Jiang Yuan Lost?

At the same time, cultivation memories surfaced in Jiang Yuan's mind once more, and traces of cultivation appeared on his body.

However, as Jiang Yuan's martial foundation grew ever more solid, those traces of cultivation became far less obvious on him.

After all, this was only a Qi and Blood Foundation Establishment technique.

Jiang Yuan sensed the technique and discovered that it was actually on par with the escort agency's Ten Directions Fist.

Jiang Yuan pondered the differences between the two techniques, continuously refining his own martial path.

The night passed without incident.

At dawn, news of Jiang Yuan's marriage engagement to Beichuan Wan yesterday had spread through the escort agency by the hands of gossipmongers.

Many people began paying attention to Jiang Yuan. This made Jiang Yuan, who had originally intended to practice the Savage Ox Fist, frown slightly. Sensing the gazes around him, the traces of the Savage Ox Fist that had appeared in his movements vanished, replaced by the incomparably familiar Ten Directions Fist.

Jiang Yuan continuously condensed his qi and blood, gradually entering a state of cultivation and ignoring everyone else's stares.

I should have known better than to practice anywhere but my own courtyard.

But his own courtyard was still too small; cultivating there could not compare to the freedom and exhilaration of the martial arts grounds.

As Jiang Yuan performed the Ten Directions Fist, fist shadows filled all ten directions and eight sides. At some point, Jiang Yuan's Ten Directions Fist had already reached Great Mastery.

This progress, which Jiang Yuan himself did not care about, still drew no small amount of surprise from many people.

Great Mastery in the Ten Directions Fist—though it could not compare to Great Mastery in the Three Absolute Martial Arts—was still impressive.

The rarity of Great Mastery in the Ten Directions Fist was equivalent to Minor Mastery in the Three Absolute Martial Arts.

This Jiang Yuan really had some skill.

The recent rumors surfaced in everyone's minds.

His stunning rise in the Fengxing Family, and his marriage engagement to the goddess Beichuan Wan.

The previously unremarkable Jiang Yuan seemed to be showing signs of rising to prominence.

While Jiang Yuan was still cultivating, a crisp, pleasant voice suddenly rang out.

"Jiang Yuan! I've come to challenge you!"

Jiang Yuan's brows furrowed slightly. He ignored her and focused on his fist technique. Only after completing the set and drawing in his stance did he look toward the newcomer.

"Beichuan Wan? I said I would ask Lord Beichuan to dissolve the engagement."

The newcomer was indeed Beichuan Wan. She gave a light snort and said, "My father left the escort agency early this morning. Who knows when he'll be back? This young lady is challenging you right now! If I defeat you, the engagement will be canceled!"

Hm? Beichuan Qingtian had left the escort agency too? Wenzhao had also left after greeting Jiang Yuan this morning.

What a pity. He had planned to go dissolve the engagement with Beichuan Qingtian after his morning practice.

"Fine." Jiang Yuan gave a bitter laugh and accepted the challenge, though he was already planning to hold back. As for marriage engagements, wasn't getting rejected supposed to be the standard plot? What was this now?

Beichuan Wan's lovely face was full of eagerness to fight.

As the daughter of Beichuan Qingtian, one of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency's foremost experts, Beichuan Wan's talent was hardly weak. When she broke through to the Late Qi and Blood Stage, her Phoenix Cry Sword Technique had already reached Minor Mastery.

In her eyes, Jiang Yuan had only reached Minor Mastery as well. Though he also possessed the Tiger Roar Saber Technique at Minor Mastery, perhaps his attainments in swordsmanship were not even equal to hers!

"Isn't that Sister Beichuan? Why has Sister Beichuan come to see my senior brother again?"

As the crowd made room for the two of them, a gentle voice rang out, and a figure squeezed through the onlookers.

It was Yin He.

Yin He's words made Beichuan Wan's expression change slightly. Why did that sound as if she could not bear to part with Jiang Yuan and kept coming to find him?

Just as Beichuan Wan was about to speak, she heard Yin He continue, "But Senior Brother Jiang has no mind for such romantic entanglements. Sister Beichuan is likely to be disappointed. Even in a challenge, Senior Brother would probably hold back, wouldn't he, Senior Brother?"

As she spoke, Yin He walked naturally to Jiang Yuan's side, then just as naturally extended her hand, intending to link arms with him.

Jiang Yuan's expression did not change, but he turned slightly aside and avoided Yin He.

Yin He's face remained gentle, but her feet employed a movement technique. As though merely moving with the flow, she tried to take Jiang Yuan's arm again.

Jiang Yuan felt helpless. Why was this girl so hard to deal with? The Spirit Snake Movement Technique activated beneath his feet.

Yin He immediately lunged at empty air, and her expression stiffened.

Was this unexpected? Jiang Yuan had actually dodged her?

Meanwhile, anger had already appeared on Beichuan Wan's pretty face. It was not aimed at Jiang Yuan, but at Jiang Yuan's junior sister beside him—Yin He.

For some reason, after returning yesterday, Beichuan Wan had investigated Yin He's identity.

A girl Jiang Yuan had saved three years ago; a martial arts genius who had advanced one step beyond Beichuan Wan to the Late Qi and Blood Stage after cultivating for only three years.

Such a person... though she had nothing to do with Beichuan Wan, Beichuan Wan nonetheless felt a flicker of crisis and discomfort in her heart.

Especially now.

Beichuan Wan spoke up, cutting off Yin He's attempt to link arms with him.

"Jiang Yuan, come!"

Jiang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, pushed Yin He away, and said to Beichuan Wan, "Come."

"I heard that Brother Jiang's Phoenix Cry Sword Technique has also reached Minor Accomplishment. This young lady is untalented, but mine has likewise reached Minor Accomplishment. I hope to exchange sword techniques with Brother Jiang."

Beichuan Wan's pretty face was full of seriousness as she drew a slender longsword.

Beichuan Wan meant to compete with Jiang Yuan in swordsmanship.

This also showed Beichuan Wan's self-awareness. After all, on the surface, both Jiang Yuan's saber and sword techniques had reached Minor Accomplishment. If there were no restrictions, Beichuan Wan truly would not be his match.

However, if she defeated Jiang Yuan in swordsmanship, it still counted as a victory. Though it was somewhat dishonorable, Beichuan Wan did not want the marriage contract to bind her for too long.

Jiang Yuan agreed at once. This way, it would also be easier for him to go easy on her.

He looked around and awkwardly realized that he did not even have a sword at his side.

Yin He saw Jiang Yuan's concern and handed him the longsword at her waist.

She then left Jiang Yuan's side, yielding the space to the two of them.

Jiang Yuan did not refuse. Holding the longsword that still carried a faint fragrance, he drew it and pointed it at Beichuan Wan.

This was not provocation, but respect for Beichuan Wan.

Beichuan Wan's expression grew solemn. She could no longer see through Jiang Yuan. If they fought with all their strength, there was an eighty-percent chance she would not be his match. But now, that might not be the case!

Under her father's guidance, her attainments in swordsmanship had already advanced by leaps and bounds! If he looked down on her, he would surely regret it.

At this moment, Jiang Yuan was pondering how to hold back. Going easy was a technical art; first and foremost, he could not let anyone else see through it.

Just as he was thinking, Beichuan Wan's longsword had already stabbed toward him.

Her graceful figure, paired with her sword technique, was as beautiful as a phoenix spreading its wings.

Yet in Jiang Yuan's eyes, Beichuan Wan was full of openings.

Jiang Yuan restrained his instinct to attack those openings, but swordsmanship at the level of Sublime Mastery had already seeped into his bones.

Only by giving it his all did Jiang Yuan manage to fight Beichuan Wan to a draw, thus displaying the Phoenix Cry Sword Technique at the level of Minor Accomplishment.

However, Beichuan Wan truly had some skill. Her Phoenix Cry Sword Technique was not merely newly advanced into Minor Accomplishment; she had tempered it at that stage for a long time.

The two longswords collided, producing crisp chimes, like two phoenixes constantly wheeling through the air.

Zhang Maoxi, who had heard the news, hurried over, only to see the pair's sword dance, as though a phoenix sought its mate. Zhang Maoxi clenched his fists tightly and stared fixedly at them.

Zhang Maoxi's lackeys also arrived in time, but what they saw was Beichuan Wan's sword thrusting toward Jiang Yuan's throat.

Jiang Yuan had no time to block. He stood there as if stunned, while Beichuan Wan's longsword was less than a centimeter from his throat.

Fine sweat covered Jiang Yuan's forehead, as though he had found it difficult to withstand her.

"Boss! Miss Beichuan defeated Jiang Yuan! The marriage contract is dissolved!"

Only then did his lackey's excited words snap Zhang Maoxi back to his senses. Looking at the scene before him, his clenched hands slowly loosened, though at some point his palms had become covered in sweat.

A somewhat forced smile appeared on Zhang Maoxi's face.

The marriage contract was dissolved... that was good.

"Beichuan Wan defeated Jiang Yuan!"

"That makes sense. After all, Jiang Yuan excels in both saber and sword; it's only normal for his swordsmanship to be inferior to Beichuan Wan's."

"Hahaha, it would have been embarrassing if Beichuan Wan had been defeated by Jiang Yuan in swordsmanship. Lord Beichuan's Phoenix Cry Sword Technique has already reached Sublime Mastery. Under his instruction, if Beichuan Wan still could not defeat Jiang Yuan, that would be outrageous."

Everyone began discussing animatedly.

"What a pity about that marriage contract."

Among the crowd, however, Yin He was observing Beichuan Wan's expression. Until she noticed Beichuan Wan looking at Jiang Yuan, a peculiar glimmer flashing through her eyes.