Decisive Battle in River City!

The martial arts world is vast, but news travels incredibly fast.

After Listening Wind Tower released the news that Ji Qing of the Startling Swan Blade and Poison Demon Ouyang Bo were about to have a "decisive battle" in River City, a large number of martial artists flocked to River City every day.

Every inn and teahouse was packed.

At this moment, the city gates became crowded.

A massive body, like a mountain of flesh, forcefully cleared a path and arrived at the city gates.

The soldiers guarding the city looked up at the "mountain of flesh" before them, each swallowing hard, not even daring to collect the entrance fee.

"Heroine, please enter the city!"

Lei Yu grinned, scaring the city guards who quickly made way. Lei Yu then dragged her enormous body and slowly entered the city.

"Hoo..."

Lei Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

She had finally arrived.

Ever since she received the news from the martial arts world, she had rushed to River City immediately, and thankfully, it wasn't too late.

Today was the third day of the fifth lunar month, and time was running out.

Lei Yu hurried to Listening Wind Tower.

"Quickly go and inform Ji Qing that Lei Yu has arrived!"

Lei Yu looked down from above, surveying the people in Listening Wind Tower.

Inside Listening Wind Tower, Ji Qing felt no inner turmoil, his heart as still as water.

Someone came to report.

"Lei Yu? Please 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.

"Eldest Sister, why are you here?"

Lei Yu hadn't changed much.

"Third Brother, what kind of talk is that? You're about to have a decisive battle with Ouyang Bo, and I can't come to see you?"

"Actually, I knew when you put out the bounty for Ouyang Bo, but your whereabouts were too unpredictable, and I couldn't find you. I even tried to find clues about Ouyang Bo, but I found nothing."

Ji Qing nodded. "Eldest Sister, you've gone to a lot of trouble."

"Third Brother, tell me honestly, how confident are you in this fight against Ouyang Bo?"

Lei Yu asked.

"Ouyang Bo's poison skills are extraordinary, and his methods of poisoning are hard to guard against. If I hadn't had my pure yang internal energy back then, I might have fallen! Actually, Ouyang Bo sent me the challenge himself this time, but I refused the location he set and changed it to Listening Wind Tower."

"Since Ouyang Bo dared to send me a challenge, he probably has considerable confidence."

"As for confidence... if I'm careful and don't get poisoned, then I have a great deal of confidence!"

Lei Yu understood.

Ji Qing's concern was Ouyang Bo's poisoning methods.

As for Ouyang Bo's martial arts? Ji Qing didn't take it to heart.

"Poison..."

Lei Yu took out a snow-white porcelain bottle from her embrace.

"Third Brother, this is a detoxification pill that I specifically had the alchemist in my sect prepare. It's said to be able to neutralize twenty to thirty common poisons, as well as three to five rare potent poisons. After you swallow it, it will provide protection for twelve hours."

"Even though Ouyang Bo is covered in poison, with this detoxification pill, you won't have to worry about ordinary toxins!"

Ji Qing's eyes lit up. This was truly a good item.

"Thank you, Eldest Sister. This is indeed very helpful to me."

Ji Qing didn't stand on ceremony. He directly took the porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

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

Lei Yu grinned. "Third Brother, with this detoxification pill, common toxins won't affect you, and your confidence in this decisive battle with Ouyang Bo has increased significantly. But you don't need to worry too much, I'll be here to support you from below."

"If you win, that's fine. But if you lose, I won't adhere to any martial arts etiquette; I'll immediately rush up and tear Ouyang Bo into two pieces!"

Ji Qing looked at the "domineering" Lei Yu, and a trace of warmth welled up in his heart.

He never expected that their childish "sworn brotherhood" would be taken so seriously by Lei Yu.

Whether it was the detoxification pill or coming all this way to help, Ji Qing kept it all in his heart.

"Big sister, it's almost time. Shall we head out?"

"Alright."

With that, Ji Qing rose and left Listening Wind Tower, arriving at a prepared arena outside.

Ji Qing was dressed as usual: black clothes, a bamboo hat, a long saber, and... a mask!

Yes, Ji Qing was wearing a mask.

Or rather, not a full mask, just covering his mouth.

This was a special "mask" he had made recently. It looked like a strip of cloth, but in reality, it could prevent many toxins from entering his mouth.

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

Now, with the special "mask," while it couldn't completely prevent Ouyang Bo from poisoning him, at least he wouldn't get poisoned just by speaking.

The arena was already surrounded by a dense crowd. Upon seeing Ji Qing, everyone grew excited.

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

"He's being escorted by people from Listening Wind Tower, so it must be him."

"Quick, look, he's on the stage. That's right, it's 'Startling Swan Blade' Ji Qing!"

"Ji Qing is here, where's the Poison Demon Ouyang Bo?"

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

"Not necessarily. Maybe Ouyang Bo is observing from the shadows."

"Don't forget, Listening Wind Tower announced the match, but Ouyang Bo never responded. We don't even know if the Poison Demon will actually show up to fight..."

Many people below were discussing animatedly.

Ji Qing looked up.

Among the crowd, there were some familiar faces.

For instance, Du Jing.

Du Jing had actually come, and he was accompanied by people from the Golden Saber Sect. Even the sect leader of the Golden Saber Sect, Du Xiong, was present.

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

It was noisy around the arena, so Ji Qing stopped observing and closed his eyes on the stage, calming his mind and waiting quietly.

Time trickled by.

An hour, two hours...

It was already nearing noon. The sun was high in the sky, and the air was filled with a sweltering heat.

But only Ji Qing remained on the stage. Ouyang Bo still hadn't arrived.

"Is Ouyang Bo not coming?"

"It's very possible. After all, Ouyang Bo never responded. The original location Ouyang Bo chose was the peak of Green Peak Mountain, but Ji Qing disagreed, and it was changed to Listening Wind Tower in River City. With the location changed, perhaps Ouyang Bo won't come."

"Ouyang Bo is as cunning as a fox. The locations he chooses must be riddled with potent poisons everywhere. Who would dare go?"

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

The murmurs from the crowd below grew louder.

"Silence!"

"If Ouyang Bo doesn't arrive by the fourth quarter past noon, then this 'River City Decisive Battle' will be terminated!"

Manager Yan from Listening Wind Tower spoke.

She was a decisive woman.

To organize this "River City Decisive Battle," Manager Yan had mobilized a great deal of resources from Listening Wind Tower in River City.

It had taken both time and effort.

If it succeeded, Listening Wind Tower in River City would undoubtedly become famous throughout the martial world.

But if it were "terminated" in such a dramatic fashion, all the resources Listening Wind Tower had spent would be wasted.

They would even become a joke in the martial world.

Therefore, Listening Wind Tower was actually the most anxious.

Time passed by.

The fourth quarter past noon was drawing closer.

Yet, there was still no news of Ouyang Bo.

Even the usually composed Manager Yan couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment on her face.

"Fine, since Ouyang Bo hasn't come, then this 'River City Decisive Battle' will be..."

"Swish."

Ji Qing opened his eyes.

Before Manager Yan could finish speaking, Ji Qing interrupted her decisively.

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

As soon as Ji Qing finished speaking, everyone's eyes widened, and they looked around searching.

Where was Ouyang Bo?