We worked out a solution. Though as I made my way back to the main peak to carry out the plan, I started second-guessing myself.

Revealing Zhong Yilan’s scheme was easy. She didn’t go out of her way to cover up the modifications she made—likely because she didn’t expect me to suspect the talismans enough to show them to Bai Ye—and any master would be able to discern the differences. But that would likely get her only a scold or an enforced penance, and her master would make sure not to let the news spread.

The best way to make this as widely known as possible was to use these talismans in front of others. Traces of her remnant spiritual power on the symbols would be released when I activate the talisman, and if I maneuvered it appropriately, it could be obvious enough to raise suspicions. The problem, however, was that these supplies were meant to be used only at the tournament, and knowing Zhong Yilan, she would ensure that my first opponent was her, so that the spiritual power leaked from the talismans would be shadowed by her own during the challenge and not noticed by anyone else.

I’d have to find someone else as my first opponent. Someone stronger than me so that I could resort to using the talismans, and someone who wouldn’t surrender to Zhong Yilan’s honey-coated sweet talks and give up the position of my first challenge to her.

I wasn’t sure where to find such a person though. Zhong Yilan’s friends and admirers were all over Mount Hua—the disciple who handed me the modified talismans was probably one of them—and even those who weren’t close to her were usually daunted by her kinship with the Gatekeeper. Few would be eager to do anything against her will. The only exception I knew was Xie Lun’s group, since Qi Lian had mentioned before that they’d be glad to help if Zhong Yilan were to give me trouble.

But who should I challenge out of everyone there? With my new advancement in power materialization, my skill level was probably well above Qi Lian’s at this point. I wasn’t so smug to think that I stood a chance against Xie Lun, and I didn’t know anyone else well enough.

When I arrived at their hall, however, my concerns were replaced by surprise. Zhong Yilan was sitting at the tea table, batting her eyelashes at Xie Lun as I stepped across the threshold. A plate of candied hawthorn skewers sat in front of them.

What was she doing here? I had thought that she wasn’t welcomed by this group.

“Aren’t these perfect?” she purred in her typical sugary voice and took a delicate bite out of the skewer in her hand. “Sweet and tangy, just the right flavor for late summer! Why does everyone think of them as winter snacks?”

“Because the glaze melts in the summer,” Xie Lun replied nonchalantly. “Some things don’t hold their appeal once they lose that layer of sugar-coating. You should know it well.”

I almost laughed out loud at his sly remark. Qi Lian walked up to the entrance to greet me, and even he couldn’t suppress a giggle. Looked like Zhong Yilan wasn’t welcomed after all. I had heard of Xie Lun’s dislike towards Zhong Yilan before, but who knew such a pleasant person like him would be so cruel to insinuate his contempt like this?

Zhong Yilan’s face ashened. But she covered it up quickly, and a pretty smile was already on her face when she saw me. “Yun Qing-er!” she waved at me from the table and exclaimed in well-performed excitement. “You came at a good time. Try these candied hawthorns, they are delicious!”

“She acts as if everything in our hall belongs to her,” Qi Lian mumbled and rolled his eyes as he led me inside.

Xie Lun threw an annoyed glance at Zhong Yilan, obviously thinking the same. He pointed to a box on the shelf behind him and said to me, “Don’t just try. That box is yours—we were about to bring it to your hall. East Village sent these as a token of their thanks.”

He was clearly implying that I was the one entitled to those gifts instead of Zhong Yilan. Zhong Yilan gritted her teeth, but the next moment, her smile was back. “You were at East Village as well?” she asked me almost caringly. “I’m glad you came back safely! What made you put yourself in such danger?”

I snorted inwardly, too disgusted to retort to her fake friendliness and the hint at me being weak. “I was practicing for our bet,” I replied simply. “I look forward to showing you the results at the tournament.”

Her perfect smile finally faltered. “Our bet?” she asked as if it was news to her. “Oh, you mean the one for the tournament! It was just a friendly invitation, Qing-er. Don’t take it so seriously!”

Ah, Bai Ye was right: she was trying to paint our bet in a different light, because she couldn’t afford to break her perfect image in front of Xie Lun, and she didn’t want him to know about those venomous words she said. Good. It meant that the moment when her disguise is torn off, it would hurt.

“I’ve never seen you challenge a girl before, Senior Zhong,” Qi Lian couldn’t hold back from commenting at last. “Don’t you usually only invite … young and good-looking men?”

I knew he was criticizing Zhong Yilan for taking advantage of her admirers, but she laughed it off as a joke. “There’s some truth in that. You must’ve heard I invited Senior Xie this year! But he declined.” She batted her lashes prettily at Xie Lun again. “Will you not reconsider? I’ve wished for years to experience your art in swords!”

Xie Lun was unmoved. “I take the art of swords seriously, Zhong Yilan. It is the pursuit of my life, not a means to satisfy anyone’s vanity.”

Despite his warning tone, Zhong Yilan laughed again. “Don’t put on that lecturing look, Senior Xie. I’m just joking! I know you are too much above our league to accept anyone’s invitations—”

“That is not true,” Xie Lun cut her off. “I simply have no interest in an invitation from you, and it has nothing to do with your skill level. If Yun Qing-er here wants to challenge me at the tournament, for example, I’ll gladly accept.”

Zhong Yilan gaped at him, then at me.. I couldn’t believe my ears either. Did she just help me find the perfect opponent that I desperately needed?