Chapter 5

On the vast lake, a small boat was sailing towards the East Garden.

In the boat were three people: Bai Zhijie was steering, while Zhuo Feiyang and Zhao Ying stood at the bow, the gentle breeze causing their clothes to flutter.

Zhao Ying, dressed in a light green silk robe, her face radiant and fair, asked softly, "Senior Brother Zhuo, why do you and Senior Brother Chu have such a grudge?"

Zhuo Feiyang frowned and thought for a moment, "I didn't like him from the first time I saw him. ... He has no real skills, yet he acts so arrogant. Just seeing him makes me want to slap him to death!"

"You don't have any deep-seated hatred, so why are you like this!"

Zhao Ying shook her head and smiled. Both of them were very proud, and Senior Brother Zhuo had the capital to be proud. Senior Brother Chu, though unable to practice martial arts, seemed to have some backing and didn't take Senior Brother Zhuo seriously, which was what Senior Brother Zhuo found most intolerable.

Sending a challenge letter is no joke.

The Duke's Mansion forbids private duels; if there are any casualties, the lightest punishment is to be stripped of one's martial arts and expelled from the mansion, and the heaviest is execution. Challenges are allowed, and the challenged party has the right to refuse. If they accept, as long as they don't die or become disabled, there will be no further investigation.

If Senior Brother Chu challenges and gets injured by Senior Brother Zhuo, the Duke's Mansion won't intervene.

Zhuo Feiyang snorted, "I just can't stand his arrogant attitude!"

Zhao Ying shook her head and laughed, "Proud people can't stand others being proud."

"Senior Brother Zhuo, are you really going to use harsh measures?"

"Of course!" Zhuo Feiyang snorted, "If he wants to die, I'm the kind of person who likes to fulfill others' wishes, making him a complete cripple!"

Zhao Ying frowned, "Using harsh measures just because of a clash of tempers is too much. Why does Senior Brother Chu dare to challenge you?"

"He must have been driven mad by anger!" Zhuo Feiyang said smugly, "That arrogant guy can't stand being my guard!"

"Ah..." Zhao Ying shook her head, "Senior Brother Zhuo, you two don't have any major grudges, why go to such lengths!"

"Junior Sister Zhao, you don't understand." Zhuo Feiyang waved his hand to interrupt her, "When it's necessary to be harsh, you must be harsh. This guy... if there's a chance, I'll beat him to death!"

"Classmates..." Zhao Ying sighed.

Zhuo Feiyang snorted, "Junior Sister Zhao, you can't afford to be too soft-hearted!"

"Ah..." Zhao Ying sighed helplessly, determined to intervene at the critical moment.

She secretly blamed Chu Li, thinking that when the situation is against you, you should know when to yield. A little humility would have resolved the issue, so why insist on challenging Senior Brother Zhuo!

Bai Zhijie said, "Young Master, Miss Zhao, we've arrived!"

The three saw a small island floating on the lake, seemingly moving with the wind. The island was surrounded by willow trees, their branches hanging down to the lake surface, swaying gracefully like mist and smoke.

Zhuo Feiyang said, "Zhijie, wait on the boat."

"Be careful, Young Master!" Bai Zhijie said, "After all, it's their territory!"

"I want to see what tricks they have up their sleeves!" Zhuo Feiyang waved his hand, "All tricks are powerless against strong martial arts!"

"Yes." Bai Zhijie nodded respectfully.

The small boat slowly approached the shore. Under the willow trees hung a jade chime and a drumstick. Zhao Ying struck the chime, and the clear sound echoed through the East Garden.

Chu Li and Li Yue appeared. Chu Li had a sword hanging from his waist, looking exceptionally heroic.

Chu Li, standing on higher ground, nodded condescendingly, "Zhuo Feiyang, you have some courage! ... Junior Sister Zhao, welcome!"

Zhuo Feiyang's handsome face darkened, feeling very uncomfortable being looked down upon, and sneered, "What's there to fear from a cripple!"

Chu Li turned his head and said, "Junior Sister Zhao, come in for a cup of tea."

Zhuo Feiyang stepped forward and snorted, "What tea? Who knows if you'll poison it? You said you wanted to challenge me, so stop talking and get on with it!"

"Not in a hurry."

"Cut the crap!" Zhuo Feiyang shouted, "Chu, if you want to fight, do it now, or admit defeat and obediently be my guard!"

"You, rash and impulsive!" Chu Li shook his head, "You won't amount to much!"

"Do you think you're someone to say that?!" Zhuo Feiyang sneered.

Chu Li said, "If we fight, there should be a prize. Zhuo Feiyang, if I win, you be my guard!"

"Daydreaming!" Zhuo Feiyang laughed, "Chu, are you still asleep? Me, your guard?"

"What, do you think you'll lose?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why won't you agree? Lack of confidence, right?"

"What do you mean by 'not daring'!"

"Also, the Moonlight Orchid, you'll return it if you lose!"

"You have big ambitions!" Zhuo Feiyang sneered sarcastically, "That's eleven thousand taels!"

Just thinking about it made his anger surge. Eleven thousand taels, just like that!

Zhao Ying smiled, "Senior Brother Chu, if you win, the Moonlight Orchid is yours!"

Chu Li clasped his hands and smiled, "Thank you, Junior Sister Zhao!"

This wasn't the time for politeness; the Moonlight Orchid was too important, it could change his fate!

Zhao Ying said, "Senior Brother Chu, you can't practice martial arts, right?"

"I can't practice internal cultivation techniques," Chu Li shook his head, "but I can still practice sword techniques."

Zhao Ying looked at him seriously, "Why show off your strength!"

Chu Li glanced sideways at Zhuo Feiyang, "To deal with a fool like him, I don't need internal cultivation!"

"Chu, what a big mouth!" Zhuo Feiyang sneered, "Without internal cultivation, what will you use to fight?"

Chu Li said, "I've practiced the Illusion-Breaking Sword Technique, which is enough to deal with you!"

"Illusion-Breaking Sword Technique? Ha!" Zhuo Feiyang laughed, "You, a cripple, what use is a sword that can cut through iron?"

Zhao Ying thought that although Zhuo Feiyang's words were harsh, they were correct; without internal cultivation, one can't fully utilize the power of sword techniques.

Chu Li snorted, "Zhuo Feiyang, will you agree or not?"

"What if you lose?" Zhuo Feiyang's smile faded, "You can't have all the benefits, right?"

Chu Li patted his chest, "Ten thousand taels in silver bills are yours, and I'll leave the Duke's Mansion!"

"I have silver bills, I don't need ten thousand taels!" Zhuo Feiyang snorted, "As long as you leave the Duke's Mansion and don't get in my way, that's fine!"

"Agreed, with Junior Sister Zhao as witness!"

Zhao Ying frowned, "Senior Brother Chu, why go to such lengths?"

"There's no choice. Zhuo Feiyang is petty and always picks on me. I have to give him a taste of his own medicine to make him stop!" Chu Li shook his head.

"Being Senior Brother Zhuo's guard isn't shameful," Zhao Ying tried to persuade him.

Chu Li stared at her for a moment and said helplessly, "You're a kind and innocent girl!"

Zhao Ying smiled awkwardly. He was proud and ambitious, and being Senior Brother Zhuo's guard was indeed too much for him. Senior Brother Zhuo had gone too far.

Chu Li drew his sword, "Zhuo Feiyang, draw your sword!"

Zhuo Feiyang smiled proudly, stepped forward, and assumed the starting stance of a palm technique, "I don't need a sword to deal with you!"

"Here comes the sword!" Chu Li thrust his sword forward.

Zhuo Feiyang's left palm cut in, directly attacking the center, with extreme contempt.

Chu Li stepped back to avoid it and thrust his sword again.

"Huh?" Zhuo Feiyang had to change his move, his brows furrowed.

Chu Li thrust his sword again.

Zhuo Feiyang changed his move again, decisively switching to a different palm technique. The sword thrust was weak, but it aimed at vital points, indicating that Chu Li was very familiar with this palm technique.

Chu Li thrust his sword again.

Zhuo Feiyang's old strength was spent, and new strength had not yet formed. He could only watch as the sword pierced his right wrist.

Chu Li retracted his sword and smiled, "Want to continue?"

"Again!" Zhuo Feiyang gritted his teeth and snorted.

Chu Li flicked his sword.

Zhuo Feiyang changed his palm to a fist and punched out forcefully. Chu Li thrust his sword.

"Ah!" Zhuo Feiyang cried out in pain as his right hand was pierced by the sword.

Chu Li's face was pale, and he used his sword to support himself to keep from falling. This thrust had gathered all his strength, leaving him feeling empty and uncomfortable.

The sword tip pierced through Zhuo Feiyang's hand.

Zhao Ying quickly took out a porcelain bottle, sprinkled some powder to stop the bleeding, and looked at him worriedly.

Zhuo Feiyang glared at Chu Li with fierce eyes.

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