Book 2 Chapter 12

The Ascension Martial Festival (昇天武祭) and a maddeningly

The vast, azure expanse of the land, stretching out endlessly.

Waterfowl cry, riding the favorable wind, and reeds by the water sway in the gentle breeze.

Beside this transparent, clear blue, where life breathes,

Standing shoulder to shoulder, an enormous human endeavor.

As if embodying the phrase "impregnable,"

A double-layered, towering fortress wall!

It appeared robust and solid as an iron shield, capable of blocking anything.

This incredibly sturdy wall encircled an area so vast, its beginning and end were unknown, and a moat protected it from enemy incursions. From the sky, it formed a great circular band of water. Inside, it was filled with dozens of massive, grand, and magnificent pavilions. This fortress alone exuded an aura of inviolable solemnity, as if it were a living creature.

Adjacent to Poyang Lake, a grand natural spectacle unfolding beyond the horizon,

Lay clusters of numerous, magnificent pavilions. This was the sacred ground of martial arts, the very essence of the Jianghu Bai Dao martial world, and the heart of the Jianghu Bai Dao martial world, boasting immense martial might – the Heavenly Martial Academy (天武學館).

And adjacent to this embodiment of martial might and power, the Heavenly Martial Academy, and the vast, azure expanse of Poyang Lake, lay the city of Nanchang. Nanchang, along with Poyang Lake and the colossal entity that was the Heavenly Martial Academy, was experiencing astonishing prosperity.

Hundreds of thousands of people passed through daily, and hundreds of thousands of types of goods were traded ceaselessly. In simple terms, an overwhelming volume of goods flowed in and out, a dizzying exchange. Due to the immense demand and supply generated by the Heavenly Martial Academy, Nanchang was bound to prosper, almost as if it were an inevitability.

Especially in recent times, every lodging and entertainment establishment in Nanchang, without a single exception, had been continuously booked solid. In a word, it was a massive boom. As a result, the owners of businesses in this sector could barely close their mouths, stretched wide in delight.

Accommodations were already packed with countless martial artists who had come from all over the Central Plains with dreams of achieving greatness. In the taverns, people gathered day and night, regardless of the passing sun and moon, to exchange stories and information. Of course, alcohol was essential. After all, what remained after pulling an all-nighter were empty bottles and empty appetizer plates.

Most of the martial artists gathered in Nanchang were not all warriors dreaming of passing the Dragon Gate and ascending to higher realms. Among them, only a select few young masters under thirty were aspiring warriors; the rest were mere onlookers, information brokers, or gamblers. In a broad sense, they could all be considered onlookers.

However, the reason they had gathered was singular: the upcoming grand event of the Heavenly Martial Academy, the entrance examination, commonly known as the martial arts festival, the 'Ascension Martial Festival' (昇天武祭).

'Ascension Martial Festival' (昇天武祭)

How could such a name not make a warrior's heart pound and the swords at their waists tremble? Thousands readily hone their blades and polish their sabers each year to pass it. Yet, only a tiny fraction manage to succeed and claim glorious victory. The vast majority who fail hone their skills further and challenge again and again. Passing this Ascension Martial Festival not only guarantees a place among the disciples of the Jianghu Bai Dao but also secures one's future entirely.

The measure of skill in the Jianghu Bai Dao, the gauge of martial rank, the Ascension Martial Festival (昇天武祭)!

So, who could possibly not pay attention to this Ascension Martial Festival, or avert their gaze? That magnificent martial festival was about to begin.

Around that time, amidst this swirling heat and excitement, two men entered Nanchang. One was an ordinary-looking youth, perhaps around twenty years old, and the other was a middle-aged man in his mid-forties with striking red hair, red eyebrows, and a red beard.

The youth's bangs hung so long they covered his eyes, making it difficult to discern his features precisely, but judging by his jawline, he wasn't unattractive. His clothing was a simple, unremarkable blue martial uniform. In contrast, the middle-aged man accompanying him, appearing to be in his mid-forties, possessed a face so unusual it immediately drew the attention of those around him. Red hair, red eyebrows, and a red beard. Furthermore, his fiery crimson and gold martial robes made him resemble a colossal flame itself. The only item at his waist, a single saber, was not crimson, but rather the ink-black Qin (墨琴) strapped to his back, a stark contrast to him.

The ink-black Qin, reminiscent of deep darkness, seemed to make the middle-aged man appear awkward, causing passersby to glance at him with puzzled expressions. However, the reason he carried such a Qin was a story known only to the two of them: Bilieon and Yeomdo.

Countless people had gathered to spectate or participate in the soon-to-begin Ascension Martial Festival. The inns were already completely occupied by the immense crowds. In such circumstances, the fact that Bilieon had secured a room – and not just any room, but one in Hwolru (夏月樓), a renowned inn in Nanchang – was an inexplicable feat. All reservations at inns and taverns had been filled a month prior. Consequently, room rates had skyrocketed, and private lodgings had sprung up in every household across Nanchang. The income derived from these private lodgings during this period was a significant and lucrative source for Nanchang's middle-class families.

Of course, even the prices for these private lodgings continued to soar as the start date of the Ascension Martial Festival approached. This brought tears to the eyes of the poor martial artists and spectators who had come to watch. Those who couldn't even secure private lodgings were camping by the banks of Poyang Lake to find shelter.

Therefore, every year around this time, a peculiar sight emerged: the tent villages that filled the surroundings of Poyang Lake, created by countless colorful tents. Tent vendors in Nanchang saw their sales more than triple during this period, earning over half of their annual income. In many ways, the Ascension Martial Festival had a profound impact on Nanchang's economy.

Given the situation, it was impossible for there to be any available rooms in decent inns. Yet, Bilieon had secured one. And not just any room, but a top-tier suite at Hwolru (夏月樓), the premier inn in Nanchang, known for its poetic name meaning "where the summer moon resides."

With a total capacity of 400 people, 100 employees, the finest chefs, exquisite wines, and impeccable facilities, Hwolru was renowned for its comfortable service. The accommodation fees were exorbitantly high, and reservations had closed two months prior. So, how had he managed to get a room so easily?

The answer lay with Bilieon's disciple, Yeomdo – a fact Bilieon would vehemently deny, even wielding a sword if pressed. Who was Yeomdo? Though his life had taken a drastic turn, seemingly by a cruel twist of fate, to fall from grace as a nameless, insignificant nobody to become the disciple of Bilieon, he was still the leader of the renowned Five Great Sword Masters of the Jianghu and the Sect Leader of the formidable Sky Flame Saber Sect (焰天刀門). Who would dare refuse such a man when he requested a room? Especially when that man was the notoriously short-tempered Yeomdo.

Anyone not seeking a comeback from ruin and a rapid change of profession would never have dared to dream of such a thing. This was Nanchang, a gathering place for martial artists from all over the world! Even here, Hwolru, ranked among the top establishments, could not fail to recognize Yeomdo. In Nanchang, assessing the status of a martial artist was crucial for business success. Accurately judging the opponent's status, ability, position, and influence, and never defying or offending a supreme expert was the surest path to survival in Nanchang's inn and tavern industry.

There were countless inns and taverns that had vanished after displeasing a supreme expert; their number couldn't be counted on ten fingers and ten toes. Therefore, the proprietors here were always on high alert. Moreover, with all sorts of martial artists converging, the risk of incidents was frequent.

Even in Nanchang, Yeomdo was classified as a top-tier (特一級) master. Furthermore, his risk and caution level were classified as red (赤色) special (特) first class (第一級). Therefore, if such a Yeomdo requested a room, they had to create one. His distinctive appearance eliminated the need to verify his identity. Few individuals had as straightforward an identity and appearance verification as Yeomdo. Furthermore, a single glance into his eyes would reveal his notoriously foul temper, making his appearance a walking identification card.

Thus, Hwolru had to find a way to accommodate him. When they finally managed to secure a room, the manager of Hwolru shed tears. They were not tears of success and joy, but tears of sorrow for having to give up his own room. To prepare a room befitting Yeomdo's stature, they had to create one where none existed. The only room deemed suitable, and thus the only one available, was the manager's. The rooms of his subordinates were deemed not to be of Yeomdo's level. Therefore, Manager Huanjanghan of Hwolru, with a heavy heart, vacated his room, which was swiftly transformed into a double occupancy room. The manager decided to temporarily share a room with a waiter. Manager Huanjanghan was truly beside himself. But with no other choice, Huanjanghan could only live up to his name, inwardly. He was inwardly "maddened."

Thus, Bilieon and the other person were provided with a comfortable sleeping arrangement in a top-tier accommodation. And unaware of the hidden story behind it, Bilieon remained beaming. That was until the next day, when he met Gyeongsunyi (輕順耳), Najung Hae.