Chapter 115

“…Huh?”

“Speak! Yes or no!” Chen Shu said sharply. “Don’t think you can trick me!”

Cold sweat instantly drenched the man. Stammering through his trembling lips, he managed, “Wh-what strategist? Honorable Brother Wandering Swordsman, I swear I don’t know—”

Being called “brother” for the first time, Chen Shu paused, feeling a little awkward. But she quickly steeled her expression and skeptically scanned his petrified face. Privately, she muttered to herself; surely this cowardly worm couldn’t be the criminal Shen Jie and Xu Yuan were hunting. So she thrust her hand behind her—

With a resounding Bang!, the man flew backwards, flipped flat onto his back. Effortlessly, she flung him clean off the platform!

Fortunately, the earlier sword strike had already scared the crowd into stepping back a distance. He didn’t crash into anyone, instead landing hard on the bare earth. After lying still for a moment, groaning in pain, he saw the spectators staring at him. He glanced back at the stage—likely terrified someone would haul him back up to face the “Demon King”. He jolted upright, scrambled to his feet, ignored his fallen sword entirely, and stumbled away as fast as he could.

Even if the spectators nearby hadn’t clearly seen Chen Shu’s movements at the close distance, or heard the quiet words exchanged between the two, this single throw genuinely shook the already precarious competition ring and silenced the encircling crowd in an instant.

Only the sound of Chen Shu lightly clapping her hands clean was distinct in the eerie quiet. Even the faint puff of dust falling from her palms was audible. Only when she turned around did murmurs start from the onlookers—a few, legs gone weak, involuntarily stumbled backwards a few more steps.

Seeing the shift in the crowd’s energy, everyone now exchanging glances but no one stepping up, Chen Shu sensed trouble in her heart.

She realized something. Jerking her head up sharply, heedless of almost wrenching her neck, she widened her eyes. Sure enough, on the pavilion balcony where the Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance had appeared earlier, stood a figure clad in bright bridal clothes at the railing.

The woman seemed to be looking down—directly at Chen Shu. The crimson wedding veil fluttered gently in the breeze, lifting countlessly gleaming beads. Layers of dazzling light reflected both the sky above and the flamboyant attire below, stunningly vibrant and beautiful, captivating all who saw it.

Chen Shu stood inexplicably dazed, still processing, when she heard someone behind her. Stirred by the sight, acting on impulse, the voice roared as he leapt onto the platform: “I’ll cross arms with you too!”

This man had a broad face and wide forehead, a wild beard and unkempt hair. He stood nearly nine feet tall, wearing only a short, open coat and coarse trousers—a picture of imposing brashness. Chen Shu, seeing him, felt her competitive spirit rise. Having noted his build clearly wasn’t the so-called strategist, she skipped the question entirely. Springing forward, she immediately locked into combat with him.

His fighting skills were noticeably better than the previous fighter. Even Chen Shu, secretly holding back a little, still traded blows evenly with him.

The crowd gradually became engrossed in their battle. Cheers erupted, others watched intently, slowly pressing closer around the ring.

Finally, Chen Shu, failing to control her strength, accidentally wrenched the man’s arm out of its socket. Amidst a piercing howl, the huge man swayed but remained on his feet. Gnashing his teeth, he conceded defeat. Chen Shu, sensing his honorable nature and his stormy expression at the moment, hesitated, wanting to explain it was an accident, or to offer to check his arm. But before she could speak, the crowd below suddenly erupted in thunderous cheers.

“I knew this young master looked extraordinary!”

“She actually won! Such strength for someone so small!”

“Could the loser really be that famously renowned Yongzhou escorter? He looks familiar…”

Amidst the chatter, another voice shouted “My turn!”. Once the burly man had been helped off the platform, he sauntered leisurely on. Facing Chen Shu, he cupped his fists in salute, whipped his coiled short whip sharply, and declared grandly, “You Sheng of the Mirror Moon Sect at your service! I seek your instruction!”

Before he’d even finished his sentence, multiple people in the crowd recognized him. Startled gasps and hushed exclamations rippled through them.

It seemed the Mirror Moon Sect, while not ranked among the great orthodox martial schools, held significant renown in Yongzhou, and You Sheng himself likely had some fame. Had he registered yesterday, his name should have been noted on the roster. But a Martial Alliance Bailiff below, hearing this, scrambled to check the roster. After a moment, he muttered in confusion, “…This name doesn’t seem to be on our list…”

—This individual clearly hadn’t come for The Bride’s Blade Challenge! He’d simply watched the previous fights, found them intriguing, gotten itchy knuckles, and decided to test Chen Shu’s limits!

While the bailiff was still rummaging through the name list, the two on stage had already exchanged several moves. Chen Shu, thoroughly stimulated, eagerly kept feeding her opponent openings to strike, even developing an interest in probing his defenses. She repeatedly threw punches directly at his face, unfazed by the occasional cuts the whiplash inflicted on her arms and body.

They battled back and forth for numerous rounds like this. Finally, the opponent seemed satisfied with his assessment. Chen Shu was ready to spar longer, lunging with a palm strike, but he simply leaned back, deftly avoided it, then cupped his fists again towards her. Smiling brightly, he praised, “Superb skill! Many thanks for the instruction!” Then, flicking his sleeve with flair, he leapt off the platform.

Chen Shu stared blankly as that man nimbly slipped into the crowd and vanished in an instant.

But those awaiting her beneath the stage were far from just that one person.

At some point—likely while the two had been deeply engrossed in their duel—among the encircling crowd of dandies and young gentlemen watching the matches below, many more who truly understood the martial techniques had squeezed in. Some hadn’t even known this was part of The Bride’s Blade Challenge, mistaking it for an ordinary sparring stage.

Just watching Chen Shu spar with You Sheng, even those not skilled in martial arts could discern her restrained, gentle, and sincere moves, as well as her effortless ease. It was said that in battle, harming someone was difficult, but refraining from harm was even harder. Even within one’s sect or family circles, instructors teaching martial arts to youths might not possess such refined mastery or such a disciplined yet approachable demeanor—how could anyone witness this and not itch to step up for a bout?

In no time, though one left, several others crowded forward, vying for a turn. The stage reignited with fervor once more, and Chen Shu, too busy to ponder, simply welcomed it—she adored training and never minded extra matches. Joyfully, she practiced spear techniques with a thin man, then faced an older opponent wielding hidden weapons. With light steps, she dodged every projectile, drawing raucous applause from below.

She did seize chances to ask questions, but recalling that first man’s startled reaction, she masked her intent, sticking to casual inquiries like, “Brother, have you by chance visited Fangcheng?” or “Where do you hail from?”

None of these men were the “Strategist,” nor did any behave suspiciously.

Finally, a woman tried to step up. This time, the Martial Alliance Bailiff didn’t even consult the register before declaring she hadn’t signed up yesterday, shouting over the commotion to silence the restless crowd. He argued with the woman for a long while.

The stage abruptly emptied save for Chen Shu. Though the surrounding clamor remained loud, it merged into an indistinct blur, muting its own cacophony. Suddenly, that vague earlier thought flickered back through Chen Shu’s mind, and she turned to peer up at the pavilion once more.

The Bride, who an hour before had been observing the stage, had now retreated inside and seemed not to have emerged since.

Because of this, those packed below the stage misjudged this as merely ordinary sparring.

Chen Shu blinked. Just as a faint realization seemed to dawn, the bailiff confirmed the next challenger, who mounted the stage. Hastily regathering herself, Chen Shu pushed the thought away, fearing a single misplaced move might injure her opponent again.

Thus, The Bride’s Blade Challenge proceeded without a hitch.

Chen Shu fought the entire day, the match intensifying in fame as whispers of her prowess spread. People just passing through Ping Chao Kou or those ordinarily reclusive and homebound streamed in to glimpse the spectacle. Many in the audience were awed by her skill. In their chatter, they declared her the Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance’s new son-in-law, marveling at his luck in gaining such a formidable talent through The Bride’s Blade Challenge.

As for Chen Shu, even she realized midway how conspicuous she’d become. She’d planned with Yun Shen and He Yu to challenge late, near the end. How did it spiral into this? But reclaiming her sword required she not lose. So she gritted her teeth and fought on.

To the increasingly thunderous cheers from below, she could only manage a stiff smile, silently praying the Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance wouldn’t recognize her in this spectacle.

At sundown, the Martial Alliance Bailiff, seeing the last bout conclude, clambered onto the stage. Panting, his expression complex, he congratulated Chen Shu, then raised her hand, loudly announcing that day’s results.

There were no objections from the crowd—everyone was fully convinced.

Immediately, the Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance and the Bride descended from the pavilion. Xu Yuan now beamed without restraint; if Chen Shu hadn’t known better, she’d have truly believed he was choosing a son-in-law. He patted her back approvingly and offered encouraging words. Ignoring her stiff face, he gestured his daughter forward. Softly, he said, “Today happens to be an auspicious date. You two shall wed at once; tonight will be your nuptials.”

Chen Shu dared not speak. Her voice seemed too unreliable facing Xu Yuan. She just mumbled a nod, feigning bashfulness, then stole a curious glance at the red-gowned woman.

Through the veil, the woman’s expression was unreadable, but she mimicked Chen Shu’s nod. The curtain of beads trembled again, their faint chime seeming to hover near Chen Shu’s ear.

“Here,” the woman said softly.

Chen Shu could hear she’d softened her tone, but that innate briskness was ingrained and unshakable. That single word stirred Chen Shu’s suspicions. After responding, the Bride turned to retrieve a sword that a servant held nearby. Along with treasures of gold and silver, she presented it to Chen Shu with a slight bow. Her precise, efficient movements, and the steady, practiced way she handled the blade as she extended it for Chen Shu’s view jolted Chen Shu suddenly awake.

This woman was unmistakably someone she knew well—