Wu Jian looked at Huǒ Shuchang, then at the person who had spoken. It was a young man maybe a few years older than his companion. He had similar red hair, but his was several shades darker, and even his eyes were a deep crimson. The structure of his face was similar enough that Wu Jian thought they might be related.

He wore an elaborate robe unlike anything Wu Jian had ever seen. The designs embedded into the robe were those of a phoenix ascending into the sky. The garment’s crimson color served to further enhance the phoenix’s majesty. Wu Jian couldn’t tell what it was made of, but he could at least tell the fabric was more expensive than anything he had seen thus far.

“It is you, isn’t it? How long has it been since we last met?”

The man walked up to him and Huǒ Shuchang. His eyes danced with malicious joy. Wu Jian found himself stiffening under that intense gaze even though he wasn’t a recipient. He glanced at Huǒ Shuchang. The man remained frozen for a moment longer before plastering on a fake smile.

“Huǒ Pànguó, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

They share the same surname. So they are related?

Wu Jian glanced back and forth between the two. The tension between them was stifling enough that he felt out of place speaking. He decided not to intervene for now since he didn’t know what the situation between them was like.

“You should have. Unlike you, I have the strength to enter the White Tiger Sect Ruins. What I want to know is why you’re here. Do you really think you’ll be able to obtain anything from these ruins with your pathetic cultivation?”

Huǒ Shuchang flinched. Wu Jian looked at Huǒ Pànguó again. He couldn’t sense his cultivation, but that wasn’t unusual. However, since he had said that Huǒ Shuchang’s cultivation was weak, he must have been a lot stronger than Wu Jian’s companion.

“Well… I’ve gotten a lot stronger… since we last met,” Huǒ Shuchang said, though he didn’t sound confident. He couldn’t even look the other man in the eyes.

“Is that so? Why don’t you say that when you can properly look me in the face,” Huǒ Pànguó sneered. The older man then glanced at Wu Jian and raised an eyebrow. “Who is this? A friend of yours? Don’t tell me you’re actually traveling with someone as weak as this? Are you two planning to enter the White Tiger Sect Ruins together? Ah ha! Ha ha ha ha! Well, they do say birds of a feather flock together. I suppose it’s only natural a pair of weaklings would try to combine their strength.”

For whatever reason, those words seemed to make Huǒ Shuchang stand up and turn to face Huǒ Pànguó. The fire seemed to have finally returned to his eyes.

“I wouldn’t mock Jian Wu if I were you. He might have a lower cultivation than anyone else here, but he’s a lot stronger than you think.”

Wu Jian wasn’t sure if he was being complimented or mocked.

Huǒ Pànguó sniffed derisively. “Whatever. I doubt someone at the ninth subrealm of the Anima Realm can pose a threat to anyone here, but I won’t waste my time trying to argue with weaklings. You two should leave now. Entering the ruins with your pitiful cultivation is just courting death.”

Huǒ Pànguó walked off, disappearing into the crowd. Wu Jian waited until he disappeared before turning to his companion.

“Relative of yours, I assume? He’s a pretty pleasant guy.”

“Yeah. He’s… my older brother,” Huǒ Shuchang said with a sigh.

“Didn’t know you had one of those.”

“I don’t talk about my family.”

“You talk about your sister.”

“That’s different.”

“Different how?”

Huǒ Shuchang said nothing at first. Wu Jian waited as the silence stretched out. Huǒ Shuchang tossed several sticks into the fire and watched them burn for a moment.

He sighed. “I actually have seven brothers. Most of them are older than me by a few years. We don’t share the same mother.”

“So that makes them your half-brothers,” Wu Jian mused. “Do you guys have a strong rivalry or something?”

“Or something.” Huǒ Shuchang shrugged. “I can’t tell you much since I’m not allowed, but we belong to a pretty powerful clan. Our father is the head of the clan, and we, his eight sons, are all competing for the right to become the next head. There’s a tradition among our clan. The sons of the clan head must go out into the world to obtain strength and character. Only those who prove themselves during this period of time may compete for the title of patriarch. The competition will take place in ten years, and those who have not reached the Human Limit Realm won’t be allowed to compete.”

Wu Jian had never heard of a clan that had such a harsh requirement just to enter a competition. He came from a small clan where the strongest person present was only at the Asura Realm. Many of the people standing here today, in this spot, were as powerful as his father had been.

There’s so many powerful individuals out there. Huǒ Shuchang’s clan must be one of the more powerful clans on the Xiao Continent too. I really am a frog in a well, aren’t I?

He had been constantly reminded of how little he knew about the world ever since he began this journey.

“So you need to reach the Human Limit Realm,” said Wu Jian.

Huǒ Shuchang shrugged. “Ideally, I want to be at least half a step into the Deva Realm. Several of my older half-brothers have already reached the Human Limit Realm. I need to be stronger than all of them. I have to be.”

Wu Jian didn’t say anything as Huǒ Shuchang clenched the fabrics of his pants. It was clear this man had reasons for wanting to gain strength beyond those of the competition, but whatever reasons he had didn’t matter to Wu Jian. He had decided to help his friend regardless.

“What about your sister? It sounds like she’s not allowed to compete,” said Wu Jian.

Huǒ Shuchang’s smile was mirthless and devoid of warmth. “That’s right. My sister is not allowed to compete. Only a male heir can ascend to position as head of the clan.”

There was something about his friend’s chilling smile that didn’t sit right with Wu Jian, but he could tell at a glance that Huǒ Shuchang was not going to reveal anything more right now.

“We should get some rest,” Wu Jian said at last. “There’s not much time left before we’re allowed to enter the White Tiger Sect Ruins. We should be well-rested for when that time comes.”

“Right,” Huǒ Shuchang muttered as he stood up.

They entered the tent to get some sleep.

***

Hou Jingshu felt like she was being watched. It was a feeling she’d had ever since arriving at the White Tiger Sect Ruins, yet no matter how much she looked, she couldn’t find anyone who seemed to be staring at her.

It was disconcerting.

“Everything okay, your highness?” asked Wu Yong.

It was the morning when the White Tiger Sect Ruins were supposed to open. Everyone was putting away their tents and supplies. Yin Wuhan was doing the same thing to their tents. They had two, one for Hou Jingshu and Zheng Yawen and another for Wu Yong and Yin Wuhan. She didn’t feel comfortable sharing a room with the two men unless it was necessary.

“Everything is fine,” said Hou Jingshu so as not to worry her bodyguard.

Wu Yong didn’t look convinced, but he nodded along anyway. “We should get some breakfast. We’ll need the energy for when we enter the ruins.”

“You’re right.” Hou Jingshu agreed.

Zheng Yawen was cooking breakfast that morning. She had a pan set over an open fire and was frying some quail eggs and jerky. It looked like she was also toasting several slices of bread. It wasn’t the most nutritious meal, but they didn’t have the luxury to pick and choose what they ate. The supplies they had prepared at the start of this journey had already run dry.

“Here you are, your highness.”

“Thank you.”

Hou Jingshu accepted the plate Zheng Yawen gave her, then sat down on a rock and began picking at her food. She honestly wasn’t hungry. The feeling of being watched had made her paranoid. She worried about being attacked if she let her guard down.

Zheng Yawen served food to Wu Yong and Yin Wuhan before serving herself. They all chose a place around her. Wu Yong and Zheng Yawen sat down, but Yin Wuhan had opted to stand as he ate.

“Well, well, well,” someone said to her left. “If it isn’t the Shang Kingdom’s little princess. Didn’t expect to see you here. Are you sure you should be so far away from home? Your father will worry if you disappear for too long.”

The person who had spoken was a man with pinkish red hair. His eyes were dark and he had pale skin. She would have assumed he was bloodletting if she didn’t know any better. Adorning his body was a black and red robe. It looked simple at first glance, but it was made from the hide of a Fire Byson. They were magical beasts that the Burning Flame Sect cultivated for clothing, but only Core Disciples were allowed to wear them. It was a status symbol.

“Retou Meng, how dare you speak to her highness with such blatant disrespect!” Wu Yong shouted.

Retou Meng took one glance at Wu Yong before scoffing. “Don’t talk to me, weakling. You don’t have the right.”

Wu Yong clenched his hands into fists as he took a step forward, but Hou Jingshu held out a hand, halting the man in his tracks.

“Your highness?” asked Wu Yong.

“We can’t afford to get into a fight right now. It would be detrimental if you were injured,” Hou Jingshu said. Wu Yong looked like he wanted to say something, but he grimaced and took a step back. With her bodyguard placated, she turned back to Retou Meng. “What do you want? Surely, you didn’t come here just to greet me.”

“I like that you’re so quick on the uptake. I do love intelligence in a woman.” Retou Meng grinned at her. Hou Jingshu shivered in disgust as he trailed his gaze across her body. She felt naked even though she was fully clothed. “Have you thought about my proposal?”

“I haven’t even given it a second thought. The answer is and always will be no,” Hou Jingshu declared.

Retou Meng’s expression darkened for a moment, but it was replaced by a condescending smile seconds later. “Perhaps you should think about this more carefully. The Hou Family is on the decline. Your position as rulers is weakening. It won’t be long before someone comes in to usurp your throne, but you can avoid that if you marry me. As the future head of the Burning Flame Sect, I can use my power and influence to protect your family’s position. That said, if you continue to refuse my advances, you will find yourself without allies very soon.”

Hou Jingshu narrowed her eyes. “Are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare threaten my nation’s only princess.” Retou Meng smiled, but it was mocking and arrogant. “I am merely stating the facts as I see them. You need to form a connection with a powerful sect who can bolster your nation.”

“If that’s all I need, then wouldn’t the Saintly Sword Sect’s Húndàn Wang be a much better option?” Hou Jingshu said with a smile.

While the Burning Flame Sect was one of the top three sects in the Shang Kingdom, they were only ranked second. The Saintly Sword Sect was first. Not only were they the most powerful sect in the Shang Kingdom, but they had ties to the Heavenly Sword Sect—the current most powerful sect on the entire continent.

Retou Meng lost his smile. “The Saintly Sword Sect won’t be the most powerful sect for long. You’ll soon see that they’re nothing without the backing of the Heavenly Sword Sect. When the Shang Kingdom Tournament comes, I will prove to you that the only one worthy of your hand in marriage is me.”