Shen's P.O.V
"Wake up,"
"Hmm,"
"Shen,"
"Jus...."
"Lady Chen is being harassed."
I suddenly jolted awake and readied a blue fire on my hand. Everyone gasped and looked at me like I am a lunatic. I look at Lady Chen whose face is reddened with laughter. If only I could eat her up then she would not laugh. I extinguished my fire and cough. My blood rushed to my cheeks as I try to tidy myself up.
"Lady Chen is so childish,"
She clears her throat as soon as she realizes that she was indeed laughing.
"The speech was ended, Shen."
"Ha, and my sleep was disturbed by a beautiful maiden."
"Come, let us meet with the others."
I could only hum and drag my feet to where Lady Chen was at. She rolls her eyes and then grabs my hand gently, as if my hand was to break if being touched. My face had heated up when Lady Chen started walking, not once sparing me a glance. I smile to myself and let my eyelids close.
"I am deeply amazed by how Shen can sleep while walking."
"I have been taught to sleep with a rope tied on my foot," I yawned, stretching a bit, disregarding the fact that we are surrounded by people.
"A rope?"
"Yes. That old hag had tied up a rock."
"I can not picture what you are saying, Shen."
How can I say this? Uhmmmm.
"Like this. I sleep outside all the time and whenever I were to sleep, that old hag would lift my foot up, tied it up with a rope on one end and on the other end, a boulder. If I, even just a little bit, set my foot down, then the boulder will smash me to death."
"Such training you went through,"
"And those training are done!" I pump my fist up in the air, feeling like I've won.
I may look like a moron to these people but I am indeed happy. I've been through a lot with no one beside me, to teach me gently what I was supposed to do, so yes, I a quite happy. I guess I should be thanking that old hag for making me this strong but still! That was too much. I shall never go back.
"Calm down, Shen. You already look like a fool, don't make hasty actions that will make you deem one."
"Heh, I bear their opinions not in mind."
"A pleasure to meet all of you. As we are all here to test all of your strengths, to put the strongest at command." General Luo announced on the elevated platform located on the east side of Yingxiong Hall.
I look around and saw that General Luo and Zhu's cultivators are gathered here. General Ming and General Lao must be in the same group. These people here that they are of no chance winning against Lady Chen and if I analyze their gazes, their target is me.
These buffoons have no chance winning against me but of course, they have no knowledge about me being so powerful. I shall spare them their humiliation when they face me in battle. I look around and I see General Zhu looking at Lady Chen, quite disgustingly. Such a lewd face he has.
I grab Lady Chen's hand and pull her closer to me. Lady Chen turns to look at me but she must have saw my unexplained expression thus did not mind my action further.
"We will announce who will fight in the first round."
I did not pay any attention to the announcement and just focused on Lady Chen and the fight before me. Haiya, such weak qi, presence, aura and power. I could not believe that the future are in these kids' hands. He could not even lift his sword using his qi, haiya. What a disappointment. Even the next three battles are such.
"Chen Qingshan, under Master Zhao's wing, step on the platform as you are against Luo Tian, under General Zhu's wing."
I begrudgingly let go of Lady Chen's hand. Lady Chen squeezes my hand, reassuring me that everything will be fine before jumping to the platform. As if I sensed something abnormal, my eyes turned to General Zhu who had a sinister smile.
"That bastard must've done something."
I hurriedly turn my attention back to Lady Chen and heaved a sigh of relief when I saw that she was not harmed, nor did the battle begin. I grit my teeth, feeling something odd in my stomach.
"Start!"
Immediately, Luo Tian charged with full speed and power, screaming as she speeds her way to Lady Chen. Of course, Lady Chen spared no second to summon her trustee ice dagger and let that sole dagger interrupt Luo Tian's charge. The dagger move as if it has its own mind, attacking Luo Tian endlessly.
"Martial Aunt Chen is so talented."
"I do not want to fight against Martial Aunt Chen."
"Ah, but being near her should be my blessing."
"Even if it means your humiliation?"
"Eh. People know that she's the best one here. I see no humiliation."
"Martial Aunt Chen is so beautiful."
"I would do anything for Martial Aunt Chen."
"Go kill yourself then."
"Did I say that you were Martial Aunt Chen?"
A lop-sided smile had escaped my lips when I heard people talk about Lady Chen. Indeed Lady Chen is better than everyone else here, but since I have harbored such feelings for her, I could not help but tell everyone that I am planning on marrying her.
I just looked away for a second and the battle had already ended. Lady Chen bows before walking towards me. Everyone stare at her in awe as she closes her eyes. It was as if she did not move, she was in the same position she was in before. She did not forget to grab my hand before opening her eyes.
She looked so magnificent under the sun's rays, even under the moon's light. She is a direct descendant of the sun and the moon.
"I ended the battle fast as I have noticed that you are restless, Shen. Is something bothering you?"
"I have no issues but I will see to it that nothing bad will happen to you, My Lady Chen."
"I can handle my well-being."
"You can handle anyone but I do not know if you can handle two people coming at you with a power greater than yours."
She gave me no reply as the next battle starts. She had tighten her grip on my hand as she watches the fight until the end.
"Shen, under Master Zhao's wing, step on the platform as you are against Ling Fang, under General Luo's wing."
"Don't send him flying."
"Ha! I won't." I ascend the platform with a toothy grin.
"I will be beside Martial Aunt Chen. Someone as average as you is not worth her presence."
"Heh, suck that up your ass."
Of course, enraging him is part of my plan.
"Start!"
I charge at him. He must've thought that I'm stupid because he jumped high with a smile. I smirk. I ran in zig zag so fast that he could not see me from up high. Of course, I used my power to make the people watching think that I am only running with an average speed so as to not evoke suspicion.
"What the-"
He had no choice but to land but there was no problem, he could not find a spot. He was running out of time thus picked the area behind me to land but, with just a blink of an eye, I flicked his forehead. He then falls off from the elevated platform, making me win.
"Heh, I told you, suck that up your ass."
I walk with triumph.
"What was that about?"
"Lady Chen need not worry about that, I had just gave him his medicine."
"Shen went too easy on him."
"He was even easier."
"I do not get it, Shen."
"The better, Lady Chen, the better."
I had a total of 46 fights while Lady Che had a total of 15. People did not want to face Lady Chen as they know that they do not stand a chance against such a powerful opponent. When it was just me and Lady Chen, I forfeited and told them but Lady Chen is much more powerful than I am, and smarter. Of course, Lady Chen did not like the idea but she had no choice. I was concealing my identity.
"S-Senior Shen,"
"Hm?"
I spun around and saw the girl that I had saved a few nights ago. I forgot to ask her name because I was in a hurry. Lady Chen stops walking and turned around too, seemingly curious of what has held me up.
"Y-you were magnificent!" junior sister claps her hands with a bright smile on her face.
I smile sheepishly and scratch the back of my neck, embarrassed.
"Oh! Did those thugs bother you again?" she shakes her head.
"If they see me walk, they hastily run away."
"That's great. Better even. Tell you what, if people ever harass you again, call out my name and I will surely come to your rescue."
I rub her head softly with a smile. Innocent people like her should not be bullied. They deserve to be cared for.
"I-if I might trouble you again in helping me th-then, thank you, Senior Shen."
"I forgot to ask you for your name,"
"Lee Chunhua, Senior Shen." her face had reddened as she mentions her name.
Just then, a sudden chill had made its way up to my bareback, making me shiver. I look behind me and I saw an annoyed looking Lady Chen. Crap. I had forgotten about her.
"T-this is Lady Chen,"
"Chen Qingshan," she corrected.
"Aha," well, that was awkward, "nice meeting you Junior Chunhua. We best be going. I shall talk to you some other time."
"Mhm! I will be cheering for you, Senior Shen!"
I wave as Lady Chen drags me to Yingxiong Hall. The winner of each side will clash with the same title at stake. The loser will have a chance fighting the winner of the second battle for the second at command title.
Lady Chen versus the other winner. Me and the second winner of the opposing side shall clash. The loser of the first battle will fight the winner of the second. So, there will be a total of 3 matches, later tonight.
"I did not have knowledge that you have other acquaintances."
"Hmm? She is the only one. I need no such thing."
"Yet you have such a thing."
Lady Chen was annoyed, I can see that but I see no reason as to why she is. Could it be that she's annoyed that I had forgotten about her? Or that I did not hold her hand? Or is it that she is still annoyed because I had forfeited? Or,
"Is Lady Chen bitter because she is jealous?"
Lady Chen's face suddenly becomes red. She pinches my arm before turning away. Aw, how adorable. I grab Lady Chen's hand and intertwined it with mine. My heart leaped when she had locked our fingers together. I was so shocked that I had bumped into someone.
"Are you-" I rub my eyes as it got hit with the person's hair.
"Apologies, Martial Aunts, I did not see you."
"Ah, I'm at fault too, I'm sorry." I say as I rub my right eye.
"N-no, Martial Aunt Shen did not do anything wrong. I-I-I best leave. I'm sorry!"
The poor boy left, running like he had seen a ghost or something. I turn to Lady Chen, still rubbing my eye.
"Your eye is important, do not rub is to harshly."
Lady Chen lets go of my left and walks in front of me. She, ever so gently, grabs my right hand, removes it from my eye.
"Stay still," I could only hum as I watch her perform healing magic on my eye.
As if the world stopped, motion ceases to exist. I could only see Lady Chen. Her beauty, so close to my face. If I could only kiss Lady Chen right here and there, then I would've done so. Her slender frame. Her fragile beauty. Her long lashes. Her serene eyes that could be cold most of the time but still loveable.
"Be mindful next time, clumsy Shen."
"Is it my mistake that such a beauty is beside me?" she rolls her eyes but her face still reddened at my corny words.
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, that guy shouted, didn't he?"
"Yes, such venom in his voice."
"But he turned soft. I wonder why,"
"You need not worry of such trivial things."
"Alright."