Chapter 186 - 180: Paranoid and Arrogant

Chapter 186: Chapter 180: Paranoid and Arrogant

Wei Kuang’s face broke into a smile. He stood up, cupped his hands in Meng Yu Jin’s direction, and spoke with a familiar and friendly tone:

"Junior Sister Meng, congratulations! That was no easy hurdle, but you’ve finally overcome it."

Meng Yu Jin nodded at Wei Kuang. Without wasting time on pleasantries, she crossed the distance from the hall’s entrance to stand directly in front of Chen Yue in a single step.

Her presence was like an invisible wall, completely cutting off the pressure from Bei Sufang’s Innate Realm aura.

Chen Yue looked at his master in astonishment, a clear flash of surprise and joy in his eyes.

He hadn’t expected Meng Yu Jin to have already succeeded in her breakthrough. All told, it had only been about ten days since she entered seclusion. For a major undertaking like breaking through to the Innate Acupoint Refining Realm, that was an incredibly fast pace.

’She hasn’t shown herself recently, so she must have been consolidating her realm. After all, after breaking through to the Innate Realm, one needs time to stabilize the changes brought on by the new realm.’

’And today, because this matter involved me, Elder Wei must have sent someone to True Inheritance Peak to inform Meng Yu Jin. That’s why she would interrupt her cultivation and rush over.’

Guan Duhai met Meng Yu Jin’s gaze directly, his voice as hard as iron. "All the evidence points to him. That is a fact."

Meng Yu Jin turned to Guan Duhai, her voice unhurried. "Just because of a Palm Technique, you call that evidence?

How many people in this world know a Vigorous Palm Technique? Does your Liuyun Sword Sect not have any martial techniques that follow a vigorous path? By your logic, does that mean everyone who knows a Vigorous Palm Technique is a suspect?"

Bei Sufang took a step forward and looked at Meng Yu Jin, his voice low.

"That is why we are here for a confrontation, not a conviction. He must produce evidence that he is not the murderer. If he cannot, then the suspicion remains."

Wei Kuang shook his head from the side. "That’s not right. Where is the logic in needing to prove one’s own innocence? The burden of proof lies with the accuser. That is a rule that makes sense anywhere in the world.

You claim Chen Yue is the murderer, so you must be the one to provide evidence. It’s not up to Chen Yue to provide evidence proving he isn’t the murderer. Surely Elder Bei understands this principle, no?"

Before Bei Sufang could respond, Guan Duhai said in a taut voice, "The grudge between them, the time he left the city, the fatal Palm Technique... one of these might be a coincidence, but all of them together is no coincidence!"

Chen Yue stood behind Meng Yu Jin, his brow slightly furrowed.

"I had already returned that day after buying the Elixirs. It was the first time I had even spoken to that Senior Brother Guan. We had never had any dealings before then. There was no grudge to speak of."

Guan Duhai’s eyes were fixed on Chen Yue, the hostility and obsession in his gaze undiminished.

"My worthless brother was not as strong as you. If you had killed him, I would have nothing to say. To die at the hands of the strong is his fate."

He paused, his voice suddenly rising. "But he cannot die for nothing! Today, I challenge you to a Life and Death Decision! Do you dare to accept?"

Guan Duhai’s words fell upon the hall, sending ripples through the room.

A Life and Death Decision. It was the most extreme way for Martial Artists to settle grudges, deciding not only victory and defeat, but also life and death.

Guan Duhai intended to end this dispute in the most direct and violent way possible.

Meng Yu Jin’s brows furrowed. Her gaze swept over Guan Duhai before landing on Bei Sufang, her tone laced with a hint of mockery.

"He is in the Refining Organ Realm, and one of the top ten on your sect’s Sword Heart Ranking at that, yet he challenges someone in the Marrow Refining Realm. Is this how the Liuyun Sword Sect uses its skills?"

The Sword Heart Ranking was the Liuyun Sword Sect’s internal list, similar to the Panshi Sect’s Cyan Cloud Ranking. Every person in the top ten was one of the sect’s most elite disciples at the Refining Organ Realm.

For someone of Guan Duhai’s status to challenge a disciple in the Marrow Refining Realm—even one who had made it onto the Cyan Cloud Ranking—the gap in their Cultivation Realms was still absurdly large.

Guan Duhai met Meng Yu Jin’s gaze without a trace of retreat in his eyes.

"I just want to avenge my brother. That is all."

Bei Sufang also looked at Meng Yu Jin, lifting his chin slightly. "Your disciple is also a prodigy on your esteemed sect’s Cyan Cloud Ranking. Don’t tell me you think the Cyan Cloud Ranking is inferior to the Sword Heart Ranking?"

Wei Kuang frowned at this, his voice deepening. "Elder Bei, choose your words carefully. The two have different Cultivation Realms and are in completely different positions. How can you compare them like this?"

Guan Duhai ignored Meng Yu Jin and Wei Kuang. His gaze remained locked on Chen Yue from start to finish.

He took a step toward Chen Yue. "Everything else is just empty talk. I’m asking you: do you dare to accept the challenge?"

Chen Yue looked into Guan Duhai’s eyes and suddenly couldn’t help but laugh. "Why don’t you go challenge someone in the Innate Realm?"

At this, Guan Duhai shook his head. "I can’t defeat someone in the Innate Realm right now, but that day is not far off. Within a year, I will challenge the Innate Realm!"

As he said this, his gaze involuntarily flickered to Meng Yu Jin.

Why wasn’t he afraid of Meng Yu Jin? Because he had his own confidence.

In his eyes, he too could take that step in less than a year.

He could even try to break through to the Innate Acupoint Refining Realm now if he was willing to take the risk, but there was simply no need for it at the moment.

He stood here at the peak of the Refining Organ Realm, facing a true Innate Realm expert without a hint of fear, not because he was arrogant and ignorant of his own limits, but because he believed he was not far from that realm himself.

Hearing this, a phrase suddenly took concrete form in Chen Yue’s mind: ’The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’

’Guan Duzhou and Guan Duhai... they really are two of a kind. Truly brothers, with the same logic and the same way of doing things.’

’One could get angry at a stranger for not helping on the road, believing it’s their fault for not offering aid. The other decides you’re the murderer, so he must have revenge. He doesn’t care about the truth, only what he believes.’

’As for whether the duel is fair? It’s fair as long as it’s fair to him.’

When Meng Yu Jin first heard Guan Duhai challenge Chen Yue, she had been about to say, ’How about I challenge you instead?’ But after Guan Duhai’s shameless speech, she was suddenly at a loss for words.

Chen Yue took a step forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Meng Yu Jin and looked at Guan Duhai.

"First, your brother’s death has nothing to do with me. I’ll say the same thing even if this matter reaches the heavens. Second, if you really want a fight, I’ll fight you when I break through to the Refining Organ Realm."

Guan Duhai looked at Chen Yue and shook his head, a mocking curve playing on his lips. "I thought someone from the Marrow Refining Realm who made it onto the Cyan Cloud Ranking would have more backbone. Turns out you’re nothing special after all."

Wei Kuang’s brows were tightly knitted, the vertical crease between them looking as if it had been carved with a knife.

His gaze shifted from Guan Duhai to Bei Sufang, his voice a few shades deeper than before.

"Elder Bei, is this the Sword Heart of your Liuyun Sword Sect? He can even make using a higher realm to oppress someone sound so fresh and refined?

A peak Refining Organ Realm expert challenging someone in the Marrow Refining Realm, and he speaks as if he’s the one being greatly wronged. This Sword Heart of yours is rather cheap, isn’t it?"

Bei Sufang’s expression was calm, not a ripple to be seen in his deep-set eyes.

He lifted his chin slightly, his voice unhurried. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. As an older brother seeking justice for his younger brother, is that not perfectly just and proper? He merely wants to resolve this the way of a Martial Artist. What’s wrong with that?"

Guan Duhai’s gaze never left Chen Yue. "I don’t know when you’ll be able to break through to the Refining Organ Realm, but by the time you do, I’ll probably already be in the Innate Realm.

The gap between us will only be wider then, and you’ll be even less likely to dare accept the fight."

Chen Yue looked at Guan Duhai, and Guan Duhai stared back, unwilling to look away for even a second.

Meng Yu Jin stood at Chen Yue’s side. Her lips moved slightly, and a voice as fine as a silk thread entered his ear with perfect precision.

"Chen Yue, don’t be rash. He’s deliberately trying to force you into accepting. No one will say anything if you refuse. Elder Wei has already made his stance clear."

She had seen Chen Yue’s talent and strength with her own eyes. He shouldn’t take a risk in this meaningless squabble born of pride.

Chen Yue looked at his master, their gazes meeting for an instant, and nodded slightly.

He withdrew his gaze and turned back to Guan Duhai.

"If you really want to fight, then prepare one block of Celestial Spirit Stone. In one month, I will face you in a Life and Death Decision—to decide not only victory and defeat, but also life and death!"

’Fighting at the Marrow Refining Realm is too risky. But in a month, I’ll have broken through to the Refining Organ Realm. Between those of the same realm, what is there to fear?’

The so-called Celestial Spirit Stone was the same as the black fragment Chen Yue had obtained from the Chong Ghost, which could help a Spirit Soldier advance.

’Since Guan Duhai is being so aggressive and refuses to listen to reason, then we’ll settle it on the Life and Death Platform!’

Meng Yu Jin’s expression changed to one of shock when she heard Chen Yue’s words.

Wei Kuang’s brows knitted tightly. Just as he was about to speak, Bei Sujian had already nodded in agreement. "Done. One block of Celestial Spirit Stone!"

Guan Duhai turned to look at Bei Sujian, then back at Chen Yue.

"With so many seniors as witnesses, if you back out then, it won’t just be you who loses face, but the entire Panshi Sect!"

Bei Sufang gave Chen Yue a deep look. He clearly hadn’t expected this young man from the Marrow Refining Realm to actually dare accept a Life and Death Decision, and for one month later at that.

He glanced at Wei Kuang, then at Meng Yu Jin, the corner of his mouth twitching with an expression that was hard to discern as admiration or mockery.

"Your Panshi Sect has certainly made me see you in a new light. Daring to act and take responsibility for it... such courage is rare."

Meng Yu Jin stared coldly at Bei Sufang. "The so-called Sword Heart of your Liuyun Sword Sect has also made me see you in a new light!"

At this, Guan Duhai turned his head to look at Meng Yu Jin.

"After the Life and Death Decision in one month, I suppose we can be considered mortal enemies. Once I break through to the Innate Realm, we can have a battle to settle this matter."

Hearing this, Meng Yu Jin’s face grew heavy. Her gaze fell on Guan Duhai. "You won’t get the chance."

Guan Duhai’s face broke into a smile, this one deeper than before, filled with the excitement and anticipation of having his fighting spirit roused.

He nodded. "Then we shall wait and see! Either I kill him, or he kills me. It makes no difference. As long as someone dies, that will be enough!"

Wei Kuang’s expression was now displeased. His brows were furrowed as he placed his teacup back on the table, making a sound that was a few degrees heavier than usual.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the people from the Liuyun Sword Sect.

"Alright, Elder Bei, is there anything else? This old man has other matters to attend to and cannot accompany you further."

This was an order to see the guests out.

Things having been said, both what should and shouldn’t have been, staying any longer would accomplish nothing but a staring contest.

Bei Sufang cupped his hands, his movements unhurried, as if the intense confrontation just now had been nothing more than an inconsequential chat.

"Then we won’t impose any longer. See you in one month!"