"According to the draw results, let us now welcome the next two contestants onto the stage!" The long-bearded host began another round of inspiring introductions. From his exaggerated expressions, there was hardly any trace of the composure and grace of a cultivator-more like a passionate salesman in a TV ad shouting, "Only 998!" His hysterical emotions easily infected the clueless audience, especially the small sects and scattered cultivators attending as guests who were all highly excited by his performance.
     "And they are-Da Xi, the young monk from Tianyin Temple!" As his words fell, the dark red formation of Tianyin Temple emanated brilliant lights-that was the effect of the monks' bald heads reflecting the sunlight-as they uniformly chanted, "Amitabha."
     From among them stepped out a delicate-featured young monk, his expression humble, clearly a kind and gentle person.
     "Poof-" Tong Tong still couldn't kick her bad habit of wanting to laugh whenever she heard the opponent's name. Her face lit up with a genuine smile, but this caused Su Yan, who had been keeping an eye on her with a trace of divine sense, to frown slightly.
     -This silly girl, why is she smiling so happily at that little bald monk from Tianyin Temple?
     Hmph!
     Halfway through her laughter, she suddenly felt a chill enveloping her. She cautiously glanced around, instinctively leaning toward Su Yan at her side. As she did, the cold sensation seemed to retreat slightly, and as she got even closer, it diminished further. By the time she was fully pressed against the tall and slender Su Yan, the cold had completely vanished.
     -Could it be that Senior Brother has some sort of warding-off-evil skill?
     How magical... 
     Scratching her head in confusion, a slender, fair hand extended in front of her. Without thinking, she placed her paw into it. It wasn't until the warm and soft sensation from the hand transmitted to her brain that she realized what had happened. Her face flushed red, and she sneaked a glance at Su Yan. Her cold gaze remained fixed on the excited crowd, and her thin lips curved slightly, as if she didn't care about their hand-holding.
     -Well, if free tofu is being offered, might as well take it!
     With that thought, Tong Tong squinted with a grin and continued to lean in, using the jostling of the spectators around them as an excuse to edge closer and closer to Su Yan.
     Su Yan, meanwhile, was more than happy to accept Tong Tong's closeness, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
     -Here they were, one pretending to take advantage, the other pretending not to mind, both basking in a secret joy. It was just like the old saying, "Zhou Yu hits Huang Gai-one willing to hit, the other willing to be hit."
     "And the other contestant, a popular figure among the younger generation-Ice Flame Island's Jia, Si, Wen!" The host's attempt at stirring the crowd only resulted in a few murmurs. The arena, which had been buzzing with excitement, suddenly fell into silence.
     Tong Tong's mouth twitched as she scanned the crowd, amazed to find that those who had been enthusiastically chatting and commenting just moments ago had all lowered their heads at the mention of Jia Siwen's name, sinking into an eerie silence. If the quiet demeanor of the masters and elders could be seen as a form of grace or composure, why had the younger disciples, who were either participating or cheering on, also fallen into this stifling mood? They looked like wilted eggplants-weren't they just lively a second ago?
     -If you don't understand, you should ask. That was always Tong Tong's principle.
     So, in the near-silent arena, Tong Tong covered half of her face with her wide sleeve, cautiously leaned toward Su Yan's ear, and asked in what she thought was a whisper, but was loud enough for the whole arena to hear: "Senior Brother, why did everyone suddenly stop talking?"