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During those fifteen days, Shu-ming trained from dawn until night without stopping. It wasn't just for the competition, but for himself. Strengthening himself was something he had to do.
From the moment the sun rose until the break of dawn, he trained with Luo Feng. He learned more about martial arts and combat techniques, developed his internal energy, and improved his sword skills—all under Luo Feng's guidance, who was the strongest member of the Luo Clan.
On the day of the competition, five hours before it began, Luo Feng stood beside Shu-ming in the training ground. They were sitting on two chairs outside the field, both wearing the Luo Clan's uniform: long, fiery red robes with swords hanging at their waists.
Luo Feng spoke with a smile, "My lord, are you ready? This will be your first serious fight." His expression suddenly turned serious. "I want you to be careful. Sometimes people die by accident, even though killing is forbidden."
Shu-ming rested his chin on his hand indifferently, unconcerned. If anything happened to him, Luo Feng would save him anyway, right? Still, he asked, "Doesn't the imperial family intervene in cases of killing?"
There was a law that prohibited intentional murder, yet the scent of death filled every corner of the fourteen provinces. However, the emperor rarely intervened unless the fight involved two high-level martial arts masters.
Luo Feng sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice. "That's normal. The Li imperial family only rose to power forty years ago, so the land is naturally filled with chaos. There's even an army of rebels looming on the horizon… It's said that one of the imperial princes personally led a purification campaign a few days ago and returned victorious."
Shu-ming's eyes lit up the moment he heard that. Wasn't this situation similar to what he had written? "He led a campaign to suppress the rebels? Tell me more about this."
Luo Feng spoke without pause. In short, a rebel army had formed on the borders of Guozhou Province. The emperor ordered the formation of an army led by that prince, who wiped out a large part of the rebels. However, it seemed that rebel army wasn't fully defeated, so there were still people causing chaos across the empire.
Shu-ming was about to ask for the prince's name when Luo Xuan's voice interrupted them from a distance. "You two! Hurry up, we're going to be late!"
The two stood up quickly and headed outside. As they walked together, they looked like stars of the night shining with an aura of majesty. One had fiery red hair and golden eyes like two small suns, while the other had hair as black as the night, dark eyes, and pale skin like snow, with a fierce fiery aura rising around him. They didn't look like beginners at all, but like fierce warriors.
At the clan gate, a young man with short blue hair leaned against the carriage, wearing the Luo Clan uniform with his sword firmly strapped to his waist. It was Luo Yan, the son of the first elder of the Luo Clan.
His eyes were calmly closed in a way that didn't suit his age. A week ago, during a fight with some bandits outside the city along with his clan companions, he was said to have been stabbed in the chest and left between life and death. Right after that, he lost his memory, or so he claimed. He had changed from an arrogant and conceited young man into someone who carried calmness wherever he went. Strangely, his skills had suddenly improved—his sword movements and everything else. He had become a natural swordsman.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the guard beside him. "Where are the two who will be participating with me? Aren't they late?"
The guard cupped his hands respectfully. "Young Master Luo Yan, Sir Shu and Young Master Luo Feng are coming now. Please wait, my lord."
"Sorry for the delay." As soon as the guard finished speaking, Luo Feng's warm voice came from inside.
Luo Feng and Shu-ming walked out side by side. The moment the women walking on the street saw them, their cheeks flushed red. Their features were far from ordinary.
In addition to Luo Feng's kind personality, he was extremely popular among the common people, who even called him an angel.
Luo Feng cupped his hands and slightly bowed to Luo Yan. "Cousin, how is your injury? I couldn't visit you last week because I was busy."
Luo Yan bowed back by the same amount. "Hahaha, I'm completely fine, cousin. No need to worry."
Luo Yan slowly opened his eyes, trying to assess Luo Feng, but he couldn't see anything at all. "This person… his talent seems quite good."
While cupping his hands, Luo Feng spoke to Shu-ming through telepathy, "My lord, please greet Luo Yan. His pride sometimes blinds him. He might see it as arrogance and try to cause trouble."
Shu-ming heard it but ignored the suggestion. He didn't like the typical arrogant young master character—it was too cliché. Someone like that usually died at the beginning of the story anyway, so he ignored him.
His thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the Luo Clan's vice guard captain. "Gentlemen, please get in the carriage. It will only take five minutes to reach the battle arena in the center of Yancheng City."
Upon hearing that, Luo Yan grumbled, "What? Only five minutes? Then why did you make me stand here waiting for half an hour?! I could have reached there dozens of times already. Hah~ I'll walk there. I don't like riding carriages anyway."
Luo Yan left, but Luo Feng followed him and looked back before going. "Sir Shu, I'll walk with him before he causes any trouble."
Shu-ming waved his hand. "Do as you like."
Shu-ming boarded the carriage alone. "Luo Xia must have started the imperial examination by now…"
Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and the carriage arrived in front of the battle arena of Yancheng City.
The battle arena resembled an ancient coliseum, with stands filled with hundreds of spectators from Yancheng City and neighboring cities.
In the center was a large arena where the contestants would fight.
In those stands, there were four specially decorated VIP sections reserved for the four great clans: the Luo Clan, specialized in sword arts and Yang-type internal energy; the Yu Clan, whose members mostly practiced stealth, shadows, and daggers, often losing because the fights focused on direct confrontations; the Guang Clan, masters of speed who relied more on rapid movement techniques than their short swords; and the Tu Clan, known for their unique and fast spear techniques.
Only a few more minutes passed before the masters of the four clans entered with their elders. Each sat in their designated place. The competition would last four days—two days for the preliminaries and two days for the finals, where only eight members would remain to compete for the title of number one in Yancheng City.
Below the spectator seats were several rooms where representatives of each clan and wandering warriors from outside sat. The place was crowded with more than a hundred people!
People from different backgrounds and personalities had all come hoping to win the huge prize money and secure a spot in one of the ancient clans that had resided in Yancheng for over a hundred years.
In the middle of the crowd, Luo Feng stood beside Luo Yan, searching around for any sign of Shu-ming, but he couldn't find him. He spoke to Luo Yan, "Brother Luo Yan, wouldn't it have been better if we entered through the main clan gates?"
The arena had three entrance gates: one for wandering fighters, one for warriors from the four great clans, and the third for the clan masters and important figures from outside Yancheng City.
Luo Yan replied to Luo Feng, "How was I supposed to know about those gates? Tsk, let's just go in."
After an hour, the two finally managed to enter the spectator area and waited for their turn to fight. Down below, in the center of the arena, a burly man in a black robe spoke in a loud, rough voice:
"Today marks the Four Clans Competition of Yancheng City! The clans have announced a prize of ten gold coins for first place, along with the right to learn any martial technique from the four great clans. Second and third place will each receive five thousand silver coins."
The crowd erupted in loud cheers. The man in the arena continued, "The opening matches will begin with two members from the great clans!"
The crowd fell into a state of shock and excitement. Starting the fights with two clan members meant one clan would lose a member right from the first battle. "Did I hear that correctly?"
"Damn, this is getting me excited! Maybe a war will break out between them!!"
"I feel like killing someone!!"
The spectators' blood was boiling. Damn it, even I, the author, am feeling the excitement…
The announcer continued, declaring the first fight: "From the Yu Clan, the second son of the clan master, Yu Chi, against Tu Lan, the daughter of the second elder from the Tu Clan!"
And with that, the first competition of the Four Clans began…
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