Chapter Ten: The Second Divine Martial Contest Section Nineteen: Martial Sovereign (Part Four)

Section 19: Martial Sovereign (Part 4)

"Hahaha... Today, this King has gained another Martial Sovereign; my heart is filled with joy! Heroes from all over the world, please do not rush to leave. I shall host a banquet for the entire city today to celebrate the blessing of July becoming our Martial Sovereign!"

A wave of cheers, thanking the King of Zheng for his generosity, resounded through the clear sky.

The rankings of this second Shenwu Tournament differed greatly from the first.

The rankings of the first Shenwu Tournament were as follows:
The Martial Sovereign was Qiu Ye.
Second place was Ka'er, the top expert of the Black Wolf Tribe, who had been defeated by Qiu Ye in the final battle.
Third place was Ye Feiluo, leader of the North Martial Sect, known as the Sword Saint of East Yan.
Fourth place was Wei Wuquan, leader of the Huashan branch of the Sword Peak Sect, known as the Sword God of North Wei.

Since both the Sword Saint of East Yan and the Sword God of North Wei had fallen to Qiu Ye, the world's martial artists did not consider their cultivation inferior to that of Ka'er. Although they were ranked third and fourth, many saw them as being on par with Ka'er.

Fifth place was Elder Dongxue of the Flying Immortal Sect.
Sixth place was Zheng Qiangwu, the top expert of the Flying Immortal Sect's December Hall, known as the Ocean-Flipping Palm.
Seventh place was Cha Xiaogai, an expert of the Sword Peak Sect's Huashan branch, known as the Mad Sword.
Eighth place was Wu Fei, an expert of the Sword Peak Sect's Hengshan branch, known as the Flying Sword Dancer.
Ninth place was Ming Gang, an expert of the North Martial Sect, known as the Immovable King of Wisdom.
Tenth place was Ren Qingyi, an expert of the North Martial Sect, known as the Sword Sage.

Qiu Ye did not compete in the second Shenwu Tournament. July, having succeeded to the position of Martial Sovereign, shone brilliantly. She killed Ka'er—the world's second-ranked expert who had once escaped from Zheng Feixian and fought hundreds of rounds against Qiu Ye—and indisputably claimed the title of Martial Sovereign, becoming the world's top expert.

With Ka'er dead, Ling Luo, the Duke of Faith of the Zheng State, was confirmed as the world's second-ranked expert.
Following the tragic death of North Martial Sect leader Ye Feiluo in the ring, Yue Fei of the Zheng State's Divine Decision Sect was ranked third.
Fourth place was Zheng Qiangwu of the Flying Immortal Sect's December Hall.
Fifth place was the renowned wandering knight Gai Er of the Chu State.
Sixth place was Wang Yu, the "Little Knight" and closing disciple of the retired Sword Master of the Han State.
Seventh place was Lin Qiang, Master of the Flying Immortal Sect's July Hall.
Eighth place was Chen Yu, an expert from the Chu State's King Decision Sect.
Ninth place was Mo Wen, Master of the Flying Immortal Sect's March Hall.
Tenth place was Li Xiang, Master of the Flying Immortal Sect's January Hall.

In this tournament, Wei Wuquan of the North Peak Sword School forfeited without fighting, and all his experts were defeated by Li Yijian, resulting in a dismal performance that, like the North Martial Sect, surprised the heroes of the world. The Sword Peak Sect experts from the first tournament, "Mad Sword" Cha Xiaogai and "Flying Sword Dancer" Wu Fei, did not compete this time, rumored to be in secluded cultivation. Similarly, the Ninth and Tenth place winners from the previous tournament, the North Martial Sect's "Immovable King of Wisdom" and "Sword Sage" Ren Qingyi, were absent—the former due to a cultivation deviation and the latter due to traveling.

While everyone had expected a fierce struggle given the presence of many wandering experts, the Flying Immortal Sect ended up with even more members in the top ten than before.

Despite the official results, observers believed that Li Yijian’s fast sword certainly deserved a top-ten spot, and that the North Monarch, who had defeated Li Yijian, should also have been ranked among the elite.

However, these were merely the private thoughts of the observers and could not alter the tournament rankings.

With many members of the Flying Immortal Sect qualifying and July shining so brightly, the King of Zheng’s joy was only natural. Zheng Linran, though pleased, could not help but whisper a rebuke to Qiu Ye as she watched July in the ring: "Look at how July has learned from you—so wild and eccentric."

"Sect Leader, you are mistaken. Today, July was possessed by the spirit of our Master. Back in the day, Master’s arrogance far exceeded hers. You simply joined the sect too late to have witnessed it."

"Hmph!" Zheng Linran was displeased, thinking, *You are no longer the Martial Sovereign, Qiu Ye, yet you still dare to speak to me like this, always relying on your seniority—it is absurd.*

The King of Zheng was overjoyed, and the imperial banquet was grand, with all officials of the third rank and above invited. Qiu Ye, Zheng Linran, and July were seated to the right of the King’s throne, while Emperor Ao Pan of Zhou sat with the King.

Every time Bu Jingxian looked at July, he noticed that the Emperor of Zhou and the Crown Prince of Zheng were doing the same. Ling Luo, too, though less frequently.

The King of Zheng lavished praise on the Flying Immortal Sect and Duke Ling Luo, before finally calling Yue Fei forward. He complimented her father on raising such a fine daughter, to which the father responded with grateful pride. The King then asked for Yue Fei’s age and birth date.

Finally, he declared, "Since the death of the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince has not remarried. Today, I shall make the decision: I betroth the Crown Prince to Yue Fei. What say you, General Yue?"

The General was overjoyed and bowed in thanks. Yue Fei, however, looked reluctant and cast a glance at Ling Luo, who smiled in congratulation. After a moment of hesitation, she knelt and expressed her gratitude.

Princess Tianlai, sitting beside Ling Luo, whispered, "The fallen flowers have intentions, but the flowing water is heartless."

Ling Luo smiled wryly. "We simply spent a long time together at North Spirit Mountain. Yue Fei will naturally come to recognize the Crown Prince’s excellence in time."

"Duke, do not think me petty. I only just learned that you lent your jade pendant to Martial Sovereign July, and I have noticed how much attention you pay her. If you have feelings for her, I could ask my father to help you, but I dislike seeing you hide your thoughts in your heart."

"Princess, you misunderstand! Surely you know that July and Junior Brother Bu are like siblings. It is only natural for me to care for her, and lending her the jade to assist her training was a duty I could not refuse."

"I do not wish to dampen your spirits, but you are truly muddled, Duke. July’s feelings for her Third Senior Brother are not those of a sibling—they are the feelings of a woman for a man."

Ling Luo felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort. "Princess, why do you say that?"

"You are blind, Duke. There are many things people would not do for a sibling, but how many would refuse to go on living if a beloved were to die?"

"This..." Ling Luo was speechless. He looked at July, who was eating without a care in the world, and couldn't help but laugh at himself.

In fact, many courtiers noticed that July had already finished thirty-seven tables of food and wine, yet she still gripped her chopsticks, eating away without minding the snickers of others. When she finished, she would simply call for the maids to "bring another table."

July was in high spirits and turned to tease Qiu Ye, "Qiu Ye, you are so boring today. With all this delicious food, you haven't even touched your chopsticks."

"July, can you please mind the occasion?" Qiu Ye scolded in a low voice.

"I never realized you were so long-winded. You’ve suddenly turned into some noble lady, lecturing me on etiquette."

"I must care about my image now. Though I am your senior sister, everyone thinks of me as your second master, believing that Master and I raised you into this Martial Sovereign. I will stay in the sect to manage the July Hall and train more disciples as excellent as you. If I don't maintain a proper image, how can I command respect?"

"How absurd. You are so strange today. You don't drink, you don't eat, and you talk so seriously. Did you bump your head?" July continued to eat. "I'll help you later, why worry about image?"

Qiu Ye smiled, looking at July with deep comfort. She softened her voice, "July, I was wild in the past because I had a dream, and you were the embodiment of that dream. I don't have to be wild anymore because my madness was forced, while yours is natural. We will have fewer chances to be together from now on; I will be at the sect, and you will be leading our outstanding disciples on journeys..."

July dropped her chopsticks, panicked. "Qiu Ye, are we going to be separated?"

"A Martial Sovereign only needs to teach others; how can there be reason for others to teach her? Can we eat, drink, and play forever? How would that honor our Master?" Qiu Ye chuckled.

"But... but there are so many things I don't understand, I..." July was as panicked as a child, helplessly trying to find a way to make Qiu Ye change her mind.

"I know you can't bear it, and do you think I can? But meetings and partings are common in life. It’s not a final farewell, so why cry? It's embarrassing!"

July held back her tears, her heart heavy with reluctance. The thought of not having Qiu Ye by her side filled her with a strange panic.

Qiu Ye pushed a plate of fish from her own table toward July. "Eat. Are you still worrying about etiquette?"

"I can't eat anymore, it's all your fault." July pouted.

"July, you aren't a child anymore. When you stepped off the ring today, you hugged me and said you were terrified but thrilled. You were terrified because you still felt like a child, and thrilled because you were starting to grow up. Even if we can't be together often, we will still see each other. Whenever you return to the sect, don't forget to bring some good wine from outside."

Qiu Ye placed the chopsticks in her hand, and July downed a cup of wine.

Seeing Bu Jingxian watching her again, she flung the cup toward him. Bu Jingxian, sitting opposite, caught it mid-air. The banquet fell into a sudden, awkward silence.

"You, from the Black Wolf Tribe, why do you keep looking at me!"

Bu Jingxian set the cup down and laughed. "Martial Sovereign, you are mistaken. I am not of the Black Wolf Tribe. My wife is a princess of the Zhou Dynasty, and I serve the Emperor of Zhou."

July was momentarily silenced, her anger dissipating. "Then why do you keep looking at me!"

"The Martial Sovereign is beautiful, so it is only natural to attract others' gazes."

Unexpectedly, July pointed to Zheng Linran on her left. "The Sect Leader is the beautiful one. Is something wrong with your eyes?"

Bu Jingxian laughed to himself, wondering who exactly had the problem. "Both of you possess extraordinary beauty; of course, I am also observing the beauty of Sect Leader Linran."

"July!" Seeing she was about to speak again, Qiu Ye pulled her back. "I have something for you to do." July stopped paying attention to Bu Jingxian, and the King of Zheng hurriedly laughed, "The Martial Sovereign has had too much to drink." The crowd moved on, though Princess Luo looked deeply unhappy, held back only by Princess Tianlai.

"What is it?"

Qiu Ye looked at Bu Jingxian and said, "I want you to kill the North Monarch."

"No," July refused flatly.

"Why?" Qiu Ye was bewildered.

"Hmph! So you don't care about me at all."

July’s rebuke made Qiu Ye suddenly realize something.

"Isn't there still time before the memorial service? You can kill the North Monarch and still make it."

"Who says there is time? How many days are left?"

"This is a major matter. Even if you are late, the spirit of Bu Jingxian would not blame you."

"Don't talk about killing the North Monarch—even if you died, Qiu Ye, I would still go to pay my respects to Brother Bu before coming back to stand guard at your wake."