Chapter 158: Similar Souls

"I like you!" Ignoring where the sudden courage came from, Han Tanyi spoke out abruptly. Though his voice was rather low, it was clear enough to be heard distinctly. Such words gave Shui Linglong a tremendous shock, far more difficult for her to accept than the scene just moments before. Her tangled thoughts seemed to grind to a sudden halt, unable to produce a single further idea. Even her eyes widened as she stared at Han Tanyi, as if she had misheard him, and asked tentatively, "Y-you, what did you just say?"

To utter such words once might simply be an impulse of the heart, but to say them a second time was beyond him, no matter what. Despite being a man, Han Tanyi possessed a skin even thinner than that of many women. Though he had once fancied someone, those feelings had always been safely locked away in the depths of his heart, never once voiced aloud. With this thought, the natural blush on his face inexplicably deepened. Between the alcohol, the drowsiness, and this excruciating embarrassment, he wished nothing more than to find a hole to crawl into on the spot. That, of course, was quite impossible, so with a sudden, unsteady sway of his body, he acted with the coy shyness of a young maiden and fled toward the corner.

"Is everything he said true?" Watching the other's figure vanish around the corner, Shui Linglong had no intention of giving chase. Instead, she stood frozen in place, as if she still hadn't fully processed the scene that had just unfolded. A voice inside her mind gently questioned her: though martial artists were generally carefree and bold in their passions, that freedom usually remained confined to their thoughts. To actually voice it aloud, even for someone like Shui Linglong, was an absolute first. A part of her mind couldn't help whispering warnings to herself: "He was merely drunk, uttering nonsense. Don't take it to heart, Shui Linglong. If he truly fancied you in his heart, why would he ever think of bringing that painted butterfly here? Men are all about sweet-nothings; you cannot take them seriously!"

Yet the more she reasoned this way, the more confused Shui Linglong became. She knew what kind of person Han Tanyi was; a man who required immense preparation just to tell a falsehood or feign ignorance simply did not possess that level of calculated scheming. At this thought, a soft smile escaped her lips, carrying a somewhat peculiar nuance. On one hand, there was happiness—had she not endured and sacrificed so much precisely for this very moment? Now that it had arrived, however, this woman's heart suddenly brimmed with self-doubt.

"Brother, just look at the martial arts of these people! How dare they even step onto the stage? It's utterly humiliating. Forget about you; even if I were to step up and send them packing, it wouldn't take half an effort. And they call this a martial arts gathering? It's utterly dull to watch!" With a slight pout, Gong Shaoling's face displayed a look of utter disdain. Though spoken in a low voice, her words dripped with sarcasm. This put Gong Shaohua, standing right beside her, in an awkward position. The crowd was massive and surrounded them on all sides; who was to say some of the onlookers weren't acquainted with those performers on stage? If any of them overheard her, it would offend far too many people. Truth be told, his own thoughts mirrored those of this little girl, but he kept them strictly to himself—he could never voice them aloud under any circumstances. With this in mind, his gaze darted anxiously about, terrified that such a scenario might unfold. Fortunately, today's main event was centered upon the high platform, and no one was paying attention to the minor antics in the audience. Only then did his suspended heart settle just a bit. Glaring at Gong Shaoling, he could not help admonishing her: "How did Father instruct us? Whenever we travel the rivers and lakes, we must be cautious and avoid offending others lightly. Harmony is precious. If you go around speaking like that, you'll make enemies everywhere!"

"Here he goes again, here he goes again. Brother, must you always pull out Father's authority to pressure me? What I said is the plain truth! If they lack the skill, why shouldn't people be allowed to comment? Is there any logic against that? Anyway, it'll be my turn on stage soon enough. Just watch me, Brother, and see how I deal with them!" Facing this towering arrogance, Gong Shaohua truly had no idea how to respond. If he tried to argue with her, he always ended up conceding defeat in the end. And it wasn't just him; even their old man met the exact same fate, constantly nagging in her ear only to be treated like wind blowing past a deaf ear.

The very instant their conversation paused, another fierce roar erupted from the platform. Naturally, in matters of martial arts contests, there were winners and losers, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others beneath the stage. Gong Shaohua, who had intended to continue his lecture, had to abandon the thought, interrupted by the commotion. On the high platform, the outcome of the previous match had been decided, and next up, just as Gong Shaoling had predicted, it was her turn to take the stage. For some inexplicable reason, a part of him suddenly found himself hoping she would lose this match. For one thing, it wasn't appropriate for a young maiden to be displaying herself so openly before the crowds—though that was secondary; after all, this was the world of martial arts, far removed from ordinary households. More importantly, experiencing a setback would teach this arrogant little girl a lesson, showing her that there was always someone better, and perhaps curing her of her haughty disposition.

"This is going to be extraordinary! Care to guess who is stepping onto the stage?" When Ye Hanguang's figure once again stood at the center of the high platform, the entire arena naturally quieted down. After all, the competition had to continue; they couldn't dwell indefinitely on the outcome of just two people. His cadence shifted dynamically, naturally captivating, and with a well-timed pause, he instantly elevated the anticipation of the audience to a fever pitch. Everyone began speculating who could possibly warrant such cautious solemnity from him, casting their gazes about to see if anyone nearby possessed such formidable prowess. Of course, Ye Hanguang did not linger too long—competitions had to proceed without wasting precious time. "Now, we invite Dugu Meng from the Dugu family of the Southern Frontier, and Gong Shaoling, daughter of the Eastern China Sect's left emissary, to take the stage!"

The moment those two names left his lips, they produced an immediate effect. While the Dugu family was not widely known among the people of the Central Plains, the uproar Dugu Meng had caused just the previous night meant her name was now known to virtually everyone across the martial arts world. Ye Hanguang had been defeated by her, and even Xia Wuhai had failed to gain any advantage against her; how could anyone take such a person lightly? Most of the prospective contestants were likely praying silently never to cross paths with her. Even Gong Shaohua harbored such sentiments. Though quite confident in his own martial arts, he still felt a sense of helplessness when facing Dugu Meng. This particular pairing actually suited his wishes perfectly. Having Gong Shaoling face her was a timely match; his younger sister's martial arts were cut from the exact same cloth as his own, sharing a nearly identical style. By watching this match, he could gauge the relative strengths and weaknesses, allowing him to adjust and exploit them to his advantage should he encounter Dugu Meng later. Furthermore, he hardly believed this headstrong girl could emerge victorious against such an opponent. A hard lesson delivered now would come at just the right moment, and if she somehow managed a miraculous victory, all the better—it would save him any trouble.

At this thought, a trace of smug triumph inadvertently crossed Gong Shaohua's face. Though subtle, it was captured completely by Gong Shaoling. Having grown up together, she knew his every thought at a glance and snapped with mounting annoyance, "Is that how an older brother behaves? Not only do you fail to cheer me on, but you even wear a look of gloating amusement! Hmph, if you're hoping I'll lose, I refuse to lose just to spite you! Her skills may be formidable, but what can she possibly do to me? The martial arts of the Eastern China Sect are not to be underestimated either!"

"When did I do that? You're just letting your imagination run wild, little girl. Naturally, your brother is hoping you'll triumph over her. Why else did we come here, if not to clear the name of the Eastern China Sect and restore its glory? Still, as your brother, I must remind you—since you weren't here yesterday, you don't realize the extent of Dugu Meng's abilities. Just do your absolute best, and never push yourself too hard. Even if you lose, aren't there—" Realizing he was about to say something he shouldn't, he abruptly swallowed the remaining words before landing himself in trouble, forcibly pressing down the phrase "still your older brother." Even so, Gong Shaoling caught the drift of his tone. With a slight frown, she remained silent. In the next instant, her body vaulted upward like a soaring falcon, and after a few rapid leaps, she landed gracefully atop the high platform. Just then, Dugu Meng's figure walked up from the opposite side. As their eyes locked upon one another, metaphorical sparks naturally ignited between them.

Both possessed proud and unyielding temperaments, and each instantly recognized the other as a kindred spirit. Neither rushed to make a move; instead, they exchanged a steady gaze, as if searching each other's faces for answers. Although Gong Shaoling was merely a young girl not yet twenty years old—whose true capabilities might not be immediately obvious—the mere mention of the Eastern China Sect carried considerable weight. Though it had declined significantly from its former status as one of the four major sects, an old proverb held true for all ages: a starved camel is still larger than a horse. Even though Dugu Meng hailed from the remote Southern Frontier, she had heard plenty of rumors before coming to the Central Plains and dared not take her lightly, especially after witnessing the caliber of Central Plains martial arts the day before. As for the spectators beneath the platform, they overwhelmingly rooted for Gong Shaoling. After all, she was one of their own, and a victory would serve to dampen Dugu Meng's arrogance. Although the chaos of four years ago had been thoroughly scrutinized, and the truth that the Eastern China Sect had been manipulated finally brought to light—absolving Shao Changchun of direct blame—it had still severely dented the sect's prestige. This precisely explained why the Gong siblings had traveled to Jinjiang: the mission to clear their name and restore their glory could never be accomplished with empty words alone.