"What's wrong, Young Miss? Are you scared?" Xiaoyao said with a smile.
"Scared? What would I be scared of? Anyway, I'll fight my way through - however many I can beat, I'll beat. I'm not really going to participate, just to show Susu... eh, Susu, I'm so stupid, how am I so stupid." Young Miss only now remembered her purpose. She seemed to have forgotten something very important.
"What's wrong?" Xiaoyao asked strangely.
"I totally forgot - I should have participated in the exhibition match. Susu could have seen my heroic appearance. That day I was actually here drinking. What a failure. Xiaoyao, why didn't you remind me." Young Miss's face was full of regret, and she grabbed Xiaoyao to vent her sudden emotions.
"..." Xiaoyao was silent for a while. "How can you blame me for this? This was obvious - did I need to remind you? Also, I wasn't there at the time. How would I know you'd be so stupid."
"Who are you calling stupid? Are you itching for a beating." Young Miss stared at Xiaoyao very unhappily.
"Don't worry, there's still a chance. Miss Su can't escape your grasp." Xiaoyao said, though of course, he didn't quite believe these words himself.
"That's right. But what chance is there? She won't go to Heavenly Wind Capital with us. She's a scholar, not participating in our martial activities." Young Miss shook her head. She seemed to think of another mistake - participating in the Dragon Gate Tournament would take her further from Third Miss.
"Trust me, Miss Su will definitely go with Miss Suxin. Not only because of their sisterly bond, but because she must go." Xiaoyao said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Young Miss was puzzled.
"You'll know when the time comes. The Nangong family isn't as simple as you imagine." Xiaoyao smiled mysteriously.
"??" Young Miss had nothing but question marks filling her brain.
...
Ten days later, Xiaoyao finished forging Young Miss's sword and also refined his own sword a bit. From this time comparison, the sword in Guxing's hands was of much higher quality.
However, Young Miss was very satisfied with the sword Xiaoyao gave her because she felt it was enough - much better than her previous sword, and with a more domineering design.
Young Miss didn't take this sword to show off in Qingyun City - not because she didn't want to, but because the day after this sword was completed, it was time to depart.
On this day, all the dignitaries of Qingyun City, even of the entire Province, came. Family heads of various clans also appeared, including the Nangong family and Mo family.
Their purpose was one thing - to send off all Dragon Gate Tournament participants. Of course, mainly to boost morale for their own family members.
Encouragement was very important - it could bring confidence, and confidence was an important component of strength.
The farewell location was Qingyun City's east gate. Now the vicinity and city walls were packed with people.
When Young Miss arrived here, in this bustling crowd, she was searching for someone...
"Mo Yu, what are you looking for?" Nangong Suxin appeared beside Young Miss at this moment. Among all these people, she felt Young Miss was slightly more approachable.
Her duel with Young Miss had already occurred before. Unexpectedly, during the noble family preliminaries, they clashed in the first round and staged a surprising duel.
The result was Young Miss's defeat - there was still quite a gap between her and Nangong Suxin.
After this duel, Nangong Suxin's mood toward Young Miss improved. She no longer looked at her like an enemy, though only relatively better.
"Nangong Suxin, where's your sister?" Young Miss asked casually.
"My sister? She's over there with those talented scholars and beauties - more topical conversation." Nangong Suxin replied.
"What are these scholars doing? Are they also coming with us?" Young Miss continued searching while asking.
"They're going to the capital for examinations. Every year during the Dragon Gate Tournament is also imperial examination time." Nangong Suxin said.
"How interesting. Why put them together? Doesn't this make things busier?" Young Miss replied without understanding.
"It's not troublesome. Imperial examinations are civil officials' business, while the Dragon Gate Tournament belongs to military officials. Though we're going to the capital this time, it's just to pay respects to His Majesty. Where we go afterward for testing, we don't know. But certainly not in the capital." Nangong Suxin felt somewhat helpless. This Mo family Young Miss was truly a young miss - she didn't inquire about any of this.
"Oh, I see." Young Miss seemed to understand.
Nangong Suxin continued: "Also, these scholars are relatively frail. Going together, we can also protect them. Civil officials are very important - every place needs them. They're actually more important than us."
That's right. Common people preferred to see civil officials' governance rather than military officials' dominance, unless it was wartime.
The strong were admired, but that was too distant. Daily life was most important.
"Why tell me all this? I'm a local tyrant. When scholars meet soldiers, even reason becomes unclear." Young Miss said very domineeringly.
"..."
"Damn, where is that guy? Didn't he say we'd go together?" Young Miss continued searching. Now Nangong Suxin realized Young Miss wasn't looking for her Third Sister, but someone else.
That guy? Could it be—
"You mean that little servant? He's coming too?" Nangong Suxin said.
"Yes. Yesterday when he gave me the sword, he said... wait, why should I tell you..." Young Miss said, continuing to search the crowd. At this moment, almost everyone had arrived - only Guxing hadn't come yet.
"Could they have overslept? Impossible. Even if that guy overslept, Seventh Sister couldn't oversleep. What are they up to?" Young Miss frowned, very puzzled.
Could something have gone wrong?
"Lord Han, we can begin. The time is about right."
At a nearby official's reminder, Governor Han walked forward, quieting the somewhat noisy crowd.
"First, thank His Majesty for giving me this opportunity to stand before everyone, to manage this beautiful and fertile land. Also, thank you all..."
A long, commonly used opening speech - this was the standard official opening, though it could also be called nonsense, but it had to be said because these were ceremonial words required for this occasion.
Below, everyone habitually listened. Even having heard it many times, they had to listen.
"Today, I am very happy because I see the future of our Qingyun Province, the future of Heavenly Wind Kingdom. Those participating in the Dragon Gate Tournament and imperial examinations - you are our future, the future of Qingyun Province, even Heavenly Wind Kingdom, even the entire continent."
"Let go, don't be bound by anything. Display your strength and potential, strive for the best results. This is the beginning of your lives."
"Roar..."
"Work hard! Struggle!"
"Roar..."
Everyone present was emotionally charged - whether they truly saw their future or simply because Governor Han had finished speaking and everyone could be released to bid farewell to family and friends.
After farewells, everyone boarded carriages. Anyone with Dragon Gate Tournament qualifications and scholars participating in imperial examinations all had seats - this was officially arranged by Qingyun Province, with all expenses covered by officials.
Not just carriages - afterward, food, clothing, lodging, and transportation were all official responsibilities.
"Everyone has already departed. Why hasn't that guy appeared yet?" Young Miss was very puzzled, thinking to herself - did that guy and Seventh Sister depart on their own?
No, Xiaoyao hadn't planned to travel alone. Why not take a free ride? At the same time, Xiaoyao had actually arrived long ago - he was just in a place Young Miss hadn't noticed.
Soon, Young Miss discovered - so Xiaoyao was here.
A carriage came before Young Miss and stopped. Just as Young Miss was about to chase away passengers, she suddenly heard a voice.
"Young Miss, get on the carriage."
The carriage driver - wasn't that Xiaoyao?
Young Miss immediately jumped onto the carriage, sitting beside Xiaoyao and asking: "How did you become a driver?"
"They said they were short a driver, plus I had no seat, so I simply helped out. There's even wages to collect." Xiaoyao said with a smile.
"That makes sense. But there should be plenty of carriage seats. Many people brought their own carriages with servants. If we weren't all martial artists and Grandfather didn't want to train us, the Mo family would probably have carriages too."
"That's exactly why - short of drivers. Not everyone is willing to go so far..." Xiaoyao said.
"..., seems right too."
"Young Miss, go sit inside." Xiaoyao winked, obviously telling her there was a situation inside.
Young Miss didn't notice. She had been looking ahead and casually replied: "This is fine here. I've never sat here before."
"Young Miss, Third Miss is also inside." Xiaoyao said calmly.
"Ah, then I'm going in."
"..."
Young Miss flashed inside with agile movements. Xiaoyao indeed hadn't lied - Nangong Third Miss was inside. However, now Young Miss had no way to approach because Third Miss already had Nangong Suxin sitting beside her.
Originally this seat should have been prepared for Young Miss. Xiaoyao had specially gone to fetch Third Miss to create an opportunity for Young Miss. He hadn't expected Young Miss to talk with him first, much less that Nangong Suxin would be with Young Miss.
Can't blame me - I already tried my best.
"Hmph."
Young Miss gave a very displeased cold snort, then asked the other person in the carriage - Guxing: "Seventh Sister, were you in the carriage early this morning?"
(End of Chapter)