Chapter 895
The One-on-One Duel Begins!
That morning, the wintersweet in the backyard of the city lord's mansion was in full bloom, its dark red petals covered with a thin layer of frost, which would fall silently in the wind, like a silent red snow. The stone steps in front of the mansion gate had been washed three times with hot water by the servants, and the bluestone gleamed with a damp, dark light. Incense burned in the bronze crane incense burners on both sides of the steps, and the smoke rose up in wisps, condensing into slender white dragons in the morning mist.
Han Wuhen stood outside the threshold of the main hall, his mink cloak open, revealing a moon-white brocade robe underneath. In his hand, he held a gold-embossed invitation card; the four characters "Autumn Hunting Gathering" were written in vermilion ink, the characters vigorous and the edges gilded. Seeing Zheng Yi approaching from the side corridor, he immediately went to greet him, his face beaming with smiles.
"Mr. Zheng! The snow stopped early last night, and the wind is calm this morning, making it a perfect day to go out. I personally wrote the invitation to the Autumn Hunting Festival; you would be honored to attend!"
Zheng Yi accepted the invitation, his fingertips touching the gold lettering. He paused slightly before unfolding it. Inside, besides the time and place, were a dozen or so rules for the hunting grounds. The last line, written in small print, read: "We cordially invite Mr. Zheng Yi, Lord of Hongyun City, to bring his trusted confidants to hunt exotic beasts and enjoy the pleasures of the autumn hunt."
He closed the invitation and looked up at Han Wuhen:
"Lord Han, you're too kind. The autumn hunt is a grand event in Hanyuan City. Would it be appropriate for me to go?"
Han Wuhen quickly waved his hand, his eyes narrowing into slits with a smile:
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Your ten-story magic array building has just been topped out, and the whole of Hanyuan City is buzzing with excitement. So many merchants and craftsmen are coming to ask me when I can build one too. I was thinking of inviting you over for this autumn hunt so that all the forces can see for themselves what Hongyun City is like now!"
He lowered his voice and leaned closer:
"Besides... there are many strange beasts in the hunting grounds, and quite a few of them are of high level. If you take your men there, it will be a good opportunity for them to train. I have also specially reserved a few good spots close to the core of the hunting grounds, so that the strange beasts can start from there first."
Zheng Yi's eyes flickered slightly:
"Lord Han is very kind."
Han Wuhen laughed heartily and patted his chest:
"Don't worry, sir! I, Han Wuhen, may not have many other skills, but I certainly have the skill of entertaining guests. For the Autumn Hunting Festival, I'll make sure you eat well, stay well, and hunt well!"
Zheng Yi nodded:
"Then... I'll have to bother you."
Han Wuhen was overjoyed and quickly ordered someone to bring his horse:
"Please wait a moment, sir. I'll have someone prepare the car right away! I'll personally accompany you to the hunting grounds!"
Zheng Yi waved his hand:
"No need. I'll take my own people and go."
Han Wuhen was taken aback, then his smile deepened:
"Sir, your actions are indeed unconventional! I will await your arrival at the entrance of the hunting grounds!"
Zheng Yi cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and left.
Behind him, Han Wuhen watched his retreating figure, stroked his chin, and muttered to himself:
"This Zheng Yi... he's really a strange person. Opportunities that others would kill for, he treats as casually as if he were going to a market."
He suddenly burst out laughing:
"But... I like it!"
Hongyun City North Training Ground.
The winter sun shone on the blue stone arena in the center of the training ground, making the stone surface gleam from being walked on. Thick cotton targets hung on the wooden stakes around the arena, with red circles painted around the center and densely packed fletchings, like the back of a hedgehog. Several piles of firewood were stacked beside the training ground, and next to the piles was an iron pot, in which ginger soup was simmering, steaming and the aroma of ginger mixed with the smell of charcoal fire wafting in all directions.
Zhao Sanhuai stood in the center of the arena, his cotton-padded coat open, revealing an old knife scar on his chest. He held an ironwood stick in his hand, the end wrapped in cotton cloth, resembling a large mushroom. He roared at the forty-three former Black Wolf Gang men before him:
"Listen up, everyone! The Autumn Hunting Tournament is in twenty days. The Master said that this trip to Cold Abyss City isn't for leisure, but for military training!"
"These beasts don't discriminate between humans and animals; their claws are faster than knives. With your current physiques, you'd be easy prey!"
He slammed the ironwood stick into the ground, making the stone slabs vibrate.
"From today onwards, from Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Wushi (11 AM-1 PM) every day, you will train your physical strength! From Wushi to Youshi (5-7 PM) every day, you will practice swordsmanship! After Youshi, you are free to do as you please, but you are not allowed to drink alcohol or gamble. Anyone who violates this rule will be personally whipped a hundred times!"
Someone in the group muttered to themselves:
“Brother Sanhuai…we used to live in the mountains, hunting every day, we’ve slaughtered wild boars and black bears…”
Zhao Sanhuai, with his sharp ears, smacked the man on the shoulder with a stick:
"You think you're so great just because you've slaughtered a wild boar? The beasts hunted in autumn are at least Tier 3! That's equivalent to the early Mahayana stage! With your meager skills, you wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap!"
He turned and pointed to the wooden stakes beside the ring:
"Get up here! Each of you is to chop wood a thousand times a day! After that, practice your knife skills! If you don't finish, you won't get dinner tonight!"
The forty-three people looked at each other in bewilderment, but eventually lined up to go up.
The sounds of ironwood sticks being swung, panting, and the vibrations of wooden stakes blended together.
Zheng Yi stood on the high platform of the drill ground, looking down.
Guo Tianyou walked over and handed him a cup of hot ginger soup:
“Sir, they are practicing very hard. Last night, Zhao Sanhuai secretly taught them a few ruthless moves, saying they were ‘for self-defense.’”
Zheng Yi took the ginger soup. A few slices of ginger floated on the surface, and the steam rose up, the spicy aroma of ginger filling his nostrils. He took a sip, and the warmth flowed down his throat, making his chest feel hot.
"Practice it."
"Autumn hunting is not for sightseeing."
"It's a battleground of life and death."
Guo Tianyou nodded:
"Whom does the gentleman intend to take with him?"
Zheng Yi looked towards the training ground:
"Zhao Sanhuai led ten swordsmen."
"Among the twelve seniors, True Man Ku Lian, Lady Bi Xiao, Marquis Tie Bi, and Old Man Gui Ying accompanied me."
"The rest will stay behind."
Guo Tianyou was taken aback:
"That's all the people?"
Zheng Yi nodded:
"Too many people make things more chaotic."
"The autumn hunt is for training troops, not for winning the first place."
"Contains only the essence, not the excess."
Guo Tianyou clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"understand!"
Below the drill ground, Zhao Sanhuai's roar rang out again:
"Stand up straight, all of you! Chopping wood isn't just chopping wood, it's chopping lives!"
"If you don't strike properly, you'll be the ones getting struck by the beasts during the autumn hunt!"
The men roared in response:
"Yes!"
The sound of the ironwood stick being swung became more rapid.
Sweat dripped onto the stone slab.
It was instantly frozen into ice beads.
But no one called for a stop.
No one complained of being tired.
Because they know.
This is not suffering.
This is... a chance for rebirth.
Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.
The day before the autumn hunting festival.
North Gate of Hongyun City.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated.
The team assembled.
Zheng Yi rode on a chestnut horse, wearing a gray-blue cloth shirt with a fox fur coat over it, and a purple-gold longsword held horizontally in front of the saddle.
Zhao Sanhuai led ten swordsmen, all of them in high spirits, their sword sheaths gleaming.
The four seniors, Master Kulian, Lady Bixiao, Marquis Tiebi, and Old Man Guiying, followed behind on horseback.
Guo Tianyou stood beneath the city gate, clasping his hands in a fist salute:
"Sir, please take care on your journey!"
Zheng Yi nodded:
"I'll leave the city to you and Senior Shen."
Guo Tianyou exerted force:
"rest assured!"
The team sets off.
Horse hooves shattered the morning mist.
Heading towards Hanyuan City.
Behind them, Hongyun City gradually faded into the distance.
The flags on the city wall fluttered in the wind.
It's like seeing someone off.
It's like...waiting for someone to return.
Thirty miles outside Hanyuan City.
Entrance to the hunting grounds.
The entrance is a natural canyon with towering cliffs on both sides, covered with flags of various colors: the green flag of the Qingyun Sect, the blood flag of the Blood Wolf Gang, the black and gold flag of the Han family... The flags flutter in the wind, like countless outstretched wings.
A dozen or so stands were set up in the valley, and they were filled with people from various factions.
Han Wuhen stood in the center of the main grandstand, his mink cloak open, the jade pendant at his waist jingling. Seeing Zheng Yi's entourage approaching from afar, he immediately descended the steps to greet them, laughing heartily.
"Mr. Zheng! You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for three days!"
Zheng Yi dismounted and clasped his hands in greeting:
"Lord Han, you have been waiting for a long time."
Han Wuhen's gaze swept over the line, and his eyes lit up:
"Good heavens! Twelve Mahayana seniors are accompanying him! Is Mr. Zheng going to sweep the hunting grounds?"
Zheng Yi shook his head: "Training the troops."
"We don't compete for rankings."
Han Wuhen laughed heartily:
"Good! It's best not to compete for rankings! There are many exotic beasts in the hunting grounds, including third, fourth, and fifth-tier beasts. Sir, please choose whichever level you wish to train at!"
Zheng Yi looked into the depths of the canyon.
The valley was shrouded in thick fog, and the faint roars of beasts could be heard.
His voice was calm:
"Starting from level three."
"The fourth tier is the best."
"Fifth rank... If we could encounter one, that would be good."
Han Wuhen gasped, then burst into laughter:
"Good! Sir, you have a big appetite! I'll have someone give the signal right away to loosen the restrictions in the core area of the hunting grounds and let the fifth-tier beasts out!"
Zheng Yi clasped his hands in a fist salute:
Thank you.
Han Wuhen turned around and shouted to his personal guards:
"Send the signal! Lift the core area restrictions!"
The guards immediately lit a firework.
Fireworks shot into the sky.
A blood-red wolf head exploded in mid-air.
Deep in the canyon.
The roar of the beast suddenly intensified.
Like a thousand horses galloping at the same time.
Zheng Yi looked at the team.
His gaze swept over everyone.
Zhao Sanhuai had already drawn his short sword.
The illusory image of a green lotus rotates in the palm of the withered lotus master.
Lady Bixiao pressed her short flute to her lips.
Iron-Armed Marquis carried his warhammer on his shoulder.
The Ghost Shadow Elder's figure was half-hidden in the mist.
His voice was soft, yet everyone could hear it:
"remember."
"Come back alive."
Everyone said in unison:
"Yes!"
Zheng Yi turned around.
Step into the canyon.
Behind.
The group followed closely.
The morning mist in the hunting grounds outside Hanyuan City was thicker than inside the city, like a layer of waterlogged gray cotton, obscuring the makeshift wooden grandstand at the valley entrance. The grandstand, constructed of rough fir wood, was three tiers high. The top tier was reserved for the city lord and distinguished guests, the middle tier held seats for elders from various sects and families, and the bottom tier was crowded with rogue cultivators and mercenary leaders. The wooden planks, whitened by last night's frost, were slightly soft underfoot and carried the damp scent of pine resin. At each of the four corners of the grandstand stood an iron flagpole, atop which hung a lantern. The lantern's shade was made of parchment, filled with whale oil, its dim yellow light spreading into blurry orange halos in the mist.
The circular arena in the center of the valley entrance was paved with dark blue iron rock, thirty feet in diameter, and surrounded by a half-person-high iron fence. The top of the fence was welded with barbs, each tip quenched in molten iron, gleaming a deep blue in the morning light. A bronze gong, as large as a cartwheel, was planted in the center of the arena, its edges engraved with intricate animal patterns. Ten feet outside the arena, a shallow trench was dug, filled with caltrops, covered with a thin layer of frost, like scattered silver.
At the very top of the stands, Han Wuhen sat in the central seat, his mink cloak open to reveal a moon-white brocade robe beneath. Beside him sat Elder Liu of the Qingyun Sect, Iron One-Eyed of the Blood Wolf Gang, and the leaders of several smaller sects, each with a different expression. Han Wuhen twirled a jade thumb ring in his hand, carved with a running snow wolf, and smiled as he looked down at the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as is customary at the Autumn Hunting Gathering, let's start with a one-on-one duel to warm up the atmosphere. The rules remain the same: a life-or-death duel in the arena, ending when the opponent has made their move, but... if one side concedes defeat, the other side may not pursue and kill them. The winner will receive one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, plus three days of priority hunting rights in the hunting grounds."
Elder Liu stroked his beard, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery:
"Lord Han's reward is quite generous. One hundred mid-grade spirit stones is enough for those rogue cultivators to risk their lives."
Iron One-Eyed, with a blade of grass between his teeth, sneered:
"Fight to the death? Last year, one of the guys in my gang went up there and got his arm sliced off with a sword. Blood was everywhere, and he didn't even get a spirit stone in the end."
Han Wuhen chuckled, but his gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally to the side of the stands—where Zheng Yi stood quietly with twenty-three others. He didn't sit in the VIP section, but chose a seat at the very edge, his fox fur cloak half-open, his purple-gold longsword resting on his lap, the scabbard gleaming with a cold metallic light in the morning light.
Han Wuhen suddenly raised his voice:
"Anyone interested in challenging Mr. Zheng from Hongyun City to a one-on-one duel this year?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the stands fell silent for a moment.
A murmur of discussion immediately followed.
"Zheng Yi? The one who killed Li Wuji?"
"I heard he recently obtained Yue Duan's inheritance in Broken Sword Valley..."
"Lord Han just wants to watch the show."
Han Wuhen's smile deepened, and he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Zheng Yi:
"Mr. Zheng, would you be willing to offer some pointers? Just a few words, and we won't hurt each other's feelings, regardless of winning or losing."
Zheng Yi looked up.
His gaze pierced through the mist, reaching Han Wuhen.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire venue:
"can."
The stands erupted instantly.
Some people whistled, some slapped their thighs, and some muttered curses.
Han Wuhen's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands:
"Great! That's awesome!"
He turned to his bodyguard and whispered a few words to him. The bodyguard immediately stepped off the stage and ran to the registration area next to the arena.
A moment later, a tall young man stepped onto the ring.
The young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wore a dark red battle robe embroidered with flame patterns at the hem, and a broad-bladed heavy sword hung at his waist, its scabbard wrapped with crimson silk ribbons. He stood in the center of the arena, his gaze fixed on Zheng Yi, his voice carrying a hint of provocation:
"Lu Lie, an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect and the Lieyang Sword Sect."
"I have long admired Mr. Zheng's name and have come today to learn from him!"
An uproar erupted in the stands.
"Lu Lie? The sword genius of this generation from the Qingyun Sect?"
"I heard that he killed three fourth-tier fire wolves with a single sword strike at Blackwind Ridge last year..."
"Lord Han is trying to intimidate Zheng Yi."
Zheng Yi slowly stood up.
The fox fur coat slipped off his shoulder, but Guo Tianyou caught it.
He walked down the stands step by step.
With each step, the soles of my boots shattered a thin layer of ice, producing a crisp cracking sound.
He stopped in front of the ring.
She looked up at Lu Lie.
The voice was calm.
"Stop it here?"
Lu Lie sneered:
"nature."
"But if Mr. Zheng shows mercy, don't blame me for being swift with my sword."
Zheng Yi nodded:
"it is good."
He stepped onto the ring.
The iron gate closed automatically.
A pale blue light curtain illuminated the surrounding array, enveloping the arena.
Han Wuhen loudly announced:
"Let the duel begin!"
Lu Lie suddenly drew his sword.
The broadsword was drawn, its blade crimson, with faint flame patterns flowing along its edge. He gripped the sword with both hands, slammed his foot into the ground, and the bluestone of the arena cracked, the cracks spreading like a spider web.
"Blazing Sun Sword - Burning Heaven!"
The sword burst into crimson flames, transforming into a twenty-foot-long fire dragon that roared and pounced toward Zheng Yi.
A gasp rippled through the stands. (End of Chapter)