Chapter Sixty Eight.

Several innhouses in Meanders City are fully booked with people from different sects who are spending the night there so they can arrive early at Ziran Sect the following day. Speaking of accomodating guests, Qingfeng Pavilion isn't left out. Duan Xinyue and Qin Lanhua are busy checking in guests till late at night. Duan Xinyue is keen to verify the identity of each guest especially those who seem suspicious.

The following day Duan Xinyue wakes up later than the others and walks downstairs only to find the place desolate. Only Yuan Ye is around. Madam Ruo and the cooks are playing chess in the kitchen. Duan Xinyue walks around surprised by the weird atmosphere. He greets Yuan Ye and heads towards the kitchen and finds the trio playing chess and howling at each other like happy wolves.

"Where is Lanhua and the others?"

"They went to help out at Ziran Sect."

"Who allowed them?"

"They volunteered themselves."

"What?"

Duan Xinyue leaves the kitchen right away and hurriedly heads towards his room. In a few minutes,he goes downstairs dressed up and ready to head out.

"Hey Xinyue,where are you going?"

"Ziran Sect."

"I'm coming with you."

Yuan Ye gets up from his seat quickly and follows Duan Xinyue like a dog following its owner.

Meanders City has never hosted a Martial Arts Contest before but thanks to Ziran Sect there will be one this time. People of Meanders City focus more on literature and other things than Martial Arts. The arena has already been set at the Ziran Sect Combat Ground. Many important figures in Long Gong County will be present to witness this major event.

In one of the halls,the Ziran Sect disciples who will take part in the contest are waiting there anxiously for Hong Yi to come pick them up. Hong Rong, Chen Ruolan ,Ren Xing and Cai Huifen will take part in the contest. Mu Zixin is there to wish them good luck especially Chen Ruolan. Mu Zixin and Chen Ruolan are standing a bit away from others and they seem like they are in their own world.

"Shi Jie your dress looks so cool,"Mu Zixin compliments her drawing the others' attention especially Hong Rong who can't take his eyes off her. Chen Ruolan is wearing a dark brown Hanfu dress with intricate embroidery patterns ,golden threadwork and dragon motif wrapping around the hem.

"Hmph!Is she attending a Martial Arts Contest or an outfit show?"Cai Huifen comments.

Ren Xing who is busy trying to gain Hong Rong's attention, suddenly starting mending the collar of Hong Rong's robes even though it is neatly made. Hong Rong grips her hand to take it off him but she slaps off his hand with her other hand.

"Don't move,"Ren Xing gently instructs.

"Men and women shouldn't be close,"Hong Rong yanks the collar of his robes away still watching Mu Zixin and Chen Ruolan being affectionate as jealousy droops from those now fierce eyes of his.

The decision of choosing opponents for the disciples is a decision made by all the sect masters present . The contest begins as Chen Ruolan enters the fighting arena with an opponent from Eternal Pine Alliance. Her opponent is a girl slightly older than Chen Ruolan wearing a green Hanfu dress. She is slightly taller than Chen Ruolan and has a gentle face just like Chen Ruolan. Their level of martial skills isn't that good so they don't get that much of a reaction from the viewers. The match starts getting interesting when Chen Ruolan gets the upper hand to showcase her swordsmanship. Along with her beautiful outfit and face and graceful figure,it makes her look more otherworldly.Lei Qiang can't help but feel more proud. Duan Xinyue and Yuan Ye are seated together in the back columns. Next to Duan Xinyue is Guo Mulang who has disguised his face so no one can recognize him apart from Duan Xinyue.

The sword match continues as the opponents keep getting stronger as time goes by. Since Cai Huifen's martial arts are good,she gets a male opponent from Heavenly Mist Sect. Heavenly Mist Sect trains male disciples only and doesn't recruit female disciples because the masters of the sect are nothing but male chauvinists. Getting a female opponent is a great opportunity to display their chauvinism and trample on the fairer sex. Heavenly Mist Sect has the oldest disciples with the eldest disciple being twenty seven years.

Gong Muyu is the second senior most disciple at Heavenly Mist Sect who is twenty five years old. He's the one Cai Huifen is fighting against. Cai Huifen seems a bit nervous. She looks at the viewers each at a time till she meets her Shifu's assuring look . Gong Muyu insists that Cai Huifen should strike first. The match begins with both having the upper hand. Despite its orthodox like name, Heavenly Mist Sect practices a few unorthodox swordsmanship techniques. In addition to that,they have a cruel nature so as Cai Huifen slacks off a bit Gong Muyu slits her dress twice causing a ruckus among the viewers. She was obviously trying to embarrass her. Cai Huifen has no choice but to retreat so as to cover herself.

"That's too much."

Lei Qiang wants to make a move but he's still hesitant. The master of Heavenly Mist Sect Di Heng is busy stroking his beard proudly with slight smile. He's enjoying the ruckus his disciple has created.

"As expected all women have mediocre martial arts skills. If you can't fight why bother stepping on the arena?Beauty,in my opinion you should go back home and learn needlework."

"Who said women can't fight?" a confident female voice fills the air.