Those words left everyone present speechless.
Qin Fujun very much wanted to ask him, “Did I say I blame you? What are you going on about here, explaining yourself to me?”
But with so many people present, she could not say anything, and could only pretend she had not heard.
The gazes of several Kunling Mountain personnel on the stage finally settled on Wan Liqiu. Here, he was the most senior in rank and the highest in status. Even those who could make decisions had to act according to his expression.
Wan Liqiu kept a stern face and finally nodded.
So that empty number plate fell into Yu Qing’s hand again, and Wu Tianyi announced publicly, “Zhang Zhichen, empty number plate!”
Yu Qing grabbed the plate and left immediately, flashing back among the contestants. He ignored the constant sizing-up looks from those around him. He had no choice but to get used to it.
The drawing and unveiling process continued, but the atmosphere had clearly changed. At least for those in the stands, they were still discussing the three consecutive empty draws.
People in the stands sat down one after another. Only Xiang Lanxuan, in her black cloak, stood there motionless for a long time.
The result seemed both within her expectations and beyond them.
What was within expectation was that after the three consecutive empty draws appeared, indeed no one questioned cheating anymore.
What was beyond expectation was that she had thought the three consecutive empty draws were impossible, yet they had happened. How could this even work?
She did not know whether this counted as her having caused the three consecutive empty draws.
After the third round of drawing ended, some were happy and some worried. The scenario everyone most wanted to see did not appear.
By this stage of the competition, almost all contestants in the Dingyin District had revealed their strength. The only exceptions were Yu Qing, who had obtained the empty number plate three times in a row and had not yet fought, and Baili Xin, who had conceded upon entering the stage.
Those who had conceded could no longer enter the stage, so they could be ignored.
As for Yu Qing, after Ke Ran had probed Mu Aotie’s background, no one had paid him much mind. They believed the methods of these Longguang Sect castaways should be more or less the same.
In short, after watching everyone’s performance, the two universally acknowledged strongest contestants were Chan Shaoting and Xiang Zhen. Basically, everyone wanted to see a showdown between the two strongest.
The audience wanted to see excitement. The contestants wanted to see two tigers fighting, where one would surely be injured, reducing one formidable opponent.
This was probably also the most unfair aspect of the Chaoyang Assembly’s competition format. Fortunately, every contestant had to fight many matches to reach the end. Relying on luck could only get one through a stretch of the journey. Trying to avoid strong opponents all the way to the end was basically impossible.
But the two people everyone wanted to see did not draw matching numbers. Naturally, someone else ran into them, and that someone else wailed in despair and unwillingness.
After the drawing dispersed, Yu Qing received a pile of genuine and false congratulations. Returning to his lodgings, he inevitably had to face Nan Zhu and the others’ sighs.
For Yu Qing, the matter of the three consecutive empty draws had already happened and had already passed. What worried him most now was Mu Aotie.
He had again advised Mu Aotie yesterday to give up this match, but Mu Aotie refused.
Giving up meant conceding to Wu Ronggui. Mu Aotie’s so-called “proud bones” made Nan Zhu and Yu Qing somewhat furious, yet they could do nothing about him.
Only at this moment did Nan Zhu truly understand Yu Qing’s earlier feelings when he had told him to give up the competition.
At the fifth match of the third round, Mu Aotie and Wu Ronggui entered the stage.
With the path Ke Ran had scouted, Wu Ronggui followed suit. After fighting for a short while, he forced Mu Aotie into a flustered mess. The latter’s counterattacking ability was indeed a weakness.
The result was not unexpected. The fight was not intense, but Mu Aotie lost.
He did not want to concede easily, but Wu Ronggui’s sword was pressed against his neck. He had the will but not the strength.
Under the gaze of all present, Mu Aotie was declared the loser with full regret in his heart.
He left the stage with his head lowered in silence. This defeat made him clearly realize that if not for his strong defensive ability, he might have been eliminated in the first round. Those who dared sign up for the Chaoyang Assembly were indeed experts of considerable skill.
In any case, it ended amicably. Yu Qing and Nan Zhu heaved a great sigh of relief.
But for Xiao Changdao, this result was somewhat bitter. Had he known the countermeasures earlier, he would not have injured that fatty. He too would have ended amicably like Wu Ronggui, without needing to offend several great archers.
But life has no “if.”
After eleven matches ended, the results were basically within everyone’s expectations. After all, the contestants’ strength spoke for itself.
The third round of the Dingyin District ended here. Again, some were happy and some worried…
Outside the main hall of the Kunling Mountain sect, Sect Leader Zhao Dengzi and several elders bathed in the glory of the sunset glow. The results from each district had already reached their hands. With so many matches, some unexpected situations were inevitable, and everything ultimately had to be deliberated upon here.
Of course, they could not avoid discussing the three consecutive empty draws.
Just then, one elder suddenly spoke, “The culprit has arrived.”
Everyone followed his gaze and saw a figure fly through the air and land before them. It was Xiang Lanxuan.
Zhao Dengzi led several elders in cupping their hands in salute.
Xiang Lanxuan waved her sleeve, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then cut straight to the point. “For tomorrow’s fourth round of drawing, that Zhang Zhichen does not need to draw. Give him a number plate directly. Whoever draws him will fight him.”
At these words, the expressions of the Kunling Mountain higher-ups all changed.
Zhao Dengzi said in a deep voice, “Grand Enforcer, this is not appropriate. Since it is a drawing, how can there be a reason to directly flip a plate and give a number?”
Xiang Lanxuan reminded him, “The fourth round of drawing in the Dingyin District has eight empty number plates. Twelve people and eight empty number plates. The probability of him drawing one is too great. Do you really want to see someone advance from the district without fighting a single match? Better to have fewer topics for people to gossip about.”
Zhao Dengzi said, “He is indeed lucky. There is nothing to be done about that.”
Xiang Lanxuan directly shook out a Daye Bureau official document she had prepared from her sleeve and handed it over. “This matter is settled. If there are any problems, I will take responsibility.”
She had clearly come to issue an order directly, not even bothering to discuss it.
Zhao Dengzi took it and looked. In the end, he gave a bitter smile. “Since that is the case, then we shall follow the Daye Bureau’s decree.”
He then passed the document to several elders to examine.
Xiang Lanxuan did not seem to be in a good mood. With a sweep of her large sleeve, she turned to leave.
The several people saw her off again. Who knew that Xiang Lanxuan would suddenly stop, turn back, and ask coldly, “Sect Leader Zhao, are you done yet? What exactly are you trying to investigate about that Zhang Zhichen?”
The few of them were slightly startled. Zhao Dengzi said in puzzlement, “Grand Enforcer, what do you mean by this? We are not investigating anything.”
In his heart, he was somewhat uneasy. He thought the other party knew he had sent people to conduct a secret deep investigation at Longguang Sect, and he secretly feared the Daye Bureau’s reach.
Xiang Lanxuan looked back askance. “Do you think I cannot see what Wan Liqiu is secretly stirring up in the Dingyin District?”
Zhao Dengzi was first startled, then looked as if he suddenly understood. Realizing it was not that matter, he hurriedly explained, “Elder Wan rushed to the Dingyin District to oversee matters because Zhang Zhichen had consecutively drawn empty number plates at the time. He was worried about cheating, so he went to supervise. There was no other meaning.”
Hearing this, Xiang Lanxuan let out a series of cold humphs. “So you really do take me for a fool. What you are doing behind the scenes, you yourselves know clearly. I do not wish to interfere much in Kunling Mountain’s affairs, but I must remind you. Whatever you have to do, it is best to wait until after the Chaoyang Assembly ends.
We have already targeted that Zhang Zhichen enough in this drawing. If you keep grabbing him alone and stirring up trouble left and right without fearing the consequences, and if you really stir up something that makes me unable to answer to my superiors, I guarantee that before I suffer misfortune, I will make sure you cannot eat your fill and walk away. Humph!”
Another heavy cold humph. She forcefully swept her sleeve, and her figure rapidly flew into the air.
The expressions of those watching her leave all changed, all turning very ugly. The other party’s words had already been spoken very heavily, even saying she would make sure they could not eat their fill and walk away.
Zhao Dengzi furrowed his brow, turned back, and asked those around him, “What does she mean by this? In the Dingyin District, it seems we have not done anything inappropriate, have we?”
An elder beside him pondered, “She mentioned Junior Brother Wan. Could it be that Junior Brother Wan has done something over there?”
Another elder stroked his beard and said, “Junior Brother Wan is in charge of punishment and law enforcement. He has always been cautious and steady in his work. He should not act recklessly, right?”
There was no point in guessing. Zhao Dengzi turned back and shouted, “Send someone to the Dingyin District immediately. Invite Elder Wan here for a council at once.”