M49S Vol 1 Chapter 53. The Rising Tide

Meng Qiqi’s expression was cold, and for a moment, no one dared to answer. Tu Youqiong, on the other hand, lit up with delight. He didn’t care whether he was close with this Little Martial Uncle or not. He immediately put on a well-behaved face and began complaining.

“Little Martial Uncle, they really went too far. Not only are they trying to force Senior Brother to withdraw, they even insulted him. You have to stand up for him! Right, Xiao Yu’er?”

In Tu Youqiong’s mind, Xiao Yu’er was Meng Qiqi’s disciple, and anything he said would be more convincing. Xiao Yu’er nodded in full cooperation. “Senior Brother is a gentleman. He won’t stoop to argue with them. But we’re not.”

“Exactly…” Meng Qiqi sighed softly. “Since the founding of Gushan Sword, not once has one of our disciples been forced to withdraw from a major competition. So is it that they think we’re easy to push around, or has this competition already lost all fairness?”

As soon as those words fell, the Wang clan steward who had come to deliver the message had no choice but to step forward. He was a high-ranking steward, but not in title alone. He was a legitimate collateral member of the Wang clan, and his cultivation was not low.

He cupped his hands. “Please, Little Martial Uncle Meng, mind your words. We have never intended any disrespect toward Gushan Sword. This decision was agreed upon unanimously by the elders of all sects. The competition remains entirely fair and impartial.”

“Elders of all sects? Name them. One by one.” Meng Qiqi’s gaze turned sharp.

“This…” The steward could not afford to offend anyone that openly. He took a step back. “I am only a steward. It would not be appropriate for me to speak further. If you wish, Little Martial Uncle, you may enter the tower and ask them yourself.”

“If you’re not in a position to speak, then stop wasting words with me. Go tell them, if they want to force my senior nephew to withdraw, they’ll have to get through me first. Gushan Sword is not some third-rate sect that anyone can twist around at will. If they’re hoping to step on us while we’re down, they can either face me directly… or get the hell out.”

With every word he spoke, the pressure around him mounted, forcing the steward’s breath to hitch.

It was far too arrogant. Far too domineering.

But Tu Youqiong was overwhelmed with excitement. In his eyes, Meng Qiqi had instantly surpassed even Chen Boyan. He was too cool! That was exactly how one should act! He was already imagining a glorious future, swaggering through the world under his Little Martial Uncle’s banner.

On the seventh floor, Yu Yao slammed his hand against the railing. “Arrogant!”

Many others were also stunned. They had not expected Meng Qiqi to be so forceful, so brazen. Tang Li, however, simply rolled his eyes and pretended not to hear a thing.

“Elder Tang,” the white-bearded elder asked angrily, “what exactly is your sect’s Little Martial Uncle trying to say?”

Tang Li, now perfectly calm, lifted his eyelids and replied, “Whatever meaning you took from your words earlier, consider that to be his meaning now.”

Yu Yao spoke in a low voice. “We’ve all been acting by the rules. Just who does Meng Xiu think he’s telling to get out? Elder Tang, don’t you think an explanation is in order?”

Tang Li simply closed his eyes. “My Little Martial Uncle does have a bit of a temper, but he learned that from Uncle Zhou. If you have a problem, go take it up with him.”

“You—” Yu Yao swept his sleeve with a scowl.

Wang Changlin quickly stepped in to mediate. “Please, both of you, calm down. Let’s not damage our goodwill. Perhaps Brother Meng has not yet grasped the full situation. Upon hearing of his senior nephew’s forced withdrawal, he may simply have reacted out of shock. Why not invite him up, Brother Tang, and we can sit down and talk this through?”

Tang Li remained unmoved, like a meditating monk. He did not even lift his eyes. “He doesn’t listen to me. Do as you please.”

Now everyone found themselves in a bind. If they ignored Meng Qiqi’s shouting below, it would look as though they were afraid of him. But going down to confront him would mean lowering themselves.

With no better option, Wang Changlin let out a helpless sigh. “In that case, I suppose I shall go myself.”

The white-bearded elder immediately bowed with great respect. “Clan Leader Wang, your sense of duty is admirable.”

The others echoed in agreement, and Yu Yao also stepped forward. “Allow me to accompany you.”

Wang Changlin showed a look of reluctance, though inwardly he was pleased by Yu Yao’s cooperation. Just as he gave a nod, however, Master Kongming of Futu Temple suddenly spoke.

“I shall go as well.”

Yu Yao cursed the meddling bald donkey in his heart, but dared not show the slightest disrespect on his face.

The three of them stepped onto the terrace, where Meng Qiqi was in the midst of lecturing Chen Boyan.

“…If they’re forcing you to withdraw, then they’re slapping me in the face. Slapping the entire Gushan Sword in the face. As the senior disciple, you should stand tall and face them. Speak out for your sect. Set an example for your juniors. Am I wrong?”

Chen Boyan accepted the lesson with humility. “You’re not.”

Tu Youqiong nodded enthusiastically. His senior brother was always the one scolding him with a straight face, and today, he was finally the one being scolded. It felt great.

Meng Qiqi continued, “Then what should you do now?”

“Little Martial Uncle, I will fight.”

“And if you lose?”

Chen Boyan looked him in the eye. “Then I ask Little Martial Uncle to protect me.”

Meng Qiqi nodded, clearly satisfied. And the three men walking out from the tower just so happened to witness the entire process of Meng Qiqi “leading Chen the Proper Young Lord astray.”

Over on Ruizhu’s side, Yang-shimei was still quietly worrying about Chen Boyan. She didn’t want him to be led astray from his gentlemanly conduct by Meng Qiqi, yet she also couldn’t bear to see him suffer even the slightest humiliation. Meanwhile, Meng Qiqi had already turned to face Wang Changlin.

“Brother Meng,” Wang Changlin called, “might we speak inside the tower?”

“What for?” Meng Qiqi said coolly. “It’s not like this is some shameful secret. Why not speak plainly here and now?”

Yu Yao interjected, “Meng Xiu, stop being unreasonable.”

“And who are you?” Meng Qiqi looked him up and down as if he genuinely didn’t recognize him. “Let Yexin come out and speak with me.”

Yu Yao said darkly, “You know full well that Elder Yexin has gone missing, yet you keep bringing up his name again and again. We came down here in person. That alone is already giving you enough face. Don’t press your luck.”

Meng Qiqi laughed instead of taking offense. “Then let me ask you this. You know full well that Chen Boyan is my senior nephew, that he is a disciple of Gushan Sword, yet you conspired with others to force him out of the competition. So tell me, who exactly is pressing their luck?”

The crashing wave of his fury surged like the sea and struck Yu Yao full force. Though Meng Qiqi was only twenty-five, he forced Yu Yao’s momentum back by sheer pressure alone. What remained was the frost in his eyes and the sword essence that chilled the air.

Yu Yao’s heart gave a jolt. He suddenly thought of Zhou Ziheng. Right now, Meng Qiqi was already showing signs of becoming the next Zhou Ziheng, and that thought unsettled him. He forced himself to calmed down and said, “This decision was made collectively. Stirring up trouble with me alone won’t change anything.”

“Is that so? Then why don’t you tell me, who exactly made the decision?” Meng Qiqi raised a brow.

“Why don’t you go inside and ask for yourself?” Yu Yao’s tone was cold and rigid. “I have no obligation to carry messages for you.”

“You all seem to have your reasons, don’t you.” Meng Qiqi turned to Chen Boyan. “Senior nephew, do you remember how I had you challenge Brother Jiang Xie back at Lion Tower?”

“I remember,” Chen Boyan nodded.

Meng Qiqi suddenly smiled. “Then what are you waiting for?”

Yu Yao frowned. “Wait—what challenge?”

“A death match, of course.” Meng Qiqi smiled and gave Chen Boyan another glance. “What are you waiting for? Begin.”

Chen Boyan headed straight for Jiang Xie, whose expression changed at once. Yu Yao moved to intercept him, but before he could get close, Meng Qiqi drew Xiujian and brought it to a halt across his chest.

“Elder Yu, I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Meng Qiqi said.

Yu Yao was furious. “Meng Xiu, don’t be arrogant. Put your sword down!”

Meng Qiqi let out a cold laugh. “The one who bites cries foul? If the beam is crooked, the rafters beneath it won’t be straight. So this is the style of Beidou. I must say, I’m truly impressed.”

The moment those words left his mouth, there was no way Yu Yao could let it go. If he didn’t knock Meng Qiqi to the ground today, Beidou’s face would be crushed beneath his feet.

And so, Yu Yao and Meng Qiqi clashed on the spot. The sudden turn of events left the younger cultivators stunned.

“Make way, make way!” came a rough, booming voice from beyond the crowd. A blur shot through the air and crashed directly into the center of the crowd. The cultivators scattered in every direction, and when the figure landed and steadied himself, someone finally recognized him.

“Senior Yin Wuhua of Nandao!”

“Hahaha, that would be me,” Yin Wuhua said cheerfully, waving to the younger cultivators before turning to Meng Qiqi and Yu Yao. “Meng Xiu, where’ve you been these past two days? I’ve been trying to find you for a drink.”

Meng Qiqi knocked aside Yu Yao’s sword, then sprang lightly over Yin Wuhua’s head. As he did, Xiujian traced a sweeping arc through the air. From that arc, blades of vital force shot outward, sealing off Yu Yao’s paths of retreat and forcing him to raise his sword in defense.

Seizing the moment, Meng Qiqi calmly spun out a sword flower, smiling as he said, “I don’t drink ordinary wine.”

Yin Wuhua’s eyes lit up at the sight of the blooming silver lotus. “If you take this old man down, I’ll treat you to an eighteen-year-old vintage!”

“Deal!” Meng Qiqi answered. With a flick of the wrist, the silver lotus burst open. Forty-nine shining petals transformed into forty-nine flying swords, streaking toward Yu Yao like shooting stars.

“Lotus Bloom!” the crowd cried out in awe. It was Lotus Bloom! Ever since Zhou Ziheng disappeared, no one had seen this technique again. Even though only forty-nine swords had manifested, the dazzling bloom of the silver lotus was enough to leave everyone breathless.

But someone soon noticed something was off. “Wait… those forty-nine swords—”

Zhong Wu had sharp eyes and saw it instantly. “It’s Woven Swordfeathers!”

That was the very technique Tu Youqiong had used on the first day of the competition, Woven Swordfeathers, the seventh form of the Gushan sword technique. But now Meng Qiqi had chained it directly after Lotus Bloom. What kind of effect would that produce? No one knew, because throughout Gushan’s history, only the Little Martial Uncle had ever mastered Lotus Bloom.

At this moment, countless eyes locked onto the silver lotus streaking across the sky. Yu Yao gripped his sword tightly.

Suddenly, just as the streaking flying swords closed in, each one split into two. The already dense sword net instantly became even tighter, surging toward Yu Yao in a wave that blotted out the sky.

All of it happened in the blink of an eye.

Yu Yao had already been in the posture of striking toward Meng Qiqi with his sword. There was no way to dodge, so he had no choice but to defend with full force.
In a flash, a barrier of vital force flared to life, blocking a full ninety-eight flying swords. He channeled every drop of vital force into his blade, the surge rebounding against the oncoming swords with such force that they trembled with sharp, ringing vibrations.

“He actually blocked Lotus Bloom…” someone in the crowd exclaimed.

“What’s so surprising about that? Meng Qiqi is still young. Even if he forced Woven Swordfeathers on top of it, it’s just gilding a dog’s tail.”

“Even so, that’s already remarkable. People forget just how much older Yu Yao is compared to Meng Qiqi.”

“This match might not be so easy to call after all…”

Tu Youqiong listened to the voices murmuring all around them, then nervously asked Xiao Yu’er, “Do you think Senior Brother and Little Martial Uncle can win?”

“Master never loses,” Xiao Yu’er replied, but even as he said it, his right hand was already gripping his bow. If Meng Qiqi lost, he was going to rush in and shoot Yu Yao on the spot.

At the same time, Jiang Xie, who had been thoroughly ignored and thought himself safe now that Meng Qiqi and Yu Yao were fighting, was suddenly knocked to the ground by a single strike from Chen Boyan.

He was thrown into a panic. He no longer cared about appearances and rolled across the ground to dodge the attacks.

“Second Brother!” the disciples of Beidou cried out in unison, rushing to his aid. But from the side burst Qing Gu, catching them off guard and launching a fierce chain of Shadowless Kicks that sent them flying.

“Beautiful!” Yin Wuhua clapped his hands with admiration.

Qing Gu shot him a sweet smile, then moved into position back to back with Xiao Xiao, who was stepping forward. Facing the Beidou disciples now glaring at them in rage, she raised her voice and shouted, “One-on-one makes a hero. Swarming someone makes you cowards!”