Immortal Paladin

The second day of the festival was livelier than the first.

More people flooded the streets, and the tournament venue was even more packed. A massive archway marked the entrance, and two lines stretched out in front of it, separating attendees into organized queues.

Gu Jie stood just ahead of me, arms crossed, glancing around as she made casual observations of the surroundings. Instead of the unlucky robe she wore last night, she now wore a black robe with red serpent embroidery. Despite the excitement in the air, she remained composed, only occasionally tilting her head at interesting sights. 

Then, just a step ahead of us, a commotion broke out.

A man tried to cut into the line, slipping in with the grace of a drunken ox. He didn’t even do it discreetly, just walked up and tried to push himself between two other attendees. The people around him immediately noticed, and within moments, someone grabbed him by the collar.

“You dare cut in line?”

The offender scoffed, his posture haughty. “Do you not recognize me? I am Zhao Feng of the—”

He didn’t get to finish.

A loud thud echoed as his body slammed against the dirt.

A burly man, likely a tournament enforcer, had struck him so fast the people around us barely caught the movement. Despite being a Martial-Tempering Realm cultivator, the guy didn’t stand a chance.

The enforcer dusted off his hands and gestured to a couple of guards. “Drag him out.”

Zhao Feng, groaning and clutching his ribs, was promptly hauled away. No one batted an eye.

I exhaled through my nose. Yellow Dragon City really didn’t tolerate nonsense.

But what the hell is the Zhao people’s problem.?

When it was finally our turn, Gu Jie stepped forward and handed over our tickets to the attendant. She straightened her posture and spoke smoothly. “We’re here to watch today’s event.”

The attendant, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, glanced at the tickets and then at us. He waved a nearby guard over.

“The rules,” the guard began, his gaze sweeping over us, though he lingered on Gu Jie a bit longer than necessary. “No stepping onto the tournament grounds. No harassing the mortals. Do not speak to the honored guests from the major sects unless they address you first.”

The way he emphasized that last part made it clear that they really didn’t want random nobodies bothering the sect elites. He then looked Gu Jie up and down, his expression unreadable.

I frowned slightly. That was a little too much scrutiny for someone just here to watch a tournament.

Gu Jie simply nodded. “Understood.”

The guard grunted and finally let us pass.

As we walked inside, Gu Jie took on a more relaxed stance and gestured ahead. “The City Governor’s estate should be just ahead. The tournament grounds are held in his personal arena, so security is tighter the closer we get.”

“Anything I should know about him?” I asked.

She hummed in thought before responding, “The City Governor, Lord Ren, has ruled Yellow Dragon City for over two decades. He’s not originally from here, though. He was appointed by the empire to oversee the region, and while he’s strict, most people respect him. Under his rule, Yellow Dragon has flourished.”

I nodded, taking in the sprawling structures ahead.

The city itself was a mix of ancient elegance and modern prosperity.

Sturdy buildings with curved rooftops stretched across the landscape, blending seamlessly with the natural rivers and waterfalls that cut through the area. The tournament arena was nestled just behind the governor’s estate, its towering walls visible even from a distance.

Gu Jie continued, slipping into a tour guide role. “Yellow Dragon City was once just a minor settlement, but over the years, it’s become a major trade hub. Thanks to the Lu Clan’s roads, commerce thrives here. The tournament is one of the biggest annual events, drawing warriors, merchants, and spectators from all over the continent.”

I listened as we walked, letting her words paint a clearer picture of the place.

Despite all the trouble I’d already encountered, I had to admit—this world had its charm.

I’d never been to China. I’d only seen the country in pictures.

But magical China? Now that was insane.

The scale of the event was staggering. The sheer number of people attending was a testament to how big of a deal this was. This world lacked modern methods of entertainment, so for the common folk, something like this must have been one of the rare grand spectacles they could experience. And judging by the extravagant decorations and structures, they must have spent a fortune on this festival.

Gu Jie and I followed the crowd into the arena, where servants guided us toward the bleachers. To my surprise, they didn’t pale in comparison to the modern stadiums back home. The arena itself was a rectangular elevated platform, its stone surface refined and solid. The bleachers, meanwhile, formed a semi-circle around it, as if embracing the battlefield.

At the far back of the manor, an extravagant viewing box loomed above the arena. That was where the City Governor and the rest of the VIPs were gathered, overlooking everything. From here, I could already see richly dressed figures sitting in luxurious seats, their expressions unreadable from this distance.

Gu Jie, standing beside me, casually remarked, “The bleachers are made using processed Earth Qi.”

I hummed. “What does that mean?”

“The earth here has been reinforced through a special technique. Unlike ordinary construction, Earth Qi allows structures to be more durable and resistant to damage. A normal stage might crack after just a few fights, but this one will last the entire tournament without a single chip.”

That explained why the architecture in this world looked so pristine despite the apparent lack of modern construction methods.

Since the matches hadn’t started yet, I decided to ask Gu Jie something that had been nagging at me.

“So, about that bloodline ability…” I leaned toward her. “Sixth Sense Fateful Encounter. What do you know about it?”

Gu Jie flinched, her face stiffening.

Ah, right. She had been out last night changing clothes, completely unaware that a Young Master Kang had nearly bought her like some sort of collectible item.

She exhaled sharply. “That name is wrong.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“The real name of the ability… is Sixth Sense Misfortune.”

I blinked. “What?”

Gu Jie sighed, rubbing her temples. “The name was purposefully obscured. ‘Fateful Encounter’ makes it sound like a blessing. A gift. But in reality, it’s more like a curse.”

I narrowed my eyes at Gu Jie. “Explain.”

She hesitated, glancing around as if worried someone might overhear. Finally, she sighed and leaned in.

“Some people are born with peculiar abilities,” she began. “Some bloodline abilities enhance strength, others grant supernatural talents… but mine? Sixth Sense Misfortune allows me to instinctively perceive misfortune before it happens.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

She shook her head. “That’s because you don’t understand the cost.”

I gestured for her to continue.

Gu Jie took a deep breath. “The ability works by accumulating a debt of misfortune. If I avoid an imminent or impending disaster, then I will—without fail—encounter a different kind of misfortune in the future.”

I blinked. “Wait… so you’re telling me that dodging one disaster just means you’re guaranteeing another?”

Gu Jie nodded solemnly.

“That’s stupid,” I muttered.

She smiled wryly. “Tell me about it.”

I thought back to the incident with the discounted robes. “…Is that why you ended up with the Zhao’s clothes? The certain Young Master who was said to have been killed sometime ago?”

Gu Jie groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Yes. That was one of them.”

I chuckled. It was an interesting ability, but it also made me think. Would it be wise to keep her around as my errand girl? If she kept accumulating misfortune, then by extension, wouldn’t I also be at risk?

Before I could voice my thoughts, Gu Jie noticed my expression and panicked.

“I-I’m still useful, though!” she blurted out. “I mean, sometimes—rarely—but sometimes my accumulated misfortune transforms into luck! It’s unpredictable, but when it happens, it can be really beneficial!”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

She nodded furiously. “Yes! There have been moments where I found lost treasures, overheard important conversations, or ended up in the right place at the right time—completely by accident!”

“Huh.” That was… oddly compelling.

Maybe keeping her around would be interesting after all.

I’d make myself a terrible Paladin if I just turned her away.

Sure, having a follower with literal misfortune attached to them sounded like a disaster waiting to happen, but Gu Jie wasn’t completely useless. Besides, what kind of noble, righteous warrior of the light would I be if I abandoned someone just because of bad luck?

Not that I was particularly noble or righteous… but still.

Just as she was starting to fidget under my silence, a food vendor passed by. I waved the man down and turned to Gu Jie. “Go get us some meat buns.”

Gu Jie perked up like a puppy given a task. “Right away!” She practically bounced toward the vendor and returned moments later—carrying an entire basket of them.

I stared. “Why so happy? You just bought that with my money.”

She coughed and looked away. “It’s an investment in my continued employment.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue.

While we ate, the arena grew livelier. A group of attendants roamed the bleachers, carrying ballots and calling out to the crowd.

“Place your bets! Predict the Final Eight of the Elimination Round!”

“The betting function closes at the start of the Round! Finalize your wagers now!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement as people scribbled names onto slips of paper and handed over their gold and spirit stones. Apparently, gambling wasn’t just a thing back home—it was alive and well in Yellow Dragon City.

Before I could entertain the idea of placing a bet myself, a shadow loomed over the arena.

A figure descended from the sky on a flying sword.

It was none other than Enforcer Liang Na.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she scanned the bleachers with sharp eyes and declared, “The Elimination Round for the Yellow Dragon Champion’s Strongest Eight shall now begin!”

Her voice carried effortlessly across the stadium, and the audience erupted into cheers.

She turned to face the VIP box, which stood high above the arena. Hands clasped behind her back, she gave a formal bow. “To our esteemed guests, I hope you enjoy the spectacle.”

With that, she pulled a horn from her waist and blew into it. A deep, reverberating sound echoed throughout the arena, silencing the audience in an instant.

Then, from the far end of the arena, the gates swung open.

Hundreds of cultivators emerged, marching in disciplined rows.

They stepped onto the battleground in ceremonial fashion, each exuding an aura of confidence—some even arrogance. Their robes bore different insignias, likely representing their sects, clans, or personal crests.

As they marched, Liang Na spoke again, her voice taking on a grand, theatrical quality.

“Behold! The finest warriors from across the Riverfall Continent!”

“The 221 cultivators before you are the elite among their peers, all vying for the coveted title of Yellow Dragon Champion!”

She gestured dramatically toward the participants. “Each of them is a master in their own right. They have trained for years—some even decades—to stand here today! And yet… only eight will emerge from the Elimination Round.”

The audience roared in approval, and I found myself leaning forward, intrigued.

Gu Jie nudged me. “Excited?”

I took a bite of my meat bun and chewed thoughtfully. “Maybe. Let’s see if these guys are any good.”