Chapter Six: The Loser Must Remain Silent

Pan Cong was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment with a wood spiritual root. Hong Jian had met him several times and felt that he seemed more amiable than Qu Changhe. Even Fang Zheng said that Master Pan had a good temper. Just days ago, after the conflict with the apprentices of Xianyun Sect, Master Pan had punished Zhang Yu and a few of the instigators, as well as Kong Chen, who was bound by the green vine along with Fang Zheng. Yet, perhaps seeing that Fang Zheng was still young, he let him off.

Hong Jian couldn’t help but speculate that it must have been because they had suffered a loss and brought shame upon themselves. If they had won that day, Master Pan might have feigned ignorance and let the matter slide. Wasn’t it the case that those bumpkins from Xianyun Sect remained ever so arrogant? This showed that Master Pan was more humane than Qu Changhe; even if things went wrong, you wouldn’t be punished so harshly. In short, three words: easy to handle.

Time was pressing. That day, Hong Jian seized a free moment and hurried to Springborn Grove. With the major exam approaching, the wood-root apprentices were all focused on their own cultivation. Hong Jian had already chosen her target, but she was at a loss as to how to proceed. She didn’t see Pan Cong, and while disappointed, she also felt a secret relief.

Leaning against a tree, Hong Jian watched Fang Zheng cultivate for a while. Though all he did was sit with his eyes closed, she knew her little brother had not yet made a breakthrough. If he had, he’d surely be the first to come bragging to her. At nine years old, at an age for play and mischief, he had to sit like a little monk, enduring endless tedium.

Hong Jian squeezed her eyes shut to steady herself. By the time Fang Zheng finished his practice, she had already composed her emotions. She called to her brother, and the two walked out hand in hand.

As the saying goes, enemies often cross paths. Just as Hong Jian stepped out of Springborn Grove, she ran into two troublemakers from Xianyun Sect. One was the white-clad youth who had led the provocation that day; the other was Shi Qingxiang.

The two were laughing and chatting, seemingly without a care in the world. Hong Jian frowned, wondering if they were ignorant of the true reason their sect had sent them to Dan Cliff Sect. She intended to lead Fang Zheng away.

The pair across from them noticed Hong Jian and Fang Zheng.

“Oh, little Fang, just finished meditating? Such diligence! For a tiny fellow like you, you know hard work makes up for lack of talent—remarkable.” The white-clad youth spoke first, his mouth curled in a slight smile. Though he greeted Fang Zheng, his gaze darted repeatedly at Hong Jian.

Fang Zheng paused. The words sounded like praise, but the tone was far from sincere, leaving him too awkward to reply.

Hong Jian’s face darkened. She pulled her brother behind her and retorted, “You rely on having been born a few years earlier just to bully the younger ones. That’s what I call stupidity—not just stupid, but arrogant and ignorant as well.” She shifted her gaze to Shi Qingxiang and added, “Brother Qingxiang, wouldn’t you agree?”

The white-clad youth, Jiang Yan, had already experienced Hong Jian’s sharp tongue. He was closest to Shi Qingxiang, and just days ago, because of a remark from this little girl, their own brothers had been mocked mercilessly by their peers. He feared he might never dare to introduce himself again. Feeling resentful, he had sought trouble with Hong Jian today. Seeing her provoke Shi Qingxiang, the veins on his forehead bulged, and with no one around, he wanted to teach her a lesson. Shi Qingxiang saw Jiang Yan’s expression and knew what he intended. He stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Yan’s arm, stopping him. “Brother Jiang, let it be. A true man doesn’t quarrel with women.”

Perhaps it was Fang Zheng’s wide-eyed stare from the side that emboldened Hong Jian. She shot a cold, sidelong glance at Jiang Yan, letting him point at her, and heard him shout, “You wretched girl, mind your tongue! Is Dan Cliff Sect out of people? If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll go beat up Zhang Yu and Chen Zai, then tell them it’s all your fault. Try me if you don’t believe it!”

Fang Zheng trembled, his expression anxious. If such a thing happened, his sister would surely suffer.

Whatever Fang Zheng understood, Hong Jian was even clearer. She loathed these two boys, but suddenly, an idea struck her—a brilliant plan that would let her win the Moonlight Pill and make them suffer bitterly. She didn’t have time to think it through, so she acted at once.

Her eyes shone bright with anger. She clenched her fists and challenged, “I want to compete with you. Dare to make a bet? Whoever loses must be mute for a whole month.”

The three others were stunned. Jiang Yan could hardly believe his ears. He turned to Shi Qingxiang in surprise, “Did I hear that right? Rushing to become a mute? You wretched girl, do you think you can beat either of us?”

Hong Jian lifted her chin in pride. “Just say whether you dare to bet!”

Jiang Yan laughed in disbelief. “Bet? Why not? Brother Shi, let’s take her up on it. Making her a mute for a month would be amusing.” Shi Qingxiang chimed in, “Agreed!”

Hong Jian ignored Fang Zheng tugging desperately at her sleeve. She nodded solemnly, “Then I’ll find a witness, so no one can cheat after losing.” She turned to Fang Zheng, “Go fetch Brother Zhang and the others.”

Fang Zheng was reluctant, but seeing his sister’s stern look, he could only run off with a near-crying face to call people from Springborn Grove.

Jiang Yan and Shi Qingxiang were anything but stupid. On the contrary, both were highly gifted and favored by their elders. Jiang Yan especially prided himself on his cleverness, often playing tricks on his peers in the sect. Seeing Hong Jian so confident made them uneasy, but having spoken as men, there was no turning back. Shi Qingxiang thought for a moment and couldn’t help asking, “What kind of competition? It must be related to cultivation, or we won’t agree.”

Jiang Yan echoed, “Exactly. What, you want to compete in embroidery or braiding hair? Should we take you on in those?”

Hong Jian snorted coldly, “Don’t worry.” With that, she ignored them and waited for Zhang Yu and the others to arrive.

After all, the two youths were only fifteen or sixteen. Seeing Hong Jian’s resolve piqued their curiosity. They whispered to each other. One had a gold spiritual root, the other a wood root. Both had broken through the bottleneck, reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining, and were known as the twin talents of Xianyun. They had been at Dan Cliff Sect for some time and understood the situation among the younger generation of this great sect. The idea that this little girl could truly defeat either of them was impossible. They relaxed, treating it as a game, waiting to see Hong Jian reap what she sowed.

Before long, Zhang Yu arrived with seven or eight peers, led by Fang Zheng. Fang Zheng’s explanation was unclear, and Zhang Yu was somewhat bewildered. Seeing Hong Jian and the two Xianyun disciples standing off against each other, his expression darkened, and he glared warily at Jiang Yan and Shi Qingxiang, then asked Hong Jian, “What happened here?”