Chapter 206: Duel at the Peak of the Forbidden City

Lu Lu Xiaofeng wasn't lying; he did indeed have some face. He led Lin Fan and his group directly to the square in front of the main hall. The roof above the main hall was the location for the duel.

By now, some people had already entered with ribbons, but because that eunuch in the palace had distributed many fake ribbons, the number of martial artists present was far greater than the number of ribbons, forcing the commander of the Imperial Guards to send more men to guard the area just in case.

This also made it convenient for the people from the Southern Prince's Mansion to cause trouble for the Emperor.

Lin Fan neither reminded Lu Lu Xiaofeng about Ye Ye Gucheng's conspiracy to rebel, nor did he look up to see Ximen Ximen Chuixue and Ye Ye Gucheng, who had already arrived quietly.

He just lowered his head, playing with Little Dragon Maiden's slender, jade-like hands, because he knew that the Ye Ye Gucheng up there was fake, so he didn't even care to glance at him.

Qin Qin Mengyao, however, was staring intently at the two people on the eaves. Lin Fan's diary wrote that Ye Ye Gucheng would hold back and die in this battle, but it would also let Ximen Ximen Chuixue know that he was not an invincible swordsman, causing him to abandon his wife and child, sever his emotions, and re-cultivate his sword Dao.

This is actually the same as the "sitting in a dead-end" of the *Cihang Sword Manual*; both are for the sake of abandoning everything to cultivate only oneself. Ximen Ximen Chuixue succeeded. Qin Qin Mengyao didn't know if she could do it in the future, so she hoped to observe this battle to find the answer.

"Lin Fan, Ximen Ximen Chuixue and Ye Ye Gucheng have both arrived, and the duel is about to start. Stop looking at your woman's hands; can't you look at them slowly when you go back tonight? Can't you show some respect to two supreme swordsmen!"

Feeling the gazes of the people around them, Lu Lu Xiaofeng said to Lin Fan with some helplessness.

"There is only one supreme swordsman up there, and another one hasn't arrived yet. What's the rush!"

Lin Fan continued to lower his head, counting the veins on Little Dragon Maiden's jade hand, and said with a lack of interest.

"What? Only one supreme swordsman? Didn't both of them arrive? Could it be that one is fake?"

Lu Lu Xiaofeng's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. Ximen Ximen Chuixue and Ye Ye Gucheng were both his friends, and he hadn't realized that one of them was fake.

"You are not Ye Ye Gucheng. Where is he?"

Ximen Ximen Chuixue's expression was cold. He was naturally the real one, so the fake one was obvious.

The fake Ye Ye Gucheng was speechless; he also didn't understand how his flawless disguise had been seen through.

"Lin Fan, where is the real Ye Ye Gucheng?"

"He went to kill the Emperor, didn't he? The duel at the Peak of the Forbidden City is just a conspiracy. The duel attracted everyone's attention, even the guards in the palace, making it convenient for him to collude with the people from the Southern Prince's Mansion to kill the Emperor!"

Lin Fan said calmly.

He knew that even if he didn't say it, Lu Lu Xiaofeng would figure it out when the fake Ye Ye Gucheng drew his sword in a moment.

"What?"

Lu Lu Xiaofeng was shocked. He used his "Phoenix Dances in the Nine Heavens" light-body technique and shot into the sky, heading toward the Emperor's Imperial Study.

Ximen Ximen Chuixue's expression changed, and he also flew toward the Imperial Study.

Ye Ye Gucheng had ostensibly invited him to a duel, but in reality, he was using it to usurp the throne. This was not only an insult to him but also an insult to the sword Dao, which he absolutely would not allow.

"Clang!"

The fake Ye Ye Gucheng drew his sword and stabbed at Ximen Ximen Chuixue; he couldn't let Ximen Ximen Chuixue go and cause trouble.

"Clang!"

A cold light flashed, and another life was added to Ximen Ximen Chuixue's sword, yet not a single drop of blood remained on it.

"Drawing a sword from behind, you are not worthy of using a sword!"

Ximen Ximen Chuixue said coldly to the corpse, then leaped up and drifted away.

Many martial artists also rushed toward the Imperial Study.

"Husband, shouldn't we go take a look?"

Qin Qin Mengyao looked at the Imperial Study thoughtfully, then turned and asked.

"No need, they will come back. Ximen Ximen Chuixue will not give up on this duel."

Lin Fan smiled and kissed Little Dragon Maiden's hand, staining her earlobes with a blush. Shyly, she quickly pulled her hand back and took out her golden silk gloves to wear, preventing Lin Fan from harassing her.

Who knew that Lin Fan would get even more excited when he saw this and grabbed her hand again. With no other choice, Little Dragon Maiden, unable to resist Lin Fan, had to let him do as he pleased.

Meanwhile, Lu Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Hua Manlou had already arrived at the Imperial Study and saved the Emperor, who was being hunted by Ye Ye Gucheng.

"Lu Lu Xiaofeng, it's you. Why are you here?"

"Ye Ye Gucheng, your conspiracy has been exposed. The Heavenly Secret Young Master has made your and the Southern Prince's Mansion's plot public!"

"Achoo!"

At this moment, Lin Fan sneezed.

"Husband, with your body, you can still catch a cold?"

Qin Qin Mengyao had personally experienced Lin Fan's might and strength and knew it was almost impossible for him to get sick.

"It must be that guy Lu Lu Xiaofeng badmouthing me behind my back again!"

"Why would he badmouth you? I'm going to kill him!"

Little Dragon Maiden, who was looking at Lin Fan with concern, became murderous in an instant upon hearing this and prepared to go chop Lu Lu Xiaofeng.

"No need for that. I mean he is probably bragging about my reputation; he wouldn't badmouth me!"

Lin Fan held Little Dragon Maiden back. If Lu Lu Xiaofeng were chopped because of this, he would be too wronged!

After a while, Ximen Ximen Chuixue and a swordsman in white flew onto the eaves. Who else could it be but Ye Ye Gucheng?

"Heavenly Secret Young Master, was it you who exposed my and the Southern Prince's Mansion's plot?"

Ye Ye Gucheng looked down at Lin Fan below and asked.

"Your plan was simply too crude. Look at the Heir of the Southern Prince; he is sloppy and unlearned. For such a person to be Emperor, any official who isn't blind could see something was wrong."

Lin Fan shook his head helplessly.

"Why did Ye Ye Gucheng want to rebel? He is a solitary and noble swordsman. I really don't understand even now."

Lu Lu Xiaofeng also returned. He stood by Lin Fan and asked, puzzled.

"Because Ye Ye Gucheng is not surnamed Ye. He is a remnant of the previous dynasty. If it weren't for the protection of the Southern Prince's Mansion, hmph..."

The guard commander Wei Wei Ziyun looked at Ye Ye Gucheng with hatred.

"Ye Ye Gucheng, I don't care about your background, nor do I care about your plot. I only care about our duel. Can we start now?"

Ximen Ximen Chuixue said coldly.

"Of course!"

Ye Ye Gucheng nodded slightly. He needed a supreme swordsman to send him off, and Ximen Ximen Chuixue was the best choice.

"This sword is a sharp weapon of the world. The blade is three feet seven inches long, with a net weight of seven catties and thirteen taels."

Ximen Ximen Chuixue raised his precious sword.

"Good sword!"

"Indeed a good sword!"

Ye Ye Gucheng also raised the sword in his hand and said: "This sword is the elite of cold swords from overseas. It can cut hair as it blows by. The blade is three feet three inches long, with a net weight of six catties and four taels."

"Good sword!"

"It is indeed a good sword!"

Lin Fan below frowned upon hearing this. These two 'pretentious kings,' Ye Ye Gucheng and Ximen Ximen Chuixue, are really good at putting on airs. Should he also improve his own 'pretentiousness'?

"If I am defeated, please accept my sword. My sword will be your sword!"

Ye Ye Gucheng slowly drew his sword and pointed it at Ximen Ximen Chuixue from afar.

"If I am defeated, please also accept my sword. My sword will be your sword!"

Ximen Ximen Chuixue also drew the precious sword from his waist and pointed it at Ye Ye Gucheng.

"From now on, the sword never leaves the body!"

"The sword never leaves the body!"

After these words, neither of them spoke anymore. They held their breath, focused their spirits, and stood facing each other with swords raised.

At this moment, in their eyes, there was only the existence of the other between heaven and earth.