The duel between the old man and the young one on the arena stage continued unabated.
Unlike the novice players who had only recently begun practicing martial arts, Ruan Xuezong possessed keen eyesight. He could clearly make out the exchanges between the two swordsmen.
The young swordsman wielded a slender green sword. Once he drew the long blade from its sheath, its edge gleamed as thin as a cicada’s wing. He swung it with the flicker of a white snake’s tongue or the dart of a fledgling swallow returning to its nest. Streaks of silver light flashed through the air, the blade’s edge cold and pristine as glacial ice. Gasps of astonishment rose from the crowd surrounding the arena on all sides.
It was a fine sword!
Everyone could tell as much, though it was unfortunate that such a weapon rested in the hands of an obscure swordsman.
The Three Gorges Divine Sword, old man Xia, was no pushover. The young swordsman faltered under the pressure of the match, retreating step by step. His clothes tore open in places. At only a third the age of Clan Leader Xia, his strength was naturally no match.
Were it not for the green sword in his hand, which posed a repeated threat to his opponent time and again, he would have been driven from the stage long before.
In the end, he lost, of course.
He was inexperienced compared to the veterans around him and could only flaunt his momentary courage. The young swordsman felt dejected deep down, yet he suddenly noticed Miss Qu on the spectator’s dais by the arena. She smiled at him warmly, occasionally sending shy glances his way, as though lover and beloved shared a mutual affection.
Manor Lord Qu cast him a look that seemed filled with appreciation and satisfaction. The young swordsman’s heart leaped with joy. He hurried over at once to introduce himself, eager to recite his lineage for eighteen generations back, the members of his household, and even the number of dogs he kept.
Ruan Xuezong watched the scene unfold and sneered coldly beneath his mask.
The young swordsman must have thought a pie was falling from the sky right then—that the Righteous Path Fairy favored this nobody, that Manor Lord Qu admired his swordsmanship profoundly, and so on. Little did he know that over these three days of arena bouts, the father-daughter duo had cast such “appreciative” glances at many swordsmen, and far from few.
The Qu father and daughter had never made any verbal promises, merely hinting with their eyes. Yet they never lacked for self-deluded romantics, one after another, throwing themselves forward.
The players watched the arena matches with wins and losses but discerned nothing deeper. They simply enjoyed the spectacle.
On their game interfaces, details of the martial arts manuals used by these swordsmen appeared—such as [Frost Ice Sword (Green)], [Nameless Thunderbolt Sword (Blue)], [Azure Wave Divine Sword (Purple)], and the like. By spectating these thrilling clashes, the players earned bits of experience and insights. Occasionally, sword manual fragments would drop, allowing them to learn a move or two.
But the collection progress for these manuals was dismal: 2/40 here, 1/30 there. Most players on the scene instantly flashed back to that nightmare grind in the game next door, where rare manual fragments came only from endless trading stalls, pay-to-win spending, and straight-up begging!
A shiver ran through them. They resolved to stick to palm techniques after all! A martial artist had to stay focused—mastery in one path over many!
Onlookers enjoyed the excitement, but true experts saw the skill.
As so many swordsmen took the stage to spar and hone their arts against one another, Ruan Xuezong could tell that Hero Hua was getting stirred. The ordinary iron sword at his waist hummed faintly, as if awakening to the call of battle.
Ever since Famous Sword Villa had lost the Pure Shadow Sword, Hua Bailian seemed haunted by the fear that any fine blade in his hands would meet the same fate. From then on, he carried only an iron sword at his side. It was utterly commonplace, forged without any particular skill or fine materials.
The game interface even listed its maker: Jiangnan City blacksmith Wang Daniu.
Of course, an ordinary sword in the hands of an extraordinary man produced entirely different results.
Ruan Xuezong had no doubt that if Hua Bailian took that battered blade onto the stage, it would whistle through the air to rest at his opponent’s throat in an instant.
Swordsmen like Hua Bailian—devoted enthusiasts of the martial path—were hardly few around the arena’s edge. Though they had felt little urge to compete at first, the electric atmosphere now spurred them on. One by one, they leaped onto the stage.
More and more earned Manor Lord Qu Tianwei’s appreciative gaze.
The crowd grew ever more convinced that this arena tournament carried the unmistakable air of a martial arts bride selection for the beautiful young lady of the manor.
Qu Qingyang, the young manor lord of Peacock Manor, had practiced the sword since childhood. He stood offstage with two fingers extended like a miniature blade, scrutinizing the action intently.
Amid his constant mutterings to himself, though he remained below, he dismantled the onstage sword techniques almost completely.
A certain matter suddenly occurred to Ruan Xuezong. Perhaps swayed by Qu Tianwei’s attitude as the manor’s master, most of the martial world had subconsciously overlooked it: the famed Righteous Path Fairy, Qu Wangshu, possessed only average martial skill, while her plain-looking elder brother Qu Qingyang showed remarkable sword talent. He was fully qualified to inherit Peacock Manor.
Yet Qu Tianwei’s dismissive demeanor toward him led others to view the young manor lord merely as a silent, diligent steward.
Everyone fixated on the Righteous Path Fairy and her supposed martial bride contest, forgetting that Qu Qingyang—the manor heir—was nearly thirty and still unmarried.
Not everyone missed these special circumstances; they merely overlooked them by reflex.
Ruan Xuezong was the vengeful sort. He deliberately strolled over to Qu Qingyang, fixing him with what seemed an admiring gaze. “Young Manor Lord Qu, aren’t you twenty-eight this year? Not so young anymore. Have you taken a wife yet?”
The subtext hung clear: Get your act together! Your little sister is so much younger, and your father frets over her entire life. You’re pushing thirty without even a betrothal. Is that normal?
Qu Qingyang paused, stunned for a moment. He cupped his hands in a fist. “Thank you for your concern, Manor Lord Ruan. My father hasn’t yet arranged any matches for me, so I’m in no rush.”
The mere mention of marriage dredged up an old memory for Qu Qingyang. Truth be told… years ago in the rivers and lakes, a certain heroine had admired his grace. She pursued him all the way from the Northern Frontier, undeterred by his refusals. No matter how he rejected her, she followed without complaint, even to Jinling City. Though unaccustomed to the local climate and wracked by vomiting and diarrhea, she insisted the scenery was superb and that she would live there for life.
Qu Qingyang had grown up under his father’s dominance, his mother’s weakness, and his sister’s radiant glow. He had never known such ardent, devoted passion. Shaken and embarrassed, he mustered his courage and brought her back to Peacock Manor.
His father flew into a rage. “You want to marry some woman of unknown origins? Your sister is still just a child, unmarried, and you’re already dragging a sister-in-law home to overshadow her!”
A teacup whizzed past his head. Shards grazed his face and shattered on the ground, mirroring the fragments of his heart. From then on, he never dared mention romance in his father’s presence.
The matter with that heroine came to nothing. After she left in sorrow, he never inquired after her, silently convincing himself that forgetting each other in the rivers and lakes was for the best.
The players: ???
They snapped to attention, their focus shifting from the blooming Righteous Path Fairy to the older bachelor before them.
They whispered among themselves. “Holy crap, we totally overlooked it—the brother isn’t married. I’ve seen parental favoritism, but never this extreme!”
“Is Qu Tianwei this NPC some ultimate looks-maxxer? Qu Qingyang’s just average-looking, nothing ugly about him.”
Qu Qingyang overheard the murmurs. Even with his mild temper, he frowned and defended his father. “Honored guests, you misunderstand. My father pursues the martial path. On matters of the dao, one must remain undistracted, undivided in focus. My sister has been spoiled and willful since childhood, so he spared some attention for her. As her elder brother, mature and steady, I required no such coddling…”
Ruan Xuezong cut him off. “Young Manor Lord Qu, do you truly believe that’s the reason?”
His implication: Suppose you acted as spoiled and willful as your sister—would your father then spare you a glance?
Qu Qingyang struggled to name the feeling. The eyes behind Ruan Xuezong’s mask were dark as night, clear as a frigid pool—unflashy, yet piercing everything. His heart trembled faintly.
He gave up, a laugh scraping from his throat. “Very well, to be honest, I tried it as a child… Nothing as extreme as arson or chaos, just boyish mischief. But Father’s gaze toward me was so cold and disdainful that I gradually stopped testing him.”
His final conclusion: Father’s favoritism was incurable. He’d never measure up to his sister in a lifetime.
The players savored this drama like the ripest melon, faces alight with satisfaction.
Posts sprang up on the forums at once:
[Jinling City Peacock Manor Plot Update: Let’s rationally discuss—given the massive difference in childhood treatment between Qu Qingyang and Qu Wangshu, were they really born to the same parents? Genetics level-10 scholars welcome! Heat: 20,000]
“At least let us see what the lady of the manor looks like!”
“Peacock Manor’s proper mistress lives in the rear courtyard. Supposedly bedridden with chronic illness, she never steps out. She only appeared briefly on the first day of welcoming guests—no one even screenshotted it.”
At that thought, players disguised as house servants quietly slipped into the rear courtyard while serving tea and refreshments. Just as intelligence suggested, the wife’s residence was serene—too serene, like a world apart from the bustling crowds of recent days.
The only soul in the yard was a hunched old servant sweeping the grounds, statue-still like molded clay. When he spotted the players, his lips parted slightly, and he stared vacantly.
The players leaned in close and heard only “ah-ah-ah” sounds. It took them a long while to realize this Sweeper Old Servant was a deaf-mute!
Shock rippled through them. Miss Qu was forever surrounded by attendants like stars around the moon, her maids and servants swirling about her. Yet the proper wife’s courtyard held only this lone deaf-mute elder. Peacock Manor truly hid many secrets!
[Peacock Manor Exploration 40% Unlocked]
Meanwhile, Ruan Xuezong prepared for afternoon tea.
He glanced at the players nearby and casually pointed to one who looked somewhat familiar. Amid the player’s stunned disbelief, Ruan Xuezong tapped the tea and refreshments on the table.
[Ding! Triggered quest: Taste Test Dishes]
[Quest Rank: Rare]
[Quest Description: Ruan Xuezong is famished. For this afternoon tea, he craves Begonia Crisp, Transparent Flower Rice Cake, Butter Abalone Conch, and Mung Bean Roll, washed down with Bamboo Leaf Green. Yet he fears something amiss in Peacock Manor’s banquet fare and needs a young hero to taste-test. Does this young hero dare to sacrifice himself?]
[Participants: One]
“I’ll do it!” The player rushed forward in an instant. He finally understood Fe3O4’s thrill—these delicately shaped, soft, and tempting pastries melted in his mouth, bringing tears to his eyes unbidden. “Damn, it’s too good…”
One bite down, and floral notes still bloomed on his tongue. What earthly delight was this!!
Ruan Xuezong confirmed it was poison-free and relaxed. His current mask allowed easy eating and drinking. He plucked a Begonia Crisp from the exquisite porcelain plate.
Unbeknownst to him, the game players had opened a livestream for each of his taste-test meals. Another stream drew a huge crowd as well.
Many interstellar netizens watched both side by side, drooling nonstop.
One showed Ruan Xuezong devouring treat after treat. The other showed frantic replication attempts.
In the frame, an interstellar chef in a towering hat and hair tied back with meticulous care faced what seemed a screen replaying Ruan Xuezong’s tasting footage.
After watching, the chef netizen took a deep breath. “Netizens, yesterday’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall from Jianghu was too tough—ingredients impossible to source. These afternoon tea pastries seem simpler. My skills are limited, but let’s try replicating… First step: Measure out white gluten flour and lard, rub together with the palms… Shape into dough, stuff with lotus paste filling for raw dough pieces. Use flower-shaped molds—edible peach-pink pigment gets closest. Ha, no time wasted—a plate of Begonia Crisp done!”
“Friends without closed beta access, don’t despair. We can replicate with our own skills!”
“Rumor has it this ancient Earth game boasts the Nine Major Cuisines, with tens of thousands of recipes. We interstellar folk have eternal lifespans and time aplenty. With patience to hunt materials, we’ll replicate them all someday!”
These rousing words, etched soul-deep, had barely left his mouth when the netizen checked his phone’s stream again. Ruan Xuezong had already moved on to the next pastry.
Damn, it was killing him with envy.
