"A test? Why should I accept your test?"
Yan Huan scoffed and could not even be bothered to look at Duke Duanfeng again.
He slipped his hands back into his pockets and started forward, intending to force his way straight past him.
"You...!" Duke Duanfeng clearly had not expected him to be so unyielding.
He spun around with astonishing speed, a large iron-armored hand shooting out to seize Yan Huan's shoulder, intending to forcibly stop him with sheer strength.
Yet the instant his hand landed, it felt as though he had pressed down on a massive truck speeding at full tilt!
Yan Huan's body did not even sway. Instead, the recoil made Duke Duanfeng, whose footing was usually rock-solid, stumble, nearly dragging him into a forward fall.
Alarmed, he hurriedly released his grip and stepped back half a pace before regaining his balance.
"I said this a long time ago." Yan Huan stopped and turned his head slightly, casting him an icy glance. His tone was calm, yet it carried astonishing intimidation.
"If Kryudera's stance is not firm and she keeps hesitating, I don't mind becoming this emperor in her place. I didn't come here to be anyone's lapdog."
"..." Watching Yan Huan's utterly fearless back, Duke Duanfeng's expression turned exceedingly ugly. His fists clenched with a crackle.
"Damn it... Lord Caesar is willing to honor you as the savior and grant you the highest courtesy and trust, yet you refuse to give him even the slightest face?!"
"You dared take my equipment?" Yan Huan turned back, his eyes full of displeasure. "It's already giving him plenty of face that I didn't tie him up on the spot."
"How dare you! You still dare speak so disrespectfully of Lord Caesar...!"
Duke Duanfeng was thoroughly enraged. He yanked the saber from