Chapter 61 - Gathering of Five Sects

                                    

                                          

     The resounding clang of a bell echoed throughout the assembly, silencing the bustling crowd as they all turned to look at the three-zhang-wide(about 33 feet) black jade arena in the center. Standing in the middle, a middle-aged man smiled and clasped his hands in greeting. His voice, though not loud, carried clearly to the tens of thousands of spectators: "Thank you all for responding to our sect's call and taking the time to attend this rally to pledge our fight against the Demon Sect. As the host of this event, I hereby solemnly announce that the competition to select warriors to face the Demon Sect officially begins!"
     After his passionate announcement, he continued with another round of pleasantries, but in a remote corner, Tong Tong had already lost interest.
     -What's with all this "World's Greatest Martial Tournament" hype?
     They're going up against Demon Cultivators-ruthless, bloodthirsty killers who devour people without leaving a trace, according to one unreliable senior brother. This isn't some light-hearted talent competition, so why is everyone so enthusiastic?
     Moreover!
     The worst part: With so many people willing to risk their lives for a heroic reputation, why did they have to send a nobody like me to certain death? Sure, I need to save Ding Shao and the others, but surely there are safer, more reasonable ways to go about it!
     Even playing dumb, throwing tantrums, and acting cute couldn't sway her beautiful master's decision. Behind that warm smile, Su Yan remained resolute in sending her to the competition and ensuring she placed well to fight against the Demon Sect. Tong Tong felt a deep sense of helpless melancholy.
     To put it plainly: Tong Tong's old flaw-her cowardice-had flared up once again.
     Glancing back at the unwilling girl sulking in the corner, her whole aura radiating gloom, Su Yan smiled slightly. Seeing that everyone else was fully focused on the speeches, Su Yan reached out and ruffled Tong Tong's hair, pulling her back to reality.
     "Huh?" Confused, Tong Tong looked up and met Su Yan's slightly amused eyes. She blinked, feeling as if she were imagining things, and continued staring blankly at Su Yan like a mesmerized fool.
     "Watch closely. When it's your turn to compete, don't start crying," Su Yan remarked, her tone meaningful, as a playful glint danced in her eyes.
     It took a long moment for Tong Tong to find her voice and refute, "I won't cry!" Though... maybe I'll run away in panic. She gulped, suddenly feeling less confident.
     Although during this period, under Su Yan's leadership, with the relentless training of the highly skilled white-clad disciples of Qiuyue Peak, Tong Tong's reaction time and true essence reserves had greatly improved. Not only had her mastery of spells become much more proficient, but even her embarrassingly poor swordsmanship had reached a level where she could barely defend herself-thanks to the sword manual passed down by Bi Ling.
     She had only just grasped the basics of the manual, but the benefits to her swordsmanship had already far surpassed her years of previous learning. She wasn't sure whether to feel pleased or frustrated about it.
     The only thing that gave Tong Tong comfort after her increase in strength was that Su Yan's attitude towards her had become noticeably gentler and more affectionate than before-though still with the same cold, indifferent expression and silent nature, the number of times she brought her pastries had increased exponentially.
     For a foodie, this was the key data to judge whether someone cared about you!
     In rare moments, she could even catch a fleeting glimpse of tenderness in Su Yan's eyes and a faint smile-Tong Tong thought that perhaps these small, unintentional displays of genuine emotion were the beauty she was willing to protect with everything she had.