The Hidden Tournament

The forest ahead stretched out like a sea of green, an untouched paradise teeming with life. Tall trees with thick trunks stood proud, their leaves whispering tales in the wind, while streams murmured across the earth . The air was rich with the scent of pine and earth, carrying the promise of safety and sanctuary. Beneath this vast canopy, the village thrived, nestled at the heart of the forest. Its people lived in harmony with the land, their laughter and the rhythmic clanging of tools melding with the natural symphony. Crops flourished, and the forest provided its bounty, making the village a model of prosperity.

The village itself, however, was far from vulnerable. Towering steel walls surrounded it, their metal surfaces glinting in the sunlight, and a faint, shimmering enchantment pulsed across the gates.

Through this harmonious scene, two figures approached the village gates. Ancy, a young girl of striking beauty and grace, moved with an effortless fluidity, her gaze steady, though distant. Her striking blue eyes, cold and calculating, seemed to take in everything around her, while her pink dress billowed lightly in the wind, almost as if it were a part of the very breeze. She carried a sheathed sword at her side with the calm assurance of someone who had seen countless battles.

Alex, on the other hand, struggled to keep up, his jade-green eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and discomfort. His steps were uneven as he stumbled along beside his sister, and his face flushed whenever he tried to match her pace. She moved with a speed that left him dizzy, and her effortless strides only amplified his frustration.

"Ancy, please! Slow down! I feel like I'm about to pass out!" Alex pleaded, clutching his stomach, his voice edged with desperation. He took another staggering step, but his legs wobbled beneath him.

Ancy halted and turned her gaze to him, her lips curling into a faint, amused smile. "Weakling," she muttered under her breath though , but she complied, slowing her pace. She reached out, her gloved hand gently resting on his shoulder as he doubled over.

"Mn," she said softly, almost as if considering something before releasing him. "Better?"

Alex, still struggling to regain his balance, nodded sheepishly. "Yeah… but seriously, you're too fast for me!"

Ancy said nothing, though her lips twitched as she observed her brother's dismay with a quiet sense of wonder. You're always like this, she thought, her gaze a mixture of exasperation and affection. She had always been the stronger of the two, her power far surpassing his. Yet, despite his frailty, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

For a fleeting moment, suspicion flickered in her mind—was Alex only pretending to be weak? The thought surfaced but vanished just as quickly. After all, who could blame her? What she had witnessed had left a lasting impression.

Once Alex had steadied himself, he straightened up, rubbing his sore legs. "Can we just walk? We're almost there, and I think I can manage that."

Ancy sighed but nodded. "Fine. But don't slow me down," she warned, though her tone lacked true malice. They began walking together, the sound of their footsteps blending into the background hum of the village.

But their brief respite was interrupted by a voice that cut through the air like a knife.

"Watch out!"

Before Alex could react, Ancy had already moved. With a swift motion, she shoved him aside, just as a sword blade sliced through the air toward him. Her palm met the blow, a surge of qi surrounding her like a protective shield, but the force still sent her stumbling backward, her boots skidding on the earth.

Alex's heart raced as he watched her collide with the ground. His entire body shook with fear as the masked figure, clad in purple robes, leapt from the treetops. His laughter rang out like the screech of a predator, cruel and mocking.

"Impressive," the figure said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've trained your Dragon Palm to the fifth level. But how much can you really take, I wonder?"

Ancy's eyes hardened, her expression unreadable. She stood slowly, brushing herself off with deliberate calm. "Not interested," she replied flatly, her gaze flicking briefly to Alex as she offered him a hand to help him up. Her indifference only seemed to fuel the stranger's fury.

"How dare you ignore me!" the masked youth roared. Without another word, he lunged, his sword flashing through the air. His movements were swift and sharp, but Ancy dodged with ease, each strike barely missing as she moved with a grace that made it look effortless.

"Your swordwork is sloppy," she observed coolly, ducking under a particularly vicious swing. "Don't waste my time."

The masked youth growled in frustration, his attacks growing increasingly desperate. Yet, Ancy danced around him, her body flowing like water, avoiding his strikes with an elegance that almost seemed choreographed. She was untouchable, and the youth could barely keep up.

Finally, Ancy unsheathed her sword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. With a single, precise slash, she sent the youth flying backward, crashing into the trunk of a tree. Blood dripped from his mouth as his mask shattered, revealing a handsome, though bruised face with piercing blue eyes.

Alex's breath caught in his throat as he recognized the defeated figure.

"Jian, you stink!" Alex roared, his voice cracking under the weight of his fury and confusion. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white as he struggled to comprehend Jian's betrayal. "How could you? We're family!" His words trembled with a mixture of hurt and anger, his chest heaving as his emotions surged like a storm.

Driven by sheer frustration, Alex lashed out, his foot connecting with Jian in a futile kick. The impact barely made Jian flinch, his solid, trained frame absorbing it like a stone wall—or maybe Alex's own weakness had rendered the blow meaningless. The realization stung worse than any physical retaliation.

Ancy, standing a few paces away, watched in stunned silence, one eyebrow arching in surprise at her brother's uncharacteristic explosion. She had never seen Alex this raw, this vulnerable. His voice cracked again, this time softer, as if speaking to himself,"I would never understand why you like fighting so much!" Alex shouted, his voice echoing with a mix of anger and exasperation. His jade-like eyes, usually calm and thoughtful, now shone with a dangerous glint. "There is more to life than fighting!"

Jian barely registered Alex's outburst, his mind too clouded by the weight of his own failure to process the shock. Why should he care? He was a Dragon Bone genius, ranked sixth among his peers—an accolade that should have been beyond reproach. And yet…

How? The question churned in his mind as he groaned quietly, his pride lying in tatters. "Even though I held back just now... was that still not enough to defeat her?" The words echoed in his thoughts like a taunt, relentless and unforgiving.

Ancy's calm, almost effortless victory had utterly deflated him. It wasn't just the loss—it was the way she'd dismantled him with such composure. He glared at her now, bitterness simmering beneath the surface. His thoughts spiraled darker. What if she was holding back too? No... no way. She's ranked eighth… but what if she's been hiding her true strength all along?

The fire that once burned in Jian's gaze had been snuffed out, leaving only bitterness and a hollow ache of humiliation. His shoulders sagged under the weight of his doubts, his arrogance crumbling into ashes.

"Carry Alex," Ancy commanded in her usual clipped tone.

For a moment, Jian's eyes went wide, the shock of her words cutting deeper than any blow she had landed earlier. Losing to her had been humiliation enough, but this? His expression twisted into a storm of disbelief and revulsion, his pride screaming at him to reject her outright.

He couldn't fathom it—couldn't believe she'd even dared to suggest it. Had she gone mad? Did she truly think so little of him? The absurdity of her demand clashed violently with his sense of superiority. Alex? That useless, pathetic excuse for a person? Jian's teeth clenched involuntarily at the thought. He couldn't stand his cousin—didn't even try to hide his disdain. If she had asked for money, treasures, or anything else, he would have obliged without hesitation. But this?

This would make him the laughingstock of the entire village.

Yet, even as his pride screamed in defiance, the unrelenting determination in Ancy's gaze crushed his resolve. Her eyes were a command he couldn't disobey. With a deep, heavy sigh, he bent down, his movements stiff with resentment, and hoisted Alex onto his back. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, refusing to meet Alex's gaze, as though acknowledging him might shatter the last fragments of his.

Alex stood frozen, struggling to process how everything had unraveled. His gaze flicked to his sister, his chest tightening with a surge of inexplicable emotions. Ancy... she had always been the one who cared. It struck him now—the countless small things she had done for him, each action laced with quiet affection. She never sought recognition, never demanded gratitude.

He clenched his fists, shame bubbling beneath the surface. If only... he thought. If only I could be of use to her someday.

Lifting his eyes as if searching the horizon of an unseen future, Alex's expression hardened. A quiet determination burned in his chest. His voice was barely a whisper, but the weight of his words was unmistakable.

"I will change this world... and make it a better place for my sister and everyone."

It wasn't just a declaration. It was a promise—a silent vow etched into his very soul.

As they made their way to the village gates, the scene did not go unnoticed. Inside a nearby pavilion, the elders were convening, their faces grim as they discussed the letter from the capital. Lord Feng, the village leader, was deep in thought as his fingers drummed lightly against the table.

"What do you think of this?" Feng asked, his voice calm but filled with an unspoken tension.

Martial elder Xin Xu spoke first, his voice steady and experienced. "It's an opportunity for our youths to gain experience and bring honor to the village." Several elders nodded, but Feng's unease lingered like a storm cloud.

After the meeting, Feng lingered with Rong, the medicine elder. he couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling, "I fear this will put Alex in danger," he confessed softly, his brow furrowing.

Rong, always the optimist, smiled reassuringly. "Alex belongs here. Let him stay within the village's walls."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted as they stepped outside to witness the unexpected sight of Jian, disheveled and defeated, carrying Alex on his back. Ancy walked ahead, her posture regal, her sword gleaming in the sunlight. Lord Feng sighed deeply.

"The tournament hasn't even begun, and already, chaos is unfolding."