Chapter 163: Luring the Target into the Trap (2)

He sized up Chen Chuan with a suspicious and uncertain gaze.

"He actually dares to proactively propose a life and death battle? Does he really have something to rely on?" An alarm bell rang in Li Feiyun’s heart: "Could it be that he’s hiding his strength? Or does he have some powerful trump card?"

The eyes of the onlookers were now all focused on Li Feiyun.

Seeing his hesitation, the crowd immediately broke into a flurry of discussion, their voices not loud but exceptionally piercing:

"Heh, he was shouting so fiercely just now, but when it comes to the real deal, he chickens out?"

"I think Senior Brother Li is just all talk. If you really make him sign a life and death contract, his legs will probably go soft."

"Exactly, bullying the weak while fearing the strong. It seems he’s only worth this much after all."

These discussions were like needles pricking Li Feiyun’s ears, making his face turn blue and white in turns.

However, Chen Chuan’s abnormal confidence made his heart beat like a drum, and he didn’t dare to agree immediately.

Observing Li Feiyun’s hesitation with the Eye of Wisdom, Chen Chuan sneered in his heart.

On the surface, however, he timely showed a sliver of a playful smile, as if saying: "See, I knew you wouldn’t dare."

This playful look completely stung Li Feiyun’s sensitive and fragile nerves.

"He’s bluffing! He must be trying to scare me!" A flash of realization hit Li Feiyun’s mind:

"He’s just a newcomer who just entered the Sect. Why would he be able to fight me?"

"Proposing a life and death battle is just to scare me off and save face."

"Yes, it must be so!"

After convincing himself that he had seen through Chen Chuan’s bluffing act, Li Feiyun’s courage suddenly surged.

He couldn’t back down; otherwise, he would lose massive face today and would never be able to hold his head up in the Outer Sect again.

"Good! Chen Chuan, you have guts!" Li Feiyun gave a sinister laugh. "A life and death battle it is. I, Li Feiyun, accept."

He watched Chen Chuan’s reaction closely, intending to regret it immediately if Chen Chuan showed an expression of having succeeded in his scheme.

Then he could also mock Chen Chuan for not daring to fight immediately, solidifying Chen Chuan’s reputation as a pretender.

However, Chen Chuan’s reaction once again exceeded his expectations.

Upon hearing him agree, Chen Chuan not only didn’t relax, but his brow furrowed slightly, and a trace of panic and hesitation appeared on his face.

He quickly spoke up:

"A life and death battle is fine, but not right now."

"I need time to prepare. One month. In one month, we will decide life and death on the Life and Death Stage."

Hearing Chen Chuan proactively suggest a month later, Li Feiyun’s heart settled completely, and his last shred of doubt vanished.

He was certain that Chen Chuan was deliberately stalling for time and actually had no courage to have a life and death battle with him.

"Indeed! He’s afraid! He’s just stalling!" Li Feiyun laughed wildly in his heart.

On his face, however, he feigned difficulty, then immediately agreed decisively:

"Fine! As you wish. One month it is."

"When the time comes, whoever doesn’t dare to show up is a grandson."

Chen Chuan’s face showed just the right amount of a conflicted expression, as if he were in a difficult position but was forcing himself to stay calm.

He struggled for a moment, then seemed to grit his teeth out of spite: "Fine! See you on the Life and Death Stage in one month!"

This appearance, in the eyes of Li Feiyun and the surrounding crowd, further confirmed their suspicions.

Chen Chuan was panicked and afraid.

He was completely putting on an act before, and now he regretted it, but since the words were out, there was no taking them back.

"Hahaha!"

Li Feiyun laughed triumphantly, as if he could already see the scene of Chen Chuan kneeling and begging for mercy a month later.

"To prevent someone from running away at the last minute, Chen Chuan, let’s go to the Hall of Affairs right now, ask an Elder to witness, and sign the life and death contract."

"Once the contract is made, in one month, on the Life and Death Stage, each will accept their fate."

"If you don’t dare to sign, it’s not too late to back down now."

Li Feiyun looked at Chen Chuan with a mocking face, waiting for the latter’s answer.

The surrounding crowd also started to jeer: "Sign! Sign! Sign!"

"Senior Brother Chen Chuan, sign it if you’re a man!"

"Backing down now looks a bit better than dying on the stage in a month!"

Su Mengxi was so anxious that her eyes turned red. She pulled hard on Chen Chuan’s sleeve:

"Chen Chuan! Don’t! Don’t sign it! Do you hear me!"

To make the act convincing, a flash of paleness and fear crossed Chen Chuan’s face.

But under the gaze of the crowd and Li Feiyun’s mockery.

He finally ’steeled himself’, shook off Su Mengxi’s hand, and shouted: "I’ll sign it! Who’s afraid of who! Let’s go!"

In order to lure Li Feiyun completely into the trap, Chen Chuan used his life’s best acting skills.

Because he knew that if he readily agreed to the life and death battle, a coward like Li Feiyun would definitely think something was fishy and would regret it without hesitation.

Now the time was right; Li Feiyun was completely convinced that Chen Chuan’s request for the battle to be in a month was a deliberate attempt to stall for time.

Immediately, the two of them, surrounded by countless gazes, headed straight for the Hall of Affairs.

Some busybodies had already notified the duty Elder.

Under the witness of the Elder, a life and death contract for one month later was quickly drafted.

With a ’trembling’ hand, Chen Chuan and the confident Li Feiyun each pressed their fingerprints onto the contract.

The contract was established and handed over to the Hall of Affairs for safekeeping.

Seeing the contract signed, Su Mengxi’s last shred of hope was shattered.

She looked at Chen Chuan, her eyes filled with disappointment and confusion.

For him, she had not hesitated to confess in public and draw her sword against Li Feiyun.

But what about him?

He was like a reckless fool, easily provoked into signing this death warrant of a contract.

"Chen Chuan! You fool! You big fool!"

Su Mengxi shouted with a sob, tears rolling down like broken pearls.

She stomped her foot, turned around, pushed through the crowd, and ran away, crying with her face covered.

The surrounding crowd looked at Chen Chuan with various gazes—some with sympathy, some with regret, but most with mockery and the excitement of waiting for a good show.

Li Feiyun walked up to Chen Chuan, with a cruel and satisfied smile on his face, and lowered his voice:

"Little bastard, enjoy your last month!"

"In one month, I will personally twist off your head on the Life and Death Stage."

"I will let you know the consequences of competing with me, Li Feiyun, for a woman."

Chen Chuan just gave him a faint glance, ignoring the whining of this loser dog.

He turned and walked straight toward the Mission Hall amidst the complex gazes of the crowd.

It was as if the person who had just signed the life and death contract wasn’t him.

He still needed to go and collect this month’s Sect missions.

As for the life and death battle in a month.

A barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of Chen Chuan’s mouth.

The prey had already entered the cage.

The news of Chen Chuan and Li Feiyun setting a life and death battle in one month quickly spread throughout the entire Outer Sect.

It caused an even greater stir.