The Romance Of The Thousand Loves
CH. 68. AN INCIDENT

Star Pavilion, one of the best cities in the Land Of Soul Continent was currently filled with various cultivators from all over the world. With a variety of goals one of them follows the most prestigious tournament in the world, the Intercontinental Cultivator Tournament. Most of the people who came to this city were tournament participants, even though there were cultivators or ordinary people who came just to watch the course of the tournament.

Tournament registration in this city has started since night and may last up to the next few days. Not playfully, the lowest registration officers were in the nine-star Ancestor realm. Place of registration of participants there are two places in accordance with the large arena that has been provided. Cultivators who want to participate in the tournament must register first so that there are no illegal participants who are unclear. Although the people who signed up were very crowded, but the coordination of the officers made the registration run quite smoothly and quickly. Well except for the crazy ones, no one dared to make such a move in front of such powerful high-level cultivators.

Tang Xiao, Denas, Arya, Andri and Jessika after a night of rest joined the register. Early in the morning, they had headed for a registration place that had never rested since the registration opened. Although it was still very early in the morning, there had been many cultivators who had lined up.

Tang Xiao, Denas, Arya, Andri and Jessika immediately queued at the second registration place where the number of people registered was less than the first place. And not waiting long, it was their turn to sign up.

Apparently, the registration officer who was holding a spotted pen was in the realm of a one-star Holy Ancestor. A white sword with a yellow handle was slung behind him. The man raised his head when it was Tang Xiao's turn to register while Andri and Arya who registered first, the man ignored them. The man looked at Tang Xiao while raising next to his eyebrows then nodded slowly.

"Where did you come from?" Ask the man who is friendly and polite. The few cultivators standing behind him who were in charge of watching the course of the registration looked surprised.

"I'm from the Land of Death continent." Tang Xiao replied no less gracious and polite.

"Hem... Since when did the Land Of Death Continent have a sword cultivator at the level of that old man?" It muttered softly that man who was only able to be heard by Tang Xiao and the four people behind him.

"Oh sorry I forgot, whose name are you?" Asked the smiling man extending his hand.

" My name is Tang Xiao sir." Tang Xiao replied replying to the hand of the man in front of him.

'This young man's age has not been sixteen yet, yet has he mastered the Sword Soul Body Refinement? It really has an infinite future.' The man's inner self while writing Tang Xiao's name on a different list that only Tang Xiao's name was on that list.

"Thank you Mr. Tang, you can already leave." Said the man while smiling towards Tang Xiao. Tang Xiao smiled and nodded slowly. The man looked back at the paper in front of him and returned to his previous state.

But the man again raised his head as soon as Denas' turn to register. The man also raised his eyebrows.

"Where did you come from?" Ask the man. Again, the four cultivators behind him were shocked.

"I'm a traveling swordsman sir." Denas' reply offset the man's courtesy.

"Your name is sir?" Asked the man to extend his hand.

"My name is Denas." Denas replied while replying to the man's hand.

'This young man was younger than the young man before, yet they had similar bodies despite the different cultivation levels. Clearly, the condition of the bodies of these two young men was so terrible and unusual. I have to look at the records in that library again.' The man's inner self while writing Denas' name on the same list as Tang Xiao's. Now the list has been filled with two names since registration opened a few days ago.

The man nodded politely and let Denas go. The man returned to his initial condition; silent and indifferent until some people had signed up.

But again the man raised his head when he felt an unusual aura in front of him had stood a blue veiled woman wearing an abaya of the same color. The woman looked elegant in that dress.

"Where are you from, miss?" Ask the man politely.

"I am from the Nusantara Kingdom." Answer the relaxed woman. The answer shocked the man and some of his friends who were standing behind him.

Quickly the man stood up and clenched his fists in front of his chest while bowing followed by four of his friends in the back.

"Pardon us princesses who don't know you." Said the man. He knew a little of the identity of this veiled woman in front of him. Of course the woman was the princess of the Nusantara Kingdom and became the guest of honor that even the Pavilion Master respected this princess.

"It doesn't need to be like that sir, I just signed up as a participant on my father's orders." The veiled woman replied while gesturing for them to sit down. The man sat back down and the four people behind him stood where they were.

"If you may know the name of the princess?" The man asked politely without extending his hand like before.

"My name is Rina sir." Answer the woman calmly.

"I'm only fifteen years old, you don't have to bother to figure out my age." Said Princess Rina again who knew what the male officer in front of her was wanting.

"Ah thank you, Princess. I'm so happy today." Said the Man.

"Well, since I signed up, I'll be back." Princess Rina said politely.

"Good princess please." The man got up and bowed followed by his friend behind. The people around just silently watched the rare events that happened in front of them. No one dared to talk or whisper about the girl. They had been silent since the first time princess Rina introduced herself.

Tang Xiao, Denas, Arya, Andri and Jessika stood not far from where the Princess registered. They had been watching the girl since she first came. They felt very interested in the aura that the girl released.

"The girl seems to be as strong as the first Big Brother and will be quite a formidable opponent." Tang Xiao said through telepathy connected to his other three brothers.

"Of course it would be very suitable juxtaposed with the third sister." Reply Andri via telepathy as well.

"Haha I think that girl will run away seeing my appearance like this." Reply Tang Xiao.

"No problem... Let me talk to you with that girl." Jessika teased Tang Xiao.

"Third brother even if your clothes are like this, I don't think that girl will bear to see your face." Timpal Denas was silent.

"That girl is much stronger than me." Mumbled Arya who did not understand what Tang Xiao and the others were talking about.

"Brother Arya, don't worry, I hope we don't meet the girl." Denas said while patting his shoulder calmed Arya down.

"Hopefully." Reply Arya while nodding slowly.

The higher the sun, the more people signed up, the more people entered the Star Pavilion city as well. Among them were people from the Gama Empire and Alpha Empire. These two empires basically included the tournament organizing committee so there were no checks from the gatekeepers.

Andri who saw the convoy of the Alpha Empire clenched his hand. Upon seeing some familiar faces he made his body tremble violently. Almost only Andri jumped towards the motorcade beating them one by one if not stopped by Jessika and Tang Xiao.

"First brother, your grudge is our grudge as well. It's not good that we take revenge here. There are a lot of great people we can't afford to fight right now. Wait above the arena, then one by one the debt that has been forgotten will be fully paid off. All we need to do now is prepare for the tournament." Said Tang Xiao patting Andri on the shoulder to calm down.

Jessika, who knows the story of her lover, clasped tightly with Andri's hands full of affection.

"Sister Andri, it's true what the third sister said. At the moment we cannot pay off this debt, but one day we will be able to pay it twice even if not here." Jessika.

"As with anything Andri, it's just the past. Right now there is me by my sister's side, don't be afraid, I will always accompany and support you until these eyes are closed forever." Jessika smiled sweetly again.

Andri remained silent. His heart was touched to hear the words of those who loved and loved him. He smiled widely and nodded.

"Thank you third sister, thank you little princess, thank you all." Andri said back to Jessika's hand.

Arya who did not know what the problem was, just kept quiet and stood beside Denas hoping that the young man next to her would tell him what had really happened. He did see a large motorcade with a flag that read Alpha Empire but he did not know why his friend, Andri, could look so hate the troupe.

Denas who was also silent, occasionally nodded confirming the words of Tang Xiao and Jessika. He could feel what his first brother was feeling, the grudge that made his first brother insulted and neglected by his own family, as if the grudge had become his grudge to make his heart come hot. But he is still able to control himself.

Meanwhile, the Alpha Empire's rowing had looked towards Tang Xiao's group who were standing watching not far from the roadside, watching the majestic motorcade. They had not treated Andri who was wearing a mask since coming out of the room early in the morning, as well as Tang Xiao, Denas, Jessika and Arya.

Initially, the one who tried to wear a mask was Denas and it turned out that his proposal was approved by others.

"I agree. I also have to find the people who have dumped me from the vehicle and ask for their explanation." Arya said when asked about her opinion.

"I also agree. Before this grudge pays off, I won't unmask me in a crowded hall." Andri agreed with Denas.

The group from Alpha Empire thought that the group of young people who were looking at them from a not-so-obtrusive angle were a group of ordinary youths who admired Alpha Empire so that the Alpha Empire's entourage did not bother. They continued their journey towards the city center regardless of Tang Xiao's group and considered them to be the wind then.

Shortly after, the entourage from the Gama Empire passed in front of Tang Xiao's group. The Gama Empire entourage is no less luxurious and lively than the Alpha Empire. The trumpets, the flag bearers, the ranks of the Emperor's bodyguards, the ranks of the Sons of the Emperor, all look charming showing the greatness of the Gama Empire.

The Gama Empire's entourage, just like the Alpha Empire before it, did not consider the people who were hugging them, thinking they were the wind and then useless.

Jessika knew that the passing party was her family including her father. Her father had no idea that Jessika had been in the City Pavilion and had become one of the contestants. As her father knew, Jessika was still in the Azure Dragon Sect and not necessarily whether to join the tournament or not.

Tang Xiao, Andri, Arya, Denas and Jessika returned to their inn after watching the Gama Empire entourage enter the capital of the Star Pavilion. Inside the inn that had the restaurant, they looked for breakfast before returning to look at the increasingly crowded atmosphere of the city.

"First brother, how is the history of the first time this intercontinental tournament was held?" Tanya Denas opened the conversation. He took out a piece of meat then put it on Tang Xiao's plate and another piece of meat was put on his own plate.

"That's not on your first brother's plate?" Ask Andri who saw Denas' behavior that looks favoritism.

Denas smiled widely and then took a piece of meat and put it on his first brother's plate.

"That's dong." Andri smiled broadly. While eating, Andri began to tell the history of the start of the intercontinental tournament he knew.

"The history I read and limited my understanding to, a few hundred years ago, the cultivators who had successfully defeated the Devil and his followers from this world, celebrated their victory by gathering together. Those strong cultivators who had won, turned out to be from various worlds. In order to strengthen the brotherhood between world cultivators, they formed a World Cultivator Organization headed by the strongest cultivators in the world who were at the Semi God realm. At that time the chairman, in order to add to the tightness of the relationship proposed to hold an intercontinental tournament for the younger generation.

The chairman's proposal was agreed with pleasure and joy. One year later, the intercontinental tournament was successfully organized quietly and safely without the thought of stealth attacks from the Devil and his followers. The tournament was directly led by the Chairman and received an extraordinary prize. The tournament was won by a man and a woman who were raised directly to be the Chairman's disciple. Of course, the prize became the biggest prize in the history of the tournament since its inception until now because not long later, The head of the World Kuktivator Organization mysteriously disappeared with his two students until now not knowing how he was doing.

As time went on from generation to generation, some rules regarding intercontinental tournaments changed a lot and added on. One of them is age and cultivation factor. The minimum age to enter the tournament was fifteen years with a minimum level of cultivation of the Grand Master realm. And a maximum age of around fifty years with Saint Expert cultivation level. To be sure, the rules of each tournament there will be any additions or reductions will be held considering this tournament is held every twenty years.

So this was the best opportunity for everyone to bring out his abilities in the arena. Who would not want to become a disciple in one of the Hidden Sects in this world? Moreover, this year there is information circulating that the Nusantara Kingdom will also recruit the winners this year to be dukes in the kingdom. Of course it will be a tough and tense competition in this tournament."

While telling stories, occasionally Andri feed food to his mouth. Only the eyes, mouth and nostrils were not covered by the mask that Tang Xiao's group wore.

Andri's story attracted the interest of some cultivators not far from them. Some of the cultivators there were blatantly listening and approaching and some were using their senses to hear Andri's story.

Among those cultivators, there were still many of them who did not know the information that Andri had told them. A young girl approached the dining table of Tang Xiao's group.

"May I join you gentlemen?" Said the young girl politely after saluting.

Tang Xiao, Denas, Jessika, and Arya turned towards Andri. They asked for the consent of someone older than them.

"Of course, miss. Please no problem." Andri casually gestured to let the girl sit on an empty chair near Tang Xiao.

The girl smiled broadly from behind her veil. "Thank you sir." Said the girl then sat down beside Tang Xiao.

"I just walked into this restaurant and it turned out that the place was full. When I saw this empty chair I ventured to join the gentlemen who seemed to be the same age as me." The girl was polite and formal. Judging from the clothes she was wearing, this girl was not from this continent.

"Yes, the restaurant is full of visitors. Many came but left disappointed not to get an empty seat again. I commend your courage in joining us who look this shabby." Saying a friendly smile.

"We are just a group of young people who seek identity and ignore the opinions of others. Are you too trusting in the feeling that we are good people and not fugitives who are being sought?" Said Tang who although polite but sounded outspoken.

"Hide... How can I trust others without trusting my own premonition? Trusting others comes from trusting yourself with what you do. And of course I am one of the cultivators with a foreboding power that is higher than the average other cultivators." The young girl's casual and polite speech was not affected by Tang Xiao's remark.

Tang Xiao remained silent and nodded slowly confirming this veiled woman beside him. The veiled woman turned to the waiter and called out to him.

"Sir, please serve the best menu in this restaurant a number of people here. This is the payment as well as the one already served." The veiled woman's words gave the servant woman a bag of gold coins. The woman accepted with joy and a wide smiling face.

"Well miss." The waiter bowed and hurried to order a meal ordered by the veiled woman.

"In gratitude for allowing me to join the master group, I will pay for this meal and the food that will be served." Said the veiled woman kindly so that the people in front of her were not offended by her actions.

"My name is Ririn, from the Land of Sword continent. I came here with a group but in the middle of the road we separated because of the ninth level Mythical Beast attack while passing the Ocean Ocean. Until now I have not known about the news of other friends who are separated." Ririn introduced herself kindly. He looks a little sad.

"I'm Arya from the Land Of Sword continent, if I may know from which Kingdom did Miss Ririn come from?" Arya asked a spirit who met people from the same continent in the other people's continent.

Actually meeting people from the same continent is common if there are tournaments like this. But it is different if separated from the group and live alone for a few days do not know the direction, it will certainly be different like what Arya experienced today.

"Oh is it really Mr Arya? I am from the Arita Kingdom exactly from the Nine Moons Sword Sect." Ririn said excitedly as well. He might feel happy there was one continent with him when he first became acquainted with others.

"Oh Arita Kingdom, Nine Months Sword Sect." Arya muttered slowly.

"Eh wait." Arya exclaimed in shock about to fall out of her chair if her back was not held back by Denas.

"I am from the Arita Kingdom, from the Spring Sword Sect." Arya said more excitedly while clenching her hands.

"Oh really? The Spring Sword Sect that accepts male disciples without females is it?" Ririn asked who was also in the spirit.

"Yes yes.... The Nine Moons Sword Sect who only accepted the female disciple right?" Arya's also excited speech made the surrounding people turn towards Tang Xiao's group with a strange look.

"Yes yes.. Unexpected to meet with the Civil College here." Ririn said in spirit. He was about to stand up if not pulled back by Tang Xiao.

"Ah Salam Sister College. The world is so small." Said Arya while clenching her hands in front of her chest. He began to control himself from shock.

"Greetings also Brother College. It was unexpected that I met a great person from the Spring Sword Sect who won the fraternity match between our two sects." Said Ririn also clenching her hands to the front of her chest replying to Arya's greeting.

Arya was shocked to hear Ririn's words. He raised his eyebrows trying to figure out who this woman in front of him was.

"Sister Ririn knows me, but how could I not know you?" Arya muttered holding her chin.

"I don't have Aryan brothers, only I've heard your name mentioned in our sect. You've become the idol of the sisters-in-law in the Nine Months Sword Sect if the other sisters find out Arya's brother is here maybe they'll follow wherever the brothers go." Ririn said with a smile behind her veil.

"Then, how does sister Ririn not know me but know my name?" Arya asked curiously. He did not care much about his fame in the Nine Moon Sword Sect.

"When the match between the two sects was held, I was in closed cultivation. When I finished cultivating, the sisters were discussing the name of brother Arya for some time. I just listened to them say your name and say I was unlucky not to be in that game." Answer Ririn.

Arya nodded slowly while putting her hands on the table which accidentally happened something unwanted.

Gebruck...

The dining table turned upside down and all the food spilled towards Arya who was not alert to avoid food spilling over towards her. Be Aryan body and clothes filled with food, both wet and dry.

The originally mediocre dining room was suddenly filled with laughter blaring from every corner of the room. Even the officials could not help but laugh at the sight of several pieces of shins hanging over Arya's head.

From Arya's hair dripped with gulai vegetables and gulai meat, adding to the young man's misery of his own carelessness.

Denas sitting next to him did not escape from being exposed to food scattered upwards. Fortunately, Tang Xiao who was sitting next to Denas immediately pulled Denas da Ririn towards him and jumped up so that Denas and Ririn could still survive the squash and vegetables that were scattering.

Jessika and Andri, who were sitting opposite Andri, realized too late and held their table back. With a reflex, Andri immediately pulled Jessika and jumped backwards.

Ririn who had never held hands with a man before, her heart was pounding and her face was hot as Tang Xiao pulled her hand towards him then while jumping backwards, and with eyes unblinking, she said, Ririn looked at Tang Xiao from the side. There was something he did not understand as he stared at the masked young man from the side who suddenly entered his heart.

"I'm sorry Miss Ririn pulled you around impolitely, really I accidentally just reflexed my body that was faster than my mind. I'm sorry Miss Ririn." Tang Xiao said as soon as he realized who was with what he was doing as soon as his feet landed on the floor.

"Eh.. Oh.. I.. Da... Ti.. no. ma.sal...lah..." Reply Ririn stuttered while turning her face that had been flushed red. It was fortunate that Ririn was wearing a veil so that her face that was met with red no one knew of it. He tried to control his unprecedented heartbeat.

Arya who had cleaned her body of some kind of food, immediately jumped up high to get to the top floor of the room where her room was. He did not care about the surrounding atmosphere which was still quite crowded laughing and discussing it.

"I don't know if brother Arya is a little careless." Andri muttered while shaking her head at Arya who had climbed upstairs without using the stairs.

"How could a cultivator of the level of Arya's brother be able to act like that?" Jessika muttered with a funny smile.

"Well, it's okay what he's acting like, but look at us just cleaning up the mess he made." Add Denas while looking around. He felt goosebumps as the gazes of the cultivators in the dining room pointed towards them. To clean up the mess he meant was to bear the shame of Arya's unintentional act.

Tang Xiao who was just silent from earlier stepped towards the next floor stairs. He could not stand the sight of everyone who was looking at him. Denas, Andri and Jessika. But when Jessika was about to step following Andri, suddenly her hand was pulled by Ririn.

Ririn approached Jessika who had stopped then whispered something. Jessika heard enthusiastically then nodded slowly then smiled.

"Sister Ririn can follow me to the room. There's just me alone. How's it?" Jessika asked after knowing Ririn's wish.

Ririn without a second thought immediately nodded in agreement to Jessika's offer. Jessika walked up the stairs to her room after talking to Denas through her mind. Ririn followed Jessika from the side without much talking.

After reaching the room, Ririn closed the door then removed her veil and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you sister Jessika has given permission to enter your room and is willing to hear my story. It's not wrong my instinct to say that you belong to good people." Said Ririn after opening her veil.

"Sister Ririn, as I thought she was. Don't worry about me and don't be so formal. We've been friends, so we've been acting how someone's friends." Reply Jessika while taking off the mask and then the robe and then put it on the clothes.

"Behind the hideous mask, it turns out hidden beautiful face. I didn't expect it. Looks like brother Andri is very lucky to have you sister Jessika." Reply Ririn while sitting on the chair that Jessika had provided.

Jessika serves some snacks and a pot of Moon-Hindu Wine along with two beautiful glasses. Seeing that Ririn smiled widely.

"Sorry to make sister Jessika troubled." Ririn said. She was about to reject Jessika's offer, but the girl did not seem to hear Ririn's refusal.

"This is the Vine of the Moon of Longing from this continent. A special wine that only exists on this continent. I'm just a little lucky to have a wine like this." Jessika said as she poured red wine into Ririn's glass.

The Vine of Moon Longing poured calmly into Ririn's glass and gave off a distinctive aroma that Ririn had never smelled. With curiosity, Ririn tasted a little red Wine in her glass which instantly made Ririn's eyes widen. He put the glass back on the table quietly.

"Sister, what wine is this? why so drink it I suddenly felt something I did not understand in my heart?" Said Ririn while pressing her chest which felt strange in her opinion.

Jessika smiled. It seemed like he had gotten used to Ririn's expression after tasting Red Moon Wine for the first time. He tasted the wine in his glass then smiled back.

Jessika and Ririn dissolve in their conversation. The two girls looked familiar and suited each other. Their conversation became more intense when Ririn began to tell her the point of inviting Jessika to speak with just four eyes without anyone else bothering.

......................

While it was elsewhere yet still in the Gama Empire, it appeared that two women were having a serious talk with a man. The man looked like he was deciding something, while the two women were just silently listening.

"Our child can choose a partner for himself without the need for matchmaking. As a mother, I disagree with His Majesty the King's proposal." The woman who looks like the mother of the other woman.

"If our daughter doesn't get what she wants in this tournament, then she'll have to follow me back no matter what." Strictly speaking the man while looking the other way.

"Even for the sake of our daughter, I must persuade the Great Elder to allow us to come here and show ourselves once more to the world." The man continued while sitting next to his wife. His wife and daughter were silent at the man's words.

"Son, no matter what happens you will always support you. What your father said is for the sake of our tribe and our kingdom. You have to be strong, son. Relax your mother is always by your side." The woman comforted her son while laying his head on his lap.

"Yes mother, thank you for always being there for Rina." The princess smiled broadly at her mother.

......................

Meanwhile elsewhere, Hanzho's entourage had reached Star Pavilion City. They arrived before Tang Xiao's entourage entered Star Pavilion City the day before.

That morning elder Lan or the one commonly called Ana felt a familiar aura that she was familiar with but only for a moment. Likewise with elder Yan who had looked to the right and left to find out whose aura he had just felt.

But the aura they felt was only a moment later you disappeared. They looked at every corner of the dining room but found nothing suspicious and strange. But suddenly they were surprised by the laughter that blared from every corner of the room. Elder Lan and elder Yan stood to find out what was going on.

They can see a group of young people who are the center of attention and make people around laugh. Elder Lan and elder Yan looked at the group of masked youngsters sharply. Because it was from them that elder Lan and elder Yan felt the familiar aura they had just felt.

One by one, one, elder Yan and elder Lan looked at the group of masked youngsters who then their gazes stopped at one of the blue veiled girls wearing the same abaya with her veil color that looked different to the young man another group. Elder Lan and elder Yan looked at each other only then nodded. They walked around trying to approach the group of young men but stopped when they saw the veiled woman had climbed upstairs with her friends.

Elder Lan and elder Yan paused his intention and sat back down to the dining table they continued the breakfast that had stopped.

"Did you see the man you were looking for?" Asked Rangga so elder Lan and elder Yan had sat down quietly. From earlier Rangga had noticed the behavior of the two of them.

Elder Lan nodded. "I'm not sure if it was indeed the Princess or not. For a moment we could feel the familiar aura of that group of masked youngsters but it quickly disappeared somewhere." Said elder Lan.

"Dik Ana, maybe the person you're looking for is already in this city, just waiting for the right time to be able to meet again." Said Rangga comforting his lover.

Elder Lan nodded slowly and then continued her breakfast.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

It was still a mystery who was being sought by elder Lan and elder Yan and where would they be. Is it in this tournament or somewhere else?

#Some people refuse to lose,

But by having to let go.

Friday Mubarok🤗🤗