Volume One: The Youth Enters the World Chapter Ninety: A New Contest Agreed

On the way back, everyone around kept staring at Fang Tian and whispering among themselves. Fang Tian could guess roughly what they were saying, but he did not take it to heart. He simply walked on in silence.

Xie Qing, who had spoken with Fang Tian earlier, had been following him all along, ceaselessly praising him for how formidable he was and how deeply impressed he felt.

Fang Tian only smiled without responding. Nor did he feel buoyed by Xie Qing's compliments; no matter what Xie Qing said, he remained unmoved.

He understood very well that at any time, once pride and conceit began to take root in the heart, it would be fatal for a cultivator. Elder Tian had always warned him that when walking the lands of the Spirit World, one must keep a steady mind in all things; otherwise, a single lapse could bring consequences beyond imagination.

Though he had left Azure River only a few months ago, everything he had encountered in that time had steadily matured his mind. He was no longer the ignorant youth fresh from the mountains. He had come to know something of the world's malice and danger. By now he no longer approached strangers lightly, because no one could tell whether a person was good or ill, or how deep their schemes might run.

He believed it best to remain cautious. Without knowing Xie Qing's true background, he would not casually draw close to him.

Seeing that Fang Tian was like a sealed gourd, Xie Qing felt he was only making a fool of himself, and so he fell silent and walked with Fang Tian toward their lodgings.

As they were nearly there, two people came toward Fang Tian from the opposite direction. Looking closely, he saw that they were Zhang Cheng and Li Wan'er, whom he had rescued earlier. He had not expected them to return so late, but on second thought it made sense: he had traveled through the night without resting, while they would surely have stopped somewhere around midnight to recover their strength before continuing.

Their expressions were grave, their faces pale and unpleasant, likely still affected by the pirate attack.

Fang Tian lowered his gaze and continued on with a calm expression. At this moment, his appearance was back to his original face, so Zhang Cheng and Li Wan'er should not recognize him.

The two passed by him, neither glancing at the other. That was exactly what Fang Tian wanted. The fewer complications, the better. He did not want trouble.

Back in the courtyard, Xie Qing parted from Fang Tian and headed toward a different row of rooms. They were not staying in the same house.

After they split up, Fang Tian walked toward his own room. Just as one foot stepped into the main hall below, a voice sounded in his ear.

"At last you've come."

Hm? A woman's voice?

Looking up, he saw that Mu Qiaoqiao had somehow already been sitting at a table in the hall, and she was looking at him with some dissatisfaction.

Fang Tian marveled at how fast Mu Qiaoqiao moved; she had actually arrived before him.

"You were looking for me?" Fang Tian walked over and asked.

"Of course I was. Tell me, why did you deliberately lose to me during the match?" Mu Qiaoqiao rose to her feet and looked at him as she asked. She felt humiliated by the matter and had come to get an explanation from Fang Tian.

"I didn't deliberately lose to you. I was simply inferior," Fang Tian replied steadily. Though he had been putting on an act, he could not say so directly. If he did, it would only make Mu Qiaoqiao even angrier. He understood that admitting defeat in a contest was, for an opponent, a deeply disrespectful thing.

"Don't play dumb. Maybe others couldn't tell, but I was so close to you. Do you really think you could fool me?" Mu Qiaoqiao said with a cold snort, clearly displeased with Fang Tian's behavior.

This...

Fang Tian did not know how to answer. He did not want to admit it, yet was now at a loss for words.

"Hmph. I knew it. I advise you to do less of that in the future. To be honest, your acting is atrocious."

Hearing those somewhat infuriating words, Fang Tian felt a little uncomfortable. He had merely taken the initiative to concede; why was she speaking to him in such a tone? And yet she was the one who had won the match.

"So what does the lady want? Shall I apologize to you?" Fang Tian said, his words edged with some sharpness.

"Now you know how it feels to be looked down on. I only want to know why you deliberately lost to me. Give me a reason I can accept."

"No comment. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to my room. Please, make yourself at home." Fang Tian also began to bristle. He had not expected this beautiful young woman, who had seemed so agreeable, to speak so sharply. At once he no longer wished to indulge her.

With that, Fang Tian turned and went upstairs, no longer paying her any mind.

Seeing Fang Tian turn and leave, Mu Qiaoqiao's anger only grew. She called out loudly to the figure ascending the stairs, "Fang Tian, you stop right there."

Fang Tian had just lifted a foot when he set it back down, and said with a helpless look, "Miss, I admit I was in the wrong. But the match is already over. Please, can you stop dwelling on it?"

"Fine then. I just want to know whether you deliberately yielded to me because I am a woman?" Mu Qiaoqiao pressed on, unwilling to let it go.

"No." Fang Tian shook his head.

"Then do you have feelings for me?" Mu Qiaoqiao's beautiful eyes flickered as she asked softly, a blush touching her face.

"That is also not the case." Fang Tian shook his head again.

"Neither this nor that. Then there is only one possibility. Say it: do you look down on me?"

"Miss, I truly do not understand. Why must you care so much about this?" Fang Tian felt his head ache from the strain.

"I hate men who look down on women, as though women are born to be weak and merely need others to care for them. So from childhood until now, anyone who dared to belittle me, I would make them shut up with my strength." Mu Qiaoqiao said earnestly.

So that was it. Fang Tian finally understood. This Mu Qiaoqiao simply did not want others to think less of her. She clearly disliked people who came at her with the intention of patronizing her during a contest.

"It was my fault. I apologize to you here and now, and I hope the lady will not keep this matter in mind."

Mu Qiaoqiao simply wanted to know one thing, and after Fang Tian understood why, he apologized softly with clasped hands.

"I don't want your apology. I only want you to fight me again. I want to defeat you openly and aboveboard, and only then will I feel at ease." Determination shone in Mu Qiaoqiao's eyes.

After stating her thoughts, she kept her gaze fixed on Fang Tian, waiting for his answer.

"May I refuse?"

"No. If you want to make amends, you must agree."

"Very well. I'll fight you." Fang Tian had grown somewhat weary from her persistence, and decided to spar with her once, settling the matter once and for all.

"That's more like it. I haven't decided on the time or place yet. I'll tell you when I have." Seeing Fang Tian agree, Mu Qiaoqiao instantly felt relieved, and the sternness on her face gave way to a faint smile.

Having said that, she ignored Fang Tian standing on the stairs, passed directly by him, and went upstairs.

Fang Tian chuckled softly to himself. What sort of business was this? What kind of person insisted on dragging someone into a match like that? It was truly his first time seeing such a thing.

Looking up the stairs, he saw that Mu Qiaoqiao had already returned to her room. At that moment, several people entered through the doorway, among them Ma Sheng, who had also been assigned to stay here and had secured a quota.

Fang Tian smiled and greeted them, then went upstairs and returned to his room.