Chapter 44: On the Eve of the Semifinals

The quarterfinals of the Outer Sect Grand Tournament had ended, but the clamor showed no sign of abating.

Bai Yueqing had won two consecutive bouts against stronger opponents, especially managing to best Laihe, whose movement techniques were notoriously elusive. Her astonishing resilience, her terrifyingly precise insight, and that increasingly enigmatic longsword of hers had become the focus of heated discussion among all.

Yet she herself had no time to spare for such gossip.

Upon returning to her humble wooden hut, she set up the simplest soundproofing ward. No sooner had she done this than her endurance gave way; she violently coughed up a mouthful of clotted blood.

Her body slumped weakly against the wall, her face ashen, her breath utterly chaotic.

Though the match against Laihe had appeared to end with her seizing an opening and turning the tide, in truth, her mind and body had been pushed to the very limit. Old wounds and fresh injuries erupted together.

With difficulty, she sat cross-legged, swallowed a few ordinary healing pills, and tried to guide their medicinal power to work within her, but the effect was barely noticeable.

“How… how are you doing?” Ye Ming’s voice was both anxious and faint.

“You can’t keep forcing yourself like this in the next match. If you go on fighting at this intensity, your body will collapse!”

Ye Ming, too, was deeply exhausted. The continuous strain of heightened perception and spiritual feedback had also drained his core essence; even the spiritual light of his sword-body had grown dim.

“It’s nothing… I won’t die,” Bai Yueqing replied inwardly, though her voice was frail and could not conceal her weakness.

She closed her eyes, focusing all her will to resist the pain and emptiness coursing through her.

The semifinals… In my current state, how can I fight?

Just then, the soft sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by two restrained knocks on the door.

Bai Yueqing’s heart tightened. Forcing down the rising blood, she rasped, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Zhou Qingwan,” came a familiar voice from outside.

Bai Yueqing hesitated briefly, but then rose to open the door.

Zhou Qingwan stood outside, her steady features rendered indistinct by the night. Her gaze quickly swept over Bai Yueqing’s paper-white face and the blood still staining her lips, brows knitting in concern.

“Not inviting me in to sit?”

Bai Yueqing stepped aside to let her enter.

The furnishings within were sparse; only the longsword wrapped in gray cloth on the table stood out.

Zhou Qingwan’s eyes lingered on the sword for a moment, then she looked away and seated herself on one of the two wooden stools.

With a turn of her hand, she produced a small jade bottle, its surface smooth and faintly cool to the touch.

Zhou Qingwan set the bottle on the table and pushed it forward. “This is a Meridian-Revitalizing Elixir. It’s exceptionally effective for internal injuries and depleted spiritual power.”

“It’s far better than the pills you’ve been using.”

Bai Yueqing looked at the bottle but did not reach for it immediately.

She had heard of this elixir before; it was a high-grade pill that only inner sect disciples could redeem, and its value was considerable.

Zhou Qingwan herself likely could not bear to use many of them.

“Senior Sister Zhou, this is far too precious, I…” Bai Yueqing began to refuse out of instinct. She could not accept such a generous gift for nothing.

Zhou Qingwan interrupted her. “Take it.”

“It’s not a free gift. Your reaching the finals brings honor to our whole Outer Sect.”

“If you’re in poor shape and lose too badly in tomorrow’s semifinals, it’s the reputation of the entire Outer Sect that will suffer.”

Her tone was a little blunt, but Bai Yueqing detected a different meaning behind the words.

After a moment’s silence, she no longer argued and accepted the jade bottle. “Thank you, Senior Sister.”

Zhou Qingwan nodded, as if her main task was complete.

She considered for a moment, then asked casually, “Do you know who your opponent is for tomorrow’s semifinal?”

Bai Yueqing shook her head. She had nearly fainted after stepping down from the stage and had no time to inquire.

“It’s Yao Feng—he’s at the tenth level of Qi Refinement,” Zhou Qingwan replied, watching Bai Yueqing carefully.

Bai Yueqing pondered this.

Yao Feng, the other favorite to win the championship, was rumored to have a powerful background; his family wielded significant influence within the Outer Sect.

More importantly, his cultivation had long since reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement—his foundation was solid, incomparable to someone like Laihe who had only just entered the ninth level.

He was truly one of the few standing at the summit of the Outer Sect.

“Tenth level of Qi Refinement?!” Ye Ming sucked in a cold breath.

“The gap is enormous! How are we supposed to fight like this, especially in our current state? This tournament is a real trap!”

Bai Yueqing’s heart sank.

The tenth level of Qi Refinement was a qualitative leap; the total and purity of spiritual power was far beyond the ninth level.

Even at her peak, her chances would be slim. As for now…

Zhou Qingwan’s tone remained calm but hinted at something more. “Yao Feng is extremely powerful, with many methods at his disposal.”

“He’s surely studied the possible tactics of all three remaining opponents—including your sword.”

“Tomorrow’s battle, you need to be mentally prepared.”

She paused, her gaze drifting toward the dark night outside, her voice dropping lower.

“Also, apart from the opponent on the stage, beware the ‘shadows’ offstage.”

“After yesterday, there are no few who have their eyes on your sword.”

“Especially… be wary of Inner Sect Senior Brother Zhu Yu. He’s always had a particular ‘interest’ in ancient and rare treasures of this kind.”

With that, Zhou Qingwan rose, as if she had only come to deliver medicine and offer a few words of advice.

“Rest well. Tomorrow… do what you can. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

She said no more, turned, and soon vanished into the night.

The wooden door closed softly, and silence returned to the small room.

Bai Yueqing stood holding the cool bottle of pills, pondering Zhou Qingwan’s final words.

Zhu Yu!

That Inner Sect disciple who had cast a cold, lingering look from the viewing platform—the nephew of the Hall of Justice elder.

Zhou Qingwan’s warning could not be clearer: this man had already taken an interest in Ye Ming, and would likely stop at nothing.

A formidable foe ahead at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, and a covetous adversary with powerful connections lurking behind…

Bai Yueqing felt a wave of powerlessness.

The path to the semifinals was proving even more treacherous than she’d imagined.

“Did you hear that? Did you hear it! That Zhu Yu clearly has bad intentions!” Ye Ming’s voice was tinged with both anger and worry.

“And Yao Feng, steady and unshakable at the tenth level! How are we supposed to win? Maybe you should just surrender tomorrow—it’s not worth suffering worse injuries!”

Bai Yueqing did not respond.

She went to the table and opened the jade bottle. A pure medicinal aroma wafted out, lifting her spirits ever so slightly.

She poured out a single, round pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

As the elixir dissolved, a gentle yet immense medicinal power surged through her, quickly spreading to every corner of her body.

It nourished her parched meridians, healed the hidden wounds within her organs, and strands of spiritual power began to regenerate in her depleted core.

She sat cross-legged, guiding the medicinal energy.

Give up? The thought had never crossed her mind.

She had come this far for a spot among the Inner Sect disciples.

No matter how strong her opponents, no matter how many covetous eyes watched from below, she would fight for her chance.

Not for the fleeting glory of a championship, but to prove herself, and for the resources and opportunities to advance further.

“Aren’t you going to say anything? Don’t tell me you really plan to clash head-on with that Qi Refinement monster?”

Ye Ming was still muttering, but his concern outweighed his objections.

“Be quiet and focus.”

“We’ll face tomorrow’s troubles when tomorrow comes.”

She shut her eyes, absorbing the elixir’s power. Her wounds were healing, her strength slowly returning.

But the pressure on her heart was heavier than a mountain.

Night deepened. Within the small wooden hut, one healed in silence, while a sword kept its patient vigil.