Fine, I'll be the Second Best

"If I were smart, I would have to think," - Lin Si, 7, convincing her father why she didn't want to be smart when he brought up the low scores on her studies

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To Li Junlong and Li Junli's surprise, it was rather quiet the next night, and when Li Junlong went out to hunt that weekend he found, also to his surprise, no one was waiting in line. It was completely empty for the first time in years. He decided to leave it alone for now. Since the noise also hadn't been loud enough to keep his brother awake, he also didn't bother to inquire. Afterall, if it had, blood would already have been spilt…

Meanwhile, Li Junli, on the last day of the weekend, found it excruciatingly quiet, as usual, after his brother left. It was a strange twist of fate that he, the one bedridden since young, was gregarious and his brother, completely healthy, was the least social person on the planet. But despite his desires, he didn't dare hold up his brother, he needed the peace and quiet of the woods to calm him down, after all, he had led a rather rough life growing up. His family and world peace constantly burdening his shoulders. 

Luckily he'd suggested the method of making his challengers pay to challenge him so as he could stop doing miscellaneous escort work. Afterall, their family had originally been an escort agency, until out of nowhere, 11 years ago, the Xu clan decided to annihilate them. And they had almost succeeded. But his brother, born gifted since young, not even old enough to inherit a courtesy name had broken through, surviving, even bringing along him, a burden. 

Li Junli sighed, eyes flowing across the beautiful yard, thousands of flowers meticulously cared for by madam Wang greeted his eyes. He couldn't imagine it, his brother back then was a year younger than he was today, and yet, at 16, had managed to fight off the largest clans, and even, when in wandering escorts, came head to head with the demonic cult. At that time, his little sister and Junli's older, had also been alive, only 12 years old, but after the demonic cult ruthlessly rushed through the village where Li Junli and her were staying under the care of an older couple, while Li Junlong worked, they ended up raping and then ruthlessly murdering her. Li Junli had attempted to stop them, but with his weak health and disposition, had remained powerless, watching the entire scene play out. It had happened when he lived in a very bright, small cabin. Which made it impossible for him to sleep unless it was pitch black since. His brother had been enraged back then. Li Junli had wished for him to turn the rage towards him, but his brother, as reliable and kind as always, only saw the demonic cult. Thus the story of vengeance on the demonic cult that the entire jianghu knew was born.

Li Junli entertained himself by playing weiqi, dice, mahjong and jacks with Sun'er for a long while, ruthlessly beating him every time, even in luck, until evening fell, madam Wang went home after serving dinner, and Sun'er, their young house steward, suggested that they turn in for the night. The sun had just set, and noise had begun to barely be heard over the outside wall that he sat under.

"Sun'er, what say you we go on a quick trip tonight?"

Sun'er's eyes widened. "No, no, young master, the lord wouldn't like, he wouldn't like that at all! And you need to rest!"

Li Junli gave him a wink, his finger tapping the table. "Don't worry, Sun'er I'm very lively tonight, I can't rest at all, waiting for my brother to come home, besides, it will only be for a moment, and you'll be there the entire time."

"But…"

Li Junli chuckled lightly. But you could hear the irritability behind it that he was trying to hide. He got irritated easily, especially if constantly refused to be listened to. "If you are worried about my safety, my brother should be home any minute now, so there should be no danger, plus, I doubt any of those outside even know what I look like."

Sun'er finally nodded, rather hesitantly, unable to refuse the pestering of the cheeky younger brother of his lord, and brought over to him his wheeled chair and around 100 taels of silver.

The moment the gates opened for their exit, the sound was already louder, he lifted his face weakly, to gaze past the branches above him. Sure enough, there was no moon tonight. His favorite night of every month. He smiled for a moment, but found it a little painful, with the headache threatening to onset. Not only was he stuck with an incurable illness since birth, he had been crippled since that night trying to keep them from his sister. Now he could no longer feel his legs. Not since that day. 

He gestured for Sun'er to push him forward. He lacked the strength in his arms to really do it effectively himself. The path right outside the gate was completely abandoned except a couple mats and bags set out.

Soon enough, following the lights below the crest of the hill top, he came over it, to gaze down onto a crowd, bustling with cheers and festivity. People milled all about, each carried a slip of paper of either green, red or white, and several carried gold. Hundreds and hundreds of people, all doing different things, whether it be watching the two large arena stages or selling wares or exchanging gold at two large counters.

However, as they approached, a martial artist with a blue slip stopped them (Long Wen hired the people that were defeated by Li Junlong in exchange for free attendance each night they worked, and also free new plaque if they desired to participate in duels. Some, finding it more entertaining than returning to their homes in defeat and finding it a great breeding ground for learning, readily agreed. They worked to keep out those who hadn't paid for attendance, and to kick out trouble makers.).

"Men, if you'd like to participate, pay at the booth first," he warned, gesturing toward where Long Wen sat, greeting newcomers.

Sun'er, immediately opened his mouth to reprimand the manners of the martial artist, but Li Junli raised his hand to stop him. It was tiring sometimes, to always have Sun'er attending to him, always having to hold him back from doing and saying dumb things, but, well, he was a very good talker, and if prompted could go on and on, monologuing eternally about random things. It kept his days from getting too quiet. 

Although, this time, Sun'er was probably just mad the martial artists didn't recognize him, not that they disrespected his young master, chuckled Li Junli to himself.

He smiled gently at the martial artist. "Alright, we'll do so."

Sun'er followed his prompting, pushing him over to the booth, where Long Wen, after attending to the one in front of them, raised his head, suddenly jumped in shock. "Young ma-!" Li Junli put a finger to his sickly lips.

"Sh, no need." It was dangerous if people knew who he was, he knew how many enemies his brother and he had, and he was his brother's greatest weakness.

Long Wen shut his mouth quickly, understanding. Afterall, it was rare that the young master had ever gone out without his brother, it was probably without permission.

He quickly grabbed a slip, and after thinking, added a yellow one. "Here, no need to pay for the first time, just.." He got quieter, tilting closer, luckily no one was in line behind Li Junli. "Don't make trouble, ok?"

Li Junli giggled lightly, a smile on his face, and waved his hand. They moved forward. Since when did he become a trouble maker? He must not want him to tell on him to his brother, little fox.

As he approached the stage, he found a good view, Sun'er spent a couple coppers to buy a tonglu for himself, while Li Junli instantly got entranced by the scene. He'd always loved martial arts, and he'd loved watching the martial artists practicing them. He often snuck around to watch, hidden, from a distance, his brother's duels, and even went to sit by him while he practiced his skills in the yard. But here…it was completely new. Skills he'd never seen used against other skills he'd never seen. Men fought without swords! Some with fists, some with spears! He'd seen these weapons and styles before, but against his brother, they were so weak and would get stuck down before really seeing them in their full capacity, his brother really was just too strong…But here! Here he could see it! What was more, the announcer, talking about both battles at once, made sure to never leave a detail out, often describing moves no one understood so they could keep track even if less understanding like himself, and ramping up each battle so they felt like life and death. She was upright in a stand between the two fights, too far up for him to see clearly with his bad vision.

And as he watched, he began to listen to the crowds around him, learning you could put a bet on who would win! Gambling? Is that what it was? He was good at that, his luck had always been very good, unlike his brother. He quickly called Sun'er back over to tote him over to the tables to the side. Two women sat at a table, receiving bets, another woman sat by another table, taking out bets for people.

He came over to the table, there was half an incense stick before every fight was a rest period, the last chance that people could put in their bets for the next fight, and it was rather crowded, but the ladies were quick, filling out their documents, and receiving the money, which was cast into a bucket behind them.

Behind them, a young boy sat, taking the buckets that were filled, sorting them out and sending them over to the next lady.

People would know the next battle one battle before, as people would register their names with a lady standing beneath the announcer, between arenas during this rest period for the battle after. The announcer would then announce their names for the battle after, before focussing on the current fight.

This way all tables and the audience knew who was competing. 

They also had a list of the currently scheduled that night, so that you could put in three bets in a row, and get higher winnings with your prediction, but lose much greater if even one was wrong.

It was so much fun! Li Junli found himself unable to stop grinning for the first time in a long time. The loud noise and music was causing his headache to burn through his head, heating up, but he ignored it. Afterall, he always felt pain less than others anyway, and he was used to this headache. And he loved the chaos, the people, the shouts and screams, much more than the silence of his courtyard. He wouldn't let his headache ruin it for him.

He came up to the table, splatting down 80 taels at once, on one warrior, excitement shivered through his veins. He had seen the man just take to the stage, although his eyes often blurred from his illness, he thought he had seen him pretty well. He had a very handsome appearance, alike to his brother, thin but built, unlike his opponent, a bulky mass of a man.

Not even an incense stick later, as the announcer announced two incense sticks of break, he could barely hear anything around him, the people flowing away from the stage in masses to get snacks and curios, he just stared down at his hands in defeat. Did he just lose 80 taels??? Was his brother gonna kill him?? He was close to crying, he had always been prone to easily crying due to his condition. His fingers tingled, holding the golden card in front of himself, he noticed it was actually quite cold out tonight, only…of course his body could barely notice, but his nose was probably bright red by now, and he didn't want to risk running a fever from chills again…sigh. Should he just go home?

"You…are you okay?"

Suddenly a voice came from above him. He jerked his head up and was greeted by a young woman. She was quite beautiful, with long hair, only the front tied back, chased in several different shades of brown from dark, almost black, to almost blonde, and she had the kind of soft smile on her face that could make anyone lower their guard. She also carried a cute face that made her seem innocent and harmless, and slung onto her back was a simple wooden sword casing, her hand, lazily holding a jug of wine, so warm, it was steaming.