Chapter Sixty-Three: Not Allowed to Enter

Chapter Sixty-three: Not Allowed Entry

“Eh?” The gatekeeper suddenly wore a look of surprise—his wrist was bending downward uncontrollably, as if Shi Bai had transformed into a massive iron hammer, heavier than a marble statue.

“How can this be?”

The gatekeeper exerted all his strength, his suit strained and crackled as his muscles bulged, veins stood out on his face, yet Shi Bai continued to sink steadily downward.

“Damn!” The gatekeeper gritted his teeth, using his other hand as well, but it made no difference.

“Tie Nan! What are you doing?” the young woman suddenly called out.

Tie Nan was startled, his strength dissipated, and Shi Bai immediately landed on the ground.

“I!… He!…” Tie Nan could not find the words.

The young woman cast a strange look at Shi Bai, extending her energy toward him once more.

“Just a cripple!” she said disdainfully. “Tie Nan, what's wrong with you? He's obviously an ordinary person—why can't you get rid of him?”

“I…” Tie Nan was at a loss. Shi Bai clearly had no skills, yet for some reason, he simply couldn’t lift him. “He…”

Shi Bai spoke up, “How many times must I say it? I am here to participate in the martial tournament.”

Her expression darkened as she thought for a moment. “Do you have a token?”

Shi Bai was taken aback. “A token?”

She snorted coldly. “I don't care which family you belong to or how you heard about the tournament, but to enter the venue, you must have a token. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!”

With a swift motion, she drew her longsword.

Shi Bai smiled slightly. “I don't have a token, but I was invited here.”

“Invited?” The young woman scoffed. “Never mind whether guests are even allowed at the tournament—assuming they are, I doubt anyone would invite a plain nobody like you.”

She continued, “I've seen plenty like you—somehow hearing about the tournament and scheming to sneak in for a look. But let me tell you, the martial tournament is a grand event of the martial world. People like you, ordinary and powerless, are not qualified to enter!”

Shi Bai laughed again. “I am not qualified?”

“Do you have any qualifications?”

Shi Bai was about to reply when a mocking voice sounded behind him.

“Oh! Isn't this Miss Li Ruyi?”

Everyone turned—there stood a man in pink robes, about forty or fifty years old, tall and thin, wearing a scholar's cap, a goatee on his chin, and fanning himself elegantly with a feather fan.

Behind him followed a dozen women, all clad in pink dresses, each fairly attractive, resembling some ancient-style girl group.

Li Ruyi hurried forward to greet him. “So it's Liu Heming from North City—Master Liu! Please, come in!”

Liu Heming smiled with his eyes half closed, waving his feather fan. “It's been days since I last saw you, Miss Ruyi. You've grown more beautiful.”

Li Ruyi laughed heartily. “Master Liu, you jest. My looks are coarse, when could they ever be called beautiful?”

Liu Heming coquettishly patted her shoulder. “Ah, Ruyi, you are far too modest. To my eye, you are the fairest in this whole ancient city!”

Li Ruyi giggled. “Master Liu, you certainly know how to flatter. No wonder so many girls follow you so devotedly!”

Liu Heming covered his mouth and chuckled. “You're quite the talker yourself! These sisters…”

He then noticed Shi Bai, and his brows knitted.

“How is there an ordinary person here?”

Li Ruyi quickly replied, “We were just about to throw him out.”

Liu Heming looked at Shi Bai with extreme distaste. “I detest these common servants and layfolk. Get rid of him at once, lest he offend my eyes!”

Li Ruyi nodded hurriedly. “Yes, yes! I’ll throw him out right away!”

Liu Heming snorted and swept his sleeve, leaving with his retinue.

Li Ruyi glared at Shi Bai. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll show you no mercy!” She raised her sword again.

Shi Bai grinned mischievously. “Are you afraid of that dandy?”

Li Ruyi’s expression changed, obviously startled.

“What did you say?!”

But just then, Liu Heming suddenly floated back out like a ghost, his withered claw-like hand reaching for Shi Bai’s neck.

Shi Bai jumped, ready to resist, but a male voice sounded behind him.

“Well, Miss Li! Master Liu!”

Everyone turned, Liu Heming paused. It was a group of men dressed in black.

They wore black martial garb, gold belts, and carried broad sabers, walking with a fierce vigor, their bodies radiating strength.

Li Ruyi’s eyes darkened, but she kept her composure, forcing a dry smile. “So it's Young Master Jin from Golden Blade Sect of East City. It's been a long time—I'm sure your skills have grown tremendously!”

Young Master Jin was about twenty, handsome with thick brows and large eyes, looking quite sharp. His tone, however, carried an arrogant, mocking edge.

“Oh, nothing much—just managed to master sixty percent of my family's blade technique.”

“Sixty percent!”

Li Ruyi was startled. Among their generation, most only reached forty percent mastery; even the famed Cloud Fei of Pine Sword Manor had only fifty percent. To think Young Master Jin had reached sixty percent already.

Young Master Jin caught her expression and smiled smugly. “So, what’s happening here? Why the tension?”

Li Ruyi quickly answered, “Nothing, just some troublemaker—we were about to throw him out.”

Young Master Jin looked at Shi Bai and burst out laughing. “What’s this? Is Leaf Villa so short-handed you need Master Liu himself to deal with a commoner?”

Li Ruyi gritted her teeth. “Do you have any suggestions, Young Master Jin? Perhaps you’d like to assist? We at Leaf Villa would be most grateful.”

Liu Heming seemed equally unimpressed with Young Master Jin, turning aside and folding his arms. “This brat spoke rudely to me—I wish to teach him a lesson.”

Young Master Jin laughed. “That’s easy! Since both of you want him gone, let me do the honors!”

He suddenly swung his arm, stirring up a gust of wind so fierce that everyone had to squint.

Li Ruyi was even more shocked. “He’s mastered projecting internal energy outward! We’re sure to lose at this tournament.”

Liu Heming was surprised as well—he hadn’t expected such rapid progress from the boy.

Young Master Jin laughed wildly and shouted at Shi Bai, “Brat! How dare you crash our martial gathering? Get lost!”

His display of externalized energy was meant to intimidate ordinary folk—if Shi Bai were ignorant of the martial world, he’d surely have been terrified. Unfortunately, he was no ordinary man.

“Sorry, I’m not here to crash. I’m here to participate.”

Young Master Jin’s face grew cold. “You’re not afraid of me?”

Shi Bai remained calm. “Why should I fear you?”

“Impudent!” Young Master Jin barked, striking a palm toward Shi Bai’s chest.

Everyone was shocked—his palm carried deadly force. If Shi Bai were truly ordinary, it would shatter his heart and kill him.

“To think he’d resort to such viciousness!”

“Stop!” At that moment, a clear voice rang out.

Everyone turned—it was Ye Ying’er.