The Challenge

Nie Zeng and Tie Linglong both thought they had spotted the assassin first, and they lunged at him together. Only Chu Nanping strictly followed the assassin's code, leaping toward the intruder's escape route.

The two were so focused on competing that they forgot anyone capable of slipping into a heavily guarded military camp was no ordinary expert. It was only when their Narrow Sabers suddenly lost their target that they jolted in alarm.

This was no assassin from Golden Peng Fortress, the sort who kept a low profile. After dodging the two killers' attacks, the intruder didn't flee. Instead, he revealed himself outright, leaped onto a tall nearby flagpole, and burst into loud laughter.

Chu Nanping silently thrust out a sword. The man drew his own and parried, then sprang several feet higher up the flagpole. Chu Nanping didn't pursue him; he dropped back to the ground, already knowing he had no chance of winning.

"Deng Yuanlei of the Qingcheng Sect in the Central Plains pays his respects to the Dragon King."

As soon as he finished speaking, it was not the Dragon King who answered. An old woman shrieked, "Deng the cripple, explain yourself!"

Deng Yuanlei had once used the unconscious Tu Pianpian as a weapon. When she heard about it afterward, she had never been able to let it go.

"Haha, Tu Pianpian, your Kongtong Sect sold out its country and pledged allegiance to a Hu. And you have the nerve to demand an explanation from me?"

"Bastard! Who said I pledged allegiance to a Hu? You—" As she spoke, a short, plump figure had already lunged toward the flagpole, her long staff stabbing at Deng Yuanlei.

Deng Yuanlei rested his sword against the staff and used it as leverage to leap toward another flagpole. "I'm only telling