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Ling Kun was not a stupid man.
He knew when he was outmatched.
He took a slow step backward and forced his hands to let go of his sword.
"I see,"
Ling Kun said, forcing a very stiff smile.
"I apologize for my rudeness. I will leave you alone to enjoy the matches."
He bowed slightly, turned around, and walked away.
But as he walked, his eyes grew dark and cold.
*I will let you win today,*
Ling Kun thought to himself.
*But I will never give up on the Nine Profound Exquisite Body.*
Sam watched the elder leave, then calmly sat back down in his chair.
Xia Qingyue looked down at her hands.
She looked troubled.
"I am sorry, Senior Sam,"
Xia Qingyue said softly.
"For what?"
Sam asked, picking up his teacup again.
"For bringing trouble to you,"
She answered, looking at the direction Ling Kun went.
"Because of my body, he will definitely come back to bother you. I made you a target."
Sam smiled.
He reached out and gently patted her head.
Xia Qingyue closed her eyes.
She leaned into his hand, completely accepting his warm, comforting touch
.
"It is not your fault,"
Sam told her.
"Greedy people will always find a reason to take what they want. If they did not want you, they would find something else to steal."
He pulled his hand back and looked out at the fighting stage.
"Don't worry about them,"
Sam added, his voice completely relaxed.
"If he decides to come back, let him come. It will save me the trouble."
Down in the arena, the next match began.
Swords clashed loudly, but Sam's group paid little attention to the stage.
A woman walked up to their table. It was Xuanyuan Yufeng.
She did not wear her heavy crown or sharp jewelry anymore.
She wore a simple dress and looked much lighter.
She walked straight to Jean.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
Yufeng asked softly.
Jean smiled and pulled out an empty chair.
"Of course not. Please, sit with us."
Yufeng sat down and let out a long, easy breath.
"I packed my bags,"
Yufeng told Jean.
"I sent a message to my father. He is sending a ship for me and my sons tomorrow."
"How do you feel now?"
Jean asked.
"Free,"
Yufeng answered with a genuine smile.
"My chest finally stopped hurting. Thank you, Jean. I truly mean it."
Yufeng then turned her attention to Sam.
She bowed her head politely.
"We have not properly met,"
She said,
"I am Xuanyuan Yufeng."
Sam nodded and pushed a fresh cup of tea toward her.
"I am Sam. Welcome to our table, Yufeng."
"Thank you for letting me join you,"
She replied, taking the warm cup.
"Your wife gave me my pride back today."
"She is good at that,"
Sam smiled gently.
"You belong to a very strong family. You should hold your head high."
Yufeng nodded and turned back to talk with Jean.
They chatted easily together, laughing like old friends.
Sam took a sip of his tea and watched the fighting below.
But his mind was thinking about her family.
He knew exactly who her father was.
Her family controlled the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
It was one of the Four Sacred Grounds, just like Ling Kun's sect.
They were the true rulers behind the curtain.
*If she takes her family's support away,*
Sam thought to himself.
*Ling Tianni's villa will lose its absolute protection. Her father will be furious about the divorce. The balance of power in this world is going to crack wide open very soon.*
Sam set his cup down on the table.
He did not mind the coming storm at all.
The old rules needed to be broken anyway.
Yufeng slowly turned her head.
She looked at Chu Yuechan sitting quietly nearby.
For a long moment, neither woman spoke.
Then, Yufeng took a slow breath.
"Fairy Chu,"
Yufeng said softly.
"I want to apologize to you."
Chu Yuechan looked surprised.
"To me?"
"Yes,"
Yufeng nodded.
"I hated you for years. I blamed you for stealing my husband's heart. But you never did anything wrong. You never even looked his way. I was just blind and angry."
Chu Yuechan lowered her eyes.
"I am sorry too,"
Chu Yuechan replied.
"I never meant to bring you so much pain. I should have made my rejection much clearer to him."
"It would not have mattered,"
Yufeng said with a small, sad smile.
"A man who wants to be blind will never open his eyes."
Across the arena, up on the high balcony, Ling Tianni stood alone.
He was looking down at their table.
He looked at his wife, who was leaving him forever.
Then, his eyes slowly shifted. He stared right at Chu Yuechan again, his face full of longing.
Even now, after losing his family and his sect's future, he was still chasing the ghost.
Sam saw his gaze. He shook his head and sighed.
"What a complete bastard,"
Sam said out loud.
His voice was totally flat, but the words were very sharp.
Yufeng blinked in surprise. She turned to look at Sam.
"You just cursed,"
Yufeng said, her eyes wide.
"I thought you were always perfectly calm and polite. You hold so much power, I assumed nothing could break your composure."
Jean started to laugh. She leaned against Sam's shoulder.
"He is usually very calm,"
Jean smiled, looking at her husband with deep affection.
"He never gets angry over normal things. But he has zero patience for men who mistreat their families."
Jean took Sam's hand and held it tightly.
"He has this very blunt side to him,"
Jean told Yufeng.
"He calls things exactly as he sees them. That is exactly why I fell in love with him."
Yufeng looked at Sam, then at Jean.
For the first time in a very long time, she let out a real, joyful laugh.
"I like him,"
Yufeng agreed, nodding her head.
"He is right. My husband is a bastard."
The sun began to set. The long day of fighting was almost over.
The judge walked to the center of the ruined stone stage.
He raised his hands to quiet the loud crowd.
"The final match of the tournament!"
The judge shouted.
"Princess Cang Yue of the Royal Family, against Ling Yun of the Heavenly Sword Villa!"
The crowd roared.
Cang Yue stood up from her seat. She walked calmly to the stage.
Ling Yun jumped down from the other side.
He did not look arrogant like the other fighters. He looked very serious.
He drew his silver sword and bowed to her.
"You surprised everyone today, Princess,"
Ling Yun said respectfully.
"No one expected the Royal Family to possess such power."
"We stayed quiet for too long,"
Cang Yue answered.
"Now, we have to stand up."
"I understand,"
Ling Yun nodded.
"I will not hold back."
"I do not want you to,"
Cang Yue told him.
"Show me your best."
Ling Yun moved first.
He dashed forward with incredible speed.
His sword sliced through the air, aiming right at her chest.
Cang Yue did not flinch.
She gathered her golden fire and pushed her hands forward.
*Clang.*
The metal sword hit the wall of fire.
The impact shook the entire arena.
They pushed against each other.
They were completely equal in strength.
Ling Yun spun around and attacked from the side.
Cang Yue easily blocked him. She fired a blast of heat.
Ling Yun jumped over it and swung his blade down.
For twenty minutes, they traded fast blows.
Neither of them took a step backward.
The crowd watched in total silence.
They had never seen a fight this close.
Up in the stands, Yufeng watched her son with a proud smile.
She did not care if he won or lost.
She just wanted him to fight bravely.
Down on the stage, Ling Yun stopped and took a deep breath.
He held his sword high.
"This is my final move, Princess,"
Ling Yun warned her.
"Everything I have is in this strike."
"I am ready,"
Cang Yue replied.
She let the Phoenix fire she got from Sue Grey wrap completely around her right arm.
She accepted her people so she got some Phoenix blood from her.
They rushed at each other.
Ling Yun swung his blade with all his remaining might.
Cang Yue did not block it this time.
She twisted her body just a tiny bit.
The sharp sword missed her shoulder by an inch.
Before Ling Yun could pull his sword back, Cang Yue struck.
She hit his wrist with her burning hand.
Ling Yun dropped his sword.
The weapon hit the stone floor with a loud noise.
Cang Yue stopped her fist right in front of his face.
The heat from her hand made his hair blow backward.
Ling Yun stood completely still.
He looked at her fist, then down at his empty hand.
He stepped back and bowed his head.
"I yield,"
Ling Yun declared loudly.
"You are much faster than me. Thank you for the fair match."
"You fought with true honor, Ling Yun,"
Cang Yue smiled.
The judge raised his flag high into the air.
"The winner of the final match,"
The judge yelled to the crowd.
"And the new champion of the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament is Princess Cang Yue!"
The entire arena exploded with cheers.
The Royal Family had finally reclaimed its place at the top.