Chapter 133: Appointment for a Duel

“What do you mean by that?” Sikong Du stood in front of Yun Che, frowning at Murong Yi, giving no ground. “Murong Yi, this is an important area for the new disciple assessment, not a place for you to shout and hurt people at will!”

“Hurting people at will?” Murong Yi sneered arrogantly. “What if I just want to hurt him?” He pointed at Murong Ye and said furiously, “The injury on my cousin’s face was caused by this Yun Che, who is behind you! He injured my cousin first, so do you expect me to stand by and do nothing? Get out of the way, don’t meddle in other people’s business here! Otherwise, don’t blame me for turning hostile!”

“Turning hostile?” Sikong Du burst out laughing. “I’m not afraid of you getting nasty. I’m definitely getting involved in this! If you’re itching for a fight and need a lesson, then go ahead and try!”

“You!” Murong Yi was furious, clenching his fists but forcing himself not to strike immediately. He knew he was no match for Sikong Du. He ranked seventy-third on the Heavenly Profound Ranking, while Sikong Du ranked thirty-ninth. However, he wasn’t entirely afraid of Sikong Du, because although Sikong Du had extraordinary talent, his background was quite ordinary; his father was merely a minor elder in a branch Profound Palace in New Moon City. Murong Yi’s own father, however, was the formidable General Zhenbei, renowned throughout Azure Wind.

“Sikong Du, we’ve always kept to ourselves, minding our own business. Are you determined to break ties with me this time?”

“What you, Murong Yi, choose to do is none of my business. But the person behind me, his grandfather is my life-saving benefactor. Within this Azure Wind Profound Palace, anyone who wants to cause him trouble will have to get past me first!” Sikong Du said solemnly.

A buzz of discussion immediately arose among the onlookers. No wonder Sikong Du had personally intervened for Yun Che earlier, and now stood so firmly in front of him. It turned out that he and Yun Che had such a deep connection.

Having just entered the Profound Palace, Yun Che already had an Inner Palace disciple as a backer. The new disciples were all envious and jealous of him.

“Hmph, quite a benefactor! Then what about my cousin’s injury? Is my cousin, Murong Ye, just supposed to take a beating for nothing?” Murong Yi said angrily.

“Since it’s a grudge between your cousin and Yun Che, then let them resolve it themselves. Since your cousin was injured, let him seek revenge himself. As disciples of the Azure Wind Profound Palace, shouldn’t we at least have that much backbone? Why do you, an Inner Palace disciple, need to come out and challenge a new disciple?” Sikong Du said mockingly. In just a few words, he shifted everyone’s attention to Murong Ye, whose gaze was mostly filled with disdain and contempt. Sikong Du was right; not seeking revenge for one’s own grievances but instead clinging to someone else’s leg was truly despicable.

Murong Ye’s face burned red from being stared at, and his hatred for Yun Che reached its peak.

With Sikong Du blocking Yun Che, Murong Yi found himself in a dilemma, like riding a tiger—difficult to get off. If he forced the issue, he was no match for Sikong Du. But if he just let it go… with countless disciples watching, what dignity would he, a dignified Inner Palace disciple, have left? He stepped forward and said sternly, “Very well, Sikong Du, since you put it that way, I’ll give you this respect and not attack Yun Che! But Yun Che’s injuring my cousin cannot be left unresolved, otherwise, where would Murong Ye’s dignity be? You make Yun Che apologize to my cousin Murong Ye here and slap himself ten times. If he does that, I’ll drop the matter. But if you still don’t know what’s good for you… Hmph, from now on in this Inner Palace, it’s either me or you, there’s no room for both of us!”

Sikong Du frowned deeply. In truth, he too was in a difficult position. Although he could defeat Murong Yi, Murong Yi’s powerful background was not something anyone in the Azure Wind Profound Palace dared to underestimate. Offending him completely would bring nothing but harm to both himself and Yun Che. However, if Yun Che were to apologize to Murong Ye as Murong Yi demanded, and even slap himself publicly… this was a humiliation no normal man could ever accept.

At that moment, a hand rested on his shoulder. Yun Che stepped forward from behind him, standing beside him, and said with a relaxed smile, “Brother Sikong, thank you for your generosity. However, since this is a matter I caused, it’s best for me to resolve it myself.”

Having said that, without waiting for Sikong Du to respond, he directly faced the grim-faced Murong Yi and said fearlessly, “Murong Yi, it’s true that I hit your cousin, Murong Ye. It’s only human nature for you to stand up for him. However, with Brother Sikong here, you won’t get your way for now. If you truly want to personally teach me a lesson, I can give you an opportunity.”

“You? Give me an opportunity? Hahahahaha…” Murong Yi burst into scornful laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke. “What are you?”

Yun Che remained completely unfazed. He lowered his brows, squinted his eyes, and said lightly, “Do you dare to give me three months?”

“Murong Yi, in three months, I will personally challenge you. If I lose then, whether you want me to apologize to Murong Ye or injure me, even cripple me, I will not resist, and no one, including Brother Sikong, will stop you!”

As soon as Yun Che uttered these words, the expressions on everyone’s faces immediately became a sight to behold.

“What? What did he say? Challenge Murong Yi in three months? Did I hear that correctly?”

“You didn’t hear wrong! Is this Yun Che crazy? He defeated Feng Yue, which is impressive, true, but who is Murong Yi? He’s on the Heavenly Profound Ranking, with profound strength reaching the ninth level of the True Profound Realm! Yun Che is only at the tenth level of the Nascent Profound Realm, a full major realm behind. What kind of challenge is this?!”

“Did this Yun Che get so carried away with his victory over Feng Yue that he’s become reckless and lawless? Forget one of him, even a hundred of him couldn’t be Murong Yi’s match! He’s simply overestimating himself and seeking death.”

“I bet this is Yun Che’s delaying tactic. Think about it: no sane person would ever propose such a challenge. Yun Che clearly saw Murong Yi coming for him and deliberately said this to resolve the immediate problem, first breaking the current deadlock, and then privately, he’ll either apologize to Murong Yi or simply run away. This is definitely the most perfect explanation.”

Hearing Yun Che’s words, Sikong Du frowned sharply and said anxiously, “Yun Che! Do you know what you’re doing?! You can still take back what you just said, just barely! If this is your delaying tactic, it’s unnecessary! As long as I’m in this Profound Palace, I absolutely won’t let Murong Yi harm you.”

Yun Che, however, shook his head with a slight smile and then said clearly, “Excellent. Since you’ve accepted, you can’t go back on your word! In three months, right here in this very spot, we’ll decide the outcome! Everyone present will be a witness!”

“Heheheh, I can also serve as a witness.”

A gentle voice drifted from the edge of the crowd. The voice wasn’t loud, but it seemed to possess a magical power, cutting through the clamor and reaching everyone’s ears with perfect clarity.

The crowd parted, and two middle-aged men, one in a purple robe and the other in plain blue attire, walked side by side. One was Qin Wuyou, and the other, with black hair and beard, a slender build, and elegantly simple blue robes, wore a gentle smile. His gaze was as calm as a still, windless pool of water. He simply stood there casually, yet an ethereal, transcendent, almost immortal aura naturally emanated from him, inspiring an uncontrollable sense of awe in anyone who looked at him.

“Palace Master Qin… Instructor Qin!”

As soon as these two middle-aged men appeared, the scene immediately became agitated. For these two were Qin Wuyou, an instructor from the Central Palace, and the man in blue, none other than the Vice Palace Master of the Azure Wind Profound Palace… Qin Wushang!

Sikong Du and Murong Yi simultaneously withdrew all their intimidating aura and respectfully called out, “Palace Master Qin, Instructor Qin.”

“Sky Profound Realm!” As Yun Che’s gaze fell upon Qin Wushang, Jasmine’s voice echoed in his mind, deeply startling him.

Qin Wushang was Qin Wuyou’s elder brother, twelve years his senior. However, his profound cultivation talent far surpassed Qin Wuyou’s. At the age of fifty, he stepped into the Sky Profound Realm, reaching a supreme level that countless profound practitioners wouldn’t even dare to dream of. His lifespan was also significantly increased, which made him appear much younger than Qin Wuyou.

The Palace Master of the Azure Wind Profound Palace had an elusive whereabouts and rarely concerned himself with the palace’s affairs. Some disciples had been in the palace for three or four years without ever seeing the Palace Master. Almost all matters, big and small, fell upon Vice Palace Master Qin Wushang, who held the highest authority and decision-making power in the Palace Master’s absence.