Chapter 51: The Substitute Position

“Senior Brother! You…” Zhou Yan covered her mouth in utter disbelief.

Xiao Yang might not realize it, having long been detached from worldly affairs. But Zhou Yan was different—she heard all the latest gossip daily. Every five years, one topic would inevitably become the hottest across the entire sect: the Martial Tournament of the Ten Kingdoms.

To participate, one had to pass multiple rigorous selections. The initial rounds took place in the Beidou Kingdom, where only the ten strongest prodigies would be chosen to represent the realm. And now, her senior brother was being directly admitted? She found it utterly incredible. In all twenty-four times Beidou had joined the tournament, she’d never heard of anyone being granted a spot without trials. All contenders had always climbed up through the ranks, earning their place.

Suddenly, someone had been granted direct entry—and that someone was her own senior brother.

“Little girl, what’s so surprising? Isn’t it just a tournament?” Xiao Yang, seeing Zhou Yan’s stunned expression, couldn’t help flicking her forehead.

A moment later, Zhou Yan snapped back to her senses and threw her arms around Xiao Yang, shouting with excitement, “This is wonderful! My senior brother is a contestant in the Martial Tournament of the Ten Kingdoms—now let’s see who dares speak ill of him!”

She even picked Xiao Yang up and bounced with him in her arms.

Jin Buhuan, witnessing this scene, muttered inwardly, “This is how it should be—the chance to enter the Martial Tournament is a dream beyond reach for so many geniuses.”

Xiao Yang felt dizzy from all the jostling. “Yan’er, let me go. It’s just a tournament—what’s there to be so happy about?” He himself didn’t think it was anything extraordinary. The name sounded impressive, but in his eyes, it was just a contest among the prodigies of ten small nations.

“By the way, City Lord…” Suddenly, he pictured what it would be like if Yan’er joined him in the tournament. The current excitement was just over his own participation—if she joined too…

His mind wandered down a questionable path.

“My friend, please speak.” Jin Buhuan’s appreciation only grew as he watched Xiao Yang. If he could, he would have married off a daughter to him—unfortunately, he had only four unlucky sons and no daughters.

“I’d like my junior sister to join me in the competition,” Xiao Yang said directly, looking over at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan was stunned, gazing at Xiao Yang in disbelief.

“This…” Jin Buhuan hesitated, troubled. Allocating one spot had already pushed the Beidou royal family to its limits. Two would be impossible—even the royal house itself couldn’t manage that.

“Why not?” Xiao Yang, seeing Jin Buhuan’s silence, grew annoyed. Was he not being taken seriously?

“Offering you this place is already the utmost we can do. As for your junior sister…”

This truly was impossible. One spot was not just Jin Buhuan’s limit, but the royal family’s as well.

Hearing this, Xiao Yang’s face darkened. But Zhou Yan quickly recovered. “Senior brother, it’s fine. I’m already happy you can participate. Besides, I’m not strong enough—an extra spot would be wasted on me anyway.”

Jin Buhuan sent her a grateful glance. What a sensible young woman—his regard for her rose sharply.

Xiao Yang could see she was sincere. The spot must be truly precious; he felt awkward pressing further.

“Then give my junior sister my spot, and I’ll go win another one myself.” Xiao Yang thought this would be the perfect solution.

Jin Buhuan nearly jumped in shock, staring at Xiao Yang in disbelief. He wanted to cry out, “How could you suggest such a thing?”

He had no doubt Xiao Yang had the strength to claim a place by force—but if the direct-entry spot went to Zhou Yan, he would be in an impossible position, and the spot might very well be revoked.

“My friend, how about I arrange a reserve spot for your junior sister? That way, she can still accompany you,” Jin Buhuan ventured nervously.

He swore to himself that in all his nearly fifty years, he had never felt so on edge—not even during the struggle for the throne with his brothers.

Xiao Yang said nothing at first, instead looking at Zhou Yan for her opinion.

“Senior brother, a reserve spot is fine. I’m already more than satisfied,” Zhou Yan replied quickly, unwilling to trouble Jin Buhuan further.

“What a thoughtful girl,” the lord of Beimo City thought, all the more grateful. He vowed to repay her kindness if ever the chance arose.

“Very well,” Xiao Yang agreed, though reluctantly. He was still a little put out—he hadn’t secured an official place for his junior sister, only a reserve. It left him somewhat dissatisfied.

“Then it’s settled. If you ever need anything, just let me know and I will do everything in my power to help,” Jin Buhuan declared with a hearty laugh, clearly delighted from the bottom of his heart.

Xiao Yang nodded, but then fixed Jin Buhuan with a direct stare, making him uncomfortable.

“Is there something wrong, my friend?” Jin Buhuan asked uneasily.

Xiao Yang shot him a glance. “It’s late. I want to sleep,” he said pointedly. Wasn’t it about time to leave? He wanted to rest.

Jin Buhuan was momentarily taken aback, his mind blanking for a moment.

“What?” Seeing Jin Buhuan frozen in place, Xiao Yang ground his teeth in frustration.

“City Lord, perhaps you’d like to stay the night?” he offered, not hiding the hint.

At that, Jin Buhuan came to his senses—so the young man was showing him the door.

“My apologies for intruding. I’ll take my leave at once,” Jin Buhuan said hastily, making a quick exit.

Xiao Yang paid him no mind, instead turning to his junior sister with a smile. “Junior sister, it’s getting late. Shall we rest?”

Zhou Yan’s cheeks flushed, but suddenly a slender hand gripped Xiao Yang’s waist.

“Ow, ow! That hurts! Go easy!” he cried out for mercy.

“Senior brother, you really put me through a lot. You were already a Marquis, yet you pretended to be a Warrior just to trick me…” Zhou Yan complained, increasing her grip.

“I swear, I truly am a Warrior—I just used a secret technique earlier,” Xiao Yang hurriedly explained, attributing his sudden burst of strength to a secret art.

Almost at once, Zhou Yan released him and scrutinized him more closely than ever before. A secret technique powerful enough to raise one’s cultivation by two whole realms must have terrible side effects.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Yang asked, a little confused.

Zhou Yan’s face showed a trace of doubt. Normally, after using such a technique, even the mildest reaction would be exhaustion. Yet Xiao Yang seemed perfectly fine.

“Senior brother, do you feel anything strange?”

“No,” he replied.

Zhou Yan’s confusion deepened. “Like weakness after using the secret technique?”

Xiao Yang paused for a moment—then realized the implication. Secret techniques usually left one drained, but he was as energetic as ever, not the least bit enervated.

But no matter—now was the time to act.

“Ouch!” he cried, suddenly collapsing backward—only to be caught by Zhou Yan.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong?” the young woman asked, flustered, as she examined Xiao Yang with her inner energy.