Chapter Twelve: The Martial Contest for Marriage

That day, Liu Lingshuang was the first to wake. After washing up, she opened her door, stretched lazily, and glanced out to find the front courtyard filled with people. Curious, she descended the stairs and walked to the accountant’s office. The innkeeper, seeing her approach, produced a neatly folded yellow sheet and said, “Miss, the itinerary map you requested is finished. Take a look and see if there’s anything unclear.” Lingshuang unfolded the map, examined it carefully, and nodded. “It seems fine, quite easy to understand. By the way, innkeeper, it’s still early—why are there so many guests already?”

The innkeeper explained, “Most of these people are from out of town. They’ve heard that our city magistrate is hosting a martial arts tournament to find a son-in-law, so they’ve come here for the event. They’re eating steamed buns and drinking tea at my humble inn to conserve their energy.”

“Innkeeper, do you know when the tournament will begin? If it’s still early, I’d like to see it myself.”

“Soon—less than half an hour from now. If you go now, you might even get a good spot to watch.”

“Thank you, innkeeper.”

At that moment, Ye Sansi came down the stairs, stretching and yawning. “Lingshuang, you’re up so early. Where shall we go today?” he asked as he walked over.

Liu Lingshuang covered her mouth and laughed. “You only ever think about eating and playing! But today there really is something interesting—the magistrate is hosting a martial arts contest for a son-in-law. Shall we go watch?”

Ye Sansi approached her, his face lighting up. “Of course! That sounds like fun.”

Soon after, Li Taiyi also came down. Seeing the two of them already awake, he remarked, “I thought I’d be the first one up, but it seems you two are even more diligent.”

“We’re going to watch the martial arts contest—how about it?” Liu Lingshuang asked.

“That sounds great. I’ve never seen one before,” Taiyi replied.

The three of them ate a few steamed buns and learned that the tournament would be held on an open ground outside the magistrate’s office. A stage had been erected early. The ring stood in the center, with seating on three sides and a staircase reserved for the challengers on the fourth. The viewing platform facing the staircase was set apart, with tables and chairs—clearly for the magistrate.

Arriving early, the three climbed onto the stands and found a good spot, leaning on the railing together. As time passed, the crowd thickened, and the stands grew crowded. By the challenger’s stairs, a crowd had gathered—everyone hoping to become the magistrate’s chosen son-in-law.

When the time arrived, a man appeared on the central stage. His features were refined, his presence upright and dignified. At the sound of a gong, he spoke: “Fellow townspeople, talented youths—today, I host this martial arts contest to find a husband for my daughter. I, Lin Youzhi, as the magistrate of Qingyang, have always handled matters personally, which has made me many enemies among the petty and the jealous. My daughter has been raised to master the arts, poetry, and music, but knows nothing of swordplay or martial arts. Therefore, I seek a son-in-law skilled in combat to safeguard my family’s peace.”

Ye Sansi scratched his head—he didn’t understand a word of Lin Youzhi’s speech and thought to himself, “Isn’t this just a fight? Why all the talk?”

Lin Youzhi announced, “Entering this ring is to sign a life-and-death contract—wounds and fatalities are not accounted for. Any young man under twenty-five may compete. The one who wins ten consecutive bouts is the victor. Now, let the martial arts contest begin!”

No sooner had he finished than a young man in white leapt onto the stage, long halberd in hand, eyes fierce. He twirled the weapon with a whistling sound and declared, “Xiong Xinzhen of the Manzhang Sect—please advise.”

The crowd began to whisper. Among them, a young man in red snorted, “Manzhang Sect? Let me see what you’re made of—” With that, he bounded onto the stage. “Please advise.”

Before the youth in red could react, the one in white struck first with his halberd. The youth in red dodged, stepping back a few paces and drawing his sword. White pressed the attack, but the red-clad youth’s swordsmanship was superior—his defense flowed like water.

At the right moment, red shifted his stance. White was too slow, and with a single stroke, his halberd fell to the ground. Red followed up with a kick, knocking White off the stage and tossing his halberd after him. White scrambled up, snatched his weapon, covered his face, and fled.

The youth in red taunted, “Who else? Nine more and the magistrate’s daughter is mine! Hahaha!”

One after another, four more challengers mounted the stage, only to be defeated. The red-clad youth remained energetic, still boasting. A young man in blue sneered at him. Red pointed his sword at him. Blue smiled, “Swordsmanship so mediocre, yet you boast? Don’t overestimate yourself.”

Red grinned, “All talk. If you’re so capable, come up and let me teach you a lesson!”

As he spoke, the youth in blue vaulted onto the stage in an instant. Li Taiyi looked closely—indeed, this was a disciple of Tianluo Mountain, and his martial cultivation, at first glance, surpassed his own.

Red, realizing Blue might be a sword cultivator, grew cautious, gripping his sword with both hands and crouching as he circled his opponent. When he reached Blue’s back, he lunged. Blue merely sidestepped, and Red nearly tumbled off the stage. But Blue caught him, spun, and with a palm strike sent Red flying, blood gushing from his mouth as he struggled to stand.

Li Taiyi, unable to bear the sight, pounded the railing and said to Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang, “That disciple from Tianluo Mountain goes too far. He could win easily but insists on injuring his opponent—some cultivator he is.”

Liu Lingshuang nudged Taiyi and whispered, “Why don’t you go teach him a lesson?”

Taiyi shook his head, “How could I? This is their contest for choosing a husband.”

Liu Lingshuang quietly said, “Think about it, Taiyi. Since he’s from Tianluo Mountain, even if he wins, do you really think he’ll be allowed to marry the magistrate’s daughter? He’s probably just here to cause trouble. Go teach him a lesson. When someone else challenges you, just fake defeat.”

Taiyi nodded, “All right, but I’m not sure I can beat him.”

“Never mind, just try! Go, Taiyi!”

With their encouragement, Li Taiyi leapt from the stands onto the stage. The blue-robed youth sneered, “Another one with no fear of death? Fine, I’ll send you to the afterlife.” Taiyi shouted back, “Have you heard of Li Taiyi?”

“My grandfather is Li Taiyi? Who told you that?”

“Idiot, I’m your grandfather, Li Taiyi!” The crowd burst out laughing. Blue understood he was being mocked and attacked first, sword slashing. Taiyi parried.

Humiliated and enraged, the blue-robed youth rained down strike after strike, each a killing blow. Taiyi’s foundations were solid; the exchanges of attack and defense were brilliant. But as Blue found no opening, he grew more frenzied, his moves turning wild and unpredictable—making it harder for Taiyi to defend, and gradually, Taiyi began to falter. Blue saw his chance and thrust at Taiyi’s chest. Taiyi, caught off guard, abandoned his sword to catch the blade with his bare hands. But Blue also dropped his sword, circled behind, and channeled force into his palm, landing a heavy strike on Taiyi’s back, sending him flying ten paces.

Ye Sansi and Lingshuang jumped down, rushing to help. Taiyi, blood at his lips, had already lost consciousness. Lingshuang shook him frantically, but he did not respond.

Lin Youzhi hurried to summon a physician and had Taiyi carried off for treatment. Lingshuang wanted to follow, but seeing Ye Sansi, eyes bloodshot with murderous intent, she feared he’d cause more trouble. She quickly tried to stop him. “Sanshi, you’re no match for him. Let’s go!”

Ye Sansi shook her off with a sweep of his hand, sending her sprawling. The sword Tian Nu, carried on his back, broke free of its bindings and flew to his hand. An aura of cold enveloped Sanshi as he walked slowly toward the stage.

The blue-robed youth called out, “Well, another cultivator. May I ask which sect you hail from?”

Sanshi, already mounting the stairs, replied, “No sect, no school—Ye Sansi!” With a shake of his sword, a blast of energy surged, making the stands tremble. The blue-robed youth, intimidated, raised his sword and lunged. Sanshi blocked with Tian Nu, and with a clang, Blue’s sword shattered to dust. He staggered back, shouting, “Spare me, master! I admit defeat!”

“Impossible!” Sanshi’s voice thundered across Qingyang. “Heaven’s Fury—unleashed!”

Tian Nu hovered in the air. The once clear sky darkened; wild winds whipped the stands, sending the crowd fleeing. Lin Youzhi led them to safety. Blue tried to escape, but his body refused to move, frozen in place.

Lingshuang saw Sanshi’s murderous intent and shouted, “Sanshi, don’t do anything foolish! Stop!”

What she didn’t know was that Ye Sansi was no longer in control. He raised his right hand, and Tian Nu began to draw in the energy of heaven and earth. Lingshuang sensed disaster; such force would destroy not just Blue but perhaps the entire city. Braving the icy aura, she struggled forward and hugged Sanshi from behind. “Sanshi, stop! What’s happened to you?”

“Heaven’s wrath cannot be stilled,” came a booming voice from the sky, not from Sanshi’s lips. Lingshuang understood—Sanshi was possessed by the sword’s spirit.

She clung to him, calling his name, shivering as the cold bit to her bones. Were she to linger, she’d end up like the vines that once bound Sanshi, frozen and dead. Fighting the pain, she persisted.

“Ling…Ling…Lingshuang…go…run…” Sanshi gasped the words.

She realized her efforts were working and cried out, “Sanshi, stop! I’m so cold—so cold…”

A tremor flickered at the corner of Sanshi’s eye. The killing intent in his gaze diminished. Lingshuang clung even tighter, and gradually the freezing aura dissipated.

She fainted from the cold, still holding him tightly. The murderous aura vanished from Sanshi, and as he came to his senses, he too collapsed. Tian Nu fell from the sky; the clouds dispersed, and Qingyang was restored to sunlight.

The crowd, still at a distance, rushed forward when the sky cleared. Lin Youzhi led the way and found Lingshuang and Sanshi, unconscious and locked in an embrace, while the blue-robed youth cowered in a corner.

Lin Youzhi summoned doctors to carry the pair away. Standing at the center of the stage, he addressed the crowd. “Everyone has seen it—the young man who called himself Ye Sansi is unmatched in both martial and mystical arts. If any object, let them speak. When the youth is recovered, we can hold a rematch.”

Someone in the crowd called out, “We saw! His skills are beyond compare—how could ordinary folk hope to compete? I, for one, am convinced!” The rest echoed their agreement. “Yes, yes! Congratulations, Magistrate, on gaining such a fine son-in-law!”

Lin Youzhi dismissed the crowd, ordered the stands taken down, and stood alone in the empty square, unable to suppress his joy. He thought, “If my daughter marries Ye Sansi, her safety for the rest of her life will be assured.” Smiling, he walked home through the streets.

The blue-robed youth clenched his fists in fury. “Ye Sansi! Just wait—one day, I’ll repay this humiliation in full!” With that, he left Qingyang.