Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 31 Meeting at the Ancestral Temple
The next morning, after returning from the Ancestral Hall, Zhang Xiaofan had breakfast in the dining hall and then went to Yunhai Square with several fellow disciples from Dazhu Peak.

At this time, eight large platforms had been erected on Yunhai Square, each several tens of feet apart, dividing the square into eight trigrams.

Below the 'Qian' position platform at the very bottom, a huge red list, over ten feet tall, stood tall, its names gleaming in the morning sun.

Zhang Xiaofan's name was prominently displayed at the very top, but the position that should have been his was left vacant because there was no 64th draw number.

Not long after Zhang Xiaofan and his group arrived, Tian Buyi and Su Ru came over with Tian Ling'er. Upon seeing them, Zhang Xiaofan and the others quickly bowed.

"Master, Master Wife."

Upon hearing this, Tian Buyi simply nodded slightly, paying no further attention. His gaze fell upon the red list, carefully observing the order of the matches and memorizing it. Su Ru, on the other hand, chuckled and spoke to the others.

"The competition is about to begin. You all need to do your best, but don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Winning or losing is not a big deal. The most important thing is to recognize your shortcomings and work harder in the future."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Master's wife."

Song Daren led his disciples in response. Su Ru nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to Zhang Xiaofan and gave him careful instructions.

"Xiao Fan, you have a bye today, so you can watch other people's matches a bit earlier and be better prepared when the time comes."

"Master's wife, your disciple has remembered."

Zhang Xiaofan nodded in response, then gave Song Daren and the others an apologetic smile and said...

"I'm afraid I won't be able to go and cheer on my fellow senior brothers in their competition."

"It's all a small matter, hehe, Xiao Fan. I inquired about it yesterday and heard that Lu Xueqi, a disciple of Master Shuiyue of Xiaozhu Peak, seems to be a favorite to win the championship. Remember to go and see her later. I heard that she is hailed as the most outstanding beauty in five hundred years."

Du Bishu smiled indifferently, then leaned closer and whispered, making a series of winks as he spoke.

Upon seeing this, Tian Ling'er, standing to the side, immediately showed a hint of anger on her face and said in a coquettish voice.

"Sixth Senior Brother, what are you saying to Xiao Fan again? Don't lead him astray!"

As she spoke, Tian Ling'er glared at Du Bishu and pulled Zhang Xiaofan over.

Seeing this, Song Daren, Wu Dayi, and the others couldn't help but laugh. Lü Daxin even reached out and slapped Du Bishu on the back of the head, laughing and scolding him.

"Serves you right, you don't even know what your junior sister is thinking? And you still dare to say it to her face?"

"Oh? I forgot."

Du Bishu scratched the back of his head blankly, and after realizing what was happening, he gave an embarrassed smile.

After Tian Buyi finished reading the red list, he turned and left. However, as he turned, he glared at Du Bishu, which made Du Bishu shrink back in fright.

Seeing Tian Buyi leave, the disciples of Dazhu Peak followed Su Ru and merged into the crowd.

"Xiao Fan, where did you go yesterday afternoon? My fellow disciples and I waited for you for so long, but we didn't see you."

Tian Ling'er said with a slightly flushed face. As she spoke, she glanced at Song Daren and the others, especially lingering on Du Bishu for a few more seconds, as if she were threatening him.

He Dazhi and the others chuckled to themselves, but didn't say a word. They just pricked up their ears and craned their necks to look over, all of them looking like they had stiff necks from sleeping in the wrong place.

"I didn't go anywhere, I just went to the ancestral temple to offer incense."

Zhang Xiaofan chuckled softly, his gaze inadvertently falling on Tian Buyi and Su Ru ahead. "The Ancestral Hall?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Ling'er was stunned for a moment. After thinking for a while, she finally remembered where the ancestral hall of the Qingyun Sect was located.

The Ancestral Hall has always been worshipped by the Tongtian Peak of the Changmen lineage. Normally, disciples from other branches rarely go there, nor do they want to go there, because every time they go to the Ancestral Hall, it means that an elder of their lineage has passed away.

Even the disciples of Tongtian Peak rarely go there, especially after the upheaval a hundred years ago, otherwise there wouldn't be so many branches and twigs.

Tian Ling'er's eyes darted around slightly, a shy look rising on her face, and she spoke softly.

"Xiao Fan, the Ancestral Temple should be quite quiet, right?"

Zhang Xiaofan was slightly taken aback and was about to speak, but then he stopped in his tracks.

Not only him, but also Tian Ling'er, Song Daren and others stopped. In fact, because their attention was all on their ears, Du Bishu, Lü Daxin and the others almost bumped into each other.

The reason Zhang Xiaofan and his group stopped was because Tian Buyi, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped.

Seeing this, Su Ru gently tugged at Tian Buyi, gave him a wink, and then the two walked ahead again. Su Ru then spoke.

"It won't be easy. How many of them do you think will make it through the first round this time?"

"That depends on their own abilities."

Tian Buyi suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, his expression turned cold, and he snorted softly.

Song Daren and the others behind her shrank back, cautiously turned their heads to look at Tian Ling'er, and then continued to follow silently to the side, quietly pricking up their ears.

Tian Ling'er's face also flushed slightly, but soon her eyes rolled around again. She reached out and grabbed Zhang Xiaofan's arm, and then, seemingly unintentionally but not in a low voice, she spoke.

"Xiao Fan, tell me, should we help Senior Brother and Senior Sister Wenmin? You know the relationship between Uncle Shuiyue and my father. With Uncle Shuiyue around, Senior Brother can't even talk to Senior Sister Wenmin."

Upon hearing this, Song Daren, who was listening intently, blushed instantly, but a hint of anticipation involuntarily rose within him.

"Isn't this a bad idea? There are too many people around during the day, and it's easy for someone to see us."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan seemed to feel that this was inappropriate, and his words carried a hint of rejection. Tian Ling'er, upon hearing this, became anxious and immediately spoke without thinking.

"Oh, Xiao Fan, if it won't work during the day, how about at night? You can take Senior Brother there, and I'll take Senior Sister Wenmin. Wouldn't that work?"

Upon hearing this, Song Daren was overjoyed. Then, as if realizing something, he quickly turned to look at He Dazhi and the others. The others smiled knowingly, their understanding unspoken.

Tian Buyi, who was walking ahead, had already heard everything Tian Ling'er said. A look of reminiscence appeared in his eyes, and he subconsciously looked at Su Ru.

Back then, in order to avoid Master Zhenyu, he would secretly meet with Su Ru at the Ancestral Temple in the middle of the night, and almost his plans were ruined by that old Taoist nun Shuiyue.

Su Ru also turned to look at Tian Buyi, clearly recalling the past. She then glared at Tian Buyi with a look that seemed to be rebuking him, saying, "Look at the good daughter you have raised and the good disciple you have taught."

Seeing this, Tian Buyi was not angry at all. Instead, he looked smug and reached out to take Su Ru's hand, which made Su Ru blush instantly. She quickly pulled her hand away.

"The disciples are still watching."

Upon hearing this, Tian Buyi was startled. He quickly put his hands behind his back, took a step with his feet turned outwards, and walked towards the crowd with the air of a senior master.

(End of this chapter)