Tie Linglong arrived last, the sweat on her face even heavier than Shangguan Ru's. She stood at the main gate, breathing hard and heavily. Someone beside her handed over a handkerchief, and she took it without thinking. Only after wiping away her sweat and preparing to return it did she realize that Chu Nanping was looking at her.
Those eyes were still as narrow and handsome as ever, carrying a faint smile, but more than anything else, they held confusion.
The surroundings fell utterly silent. Tie Linglong stuffed the handkerchief back into his hand without saying a word, and Chu Nanping did not speak either.
Hundreds, even thousands, had gathered inside and outside the manor. Chu Nanping alone could see only a blurred scene a few feet away. His gaze could not settle precisely on the main hall's doors, yet he sensed far more than most: the cool, comfortable morning breeze; the lingering scent of last night's wine in the air; the countless noises made by a crowd that fancied itself quiet—the rustle of clothing, hurried footsteps, whispers as soft as insects gnawing at leaves. Everything was vivid.
Thus, Chu Nanping, who was nearly blind, was the first to say, "Dawn has broken. The duel is over."
It was such a simple truth, yet many people failed to grasp it at first. After pondering for a while, they suddenly understood. Yes, dawn had broken. The main hall was no longer pitch-black. The Dragon King and the Unrivaled King could see each other, yet no sounds of fighting had emerged. That could mean only one thing: the duel really was over.
Apart from a blade that had flown out, no one had seen a thing. They had not even heard the faintest sound. The duel had actually ended just like that.