Chapter 67 - Provocation

Nom nom nom

The two little spirit beasts, Ye and Xing, were actively busy to eat every kind of dish present at the banquet. Hei and Lian took turns filling their plates or getting drinks.

Usually, martial artists weren't people to linger on trivial things like enjoying the taste of food, therefore eating only the bare essentials often. Worried as they were in acquiring more power, they had abandoned some of the desires of ordinary people, but going to intensify others.

It wasn't strange, therefore that many martial artists ended up developing an arrogant and presumptuous character or acquired an infinite thirst for personal power and glory. Obviously, not everyone was like that, but such martial artists would still have personal goals to achieve.

The people around occasionally glared at them, but Hei and Lian pretended as if nothing was happening. Although it might seem like a scene not precisely suitable for the banquet in the royal palace, it wasn't even so indecent as to have to request someone's intervention. In the end, despite the amount of food devoured by the two small spirit beasts was enormous, it was only a fraction of that present in the tables.

An hour passed, and all those present ate and drank until they were satisfied. But even after all that time, Ye and Xing kept eating without a break. Usually, they would have settled for what they hunted, but since the food was free and it would have been a pity to waste it, they decided to give vent to their gluttony.

And as Hei got up to refill their plates, the sect leaders of the sects began to appear one by one as well the other influential personalities, including the king. Their meeting was over, and they joined the rest of the guests. What they had discussed between each other and the reason for a meeting so abrupt in times of celebration were details shrouded in mystery.

Noticing the gaze of the people in the reception room, the king cleared his throat and proclaimed.

"Sorry for the absence, there were some details to discuss, but they are just minor things. I notice that you have happily eaten the dishes prepared by my chefs. I'm glad you liked the cuisine."

Among the guests, some commented briefly on the excellent taste of food, praising how lucky the king was to eat such meals every day. Of course, they didn't mention at all that it was thanks to two spirit beasts that the food on the tables appeared much less than when it was at the beginning.

The king then continued to speak,

"Since everyone has eaten their fill, I would say to kick off the event of the evening we were waiting for - the sparring competition of the younger generation. As usual, in similar events, small sects and other peer influences will be the first to take the field. The matches will take place one at a time, and each party can only send one member of the younger generation. The winner of the battle can continue to challenge another person at will or decide to retire. In that case, those who want can come forward freely. I remind you that this is a sparring contest, so refrain from causing serious injuries or hitting an enemy that has already surrendered. Well, if there are no questions, I will declare to start."

When the king's speech was over, he sat on his throne while he was brought food and drink so he could enjoy it during the battle. Instead, the various guests lined up along the walls, gathering with their sect's members to observe the matches.

As the king had said, the first to fight were martial artists of the younger generation of small sects. They wanted to demonstrate their skills in front of a relevant audience and put all their strength into fighting. It was an excellent opportunity to challenge worthy adversaries of similar age, yet at the same time, they knew that they couldn’t bite off more than they could chew and challenge those who were superior to them.

While the fighting was taking place, Hei was more focused on examining his little sisters sitting on the ground with him and Lian. He was examining their body because soon they would have to make a new molt, and he wanted to be sure that it would proceed smoothly for them.

"Ye, Xing, how much is missing for your next molting?" Hei whispered.

‘Uhmm ... I don't know, a week or two at most? Ah, will you hand me that piece of steak? Thanks,' Xing answered, given that Ye had a full mouth and was swallowing the bite.

"One or two weeks? If we do it quickly, you can do the molting at home. Otherwise, you will have to do it during the journey. Also, eat some vegetables, you are eating too much meat. "

Lian to the side had brought two small saucers and placed them on the ground. From time to time, she poured wine on these so that Ye and Xing could drink. After all, it was easier for them to drink than by drinking from glasses.

And while they enjoyed that moment of tranquility, the matches had continued one after the other until they reached the turn of the big sects - the Flower Sect and the Tree Sect.

Cao Su, who had defeated some younger generation members of medium sects, was about to clash with the number three of the Tree Sect, Duan Long.

Duan Long was a very tall youth, about two meters tall, with a sturdy build. In his hand, he held a large shiny iron hammer. Only from the fact that he was able to hold such a weapon with one hand, it was a sign of his strength.

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Cao Su wasn't at all intimidated by the size of his opponent and took a serious look and pointed his saber forward and snapped at full speed. Since he had already fought several matches, his amount of spirit power had already been consumed quite a bit. However, as a member of the Flower Sect, one of the five big sects, how could he withdraw from a challenge just because he had consumed part of his energy?

With rapid movements, Cao Su tried to break through the defense of the opponent. After all, with the difference in size, the weapon's weight, and the spirit power available, a strength confrontation wasn't recommended. He could only exploit his speed by trying to hit him in various areas and thus consume the enemy energy as he attacked.

But Duan Long wasn't the type to be caught so easily. As a Tree Sect disciple, his style adapted to the name of the sect - sturdy and resistant as a tree. Because Duan Long's fighting style was very static, more focused on power, he had learned to compensate for the lack of speed by integrating a total defensive style.

One after the other, Cao Su's blows were parried without difficulty. At the right moment, when Cao Su leaned over more than necessary, Duan Long snapped forward with surprising speed and struck the Flower Sect disciple in the stomach with his hammer, making him fly.

Although he wasn't as fast and agile as other martial artists, the mass of his muscles allowed him to have a tremendous accelerating force at a short distance. This, combined with his total defense style, was enough to displace the opponent who wouldn’t have expected such rapidity from him.

Cao Su managed to land on his feet, but the pain in his stomach hurt as he lost a great deal of spirit power in the impact.

"That's enough, Cao Su retired."

The voice of the first elder resounded and commanded Cao Su to return. Like their children, the first and sixth elders had a close relationship. Consequently, he was asked to take a look at Cao Su during the journey.

The young man with a reluctant expression clenched his fist on the hilt of the saber but still carried out the first elder command. His father had expressly told him to obey orders, and as a future successor to the regulation division, he couldn’t show public disobedience.

While Cao Su was returning from the others, Duan Long burst out laughing and pointed his hammer at the Flower Sect group.

"Is this all that the geniuses of the Flower Sect can do? I am very disappointed. Well, it doesn't surprise me that much, though. After all, your number one is only in the fourth stage. I really don't understand how you could have been beaten by someone weaker than you, ha ha ha."

The voice of Duan Long resounded powerfully in the room, causing the eyes to shift from him towards Hei, who was still sitting on the ground to feed his two little sisters.

"Hey, you brat. What's up? You believe that just because you defeated some trash, you can ignore me like that. Well, then as the next challenger, I choose you. Come on."

The words of Duan Long contained a mockery directed towards the Flower Sect. Since their foundations, the two sects had been rivals. So, as the Tree Sect was occupying a position superior to that of the Flower Sect, they didn’t waste any opportunity to reaffirm that concept.

Although these words provoked anger in the elders and the sect leader, it was a matter of the younger generation. As an unwritten rule in the martial artists' society, the issues between the younger generation had to be solved between them without the intervention of others.

But even at that point, Hei continued to ignore the Tree Sect member, not interested in fighting. Although he was curious about the strength of the other sects, at the moment, he wanted to enjoy some moments of relaxation with his two little sisters. Not to mention that he was behaving like that to make room for his other comrades so they could come forward. He knew they were angry about the inner members' ranking, so this was their occasion to regain the spotlight.

However, when Duan Long, unnerved by his attitude, began to approach him, unexpectedly to come forward was Lian, who rose elegantly from the ground and placed herself in front of Hei.

"If you want to challenge the number one, at least you have to prove that you are capable of beating the number 2."

Lian's statement surprised Hei that he looked up and looked surprised at the girl. Even Ye and Xing lifted their heads from food for the first time since they arrived and watched Lian.

"You. Move. I'm not going to fight with a woman. Or is your fiancé so weak, and he is so afraid that he has to hide behind a woman?” Duan Long jeered imitating the actions of a chicken to emphasize the concept.

But this didn’t cause the effect he thought he would have. Suddenly, from their place, Ye, Xing, and Lian sprinted forward at lightning speed.

"Stop!"

Hei's voice sounded powerful as Ye and Xing stopped a few millimeters from the neck of Duan Long. Only a second later, and they would have hit him in the neck, causing a severe injury. Likewise, Lian stopped her fist in front of the Tree Sect member’s face a few inches away.

Duan Long, which was taken by surprise, couldn’t help but have cold sweat. He had foreseen the attack of Lian and, although he was prepared to receive it, he was utterly taken aback by the actions of the two spirit beasts. His eyes hadn't even been able to follow their movements.

It wasn't just him though, many martial artists of the younger generation shivered at this sight. If they had been in that situation, they would have died or suffered severe injuries if the Flower Sect number hadn’t intervened.

The others present also looked surprised at the speed of the small spider and the small snake. They didn’t expect such seemingly harmless beings to hide such a ferocious and dangerous side. With a glance, they realized that they weren't just simple spirit beasts, but they probably possessed a special lineage like that small auction elephant.

With rapid steps, Hei approached Duan Long, who recovered from his astonishment and tried to back away. But to his surprise, he was reached by Hei, who reached out and took Ye and Xing and then turned around, going back on his seat on the floor.

"Lian, if you want to fight, it's okay. Just one thing - win. "

"Yes."

A quick interaction between the two. Despite the few words, the connected meanings were many, but it wasn't necessary to say it verbally. Meanwhile, Hei put his little sisters on the ground next to their mother. Bao Bei had been watching motionless that scene.

"I told you not to act in public. You two are my trump card. You absolutely must not show your true strength unless it is necessary." Hei warned.

"But big brother, how could we not react after he offended you?" Ye and Xing answered in unison.

Like how Hei would immediately become enraged if they offended his mother, his little sisters, or Lian, they too would have a similar reaction.

While scratching his head, not knowing how to respond, his mother intervened.

‘All right, they understood the lesson. Let's look at Lian's fight and cheer on her. ’

Even though she knew Hei's words were right, as a mother, she was proud of his daughters’ reaction. How could they allow their big brother to be ridiculed that way in front of everyone?

Thus, Hei, with his mother and his little sisters, ended up discussing this issue, and they prepared to see Lian fight.