"That's right! If it weren't for you, my disciple would still be in top condition. He could have fought you to the death!"
Elder Xue Mo protested, his tone sharp and brimming with wounded pride.
His fingers curled tightly around the edge of his sleeve, knuckles whitening as he glared at Yue Chan, resentment etched deep into his features.
Yue Chan responded with a sneer, her lips curling in quiet contempt.
Her voice, barely above a whisper and thick with scorn, slipped past her lips.
"Haughty old man," she muttered, the words weighted with cold dismissal.
A sense of exasperation flickered across Yue Chan's face.
Why did it feel as though this man was dredging up old grudges, choosing this moment in front of everyone to air them?
It was supposed to be nothing more than a tournament—a clash of skill, not of simmering vendettas.
She found his reaction almost farcical, the dramatic flare in his accusations so overblown it bordered on parody.
For someone so arrogant and domineering, Elder Xue Mo's melodramatic loss seemed more theatrical than sincere, and Yue Chan could barely hide her amusement at how laughably corny it all appeared.
"I hate watching people overact right in front of me. Fine."
Yue Chan's eyes narrowed with impatience as she lifted her hand, weaving a swift, precise spell toward Gong Xie.
A faint shimmer of spiritual energy flowed from her fingertips, enveloping his motionless form in a gentle, luminous glow.
Within moments, Gong Xie's eyelids fluttered.
He gasped softly and jerked upright, confusion flickering across his face as he quickly patted his limbs, reassuring himself that he was whole and unharmed.
A relieved, triumphant laugh burst from Elder Xue Mo as he witnessed Gong Xie's rapid recovery.
The elder's grim expression melted away, replaced by a glint of vindication as he watched his disciple regain stability before his eyes.
A faint twitch tugged at the corner of Yue Chan's lips as she observed the scene unfolding before her.
Amusement—or perhaps disdain—flickered briefly in her eyes.
"Fools," she murmured, the single word slipping out with icy precision, her voice colored by a mixture of contempt and quiet derision.
With Elder Xue Mo's steadying hand guiding him, Gong Xie rose shakily to his feet.
He leveled a fierce glare at Yue Chan, his features contorted in a volatile blend of anger and irritation.
"Just a mere woman, and yet you dare to drag me down? I'm fine," he spat, his words laced with predatory contempt.
Yue Chan remained unfazed.
She idly traced her fingertip along her earlobe, the other arm folded across her chest, her posture relaxed and aloof.
She listened to their disdainful words in silence, her expression betraying little more than a hint of detached amusement.
"Like master, like disciple," Yue Chan muttered under her breath, a weary sigh escaping her lips.
Unexpectedly, her quiet insult did not go unnoticed.
Both Elder Xue Mo and Gong Xie stiffened, sharp glares pinning her in place.
"What did you say?"
Elder Xue Mo demanded, his voice taut with indignation.
Yue Chan snapped her head up, eyes glinting with feigned innocence beneath the shadow of her mask.
Her brows arched in a perfect display of mock surprise.
"Did I say something?" she replied coolly, her tone airy and unbothered.
"Stop being pretentious!"
Gong Xie snapped, his words sharp and biting.
Yue Chan's eyes danced with amusement.
"If I were you, I'd take it as a compliment. Let's consider it praise," she replied, her tone deliberately light, further stoking the flames of his irritation.
Gong Xie's face darkened, his fists clenching at his sides.
"You've gone too far! It wouldn't sound good. Insult me all you want, but don't you dare speak ill of my master!"
A slow, taunting curve lifted the corners of Yue Chan's lips as she watched Gong Xie's composure unravel.
"Are you done?" she asked, her voice cool and unhurried.
"You—"
Gong Xie sputtered, unable to find the words.
Yue Chan clasped her hands behind her back and stepped forward, her gaze unwavering.
"I restored your consciousness to give you a second chance. If it weren't for your master's desperate pleas for my sympathy, I wouldn't have spared you. The reward would have been mine."
Elder Xue Mo bristled, his voice rising in protest.
"Who said I was pleading for your sympathy? Don't make up stories!"
"You did."
Yue Chan insisted, her tone unyielding.
"The winner was already declared, yet you keep whining about being cheated. You're so noisy, it's making my ears ring."
Off to the side of the platform, Elder Yun Ji watched the exchange unfold, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he shook his head in quiet resignation. He mused inwardly.
"Chan'er always lets her words slip at the most unexpected moments. Her nature is nothing like we imagined. Who would have thought the child I raised with such strict discipline and careful teaching would dare to talk back so fearlessly to the ruthless sect? She rarely speaks, but when she does... each word is like a blade—sharp enough to pierce straight to the heart, slicing through pride and ego until even your inner demons have no choice but to surrender."
Suddenly, Li Haoran interjected, his curiosity piqued.
"Master Yun, you say she barely speaks to anyone, but what about her mask? Has she ever taken it off in front of others?"
Elder Yun Ji regarded him for a moment, a reassuring smile softening his features.
"Take off her mask? Yes, she can."
Li Haoran leaned in, eyes widening with anticipation.
"You mean… she's actually shown her face?"
Elder Yun Ji's gaze grew a shade more guarded.
"No one has seen her face since then—except for me."
Li Haoran's brows furrowed.
"So, even Su Mei and Hou Yan have never recognized her?"
Before Elder Yun Ji could respond, Elder Qing Yun cut in, his tone gently admonishing.
"Haoran, you're asking too much."
"Qing Yun, let the child ask."
Elder Yun Ji said with a genial wave of his hand.
"It's only natural—a gentleman like him is bound to be curious."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"He simply can't resist such beauty."
Both elders shared a quiet chuckle, their amusement evident.
Li Haoran, caught off guard by their teasing, was left momentarily speechless.
A faint flush crept up his neck as he struggled for a retort, but all he could manage was an awkward cough, his gaze shifting away in embarrassment.
Elder Qing Yun leaned in, lowering his voice to match Yun Ji's conspiratorial tone.
"I must admit, I'm curious as well—just how captivating can the girl be? Even with half her face hidden behind that mask, it's clear she carries herself with remarkable poise."
His eyes sparkled with intrigue.
"It's no wonder she's drawn so much attention. That kind of temperament is rare indeed."
"Indeed," Elder Yun Ji agreed, and both elders chuckled quietly together, sharing a moment of mutual amusement.
Li Haoran, meanwhile, could only knit his brows and let out a resigned sigh, utterly unable to confirm the elders' conspiratorial gossip.
The playful banter left him feeling both excluded and a little flustered, his curiosity about Yue Chan's concealed beauty only growing stronger.
"Master, earlier you said I was a gossip."
Li Haoran muttered, a hint of playful accusation in his tone.
"But it seems like you and Elder Yun Ji are the real gossipers here."
Elder Qing Yun coughed, feigning indignation.
"Ah… hey, don't say it like that. This is simply adult conversation."
Li Haoran could only stare, at a loss for words, his silence speaking volumes as he watched the two elders exchange knowing grins.
He chose to ignore the two elders and shifted his gaze back to the platform.
On the stage, the two figures stood poised on opposite sides, tension crackling in the air between them.
Each prepared for the impending clash, their stances resolute and eyes locked, ready to unleash their strength in the next exchange.
"Yue Chan! Today, I'll cut you to pieces!"
Gong Xie bellowed, his voice echoing fiercely across the arena.
Yue Chan offered no verbal response.
She stood in icy silence, her gaze cold and unflinching, waiting with lethal patience for the precise moment her opponent would make his move.
Around the platform, the crowd hurried to clear the stage, giving the two contenders a wide berth.
Every spectator's attention locked onto the tense tableau, the air heavy with anticipation for the clash about to unfold.
Then, the speaker's voice rang out, booming across the arena.
"All eyes right here! Today, we bear witness to the inevitable clash of our most formidable champions!
GONG XIE, prodigious challenger from the Blood Shadow Sect, nurtured by the formidable and domineering Elder Xue Mo!"
Supporters of Gong Xie erupted in a deafening cheer, their voices rising in a wave of frenzied encouragement.
"And facing him—YUE CHAN! The undisputed ULTIMATE SUPREME WARRIOR, reigning victor for years! She is the pride of the Moonveil Saint Sect, under the honored and respected guidance of Sect Leader Elder Yun Ji!"
The announcement was swallowed by a thunderous roar as Yue Chan's supporters burst into celebration, chants and applause filling the arena until the air itself seemed to vibrate with excitement and expectation.
"Whoever claims this token shall be acknowledged as the victor!"
The speaker lifted a gleaming jade token high above his head, ensuring every eye in the arena could see its brilliant sheen.
"This jade token will serve as proof for claiming the ultimate reward. Today, we will witness who among you is truly the best—the one who stands above all as a monster in battle."
The speaker murmured an incantation, channeling his spiritual energy into the jade token.
The token glowed faintly, then lifted gracefully from his palm and drifted into the air.
It floated to a halt, suspended perfectly in the center of the platform above the contenders—shimmering as the prize that would determine the victor.
"Let the clash begin!"
With a dramatic flourish, the speaker turned and struck the ceremonial gong three times.
The resonant echoes rolled through the arena, signaling the official start of the battle.
From a distance, Li Haoran watched the proceedings with growing excitement.
He turned to his master, masking his eagerness with a casual excuse.
"Master, I want to get a better view."
Without waiting for a reply, he strode forward, weaving through the crowd until he reached a spot much closer to the platform.
Elder Qing Yun, noticing his disciple's movement, called out in warning,
"Haoran! Stay away from the platform—don't get too close!"
"Yue Chan! This is the moment I've been waiting for!"
Gong Xie shouted, his eyes blazing with anticipation.
As before, Yue Chan offered no reply.
Instead, a cold, contemptuous smile ghosted across her lips.
Her gaze locked onto Gong Xie, sharp and unflinching, studying him with the same focused intensity as a predator sizing up its prey.
If that's the case, she mused inwardly, then I've been waiting for this moment too.