The air had grown tense. Nangong Xuan stared at Yue Wushuang, his eyes holding not only coldness but a trace of disgust.
Yue Wushuang looked at him the same way.
She stared back, a disdainful sneer on her lips.
"You may be strong, but you're no leader. I don't think you should be in charge. You might as well hand the position to me."
Yue Wushuang walked slowly forward, a hint of mockery in her voice.
At her words, Nangong Xuan's gaze grew colder. His fists clenched tight.
Then he gave a cold laugh, relaxed his hands, and lightly patted his waist.
A cold gleam flashed. He drew a black sword and held it beneath the light, its blade reflecting one icy glint after another.
"The usual rules. I don't want to waste words with you," Nangong Xuan said slowly. "We fight. Whoever wins leads this mission."
In truth, although the mission leader received a share of the Merits, most Forbidden Land Envoys had no desire to stick their necks out.
That small share of Merits came with enormous responsibility. The leader had to think through every decision, take the blame when things went wrong, and risk watching the whole mission capsize.
But Nangong Xuan had stepped forward because he wanted to finish the mission as soon as possible.
Yue Wushuang had stepped forward too, partly to complete the mission, but even more to spite Nangong Xuan.
If anyone else had opposed him now, Nangong Xuan would probably have agreed at once and yielded the position without a moment's hesitation.
But that person was Yue Wushuang. He refused.
With those words, Nangong Xuan drew the sword at his waist.
He was determined to settle who was stronger.
Yue Wushuang shook her head and sneered. "You're just as you always were.