TDSDE 11

11. A heart like dead ashes.

On the eighth day of the Martial Gathering, compared to the first day, the number of participants had already dropped to just one-twentieth.

Most of the defeated in the past few days had left the ring and gone down the mountain, but today, those wandering martial artists with no place to stay had come scrambling back, squatting on tree branches and rooftops—just to witness a so-called “once-in-a-lifetime battle.”

It wasn’t quite as exaggerated as the rumors of a fight between the Demonic Sect Leader and the Head of Yunhua Sect, but the upcoming finale was still something worth looking forward to. That was because it just so happened to be the Left Protector of the Demonic Sect’s turn to go up, and his opponent was currently fighting for the right to face him.

Bai Yuanxiu bent back to dodge a claw hook that grazed past his face. He hadn’t even gotten back up when he heard someone from below shout,

“Hero Bai, most handsome and dashing of all! Hurry up and beat that ugly freak to death!”

The shrill voice nearly made Bai Yuanxiu wrench his back. When he turned to glance in that direction, he saw a pale-faced young man who looked like a fox squinting at him with a grin.

Bai Yuanxiu recognized him—he was “Fox-Faced Yu,” a member of the neutral faction. He always had his face painted like a fox and, like the Vermilion Bird Hall Master of the Demonic Sect, was a complete sucker for good looks.

Fox-Faced Yu had lost a match earlier, and the one who defeated him was now swinging three black iron claw hooks at Bai Yuanxiu.

Claw hooks were a nasty weapon, often laced with poison. Not long ago, Fox-Faced Yu’s back had been slashed open, and he clearly hated this opponent’s guts. Now, from beneath the platform, he wouldn’t shut up—constantly pointing out flaws in the opponent’s technique to Bai Yuanxiu while tossing in a few insults about the man’s looks.

People from the demonic path tended to be eccentric due to their cultivation methods, especially in their appearance.

Even the Demonic Sect Leader dressed oddly—people often joked that he looked like he was draped in an uncut sheet of fabric. But with looks like his, he could make a burlap sack look good. The one Bai Yuanxiu was fighting, however, wasn’t quite so fortunate.

That man normally didn’t care about appearances, but Fox-Faced Yu’s relentless commentary was driving him to the brink. His already slightly greenish face was now turning a mottled greenish-black, and he gritted his teeth as he swung his hooked chains with a whooshing fury.

Just as Bai Yuanxiu deflected another swing, someone below the stage shouted again,

“Firecracker head!”

Even from far away, Bai Yuanxiu could feel that the little topknot on his opponent’s head was about to explode.

And so, under everyone’s astonished gaze, the demonic cultivator on the platform suddenly tossed aside his claws and charged straight at Fox-Faced Yu with a howl. The next second, the two were rolling on the ground, locked in a brawl.

The tightly packed crowd immediately cleared out a five- or six-meter-wide circle for the two of them, then shouted in unison toward the bewildered Bai Yuanxiu:

“Hero Bai will definitely win! Beat the Left Protector!”

Bai Yuanxiu: …Just how much hate has Xiao Qing racked up?

Amidst the crowd’s shouting, the Left Protector of the Demonic Sect, dressed in white, stepped onto the platform through the chill of winter air.

Everyone in the martial world had heard that the Demonic Sect’s Left Protector had cultivated a powerful, icy inner energy. But only now, feeling the frost-laced wind that turned beards and hair tips white, did they realize how terrifying his strength really was.

People couldn’t help but glance at the Demonic Sect’s Right Protector, lounging lazily in the distance. If even the Left Protector—famed for his “Frost Palm”—was this formidable, no wonder the Right Protector, known as the “Sword Demon,” had claimed he wouldn’t be stepping in for now.

Most martial artists preferred swords, especially those on the righteous path. The Right Protector’s strange talents probably needed the right moment to shine.

Then again, this was the martial world—a place for fiery passion and swift vengeance. If someone on the righteous side could take down both the Left and Right Protectors of the Demonic Sect, that would be one hell of a thrill.

So the crowd started hooting again, shouting things like

“Hero Bai’s martial skill is unmatched!”

“Hero Bai, show the Left Protector what you’re made of!”

And just like that, they helped Bai Yuanxiu earn even more hate.

Bai Yuanxiu: …

Members of the Demonic Sect who knew that “Hero Bai” was actually their Right Protector: …

It got a little awkward.

But the Demonic Sect followers actually liked Bai Yuanxiu. To let him keep playing his role as the “Hero Bai,” they started shouting back just as loudly.

Finally, a bell rang out. The two on stage rushed toward each other like gusts of wind. One sword, one palm—their clash sent waves of energy sweeping out in all directions, dazzling the eyes of the spectators.

Suddenly, a sharp voice pierced through the crowd’s cheers:

“So what if I like men? Hero Bai is handsome—I just like that type!”

The entire field fell into stunned silence.

Not long after, a voice as cold as frost rang out from the stage:

“Seems you’re quite popular.”

Bai Yuanxiu looked at Xiao Qing, who stood before him with a detached expression. His heart felt sour and tight. He spun his sword in a flourish and turned away.

“No need for the Left Protector to trouble himself.”

The words “Left Protector” were spoken with particular emphasis.

But only Bai Yuanxiu himself heard the muffled tremble at the end of his sentence.

He lowered his head slightly and blinked rapidly, forcing back the sting rising to the tip of his nose.

Unfortunately, the direction he faced happened to be straight toward Fox-Faced Yu.

To onlookers, it looked an awful lot like Bai Yuanxiu was throwing him a flirtatious glance…

As everyone stared at Fox-Faced Yu, stunned by his bold declaration of love, the next moment, a wave of cold several times stronger than before erupted from the platform.

Those standing closest to the stage were forced back two steps by the blast of wind, coughing uncontrollably as the chill hit them.

The stage, once bathed in a bit of sunlight, was instantly shrouded in a white mist. Those with weaker cultivation began to shiver violently.

“Will Hero Bai be okay?”

None of them had expected that the Demonic Sect’s Left Protector had been holding back until now. They could only hear the sounds of steel clashing—what was happening on the stage was completely obscured.

In the distance, the Azure Dragon Hall Master, lounging lazily in a Right Protector outfit, suddenly froze. Then he jumped to his feet like a startled fish:

“What the hell are those two doing!?”

This time, the Demonic Sect had intended to give their disciples a chance to grow, so the hall masters were all instructed to avoid fighting if possible. The only overwhelming force meant to appear was the Left Protector.

They had already agreed: if Bai Yuanxiu ended up against the Left Protector, he’d just need to hold out for a bit—don’t lose too fast. After all, if the Left Protector lost, the entire Martial Gathering would fall apart.

It was all supposed to be for show. So why the hell had the Left Protector suddenly gone all out!?

The Vermilion Bird Hall Master, dressed in a fiery red robe, leaned on the railing with narrowed eyes, her face full of contemplation.

Beside her, the Black Tortoise Hall Master lazily yawned and tossed a grape into his mouth. “If that ‘Hero Bai’ wins, we’re doomed.”

Ye Nanxun immediately shot him a glare. “This was all your dumb idea.”

The Azure Dragon Hall Master, an expert in poison and medicine, didn’t even use a sword. He wasn’t taking the stage this time because just one move from him could spread enough poison to knock out half of Yunhua Mountain. If everyone ended up lying around poisoned, what kind of match would that be?

While the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise Hall Masters bickered, the Left and Right Protectors, who usually couldn’t meet without arguing, stood silent on the arena.

Bai Yuanxiu raised his sword horizontally to block, barely stopping one of Xiao Qing’s palm strikes. The force that struck his blade was terrifying—it left a visible crack down the sword’s surface.

The sound of it made Bai Yuanxiu’s chest tighten even more. Frustrated, he leapt and twisted mid-air, thrusting the sword straight at Xiao Qing’s shoulder.

The strike didn’t land, of course, but the tension between the two only escalated. Their moves became sharper, more ruthless.

That fine steel sword paired with the Right Protector’s uniform had been specially made for Bai Yuanxiu by the Demonic Sect’s leader. Unlike ordinary swords, it possessed unmatched hardness and flexibility—crafted for Bai Yuanxiu alone, allowing him to fully wield his swordsmanship.

But when Bai Yuanxiu left the sect, the White Tiger Hall Master, worried that the weapon would expose his identity, picked another decent blade from the armory for him. Naturally, it was no match for that custom fine steel sword.

Back when Bai Yuanxiu was just playing the role of the chivalrous hero, he only used about thirty percent of his strength. For years, it hadn’t mattered. But now that he was truly fighting, his current sword couldn’t keep up.

When Xiao Qing once again darted behind Bai Yuanxiu and struck out with a palm, Bai Yuanxiu raised his sword behind him to block. That sword, already cracked, could no longer withstand the clash of their inner energies—and snapped at the fracture line.

Xiao Qing’s assault paused, but a strike like that couldn’t be recalled so easily. With a sickening splatter, blood burst through the cold mist.

Droplets landed on Xiao Qing’s body and mask. He was dressed in all white, and the bloodstains looked like blooming red plum blossoms, freezing solid upon his robes in an instant.

Bai Yuanxiu turned his head to glance at Xiao Qing. He reached up, pulled the broken blade from his own back, tossed it to the ground, muttered a surrender—and leapt off the platform.

On the surface, Bai Yuanxiu was still considered a righteous sect member. As he came down, the medicine disciples from Yunhua Sect moved forward to support him, but Bai Yuanxiu tapped his toes lightly and used lightness skill to escape.

A medicine disciple at the front frowned slightly. He turned to glance in the direction Bai Yuanxiu had gone, then turned back again.

Had he seen wrong…?

When Hero Bai left, it seemed like… he had been crying.

The winter sunlight offered little warmth. By the time it had finally scattered the dense icy mist, the figure of the Demonic Sect’s Left Protector had already vanished from the arena.

The Demonic Sect had won the eighth day of the martial gathering, but the atmosphere within their ranks felt… off.

The White Tiger Hall Master wiped sweat from his forehead and let out a heavy sigh. “Good thing there aren’t any outsiders staying in the sect. Otherwise, someone would’ve noticed something’s wrong.”

Finally rid of the black uniform, the Azure Dragon Hall Master rolled up his sleeves and gnawed on a sesame flatbread. He shoved a large plate of spiced beef toward the White Tiger Hall Master. “Those two really made a mess of things. Almost blew the whole thing.”

Halfway through his meal, he realized someone was missing. “Where’s Su Wusi?”

The Black Tortoise Hall Master tipped his head back and gulped down some wine. “Probably off looking for the Left Protector.”

Su Wusi had always cared a lot about the Left Protector. With how fierce that fight had been, she was likely worried he might be injured.

The three of them didn’t think much of it. They simply set aside the plate of beef and fried tofu they’d saved in advance, keeping it warm so she’d have a hot meal when she returned.

Meanwhile, the Vermilion Bird Hall Master, Su Wusi—who they’d just mentioned—stood quietly before an empty bamboo hut, and murmured softly, “Idiot.”