Chapter 299: To The Clouds

~~~

No one else fights Liu Jin for the remainder of the day. In fact, what is left of the first stage ends up being fairly uneventful. Those with the courage to stand before him and plead their case after sensing his terrifying aura can be counted on one hand. When looked at in that light, it can be argued that confronting the Wandering Wind was the most correct choice. 

All the same, Liu Jin has never felt comfortable being feared.

“You frown so deeply despite sharing a room with me. An ordinary lady might feel offended.”

Liu Jin looks at Lu Mei. She is already on the bed, having changed into her sleeping clothes. Meanwhile, he sits by the windowsill, staring at the Crimson Cloud. Even in the evening sky, the form of the red stadium floating above the Imperial Palace is impossible to miss. 

“I suppose I am fortunate that you are no ordinary lady,” Liu Jin says.

“Was that ever in doubt?”

Liu Jin smiles. “Not at all.”

Unlike him, Lu Mei is quite pleased by the events that transpired. The Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire publicly confronted the Wandering Wind and lived. Those strong enough know better than to be swayed by such tales, but it is yet another addition to his legend. 

All the same, Liu Jin hadn’t meant to tap into his Dao so publicly. While it was always going to happen, Su An’s appearance rattled him far more than he’d expected.

“Do you miss her so strongly?” Lu Mei asks him.

“To a degree that surprises me,” Liu Jin says. “Su An was a dear friend to me back in Eastern Port City. However, I would be lying if I said I thought about her much after the city’s fall. She was just… just another person I failed.”

Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t thought about her much. Everything that reminded him of Eastern Port City... it was easier for his mind to ignore it. Anything else hurt a bit too much.

Liu Jin takes a deep breath. His Qi relaxes.

“Everything changed after I found out she was alive,” Liu Jin says. “Every moment that passes without her by my side feels like a personal affront. When the Wandering Wind arrived with her, I couldn’t control myself. Failing to act would have been too much. That is how it felt…”

“Interesting,” Lu Mei says, hugging a pillow to her chest. “Just so we are both clear on this, you do realize a part of this is tied to how possessive you have become about people, right?”

Liu Jin grimaces. He’d hoped it was just a baseless worry, but Lu Mei bringing it up means it is anything but. The number of times Liu Jin has caught himself speaking or thinking about people with anything resembling a sense of ownership is…not insignificant.

“Do not misunderstand. It is very endearing. A lady likes to feel desired, and sudden bursts of possessiveness are appreciated,” Lu Mei says. “However…”

Liu Jin hangs his head. “I am a dragon.”

“That is the most likely explanation,” Lu Mei says, shrugging. “Does it bother you?”

“Not nearly as much as it once would have,” Liu Jin replies. “I have been changing since the day I left Eastern Port City, and I can think of worse things than valuing those who matter most to me. Besides, if you thought it was a problem, you would have spoken to me about this long before today.”

“Oh? You trust me that much?”

“Completely,” Liu Jin says. Lu Mei’s cheeks turn crimson.

“Always so gallant,” Lu Mei says, “But can I really call you gallant if you ignore a beautiful lady all night just too brood?”

Liu Jin smiles and stands up.

“That would be terribly uncouth of me, wouldn’t it?”

~~~

Once the first round of the Crimson Cloud Tournament is over, the remaining competitors are given a few days to rest and prepare for the next stage. Those who made it to the Top One Thousand are now known throughout the city and beyond, while those who failed to carve their names among that number have already faded into obscurity, becoming nothing more than faces in the crowd.

Memory jades of the most memorable battles thus far can be found in nearly every district. They are enjoyed by adults and children alike and studied meticulously by experienced gamblers and second-stage competitors. 

Throughout it all, the Crimson Cloud grows. The red stadium floating above the palace already boasted an impressive size, but ever since the first stage finished, it has become larger still. Its crimson color is more vivid, and the clouds it is made of have spread, forming a thick red carpet that covers the Imperial Palace at all times of the day.

Thus, when the first day of the second stage arrives, the remaining competitors gather under the shadow of the Crimson Cloud. 

“Just as the wheat is separated from the chaff, you have all risen above your peers by virtue of your own excellence,” Emperor Xiang says to the one thousand competitors still in the tournament. “However, that is not enough. A thousand is far too many.”

The air is heavy with tension. Gathered in front of the Emperor are the brightest talents this generation has to offer. They are standing in the palace courtyard, arranged in twenty lines of fifty people. Those ranked highest stand closest to the front, while the last places stand at the back. Even as the Emperor talks, they look at each other with measuring gazes. 

Liu Jin only has eyes with Su An.

He has known about her placement at the top of the Green Group for a few days. Now that she is but a few steps away from him, he wants nothing more than to take her aside so they can talk. However, he has to be patient. There is no telling what has happened to her since he saw her last. Physically, the changes caused by Su Daji are still present. Similarly, her Qi retains traces of demonic energy, but it is not quite the same as it was last time. 

Something has changed in her. Liu Jin can only hope it is a positive change.

“Some of you are already familiar with what is to come,” Emperor Xiang continues, his hands folded behind his back, “However, I will speak for the benefit of those who are not. The second stage of the tournament will not take place in Imperial Cloud City. Instead, you will venture into the Realm of the Crimson Cloud!”

As soon as he declares it, the Crimson Cloud above their heads swirls and paths of clouds spiral their way down to the courtyard, joining heaven and earth with crimson thread. 

“Have you ever wondered why we participate in the tournament, brother-in-law?” Feng Zhuo asked him one day. “Certainly, the prestige of it all is a big part of it. These days, it is arguably the most important part, but it didn’t start out that way. It is because the Four Great Sects participate that the tournament is valid, and we would have never joined if the Imperial Family hadn’t made a suitable offer.”

“There is no time limit for the second stage,” the Emperor continues. “You will fight until sixty-four of you remain. No more and no less. You are free to use any means necessary to achieve that result, but be warned! For as long as the second stage lasts, the Crimson Cloud will display your matches in the Crimson Arena.”

The warning is a necessary one. While many things are allowed by tournament rules, the possibility of their deeds being known by all ensures the participants will not willingly shame their Sects. 

However, there is something far more important that Emperor Xiang is not saying.

“The Realm of the Crimson Cloud is not a space that opens so the tournament can take place. It is the opposite. The tournament takes place because the realm opens. It is the spatial realm of a former divinity. The number of treasures that lay hidden there is incalculable. The Four Great Sects could never resist the opportunity to obtain them. That is how the Imperial Family got us to compete. Even if we have to give a portion of the treasures to the Imperial Family, it is well worth it. You could say that the Crimson Cloud Tournament is what ultimately gave legitimacy to the Imperial Family.”

The signal is given.

Liu Jin steps into the path of crimson clouds.

~~~

Diving into the Crimson Cloud is like jumping into a lake where the water is not wet. Liu Jin knows the analogy doesn’t quite make sense, but is the only thing that comes to mind to describe the odd sensation that takes hold of his body for breath.

When he opens his eyes, Liu Jin is surrounded by tall red trees with leaves of the same color. The Imperial Palace and the city are nowhere to be seen. Liu Jin cannot even sense the Qi of anyone nearby.

With quick and nimble movements, Liu Jin dashes up the tallest tree and sees the red forest extends as far as the eye can see. It is as if the entire realm is trapped in a never-ending autumn. A crystalline blue river running down the middle is the only thing that breaks the color scheme, though even the river has multiple fallen leaves floating on it. They are carried by the current like tiny boats setting off on a journey.

It is precisely as Feng Zhuo described.

“Time flows differently inside the Crimson Cloud. It is very beneficial as it gives you more time to look for treasures, but that is probably not something you are interested in looking for.”

Indeed, it is not.

The participants are meant to enter in groups of ten according to their ranking with twenty second intervals between each group. However, within the Crimson Cloud, those twenty seconds are closer to twenty minutes, meaning it will take over a day for everyone to enter. 

As the top-ranking fighter in the Red Group, Liu Jin was among the first to enter. Feng Zhi also entered with him, as did Xiao Shuang, another disciple of the Divine Frozen Place, some disciples from the Infinite Mountain Sect, and of course…

Su Daji.

She is here. He merely needs to find her, but that is easier said than done. Liu Jin cannot detect anyone’s Qi nearby. Perhaps it would be better if Lu Mei had made it to second place, but Feng Zhi would have never agreed to it. 

It doesn’t matter. He’ll have to look for Su An the hard way. 

[Ground Contraction]

Liu Jin dashes across the treetops at a brisk pace. He does not bother hiding his Qi. There is no point in using [Art of the Roaming Thief] just yet. He wants to be seen. He wants to be found. Of course, considering all the other participants who walked in with him are members of the Four Great Sects, it is unlikely they will try to challenge him just yet.

An hour passes. The sun remains unmoving in the sky. It is all exactly as Feng Zhuo described, which means that if Liu Jin hasn’t yet run into Feng Zhi, it is only because the Young Master of the Eternal Flame does not want his presence. 

Liu Jin sighs.

The tree beneath his feet begins to stir. It is a subtle movement, but Liu Jin immediately jumps away. A fist of red clouds closes around the empty space less than a second later. Branches and tree bark shatter into bits of cloud. Round legs and arms are formed, and a maw opens up. The end result is a gigantic humanoid beast made of crimson clouds. 

‘We call them Cloud Beasts. Best as I can tell, they are creatures created by hostile feelings within the Crimson Cloud. Interesting, right?’

Lightning strikes.

Brilliant purple slices through the Cloud Beast and tears it asunder. 

“No, brother-in-law,” Liu Jin says as more cloud beasts start forming all around him. “I do not think so.”

~~~

Mini-Character List

Liu Jin: Our Protagonist. Gallant.

Lu Mei: Liu Jin’s Fiancée. Can blush.

Emperor Xiang: Emperor of the Crimson Cloud Empire. Has done the speech several times.

Feng Zhuo: Liu Jin’s brother-in-law. Gave all his advice in flashback form.