*Multiple POV*
***
(Outer Court Disciple)
'It was 100% worth staying here overnight to get this one front row seat! I feel like I could practically touch her if I reach out far enough!' Extending my hand outward towards the stage I grasped the air towards where she would be standing. She would soon come on stage.
There were barriers blocking us from going too far just in front of the seats. My arm had reached over and there seemed to be another arm reaching over just beside me.
A slightly strict male voice is heard from the arm's direction "Brother Shen, what do you think you're doing?"
Jumping a little I was prepared to be reprimanded as I slowly turned head. A man in blue robes stood in front of me smiling.
His tone softened as he continued "I'm just kidding, I'm here for the same thing. Did you not notice me reaching out as well?"
"Bro-Brother Li! Don't scare me like that! I thought I was just about to be thrown out before I could even see Sister Yao finish her match!"
"Hehehe, I knew you were too focused on her so I thought I might play a little prank on you! You didn't even notice I was sitting beside you until now did you?"
'He was there the entire time!?!'
"*Ahem* I knew you were there! I was merely waiting to see if you would notice me beside you."
Brother Li rolled his eyes "Yeah right! Brother Shen I know your antics by now, do you think you can still fool me like this?"
"Man, I can't believe how quickly Sister Yao overthrew the previous sect's beauty. What about you?"
"Hey! Don't change the topic! But yeah she was only here for around four months meanwhile Sister Zhen had already been here for around two years. It's incredible she could completely usurp that title so quickly."
'Yes it worked'
"Where do you think she comes from? I mean I've heard that quite a few of the Inner court disciples tried to find her origins using their connections, but were completely unsuccessful. They only thing they found was that she appeared in the city the day the entrance exam was held."
"I happen to have a connection or two with someone in the Inner court and it seems that Young Master Yan might know something about her origins."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well he was part of the newcomers who came in with her and he is the son of one of Fang city's officials. He could of asked the guards about her. Or maybe even her group."
"Her group? You're saying she came in with others? How come no one has addressed them?"
"Well some people have them, but there is apparently six members. It can't just be that everyone of those people misremembered their group count. Whenever anybody asked them about where they came from they always changed the topic."
"Then.. where is that last member?"
"Brother Shen since when were you so curious about these subjects? And why does it seem like you're the only one getting something out of this?"
A wry smile surfaced on my face as I felt embarrassed. I was too imposing asking those questions.
"Ah forget it, the final member of that group is a reclusive one. He's not seen too often only occasionally is he seen around the sect. When he is seen it's around their group as well. There have been some people who wanted to befriend the man, but it seems no one even knows where his allotted living quarters are."
"Surely the elders would know. Why not ask them?"
"They won't say, even bribes didn't work this time or it might have not been enough for them. I only know the accounts of some Outer court disciples though."
Some voices around us quickly caught our attention with the contents.
"There she is!"
"She gets better and better after every consecutive time I see her."
"Finally I have to engrave this in my memory so I'll never forget her!"
Those voices were a clear indication of who had come. Following the heads of everyone else Brother Ji and I swiveled our heads and saw her as she was elegantly walking up towards the stage.
***
(Yao Ya POV)
Walking up the stairs I notice he's still in the same seat as last time.
'How nice and convenient, maybe I should do a little something again fufu. Although it seems that others mistook my gesture for them last time. Well it matters not, I know he saw it last time.'
My opponent seems to have chosen a polearm of with an edged part attached near the top, a Halberd. My sword seems tiny in comparison, but such a cumbersome weapon would surely impede his movement a little.
'Hmmm... Which style should I use gentle stream? Rushing tides? I'll find out from how he fights which one is best to use.'
"Begin"
…
…
Neither of us move from our spots. It seems I'll have to make the first move. The flow of battle is ever changing, the slightest wave could help tip the battle in favor of one or another.
Everyone's eyes focus on me as I take the first few steps forward. The man was visibly nervous as he shook and sweated in place. His eyes couldn't focus on one place from staring at my face to my weapon and seemingly everywhere in my direction looking for threats. But it seemed he had three main points to stare at those being: the weapon in my hand, my face, and.. my chest.
I felt a bit of anger swell up, but quickly calmed myself down. 'Ip Cheng is watching I can't lose my composure.' A slight frown still appeared upon my face regardless. He must of realized I noticed as he straightened himself up and started to focus at my face instead.
I had already walked around 65% of the distance why isn't he moving? Only when I made it around 75% did he move, nimbly tracing the edge of the arena for a moment before lunging at me.
His halberd fell down upon me, but with a single swing of my sword I deflected his attack into the arena half a meter beside me The swing speed of his polearm was a bit quicker than expected, but overall not enough for me.
Looking at him in the corner of my eye I saw he had embedded part of his weapon into the ground. Pulling his weapon out of the ground and pointing it back towards me he saw I was already facing him.
It was clear from this brief exchange that had no control of his weapon or much planning going into this exchange. How could he even pass the rounds before? It must have been luck.
With a quick upward cleave his halberd was quickly dislodged from his hands falling off the side of the platform. With him unable to reacquire his weapon it was my win. Turning around to leave I had a thought and stopped
'Did that look cool? I wonder what Ip Cheng thinks about it. Maybe a little peek at him wouldn't hurt.'
With a slight turn of my head the people in that general area suddenly get extremely energetic speaking to one another.
'It seems he noticed me peeking over, humph why did all those people start becoming so active the moment I looked over? All I did was glance over there. It's time for me to leave the stage I don't want too much attention.'
***
(Outer Court Disciple)
"Sh-She looked over at us! Did you see that Brother Li?!"
"I-I did!" Excitement clear in his eyes
"Woo! We should form a supporter group for her! We were gazed upon by her after all!"
"Brother Shen that second sentence sounds a bit fanatical, but yes we should. I don't think I heard about one already so we'll become the leaders of this group of course!"
…