Chapter 127: Give Me the Time It Takes for an Incense Stick to Burn

Before revealing his so-called "great secret," Ye Jiuyao insisted the two men take the most poisonous of oaths. After all, one can never truly know another's heart, and for the sake of his own safety, this was the only way. To his surprise, the two agreed with remarkable readiness. Recognizing their ability to prioritize the bigger picture over trifles, Ye Jiuyao began to see them in a new light.

"So, do you understand now?"

"Hyping it up?"

"Exactly. We first capture the attention of the masses, then we embellish the narrative. We only need to pull this off once; after that, we might not be able to continue, as you both understand."

"True. It's dangerous—after all, you need your life to enjoy the money," the man addressed as Brother Li analyzed.

Ye Jiuyao nodded, then took his leave, content to let the two of them handle the execution. He headed straight for the main hall of the Qianye Sect in the East District. By now, representatives from various sects, large and small, had already assembled, with the East District’s Qianye Sect occupying the most prominent positions. As hosts, they had modestly seated themselves in the second tier, alongside the Qianye Sect branches from the other three districts.

The crowd’s attention was suddenly drawn outward. A man arrived, stepping through the air on the back of a crane. He wore a formal headpiece and a long sword at his waist; his large eyes radiated a fierce, overbearing aura.

"I am... Qian Qing!" the newcomer announced.

"We pay our respects to the Regional Master!"

The man was Qian Qing, the Regional Master of the domain overseen by the Qianye Sect of the Qian Emperor Realm. The Qian Emperor Realm was vast and strictly organized into four levels: District, Domain, Dao, and Realm. The "Central Qianye Sect" mentioned in the context of the districts referred to the superior domain level, and so on, following a hierarchical progression. The three great Dynasties followed a similar structure, each area subdivided into sectors, with the four major powers holding the upper hand. Smaller sects, meanwhile, were scattered in the areas ignored by the major powers, where they scraped together their own influence.

"Rise. There is no need for such formality. My purpose here is the martial arts competition between the four districts. Should any other sects have promising young talents, they are welcome to participate, provided they join one of the four district branches of the Qianye Sect."

"We thank the Regional Master!" The leaders and elders of the smaller sects rose to offer their gratitude; the gap in status was simply too vast.

"Why have the three Dynasties not arrived?"

"Master, the Fanshi Kingdom of the three Dynasties has arrived, but the other two have not. It seems they are holding their own competitions, likely vying for something..." the East District’s Sect Master replied.

"Very well, then. Invite the representatives of the Fanshi Kingdom to the martial arts arena."

"As you command."

...

Having finished his instructions, Qian Qing prepared to depart, being quite familiar with the East District’s branch, as it served as the frequent venue for the four-district competition. Just as the assembly began to disperse, a youth drifted in from the horizon, stepping through the air with a calm, leisurely grace, as if he were merely out for a stroll.

"Eh? Is the registration already closing?" Ye Jiuyao asked, showing a flicker of surprise as he watched the crowd prepare to leave.

All eyes turned toward him. Among the crowd, Bai Mei looked startled, then immediately anxious. Knowing Ye Jiuyao’s temperament—he was hardly the type to stay out of trouble—Bai Mei feared he would provoke Qian Qing.

"Which district is this child from?"

"Oh, this is going to be a disaster."

Before Bai Mei could signal him, Qian Qing’s gaze had already locked onto the youth, his expression darkening with irritation.

"Qian..."

"Regional Master, this boy is a disciple of the South District’s Qianye Sect! My people in the West District encountered him earlier; he is utterly disrespectful to his elders, with a mouth full of filth!" Zeng Li rushed to interject. Bai Mei’s eyes glinted with murderous intent, as did those of the other members from the South District. *How vicious this man is!*

Ye Jiuyao’s gaze fell upon Zeng Li, a profound look in his eyes, as if he were observing a mere court jester.

"Elder Zeng, is it? If I recall correctly, your favorite hobby is talking nonsense, isn't it? Why, have you now taken to kissing the Regional Master's backside?"

"You?!"

Qian Qing’s fury flared even higher. The boy had dared to speak of his backside—his intentions were surely malicious! By now, Qian Qing was sixty percent convinced of Zeng Li’s accusation. The onlookers widened their eyes, staring at the brazen youth, while the members of the other two districts looked on with amusement. After all, it was none of their concern, and they were happy to see a competitor suffer. Bai Mei and Ning Ling were filled with dread; had they not known Qian Qing to be a relatively reasonable man, Bai Mei might have acted already.

But Ye Jiuyao remained utterly fearless. "Regional Master, don't be so hasty. Wait for me to explain. I only worry that you are being misled by people with ulterior motives. After all, you have a very... fine appearance..."

"Hmph. If you do not give me a satisfactory explanation today, the South District will be barred from future participation and relegated to the very bottom."

"Heh... Regional Master, please contain your impatience. Give it the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and you will know the truth." Ye Jiuyao smiled confidently, having just received a signal from Brother Li in the crowd.

"Boy, no matter how silver-tongued you are, you won't escape the consequences of this today!" Zeng Li glared at him viciously.

...

"Fine. I will grant you the time for one incense stick. If you cannot provide an explanation by then, your South District will suffer greatly!" Intrigued by the youth’s composure, Qian Qing decided to indulge him.

"Qian..."

"Shut up! Keep your silence and wait!" Zeng Li tried to stir the pot further, but was cut off by Qian Qing’s sharp rebuke. He dared not speak again, though his eyes remained fixed on Ye Jiuyao with venomous intent.

"Bai Mei, you lot are doomed," Zeng Li whispered. Bai Mei ignored him, his eyes fixed on Ye Jiuyao. He prayed for a miracle; otherwise, the South District was truly in peril.

...

Soon, rumors began to spread. The previously quiet area surrounding the East District’s Qianye Sect grew increasingly noisy. Qian Qing’s peripheral vision remained on Ye Jiuyao, but the youth stood as immovable as a rock against the wind.

"Regional Master, it is time." Ye Jiuyao suddenly spoke.

"Speak. Give me a reasonable explanation."

"Regional Master, why don't you go down there and ask them what they are discussing? Are you not curious? Why would cultivators be so distracted that they are gathering in groups to chatter?"

"Do you mean to say cultivators cannot gather to discuss techniques or cultivation?"

"Heh... Regional Master, do not deceive yourself. I believe it is best to follow your heart. Cultivation demands sincerity; if you block your inner path, breakthroughs will become impossible..." Ye Jiuyao stared directly into Qian Qing’s flickering eyes, showing no mercy. Bai Mei and the others were completely stunned. This boy was walking the path of self-destruction; it was becoming truly difficult to save him.

"This... very well. I shall go down and ask. To think, during such a grand event, people are busy gossiping about other matters..."

Qian Qing’s cultivation was profound, and his hearing was naturally sharp; he had indeed caught snippets of the rumors below. However, as a Regional Master, he had his pride. He had hoped to use Ye Jiuyao’s offer as a graceful exit, but the boy was too stubborn to give him an easy way out.

"Please," Ye Jiuyao said, gesturing politely. Even after slapping a man’s face, one must provide a semblance of dignity, lest the man bear a grudge and make things difficult later.