Chapter Ninety-Eight: Pre-Match Rules!

The singing and dancing were breathtaking, the melodies of the qin resonated gracefully, and the calligraphy was extraordinary. Above all, the seamless coordination among the three performers rendered the entire show flawless! These three truly possessed genuine talent; this single performance alone was worth the price of admission.

After their act concluded, the trio stepped aside. Suddenly, the figure of the Clown Maid appeared on the stage at the center of the first-floor hall.

The moment the Clown Maid appeared, the audience erupted in applause—whether sincere or feigned, such respect was obligatory.

Standing boldly at the center of the stage, the Clown Maid raised her voice: “First and foremost, I warmly welcome all distinguished guests to the Xiao Xiang Pavilion. I hope everyone enjoys themselves and drinks to their heart’s content!”

“Wonderful!”

“Clown Maid, you’re too polite! We’ve always had a great time here!”

“Haha, the Xiao Xiang Pavilion never disappoints us!”

As soon as the Clown Maid finished speaking, the crowd responded enthusiastically.

She waved her hand, and silence quickly fell over the hall. “Good, I’m glad everyone is pleased! I’m sure you’ve guessed it—now it’s time for the challenge! In the past, the heavenly maidens would set the questions, and success depended solely on their judgment. Many times, I’ve heard people complain that this was unfair! So today, we’re changing the rules: the success or failure of the challengers will be decided jointly by all of you distinguished guests here and our three heavenly maidens!”

No sooner had she spoken than murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Did you hear that? This time, the decision power is in our hands?”

“Exactly! As expected from the Xiao Xiang Pavilion—it’s grand and generous!”

“Haha, I love deciding others’ fates! The Xiao Xiang Pavilion has really outdone itself this time!”

“Hey, let’s listen to the Clown Maid explain the rules first!”

With that, the chatter gradually quieted.

“Alright then, let me explain the rules. I’ve just had someone count the guests present—there are nearly a hundred distinguished attendees. Shortly, each of you will receive cards in black, white, and red. Each card represents one vote, and each color corresponds to a different challenge. We will distribute eighty-five cards of each color. Each of our three heavenly maidens will also have five votes per color, making one hundred votes per challenge. After a challenger finishes their trial, you will cast your cards to show your support. The challenger with the most votes in each round will have successfully passed that challenge!”

The Clown Maid took a breath before continuing, “Now, the challengers have just been selected—there are twelve of them. They are currently blindfolded and waiting in Room One, where they will face the first challenge. Lastly, regarding rewards: since the rules have changed, so have the rewards. Those who pass the first challenge will receive three complimentary services; those who pass two challenges will receive five complimentary services and the chance to redeem one lady’s freedom. And those who pass all three challenges will earn all previous rewards, gain the right to take one of the three heavenly maidens with them, and also earn the privilege to challenge the Mei Ling Heavenly Maiden!”

The crowd erupted in excitement at this announcement—the rewards were incredibly generous, irresistibly so. Though it seemed little different from before, this time the initiative was truly in their hands. The Xiao Xiang Pavilion had really raised the stakes!

“Alright, that covers everything. A couple more points about the challengers: they will be assigned numbers one through twelve, so their identities will remain unknown to everyone. After each challenge, their numbers will be shuffled. Please vote fairly and justly!”

“See? That’s why the Xiao Xiang Pavilion is so generous this time, handing control to us. Yet in the end, we still know nothing!”

“That’s actually quite good—we don’t know, and they don’t know either. Fair, just, and transparent. That’s the kind of true contest I like. The Xiao Xiang Pavilion has done well this time!”

“Indeed! This is going to be interesting!”

The Clown Maid declared, “Alright, now that the rules are clear, let me explain the first challenge!”

...

Inside Room One of the Xiao Xiang Pavilion’s inner chambers, the twelve challengers sat upright and alert, each wary of the others. Though none could discern much about the others, their instincts kept them on guard. To prevent the exposure of identities, the challengers were forbidden from speaking.

Number twelve among them was Li Yi. Earlier, when someone knocked and asked if anyone wished to participate, Li Yi had not hesitated to join. But when he heard the rules, he was stunned—this competition was far too advanced to have originated in the Tang dynasty. It was too sophisticated. For such a set of rules to appear here now shook him deeply.

Only two possibilities came to mind: either these rules had somehow been unintentionally leaked by him, though he had no memory of such—only a vague familiarity without any clear clues—or, alternatively, another time traveler had appeared. Yet this latter thought flickered briefly and was dismissed. The very fact that he had returned was already a miracle. A second traveler would be a conspiracy—was God playing a joke on him? Impossible, unless God had lost his mind. Beyond these scenarios, Li Yi could think of no other explanation. Could such a genius really exist in this world?

He shook his head. Whatever the truth, it would be revealed in time. But for now, such thoughts were not his concern. His sole focus was to overcome the challenges.

As Li Yi’s mind wandered, a young lady announced the first challenge’s rules.

“Challengers, I hereby announce the rules for the first challenge. It will test your painting skills. You must choose your own theme based on the events of today. However, the use of any words, marks, or signs that could reveal your identity are strictly forbidden. Any violation will result in disqualification. The challenger with the most votes wins. You have half an hour. Begin!”

Hearing such detailed rules, Li Yi was certain this was aimed at him—no calligraphy allowed. His handwriting was already famous throughout Chang’an. Moreover, he had never painted since arriving in the Tang dynasty. Coupled with these restrictions, it was clear the Clown Maid was behind this. Living in the modern era, Li Yi was too familiar with such games. Though seemingly fair, these rules were laden with traps.

“Hmph! Do they think this will trip me up? How naive! Though I don’t know how they obtained these rules, they’re just leftovers from my own games. Think you can stop me? My universal remedy won’t be called that for nothing! Today, I’ll show you how formidable I am!”

Having made up his mind, Li Yi signaled the young lady hosting the contest. When she approached, he whispered a few words in her ear. She nodded, signaled to another woman, and then turned and left.

...