River City Showdown!

The Jianghu was vast, but news traveled swiftly.

Ever since Listening Wind Tower released word that Startling Swan Blade Ji Qing and Poison Demon Ouyang Bo would soon "battle to the death" in River City, great numbers of Jianghu martial artists had poured into River City every day.

Every inn and teahouse was packed to the brim.

At that moment, a crush formed at the city gates.

An enormous body like a mountain of flesh forcibly squeezed open a path and arrived before the gates.

The gate guards raised their heads and stared at the "mountain of flesh" before them. One after another, they swallowed hard, not even daring to collect a single copper coin.

"Heroine, please enter the city!"

Lei Yu flashed a broad grin, frightening the guards into hurriedly clearing a path. Lei Yu then dragged her massive body into the city bit by bit.

"Phew..."

Lei Yu let out a sigh of relief.

She had finally arrived.

The moment she received the news from the Jianghu, she had rushed to River City. Fortunately, she had not come too late.

Today was already the third day of the fifth month. There was not much time left.

Lei Yu hurried to Listening Wind Tower.

"Go inform Ji Qing. Tell him Lei Yu has arrived!"

Lei Yu looked down from above at the people of Listening Wind Tower.

Inside Listening Wind Tower, Ji Qing's heart remained without a ripple, as still as water.

Someone came to report.

"Lei Yu? Let her in."

"Yes."

Soon, Lei Yu arrived before Ji Qing.

"Third Brother."

A hearty voice reached Ji Qing's ears.

Ji Qing opened his eyes.

"Big Sister, why are you here?"

Lei Yu had not changed much.

"Third Brother, what are you saying? You're about to fight Ouyang Bo to the death. Am I not allowed to come see you?"

"Actually, I already knew when you put a bounty on Ouyang Bo. But your whereabouts were elusive, and I couldn't find you. I even tried to look for clues about Ouyang Bo, but found nothing."

Ji Qing nodded. "Big Sister, you've troubled yourself over this."

"Third Brother, tell me honestly. How confident are you in this battle against Ouyang Bo?"

Lei Yu asked.

"Ouyang Bo's poison arts are no trifling matter, and his methods of poisoning are impossible to guard against. If I hadn't possessed pure yang internal energy back then, I'm afraid I would have fallen for it! This time, Ouyang Bo was the one who sent me a challenge letter, but I rejected the location he chose and changed it to Listening Wind Tower."

"Since Ouyang Bo dared send me a challenge letter, he must be quite confident."

"As for my confidence... if I'm careful enough not to be poisoned, then I have a great chance of winning!"

Lei Yu understood.

What Ji Qing feared was Ouyang Bo's methods of poisoning.

As for Ouyang Bo's martial arts? Ji Qing did not take them seriously.

"Poison..."

Lei Yu pulled a snow-white porcelain bottle from her robes.

"Third Brother, I specifically had an alchemist from my sect prepare this Detoxification Pill. It is said to counter twenty or thirty common poisons, as well as three to five rare and deadly toxins. Once you swallow it, it will protect you for twelve hours."

"Though Ouyang Bo is poison from head to toe, with this Detoxification Pill, you need not fear ordinary toxins at the very least!"

Ji Qing's eyes lit up. This was a good thing indeed.

"Thank you, Big Sister. It truly will be of great help to me."

Ji Qing did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the porcelain bottle directly, poured out a pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

The pill was slightly bitter and astringent as it slid down his throat into his stomach.

Lei Yu grinned broadly. "Third Brother, with this Detoxification Pill, ordinary poisons won't affect you. Your odds in this battle against Ouyang Bo have risen considerably. But there's no need to worry too much. I'll hold the line for you beneath the stage."

"If you win, then all is well. But if you lose, I won't bother with any Jianghu rules. I'll rush up there and tear Ouyang Bo in half!"

Looking at the domineering Lei Yu, a trace of warmth welled up in Ji Qing's heart.

That casual, almost childish oath of brotherhood back then—he had never expected Lei Yu to take it so seriously.

Whether it was the Detoxification Pill or her journey across a thousand miles to lend him support, Ji Qing kept it all in his heart.

"Big Sister, the time is about right. Let's go out first."

"Alright."

Thus, Ji Qing rose and left Listening Wind Tower, arriving at the arena that had long been set up outside.

Ji Qing was still dressed the same way: black clothes, a bamboo hat, a long saber, and... a face covering!

Yes, Ji Qing had covered his face.

It was not quite a face covering. It only covered his mouth.

It was a special "mask" he had made during this period. It looked like a strip of cloth, but in truth, it could stop many toxins from entering his mouth.

Ji Qing was exceedingly wary of Ouyang Bo's poisons.

Now that he had this special "mask," although it still could not completely prevent Ouyang Bo from poisoning him, at least he would not be poisoned simply by opening his mouth to speak.

By now, the area around the arena was already packed shoulder to shoulder with people. The moment they saw Ji Qing, they all grew excited.

"Is that 'Startling Swan Blade' Ji Qing?"

"People from Listening Wind Tower escorted him out. It should be him."

"Look, he's getting on the arena. That's right, it's 'Startling Swan Blade' Ji Qing!"

"Ji Qing is already here. Where is Poison Demon Ouyang Bo?"

"It's still early. Ouyang Bo hasn't arrived yet."

"Not necessarily. Ouyang Bo may be watching in secret."

"Don't forget, Listening Wind Tower announced the news, but Ouyang Bo never responded. It's still unclear whether Poison Demon will even come to accept the challenge..."

Many people below discussed the matter fervently.

Ji Qing raised his eyes.

Among the crowd, he spotted several familiar faces.

For instance, Du Jing.

Du Jing had actually come as well. There were people from the Golden Saber Sect beside him, and even the Golden Saber Sect's sect master, Du Xiong, had arrived.

Seeing Ji Qing's gaze, Du Xiong even nodded in greeting.

The area around the arena was noisy, so Ji Qing no longer examined everyone one by one. Instead, he closed his eyes atop the arena, calmed his thoughts, and waited quietly.

Time passed bit by bit.

One hour, two hours...

It was already nearing noon. The sun hung high overhead, and the air was thick with stifling heat.

Yet Ji Qing remained the only person on the arena. Ouyang Bo still had not arrived.

"Is Ouyang Bo not coming?"

"That's entirely possible. After all, Ouyang Bo never responded. The place Ouyang Bo originally chose was the summit of Green Peak Mountain, but Ji Qing disagreed and changed it to Listening Wind Tower in River City. Since the location changed, perhaps Ouyang Bo won't come."

"Ouyang Bo is as cunning as a fox. The place he chose would surely have deadly poison planted everywhere. Who would dare go there?"

"If Ouyang Bo doesn't come, won't Listening Wind Tower in River City become a laughingstock over this?"

The discussions among the crowd beneath the arena grew louder and louder.

"Silence!"

"If Ouyang Bo has not arrived by the fourth quarter past noon, then this 'River City Showdown' will be terminated!"

Manager Yan of Listening Wind Tower spoke.

She was a decisive and forceful woman.

To host this "River City Showdown," Manager Yan had mobilized many of Listening Wind Tower's resources in River City.

It had cost both time and effort.

If it succeeded, Listening Wind Tower in River City would naturally become famous throughout the Jianghu.

But if it were "terminated" in such a dramatic fashion, all the resources Listening Wind Tower in River City had previously expended would have gone down the drain.

It would even become a joke in the Jianghu.

Therefore, Listening Wind Tower in River City was actually the most anxious party.

Time passed bit by bit.

The fourth quarter past noon drew ever closer.

Yet there was still not the slightest news of Ouyang Bo.

Even Manager Yan, who had always been composed, could not help revealing a trace of disappointment on her face.

"Forget it. Since Ouyang Bo hasn't come, then this 'River City Showdown' will—"

Swish.

Ji Qing opened his eyes.

Before Manager Yan could finish, Ji Qing decisively cut her off.

"Ouyang Bo, since you're here, come up."

The instant Ji Qing's words fell, everyone widened their eyes and searched all around.

Where was Ouyang Bo?