Demanding a Duel on the Long Street

Wan Xiaoxi had not come to issue this challenge at his lineage's behest.

Last night, the Wan Clan had already dispatched a mounted messenger to tell him that the contest over this admission slot was over.

Deacon Zong Rui had promised that the next slot for admission from Willow Source to the Azure Mystic Main Gate would still belong to the Wan Clan. After weighing the matter repeatedly, the clan felt this was the best possible outcome and did not wish to create further friction with Luo Wenling, much less True Disciple Yu Cheng.

As for Wan Xiaoxi, other arrangements would be made. He was to remain patient.

Other arrangements... how laughable!

Wan Xiaoxi was seventeen this year. Seven years later, he would be twenty-four. The age limit for those recommended by Willow Source to enter the Azure Mystic Main Gate was twenty.

What did a slot seven years from now have to do with him?

The lineage would be fine. Its roots ran deep and its stream flowed long; if one generation failed, there was always the next. It could afford to wait.

But Wan Xiaoxi could not.

How many promising young cultivators had the great Wan Clan produced? Which of those who failed to secure a slot had not been dismissed with those words, "other arrangements," only to spend their entire lives trapped in this tiny patch of land called Willow Source, wearing away their talent and spirit day after day?

He absolutely refused to end up like that.

Calling Wan Xiaoxi a genius was not entirely accurate. He was indeed among the best of his peers in Willow Source. He had entered embryonic breath at fifteen, and now, two years later, he had reached the threshold of transforming force.

But to call him unique would be another matter. Several lineages in Willow Source had descendants whose accomplishments were much like his. It was only because this year's slot had fallen to the Wan Clan that it had landed in his hands, giving him the chance to enter the Azure Mystic Main Gate.

He knew this was an opportunity he had been given over others, and so he worked toward it day after day, never once slacking off. He dared not waste the slightest bit of the miraculous pills and medicines his lineage supplied. He gave up every diversion a youth should have enjoyed: no feasting, no women, no gambling.

All so that, after entering Azure Mystic, he could carve out a place for himself, advance from embryonic breath to qi refining, become a genuine Main Gate disciple, and bring glory to his lineage rather than squander the support it had given him.

Yet now, he was about to lose his slot.

Why?

A casual word of praise from a True Disciple had overturned three years of his effort just like that!

He refused to accept it!

And so he had decided to step forward today.

He knew he might not succeed.

Not because he could not win the fight.

What was difficult about defeating Jiang Che? The boy had only begun cultivating half a month ago. Even if he were a heaven-blessed prodigy, so what? His foundations were unstable, his swordsmanship unpolished, his inner force shallow. There was nothing to fear.

He was absolutely certain he could win this fight.

What he truly considered difficult was getting permission to fight.

If those important men refused his challenge, what could he do?

But if they permitted it, that would itself be a signal. Once he defeated Jiang Che in full view of everyone, might Luo Wenling take back his decision?

That was the only way he could think.

If he did not fight for it, he could only watch helplessly as everything that should have belonged to him was taken away. If he tried, perhaps those great figures would spare him another glance.

Even if he could change nothing, at least when regret struck him in the future, he could say with a clear conscience: I fought for my future. This was simply the fate of Wan Xiaoxi.

"Oh? You want to challenge Jiang Che? Why? Is there bad blood between you two?"

Of course Luo Wenling understood what was going on. He had asked that deliberately. He found it entertaining, like watching fighting crickets.

Wan Xiaoxi's gaze burned. "Jiang Che will represent Willow Source by entering the Azure Mystic Main Gate. Naturally, that is an honor for all of Willow Source. But I would also like to see whether this 'genius' recommended to the Main Gate truly has any ability. If he is merely someone with an empty reputation, sending him to the Main Gate would only disgrace Willow Source! Thus, I humbly ask Senior Brother Luo to permit a spar here, so that we may all be convinced in both heart and word. Let it also serve as a send-off for Jiang Che!"

An uproar swept the street at his words.

Nothing like this had ever happened in Willow Source's history!

Far from feeling anger, Luo Wenling grew rather interested in watching the spectacle.

But before he could speak, Zong Rui beside him opened his mouth.

"Junior Brother Luo, Jiang Che's admission to the Main Gate is an exceptional measure. A little sparring would be good. It would also let everyone see that Jiang Che truly has the ability to enter the Main Gate. Only... if, by some chance, Wan Xiaoxi gets lucky and wins by a move or two, should Jiang Che's slot be revoked and given to Wan Xiaoxi instead?"

Luo Wenling was frivolous and easygoing, but in truth, he was exceptionally clever. He had intended to agree and enjoy the show, yet Zong Rui's words instead stirred his disgust.

He stared at Zong Rui until the latter was uncomfortable from head to toe, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. "Interesting. If I refuse, I'll seem rather unreasonable."

Then he turned to Jiang Che. "Since someone wishes to spar with you, we should hear what you want as well... what do you think?"

"Since Senior Brother Wan is in the mood, I will gladly oblige."

"Good! Then have your match."

At his words, the entire long street sprang into motion. The farewell crowd, along with the lion dancers, the gong and drum players, and those holding banners, all withdrew to the sides.

A moment later, people stood packed densely at both ends of the street. Every upstairs window opened, heads poking out one after another.

Jiang Che and Wan Xiaoxi stood facing each other on the long street, surrounded by a crowd so tightly packed that not a drop of water could have passed through.

From Azure Mystic outer disciples and prospective disciples to representatives of Willow Source's great lineages, and from ordinary gentry and wealthy households to common folk watching the excitement... people from every stratum of the county had come to witness Jiang Che and Wan Xiaoxi's duel!

"Please instruct me!"

As the words fell, his spear shot out like a dragon!

Wan Xiaoxi excelled in the Spear Art, which he had learned from his lineage's ancestor. His spear tip thrust fiercely toward Jiang Che's chest with unmatched sharpness!

From his very first strike, he held nothing back, kept nothing in reserve, and made not the slightest attempt to probe his opponent!

He intended to settle everything in a single clash, leaving Jiang Che no room to breathe or maneuver!

Victory was beyond question. What mattered was winning beautifully, with enough overwhelming force to make everyone see the gulf between them!

"Here it comes, here it comes!"

On the second floor of a shop on the eastern side of the street, several youths in brocade had commandeered the seats by the window.

They were all young masters and young ladies of Willow Source's various households, members of Wan Xiaoxi's circle. Whatever open or hidden rivalries they ordinarily had, they now stood united against a common foe.

"Wan Xiaoxi will probably use every last bit of his strength today. Jiang Che is in for it."

"Every last bit? I think he'll go beyond that! Wan Xiaoxi is truly furious today. Don't you know what he's like? He usually holds his head above the clouds. When has he ever lost his composure like this? By blocking the road and issuing a challenge today, he's staked all his dignity on it. If he loses, will he ever be able to hold his head up in Willow Source again?"

"Lose? To Jiang Che? You must be joking."

As they spoke, they saw Wan Xiaoxi make his move, and these privileged young scions readied themselves to applaud.

They came from various aristocratic clans and were all cultivators. Some had cultivated for a year or two, others for three or five. How could they fail to recognize Wan Xiaoxi's ability?

But soon, their smiles faded.

"This... something's not right, is it? That Jiang Che actually blocked it?"

"He's rather clever. He isn't meeting Wan Xiaoxi head-on."

"I still think Wan Xiaoxi will win. His fierce attacks may seem to have been stopped, but Jiang Che will be finished if even one lands. I refuse to believe he can keep defending without letting a single drop through."

"Look, look! Wan Xiaoxi is putting more force into it! Jiang Che can't hold on much longer! Just as I said, how could Jiang Che possibly beat him?"

This time, however, no one agreed.

A little later, the one with the keenest eye suddenly exclaimed, "Something's wrong."

"What's wrong?"

"Wan Xiaoxi and Jiang Che both practice the Upper Azure Smoke Cloud Embryonic Breath Method, just like most of us. Everyone knows that this method emphasizes nimbleness and elusive movement. It has never been known for brute force."

"But Wan Xiaoxi is too impatient. Every move is fierce, seeking to defeat his opponent with a single strike. He's taken the inferior path. Jiang Che, on the other hand, either guides the spear's momentum with his sword or dodges nimbly, unwittingly aligning with the method's true essence... Wan Xiaoxi is in trouble! He's expending far more inner force than Jiang Che. If he keeps attacking without breaking through, he may run out of steam."

At those words, the others fell into stunned silence.

Looking closely, they indeed saw that although Jiang Che retreated step by step, his expression remained normal and his breathing steady. Wan Xiaoxi, by contrast, attacked like a surging tide, but the fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples could not lie.

Only after another while did someone sigh.

"I heard that before Lord Du left, he taught Jiang Che a swordsmanship technique that wasn't even among those outer disciples were allowed to study. I never imagined it would be this formidable!"

"What good is formidable swordsmanship alone? What's truly formidable is that Jiang Che mastered it to this level in half a month. Give him a year or two, and I doubt any of us could match him."

"Tch, you make it sound as though any of us could beat him now. How many of us dare claim we could last this long against Wan Xiaoxi? If even he can't take Jiang Che down, it would be the same no matter which of us went up."

By this point, their enthusiasm had rather waned.

Only the one who had supported Wan Xiaoxi all along cried, "Brother Xi will definitely win! If it really comes down to inner force, that boy has only been cultivating for a little over half a month. How could he beat Brother Xi? I'd like to see who runs out of strength in the end!"

His words seemed reasonable enough. Regardless, these scions of the various lineages had grown much more serious. They were now earnestly watching two of Willow Source's finest young talents fight a duel with their futures at stake.