Chapter Six: Brothers at Odds

When he learned that his master had arranged for him to participate in the Grand Tournament, and that his opponent would be Ma Beifang, Li Chongyuan felt not fear but a surge of defiance. He swore to himself, “I may be beaten down, but I will never let the same person defeat me twice.”

In the days that followed, his life was consumed by relentless training, leaving time only for necessary meals and rest. He doubled his daily regimen, carrying ice twenty times instead of ten, and sparred with Li Jiu every day to strengthen his combat skills.

Li Jiu knew well that if Li Chongyuan were to suffer another crushing defeat in the Grand Tournament, the reputation of the Mingxin Hall would be tarnished. So he suspended his own cultivation to focus on guiding Li Chongyuan. Though he was meticulous in teaching, he never went easy during their sparring. He understood that mercy would not forge true skill; every move was executed with full force, leaving Li Chongyuan battered and bruised almost daily.

Despite the hardships, Li Chongyuan’s martial arts improved greatly over those four months.

The Grand Tournament arrived as scheduled. The arena was set at the foot of Mount Tianshan—a high platform built from massive logs, surrounded by fluttering flags. At the front were the seats for the seven leading masters, while the other disciples either sat or stood behind to watch the matches. The lush meadows beneath the pristine blue sky painted a scene as beautiful as any in the mortal world. Such lively events were rare in these vast, sparsely populated lands; so not only were the Tianshan disciples elated, but even nomadic tribesfolk brought mare’s milk wine and dried beef from afar to join the festivities. Many disciples had long traded with these tribes, forging friendships over the years. Whenever they met, it was customary to raise their leather flasks and drink heartily together.

The disciples dressed in their finest, chatting and laughing as they descended the mountain in groups. The organizers wore blue cloaks to distinguish themselves, bustling about to arrange the venue, divide the audience seating, guide non-competing disciples to their places, send competitors backstage to warm up, and prepare food for the guests. Whenever the leading masters entered with their disciples, those already present would greet them warmly. Even the bold and lively tribal girls would shyly approach to offer their favorite disciples mare’s milk wine or generous wedges of cheese, prompting laughter and playful scuffles over the treats. The usually strict masters relaxed, smiling at the lively scene before them as the grounds echoed with cheerful hubbub.

When the leader of the Lingxu Pavilion, Miao Wushuang, entered with her female disciples, the crowd suddenly fell silent. Miao Wushuang was dressed in flawless white, her graceful figure and gentle smile giving her the appearance of a celestial maiden. Her disciples in pink resembled lotus blooms at dawn—pure and untainted; those in red were like evening clouds over snow-capped peaks—radiant yet elegant; those in purple, like mountain mists—enchanting but not seductive. Huang Shan stood out in a light yellow dress, fluttering like a butterfly among the flowers.

A moment later, the crowd erupted again. Some disciples shouted the names of the Lingxu Pavilion’s maidens, while others vied for their attention, trying to impress. Some of the girls blushed deeply, while others basked in the admiration. Among them was a silver-haired tribal girl with emerald eyes and a dazzling smile. Even young tribal herders, seated on horseback, played their fiddles and sang ballads of love.

The master of ceremonies was Du Xin of the Langya Hall, a renowned and eloquent figure among the disciples. His witty introductions and lively commentary set the audience roaring with laughter. “Let’s hope today’s matches will ignite new friendships and deepen our bonds,” he announced. “The Grand Tournament was established to bring us closer together, so let’s not forget its true purpose!” The crowd cheered, some already tipsy from their drinks. As the event began, the matches unfolded amidst a constant din, each moment charged with excitement.

Huang Shan strode into the arena, bowed gracefully to all sides, and was greeted with thunderous applause. She began her demonstration—the Wind and Thunder Palm—executing each move with remarkable speed and elegance. The cheers rose again and again. Though her technique was not quite on par with Li Chongyuan’s, she performed the otherwise forceful style with a gentle grace. Her yellow dress spun like a peacock’s tail; whenever a breeze passed, her sleeves fluttered as though she were gliding on the wind—a sight most pleasing to behold.

When Huang Shan finished and withdrew to rapturous applause, Li Chongyuan and Ma Beifang entered from opposite ends of the arena. After a brief bow, neither spoke; they launched straight into combat. Ma Beifang attacked Li Chongyuan’s sides with the force of drums and gongs, but Li Chongyuan stepped back and countered with “Dark Clouds Overhead,” striking toward Ma Beifang’s head. Ma Beifang responded with lightning speed, dodging aside. After a dozen exchanges, Ma Beifang feigned an opening at his chest. Seizing the opportunity, Li Chongyuan struck with his palm, but Ma Beifang caught his wrist, slipped behind with “Golden Snake Coils the Pool,” and kicked the back of Li Chongyuan’s knee, forcing him to one knee with his arm twisted behind him. Ma Beifang’s face broke into a triumphant grin. He struck a heavy blow to Li Chongyuan’s back, causing him to spit blood.

The onlookers were stunned. Though injuries sometimes occurred during the Grand Tournament, it was unheard of to humiliate and seriously injure one’s opponent so brazenly. Song Changkong stood up, ready to intervene, when suddenly Li Chongyuan gritted his teeth and wrenched himself free with a crack—dislocating his own elbow to escape. The pain made him see stars, but it freed him from Ma Beifang’s grip. Ma Beifang, caught off guard, hesitated for a split second—just long enough for Li Chongyuan to spin and strike him square in the chest. Ma Beifang, completely unprepared for such ferocity, was knocked flat on his back. He rolled to his feet immediately, eyes blazing, blood soaking the front of his clothes, and charged forward as if he meant to swallow Li Chongyuan whole.

“Enough!” Song Changkong leaped between them, pushing the two apart. He ordered them both off the field.

“What a pity,” Master Dunan sighed. “The founder established the Grand Tournament so that disciples would grow closer, lest the vastness of Tianshan make them distant and cold. Yet today, it has become a life-or-death struggle, betraying his kind intentions.”

After his arm was set and he took medicine to restore his strength, Li Chongyuan was escorted by Li Jiu back to Mingxin Hall to heal. Though this match left him the more gravely injured, it was Ma Beifang who had been publicly felled, leaving the Thunder Hall in disgrace. During his convalescence, Li Chongyuan’s left arm was still healing, so he could only practice breathing techniques each day. When the tournament ended and the disciples returned to their halls, the senior brother Li Jiu had not competed, and the other brothers were eliminated in later rounds. Only the third brother, Ugo, relied on his great strength and stubbornness to reach the top three, but was ultimately defeated by Du Xin—who in turn lost in the finals to a disciple of Langya Hall.

Li Chongyuan, though injured, had shown great tenacity and brought honor to Mingxin Hall. Zi Wuzhu and the other disciples, though they despised Ma Beifang’s ruthlessness, were deeply gratified by Li Chongyuan’s performance. After more than a month, his injuries healed, and he resumed his daily training, carrying ice as before. However, he no longer fetched ice from the Bihui Pool but instead went to Heavenly Lake—a place he learned of from Zilan. The scenery there was like a painting, and though the journey was longer, the beauty lifted his spirits.

One day, as Li Chongyuan approached Heavenly Lake, he saw two young women laughing and playing by the water. Drawing closer, he recognized them as Hong Mochou, the senior disciple of Suwen Pavilion, and Huang Shan. As soon as Huang Shan saw him, she ran over, beaming with joy. “Brother Li Chongyuan, it’s been so long! Have you recovered from your injuries?” Innocent and unguarded by age, she threw herself into his arms. Hong Mochou watched from a distance, smiling gently.

A cold voice sounded from behind, “So you’ve abandoned the Bihui Pool to fetch ice at Heavenly Lake—up to these tricks, are you?” Li Chongyuan turned to see Du Xin and Ma Beifang standing there, Ma Beifang’s eyes smoldering with barely contained anger. Huang Shan, oblivious to the tension, leapt from Li Chongyuan’s arms and ran to Ma Beifang. “Brother Ma, you’re here too!” Ma Beifang gathered her close, saying nothing, but stared intently at Li Chongyuan.

Du Xin greeted Hong Mochou, “Sister Hong, you’re fetching ice too?” Hong Mochou approached with a smile, “I’m not carrying ice—what would I drink? Unless Brother Du Xin brings it to me himself?” Du Xin grinned, “If Sister Hong needs anything, not only would I fetch ice, I’d walk through fire without a second thought.” She giggled, “You and your silver tongue!”

Seeing this, Li Chongyuan picked up his leather bag and turned to leave. “Wait,” Du Xin called. “Last time, you knocked down my Brother Ma. I didn’t see clearly how you did it, and I’ve been puzzling over it ever since. Now that everyone’s here, why not give me a demonstration?” Li Chongyuan replied coldly, “Last time, Brother Ma let me off easy. I was simply lucky. I have ice to fetch and it’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave.” He turned to go.

Du Xin jeered, “So all of Mingxin Hall are cowards—like master, like disciple. Never mind, if you won’t fight, just bow and admit defeat to Brother Ma.” His tone was mocking.

“Du Xin, don’t scare the child. If you keep it up, he’ll start to cry,” Hong Mochou laughed.

To discover how Li Chongyuan will respond to Ma Beifang’s provocations, see the next chapter.