Playing cards, I am your ancestor!-Chapter 300: Mountain Ghost Training Match 1_1

Song Zhi’s relationship with her twin younger brothers wasn’t that bad. After all, they had practically grown up together. While they might not share a life-and-death bond, they had a normal older sister-younger brother dynamic. Song Zhi knew Song Jue was more reliable than Song Yi, which was why she asked about these things.

Seeing Song Jue was unwilling to speak, Song Zhi didn’t press further, just raising an eyebrow and saying, "Forget it. I was just a little curious."

After all, Wen Jiang was the professional player currently attracting the most attention. She was outrageously good. Having been out of the news for half a year, her return and immediate ascension to S Rank had provoked the interest of both the Sanctuary and Frost Moon. No one knew Wen Jiang’s origins, how she had leveled up so quickly, or what her true strength was.

It just so happened that Song Yingchen had also returned.

In the last year, Song Yingchen could be considered high-spirited—except when it came to matters concerning Wen Jiang. After joining the Guiqing Association, he competed in matches. The Guiqing Association didn’t rank particularly high in the world championships, but his outstanding performance, good looks, and status as the young master of the Song Family meant he was exceptionally busy after the tournaments, his popularity steadily climbing.

The four Song siblings were all exceptionally talented. In an ordinary family, having even one such child would be considered an extraordinary blessing, let alone four.

Upon seeing Song Yingchen’s return, Song Zhi and her twin brothers exchanged a glance but decided not to bring up Wen Jiang in front of him. Even though Song Yingchen had had a good year, he was still family. Everyone could see he became absent-minded whenever Wen Jiang was mentioned or involved. Moreover, within the Song family, Madam Song, who once held the most authority over him, found her words no longer carried weight with him on this matter.

Unexpectedly, this time Song Yingchen took the initiative to approach Song Jue, his gaze solemn. "How is she...?"

Song Yingchen’s relationship with the other Song family members was average. However, Song Ji was never stingy in providing for the family. While Song Zhi’s right to inheritance was unquestionable, other benefits were available to those capable enough to secure them. Although they were competitors, Song Yingchen and Song Jue would occasionally exchange a few words.

Song Jue crossed his arms. "Someone who has just advanced to S Rank is naturally high-spirited."

Song Yingchen paused. He seemed to only want to ask this one question. Seeing Song Zhi there, he still nodded slightly. "I’ll go back to my room first."

"Wait."

Song Zhi caught up, walking shoulder to shoulder with Song Yingchen. She asked, seemingly casually, "Back when she was with you, did she ever talk to you about these kinds of things?"

Of course not.

Song Yingchen recalled the Wen Jiang of the past, so completely different from the person she was now, and found himself at a loss for words to describe the change. Sometimes, he felt a complex mix of emotions. It was as if the person inhabiting Wen Jiang’s body was no longer the original. Yet, he couldn’t explain where the original Wen Jiang had gone. The only scientific explanation he could conceive of was a dissociative identity disorder. But how could such a condition create this incredibly powerful Wen Jiang out of thin air?

Song Yingchen shook his head. "She was never capable of any of this."

If she had been a Spirit Card Master, I wouldn’t have failed to notice, he thought. Besides, the Wen Jiang from before didn’t have this kind of temperament.

Hearing this, Song Zhi sank into deep thought. The various oddities Wen Jiang displayed defied conventional explanation.

She realized Song Yingchen most likely hadn’t contacted Wen Jiang again, so she didn’t probe further. Instead, she patted his shoulder. "You’d better pray you don’t run into her in the competition."

Otherwise, Song Zhi thought, given the enmity between Wen Jiang and Song Yingchen, Wen Jiang would most likely show no mercy.

Song Yingchen pursed his lips, remaining silent.

***

Amidst the buzz in the outside world, Wen Jiang returned to Imperial City and even found time to update a Chapter of her comic. The framework for her "Mythological Journey" series seemed well-established by now. The current story arc Wen Jiang was drawing depicted the evolution of human tribes into feudal dynasties and their complex entanglements with gods.

The training match arranged with Mountain Ghost was imminent.

The S Rank training facility was more specialized. It required special equipment to suppress the power of Spirit Cards and was located in a sealed-off area.

Wen Jiang had spent a few days with Sheng Hongying and the others. They were all quiet by nature and hadn’t become particularly close, but Wen Jiang had other acquaintances.

Tang Qian, who had signed up for the event and was idly passing time, filled Wen Jiang in on the S Rank group’s gossip, including the grudges involving Mountain Ghost. "You know Duan Yuleng, Mountain Ghost’s assassin, right? He joined last year and is pretty arrogant. His brother, a former S Rank support from our Mount Flower team, was the one who orchestrated Sheng Hongying’s exclusion. Now Duan Yuleng is leading Ming Fuzhi and doing the same to others in Mountain Ghost. Truly, birds of a feather."

Internal conflicts among association team members were rarely known to outsiders. However, within their circle, things were different. Luo Juerao had nearly come to blows with Duan Yuleng. Such incidents, or even just rumors, would inevitably reach staff members who would spread the word, or coaches who would gossip among themselves.

Entering the training site, Wen Jiang glanced at the message Tang Qian had sent and raised her eyebrows.

When a team member is exceptionally outstanding, it’s hard to prevent jealousy from others. Especially since, aside from Sheng Hongying, the other four original members had all been male. It was no surprise they would relentlessly target her.

In the vast training arena, the two teams met but didn’t immediately start fighting. Coach Shan Gui, Su Yifeng, and Mount Flower’s coach, Guo Shu, were old acquaintances. They led their respective teams to meet, and the coaches shook hands warmly. "Old Guo, long time no see," Su Yifeng said.

Guo Shu also replied with a hearty laugh, "Long time no see, Old Su."

They were all part of the same circle. There weren’t many S Rank coaches, and most belonged to large associations. Barring any hereditary feuds between their organizations, many coaches maintained good private relationships.

This time, Mountain Ghost had brought five team members. Tan Heming, standing beside Su Yifeng, was also present and particularly noticeable. Everyone knew he had lost his spiritual power, but now they could sense occasional fluctuations of spiritual power emanating from him, suggesting a new development.

Tan Heming caught Wen Jiang’s eye and nodded slightly in greeting.

Wen Jiang returned the nod.

The expressions of the other team members varied.

Duan Yuleng’s gaze swept imperceptibly over Sheng Hongying. Suddenly feeling someone watching him, he turned his head.

It was Wen Jiang.

Wen Jiang’s cool gaze swept over him, inexplicably sending a chill down his spine. Duan Yuleng subconsciously clenched his fists.

After Su Yifeng’s introduction, everyone quickly learned that Tan Heming had recovered his spiritual power. Guo Shu promptly offered his congratulations. Tan Heming’s name hadn’t been on the registration list, meaning he must have recovered after the list was submitted. While it was somewhat regrettable for their planning, Guo Shu didn’t press for details on how Mountain Ghost handled their internal matters. After these mutual introductions, both sides moved to their respective training positions to begin the practice match.

Song Yi suddenly scoffed. "That Duan fellow is so petty and graceless. Was he staring at our captain just now, thinking of avenging his brother?"

Duan Yuleng’s brother was one of the four pro players Mount Flower had kicked out last year. These four had become infamous for their unscrupulous actions. Coupled with strong opposition from fans, no teams wanted them last year. This year, they were picked up by a few small to medium-sized associations.