Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Brawling in Formation

After this, Ye Boyang went on to defeat several more opponents in succession.

Qi Yuanxiao couldn’t help nudging Jin Guishan. “Senior brother, if you went up there, you’d definitely beat him! With your cultivation…”

“No wonder they offered a thousand taels of gold! In the end, it all goes back to their family anyway! I bet they…” He Lingchi fumed.

“Junior sister…” Jin Guishan shot her a stern look over his shoulder. She stuck out her tongue and fell silent.

As expected, Ye Boyang ultimately took first place alone. Though there was some discontent among the crowd below, no one could say much—grumbling under their breath was all they could do. Daoist Feixu simply pretended not to notice. “Everyone, everyone, it’s nearly noon now. Our sect has prepared food and drink for all of you—eat and drink your fill, and we’ll resume our contests this afternoon!” Even before he finished speaking, several dozen young Taoists were already bustling about, serving dishes. Yibing and Fatty Girl were positively quivering with delight.

“Contests this afternoon? Isn’t it over already?” Yibing asked, peering curiously at Jin Guishan.

“This afternoon is the formation competition. We’re participating too!” Fatty Girl interjected.

Jin Guishan smiled. “Senior brother Mu, we’ll have to trouble you again this afternoon.”

“Oh… oh…” Yibing thought to himself, “If I have to work this afternoon, I’d better eat a little more now!”

“Senior brother Mu, do me a favor!” Fatty Girl suddenly handed half a carrot to Yibing and pointed at her back. Yibing understood at once and hurriedly slipped it into Fatty Girl’s bundle behind her. Trust Fatty Girl to be so thoughtful—she almost forgot Han Yu was still hungry!

After a hearty meal, with fruits and tea to follow, Daoist Feixu leapt onto the platform, beaming. “Fellow Daoists, as we travel the land ridding the world of demons, we often encounter monsters with powerful sorcery—sometimes beyond the reach of any single cultivator. Thus, every sect has its own demon-subduing formations. Today, let us see whose formation is the strongest, and offer each other a chance to learn and improve!”

“The Yuxian Sect humbly seeks your guidance!” No sooner had Daoist Feixu finished than a burly fellow leapt onstage, bringing six of his sect brothers with him. Among them was Ruzhen, his face still blackened from burns.

“Excellent! The Yuxian Sect truly befits its reputation. Which sect would dare face them?” Daoist Feixu scanned the crowd. In the northwest corner, someone stood up.

“The Haikong Sect accepts the challenge!” With that, a dozen or so people surged forward. The Yuxian Sect quickly took their positions, standing ready.

“Heh, so this is the famous ‘Descent of the Seven Fairies’… Formation, is it?” The leader of the Haikong Sect asked with a wry grin, prompting gales of laughter from the crowd.

“Xuanshan of the Yuxian Sect, with my fellow disciples, requests your instruction!” The burly man wasn’t ruffled in the slightest; he led his formation against the Haikong Sect.

“Guan Canghai of the Haikong Sect, with my fellow disciples, comes to learn!” As he spoke, his group rushed forward like a school of fish.

The Yuxian Sect’s formation, derived from the myth of the seven fairies descending to earth, was perhaps why Xuanshan didn’t mind the ridicule. The seven moved in graceful, shifting steps, treading among the stars, their movements as elegant as a dance. Yet, seeing these brawny men fluttering about was indeed a challenge for the audience. The Haikong Sect, on the other hand, advanced in two imposing lines—front and rear, left and right, seamlessly coordinated. If one moved, all moved; if one stopped, all stopped; each helping the other, no gaps at all.

Several rounds passed with no clear victor, and both sides grew anxious. The Yuxian Sect quickly produced their magical implements: one wielded a jade flute, another a pipa, another a bamboo pipe—each picturesque, poetic. Ruzhen wielded his familiar faceless fan, but no matter how fiercely he waved it, he couldn’t break through the Haikong Sect’s unyielding, coordinated onslaught. The Haikong disciples fought as one with their swords—every advance and retreat in perfect unison, large and small formations supporting each other—utterly impenetrable to the Yuxian Sect’s attacks.

Xuanshan’s anxiety grew. He shot a quick glance at Ruzhen, who immediately understood and quietly signaled the others. When the two sides clashed again, the Yuxian Sect suddenly soared into the air, swooping down from above. The Haikong Sect had never expected an aerial assault, and their formation collapsed into chaos as they fell one by one.

“Wow, they really are like the Seven Fairies!” Fatty Girl cheered, eyes full of envy.

Yibing couldn’t help but imagine Fatty Girl dropping from the sky, and burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at?” Fatty Girl glared at him, curious.

“Nothing, nothing… Look, someone else is going on stage!” Yibing hurriedly changed the subject.

The next group to take the stage was a rough-looking lot—bearded, bare-chested, looking every bit the hunters they were.

“The Nanqiao Sect comes to learn!” Even as they spoke, they clashed with the Yuxian Sect. After only three exchanges, the Nanqiao Sect suddenly sat cross-legged, chanting in unison. Before anyone could react, a tremendous crash sounded from the eastern hillside. Turning to look, they saw dozens of giant trees uproot themselves and drift onto the stage, moving like living things with their branches swinging as arms, attacking the Yuxian Sect.

Humans have only two arms, but these giant trees had many, and for a moment the Yuxian Sect could barely hold out. As they prepared to repeat their airborne tactic, the trees’ crowns suddenly covered them, preventing them from taking flight!

At that moment, the disciple with the jade flute began to play, and Xuanshan quickly signaled the others to encircle him. The flute’s melody was clear and haunting, as plaintive as a lover’s laughter and tears, lingering in the air. The Nanqiao disciples grew restless and agitated, their chanting faltering, the giant trees jerking and hesitating, their formation in disarray.

Seizing the opportunity, Ruzhen swept his fan at a gap between two trees. A sudden gust sent the Nanqiao disciples rolling off the stage.

“Senior brother, isn’t that a bit like the art of that… lewd… the Seven-Tailed Fox?” He Lingchi said with a note of disdain. Jin Guishan frowned but said nothing.

The Yuxian Sect went on to defeat several more sects in a row. Seeing that no one else dared step forward, Ruzhen strutted about, flushed with pride. “Anyone else dare take the stage?” he called.

“Heh, the Zhengjia Sect’s turn again…” Chi Lingyao had barely finished speaking before Ye Boyang bounded onto the stage with a shout. “Zhengjia Sect, requesting instruction!” The crowd booed loudly.

“Very well!” Xuanshan shouted, brandishing his medicinal hoe. The Yuxian disciples charged forward. All shared the same thought: after Ruzhen’s loss to Ye Boyang that morning, this was their chance to restore their honor.

Ye Boyang raised his sword in defense and the Zhengjia disciples retreated several yards in unison. Seeing the flutist raise his instrument, the crowd quickly covered their ears, but the Zhengjia disciples paid it no mind, clearly having blocked their ears beforehand. The Yuxian Sect hesitated a moment, and the sweet sound of the bamboo flute began—but instead of bewitching music, several half-clothed fairies seemed to materialize and dance. The Zhengjia disciples blushed furiously, all except Ye Boyang, who remained unmoved, his sword aimed straight at the flutist. The flutist hastily retreated, and as the music faltered, the Zhengjia disciples lunged at him in perfect synchrony. Luckily, Xuanshan blocked the attack with his hoe—otherwise, the flutist would have been gravely injured.

“Impressive cultivation!” Xuanshan shouted in praise, swinging his hoe at Ye Boyang. A bolt of lightning shot toward Ye Boyang, who had to leap back three times to narrowly avoid it, nearly losing his balance before his fellow disciples caught him.

“You’re impressive yourself!” Ye Boyang snarled, shifting back, forming a seal with his left hand while thrusting with his sword in his right. The Zhengjia disciples immediately spread out in a circle around him, each mirroring his movements. Flames erupted from their sword tips, converging into a massive torrent of fire that swept across the stage, its scorching heat reaching even the audience below. The Yuxian Sect, quick to react, leapt off the stage, but couldn’t avoid being singed in the process.

“Enough! Enough!” Xuanshan, forced from the platform, was mortified and quickly stopped his disciples from continuing. Though he’d anticipated the fire attack, he never imagined it would be so powerful.

“We haven’t lost!” Ruzhen fumed, his eyes blazing as he was nearly burned a second time.

“Forget it, we already jumped off the stage!” Xuanshan knew they weren’t truly beaten in skill, but having left the platform, their defeat was clear to see.

“Ah, now we can finally go home!” With the Zhengjia Sect victorious again, Qi Yuanxiao couldn’t help but cast a resentful glance at Jin Guishan.

“What? Is that thousand taels of gold really so tempting?” Jin Guishan knew exactly what he was thinking.

“It’s not just the gold! Master sent us to this cultivation gathering, and all we’ve done is eat and watch. How can we face her when we return?” Qi Yuanxiao protested.

“What’s left to test? We’ve already lost twice on the road here—haven’t we been humiliated enough?”

“That was just bad luck—if only…” Qi Yuanxiao faltered.

“Ah, junior brother, it’s not that I don’t want to fight, but didn’t you understand what Senior Brother Feixu hinted at yesterday?”

“Of course I did! He just doesn’t want you to compete. He says he wants to take this chance to reduce sect infighting—but really, he’s just trying to expand the Zhengjia Sect’s influence!”

“If you know that, why keep pushing?”

“He didn’t say we couldn’t join the formation contest, did he?” Qi Yuanxiao suddenly stiffened his neck.

“Let it go, senior brothers, let it go! Why should cultivators care about winning or losing? We’ll be eating again soon—aren’t you hungry?” Fatty Girl squeezed between them.

“Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you know!” Jin Guishan and Qi Yuanxiao snapped in unison, then, after a brief silence, both burst out laughing. Fatty Girl pouted, aggrieved, and ignored them.

“Does any other sect wish to challenge us?” Ye Boyang called several times, but no one came forward. He quickly glanced at Daoist Feixu, who nodded in understanding.

“Fellow Daoists, you are all too modest! The world is filled with wondrous formations and techniques, each with its own strengths and weaknesses…” As Ye Boyang spoke, his gaze suddenly turned to Jin Guishan. “For instance, the Xuanwu Formation of the Wuyun Sect is renowned throughout the land. I’ve heard your sect once used it to slay an evil dragon and subdue the Ghost Mother, gaining fame in the process. Why won’t you demonstrate it today? Could it be…”

“What did you say?” Qi Yuanxiao leapt to his feet.

Ye Boyang smiled faintly. “I’m just asking if perhaps you are unwell, and that’s why you won’t let me experience this legendary formation?”

“Legendary?” If Jin Guishan hadn’t held him back, Qi Yuanxiao would have charged onto the stage. Jin Guishan’s mind was a roiling storm. “What is Feixu up to? Yesterday, he hinted we shouldn’t compete, but now he’s sent his disciple to provoke us!”

“No, no, we all just want to see this legendary formation—legendary!” Ye Boyang replied with feigned innocence.

“Junior Nephew Ye, cultivators do not concern themselves with victory or defeat. Our sect came here merely to broaden our horizons, not to compete for a thousand taels of gold!” Jin Guishan stood quickly, smiling, and many in the crowd looked ashamed.

“Oh? You can forgo the gold, but can you forgo the honor of Master Tai Miao?” Ye Boyang was determined to force the Wuyun Sect onto the stage, even stooping to such pointed words. Even Daoist Feixu frowned, but remained silent.

Jin Guishan raised an eyebrow and said nothing. With things at this point, there was no backing down. He turned to his brothers. “That bastard Feixu! He must have seen that we only brought six people—too few to bring out the Xuanwu Formation’s true power—so he changed his mind and is forcing us to take the stage, hoping to make a name for himself at our expense! We have no choice but to accept. Though our chances aren’t good, we must do our best to preserve our master’s honor!”

“Brother Mu, I hadn’t planned on entering any more contests, so I didn’t teach you much. It’s too late now, so we must ask you to do your best for us!” Jin Guishan was so regretful his guts twisted.

“I’ll carry Little White Rabbit!” Yibing offered considerately; after all, he was just making up the numbers, and Fatty Girl couldn’t afford any distractions. Fatty Girl simply handed her bundle to Yibing without a word.