Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 44: A Draw?

Dust and mist swirled in the air as City Lord Liu and Qi Daodong both stood up, their eyes fixed on the arena.

Their reactions were a beat slower than Gu’s, and by the time they realized what was happening, it was too late to rush in and intervene. They could only hope that Gu would be able to stop You Su’s sword. Everyone, including the two of them, thought that Wu Cheng was about to suffer a devastating blow. This made them question whether the battle had strayed from its original purpose.

When the dust finally settled, the figures of three people appeared in the arena. Gu stood between the two young men, supporting both of them.

Wu Cheng didn’t really need any support. Aside from the wound on his waist and some torn clothing, his face was even clean. In contrast, You Su was leaning on Gu for support, using his sword to prop himself up. His face was twisted in pain, and the lower half of his robe was shredded, revealing several charred wounds on his legs.

The crowd was surprised. They had expected You Su’s astonishing sword strike to severely injure Wu Cheng, but instead, it seemed as though the blow had backfired on You Su himself. However, some keen observers understood the intricacies of what had happened, and among them, Qi Daodong’s expression was the most complex.

He exchanged a glance with City Lord Liu, who gave him a reassuring smile, his wrinkles deepening.

In the arena, Gu subtly channeled a gentle stream of profound energy into You Su’s body while announcing in a loud voice:

“The winner has been determined! You Su of the Mandarin Duck Sword Sect is victorious!”

The crowd’s reaction was mixed. Some were in disbelief, some were silent, and a few were filled with resentment. But the majority erupted into applause, cheering for the thrilling and unpredictable battle that had left them in awe.

Gu then took out two glowing spiritual pills and handed them to the two young men. In a voice only they could hear, he said, “These are high-grade Spiritual Healing Pills. They’ll stop the bleeding and help your wounds heal quickly. Take them now, and don’t push yourselves too hard.”

“Thank you, Elder Gu,” Wu Cheng said politely.

You Su reached out to take the pill but didn’t have the strength to speak. He simply nodded in gratitude, and Gu didn’t mind, looking at You Su with satisfaction.

At that moment, City Lord Liu also began clapping enthusiastically. With a warm smile, he said:

“Well done! Truly worthy of the youth of Chuyun City! You’ve even surpassed my younger self. At such a young age, you’ve already attained such strength. Even in Divine Mountain, they would call you a ‘prodigy’! The future is bright, the future is indeed bright!”

Inspired by his words, the crowd’s cheers grew even louder. Cultivators and commoners alike felt a sense of pride, their admiration and respect for the two young men growing.

“Elder Gu,” City Lord Liu continued, his tone solemn, “As the city lord of Chuyun City, today’s battle has deeply moved me. Therefore, I have an unorthodox request. I hope you will grant it!”

Gu felt a sense of unease. His expression darkened slightly as he wondered what City Lord Liu was up to, especially since he had invoked his status as the city lord.

“City Lord Liu, please speak your mind.”

City Lord Liu clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with passion: “Chuyun City is a remote city, over four thousand miles from the Divine Mountain. Many in Divine Mountain may not have even heard of us. But today, the appearance of Wu Cheng and You Su has given me hope for changing the fate of Chuyun City! They’ve shown us a bright future! They’ve proven that those born near Divine Mountain, bathed in its glory from childhood, are not inherently superior to us! Chuyun City can also produce prodigies who will leave them in the dust!”

His inspiring speech stirred the emotions of the crowd. Yes, why should those near the Divine Mountain monopolize its blessings? Why should they look down on us as peasants? Why should we have to endure such harsh conditions in order to get closer to the Divine Mountain? Chuyun City can also produce dragons among humans!

“City Lord Liu is right!” some burly men couldn’t contain their excitement and shouted in agreement.

City Lord Liu smiled and raised his hand to quiet the crowd. He continued, “I’ve watched Wu Cheng and You Su grow up since they were children. They come from different sects and backgrounds, but their unwavering devotion to the Dao is the same! Today’s battle was spectacular! It showcased the courage, wit, and fighting spirit of the youth of Chuyun City! In my eyes, there is no loser in this battle. Both of them are winners!”

“Therefore, I implore Elder Gu to declare this match a draw! Today’s battle should have no loser!”

“Well said!” Qi Daodong was the first to voice his support, followed by several other sect leaders seated nearby.

Gu’s brow furrowed slightly. He finally understood what City Lord Liu was trying to do. He inwardly sighed at his cunning junior’s smooth combination of raising the stakes and then applying moral pressure.

The purpose was clearly to protect the reputation of Qi Daodong, Wu Cheng, and even the entire upper echelon of Chuyun City’s cultivators. You Su, a blind boy with no status or backing, had defeated the widely celebrated Wu Cheng. This was unacceptable to them, so they used the crowd’s momentum to pressure Gu into changing the result to a draw.

Of course, You Su heard everything City Lord Liu said. He tightly gripped the hilt of his sword, feeling both wronged and furious.

City Lord Liu’s eloquent words couldn’t fool him. This seemingly reasonable request, if granted, would bring joy to everyone else at the cost of You Su’s hard-earned victory.

In You Su’s eyes, the applauding cultivators were like a group of greasy merchants trying to snatch away half of his victory and stamp it with their own label.

As City Lord Liu had implied, the “enemy” keeping Chuyun City a remote backwater wasn’t just one person near the Divine Mountain. It was the entire system of those who relied on Divine Mountain to keep outsiders out. Today, You Su’s enemy wasn’t just Wu Cheng – it was everyone in Chuyun City who held power and status, represented by Wu Cheng.

Moreover, Gu had made it clear at the start of the Ascension Assembly that victory wasn’t the sole criterion for determining who would get the opportunity to study at Divine Mountain. With City Lord Liu’s appeal, declaring a draw was now Gu’s best option. It would align with the original purpose of the assembly, demonstrate his understanding of City Lord Liu’s “greater good,” and earn him even more respect from the city’s residents.

You Su felt powerless and resigned. He loosened his grip on the sword, hoping that at least his chance to study at Divine Mountain wouldn’t be affected. As for the victory, if they wanted it, they could have it…

“City Lord Liu, you are mistaken!”

Gu patted You Su’s shoulder and spoke in a clear, resonant voice, silencing the crowd. No one had expected him to reject the proposal that seemed to satisfy everyone.