Chapter 1955: Xue Qin's Father

"You..."Xue Qin was almost exploding with rage. The esteemed second young lady of the City Lord's Manor, a figure as precious as a pearl, becoming a maid... it was an absolute insult!

"She is not my servant, I have no right to decide for her!" Huo Jianghe said, frowning.

"In that case, there's nothing I can do. Three swordsmen came before, and I killed them all with a single thrust of my sword; it felt no different than slaughtering a chicken. You're probably no different. It's better not to compete at all!"Zhang Xuan stretched and paused. "Since you can't make the decision, then never mind..."

A glint of coldness flashed in Huo Jianghe's eyes as he narrowed them. "As a master swordsman, how can you go back on your word?"

"This woman disrespected me just now, filling me with indignation and lingering frustration. Unless she becomes a maid, I can't stomach this insult! With this anger in my heart, my sword technique cannot be fully unleashed, and the duel would be pointless... How can you accuse me of going back on my word concerning such a vital matter?"With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Xuan spoke with a noble quality of consideration for his opponent: "I'm doing this to better display my strongest combat prowess and unleash my most formidable sword art, thereby showing you, my opponent, the utmost respect! As a master swordsman, if you wish to contend with me, you surely desire to defeat me at my peak, not seize an advantage when I'm weakened... Winning under such circumstances wouldn't be honorable, would it?"

*Grind! Grind!*Huo Jianghe clenched his teeth.Seeing the guy's brazen boasting, why did he feel such an urge to punch him? What, if he didn't agree to this wager, would he become a bully, and even if he won, it would be an unfair victory?

"Senior Brother, you absolutely mustn't agree..."Xue Qin's face went pale with fright as she listened to the man making increasingly outlandish claims.

"If you don't agree, then so be it. I'll still agree to the duel, and I'll be weak if I'm weak! After all, you just want to defeat me, so fairness doesn't seem to matter..."Zhang Xuan shook his head, a desolate air about him. "An expert from Lingyun Sword Pavilion, when dueling with swords, actually disregards fairness. I've truly gained new insight..."

"Enough! I agree!"Huo Jianghe swept his hand. Although what this man said was pure fabrication, since he represented the Lingyun Sword Pavilion and the other party had clearly figured that out, the duel had to be fair and just, leaving no room for reproach!

"Senior Brother..."Xue Qin trembled. She was the second young lady of the City Lord's Manor, a favored daughter of heaven with the potential to ascend to the Sword Pavilion and rise to prominence... To be wagered as a maid was the ultimate insult.No sooner had her voice risen than Huo Jianghe's harsh rebuke sounded before her: "Shut up! Do you think I cannot win?"

"I..." Xue Qin's face went pale. "I wouldn't dare... With Senior Brother's strength, he will undoubtedly achieve a resounding victory as soon as he makes his move...""Hmph!"Too annoyed to speak further, Huo Jianghe swiftly grabbed the long sword Xue Qin had been holding; it appeared in his hand. Fearing he would be driven to his death by anger if he heard any more, he took a light step and landed on the platform, and with a single gesture, invited: "Please begin!"

"Splendid!"Zhang Xuan chuckled and followed him onto the stage.

"In your previous duels with my junior brother, you used a sword art that involved throwing your sword. I wish to witness the power of that technique!"Huo Jianghe said, as his long sword slid from its scabbard, letting out a dragon's cry in the air. Since he intended to restore the sect's honor, it was only natural to defeat him using his strongest sword art.

"Very well!"Zhang Xuan nodded, approached the weapon rack, and took out another long sword.

"Elder, Elder, Tianya has shown up..."At the City Lord's Manor in Starfall City, Yun Feiyang rushed into the room."He has? Good, let's go take a look!"Elder Lu Yun's eyes brightened. He retrieved the Transmission Jade Talisman from before, and with a mental command, entered it.

Soon, Yun Feiyang, Huang Tao, and the others all followed suit.Upon entering the Transmission Hall, before they even reached the public arena, they were met with a clamor of voices from all directions.

"Hurry over! Tianya and One-Gaze River's match is about to begin!""Who is One-Gaze River?""I don't know either, but I hear his sword skill is exceptionally profound. It'll be a clash of titans, and the outcome will be decided quickly!""To dare to duel with Tianya, knowing his record, means his strength must be considerable. Who will win and who will lose remains uncertain..."

"One-Gaze River? It's Senior Brother!"Yun Feiyang's eyes brightened.

"Jianghe is a good lad. He must have known that you all lost, and he wants to restore the sect's reputation!"Elder Lu Yun immediately understood the situation and nodded with satisfaction.

"We are ashamed!"Their faces simultaneously flushed red.

They had lost, forcing their Senior Brother to act; it was truly disgraceful.

"Jianghe is always composed, and his combat experience is quite extensive. His intervention should be able to rectify the negative impact this situation has caused..." Elder Lu Yun stroked his beard thoughtfully. Even within the Transmission Hall, he maintained the appearance of an old man.

"We admire Senior Brother's strength; since he has decided to act, he must have a solution!""Let's go take a look. Once he makes his move, the outcome is surely predetermined..."

Elder Lu Yun nodded and led the four quickly towards the public arena.Before they even reached it, countless shouts and exclamations roared skyward.

"There must be a result now..."The five rushed forward, eager to see Huo Jianghe's victory, when they suddenly saw their Senior Brother, "One-Gaze River," already lying on the ground, a long sword impaled in his head.

Soon, the body dissolved into points of light and slowly vanished.

"Senior Brother..."Yun Feiyang and the others were dumbfounded. Elder Lu Yun also stood motionless.

Hadn't the battle just begun? How could it be over in the blink of an eye? Even Senior Brother was no match, instantly killed so easily?

Everyone was shocked, but Xue Qin was trembling uncontrollably, on the verge of madness.

She had thought Senior Brother would easily win this wager, but she never imagined that the opponent would throw his sword... Senior Brother would fall... and it would all be over in less than two breaths!In that case, wouldn't she... truly become his maid?

"You wretched maid, aren't you coming over to massage young master?"As she stood there, utterly conflicted, she saw the young man descend from the platform, approach her, a smile on his face.

"You..."Xue Qin gnashed her teeth in fury. She flipped her hand and swung it fiercely towards him. Make her a maid, a servant? In her dreams!

Before her palm could connect with his face, she felt her wrist tighten, already caught in his grip, followed by a stinging pain across her cheek.*Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!*Four consecutive slaps landed on her face. Her originally beautiful face immediately swelled and reddened, resembling a swollen backside.

She knew this place was fake, not the real world, but Xue Qin still felt as if her face was burning, and if a crack in the ground had appeared, she would have wished to burrow into it on the spot.

She had thought that by attaching herself to Huo Jianghe, the outer sect's senior disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, she could soar to great heights and truly realize her life's dreams. She never dreamed... that she would become even more miserable than before.

"A mere servant dares to strike her master? What audacity!"Having slapped her, Zhang Xuan scoffed coldly. He held no goodwill whatsoever for this venomous woman who had not only broken off an engagement but also attempted murder. Had he not intended to use her as a lesson for his students, he would have slapped her to death long ago.

"I'll kill you..."Xue Qin's eyes reddened. Just as she was about to desperately fight the man before her, a stern reprimand sounded: "Enough! Haven't you disgraced yourself enough already?"

Her body stiffened. She quickly turned around, only to see a middle-aged man who had appeared nearby, unannounced.

"Father..."Her knees buckled, and she fell to her knees.

"Calling him Father? Could this be... City Lord Xue Qian of Xuanjiang City?""City Lord Xue Qian is a powerful expert of the Ancient Saint Four-fold, Void Shattering Realm! To think he came in person!""His daughter has become someone else's maid; it'd be a miracle if he could sit still now!""If he acts, Tianya is certainly done for...""That's right. Insulting the City Lord's daughter and striking her face – this alone is enough for no one to save him..."

Disregarding the murmurs of the crowd and paying no mind to his kneeling daughter, the middle-aged man looked up at Zhang Xuan: "Friend, show mercy where mercy is due! It's good for young people to have ambition, but excessive ambition can be detrimental!"

"That's right, show mercy where mercy is due. I have always disliked pushing others too far..." Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement with his words. "Of course, that excludes those who aren't human!"

The middle-aged man Xue Qian's eyes immediately narrowed, and murderous intent surged within him.

The surrounding crowd had already revealed his identity. For him, as the City Lord, to come over personally was a great show of deference, yet this man spoke to him in such a way! Not giving him any face at all!

In truth, it wasn't just Zhang Xuan to blame. If he hadn't intervened, this disciple named Shan Xiaotian would surely have been killed long ago. Simply for having a marriage contract, refusing to annul it meant death... The crucial point was that this City Lord's Manor supposedly had an excellent reputation... To simply let such a hypocritical individual, a true sanctimonious phony, off so easily, was something he truly couldn't bring himself to do.

"It seems you are very confident. Very well... I will duel with you!"Noticing the increasing number of onlookers and realizing that today's events couldn't be resolved amicably, the middle-aged man looked at him.

"Alright! It's quite simple. The wager: four hundred thousand Transmission Coins! Agree to the duel, or I'll go back to sleep. It's the middle of the night, and my newly acquired maid isn't being attentive. I'll go back and publicize this matter... How can the esteemed City Lord's Manor, incapable of even managing its own daughter, possibly govern a city of millions?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's face wore an expression of utter defiance."After all, your City Lord's Manor is wealthy and capable of supporting so many soldiers. Since that's the case... it's time for you to bleed a little."

*Grind! Grind!*His gaze was like lightning; Xue Qian had never felt such a fervent desire to kill. As City Lord, revered by tens of thousands, this was the first time he had ever encountered such a situation.

This was tantamount to pointing at his nose and insulting him, and intentionally slapping his daughter.

"Young man, when you do things, always leave a path for retreat; don't go too far in anything. Although the Transmission Hall can conceal identities, it's not entirely impossible for information to be leaked!"

"Why, are you afraid to wager? Then get out... Don't waste my time!" Zhang Xuan stretched.

"You..." Taking a deep breath, Xue Qian suppressed the fury in his heart and clenched his teeth. "Fine, I'll bet with you!"Four hundred thousand Transmission Coins was a colossal sum even for the City Lord's Manor. However, if he didn't take the wager and truly allowed him to leave and spread the word everywhere, the City Lord's Manor's prestige, established over decades, would be utterly ruined. And judging by this man... he genuinely would do it.When did the City Lord's Manor ever offend such a master with absolutely no moral boundaries?