Chapter Thirty-five: Tactics

At this moment, Li Sibai no longer had the heart to keep watching. He squeezed through the crowd and made his way toward his lodgings. His mind was still replaying Stone’s battle from earlier, pondering whether he himself could have withstood such a blow. Li Sibai recalled the years of humiliation he had endured in the outer sect, thought of his parents, of Uncle Cai Da who had raised him, and of his own mission. All these things drove him to resolve that he must pass this outer sect disciple examination.

I don’t know how many will be admitted this time, but if that’s the case, I’ll have to take first place.

Li Sibai seemed to have made up his mind.

No matter who blocks my way ahead, I’ll step right over them!

Unconsciously, his fighting spirit began to radiate from his body, and passing outer sect disciples saw a faint white glow from the sword on his back, a strong aura of killing intent emanating from him.

“Is this senior brother an outer sect disciple? He has such a powerful killing aura. I wonder if he’s participating in this year’s contest,” whispered some who were familiar with his infamous reputation but not his appearance, unable to connect the two.

Hearing this, Li Sibai suddenly came to his senses and quickly suppressed his fighting spirit. He grinned sheepishly at the crowd and hurried away.

That evening, Mo Yun invited him to have dinner at Uncle Cai Da’s place. Uncle Cai knew that Li Sibai had been extremely lucky this time—advancing to the top four without even fighting. He worried that Li Sibai might have mixed feelings about it.

During the meal, Uncle Cai and Mo Yun drank some wine while Li Sibai sipped tea.

“Xiaobai, did you watch Stone’s match today?” Mo Yun asked first.

Li Sibai nodded. “Yes, Senior Brother. I saw the whole thing.”

“And what are your thoughts?” Mo Yun continued.

“His cultivation and strength both surpass mine. His martial skills are better too. Tomorrow, I’ll give it everything I have and see if I can find a chance to win.”

Uncle Cai Da looked amazed. “Xiaobai, has it really come to this?”

Mo Yun just smiled. “Don’t worry, Uncle Cai.

“Xiaobai, under ordinary circumstances, you’re right. He bests you in cultivation, martial skill, and strength—he may even outpace you in speed. But you’ve overlooked one thing.” Mo Yun’s eyes gleamed as he looked straight at Li Sibai.

Uncle Cai Da was equally anxious, and before Li Sibai could speak, he blurted out, “What else? Tell us, Mo Yun!”

Mo Yun wasn’t in a hurry. He glanced at Uncle Cai, signaling him to wait, then turned back to Li Sibai, hoping Li Sibai would find the answer himself.

Li Sibai was visibly surprised, his mind racing through possibilities of what he might have missed.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a different kind of brilliance.

“Senior Brother, do you mean he doesn’t know my true strength?”

Mo Yun gave Li Sibai a look of approval and nodded with a smile.

“Exactly. You haven’t made a single move since the tournament began. You’re in the dark; he’s in the light. You know his abilities and cultivation, but he knows nothing of yours. Your infamy in the outer sect precedes you—even though he’s only recently joined and may not have met you, he’s surely heard of your reputation. This alone gives you a tremendous advantage.”

Li Sibai blushed. The truth was, his notorious reputation as the disgrace of the outer sect, the wastrel who, after eight years, had only reached the third level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm, was well known. Even standing on the semi-finals stage today, without having fought a single match, most would believe it was sheer dumb luck that got him there. As for the first match he’d passed, many assumed someone had cheated for him.

Very few knew Li Sibai’s true strength. Most only remembered his reputation as the outer sect’s good-for-nothing.

Realizing this, Li Sibai gave a wry smile. Who would have thought that his notoriety would become his greatest asset, a key that could help him seize victory in tomorrow’s match?

Uncle Cai Da, too, looked awkward. He never mentioned such things in front of Li Sibai, partly to spare his feelings and partly to avoid reinforcing that mindset and crushing his confidence—which would be the most dangerous thing of all.

It matters little if others look down on you; if you look down on yourself, you might as well be dead.

If strangers mocked him, Li Sibai paid them no mind; he would simply keep proving himself. But if those close to him mocked him, the blow would be far greater—he would often become angry.

Yet today, hearing these words from Mo Yun, Li Sibai did not grow angry. He recognized the wisdom in Mo Yun’s words and nodded in agreement.

Mo Yun continued, “Now that he underestimates you, looks down on you, that’s the best thing that could happen. Although your cultivation, strength, and martial skill are all inferior, you must take advantage of his disdain tomorrow—strike fast, take him by surprise, knock him off the stage before he can react. This way, you’ll make your name in a single battle and sweep away your infamous reputation in the outer sect. All who ever looked down on you will see you in a new light!”

Li Sibai’s blood surged at Mo Yun’s words. “Senior Brother, you mean a lightning assault?”

Mo Yun nodded. “That’s exactly it!”

Li Sibai drew a deep breath. In his mind, he began to simulate the battle to come, falling into deep contemplation.

Seeing this, Uncle Cai Da let him be, quietly drinking with Mo Yun and occasionally asking him a few questions.

“Mo Yun, with this strategy, what are Xiaobai’s chances of advancing tomorrow?”

Mo Yun said nothing, but raised a hand with five fingers. “If all goes smoothly, there’s a fifty percent chance.”

Uncle Cai Da sucked in a breath. “Only fifty percent?”

Mo Yun glanced at him, then at Li Sibai, and said, “Strategy can only close the gap so far. If Xiaobai can seize the momentum and truly believe he will win, then he has a seventy percent chance.”

At the mention of seventy percent, Li Sibai started, emerging from his reverie. He looked at Mo Yun, then at Uncle Cai Da, poured out the tea in his cup, and filled it with wine.

“Uncle Cai, Senior Brother, today I, Li Sibai, thank you both for your care and support. Tomorrow, I will give my all and live up to your hopes!”

With that, he threw back the cup of wine. The burning spirit made him grimace, much to the amusement of Uncle Cai and Mo Yun.