Chapter 352: Rank Fourteen?
Jin LiJuan grew up on a farm with herself, her parents, and her two older siblings. Until moving into the village proper, she’d never seen more than a dozen people in one place at one time. Prosperous Gray Forest Village, in contrast, had been huge with its population of over a thousand people. Just the orphanage had housed more people than she had ever previously known.
Sixth Flawless Flowing City was on an entirely different level. It stretched for miles in every direction and was absolutely packed with houses everywhere she looked. Just the people gathered at the arena were more numerous than she had realized existed. There had to be thousands upon thousands of people watching.
And it felt like all those eyes were on her as she walked onto the sandy floor.
She reached down to pat Ganzou’s head, unsure if the action was for his comfort or for hers. Given his reaction of nuzzling her leg, he clearly thought it was for her. And he was probably right. He was much better at that kind of thing than she was.
Two people stood near the center of the arena. One was dressed in a purple robe. According to Master, that man was the official for the match, a member of the City Lord’s faction and someone who should be completely neutral. The other wore a green robe much like Senior Brother Pan Jiang’s. The Poison Claw Sect member was to be her opponent.
He looked older than she expected, closer to Guard Captain Huang Yimun’s age than to Senior Brother’s or Senior Sister’s. She couldn’t help but wonder how the man felt about fighting a thirteen-year-old. Moreso, how would he feel when he lost to a thirteen-year-old?
When she neared the two, she cupped her hands toward the man in the purple robe. “Greetings, Esteemed Official. This lowly one is a beast tamer.”
He smiled at her. “Welcome, little one. Gratitude for informing me that your wolf will fight with you today.”
She bowed her head. “This lowly one was instructed to reveal all my bonded beasts who would be participating, Esteemed Official.”
“All?”
“Yes, Esteemed Official.” Jin LiJuan pointed at the sky. “My bonded thunderbird, Leizhenzi, is up there. I was instructed to make sure no one attacked him as he landed. Master said such an act would create…” She paused, making sure she got the wording exactly right. “It would create a ‘diplomatic incident.’”
“I see. The beast must be under your master’s protection outside tournament matches. We’ve learned that he takes such protection seriously.”