Chapter 161: Spectators
Dozens of Lu Clan experts stood solemnly on the large ship. Many of their weapons and robes were stained with varying amounts of blood, and the bloody smell in the cabin was so thick it made people want to vomit.
Seeing Lu Xiu and the other five return, several Lu Clan guards hurriedly lowered the ship plank and respectfully invited the stewards and Lu Xin aboard. After everyone boarded, a guard pulled open the cabin curtain. Gu Qi saw that his more than ten capable subordinates had all become corpses, neatly stacked inside the cabin.
The Lu Clan’s dignity would not tolerate provocation!
Only after the guard lowered the curtain did Gu Qi reluctantly withdraw his pained gaze. Training these capable assassins required a lot of time.
“Set sail.” Lu Xiu gave the order, and the large ship raised its plank and slowly departed from the shore, heading toward the Luo River.
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Meanwhile, in the caravan heading to Ten Mile Slope. Several young masters were looking at Xie Tian somewhat nervously and asked in a low voice: “Eldest Young Master, the Investigative Bureau said it’s a private competition. Isn’t it breaking the rules for us to go watch the excitement?”
“Nonsense.” Xie Tian sneered, baring his stark white false teeth as he said: “Are we going to watch the martial competition?”
“No, we’re going to admire the maple leaves!” Someone immediately replied.
“There we go.” Xie Tian rolled his eyes at the few young masters who were fretting unnecessarily: “The Investigative Bureau can’t control us going to admire maple leaves, right? We’re just happening to catch some excitement and take a look. Is that against the law?!”
“Exactly, exactly,” a lackey chimed in: “The Investigative Bureau only sent one witness. Can they stop our group of dozens?” He paused and added: “Besides, the Xiahou Family Young Lady is coming too. What do we have to worry about?”
“That’s true…” Thinking of that Young Lady also coming, the few young masters felt relieved and smiled at Xie Tian: “Eldest Young Master, is that Xie Bo reliable? We’ve all bet a lot following you.”
“Don’t worry, of course he’s reliable.” Xie Tian said smugly: “He’s my Xie Clan’s hidden trump card, specially brought out just to deal with that little beast.”
“It’s laughable those casinos even dared to open bets on this competition. Isn’t this just handing us money on a platter!” The lackeys cackled strangely, and the young masters burst into laughter.
Upon reaching the edge of the Maple Forest, the young masters and ladies on the carriages got out chattering and laughing, looking at the mountains full of red maples and exclaiming excitedly one after another. These were all people Xie Tian had pulled out all the stops to invite to watch Xie Bo’s fight with Lu Yun. Back then, Lu Yun had beaten Xie Tian black and blue in front of everyone, losing face all the way to his grandma’s house.
This time, Xie Tian wanted Lu Yun beaten into a dead dog in front of everyone. Only then could he vent the hatred in his heart.
After getting off the carriage, Xie Tian didn’t immediately call to the crowd but trotted over to the largest and most luxurious carriage. The carriage was entirely black, adorned with fiery red cloud pattern lines, looking extremely noble and elegant.
At that moment, beside that carriage, a group of young masters and ladies were surrounding a tall girl in a fiery red dress like stars around the moon as she jumped down from the carriage.
The girl appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, with a slender waist and long legs, peerlessly beautiful, a red dot at her glabella making her stunning features even more exquisite, her skin like snow, dazzling to the eye. Her appearance made everyone ignore the mountains of red leaves, their gazes involuntarily drawn to her fiery red dress.
Her large eyes, black and white and strikingly clear, were also extremely beautiful. But those beautiful eyes held a trace of arrogance, and her face bore a faint air of pride.
“Big Sister, look at all these red leaves!” Seeing her descend, the young masters and ladies immediately fawned over her noisily. “Big Sister, let’s have a picnic here later.”
“What time is it, and you’re already thinking about eating.” The girl was half a head taller than the girls around her. She naturally patted the head of the girl who had spoken, using a tone like scolding a child: “Watch out or your handsome brother won’t want you anymore.”
“He wouldn’t dare!” The girl didn’t feel offended; instead, she looked proud and rolled her eyes at a young master standing nearby: “I’ve got Big Sister backing me up!”
“I wouldn’t dare, absolutely not.” That young master hurriedly professed.
At this time, Xie Tian pushed through the crowd and came over, nodding and bowing to the girl: “Big Sister, let’s hurry inside. The maple leaves look the same early or late, but if we miss the excitement inside, this trip will be for nothing!” His fawning, bootlicking manner contrasted sharply with his usual arrogance toward others.
Because this girl was named Xiahou Yanran, the most beloved legitimate granddaughter of Xiahou Clan Leader Xiahou Ba, and the Big Sister of all the underage young masters and ladies in the Capital City. Without Xie Tian persuading her, it would have been impossible to get so many people to come.
Xiahou Yanran glanced at Xie Tian and said crisply: “Little Tian Tian, it had better be fun later. If it’s not…”
“You’ll have to learn to crawl like a turtle!” A young lady beside Xiahou Yanran immediately followed up.
“That’s a good idea.” Xiahou Yanran patted the girl’s head. The crowd of young masters and ladies burst into laughter.
“…” Xie Tian was naturally furious inside, though this anger wasn’t directed at Xiahou Yanran, and he didn’t dare flare up in front of her. He could only force a smile: “No way, it’ll definitely be super fun!” He gestured respectfully: “This way, Big Sister.”
“Alright everyone, let’s hurry into the woods.” Xie Tian’s lackey also loudly called to the crowd.
Only then did the group of young masters and ladies, giggling, cluster around Xiahou Yanran and head deeper into the Maple Forest. Compared to admiring maples, they indeed preferred watching duels, but most duels didn’t allow outsiders to watch. There were viewing matches in the West Market, but those were lowly folk’s means of making a living—nothing compared to watching aristocratic young masters compete.
“I hope they fight for a good while,” the young masters and ladies discussed excitedly as they walked inward: “So our long trip to watch the excitement isn’t wasted.”
“Yeah, best if it’s intense. Even better if we see some blood.” A young master with a head as big as a bucket shouted excitedly.
“Then you’re in for a treat!” Xie Tian’s lackey said with a strange laugh: “Eldest Young Master Xie has given the word—have Xie Bo beat the opponent to death!”
“Oh wow, nice! Now we’re in for a good show!” Everyone rejoiced upon hearing this.
“I hear that Lu Yun is quite handsome,” but a young lady said with a reluctant expression: “Don’t ruin his face.”
“Don’t worry,” Xie Tian’s lips, covered in red centipede-like scars, twitched neurotically twice as he said ferociously: “I guarantee after today, he’ll be the ugliest one under heaven!”
“Exactly!” The lackeys all clamored: “This is what happens for offending our Eldest Young Master Xie!”
“Sigh…” A few tender-hearted young ladies began to feel sorry for Lu Yun and started pleading with Big Sister to tell Xie Tian not to ruin Lu Yun’s face. But more people grew even more excited, wishing they could sprout wings and fly to the competition site.
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The competition site was in the maple grove, on a clearing covered thickly with red leaves.
Xie Bo had been waiting on the clearing early, staring blankly at the red leaves covering the ground. After a little over half an hour, he heard footsteps and looked up to see three Investigative Bureau officials in black robes and hats.
“You’re Xie Bo, right?” The lead official flashed his waist token and said expressionlessly: “We’re here by order to witness the competition.”
Xie Bo nodded, indicating he understood.
“Has Lu Yun arrived?” The official asked in a deep voice.
Xie Bo shook his head. The official checked the time of day and said: “It’s not time yet. Let’s wait a bit more.” With that, the three pulled out folding stools like magic and sat down. These foldable little stools, also called horse gates or interlocking stools, were invented by the Hu People, introduced to Huaxia hundreds of years ago, and very popular in the previous dynasty.
