v2c71: Eyes of the Mountain

Lu Ban sighed, as the voice boomed out again, announcing another fight he cared little about. Normally, he would cultivate in the morning, but that was not an option here. Sitting still and attempting to cultivate was all he could manage, and he got little out of it, so dry of Qi was the air. It was amazing that cultivators in this province even existed.

At least there was some hospitality. The men and women tripped over themselves to please him and his fellows, and they dined on delicacies. Though they were still inferior to normal food of the Shrouded Mountain. They were simply for taste, rather than any real benefit. He could barely get drunk, from all the wine he guzzled, and had been reduced to dipping into his stores.

“Rags!”

“Loud Boy!”

The two in the arena howled at each other, their voices booming. They had already exchanged many blows, and were obviously getting tired. The combatants clashed, massive grins on their faces. The crowd howled with glee at the knock-down, drag out brawl the rough looking man and the boy were engaged in, their Qi visible around them. One was dark grey, a sluggish aura coming from the ragged man, and the other was bright blue and vibrant, twisting and leaping—both were streaked through with the occasional short of energy that showed that they had not fully refined the medicine they had taken.

Lu Ban watched them, bored, as he took another swig of his drink. He relined in a luxurious silk seat, the box adorned with gold tassels and rich red silks.  The occasional servant stood unobtrusively against the walls, ready at a moment’s notice to cater to their every need. Soft fingers trailed through his hair, as a woman behind attended to him. This province was grating on him the longer he stayed.

“I heard that this Azure Jade Trading Company auctioned off gold grade rice yesterday. I told you we should have at least checked it out.” Zhou grumbled to the rest of Lu Ban’s subordinates. The five others glanced at him. There were some nods, but most didn’t seem to care. They too felt the frustration of this place, even though they were so much weaker than Lu Ban, and all of them were in the midst of drowning their boredom. It was nice to have them drink and praise him, but their voices did get annoying after a while.

And he had to watch his tongue. Lu Ban had suggested having their fun with some random village, deep into his cups, and the others had laughed, calling it a fine joke, but not seriously considering it.

Lu Ban had laughed along with them. How boring righteous sects were.

“How were we supposed to know such a thing would appear? And you didn’t resist too hard, when we went to the pleasure house.” Gan stated, not even watching the match, and instead eyeing one of the servants, who was looking at her feet.

Lu ban agreed with them. Gold Grade Rice was a treat, if only for the luxurious taste. It was a shame one of the meagre sects here had won the bid. But then again, it would likely take a month or so to transport the goods. As if he  was going to wait on some mortal company. He was not planning on  staying in this province longer one moment longer than he had to.

He took a sip, as the men in the arena clashed again and again. Amateurish. The ragged one was stronger, while the smaller one was faster.

“They’re stronger than the preliminaries.” Chen stated idly, peering at the men in the ring. One of the few who was slightly more serious than the others, he drank sparingly, and did not partake of any women. Boring, but one of his strongest. A useful man. “So that Hill did contain something of minor value. Yet it was pearls before the swine.”

Sima Ji laughed, as he took a drink. “You actually noticed he got stronger? They’re still so weak I can’t see them!”

“Then your eyes are poor. A cultivator’s eyes should see all, even the hairs upon an ant.” Chen returned.

“What use do I have to see the hairs on an ant? An ant is an ant, no matter how many hairs he has!”

“It's a metaphor, you uncultured swine. The masters are subtle, and it requires a keen eye to see their machinations. One must train to see the subtle small things. Like the increase in power of those two insects, or your own miniscule talent.”

There was laughter from the box, as the insulted man’s face turned red.

“Oi, you bastard! Say that again!” He snarled. Qi filled the box, and the soft fingers stopped.

“Enough.” Lu Ban commanded, and both of them fell silent. He cared little how much they beat each other, but their shouting was growing annoying. “You two can settle this later.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“As you wish, Young Master.”

Lu Ban smiled internally at the instant acceptance leaning back into his seat. There was a short inhale of breath, and the fingers resumed their minstations. He glanced back at his current companion. She was passably beautiful, but her true worth lay in something else.

Her throat had somehow been damaged to the point where she couldn’t speak. He never knew how relaxing things were to have an attendant that couldn't actually ask for his attention. The silence could have been disappointing but he found he preferred to watch the woman's eyes, he relished the moment she surrendered to her fears bound in silence was a fair trade.The fingers paused again to reach out and fill his cup. Her hands shook slightly, but not a drop spilled. Lu Ban smiled in pleasure.

She was not worth much. Perhaps he’d keep her?

It would keep the boredom at bay.

There was another roar from the crowd, as the two men clashed, again and again. Lu Ban detested the scene, the sheer weakness on display, but at least it was marginally interesting. He wished he could simply ignore this completely, and say that he hadn’t found anything worthwhile. But that wasn’t entirely true.

There was a moment. A decisive blow.

His subordinates made disgusted sounds. “Ah, how boring. There's barely any blood.” Zhou grumbled

Lu Ban raised an eyebrow, as the younger helped the ragged looking man up, and the ragged man raised the boy’s arm high in the air.

The crowd cheered, and Lu Ban grimaced at the sight. How pathetic.

“Zang Wei defeats Dong Chou! What an exciting match this was! What power was unleashed, after finding hidden treasures upon the Hill of Torment!”

The crowd roared again, as the taller man slung an arm around the weak boy, and they limped off the arena together.

“Next, Cai Xiulan, the Demon-Slaying Orchid!”

Lu Ban sat up straighter, finally something worthy of his attention. The only reason he was evben in this box seat, instead of simply leaving everything to his lessers. She was shy, outside the ring. Heading straight back to her compound, despite Lu Ban looking for her.

He took her in as she entered the arena. The silky hair, the colour of the finest lacquered wood. The smooth, paleness of her skin, and the red upon her lips. And above all, those crystal blue eyes.

Yet her beauty was only one part of it.  She held herself differently. Not cold and imperious nor  passionate and fiery. But something that was at peace. There was a kind of serenity to her. It was an expression he had yet to see on any female cultivator of value.

.

To find such beauty here was beyond his expectations.

“Look at that body.” Zhou muttered, his eyes darting all over her form.

“A beauty like that here is a waste.” Sima Yi muttered.

His subordinates gazed upon her with lust. He allowed it. They could covet her all they wished, but she would be his woman.

The match began, and ended in an instant.

“And Cai Xiulan administers another swift defeat! Yet was there any other outcome?” The man in the crystal podium boomed.

There were a couple of jeers from the crowd, at the boring fight. Indeed, there could have been no other outcome. Cai Xiulan did not even draw her blades.

“Tch. I wish she moved more. I want to see her bounce.” There were some laughs.

“Even if she has some measure of strength, her heart is weak, to be so merciful.” Zhou stated, frowning down at her.

“She might be worth something. But she is a toad in a small well. Is she even suitable to be scouted?  Is it even with offering our benevolence  to her?” another stated.

Lu Ban simply kept watching. Beautiful blue eyes swept up, to gaze into Lu Ban’s own. Their eyes met for a moment, before she turned.

Lu Ban felt his heart stir.

“Perhaps this is not a waste after all?” He mused.

He largely ignored the last match. As the tanned and muscled girl battled some other weakling. The second strongest once more toyed with her prey, her golden eyes fixed intently upon her opponent, as she battered at his weak points, before glaring, and kicking him out of the arena.

“How shameful! The strongest this province has to offer of this generation are all women!” A man laughed as he shook his head.

“Chen.” Lu Ban stated, as the last match finished up.

“Young Master.”

“Find out more about this Cai Xiulan for me.”

“As you wish, Young Master.”

Lu Ban nodded, and took a drink. Visions of loveliness danced in his head. Perhaps he would just go night crawling? He would grace her in her own home. Not like the weaklings here could do anything about it—

His hand suddenly throbbed. The feeling of bones shattering, against a wall of muscle, and eyes staring down at him with contempt and disgust.

Lu Ban spasmed, nearly dropping his cup.

Rage mixed with fear bloomed within him, before he calmed his trembling Qi. He bit his lip and glared down at the arena, as the room paused, glancing in Lu Ban’s direction.

“Young Master?” One questioned.

“It is nothing. I just tire of this farce.” Lu Ban bit out.

“Ha! We all do, Young Master! What were the elders thinking, sending us here?!”

The voice boomed off the walls of the arena.

“And that is it for this stage! We shall announce the next bouts!”

“Rou Tigu Versus Liu Xianghua!”

“Cai Xiulan versus…..”

Lu Ban forcefully calmed himself.

The memory had spoiled his mood, and not even the silent woman made him feel better.

The urge to simply take the woman was gone, and he couldn’t even enjoy the feeling of being lifted into the air, on the backs of his lessers, as the arena once more ascended.

But his eyes found his prize. Even if she was weak… well, what woman from this province could refuse him?

His hand throbbed again.

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A quick check in with our most hated of villains. The scumbag Lu Ban. Hopefully everybody gets the email for this chapter! Some fights finish, and Tigu gets somebody who may be a challenge, the Young Misress of the Misty Lake.

And its been a real treat to see all the responses to the poll. I can't say I expected the Magistrate to be #3, but memes do drive people onwards. We're also at nearly 10K responses!

Its still stunning to see all the people who like the story. hopefully It continues to be enjoyable!