“Nothing,” Ishin admitted easily. In truth, he hadn’t bothered to ask either Hou Lei or Zhu Rhee. Given it was for a single position on a tournament team, he’d assumed it would be arranged as a tournament itself, with the victor claiming the spot.

  Physician Hui looked at him, dumbfounded. “You don’t even know what to expect at all?”

  “I guessed that it would be a martial tournament, with the winner being allowed to join the team.”

  The school physician shook his head. “The youthful are always so presumptive. No, it’s not a tournament. It’s an open brawl amongst all disciples who wish to claim the position.”

  That surprised Ishin. “Open brawl?”

  “A free-for-all fight within a confined space,” Physician Hui clarified. “The last disciple standing wins.”

  Huh. Not what I expected.

  Ishin reconsidered his situation. He was talented with the spear and could now incorporate qi cycling into his combat style. But that wouldn’t be enough to emerge victorious in a fight against multiple combatants who no doubt were also martially skilled—and more importantly, had techniques they could use. Ishin thought back to what Zhu Rhee said to Master Guoqiang. This is why she’d insisted I needed a different technique to use in the selection process.

  “Honored Physician, do you know how many disciples will be participating in the selection process?”

  “I can’t say for certain, but I’d guess at least thirty. All of them,” he gave Ishin a pointed look, “will be at least in the second layer of the Initial Realm. The most prominent candidates—around a dozen, if I had to guess—will be in the third layer.”

  Like Hou Lei then.

  “The disciples most likely to win are Disciples Nie Hai and Ouyang Xue,” Physician Hui continued. “Don’t take this too harshly, but a new disciple like yourself—one at only the second layer—won’t be able to beat them.”

  They must both be at the third layer.

  For the first time, Ishin wished he’d bothered to interact with more of the school’s disciples.

  “Is this the normal process to join the tournament team?” It was a brutal method, and Ishin could see the flaws in the approach. A strong disciple who was likely to win could simply be overwhelmed and targeted early on. In that case, the disciple who emerged victorious might not even be the best choice.

  “Only one of the four positions is filled this way,” the physician answered. “One spot is reserved for any member of the previous year’s team who still qualifies. Disciple Wan Bo claimed that position. Another is determined by a vote amongst the school’s masters. Disciple Zhu Rhee was elected to that position. A third is selected by the team leader. In this case, Disciple Hou Lei was chosen.”

  “The team leader?” Ishin asked.

  “The Grand Master selects one of the team members to be the team’s leader.” With a proud expression, Physician Hui explained, “Disciple Zhu Rhee was naturally named the team’s leader.”

  If the other potential members are all at the third layer, I can understand that.

  “The final position is chosen amongst the remaining disciples who wish to participate in the tournament,” Physician Hui finished. “An opportunity for any disciple to prove their worth.”

  It was a very interesting method to choose a tournament team, but it wasn’t as foolish as Ishin initially thought. As he thought it over, he realized how much he’d assumed about the selection process and the tournament as a whole.

  “Honored Physician, can you please educate me on the nature of the Exhibition Tournament itself?”

  Leaning back, Physician Hui asked, “What do you wish to know? Don’t tell me you know nothing about the tournament you wish to partake in?”

  Ishin shook his head. “I know that the final portion of the tournament consists of individual duels. But that is the limit of my understanding.”

  “That’s half of it,” Physician Hui acknowledged. He rubbed the back of his head. “I’ll help you since you obtained justice for Disciple Zhu Rhee.” Ishin listened intently. “The first half of the tournament often varies, but it’s always a team-based event. Sometimes teams are pitted against each other, with the losing team being eliminated. Other times, the team has to fight a powerful spirit beast or a strong disciple from the Righteous Mantle Sect. Whatever the individual obstacle, it’s always something strong enough to require the cooperation of the entire team.”

  “Are those the only options?”

  The physician shrugged. “Thirty years ago, the teams were assigned flags to guard, while trying to steal the flags of the other teams. Five teams competed against each other at once during it, but it wasn’t very popular and wasn’t used again.”

  Team against team or team against a strong adversary then. Ishin wondered which he’d prefer. For the latter option, he imagined the shared adversary was a peak Initial Realm or maybe even an Adept Realm cultivator. I’d prefer the first option.

  “Thank you for the insight, Honored Physician.” Ishin offered a bow.

  The physician waved it away. “The least I could do. Now then, you should rest. And remember, see me in three days to apply new paste and replace your bandages.”

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  “I will. Thank you.”

  With another bow, Ishin departed. He proceeded straight to bed, deciding that a bath could wait until the next day.

  Hou Lei visited faster than Ishin had expected. The bulky blood cultivator took a seat across from him in the dining hall as Ishin consumed a bowl of sweet porridge for breakfast.

  “How’d the hunting trip go?”

  I’m glad I took a bath before getting breakfast.

  “It was different than I expected,” Ishin replied.

  “How so?!” Hou Lei pressed excitedly. “Did you kill more spirit beasts than you thought? How many?”

  What? Does he realize how dangerous spirit beasts can be?

  Ishin recalled how Zhu Rhee had originally expected them to kill fifteen of the thunder horned wolves. She hadn’t expected them to be so deadly. Ishin furrowed his brow, a suspicion growing.

  “Hou Lei, have you ever gone hunting in the Howling Scape Forest?”

  “Never,” his friend answered immediately. “Only been to the forest two or three times.”

  Heavens, the disciples here don’t realize how dangerous the world beyond the city walls is.

  Not wanting to dampen Hou Lei’s spirit too much, Ishin merely said, “We killed one of the wolves we were hunting. But then we got attacked by those same Iron Mantises who ambushed me near the Dueling Pit on the night we met.”

  Ishin watched as Hou Lei searched his memories for the event. It was almost comical when rage washed over his face upon remembrance. Hou Lei shot to his feet. “Those Western Quarter bugs dared to attack you? In the forest? That’s unacceptable.”

  “Please sit down, Hou Lei,” Ishin said. He looked around the sparsely filled dining hall, hoping no one was paying them too much attention.

  “We must get vengeance!” Hou Lei continued, still standing.

  “They’re dead,” Ishin hurriedly said, in a whisper. “Now please take a seat and I’ll explain.”

  Hearing that the Iron Mantises were dead seemed to snap Hou Lei’s attention back. He took a seat, and Ishin rapidly explained the events that transpired. He covered the initial ambush, how it seemed he and Zhu Rhee were going to die, their rescue by Master Guoqiang, and finally his fight to the death against Yan.

  The whole time, Hou Lei listened with rapt attention, arms crossed. It was only once Ishin finished, explaining his trip to the infirmary, that Hou Lei spoke. “Served them right. It was dishonorable for them to attack you from behind. They had no right.”

  “The matter is settled,” Ishin replied. “I’m only disappointed that it’ll be harder for me to prepare for the selection process.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Unfortunately.” Ishin only shrugged. “At least I can use that time to cultivate, but I’m not sure how much good that’ll do me.”

  Hou Lei unfolded his arms and tapped his fingers nervously against the dining table. “What do you mean?”

  “I heard from Physician Hui that a dozen or so of the other disciples are already at the third layer, like you. I’m not sure I can beat them—especially if we’re all fighting each other at once.”

  Hou Lei waved the concern aside. “Sure you can! I saw you kill a third-layer Initial Realm cultivator back at the Dueling Pit.”

  “I doubt the school will let me use that technique against fellow disciples. Besides, I can only use that technique once before my qi is exhausted.”

  “Oh.” Hou Lei’s expression fell. Evidently, the martial cultivator hadn’t considered the ramifications.

  Ishin took another bite of his porridge. It didn’t taste as good now. “I’ll still try,” he added. “Who knows, maybe I’ll manage through.”

  “I think you will, Disciple Ro Ishin.”

  Ishin turned around on the bench, a spoonful of porridge still in his hand. Master Guoqiang was standing a few feet behind him, his face as impassive as always.

  “Master Guoqiang.” Ishin moved to stand, hastily setting the spoon back into his porridge bowl, but the School Master held out a hand.

  “No need for that, Disciple.” He lifted his other hand, and Ishin saw that he was holding a scroll. “As promised, this is for you.”

  Ishin’s eyes went wide at the sight. He took the scroll eagerly. “Is this a lightning technique?”

  “It is. The Indigo Sky Bolt technique. Hopefully it proves useful to you during the selection process.”

  Indigo Sky Bolt. Ishin wanted nothing more than to read the scroll’s contents right there and then, but he knew it would be rude with Master Guoqiang still present.

  “Thank you, Master.”

  He finally had a second technique. More importantly, one he could use.

  “Merely fulfilling my end of our deal.”

  “Let me see,” Hou Lei said, reaching for the scroll. Ishin kept it out of his friend’s reach.

  “Now then,” Master Guoqiang continued, clearing his throat to draw Ishin’s attention. Hou Lei also ceased his attempts to grab the scroll. “How would you like to handle the remains of the spirit beast you killed?”

  That surprised Ishin. “The remains, Master?”

  “Of the beast you killed.”

  Ishin hadn’t thought on the matter at all. He remembered that originally, Zhu Rhee said that he was free to keep the chakras of any beasts killed, but that the pelts would be claimed by the school.

  “I’d like the chakra,” Ishin said. “The rest goes to the school, doesn’t it?”

  “Disciple Zhu Rhee informed me about your original arrangement,” Master Guoqiang stated. “But after speaking with the Grand Master last night, he has agreed to let you claim the entire body.” The master lifted his right hand, his storage ring in clear sight.

  He must be eager to get rid of it. It only further increased Ishin’s desire for a storage ring. But that doesn’t help my immediate problem. Where would I even put the body? Definitely not in my sleeping quarters.

  Ishin looked at Hou Lei, hoping his friend might have some insight, but he just gave Ishin a curious look in return. No help there.

  “Master, do you have any advice on what I should do with it?” Honesty is always the best choice. “I don’t have any place to store the body myself.”

  Unexpectedly, Master Guoqiang gave Ishin a nod of approval. “It is always wise to ask for the guidance of others when you do not know what to do.” He lowered his hand. “I have some contacts within the city that might be interested in purchasing the body. Do you trust me to sell it for you?”

  The offer was better than anything Ishin had expected. “Yes, Master,” he replied eagerly. “I would greatly appreciate your assistance.”

  “Very well. Meet back here at sunset and I’ll give you the profit. Minus my fee.”

  Ishin frowned. “Your fee?”

  For the first time, Master Guoqiang smiled. “Disciple Ro Ishin, the time of my labor is worth a fair amount indeed.”

  Of course it is. “I see, Master.” Ishin had to force out the next words. “Thank you.” There really is nothing free in this world.