Actually, it was purely some people making a fuss. No one could see what the problem was, and no one dared to guarantee it was not simply the result of luck. This was not an absolutely impossible thing.
The scene returned to normal, the drawing of lots was able to continue, and the drawing for the last two people was completed smoothly. The second round of drawing lots was considered finished.
However, the consecutive byes still brought some repercussions, more or less.
After the gathering dispersed, upon returning to the small building where they stayed, Nan Zhu followed Yu Qing into his room immediately and asked sneakily, “Old Fifteen, how could you consecutively draw blank lots?”
The curiosity and doubt in his eyes clearly asked, did you cheat?
Not only him, but Mu Aotie, standing nearby, had the same doubt in his eyes.
If it were someone else, the two might have thought it was just good luck. However, with Old Fifteen, it was not necessarily so. The key was that both had witnessed some of Old Fifteen’s mysterious methods. After Old Fifteen went to the capital for the examinations, not only did he acquire an unfathomable sword technique, but he also seemed to have learned some kind of observation spell.
It seemed he had encountered some fortuitous event when he left the mountain that time.
Yu Qing was somewhat speechless. For a moment, he really did not know how to answer appropriately. To say he did not cheat was inaccurate, as he indeed had done something. Yet, drawing it twice in a row was truly good luck. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “During the first draw, I did not even understand the rules. Everything was my first time experiencing it. It was truly a coincidence, truly good luck.”
Nan and Mu immediately looked at each other, both catching a hint of something in his words.
Nan Zhu immediately lowered his voice even further, “So you mean, the second time was not a coincidence?”
Yu Qing thought for a moment and replied in a low voice, “This method of drawing lots did indeed let me see a trick or two.”
As expected! Nan and Mu looked at each other again, both feeling a sense of excitement. Cheating was, after all, quite a thrilling thing.
However, Nan Zhu frowned. “I say, Old Fifteen, even if you figured out the trick, you cannot do it like this. Drawing blank lots consecutively, if you keep doing this, anyone will become suspicious. You do not really intend to win all the way by just drawing lots, do you? With your intellect, I should not need to teach you such an obvious principle, right?”
“I told you, the first time was a coincidence. When I drew the second time, I had not completely figured it out yet.” Yu Qing stopped here, somewhat unsure of how to explain.
At that time, he had only just seen the trick. Because his drawing order was too early, he did not have time to calculate carefully. He just wanted to confirm it casually. He only truly understood it after standing aside and watching others draw. After a moment of speechlessness, he could only wave his hand and say, “Forget it, I cannot explain this clearly to you anyway. It is not what you think, so do not ask any more questions.”
At the same time, almost all the participants in the Dingyin District were discussing this matter of consecutively drawing blank lots, with feelings ranging from envy to jealousy.
Of course, since no trouble was made at the time, it was let go. After all, there was no evidence. Basically, no one would hold onto it, and few people would dare to stand out like that.
Most were discussing the second round of matches the next day. Some spectators had already noted down the list of who would fight whom, and they were already guessing who would win and who would lose. They were just short of secretly opening betting pools.
Just because no one in the Dingyin District opened a betting pool did not mean no one in other districts would do so.
Inside the elegant guest quarters reserved for distinguished guests, Xiang Lanxuan sat in a pavilion with flowing gauze, slowly enjoying fresh spiritual fruits. They were all freshly picked from the Spirit Valley.
The value of this single plate of fruits, if placed in the mortal world, was such that an ordinary family might not earn enough money for this one plate even if they worked their entire lives.
However, Xiang Lanxuan merely treated them as a casual snack, taking a few bites without really liking them. Her attention was mostly on the various messages she was flipping through with one hand.
An attendant hurried into the pavilion and reported, “Grand Envoy, the results of the second round of drawing lots in the Dingyin District are out.”
Xiang Lanxuan immediately looked up with interest, “Will we be able to see that Top Scorer in action tomorrow?”
“Well,” the attendant said with some difficulty, “Grand Envoy, we still will not be able to see it this round. I am afraid we will have to wait until the third round.”
Xiang Lanxuan paused in suspicion, “What do you mean?”
The attendant could not help but give a bitter smile, “We just received the news. That fellow indeed has good luck. He drew a blank lot again in the second round, so he can advance directly without competing.”
Xiang Lanxuan looked completely bewildered. Why was it so difficult for her to simply watch a match?
After finally recovering her senses, she put the half eaten spiritual fruit back into the fruit plate. She slowly stood up, paced around the pavilion with a frown, carefully thought over the drawing process, and muttered, “Why is it him again? Did he cheat?”
The attendant hesitated, “This is the old method of drawing lots used in all previous Chaoyang Assemblies. Logically, there should be no problem.”
“Indeed, logically it is unlikely to cheat, unless…” Xiang Lanxuan, who was pacing back and forth, suddenly stopped and suspected, “Unless Kunling Mountain is helping him cheat.”
The attendant questioned, “Grand Envoy, that is highly unlikely. Even if they wanted to help him cheat, they should not help him win consecutively. That is far too conspicuous and will definitely arouse suspicion. Kunling Mountain is not stupid.”
Xiang Lanxuan nodded in agreement, “Unless there are specific individuals within Kunling Mountain involved in the drawing affairs who are taking a desperate risk.” She immediately shook her head and denied it herself.
“Logically, that fellow A Shiheng should not make it this obvious.”
The attendant felt a bit strange and could not help but muster the courage to question, “Grand Envoy, good luck is also entirely possible. Why must you suspect he is cheating?”
Xiang Lanxuan walked back to the table and picked up the bitten spiritual fruit from the plate again. “Good luck is indeed possible, but it depends on the person. It is just that too many things have happened to that fellow. When there are too many strange events, it is hard not to be suspected.” After speaking, she took a forceful bite of the fruit and chewed it in her cheeks.
Since she insisted on saying it that way, the attendant did not know what else to say.
Kunling Mountain Sect knew the drawing situations of all the districts below like the back of their hands. Inside the towering and lofty sect main hall, a group of high ranking sect members gathered to discuss sect affairs. As they talked, the topic turned to the matter of advancing directly without competing twice in a row, which was mentioned somewhat as a joke.
Before the topic ended, a figure with the demeanor of an old immortal appeared outside the main gate. It was the Great Elder Huan Yushan, who was in a semi retired state and rarely asked about specific sect affairs.
Everyone in the hall bowed in greeting, and Sect Leader Zhao Dengzi also inclined his body to welcome him.
The six great elders of Kunling Mountain were now all present.
Stopping in the centre of the hall, Huan Yushan looked around at everyone and asked, “I heard that someone in the Dingyin District has consecutively drawn blank lots, utilising the assembly rules to advance twice in a row without competing. Is this true?”
The elders felt somewhat strange upon hearing this. How could such a minor matter disturb him to come in person? The tone also felt like there was an element of interrogation.
One elder could not help but say, “Senior Brother Huan, having good luck and experiencing consecutive wins is not an unreasonable thing. Why does Senior Brother attach such importance to this?”
Regarding this, Sect Leader Zhao Dengzi knew very well. It was because Great Elder Huan knew that Xiang Lanxuan was keeping an eye on that drawer, and it even involved the Spirit Valley. Now that such a thing had just happened, calling it luck simply did not feel reassuring. Great Elder Huan was worried that something would go wrong and was a bit restless.
He actually shared the same feeling, which was why he brought up the matter of the drawing during the sect meeting.
Huan Yushan retorted, “Is there no possibility of cheating?”
That elder was astonished, “How could he cheat? Does Senior Brother not trust the disciples of our sect?”
Huan Yushan sneered, “This is not a matter of trust or distrust, but of taking precautions. Have you thought about it? Once or twice can be called luck. If the opponent draws it a third time, have you considered what the consequences would be? He is already qualified to participate in the third drawing!”
Upon hearing these words, everyone was moved. If he really won three times in a row, could the excuse of luck suffice? Who would believe it? It would likely shock the world. Cultivators everywhere would likely question the fairness of this Chaoyang Assembly. How would Kunling Mountain explain itself to the cultivation world?
There would be no way to explain it!
If such a thing truly happened, Kunling Mountain would definitely bear a stigma. The distinguished guests they had tried so hard to invite would probably not come to watch the matches later on.
If a group of participants then shouted about injustice, it would be difficult to bring the situation to a close.
This time, even Sect Leader Zhao Dengzi frowned.
Another elder spoke up, “Senior Brother, how do you intend to handle this matter?”
Huan Yushan replied, “He has already won twice in a row. How else can it be handled? We cannot invalidate it without reason, can we? As I said, what we must do now is take precautions. We must eliminate any possibility of cheating. There must be action, and we must also present a posture for the outside world to see, which can at least appease the participants.”
He turned his head and looked at Wan Liqiu, the elder of the Meteor Hall. “Junior Brother Wan, you are the Law Enforcement Elder and are skilled in these matters. I am afraid we will have to trouble you to go and oversee this personally. You must be meticulously observant and not give anyone a chance to exploit loopholes.”
Turning back to look at Zhao Dengzi, he asked, “Sect Leader, what do you think?”
Zhao Dengzi looked at the reactions of the other elders. Seeing that everyone nodded slightly, he immediately agreed, “Very well, Elder Wan. We will trouble you to make this trip personally this time.”
Wan Liqiu cupped his hands and said, “It is my duty. I will naturally follow the Sect Leader’s decree and do my best.”
Seeing that this matter was settled, Huan Yushan asked again, “Do you all know if there has ever been a case in previous Chaoyang Assemblies where someone advanced by drawing blank lots twice in a row?”
Most people shook their heads slightly. Only Zhao Dengzi said, “After hearing the news of the consecutive wins, I had someone check the past records. Winning twice has indeed happened, and more than once. There are three recorded instances, but they were all separated. A situation like this, with consecutive wins twice in a row, is a first.”
Huan Yushan sighed, “Those who know me say I am worried. Everyone, please take extra care.”
He said this with particular profound meaning. He first cupped his hands to the Sect Leader, believing the Sect Leader understood his meaning, then cupped his hands to the elders, and took his leave.
By a clear spring in the mountain ravine, with a murmuring stream, there was a small building nestled among the quiet woods on both banks. Long Xingyun strolled leisurely to this place.
Yin Shanhe, who was staying inside, came out after noticing the movement. Seeing the visitor, he frowned slightly. “Did I not tell you to come here less often? It is not good if other participants see you, and it will also make things difficult for Kunling Mountain. If you have matters, just tell the people from Kunling Mountain, and they will contact me.”
“Do not worry, I did not let other participants see me.” Long Xingyun gave a dry laugh, walked directly onto the terrace without being polite, and asked straight away, “Uncle Yin, how is the situation with that dog Top Scorer? He was not knocked out in the first round, was he?”
He was truly concerned about this and simply could not hold back, which was why he ran over to inquire. This side had promised to help him keep an eye on Yu Qing.
Yin Shanhe said calmly, “You are overthinking it.”
Long Xingyun asked again, “How was his strength during the match?”
The fact that he could ask this showed he was still somewhat worried.
Yin Shanhe replied, “I do not know his depth.”
Long Xingyun was slightly surprised, “Even you, Uncle Yin, cannot see his depth?”
Yin Shanhe said, “He did not go on the field to compete. Where could I see his depth? In the first round, he drew an isolated blank lot and advanced directly without competing.”
Only then did Long Xingyun breathe a sigh of relief. “That dog Top Scorer really has good luck.”
Yin Shanhe seemed to quite agree with this point and hummed, “The luck is indeed quite good. He drew a blank lot again in the second round and advanced directly once more.”
Long Xingyun was dumbfounded, his mouth opening wide enough to stuff an egg into.
At this time, the Kunling Mountain disciples responsible for the Dingyin District matches suddenly became tense. The person they feared most had arrived. The Law Enforcement Elder, who liked to pick faults, had personally led the Meteor Hall personnel to the scene. From Wu Tian to Sun Lianxing, all were trembling and greeting him with deep reverence and fear.
Chan Shaoyun, who was wandering nearby, lifted her skirt and ran excitedly towards them, shouting happily as she ran, “Sister Fujun, why have you come?”
Qin Fujun, the closed door female disciple standing beside Wan Liqiu, heard the voice and turned her head to look. A smile also appeared on her face as she turned to face her.