Chapter 25: The Letter of Challenge

Yang Zhan stood atop the roof of the Celestial Prison. A small red bird flew back and chirped twice at him. Yang Zhan held out his hand, and the bird landed on it. He removed a small note from the bamboo tube on the bird's leg. It read: "My Lord, we have arrived." With a gentle rub of his fingers, Yang Zhan turned the note into ashes.

Just then, he noticed a small bodice hanging from a bamboo pole in the distance. "Can't Qiuyun find a different way to send a signal?" Yang Zhan jumped down from the roof. "Si'er, keep a sharp eye out!"

"Rest assured, General!" Ever since Si'er and the others had donned their battle armor, they no longer called him "Second Master," and Yang Zhan had tacitly accepted it. On the battlefield, one must have the spirit of a warrior!

"Qiuyun, why did you reach out to me at this time?"
"Didn't you ask me to investigate?"
"I originally wanted you to check if something had happened at the palace, but that's no longer necessary."

Qiuyun was taken aback. "You found out?"
"I went to see the old Emperor."
Qiuyun frowned. "It is indeed important news concerning the Emperor."
Yang Zhan glanced at him. "Tell me what you've discovered."
"The Emperor's days are numbered!"
"How are you sure?"
"Half a year ago, the imperial physicians visited him constantly. In the last six months, they've only been once."

Yang Zhan furrowed his brows. "You mean to say the physicians have given up."
"Yes. Of course, it could be that he is perfectly healthy, but he hasn't attended court in half a year!"

Although Yang Zhan had suspected as much, the near-certainty of the news still stirred something within him. After all, the old Emperor had been a benefactor to him, almost like an elder, and had left a great mark on his life.

Qiuyun said solemnly, "The Prince asked me to tell you to leave early, lest delays lead to complications. The Emperor won't last long, and he might eventually cast aside all shame to eliminate you as a threat, even at the cost of his legacy. If he uses the Imperial Guard or the garrison to deal with you, we won't be able to help you!"

Yang Zhan shook his head. "If I wanted to leave, I would have gone long ago. I won't be leaving now."

He did not answer further and walked out of the roasted chicken shop. Returning to the Celestial Prison, he looked toward the Imperial City. "Old man, I will see you through this final journey. Of course, if I lose, I'll join you on your way!" His eyes sharpened. "But I will not lose!"

As he reached the entrance of the Celestial Prison, suddenly, a whistling sound cut through the air. A sword shot toward him from the sky.

"General, look out!" Si'er shouted.

Yang Zhan turned suddenly. As the blade was inches from his heart, he slapped it aside. With a hum, the sword was sent flying. Yang Zhan turned to look at the direction from which the blade had come. With his keen eyes, he spotted a man in green robes standing atop a distant tower.

Then, the sword hummed again, but this time it did not fly toward Yang Zhan; it turned and flew back. Where the sword had fallen, a letter remained. The blade hovered beside the man in green, who stood with one hand behind his back, looking down from above like a celestial being.

Yang Zhan raised an eyebrow. "A Qi Practitioner of the Profound Opening Realm. A grand gesture indeed!"

Though far away, the man in green spoke, his voice reaching them a moment later. "To be able to block my sword, you must be Yang Zhan."

Yang Zhan smiled. "Indeed, I am. I wonder what price the other party paid to hire a Qi Practitioner of the Profound Opening Realm?"

"Keen eyes. Since you know I am of the Profound Opening Realm, you should know that a first-rank martial artist has no chance of victory before me."

"So, you are determined? Are you here for my life or for someone else?"
"Whether I take others is irrelevant, but you must die."

Yang Zhan smiled. "No problem, but do not involve the innocent."
"I am a practitioner; I never kill the innocent."

"What was the price?"
"Someone has offered me a piece of Heavenly Profound Gold, enough to forge a divine weapon."

Yang Zhan nodded. "True. For someone like you, ordinary goods wouldn't suffice."
"I come only to deliver a challenge. We of the Jianghu have our rules."
"Very well, I accept!"

Yang Zhan reached out, and the letter on the ground flew into his hand. By the time he looked up, the man in green had vanished from the tower.

Yang Zhan opened the letter: "Yang Zhan, I am Luo Jianyi of the Sword Mastery Sect. I hereby issue a challenge. Tonight at the hour of the Rat, we shall duel to the death. Sincerely, Luo Jianyi."

Si'er and Chen Shu ran over. Upon reading the contents, their faces turned pale. Even Si'er, a veteran of many battles, felt the immense pressure.

"General, a Qi Practitioner of the Profound Opening Realm has bizarre and unpredictable methods. Tonight, the four of us will lie in ambush. As soon as he arrives, we will strike to assist you. We should be able to handle him!"

Chen Shu added with a grave expression, "For a martial artist to fight a Qi Practitioner is a massive disadvantage. The General is right to be careful. We will face him with you, and the others will ambush him to ensure he never leaves!"

Yang Zhan looked at them. "Who told you that a martial artist has no chance against a Qi Practitioner?"

Si'er and Chen Shu were stunned. "Isn't that common knowledge?"

Chen Shu frowned. "Second Master, the nine levels of Qi Refining are equivalent to our first-rank martial arts. Since ancient times, martial artists have struggled to win, and this man has surpassed the ninth level to reach the Profound Opening Realm. This..." He did not finish, but his meaning was clear: there was no hope of victory.

Yang Zhan understood their concern. Qi Practitioners looked down on martial arts as primitive. First, at equivalent levels, martial artists were at a disadvantage because their paths and characteristics differed. Second, anyone could become a martial artist, but becoming a Qi Practitioner required talent and spiritual affinity; the very first step of Qi Refining kept most people out. This gave practitioners a sense of superiority, believing they had embarked on a path to immortality.

Three years ago, Yang Zhan had felt the same. But after meeting Bilian, his perspective had changed entirely.

Looking at his worried men, Yang Zhan retorted, "Why are you so nervous? When soldiers come, we use generals to block; when water comes, we use earth to dam. It's not like I haven't cut down a Qi Practitioner before!"

Si'er straightened up, his expression fierce. "General, this is a challenge for a duel. He's clearly trying to bully you! We are soldiers, and in war, there is no such thing as being too deceitful. We'll ambush him and make sure he dies!"