Chapter 84

Those who swim well drown, those who ride well fall; each, because of what they love, turns it into their own disaster.

That cultivators often die in magical duels is for this very reason.

Just as an old farmer in the mortal world is not skilled in combat and might live a peaceful life, swordsmen and martial artists often meet with violent deaths; although Qi Refining cultivators can live to be one hundred and twenty, in reality, very few die of old age in their beds.

Although Lin Banshan was here to hold the line for Chen Ci, he was not very willing to engage in a hard fight with the two cultivators of the Wang Family caravan; he was only here to hold the line, not to act as a hired thug.

That would be a different price altogether.

Therefore, controlling the situation is very important.

"Today's matter is merely a mutual pursuit of one object; if we band together to slaughter each other, it would be going a bit too far. If we cannot stop, both sides will truly become bitter enemies."

Lin Banshan smiled faintly: "Since it is not a life-or-death conflict, why don't both sides use this object as a wager, each send one person to fight, and let the sword decide the outcome?"

Let the sword decide the outcome.

Chen Ci's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not speak.

The expressions of Wang You and the old man Guo also changed slightly, as if they were considering the feasibility of this matter.

To tell the truth, this matter was not a monumental affair; it was merely the ownership of a mountain folk's Medicine Field. If one were to judge by value alone, a magical duel was truly not worth it.

But when both sides are unwilling to take a step back at the time, it is hard to say where things will eventually slide.

It was impossible for Wang You to hand over the official document directly; there were so many people in the caravan, and if someone were to say a few words upon returning, he would fear being unable to move an inch within the family in the future.

It was also impossible for Chen Ci to let the official document go to Xishan Prefecture, but if they started fighting and he accidentally slaughtered this Wang fellow, he would have to kill the entire caravan to the last person. Even then, the aftermath would likely be a tangled mess of endless trouble.

This Wang You was not just some stray cat or dog; if a whole caravan of people went missing, the Wang Clan could not act as if it never happened. Minor matters might be fine, but such a major event would inevitably be reported to that grand-uncle of his family.

Therefore, when some things collide, there is no optimal solution; one can only choose between a 'somewhat bad' result and a 'very bad' result.

Both sides had their own misgivings, yet neither could back down.

"Lord Wang, what do you think?"

Guo Hongtao pondered for a moment and asked in a low voice: "This matter seems difficult to resolve peacefully, but we have the advantage in numbers, so we need not fear them. However, if it comes to a sword duel, this old man does not fear that fellow surnamed Chen alone."

Daring only to claim an advantage in numbers meant their overall strength was two notches weaker.

Although Guo Hongtao came from a background of miscellaneous rogue cultivators, he had reached a cultivation level of over fifty apertures and naturally had some methods of his own. Especially during his time as a guest of the Wang Clan, he had practiced a few more techniques. Facing a He Mountain Sect Apprentice whose cultivation was weaker than his own, while he dared not claim a total victory, he was not afraid to fight.

At the very least, it would not be difficult to save his own life.

Wang You pondered for a moment and said coldly: "I will fight this fellow surnamed Chen; you, Old Guo, hold the line for me, but also guard against any moves from that other fellow."

"Lord Wang, think thrice."

Although Guo Hongtao was tempted, he still had to speak to dissuade him. Since he was a guest, he was not willing to risk his life, but if he did not exert effort when things happened, his reputation and word-of-mouth would be ruined, and his days would be equally difficult.

"Old Guo, do not worry. My Wang Family rose to prominence through sword arts, and I have practiced diligently these years; my skills are not poor. That is the first reason."

"Although it is said that the sword will decide the outcome, I dare to kill him. Does this fellow surnamed Chen dare to kill me?"

A cold sneer appeared on Wang You's face: "He is merely an Apprentice of the He Mountain Outer Transmission; I do not believe he does not fear my uncle's reputation. With misgivings in his heart, his strength will be weakened by three parts. That is the second reason."

"I know you recently refined a Beast Tablet, Old Guo; lend it to me. With intent against the unsuspecting, I will be three parts stronger. That is the third reason. With these three methods, I will surely make this fellow surnamed Chen look good."

Guo Hongtao thought for a moment, took a crystalline jade tablet from his sleeve, carved with a picture of a flying crane pecking, and quietly handed it over: "I have already undone the Prohibition; Lord Wang only needs to inject True Qi and shout the word 'Peck', and a Crane Spirit will emerge to assist you."

"Wonderful!"

Wang You clutched the jade tablet in his sleeve and shouted loudly: "Daoist Chen, do you dare to fight?"

"Come forward."

Chen Ci took a few steps forward, watching this Wang Family member full of confidence, and could not help but feel a bit solemn.

Could it be that this fellow is also very capable in a fight?

Wang You straightened his clothes, carried a precious sword, and got off the carriage, walking toward Chen Ci with a serious expression. If one looked closely, it was actually the Baiyang Ancient Sword he had redeemed from Chen Ci's hands.

"Please!"

"Five Yin Black Evil!"

Since the duel had begun, Chen Ci tapped lightly, and the Five Yin Black Evil flew out one after another.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"Sizzle!"

Four streaks of Black Sha surged fiercely toward Wang You, but he did not expect that the very first streak would cause the protective True Qi on this Wang fellow's body to shake violently. Although this person's True Qi cultivation was high, his actual skills were far inferior to the swordsman Chen Ci had encountered last time.

Others could at least use sword techniques to parry the Black Sha, but this fellow was purely relying on True Qi to resist; clearly, his own skills were not very solid.

The Wang Clan had been rooted in Xishan Prefecture for many years and naturally had some understanding of the abilities of He Mountain Sect cultivators, but as for a magical duel, this was Wang You's first time facing the Five Yin Black Evil directly. Upon the first contact, he felt a bit of sweat soaking his back.

One streak was fine, but with four streaks of Black Sha, he could not even get close.

"Rise!"

A dark golden light flew out from Wang You's sleeve, looking like a golden snake. Its speed did not seem fast, but it drifted unpredictably, and within two blinks of an eye, it reached Chen Ci.

Chen Ci responded cautiously, casually drawing his sword to knock the golden light away; it turned out to be a Golden Rope trying to entangle him.

A minor trick.

Chen Ci thought to himself.

But this Wang fellow was so confident, could he have a hidden trump card?

Chen Ci pointed casually, and a streak of Black Sha rolled the Golden Rope away, entangling it.

Wang You watched in great anxiety and was about to unleash the Beast Tablet in his hand, but suddenly felt a chill in his throat. The 'Peck' word he was about to spit out leaked, turning into a wheezing 'Heh-heh' sound. He clutched his throat with both hands, his eyes filled with panic, and the jade tablet slid away.

This... is also not very good?

No, who gave you that confidence just now?

Chen Ci retracted the Five Yin Gold Evil that had not yet been fully refined; this item was truly refreshing for breaking through protective True Qi.

Looking at the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag at his waist, Chen Ci nodded; Adai is indeed strong at bullying the weak.

"Master Wang!"

Guo Hongtao was also shocked; the Wang Family was not a cultivation clan in the true sense, as the one with the highest cultivation in the clan had only achieved it by joining Longhu Mountain, and they had only risen to prominence in the last sixty years, so their family heritage was not very profound.

Yet, that did not mean they were weak.

Even the Baiyang Sword Solution bestowed upon their retainers for cultivation—once the sword Qi was unleashed, rogue cultivators without a specific lineage would have to retreat three paces upon seeing it.

There was also the Wang Family's Dharma Artifact, the Locking Spirit Golden Rope, which specifically countered a cultivator's True Qi; once entangled, the Golden Rope's incantation would be triggered, causing the cultivator's True Qi to dissipate.

Relying on this combination of Dharma Artifact and sword technique, Wang Family cultivators had cut down countless rogue cultivators like chopping melons and vegetables, yet today, one had been killed by someone in a single encounter?

"Stop shouting; if you don't stop his bleeding, he will truly die."

Chen Ci exhaled a breath and shouted in a deep voice: "Give me the official letter and take him away."

Too weak.

So weak that Chen Ci was even able to slightly pull back at the final moment; otherwise, that strand of Five Yin Gold Evil would not have just sliced his throat, but would have taken his Six Yang Skull directly.

The old man surnamed Guo had already been preparing to flee, for if Wang You died, everyone present would likely be silenced, but upon hearing Chen Ci's shout, his figure froze, and he hurriedly rushed over to stop the bleeding with his True Qi.

This kind of injury could still be saved.

"Put down that jade pendant, or leave your hand behind."

Chen Ci frowned, watching this fellow's restless hands, and scolded: "And that sword, don't look at this Golden Rope either."

It had to be said, although this Wang fellow was trash, he really did have a lot of equipment.

Perhaps it was the same principle as a poor student having many stationery items.

Chen Ci snatched the Changping County Official Letter and sighed to himself; although this trip had been quite troublesome, it should not be a loss.

(End of this chapter)