Sword Among Us

Panda Novel

When the tournament ended, the result of the Murong Clan taking up six spots among the ten slots given to the five sects exceeded everyone’s expectations.

The master of Unrequited Love Valley and Master Nangong had very sour expressions. Madam Wang of Mantuo Villa stared at the Murong Clan Lady, who looked gratified. There was a complicated look in Madam Wang’s eyes.

The Murong Clan could be said to have gained a lot of glory. Only four people from the other four sects managed to get into the top ten. The Murong Clan had completely dominated the younger generation tournament.

Huang Rong of Peach Blossom Island did not seem to have been affected by the result. She just stared at Happy with a contemplative expression before she said, “Young Swordsman Happy, do you know why we didn’t evaluate you at all or gave you a title?”

‘You naturally have your reasons for doing so.’ Happy might have thought that way in his heart, but he did not dare say it. He just smiled faintly. “I don’t know.”

“A title is the most straightforward evaluation of a martial artist.”

Huang Rong seemed to have expected that Happy would say that. Her expression did not change as she started chatting with him in an eloquent and relaxed manner. “The titles we gave the nine contain our evaluation and understanding toward them, but…”

She paused for a moment, and her tone changed. “We know you the least among the ten. Rumors have it that you, Young Swordsman Happy, are very strong. Eminent Monk Kong Xiang of Shaolin Temple even said some time ago that you have the ability to fight against Inaction Realm martial artists, and one of your ultimate techniques is a palm technique that is incredibly similar to Beggar’s Sect’s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm.

“The young disciples you faced cannot be used to gauge your real strength, which is why we cannot give you a title, or at least, we cannot give you one before we see your true strength and can make a good judgment.”

‘I knew it!’

In the end, Huang Rong could not hold herself back anymore. As the sect master of Northern Beggar’s Sect, she could not help but mention Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm. However, Happy would not foolishly admit to it.

He evaded the mention of it and said, “Titles are not important. What’s truly important is that I can go to Hero’s Mountain Villa and join the martial arts tournament. I have already obtained the right to do so, right?”

“That’s right.”

The Murong Clan Lady did not wait for Huang Rong to speak again. “Others, you may leave now. The ten disciples who have obtained the right to participate in the tournament, come with us to Hero’s Mountain Villa. As for you, Happy, your title will naturally be given to you when we are at the martial arts tournament and more martial artists come to challenge you.”

The people were stunned!

When they looked at Happy, their gazes were filled with admiration and envy.

Countless martial artists would gather from everywhere at Hero’s Mountain Villa, and there would be numerous amazingly talented people around. The situation was pretty good for them since they could go there and display their abilities, but Happy would gain his title while under the eyes of the world. This treatment was not something that a normal person could get!

Happy himself was also rather worked up, and his emotions surged.

But soon, he calmed down, frowned, and asked, “Where is Hero’s Mountain Villa?”

Happy remembered that this martial arts tournament was never organized in his previous life. Besides, he only heard about Virtue Gathering Villa, not Hero’s Mountain Villa.

What was even more surprising was that since so many martial artists were going to be gathered there, it should attract the martial artists’ attention, and some hints about it should appear.

But the news had already been announced for four days, but no one knew where Hero’s Mountain Villa was.

In fact, Happy suspected that it was a mysterious place that had been newly developed, because if it were really in China, there was no way the players would have missed it.

“No ordinary person can find out where Hero’s Mountain Villa is.”

Once the Murong Clan Lady answered in a vague manner, she exchanged a glance with Madam Wang, and the latter nodded before she said, “We will head to the port.”

‘The port?!’

Quite a number of disciples from the five sects who had stayed behind to learn of some news were shocked. Then, bitter expressions appeared on their faces. If the group traveled on the land, they might be able to follow after them and watch the glorious martial arts tournament in Hero’s Mountain Villa, but the system clearly had the intention to separate the tournament from the eyes and ears of other players. If they had to travel on the sea to get to the place, it would be impossible for them to find Hero’s Mountain Villa without a boat.

The group stepped on the ship Madam Wang prepared and had it sail to the river in a relaxed manner. Soon, they completely vanished from the sights of the dozens of disciples from the five sects.

At the same time, the other sects in the world of martial artists used different ways to hide their tracks while bringing their young martial artists who had earned the right to compete in the tournament to the mysterious Hero’s Mountain Villa.

*****

Hero’s Mountain Villa was indeed built in another region. Regardless of whether it was an island in the sea or a mysterious paradise on earth, it was impossible for the martial artists from all over the world to gather there within a short amount of time.

However, Happy and the others received the notification that they would reach Hero’s Mountain Villa four hours later!

They logged off to make preparations, and when they returned to the game, they had already arrived in the region where Hero’s Mountain Villa was.

It was a huge fort that was like a cube.

The walls at the periphery were more than sixty-five feet tall, and they gave off a very grand presence.

There were countless holes for arrows to come out in them.

A man-made moat could be found outside the walls. It was more than 164 feet wide, and it isolated the fort. There were tall suspension bridges set up in every direction, and they could be disconnected from the middle.

The fort was very easy to defend.

When Happy and the others saw the fort before their eyes, they sucked in sharp breaths.

“Is this Hero’s Mountain Villa?”

“Why does it feel like this fort can be used for war?”

Eleventh Crane used the keen senses of an ace archer to make that judgment. There should be countless sharp arrows trained on them from within the walls, and if anyone showed the slightest abnormality, they would face the danger of being attacked by millions of arrows.

Happy also noticed a faint unease and threatening air about the place, but when he saw how relaxed and at ease Huang Rong and the others were, he did not say anything. He just stood at the head of the bridge and waited with them.

Soon, they saw a person appear at the top of the city gate far away. An awe-inspiring voice came from the distance.

“Who are you?!”

“I am Huang Rong of Peach Blossom Island, and beside me are my friends from the Murong Clan, Nangong Clan, Unrequited Love Valley, and Mantuo Villa!”

The person who answered was Huang Rong. Her voice was steady, and her breath was long. Those within a third of a mile could hear her clearly.

“I see, so you’re Sect Master Huang of Southern Beggar’s Sect.” The tone of the person on the city wall was filled with surprise, but he did not immediately order his people to lower the suspension bridge.

Instead, he spoke again. “My apologies, Sect Master Huang! The young’uns from the evil cult are very good, and they already sent some spies to figure out the whereabouts of Hero’s Mountain Villa! To prevent any fakes from entering, please show your authentication token and state your contact person’s name, or else, I will not lower the suspension bridge.”

The expressions of the group of people at the head of the bridge instantly changed.

Madam Wang cried out in surprise. “We have been so careful, and we still have people from Sky Demon Sect on our tracks?”

Master Nangong, the Murong Clan Lady, Unrequited Love Valley’s master, and Huang Rong showed anxiety on their faces as well.

“The secret arts of those from Sky Demon Sect are astonishing. It’s not surprising then that they found a way to break through. We shan’t delay in this place. We must make haste into the fort,” said Huang Rong.

“Please tell Guo Jing, who should be in the fort, that Huang Rong is here. This is my authentication token.” As she spoke, a small jade slip tore through the air and shot from the surface of the moat to the top of the city.

Silence reigned for a while.

Finally, the sounds of gears moving came from the other side of the wall, and a huge suspension bridge with a shadow that could blot out the sky slowly lowered itself in front of Happy and his group!