Chapter 169 - 161: Xisha’s Rules

Chapter 169: Chapter 161: Xisha’s Rules

Setting aside whether he could even win, why on earth would he agree to this "request"?

To challenge himself? To risk taking on a mountain of trouble?

Li Heng had no intention of being a sucker. Besides, he just wanted to get this over with. There was no need to waste time here.

Military training started tomorrow, so he needed to head back and prepare today. Plus, if he had the time, Li Heng planned to drop into a God-level Dungeon and test out the power of Yun Han!

So, without much further thought, Li Heng adopted a more humble tone. "Seniors, you must be joking. My own skills are quite poor. I only made it into the Xisha Area by pure luck. It would already take everything I have just to be fortunate enough to face one of you."

Before the two "laundry seniors" could even react to Li Heng’s words, Gu Qingwu’s eyes shifted. She shot Li Heng a meaningful look, then glanced over at the other two. She didn’t say a single word throughout.

"This... well, Li Heng, please wait a moment. We need to discuss this."

Hearing Li Heng refuse, the two laundry seniors exchanged another knowing look. They moved a short distance away from Li Heng and Gu Qingwu to confer in private.

"Bro, how about I go first?"

"Why should you?! We finally get a new guy, and I don’t want to wash clothes for a single day more! I want to find a girlfriend and fall in love!"

"I don’t want to wash anymore either! But only one new person showed up. My suggesting a two-on-one was already shameless enough. We’re both seniors on the verge of becoming Soul Warriors. If word got out that we ganged up to bully a freshman, would we have any dignity left?"

"So what do you suggest?"

...

Although the two were deliberately keeping their voices down, Li Heng and Gu Qingwu could still make out most of what they were saying.

Li Heng stood there quietly, listening. ’Should I go easy on the senior to let him save some face?’ he wondered. ’Maybe I should put on a bit of an act, make it look like a "difficult" win.’

After all, having seen those two large basins of clothes, Li Heng couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy.

Washing clothes for a year. That was just too tragic.

’Whoever came up with this rule for the Xisha Area must have been a real piece of work,’ Li Heng thought. ’A truly ruthless individual.’

"The two of them together probably couldn’t beat you. Why did you refuse?"

Just as Li Heng was debating whether or not to put on an act, Gu Qingwu, who was standing beside him, spoke up.

Li Heng was a little surprised by Gu Qingwu’s sudden question, but he replied quickly, "The seniors have it hard enough as it is."

In truth, what Li Heng wanted to say was that he could have accepted a two-on-one fight, but there was simply no need.

It also occurred to Li Heng that the two seniors already looked miserable enough. If they both lost to him at the same time, it would be too demoralizing.

’One has to respect their seniors, after all!’

Gu Qingwu didn’t say anything further in response to Li Heng’s answer. She simply blinked, then joined him in quietly waiting for the two "laundry students" to make their decision.

About two minutes later, the taller of the two laundry students stepped forward and said to Li Heng, "Li Heng, it’s my honor to be the one to spar with you!"

"You’re too kind, Senior! So, how are we doing this?"

Li Heng noticed the tall senior had a joyful expression and seemed somewhat relaxed. The shorter one, however, didn’t look so good; he seemed completely dispirited.

Li Heng had no desire to ask how they had made their decision. The important thing was to get this spar over with quickly.

"Originally, Huang Zhe was supposed to officiate, but since Senior Sister Gu is here... could we trouble you to preside over this?"

Hearing this, Gu Qingwu nodded. "Very well. The match ends on first touch. No Soul Energy pets. Right here is fine."

After speaking, Gu Qingwu walked off to one side. She gestured for Li Heng and the tall senior to take their places opposite each other, while she stood in the middle.

"Li Heng, be careful! My weapon of choice is the spear!"

"I await your instruction, Senior! I generally use a Longsword!"

Once in position, the two combatants brandished their weapons, having completed their pre-match courtesies.

Meanwhile, the dispirited shorter senior, seeing that the spar was about to begin, forgot all about the laundry and stood to the side to watch.

Gu Qingwu remained silent, her gaze fixed entirely on Li Heng.

If it had been anyone else, Gu Qingwu wouldn’t have bothered coming here to officiate this "boring" ritual; she would have just given her orders and left.

But Li Heng was different. He was someone who had comprehended Sword Intent, and like her, he was a Soul Warrior. She wanted to see his true strength for herself.

And so, seeing that the two combatants were ready, Gu Qingwu gave a light wave of her hand, signaling the start of the spar.

Li Heng didn’t draw Yun Han. The weapon he unsheathed was the Empty Cicada Longsword. After all, there were too many restrictions on using Yun Han. Against a Soul Master of the Soul Pupil Realm, the Empty Cicada Longsword was more than enough!

His opponent was using a common spear and had no other Soul Energy Equipment. After a quick mental calculation, Li Heng figured this "senior" was probably even a little weaker than Lu Bichuan.

Then again, that was just his impression. He’d have to wait until they actually crossed blades to know for sure.

Therefore, Li Heng didn’t deliberately hold back or put on an act at the start. He approached the spar with a reasonable degree of seriousness.

"Li Heng, watch out!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the senior raised his spear and thrust it toward Li Heng. His speed wasn’t particularly fast; Li Heng felt it was about on par with Lu Bichuan’s.