บท 85: Election Tournament (4)

Shen Tianyu was standing unconcernedy, as if she didn't feel the gaze sof those people around her. Rong Jian, ont he other hand, was glaring icy daggers at the guys. This, however, just made the women want him more. How could they not want such a protective man? Even if they are cultivators, they still dream to be protected in the arms of a reliable man.

Shen Tianyu's squirming was almost non-visible. She certainly didn't like those women's stares, but she hadn't fully accepted Rong Jian's feelings. Being protective and giving him hope now, would just make things worse if she ever broke it off in the future. However, as time went on, the women's gazes only seemed to feel more intense. The men may have backed off in fear of Rong Jian, but the women were not the least bit perturbed. In fact, they wanted him more.

One particularly bold woman sauntered up to the couple standing in line under one umbrella. She was wearing appropriate clothes but she had rearranged them into a seductive shape, outlining her body and showing more skin than it would have otherwise, now it looked only borderline appropriate. Her hairpins also didn't look cheap, there was jade and gold all over her head. "This young master, are you also here to sign up for the election tournament?" She asked, leaning in towards him. Rong Jian didn't even give her the honor of any reaction, as if she didn't exist at all.

'This one, is also here for a partner?' Shen Tianyu thought as she looked over with a bored expression. Women, on average, were not as powerful as men, for a variety of reasons connected to social bias. That's why, women that participated in tournaments like these had ulterior motives, most of the time. Of course, they would consider themselves lucky if they got into the finals or recruited by some power. However, their main objective, really, was to find a suitable husband to marry. That way, their position in their family would be elevated and the offspring would also have high potential, ensuring that she would not suffer too much grievances in her later life. Many women, when lining up or participating, wore clothes that looked appropriate but could also be taken another way, just like this one here. One rearrangement of her clothes, and she became a seductress. That said, a man's heart can be more fickle than a woman's. Even if one manages to become the main wife, there will usually be mistresses or concubines to contend with. No one wants that, but for their reputation and for their family, some people can do almost anything. Of course, it would be ideal to find a powerful and faithful man that would not wrong them so they always flock to those protective of their women, because protectiveness is an act of faithfulness in their eyes.

'But these people...' Shen Tianyu sighed in exasperation. 'If the man was so protective of their woman because of faithfulness, would he even put other women in his eyes? And if such a man could be so easily seduced using such cheap tricks, was he really faithful? What's to say someone else wouldn't try the same thing? Women are really stupid, ah.' Shen Tianyu commented to herself, completely disregarding the fact that she herself was a woman, and that not all women were the same. Or perhaps, she separate women into two categories, "normal women" and "smart women".

The seductive woman leaned closer to Rong Jian, her breast almost touching his sleeve. This time, he showed a reaction. It wasn't interest though. Rather, he looked at her in disgust, as if she was a dirty rag and pulled his sleeve away, turning his whole body away from her, as if he didn't want her to accidentally touch him. He looked he wanted to walk away if he could, but he had to stay in line. And hold the umbrella for his wife. He also couldn't create a commotion by attacking her so he could only try to avoid her.

Shen Tianyu shot the would-be home wrecker a smug smile as if to show off. A brief moment of irritation and annoyance flashed on the woman's face before she turned back to Rong Jian with a smile, as if she didn't see the smug look on Shen Tianyu's face.

The smile slowly dropped from Shen Tianyu's mouth. 'This bitch is really persistently annoying.' Just because she wasn't sure she could be protective of Rong Jian yet, didn't mean some hoe(1) could saunter up and try to seduce her suitor right in front of her. Did this bitch think she was dead?!

She turned up her lips in a smile again, but this time, it was not nearly as tamed as just smugness. There was a cold murderous aura emitting from her eyes and an intent to slaughter from her new smile. The woman visibly shuddered, as a chill ran down her back and slowly, turned around to look at the source of the murderous intent with a hint of fear in her eyes. Never in her life had she felt such thick murdeous aura and desire to slaughter. Then again, this woman grew up in the city, even if she was bold and inappropriate, she cultivated using family treasures or treasures hunted for her form outside. She had high Cultivation but close to zero combat experience or prowess. Even if she was more powerful than Shen Tianyu, she would definitely loose. Power was a big part of strength but it was not the be-all and end-all of a cultivator's might.

The woman visibly gulped when she laid her eyes on Shen Tianyu again. Before the woman was just smug and trying to show offf and she had ignored her out of irritation. Because with her status and looks, she didn't believe she couldn't get this man. However, now she felt like a prey in front of a fierce lion. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she wa scared that she might actually be killed by someone, and without a whole corpse at that. The girl was smiling, but there was absolutely no warmth, not even in her surroundings.