Chapter 23: The Tournament Begins

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The Crow told Xiao Bugui, “From now on, we’re companions. Wherever you go, I’ll be there.”

Pig Fiend told Xiao Bugui, “I’ve given you the Seven Fiends Spear. From now on, your name in the martial world is Xiao Bugui of the Demon Sect’s Seven Fiends.”

Pan Yingjun told Xiao Bugui, “Remember this: I hate people saying I’m ugly, and you absolutely must not laugh at me for being ugly! You must praise my handsomeness from the bottom of your heart.”

Yu Datou told Xiao Bugui, “We fought before. As the saying goes, you don’t truly know someone until you’ve fought them. From now on, we’re brothers. Don’t let my size fool you—I’m the elder brother, and you’re the younger.”

Wu Keai told Xiao Bugui, “Fang Dabai used to be our big brother. From now on, you rank seventh and are everyone’s little brother. Remember, whenever you see me, call me Brother Wu. You’re one of the Demon Sect now.”

Surrounded by several great fiends, Xiao Bugui was both flattered and alarmed. “Brothers, I’m an immortal. I’m happy to be your sworn brother, but I won’t be joining the Demon Sect. Please look after me in the future.”

With her piercing eyes and pointed feet, Hu Jiao reproached him. “Xiao Bugui, why aren’t you calling me Sister?”

Xiao Bugui scratched his head shyly. “Hello, Sister.”

Hu Jiao took out a handkerchief folded from white silk and frightened him with a grim warning. “You took the Seven Fiends Spear but refuse to join the Demon Sect. We’ll have to kill you.”

Xiao Bugui untied the flexible spear and offered it to them with both hands. “I don’t want this spear. Take it back.”

“How ungrateful,” Hu Jiao said. “Then don’t blame us for being impolite.”

Yu Datou produced a fish fork, Pan Yingjun drew his nine-ring saber, Wu Keai pulled out a wolf-toothed club, and the Crow took out a bronze mirror. Pig Fiend simply fitted a set of false teeth forged from refined steel into his mouth.

Seeing the display, the flood dragon remained unmoved. Xiao Bugui was not a fool, however. He immediately tied the flexible spear back around his waist. “The Demon Sect sounds pretty good, actually. I couldn’t stay in Heaven any longer, so I came down to the mortal world. Brothers, Sister, please put away your weapons. It would be unfortunate if someone got hurt by accident.”

“You think we’re trying to harm you?” Hu Jiao said. “You don’t know that every human and demon in the martial world dreams of joining the Demon Sect. Our work is lax, the monthly salary is thirty taels, and overtime and business trips pay triple. During festivals, we even receive grain, oil, meat, and vegetables. After the age of two hundred, you can collect a pension. Most importantly, once you join the Demon Sect, you remain a member for life. You’ll never be unemployed unless you die in the line of duty.”

Since refusal was clearly impossible and Xiao Bugui was short of money, he stated his request directly. “In that case, could I have this month’s salary in advance?”

Hu Jiao took out a large silver ingot worth twenty taels. “You haven’t worked a full month yet. Use my money for now.”

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Xiao Bugui accepted the silver without hesitation and thanked her. “Thank you, Sister. Deduct it from my salary later.”

“Very well,” Hu Jiao said. “Crow, stay by Xiao Bugui’s side so we can keep in touch. I’ll return to report Fang Dabai’s affairs to the Sect Master. The four of you will infiltrate Wen Manor. Do not act rashly. Wait for the Sect Master’s orders.”

“I have wings,” the Crow said. “Hu Jiao, you stay with him. I’ll return to the Demon Sect.”

“Let Xiao Bugui go fight if he wants to,” Hu Jiao replied. “I’ll go to Wen Manor. An extra person means an extra pair of hands.”

After bidding farewell to the Six Fiends, Xiao Bugui and Ma Zengsan mounted the flood dragon and sped toward Cangzhou Prefecture. He would get to see Hao Meili again. Xiao Bugui was delighted, and he secretly wondered whether he had truly fallen in love with her. But then he remembered that he was an immortal. How could an immortal develop feelings for a girl? He consoled himself by thinking, I only regard her as a friend.

At that moment, Hao Meili was seated beside Hao Jingming in the Star-Picking Tower, where she had a clear view of the arena below.

The arena floor was already stained with blood. Ma Zhan’s great saber had wounded three people, each with the same outcome: one slash, and the victim was cleaved in two. The first had lost an arm, the second a thigh, and the third his head. Each case was more horrific than the last.

Ma Zhan had taken blows as well. The first opponent had struck his leg, the second his stomach, and the third his head, leaving him swollen into something resembling a fat man.

The maid Xiao Qian stood beside her mistress, squeezing her eyes shut in terror as she muttered, “Miss, that man is horrible. He kills without blinking. You mustn’t marry someone like him.”

Swollen purple, red, and grotesquely fat, Ma Zhan raised his blood-soaked saber and showed off to Miss Hao. Then he shouted arrogantly at the spectators below, “Who else? Come up and fight me!”

Hao Meili rolled her eyes in disgust and looked toward the sky. There she spotted a flood dragon, with Xiao Bugui and Ma Zengsan riding on its back.

The flood dragon circled above the arena. Sitting behind Xiao Bugui, Ma Zengsan said, “That man is far too arrogant. Go teach him a lesson.”

“He looks frightening,” Xiao Bugui replied. “Let’s eat and have some tea first. Once he’s tired from fighting, I’ll take him on.”

Xiao Bugui did not want to go, but Ma Zengsan shoved him off.

Xiao Bugui descended onto the arena. Before he could even exchange a greeting with Ma Zhan, Ma Zhan’s saber came slashing toward him. The flood dragon instantly transformed into a flying sword and blocked the attack.

Ma Zengsan, however, was not so fortunate. One moment he was still flying through the sky; the next, the dragon beneath him had vanished. He crashed onto the arena, landing flat on his back and smearing himself with blood. In agony, he cursed, “You nearly killed me! Kill that fellow Ma!”

Insulted, Ma Zhan shot Ma Zengsan a furious glare. Ma Zengsan merely responded with a beaming smile, then wisely rolled off the arena.

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Ma Zhan knocked the flying sword aside and realized that Xiao Bugui was his most troublesome opponent. He immediately launched a second attack.

Xiao Bugui had more than a flying sword. He also had a swift spear. The Seven Fiends Spear was no longer flexible; it shot forward like lightning and struck Ma Zhan’s blade.

Spear point against saber edge—the saber snapped, and a hole was punched through Ma Zhan’s body.

Grievously wounded, Ma Zhan threw away his weapon and fell to his knees, begging, “Young hero, spare me! I concede!”

Xiao Bugui asked in return, “If I let you go, will you try to hack off my arms and legs someday?”

“I would never dare,” Ma Zhan said. “I can’t defeat you.”

“Then leave,” Xiao Bugui said. “I won’t kill you.”

Enduring the pain, Ma Zhan forced himself to his feet and walked off the arena on his own. Several close brothers then carried him away on a stretcher.

“I’ll avenge you!”

As Ma Zhan’s sworn brother, Ma Yong was furious to see him injured. He stripped off his shirt, revealing a blue lion tattoo, and leaped onto the arena with an imposing air. Pointing at Xiao Bugui, he roared, “You actually hurt my brother! I’m going to teach you a lesson on his behalf.”

Ma Ruyun was also in the Star-Picking Tower and had witnessed everything. Seeing his brother grievously wounded, he slammed his massive fist onto the table and angrily asked Hao Jingming, “Where did this boy come from? How can he be so powerful?”

Seeing Ma Ruyun’s anger, Hao Jingming replied cheerfully, “This boy fell from the sky.”

Ma Ruyun clenched his teeth and sneered. “Ma Yong will kill him soon enough.”

Hearing that the newcomer was so powerful, Hao Meili grew worried. She rose and gripped the railing with both hands, shouting down from the tower, “Xiao Bugui, be careful!”