Based on the number of wins gained, Yuqui was on top followed by Lu w.a.n.g and third was the contingent from Duo Xing.

The Jawbreakers have become wildly popular, the young pugilists winning everybody's admiration by playing their matches beyond expectation. Each of them just about dazzled everyone with their skills and graceful pugnaciousness that reminded An Ning of a TV doc.u.mentary she had once seen about Mohammad Ali.

The grace and style of the Jawbreakers were eerily similar, especially the fancy footwork, except that the Jawbreakers were more taciturn and not as brash as Ali. The Jawbreakers won all their fights, winning ten pennants for their school, more than any in the history of the games.

Wu Xiang Yun meantime showed why she was supreme in her own category. She and a young girl from Lu w.a.n.g out-tricked each other during their almost two-hour battle. They used magic, combining it with the science of alchemy, to confound and amaze their audience. Xiang Yun won only by a nose, cunningly tricking her opponent by using a life-like mirror image of herself to confuse her opponent while hunting for a magical dragon.

Mu Xing was a total wreck watching his newly-wedded wife compete in her category. He actually thought of using his new status as her husband to disqualify her from competing. He and she were married. They had consummated the marriage in a toe-curling moment of pa.s.sion that still left Mu Xing wanting for more. He would at times look at Xiang Yun and something inside his belly would ignite like a flame.

It was embarra.s.sing, it was ridiculous, it was glorious. He was practically a drooling idiot when it came to his wife...so, he didn't like to see her in danger, didn't like to see her in an unsafe environment where he couldn't come to her rescue because the rules of the games forbid it. So, he had to endure and wait, his heart in his throat the whole time.

When Xiang Yun triumphantly bounded to his side grinning after her win, Mu Xing had the urge to pick her up and carry her away but he controlled himself. Despite her young age, Xiang Yun was a girl who knew her own worth. She had disobeyed all rules to follow her dreams. All she wished for in a husband was that he supports these dreams and watch by her side as she makes all of them happen.

So, he merely gave her a lingering kiss, his hand gently fondling her waist, and kept in his heart the worry and fear.

The Chengdi contingent won two pennants in archery and martial arts, all of them won by the youth in the black mask. The amba.s.sador was on hand to award the winner. There was a moment of confusion when the Amba.s.sador was about to give the pennant to the winner and he disappeared. The crowd gasped because it was unexpected but it turned out to be another trick since the boy reappeared again beside the empress who appreciated the trick by laughing.

The hunt for the white tiger that afternoon will cap the end of the Games. The hunt was open to all and can change the status of the winners and losers because of its high value. The hunt was an individual rather than a group effort. The best warrior pitted against a much stronger and more lethal opponent. The glory of winning was guaranteed to the victor. He takes away not only money but fame and a special spot at Yuqui's prestigious school.

The white tiger was to be let lose inside a contained semi-jungle environment designed for a much more special purpose during Gu Fang's father's time. It featured a large lodge beside a flowing fake waterfall where young women used to frolic and bathed, watched by a pair of hungry eyes hiding behind the man-made garden.

Everyone partic.i.p.ating in the hunt left early that morning.

Mu Xing, who was scared to say anything about it to Xiang Yun for fear of being accused as a control freak, heaved a sigh of relief when Xiang Yun herself told him she was not partic.i.p.ating in the hunt. She already achieved some feat by winning in her category. Besides, she was already a.s.sured of a place in the school. As for the fame and money, she didn't need both. In short, there was nothing in it that could tempt her to take part in it except perhaps watch it unfold closely by her husband's side.

Hearing her words, Mu Xing pulled the bedclothes off his wife's naked body and proceeded to kiss and taste and ravish her sweetness once again, not caring about Xiang Yun's protests about being late and to stop because she was a little sore. But Mu Xing was deaf to her words and her pleas. His strong arms snaked around her hips and lifted her open thighs to the slow penetration of his hard c.o.c.k. Their breathing became soft and ragged. Mu Xing's lips captured Xiang Yun's tongue with a loud moan as his hips began its deep thrusting rhythm between her legs. As she neared her peak, Xiang Yun tilted her hips higher to meet his downward thrusts, her legs tightening sweetly around his gyrating hips as she screamed and shouted her pleasure.

"You're mine, Xiang Yun. You're mine," Mu Xing rasped as he emptied himself into his wife's tight, little body with a breathy moan.

Xiang Yun pressed her sweaty and tired body against him, falling asleep before he even got off to pull the blankets around them both. Mu Xing gazed tenderly at his wife's blus.h.i.+ng face before he kissed her cheek and pulled her warm and delicious body into his tight embrace as he fell asleep beside her.

When they woke up, Mu Xing again seduced his little wife into doing another quick round with him before taking a bath and riding with Ling Wan to the lodge.

When they arrived, the emperor was already in the midst of a little speech, welcoming partic.i.p.ants to the hunt. Everyone wore the same look on their slightly apprehensive faces: each one expected to kill the white tiger and win the money and fame that went with it. One of them will succeed while the rest will only have lingering memories of trying but failing to accomplish greatness.

Winner takes all. That has always been the purpose of the Battle of Talents. The friendly games between teams and partners before the main event were only the precursor of what was going to be the primal battle between ultimate rivals. This was the fight to the finish round that will separate the weak from the strong. The child from the adult. Winner takes all.

The emperor gave the signal and five hundred bodies surged forward, disappearing in mere minutes into the jungle beyond. The silence they left was strange and somewhat uncomfortable.

The emperor turned to look at the empress but her gaze was still focused on the trees that hid from sight those eager youngsters hurrying forward towards doom or triumph. How many of them will return alive? How many bruised and torn? How many dead? Only one winner out of five hundred. Who will it be, she wondered?

"I'm told there is a pond on the other side filled with fish. We could stay there if you like and just while away the time catching fish and napping," Gu Sheng said, his smooth forehead glistening with sweat.

"Anything just to get out of this heat," An Ning agreed.

They moved to the pond, the two servants with them following behind in the carriage.

The pond was surrounded by lush trees and shrubs enclosed within a landscaped lawn beautifully manicured it could be used as a flyer for an advert of Shangrila.

The servants spread a huge picnic rug on the gra.s.s under the shade of a tree and took out plates of finger food which they laid down on a small table near the rug.

An Ning and Gu Sheng shared a companionable silence. An Ning laid back on the rug, her hands underneath her head, looking upwards at the branches where a sliver of light peeked through the leaves

A low and menacing sound suddenly broke the silence.

The servants screamed.

An Ning sat up, instinctively grabbing Gu Sheng and s.h.i.+elding him with her body.

The white tiger was enormous. As big as a small elephant and fast. It silently stalked forward, the pads of its enormous paws leaving imprints on the flattened gra.s.s. Its body slithered under the sun like a sinuous striped anaconda, the beautiful pelt soft and thick.

The big yellow eyes stared balefuly at them, pinning them on the spot as it continued to growl.

"An Ning," Gu Sheng whispered.

"When I make my move, I want you to take the servants and run."

The big cat moved to attack.

"Now!"