The Jianghu is Full of Vests (GL) - Chapter 7

“Did you hear? The martial arts alliance led by Tianji Sect stormed into the Shadowless Sect yesterday and destroyed their stronghold, though, unfortunately, that female devil, Shi Qinghan, managed to escape.”

“I’ve heard. It’s the cycle of Heaven’s way—evil deeds get their just punishment. Those people from the evil sects have taken so many lives. Even if they end up in the underworld, the King of Hell will still send them to the darkest corners of hell.”

“Looks like the jianghu will be peaceful now. We’ll finally be able to live in peace.”

“Don’t get your hopes up too soon. Just because the Shadowless Sect is gone, who knows if some new sect will pop up like East Shadow Sect or West Shadow Sect? The evil sects never truly disappear. In a hundred years, they’ll still crop up again—truly despicable.”

“I don’t think so. Tianji Sect has announced that they will send disciples to guard the northwest.”

“Sounds nice, but don’t think it’s all that simple. The righteous sects aren’t as noble as you think. Once they’ve dealt with the external threats, it’s back to infighting.”

“Enough talk, enough talk. Let’s eat some noodles.”

The group of men finished their conversation and dove into their bowls of noodles.

At a nearby table, Fu Peibai also calmed herself and focused on her meal. She quickly finished a bowl of plain noodles, then lifted the bowl to drink the broth, savoring every drop before setting it down. She fished out ten copper coins from her pouch and placed them on the table, leaving the noodle stand.

This was the tenth day since she left Xingyang City, covering about half of her journey. She couldn’t afford a carriage, nor even a donkey cart, so she had to rely on passing farmers to give her a ride, which most of them did out of pity, seeing her as a poor, ragged youth. When no one was around, she had to walk by herself. Thankfully, her straw sandals were thick enough that they hadn’t worn out. Later, when she reached for some dried food from her pack, she discovered a well-filled pouch of coins. It was clear who had left it there, no need to think twice.

Fu Peibai quickly estimated how many coins were in the pouch and planned how to spend them. Every coin had to be used wisely. However, today, she would have to indulge a little.

She decided to buy a donkey cart because, based on her current pace, she wouldn’t make it to Jinyun Mountain by June 15.

After much negotiation, the cart owner finally agreed to sell her a donkey cart at seventy percent of the original price.

She happily patted the donkey’s head, whistled, and set off toward the southeast.

With the donkey cart, her pace was much quicker, and she successfully reached the foot of Jinyun Mountain, Jiangnan’s first mountain, on June 15.

It was her first time in Jiangnan. She had only read about the region’s abundant mountains and rivers, but seeing it in person was awe-inspiring. Towering peaks rose into the clouds, and the mist swirled around the mountainside, with white cranes calling out. It was like stepping into a fairyland.

At the foot of the mountain, a large open space had been cleared and paved with fine stone. A steep stone staircase wound its way up the mountain, disappearing into the mist. At the foot of the stairs stood a grand marble archway, with the words “Tianji Sect” carved in bold, powerful characters.

By now, quite a few young men had gathered in the area. They wore fine silk robes and carried precious jade ornaments and swords, standing in small groups. Among this scene, Fu Peibai’s appearance stood out like a sore thumb.

Someone spotted the ragged youth driving a donkey cart and quickly pointed it out to others. The word spread like wildfire, and soon, everyone’s eyes were on Fu Peibai, filled with a look of judgment. Some people even started pointing and laughing.

Fu Peibai calmly removed her bamboo hat and walked toward the crowd with her head held high. The onlookers recoiled as if she were some kind of plague, their expressions full of disdain.

As the crowd parted, the registration desk appeared beneath the archway. Two men dressed in similar robes were seated, with a registration book laid out on the table. Fu Peibai strode forward and said loudly, “Hello, I’m here to sign up for the sect’s trial.”

One of the men, who was sipping tea, nearly choked when he saw Fu Peibai. However, out of politeness, he swallowed it down, wiped his mouth, and asked, “Little brother, are you sure you’re in the right place? This is Tianji Sect, a martial arts school.”

“I know. Is there a problem?” Fu Peibai replied without missing a beat.

The man was momentarily stunned, then turned to his colleague, who was slightly older and more composed. The older man asked, “No problem, but did you bring everything you need to sign up?”

Fu Peibai looked puzzled, and the older man explained, “First, you need a letter of recommendation from a disciple of Tianji Sect or another sect. Second, there’s a registration fee of one hundred taels of silver.”

Fu Peibai shook her head, and immediately, a round of laughter erupted from the crowd. But the laughter stopped short when Fu Peibai pulled out a jade pendant from her pouch and placed it on the table. The two Tianji Sect disciples’ faces changed instantly. They became extremely respectful, asking for her age, place of origin, and name, all of which they carefully recorded in the registration book.

The crowd exchanged confused glances. Could this country bumpkin be someone of great importance? Soon, several opportunistic individuals approached Fu Peibai, eager to get on her good side.

“I’m Mo Qingyuan, a disciple of the Mo family from Wan City. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my friend. May I ask your name?”

Fu Peibai barely glanced at him and ignored the offer.

The young man’s hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, and as no response came, he finally dropped his arm and left, embarrassed. From that point on, no one else dared approach Fu Peibai.

After a while, the crowd stirred again as a tall, handsome man in black appeared, riding a fine steed. He sat straight on the horse, exuding an air of nobility.

“Isn’t that the second son of Chi Yu Mountain Manor? What’s he doing here?”

“Yeah, why would he leave his own manor and come to Tianji Sect to become a disciple?”

“Brother He, Brother He, it’s been so long!”

The man on the horse heard his name being called and tugged on the reins to steer his horse toward the voice. When he spotted the donkey cart, his brow furrowed in disdain, and he steered his horse to the side. After dismounting, he embraced his friend and exchanged pleasantries.

“Brother He, it’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Indeed, it’s been so long. This time, we must drink to our hearts’ content after the trial.”

“Haha, no problem! After the trial today, we’ll have a good time.”

As they talked, they walked toward the registration desk, where they naturally saw Fu Peibai standing to the side.

The man in black immediately understood that this was the owner of the donkey cart and didn’t hesitate to ask the Tianji Sect disciples, “What’s going on here? Has Tianji Sect fallen so low that even farm boys can sign up for the trial?”

His words were harsh, mocking both the sect and Fu Peibai.

The disciples’ faces turned ugly. They didn’t know how to respond until the older disciple finally spoke up, “Young Master He, this young man didn’t sign up through the usual process. This opportunity was given to him as an exception by the Peak Master of Chaoquan Peak.”

At the mention of Chaoquan Peak, Young Master He’s expression changed. He turned to face Fu Peibai, stepping forward and looking down at the thin youth before him. Coldly, he asked, “Who are you?”

Fu Peibai took a step back, meeting his gaze without flinching, her expression as calm as ever.

“I asked you a question. Who are you?” Young Master He’s voice grew colder, as if daring her to respond.

Fu Peibai remained silent, her eyes unwavering. He took a step toward her, clearly provoked, ready to make a move, but just then, a deep, resonating bell sounded from the mountain peak.

The two disciples froze in fear. One side had a mysterious young man with the Peak Master’s personal favor, and the other had the influential second son of Chi Yu Mountain Manor. They didn’t dare anger either party. Thankfully, the bell gave them a reprieve, and the older disciple quickly shouted, “Open the mountain gate!”

“Open the mountain gate!”

“Open the mountain gate!”

They shouted with all their strength, their voices carrying on the wind and startling the birds in the trees.

The crowd quickly divided into two lines and began making their way up the winding mountain path. Fu Peibai ended up at the back of the line, beside a young man who seemed about her size. He wore luxurious clothes, a clear indication of his noble background, but his face was pale, gripping his sword hilt with tension, clearly nervous, as though heading into a fire pit.

Fu Peibai glanced at him but quickly turned her eyes away. Honestly, she wasn’t much better off. Her face remained neutral, but inwardly, she was just as nervous.

They continued to climb, the path growing steeper. Eventually, the route became so steep that people started stumbling behind. Some gave up, sitting down on the stone steps to catch their breath, while others simply turned back.

Fu Peibai herself began to feel the strain. Sweat rolled down her face in heavy beads, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward. She saw that the young man beside her was still hanging on, so she dug deep and quickened her pace, passing the others and taking the lead.

A few people gasped in surprise. This farm boy had actually managed to get ahead of them? Naturally, the pampered young masters couldn’t let that stand. They redoubled their efforts to catch up.

About an hour later, Fu Peibai finally reached the summit. Her legs felt like lead, and she collapsed on the last step, barely managing to catch her breath. A few people came over to help her, but she waved them off, massaging her legs as she sought some shade to rest.

Soon, she felt the weight of gazes upon her. She looked up and saw a table set up ahead with four middle-aged men sitting at it. Two younger men stood on either side of the table, watching her closely.

The four men were quietly discussing her. Fu Peibai ignored them and continued to massage her arms and legs to ease her aching muscles.

Moments later, the rest of the group slowly trickled in. Some collapsed right away, others begged for water, and a few stumbled and nearly fell over. The four men shook their heads, clearly disappointed at the state of things.

Once everyone had made it up, one of the younger men called out loudly, “Welcome to Tianji Sect’s trial! This is the first round of the competition. Those who pass will continue up to the second round. Let me now explain the rules for this first round.”

“All participants will be divided into four groups based on age, and each group will compete against each other. The top eighteen from each group will advance to the second round. The competition will take place in the four corners of the training grounds, and each match will last no longer than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn. The contestants will each wield a wooden sword, the tips of which will be covered in red clay. The goal is to strike the opponent as if it were a real battle. After time runs out, each contestant will report the number of red clay marks on their body. Two points for a fatal strike, one point for a non-fatal strike. After tallying the scores, rankings will be announced. Do you all understand?”

“Understood!” The crowd responded in unison, their energy renewed as the competition loomed. Birds flew up into the sky, startled by the sudden outburst.