Age of Heroes

At court Arial has the advantage considering he is the lord and the society he lived in pretty much put him around the top power structure.

Looking at the martial art fraternity, the strongest is at the top, not based on lineage or capable lords.

They must have planned this deferring act to appease him. And he must admit…being appeased doesn't feel awful.

'Then I will accept. Surely the elder of Yilin does not think me so badly for my behavior that night. Maybe I was rash that night' 

Arial said, showing a faking expression of regret. 

'No. No. We are the one at fault for not investigating the matter thoroughly' one of the elder of the Sun Moon sect exclaimed as they know this is a sign of accepting

'Anyway, to win that miraculous pill and book from the Western Serpent would be a boon to Lord Arial. Surely after this All Conquering sect will grow to new heights. People from all over the martial arts world will surely want to learn under noble lord. Your wondrous secret martial arts will surely catch on like wildfire among the pugilists.' 

Arial shakes his head and then he said

'Hmmm, I'm not so sure about that. This win for the meet I dedicate to Linzi temple as I promise this matter to the Southern Healer as a repayment for his kind deed towards me. And whether I will accept any other disciple, that seems to be a far off discussion for now. I am satisfied with this one.' As he looks at Xiyun who is trying to eat gracefully. To those people of the martial arts experts, they must have thought that Xiyun eating very gracefully. But if there is an etiquette teacher here, she would know she commit so much mistake in her able manners.

But Arial is not one that cares about etiquette in the first place.

Arial words is revealing his true intention for entering the meet and also explaining his reluctance of accepting another disciple into his school. 

One is enough for him. After all, Arial could not spend all his time, involving himself in the matters of the martial art world. 

There are many matters he needs to do back home. There is the matter of Vangua and he has also been away from court for too long.

On the other hand, hearing this, the other disciple is shocked and some of them choked on the chewy rabbit meat. 

Some of the Elder spurted their wine. Some are wide eyed with shock. Who does not know the Southern Healer?

'Lord Arial know the Southern Healer?' 

Some of the elder who is not present during the altercation between Western Serpent and the Southern Healer two years ago is also taken by surprise by this revelation. 

Of course they didn't expect that Southern Healer and this young man could be so closely related and even friend. 

Some of those elders know that Arial met with the Southern Healer but no one knows what happen next. 

All sort of imagination is running wild. Some even speculate that Arial must have owed the Monk something for him to do all this for the Temple.

'No wonder! No wonder!' Some of them said. 

'If this is his acquaintance no wonder he is this strong.' 

'The Southern Healer must have recognized the young noble talent and send him as a representative.' This kind of conversation swirls around the long table discussing this shocking revelation 

But the other sect leader also understands that if he is the representatives then even if he wins, the treasures will then be given to Linzi temple and not Arial himself. He will get nothing.

'To think Lord Arial is a loyal friend' one of the elder from Wuhao cheered. 

'I am filled with admiration' he continued.

Truly what Arial did is an act of loyalty. Who would risk their life entering death and life battle only to give the treasures to someone else? 

Surely not any of the sects elder. Why would they do such an unprofitable move? This is why such acts are revered and respected and one couldn't help but cheer on such person.

The other martial artist even felt some shame. Xiyun on the other hand, her estimation towards her teacher just rises again.

'A loyal man, an oath keeper' she muttered under her breath. Her eye shines with admiration and determination.

The more she sees her teacher being admired, the more pride she felt on becoming Arial disciple. She too wanted to be like her teacher, awe and shock the rest of the world.

Arial then said to those elders 

'The Southern Healer once helped with an important matter that involves my personal affair and as such it is my honor to help him when he is occupied with the matter of his temple. Surely, a few days from now, when I announce Linzi as the winner of the Meet none of you here will contest this?' He asked. 

'Surely not' the other said in unison. 

Who would dare offend two experts of martial arts? One is even one of the Four Immortals and the Abbot of one of the most respected Temple of the Three Teachings in the Human Continent. 

Yilin Temple on the other hand wear hard expression on their faces. 

Even though Linzi is one of the righteous sects like them, there are some rivalry between Yilin and Linzi. But they swallowed it.

'Then we all can watch the Four Immortals battle each other.'

'Ahh…. this is the life of martial artist. To live in constant battle but also enjoying every moment of it! What life! What adventure! What excitement! HAHAHAHA' Demon Eyed Zheng roared with laughter in the distance while chugging a bottle of wine and the other follow. 

'True. True. Demon Eyed Zheng said nothing wrong.'

'HAHAHA. Should we do a bet?' Some of the other wanderer martial artist shouted. 

'Lets' one of them shouted back. 

'Ten silver for Eastern Devil.' One voice shouted among the crowd. 

'Another ten for Northern Badger.' Some yelled as they list their name and their amounts of bets.

'Ten for Western Serpent.' 

'Hahaha. All the people is really roaring to be involved in this last main event. How could I miss such events? She said and then she yelled

'100 gold for Divine Dragon, my teacher.' Then suddenly the ruckus stopped, the chatter that was raucous before suddenly turns to silence.

'Wha-'Then the rest of the Elder turned their gaze to Arial. 

'Surely you don't mean to- '

'Why not?' Arial said joyfully. 

'Isn't this the point of the Meet? To determine who is the strongest in the martial art world? Why couldn't I participate?' he declares

With his word the others are stunned and in awe. What he said is not wrong at all. It is just…. nobody even doubts the invincibility of the Four Immortals. 

But if it's him…. the thoughts echoed in their mind…if it' him…then maybe…just maybe…there will be another miracle. 

Then the feasts begin again.

***********************************************************************