CHAPTER 139: MAKING UP FOR NUMBERS

As the sun slowly dipped lower in the horizon, streaks of orange and crimson painted the sky. The maze’s gates released more and more contestants, some battered and weary but triumphant, while others stumbled out in shame, their strength spent and their hopes shattered.

Feng Jiao Xue, Mo Tianze, Lu Qing Yue, and Jiang Li stood at the edge of the platform, trying to make up the numbers required for the next round.

They screened each passerby carefully. Anyone whose eyes lingered too long on Lu Qing Yue with greed, infatuation, or dangerous obsession was rejected outright, such people would only bring trouble. When one cultivator sneered at Mo Tianze for his origins, Feng Jiao Xue’s fingers twitched with heat, and only Jiang Li’s quick intervention prevented her from setting the man ablaze on the spot.

The first candidate found them. A burly man in crimson armor swaggered over, his chest puffed out. His gaze landed squarely on Lu Qing Yue, his grin wolfish. "What fortune, to meet a beauty like you. With me by your side, victory is guaranteed."

He didn’t even glance at the others.

Feng Jiao Xue’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Is that all he sees?

Lu Qing Yue tilted her head, her smile perfectly polite but frosted over. "If you want to join, address my teammates first. If you cannot respect them, then you cannot respect me."

The man scoffed, waving her words aside. "Why waste time with scraps? You’re the only one worth guarding."

Ice Qi build uo in Lu Qing Yue’s palm as she glared at the greesy man "Leave. Now." she uttered coldly, having dealt with men of this kind too many times to easily find them repulsive. Arrogant, prideful and lustful.

The man, sensing danger, muttered a curse under his breath and stalked away.

"That’s one less fool in the world" Jiang Li laughed to lighten the atmosphere.

Their second attempt came when a tall woman with pale eyes approached, carrying a longbow strapped to her back. She looked disciplined, steady... until she sneered openly at Mo Tianze.

"A mixed-blood?" Her tone dripped disdain. "You’d be a liability. But... with me to cover your weaknesses, perhaps I could tolerate it."

The words hung in the air like poison. Mo Tianze’s expression didn’t flicker, but the silence that followed was heavy.

Feng Jiao Xue stepped forward, her voice low and edged with steel. "Say one more word, and I’ll see if your bow can shoot through fire."

The archer’s lip curled, but she backed away, muttering something about "wasted potential" before disappearing into the crowd.

Lu Qing Yue exhaled slowly. "If we take her, we’d be the ones at a disadvantage. Better without."

Mo Tianze gave a faint nod, his calm masking the storm that briefly flickered in his eyes.

In the end, they still had only four.

Just as the air began to thrum with impatience from the gathered contestants, a shadow swept over the platform. With a deep, metallic clang followed by the faint whir of gears, an enormous owl descended from the skies.

It was the size of a grown man, its body forged of silver-white alloy traced with glowing runes that pulsed like veins of living fire. Intricate feathers of overlapping metal plates caught the last rays of sunlight, gleaming with a sharp, razor-like sheen. Its wings unfurled with a hiss of steam and the low hum of arcane energy, the edges inscribed with golden glyphs that shifted and rearranged themselves with every beat.

The owl’s eyes were twin orbs of molten amber, rotating with a mechanical click as if reading the very souls of those it gazed upon. From its beak, faint wisps of blue spirit-light leaked, giving the illusion of breath despite its mechanical frame. Chains of floating talismans hovered around its ankles, orbiting like silent guardians each rune flaring faintly with sealing power.

When it spoke, its voice was both metallic and resonant, like an echo carried through hollow steel mixed with an ancient chant.

"You have until this incense stick burns to ash," the owl intoned, as a thin stick of glowing crimson appeared floating before the contestants. "Seven shall form one team. Less, and you will not advance."

The announcement rippled across the platform, igniting panic and urgency. Feng Jiao Xue and her companions exchanged glances what had been a struggle to find two more members was now a desperate race to secure three.

The incense stick burned slowly in the air, its crimson smoke curling upward like a reminder of the time slipping away. The platform, once filled with the quiet shuffle of exhausted contestants, now buzzed with tension as cultivators rushed to secure their places. Groups were forming quickly, some with laughter and relief, others with hasty bargaining and veiled threats.

Feng Jiao Xue crossed her arms, her sharp gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Three more," she muttered. "And none of them can be useless baggage."

"That limits our options," Jiang Li replied dryly, adjusting his robes. His eyes flicked toward a nearby group where several loose cultivators were practically begging to be taken in. "Most of the competent ones are already grouped up."

Mo Tianze, quiet as ever, shifted his stance. His expression was calm, but there was a faint furrow in his brow. "We don’t need the strongest. We need those who won’t break the moment things turn difficult."

Lu Qing Yue chuckled softly, her gaze sliding over a cluster of male contestants whose stares lingered far too long on her. "And those who won’t drool every time they look at me. Honestly, I feel like a walking disaster magnet."

One of the men from that group, emboldened, approached. He was tall, with flashy jade-green robes and a folding fan he snapped open theatrically. "Fair ladies and gentlemen, why not join forces with me? I assure you, with my skills, victory is within reach." His eyes, however, never left Lu Qing Yue, practically stripping her bare with every glance.

Feng Jiao Xue’s lips curved into a cold smile. A flicker of flame danced across her fingers. "Careful. Keep staring like that and you’ll find yourself missing your eyebrows."

The man flinched, his fan faltering for a heartbeat, but he quickly forced a smile. "Fiery temper, I see. I like that---"

"Leave," Jiang Li cut in, his voice as sharp as a blade. He didn’t even raise his tone, but the sheer disdain in it was enough to drive the man scurrying back to his group.

Lu Qing Yue sighed. "I think you scared off the only fool willing to throw himself at us."

"Then we didn’t lose much," Feng Jiao Xue shot back.

They pressed on, weaving through the crowd. All around them, desperate voices rose:

"Looking for one more!"

"Two spots left, preferably a healer!"

"No, you’re too weak, move aside!"

The chaos pressed in, making the air feel tighter, heavier.

At last, Mo Tianze’s quiet voice broke through. "There."

"Hm?" Feng Jiao Xue and the other two looks at the direction Mo Tianze pointed out.

Not far from them stood two figures who seemed oddly mismatched yet strangely inseparable. One was broad-shouldered and round, his green robe stretched a little too tight around his frame. He clutched a bundle of fried buns and skewers, happily chewing with grease shining at the corner of his lips. Every now and then, crumbs spilled onto his sleeves, which he brushed away without shame.

Beside him stood his opposite, a tall, lean man in a light blue robe, his posture straight as a blade. A long staff rested lightly in his hand, etched with faint markings that glowed when the light caught them. His expression was calm, almost aloof, but there was sharp intelligence in his eyes as he regarded the crowd.

The difference between them was night and day, and yet the way they stood close made it clear, they were a pair.

"The one with the staff has had plenty of offers," Lu Qing Yue observed, her eyes narrowing slightly. "But he refuses unless his friend is included."

Feng Jiao Xue arched a brow. "The snack-devourer?"

"Exactly."

"I’ll handle this," Jiang Li said smoothly, stepping forward before either woman’s sharp tongue could ruin the attempt. His natural ease and friendly composure made him the obvious choice.

He approached with a polite smile, his steps measured, stopping just short of their space to avoid offense. "Fellow cultivators. Forgive the intrusion, I couldn’t help but notice you haven’t yet joined a team."

The man in blue’s eyes shifted toward him, weighing, considering. "You are not the first to notice." His voice was calm, level.

Jiang Li inclined his head. "And I imagine you’ve turned down many. May I ask why?"

Before the man could answer, the one in green stuffed another bun in his mouth and spoke around it. "Cause they don’t want me." He swallowed noisily, licking his fingers. "They only want him. But we’re a pair. You take one, you take both."

Jiang Li chuckled lightly, not at all put off. "Loyalty is rare. I respect that."

The man in blue’s gaze sharpened, testing him. "You want to recruit us?."

"We are not looking for perfect strength," Jiang Li said honestly. "We are looking for trust. Someone who will not abandon their comrades in the middle of a fight. The fact that you refuse to leave each other behind speaks louder than any display of power."

The man in green blinked, his chewing slowing as he looked between them. "...You hear that? Someone actually respects me."

The man in blue gave him a faint, rare smile before returning his gaze to Jiang Li. After a long pause, he inclined his head. "Very well. If your group accepts us both, we will join."

Jiang Li’s smile widened. "Then welcome to our team."

When they returned, Lu Qing Jue eyed the larger man skeptically as he licked his fingers clean. "You’d better not slow us down."

The man grinned sheepishly. "Don’t worry. I fight just as hard as I eat."

Mo Tianze’s lips twitched faintly, almost a smile, while Lu Qing Yue shook her head with a sigh.

"Can I join too?" A timid voice asked walking towards them. "Uhm, I have... I have lots of potions and pills and uhm I’m good with low level beasts and navigation" He advertised himself making the others all look at him.

Lu Qing Yue glanced at the almost burned out stick before nodding and agreeing for the entire team. "We dont have enough time to chose for someone else" She remarked decisively which was not opposed by the rest of the team.

"Well, nice to meet you guys!" The fatty smiled, friendly, open and honest, making his unkempt look actually feel... presentable. "I’m Zhou Baichuan and this guy next to me" points at his companion, "is Xu Wenjan".

Xu Wenjan calmly bowed in greeting. "Thank you for accepting us" he humbly stated.

"Mo Tianze" Mo Tianze unhesitangtingly shaked his hand, matching his bright and open countenance. "And this is Feng Jiao Xue" at that, Feng Jiao Xue simply nodded in greeting.

"Lu Qing Yue" Lu Qing Yue also introduced herself next, also offering a polite nod.

"Uhm, Lin- I’m Lin Zeyan. Meet you nice! I mean nice to meet you all!" The last guy introduced, a squeeze to his voice introducing himself louder than necessarily making him blush in embarrassment.

Zhou Baichuan laughed loudly patting his shoulder making Lin Zeyan stumble forward. "Nice to meet you too. Let’s all get along well!"