C84 Miss Your Face Is Red

Peering through the gauzy curtain, Lin Miaoran's heart pounded as she watched Chu Yan on the nearby stage. His eyes sparkled with the same defiant light she had come to know so well. Any lingering doubts evaporated; she was now certain that the "imposter dragon" she'd been sparring with daily, the one who had helped her improve, was indeed Chu Yan.

What had begun as a simple misunderstanding now carried the scent of serendipity. After all the twists and turns, it was you.

Lin Miaoran's breath quickened. She steadied her racing heart and stole a glance at Fu Rui, her guilt making her fear that Fu Rui might also recognize Chu Yan. But Fu Rui seemed none the wiser, her hands clasped over her heart, eyes glued to Chu Yan, whispering, "So handsome..."

A smile tugged at Lin Miaoran's lips, unbidden.

In the midst of the crowd below the stage, a tall man burst forth, striding over to Lin Yun with fury etched across his face. He jabbed a finger at Chu Yan and demanded, "Why did you strike so viciously?"

Chu Yan recognized him at once as Lin Yun's father, Lin Shan, the martial arts instructor of the Lin family. "What, the young one can't defeat me, so now the elder seeks vengeance?" Chu Yan's voice dripped with acid. "But even if you were to win, it would change nothing. The Profound Moon Sect has no use for an old turnip like you."

Lin Shan's anger made his chest rise and fall dramatically, his eyes reddening with rage. Yet he knew that tending to his son was paramount, and with all eyes upon them, he couldn't retaliate against Chu Yan. With a final venomous glare, he scooped up Lin Yun and pushed through the crowd.

Thus, Chu Yan secured his place as the first to advance to the top eight. But his sights were set on the top prize; the other rankings held little interest for him. As the subsequent matches unfolded, he watched with a measure of attention.

Now, with the rewards at stake, the younger members of the Lin family were unleashing their full potential.

The victors who advanced to the top eight couldn't contain their elation, while the defeated had no choice but to exit the stage with heavy hearts.

Lin Ao's match remained uneventful, echoing his previous bouts where his opponents conceded without a fight, simply declaring their forfeiture.

Yet, knowing defeat was inevitable, the mindset of Lin Ao's opponent differed greatly from that of Chu Yan's. For Lin Ao's adversary, surrender was the only option.

In contrast, facing Chu Yan meant receiving invaluable advice, a prospect that naturally sparked envy among the others. Some even wished to be defeated if it meant gaining Chu Yan's insights.

Soon, the top eight contenders of the selection tournament were decided. Aside from Chu Yan and Lin Ao, the remaining six were among the Lin Family's most promising youths.

Even if they didn't get to represent the Lin Family in Evergreen Town's family competitions or join the Profound Moon Sect, they would now benefit from the family's resources. Their future as key figures in the clan was all but assured.

In the quarterfinals, Chu Yan entered with his silver scale spear, planting it firmly in the arena. His opponent showed deep admiration and respect, showcasing his martial skills and earning Chu Yan's guidance. With the crowd's envious eyes upon him, he gracefully accepted defeat and withdrew.

The other matches, however, were fiercely contested.

This time, Lin Ao's opponent chose to face the challenge rather than concede. But the disparity in their abilities was even greater than anticipated. With a single strike to the shoulder, Lin Ao sent his challenger tumbling from the stage, blood spilling from his mouth—a stark contrast to the treatment Chu Yan's opponents received.

And so, the top four emerged.

Throughout, Lin Ao remained stoic, seemingly unimpressed by the other three contenders.

Behind the curtain, Fu Rui's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clenched her fists, "Miss, Chu Yan has made it to the top four. If all goes well, he's sure to reach the final two. Doesn't that mean he stands a great chance of representing the Lin Family in the Evergreen Town competition?"

"Probably," Lin Miaoran mused, her thoughts a tangled web, her attention elsewhere.

"Miss, you seem a bit down. Could it be that Chu Yan exceeded your expectations, and now you're second-guessing your earlier decision?" Fu Rui ventured a guess.

Her speculation was off the cuff, yet Lin Miaoran reacted as if her tail had been stepped on, nearly leaping to her feet. "Absolutely not! How could that be! Hahahaha! I have no feelings for him whatsoever! What does it matter to me whether he's good or not?"

After speaking, Lin Miaoran caught the odd look in Fu Rui's eyes.

"What's the matter?" she asked, feigning composure.

"Miss, why are you blushing?" Fu Rui eyed Lin Miaoran with a hint of suspicion. "Have you ever heard the saying 'there's no silver here'?"

Lin Miaoran was silent.

"And another phrase, 'a cover-up only reveals what it hides'?" Fu Rui pressed on.

Lin Miaoran remained silent.

Luckily, the start of the next match drew Fu Rui's attention, giving Lin Miaoran a reprieve.

Only three matches remained: two semifinals and the final.

The final matchup seemed predestined to everyone: Chu Yan versus Lin Ao.

Indeed, Chu Yan's opponent left the stage satisfied after receiving some advice, while Lin Ao's opponent was defeated with resentment, losing the match.

"So it's really those two," Fu Rui mused, watching the finalists. "Chu Yan seems even stronger than we thought. But he's unlikely to take first place, right? After all, Lin Ao was the Lin family's top prodigy before. I'm sure he's been training relentlessly to reclaim that title."

"That's not necessarily true," Lin Miaoran said with a light laugh.

"Why?" Fu Rui looked at her, puzzled. After a moment, her face lit up with understanding. "Oh—I get it now. Miss, you're rooting for Chu Yan, aren't you? Is this a case of 'the wife follows the husband's lead'?"

"No!" Lin Miaoran quickly denied, but as she uttered those words, her mind couldn't help but drift back to the previous night, to Chu Yan's eyes, shining like stars.

As this thought crossed her mind, her heartstrings quivered ever so slightly, softening the words on the tip of her tongue. "I just think that Lin Ao has had it too easy these past few years. A few setbacks might actually do him some good, helping him grow."