Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Entering the Competition

The words “Incense-Making Grand Competition” and “first round” reached the wandering heroes’ ears, and in an instant, they understood exactly what kind of scene they were in.

However… Bai Zhengliu looked around.

The oppressive Yin energy that had been impossible to detect earlier now swirled around everyone.

Even though it was now “daytime,” the air still carried a misty gray haze.

Not to mention the young man he was seeing. At first glance, he appeared to be anxiously urging everyone forward, but if Bai Zhengliu closed his eyes for a moment and looked again, he could see a pale-faced wandering spirit. The young man’s sinister gaze fell on the group, yet his own body showed no wounds or damage—which made sense. After the fire, very few people were actually burned to death; most had been suffocated by the smoke.

Bai Zhengliu understood this clearly. He also knew that in this ghostly realm, it would be abnormal not to see wandering spirits. Yet when Mei Yinghan and the young man spoke, saying “We’re coming” and “Let’s move immediately,” he still calmly adjusted the spiritual energy in his body, letting it gradually move away from his eyes.

He closed his eyes again, then opened them.

This time, the scene before him was a clear daylight sky, bright sunlight flooding the area.

The young man had returned to his vibrant, handsome self. He walked at the front, his pace anxious, constantly complaining to Bai Zhengliu and the others:

“I realized the time is late! I’m panicking like crazy! You all, though… not a single reaction.

“What if it’s too late? What if we can’t get into the arena? Then all those eyes in the hall will be staring…”

Jun Tao scratched his head. “So what if it’s late? Aren’t these competitions usually more exciting later on?”

The young man was shocked. “What? You can’t even get into the arena, and you’re talking about it getting more exciting later?”

Jun Tao: “Huh? If we’re too late and they don’t let us in, fine. Then we just won’t go in—perfect chance to look around outside.”

The young man: “……”

His face expressed utter disbelief.

Jun Tao looked equally puzzled, still not understanding why the young man was so anxious.

It was Jun Yang who spoke up beside him, smiling: “Ah Tao is just joking. It’s already late now. We’ll do our best to get there, but whether we make it in, or whether we’re allowed inside once we arrive, isn’t up to us. Better to stay calm and just do our best.”

The young man listened, and the shock on his face faded somewhat, though he still seemed incredulous, shaking his head: “Even if one of you thought that, fine, but all four of you…? I have to hurry! Alright, alright, don’t talk to me for now!”

He began to hasten his pace, burying himself in the path ahead.

The other four figures followed beside and behind him.

Young man: “Huff… huff…”The others kept calm expressions, moving swiftly.

The young man started jogging: “Huff… huff! Huff… huff!”

The others still kept calm, moving briskly.

The young man panicked: “How are you moving so fast?! You’re faster than me!”

Jun Tao: “Hmm… actually, I’ve been meaning to ask, why are you…” so slow?

The young man drew a breath, looking at Jun Tao with renewed disbelief.

Jun Tao returned an innocent look. Beside him, Jun Yang rubbed his temple, a mix of amusement and headache on his face.

Bai and Mei walked behind the Jun brothers.

Bai Zhengliu shared his observations with Mei Yinghan: “This place is full of Yin energy; everyone here is a wandering spirit. I’ve been observing—there doesn’t seem to be any particular concentration of Yin energy anywhere… Rather than staring at these spirits all the time, it’s better to relax a bit. At least we can first identify a few key individuals, then use Yin and spiritual energy to judge their situation.”

Mei Yinghan thought for a moment: “True.” Not just Bai Zhengliu; even he found the gray, murky surroundings tiring on the eyes.

Bai Zhengliu added: “But when we reach a place with more people, we should still take a look and confirm that there really isn’t any area with unusually concentrated Yin energy.”

Mei Yinghan nodded: “Of course.”

They agreed. For the latter half of the journey, Bai Zhengliu taught Mei Yinghan how to store away the spiritual energy in their eyes.

Meanwhile, ahead of them, Jun Yang finally realized, albeit vaguely: they… weren’t here to just “watch” the competition? The young man was so anxious because they were actually participating?

Realizing this, Jun Yang’s eyelids twitched. Looking at his still-grinning younger brother, he sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

…

…

After passing a stretch of corridor, the group finally arrived at a clearing.

The young man looked at the two middle-aged men stationed at the edge of the open space, and relaxed: “Chief Li, Chief Zheng are still checking if anyone brought forbidden items! Great, we’re not late.”

With that, he happily walked toward the two men.

Jun Yang followed.Jun Tao was completely baffled: “Ah… Brother, you—”

Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan followed.

Jun Tao: “Ah? Big Brother Bai, Big Brother Mei, you… also—”

Bai Zhengliu said: “Junior Brother Jun, it seems we are also acting as disciples of Yuxiang Workshop this time, and we need to participate in this competition.”

Although he hadn’t directly taken part in the conversation between the Jun brothers and the young man earlier, Bai Zhengliu had still caught that point.

Mei Yinghan had also realized it.

Only Jun Tao remained dazed. Stepping up in front of the middle-aged officials, he still couldn’t believe he was about to join that blasted “Fragrance-Making Competition.”

He fixed his eyes on the arena.

Countless small tables were set up on the ground, each with several boxes, along with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

The disciples who had already entered the arena were either chatting quietly or sitting at their tables with eyes closed, resting. Soon, the young man from earlier, Bai and Mei, and even their elder brother Jun Yang, all became part of this group.

At this point, Jun Tao could only exhale deeply, put on a composed expression, allow a few “chiefs” to check his sleeves, hair, shoes, and other places where items could be hidden, and then step into the arena.

Inside, he still felt dazed and on the verge of tears.

Why did it suddenly turn out like this?

Why!

—Meanwhile, Bai, Mei, and Jun Yang were already carefully observing their surroundings.

At this moment, Bai Zhengliu confirmed one thing:

“This Yin energy… it seems to rise from the bottom up.”

The shadows in the corridors earlier hadn’t been obvious. But now, sitting in the square and looking at the surrounding buildings, it was clear that their bases were “heavier,” denser than the upper parts.

Bai Zhengliu couldn’t figure out why. In the end, he could only temporarily conclude: “The buildings of Yuxiang Workshop were either burned or dismantled, leaving only the land beneath. Disciples who were innocently burned or suffocated, their resentments condensed, covering the ground…” Hmm, it seemed he had convinced himself.

He shook his head, slightly withdrawing his gaze, and started observing the people around him.

From the way the chiefs had allowed them in, it was clear that the hundred or so small tables didn’t have fixed seating. Everyone could choose where to sit, though the front-to-back order still mattered.

Sitting closer to the front meant being nearer to the chiefs.Bai Zhengliu was now sitting toward the back.

Perhaps because of this, the faces around him were all young. To an ordinary observer, they looked either startled or nervous. But when the Swordsman covered his eyes with spiritual energy and looked around—

Well, all the faces were pale like the young man from before, their clothes intact.

All of them had been choked to death.

Bai Zhengliu’s eyelid twitched, and he looked farther. Just then, a gong sounded.

All the disciples in the arena immediately fell silent. Those not in their own positions hurried back and straightened their bodies at their tables.

Bai Zhengliu focused his mind and carefully listened to the chiefs’ next instructions.

With the experience of the Twenty-Eight Generals and previous encounters with Yin spirits, he wasn’t too worried about facing ghostly interference again. However, when things could proceed simply, there was no need to make the situation complicated.

Now, what did “Yuxiang Workshop” want them to do?

Chief Li’s voice floated from afar.

Bai Zhengliu summarized in his mind: Oh, in front of them are five small boxes, each containing a fragrance blend… At the gong’s signal, when the next gong strikes, they are to begin—hands and brushes moving. Open the box and carefully distinguish the ingredients of the blend.

When the next gong sounds, the twelve chiefs will collect their answer sheets, correct them, and judge them. Among over a hundred disciples, each person would get fewer than ten answer sheets. Since the chiefs already knew the correct answers thoroughly, the entire grading process would be fast. Soon, everyone would know how many were eliminated in this round and who would receive praise from the chiefs, gaining a privilege for the next round.

Not bad—quite rigorous.

But… when Mistress Qiao had explained the competition process, none of this was mentioned.

Thinking of his own complete ignorance about fragrances, Bai Zhengliu immediately felt a headache coming on. Then he noticed the movement beside him: the second gong had already sounded.

Everyone around moved simultaneously. They drew sheets of paper from the side, laid them flat, inked their brushes… finally ensuring the brush tips were moist and ready to write. The Yuxiang Workshop disciples held their breath, taking the first box in front of them in turn.

Bai Zhengliu mirrored the steps they had taken before. At the last step, a slight hesitation appeared in his mind, but his hands moved decisively, with no awkwardness showing.

One of the twelve chiefs passed by him, and Bai Zhengliu even had time to glance at them. He confirmed—just like before, their clothes were intact. Not normal, but clearly unharmed… strange. The surrounding disciples could be explained as living on the outskirts, so they hadn’t been affected by the fire itself. But this chief? Was he also unaffected?

Bai Zhengliu had a slight question. Meanwhile, like the other disciples, he carefully and solemnly opened the box in front of him.

Inside were fragrant powders, a tiny bamboo clip beside the powders, and some cotton wadding.

Author’s Note:Xiao Bai outwardly: calm.

Xiao Bai inwardly: (a tiny person screaming)