Chapter 25: The Name Of a Tiger
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"This notification panel… it's actually a saving thing, a gift from the gods to me. The glorious chosen one" he whispered. "Hehehe" He stood up and walked away from the stall, till he slipped into the busy streets.
Along the way he began to gather more Reactive Points, from glances, people were staring at him because of his strange luxury robe. The system screen kept on blinking and blinking.
Soon, he reached the Iron Vein Spirit sect Palace.
The entrance alone was crowded. There were attendants everywhere, attending to everyone who wanted to register. They were all lined up behind tables with scrolls on top. Long queues formed in front of each attendant like free ramen were being given out. Everyone wanted a chance to join the outer yard of the iron vein spirit sect and live in the spirit palace. Everyone wanted to get a spot at the Shattered Star Competition.
Noise flooded the entire place like a living wave. Voices and footsteps. Like a very busy market or mall. Chatter chatter… shout… chatter… stomp… clack…
People fought and argued over their place in line. Some begged to squeeze into a line. Some bragged about their cultivation. Some lunatic were loudly arguing about who arrived first.
It was chaos from the gates stall all the way to the spirit palace. Yin Zhe scanned the huge open area. He looked for anyone familiar. Bao Zi? Ren Tie? Tian Zuo? Wen Chong? He looked around again. There was Nothing. He could find any of them. No familiar faces.
"Hmph…" he sighed softly. "Where did all of them go?. I feel alone" He pushed through the crowds, and that was when he noticed something strange.
In the far end. There was a single attendant sitting alone, with no lines in front of him. No candidates lined up for him. people were everywhere but near him.
The man sat on a small wooden stool. A sword lay across his lap. He gently stroked it with his finger like he was calming a child.
Tap… tap… tap… the sword buzzes every once in a while.
His hair was neatly tied back. His robe wasn't flashy or anything, but the sword on his lap had a presence that made Yin Zhe's chest tighten for a second or two.
Yin Zhe walked toward the closest person in another line. "ahem... Excuse me," he said. "Why doesn't he have a line?" he asked out of curiosity The man looked at Yin Zhe up and down, he was surprised someone even asked.
"You don't know him?" the guy said.
"No," Yin Zhe replied.
"That's Elder Chen Niao," the man whispered. "A big figure in the Iron Vein Spirit Palace."
Yin Zhe raised an eyebrow. "If he's that important, shouldn't his queue be filled?" he asked in confusion.
The boy snorted lightly. "Hah. If only. Elder Chen Niao is powerful, yes. Very powerful at that. He holds one of the Thirteen Great Swords. The fourth one… Laughing Steel."
Yin Zhe's brows lifted. "The fourth sword…" he murmured.
The boy leaned closer. "But that's the problem," he said. "Elder Chen Niao loves the sword too much."
Yin Zhe blinked. "What do you mean… 'too much'?"
"He lectures. All day," the man groaned. "Anyone who lines up for him gets trapped. He talks about the path of the sword for hours without stopping. Not even minutes. Hours."
Yin Zhe stared at the lone attendant again. The sword glinted in the sunlight. Chen Niao tapped it again softly.
Tap… buzz…
The boy continued, a bit annoyed, "I'm telling you, even the old men in the city avoid him. They say he's obsessed. Once he starts speaking, he doesn't stop."
Yin Zhe gave a small nod. "I see."
Then he smiled politely and said, "By the way, I'm Yin Zhe. What's your name?"
The boy stretched his neck and answered casually, "Hu Dun." He then sighed. "But people also call me Dumb Tiger."
"Dumb Tiger?" Yin Zhe repeated inside his mind. The words rolled around in his head like loose stones. Like the way words float around anime characters heads, when they are thinking. "Dumb… dumb… dumb…" He blinked.
"Seriously?. If this was a novel, then... the..." he thought, "then the author of this book must be high on weed… or he's just dumb himself. Hmmm… I'll let the readers decide… Dumb Tiger?... What about dumb Lion and dumb cheetah or silly monkey" He kept a straight face though. Despite his chaotic thoughts.
Yin Zhe looked at Hu Dun and said aloud, "You don't look dumb to me bro."
Hu Dun chuckled. "Hahaha… that's the meaning of my name, bro. It's literally dumb. Dun means dumb. Hu Dun means Dumb Tiger."
"Pffft" Yin Zhe almost laughed out loud but he held it in. "Hmph…"
The system flickered.
[][Liked Reactive Point +1][]
Yin Zhe smirked inwardly. "I guess I made someone like me…" he paused "hmm like me ?... Ewwwww?.. but still" his smile broadened. "This thing is too convenient. I can practically see what someone is feeling or reacting… well only towards me"
Yin Zhe peeked at Hu Dun again. "His parents must be insane, Yin Zhe thought, to name him that. His surname is Dumb. His name is Tiger. Dumb Tiger… hahaha… this world is wild… way better than earth." He paused for a brief moment, and imagined the planet earth, reacting to his words by saying "Nah... I'd Win... Kid"
He stepped forward toward Elder Chen Niao's empty registration table. Hu Dun waved him. "Good luck, bro. Don't let the old man trap you in a lecture!"
Yin Zhe let out a small "sigh…" and walked over.
Elder Chen Niao sat calmly allowing his sword to rest upon his lap. The sword gave a soft buzzing sound as light hit it. Niao the elder lifted his head slowly.
The moment their eyes met, the system flashed with a new notification.
[Appreciated RP +1]
Yin Zhe's eyebrow moved a little. In confusion. "He appreciates me?. Just because I walked up to him?. Weird old man. This guy must badly be starving for some attention…"
The elder's voice came out smoothly and warmly. "Good lad," Chen Niao said. "What's your name?"
Yin Zhe bowed lightly and responded. "My name is Yin Zhe. I would like to register for the Shattered Star Competition."
Chen Niao nodded slowly. "Good. Good. And what's your cultivation level, young one?"
Yin Zhe paused. Then he glanced at the glowing system screen that had thrown the appreciation notification at him. "I'm guessing he must be grateful that someone came to his line. Maybe everyone avoids him too much… tch, that must hurt his pride somehow."
Then Yin Zhe spoke calmly. "I'm on the sixth stage of the Root Awakening Realm."
Chen Niao's brows forrow slightly. "Oh? Stronger than you look."