27: Chapter 27 A fight

The registration clerk froze.

You took a step forward, braced your hands on the edge of the table, and leaned slightly to look her in the eye. Your voice was not loud, but the square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and everyone heard you clearly.

"Just because you say I'm not, I'm not? Did your family start this Martial Arts Tournament? Is your mouth a scale that can weigh exactly how much I'm worth?"

The registration clerk's expression changed.

You straightened up and swept your gaze over the crowd watching the spectacle, your tone flat. "I came to register, brought my household registration, and declared my cultivation. Whether you believe me or not is your business, but verifying it is the rule of the Martial Arts Tournament. Since when does a registration clerk have the authority to make decisions for the tournament?"

The square was silent for a moment, then erupted into laughter.

"Well said! A registration clerk really thinks she's a referee now!"

"Looks like Qian Yuzhu kicked an iron plate this time, huh?"

Qian Yuzhu's face went from pale to flushed, her chest heaving violently. She stood up abruptly, knocking her chair over, and pointed a finger at you, her voice shrill. "You... you just wait!"

She took a deep breath, lowered her voice, and enunciated every word. "I'm going to find someone right now. You'd better really be at Xiantian Peak, otherwise, you can just wait to die."

With that, she turned and ran, disappearing at the edge of the square.

You stood where you were, your expression calm, even finding the leisure to look down and groom the fur on Xiao Wang's forehead that had been ruffled by the wind.

At this moment, two young female Martial Artists walked up to you.

One wore her hair in twin tails, had round, almond-shaped eyes, and looked to be about eighteen or nineteen. The other was slightly taller, with short, neat hair and a pair of short blades hanging at her waist.

The one with twin tails spoke first, lowering her voice. "Big sister, what you said earlier was really satisfying, but you might not know who Qian Yuzhu is."

The short-haired woman continued. "She's the legitimate daughter of the Qian Family. Her father is the deputy director of the Yunyang City Martial Arts Bureau, and her brother, Qian Yutang, is at the Innate Late Stage and is a favorite to win the Lin Prefecture division of this Martial Arts Tournament. The Qian Family has significant influence in Cheng Prefecture, and her registration spot was arranged by her brother."

The twin-tailed girl looked worried. "That Qian Yutang... his martial arts are genuinely high-level, but his temper is also notoriously protective. If his sister has been wronged, he definitely won't let it go. Big sister, you should probably soften your stance and apologize to her later; just say a few nice words and it'll blow over."

The short-haired woman sighed. "Big sister, we aren't trying to meddle, we just think... maybe you should apologize to her later? Soften your stance? That Qian Yutang is really not someone to mess with."

People around them also chimed in. "Yeah, miss, the Qian Family has a lot of power in Yunyang City, why bother lowering yourself to her level?"

"Thank you both for the reminder." You looked at them, your tone gentle. "However, you don't believe I'm at Xiantian Peak either?"

The twin-tailed girl and the short-haired woman exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying the exact same thought: Is this big sister not quite right in the head?

You laughed again, offering no explanation, simply saying, "You'll know in a moment."

People around you exchanged glances; some frowned, some shook their heads, and others looked you over, lost in thought.

You stood where you were, one hand resting on Xiao Wang's tiger back, closing your eyes to rest.

About the time it takes to brew a cup of tea later.

The crowd at the edge of the square suddenly parted to create a path.

A young man strode forward.

He looked to be twenty-six or twenty-seven, tall and lean, wearing a dark blue martial robe with a black iron buckle belt, his steps steady and powerful. His features were sharp, his sword-like eyebrows swept into his hairline, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. The aura around him was restrained yet exuded immense pressure—his cultivation at the Innate Late Stage was undisguised.

Qian Yuzhu followed behind him, having to jog to keep up with his pace, a smug smile on her face.

"Brother! It's her!" Qian Yuzhu pointed at you, her voice shrill and bright. "It's this woman, spouting nonsense at the registration desk, claiming to be at Xiantian Peak, and she even humiliated me in public!"

Qian Yutang's footsteps faltered.

Because he saw you.

He froze for a moment.

Then, a flash of brightness crossed his eyes, and his originally cold and stern expression visibly softened.

He ignored his sister, who was still clamoring behind him, straightened his robes, walked up to you, and bowed with a calm demeanor.

"I am Qian Yutang." His voice was steady, carrying just the right amount of gentleness. "May I ask how to address you, Miss?"

Qian Yuzhu's voice came to an abrupt halt.

She widened her eyes, her mouth agape, staring at her own brother in disbelief.

"Brother?! What are you doing?!"

Qian Yutang didn't look back, his gaze fixed on your face, waiting for your answer.

"Senior Sister Lin Shuang," you said indifferently.

"Miss Lin," Qian Yutang smiled. "My sister has an impatient nature; if there was any offense in her words, I hope you will be magnanimous. I'm sure there must be some misunderstanding."

"Brother!!" Qian Yuzhu's voice rose an octave as she rushed up to tug at Qian Yutang's sleeve. "What misunderstanding! She's just bragging! Xiantian Peak! A twenty-five-year-old at Xiantian Peak! Do you actually believe that?!"

Qian Yutang finally turned his head and gave his sister a look.

That look caused Qian Yuzhu's voice to get stuck in her throat.

He reached out, pulled Qian Yuzhu to the side, and lowered his voice, but you heard it clearly.

"Watch your attitude."

"Why should I! She..."

"She might be your sister-in-law in the future."

Qian Yuzhu was completely stunned, frozen in place as if struck by lightning. Her expression shifted from anger to shock, and then from shock to an indescribable distortion, as if she were saying, 'No way, are you still my brother?!'

"No... Brother, what kind of madness is this?! You can't even walk when you see someone pretty, right?!"

A flick to the forehead landed precisely on her brow.

"Shut up." Qian Yutang didn't change his expression. "If you spout nonsense again, I'll punish you by making you copy the family rules three times when we get back."

Qian Yuzhu covered her forehead, her face full of grievance, but she didn't dare say anything more.

Qian Yutang turned back to face you, his expression returning to that calm gentleness. But you noticed that his gaze swept over you a couple of extra times—not the kind of frivolous appraisal, but the scrutiny of one Martial Artist evaluating another.

"Miss Lin, twenty-five years old, at Xiantian Peak?" He asked, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Yes."

"No School Legacy?"

"Yes."

He was silent for a breath or two, his brow slightly furrowed. You could tell he didn't quite believe it either. But he was much smarter than his sister and didn't directly question you.

"I am at the Innate Late Stage," he said directly. "How about this: you and I have a sparring match, stopping at a touch. If Miss Lin wins, I, Zhou, owe you a favor, within my power, and I will never refuse."

He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "If Miss Lin loses, you only need to agree to one condition from me, Zhou."