· · ───── ·𖥸· ───── · ·

As the sect leaders ascended up the stairs, Nie MingJue glanced at the side where seats and tables are all laid out before turning his gaze to the seat on the next level. He huffed in disgruntlement and turned around.

"Sect Leader Nie, please calm down." Lan QiRen spoke as he stood beside him.

"The Four Sects and Wen Sect used to be differentiated only by host and guest sitting in the same row. Now this one from Wen Sect, has already thought of himself as the head." Nie MingJue stated.

"Wen RuoHan has perfected his formidable arts, and subdued 3 sects in Beijiang. Even long-established cultivation sects are afflicted to it. With such overwhelming power, of course they wouldn't sham gestures of politeness." Lan QiRen explained.

"Very well! I'm tired of pretending to be agreeable too." Nie MingJue proclaimed and made the move to leave when a pair of small hands stopped him.

"Dage please." Nie MingJian pleaded as she stared up at him with worried eyes. "I know you've been wanting to avenge Uncle and Father all these years, but the Wen Sect has a larger foundation than ours'. This means to root out dissent are also brutal."

Lan QiRen nodded in agreement. "Nie Gū-Niang's right. You need to restrain yourself for Nie Sect."

Then, over to the far end of the seats, Sect Leader Jin, Jin GuangShan, let out a chuckle as he sat down. "I agree. Sect Leader Nie, why get angry? Why not sit down and enjoy drinking?" He asked while waving his fan nonchalantly.

Nie MingJue huffed before calming down as he followed his cousin over to their seats.

"In this present situation, does the position of our seats make a difference? The matter I'm more curious about is that except Wen RuoHan, who else will sit above us?" Jiang FengMian asked as all of them glanced over to the two tables that sat above them but lower than Sect Leader Wen's table.

However, their question was answered by the announcement from the Wen disciple. "Please take a seat, First Lady Wen, Second Master Wen."

Wei WuHui watched as two people walked up the stairs, one in the typical red and white robes of the Wen's but her eyes was drawn to the second person, a young female in the same age range as her's as she dressed in a bright red robes that highlighted her pale, flawless skin and long, dark brown hair.

'That's...' Wei WuHui's eyes widened when recognition hits her. 'Wen RiLuo, the only daughter of Sect Leader Wen's'

Wen RiLuo merely glanced over to the sect leaders and the three maidens before an amused smile graced over her face as she and her little brother sat down.

Wen Chao sat with arrogance surrounded his being as he glanced at the leaders before lazily saluting to them but not fully turning to them. While Wen RiLuo bowed her head to the Leaders.

"Sect Leader Jiang, are you satisfied with this revelation?" Nie MingJue asked.

"You know," Nie MingJian whispered as she leaned over to Wei WuHui, her hand covering her mouth. "I heard last year that First Lady Wen skipped last year Discussion Conference because the Nie Sect's foods was too much for her. What an excuse."

"A-Qiao." Wei WuHui hissed as she tried to wave her sworn sister away. "Don't speak stuff behind someone's back."

"Well it's true." Nie MingJian shrugged as she leaned back to her seat properly.

While waiting for their father and Sect Leader to arrive, Wen Chao looked over to their guests and smirked lecherously when he saw the three maidens. "Jiejie, are you really going to compete this year? I heard these girls are the strongest from their sects."

Wei RiLuo smiled behind her cup of tea, glancing up at the chattering maidens across from her before chucking. "I'll see if they are really the strongest or else I will be disappointing father."

Suddenly, the drums began to beat again. "All hail the Sect Leader!"

All the sect leaders and the maidens stood up at the presence of the arrived host as Wei WuHui gulped nervously under the intense aura that surrounds Sect Leader Wen.

Then, the Wen disciples all knelt down on their knees and kowtowed. "The mighty and illustrious Sect Leader Wen! May you live as long as heaven and earth, shine as brilliantly as the sun and the moon!" They all says in unison.

Wen RuoHan raised his hand. "All rise." He dismissed.

"Xuan Zhang, Year of Ji Mao. Qishan Discussion Conference, the Archery Competition starts now!" The announcer declared as the Bo signalled the beginning of the competition and the portal activated.

"There are over 1000 targets in the stone forest, 100 of which are possessed by feral ghosts. He who hits the most Feral Ghost Targets wins. Those who shot wrong target or off target will exit the match as signalled by the dark flares. Enter!"

As each disciple began to proceed, Wen Chao was sipping on his tea when he looked over and frowned. "Hold on. What's his name again? The last one."

Feeling what's coming, Wen Ning timidly looked back.

"A-Chao, that's Wen Ning." Wen RiLuo chuckled.

"Right. Wen Ning. Why is he there? His lineage is so distant that he's barely a Wen. Who let him in? Just look at him! Can he even draw a bow? Get him out of here, before he brings disgrace upon our Wen Sect!" Wen Chao proclaimed.

Wei WuHui's eye twitched in annoyance but before she could speak out, an all familiar voice beat her to it.

"Who said that he cannot draw a bow? He can, and his archery is excellent!" Wei WuXian said as he stepped forward.

"And you are...?" Wen Chao trailed off before realising who he is. "Wei WuXian. I heard your archery is not bad."

"Good enough for hunting some pheasants." Wei WuXian grinned.

"Then you should be careful today. Our Qishan's feral ghost targets, unlike the stupid pheasants of Yunmeng, they won't just stand there and let you shoot at them." Wen Chao said.

Wei WuHui felt a hand over her's as she looked to her right, seeing Lan ChunTao giving her a calming smile as she rubbed the back of her hand, as a way to calm her down. Which works as she slowly felt her anger slipping away.

"Wen Ning." Wen Chao then called as he turns his attention back to the timid disciple. "Your archery is good? Shoot an arrow for us to see then."

Wen Ning, following his order, went to take his bow and an arrow out and positioned himself across from the target, his hands shaking from all the eyes watching him.

"Relax. Weren't you doing quite well back then?" Wei WuXian called out as a way to relieve his tension but sadly it did the opposite as Wen Ning missed the target.

Wen Chao laughs. "Good! Extremely good!" He proclaimed mockingly. "What are you waiting for? For me to kick you out? Get someone else in there!"

Wen Ning looked down solemnly before he felt petite hands grasping his hand that was still holding his bow. He gasped and looked up, finding Wei WuHui gazing up at him with encouragement.

"It is alright. Gege and I saw how amazing your archery skills are, so don't worry." Wei WuHui said, smiling.

"Yeah! Among the young disciples I've met, no more than 3 are better at archery than you!" Wei WuXian added as he and Jiang Cheng joined where his sister is. He then pointed behind him, toward Jiang Cheng. "Here, this one is not as good as you."

Jiang Cheng glared before elbowing Wei WuXian. "Wanna die?"

Wei WuXian stumbled over as he rubbed his back before turning to Wen Ning. "There's nothing much to be nervous about. Practise more in public. You'll get used to it. Next time, you'll definitely impress everyone."

"Enough of this chitchat. Get into the arena!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed before turning to the female twin. "And Wei WuHui, get back to your seat. How did you even get here so quickly?"

Wei WuHui blinks before tilting her head. "I jumped."

Both Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng froze in their tracks before turning their gaze up at the area where the leaders were sitting, spotting the bewildered Sect Leader Jin and Lan QiRen, a nonchalant Sect Leader Jiang, an amused Sect Leader Nie and lastly, the giggling Lan ChunTao and Nie MingJian. Before turning back to Wei WuHui. "YOU JUMPED ALL THE WAY HERE?!"

Meanwhile, Wen Ning stared after the trio before a grateful smile appeared on his face.

However, he suddenly felt cold shivers down his spine as Wen Ning looked around, confused.

Over to the other side of the arena, stand Lan XiChen with a dark shadow over his face and an envious aura surrounding him as Lan WangJi and his fellow Lan disciples stood on the side, staring at him with slight fear.

'First Master Lan/XiongZhang is scary...'

TRANSLATION NOTE:

— Xuan Zhang: era name
— Year of Ji Mao: title of a year in a 60-year cycle from ancient Chinese calendar system
— Bo: a percussion instrument originating in China, a type of cymbal

· · ───── ·𖥸· ───── · ·

(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)