they also have their bets to think of.
At the sound of the gong, Tao Yin immediately rushed towards Long Bai with full throttle. Since the duration is just a minute, he doesn't want to waste any of it.
Tao Yin's advanced success of the skill was an admirable sight for the audience but it was not enough to catch Long Bai's disappearing act. Since Bai was already at the perfection of the
30, 31, 32 secs...
Everyone in the crowd started to feel their heartbeat go faster. Those who made their bet with Tao Yin are anxious about losing while the ones who put their bets on Long Bai are anticipating a grand victory.
55, 56, 57 secs...
Every one was already shouting and most words that can be heard was "Catch him!!!". This words most likely came from those who will be saying goodbye to their precious shards.
58, 59, 60 secs... DONGG!!!
The sound of the gong being hit rung loudly to everyone's ears. For most, it was the sound of bitter defeat but for the remaining, it was the sweet sound of victory. Only those who won the bet were rejoicing while some who lost the bet started to cuss Tao Yin. On the stage, Tao Yin was on the floor panting heavily due to physical exhaustion and inner essence depletion. The skill
After Long Bai took the pouch on Tao Yin's hands, he went down the stage and walked towards a young lady. Everyone was watching anticipating his next move. Long Bai cleared his throat in front of the dazed young lady and the next thing they heard were the words, "I heard you from the stage that you said to your little sister to remind you that you want to speak with me".