"Fine," Jiang Yuzhe nodded.
If the challenger had been Mu Hanyan, he might have hesitated somewhat, for the strength of this playboy was far greater than what he understood. Even if he was completely confident of defeating him, there was always a possibility of failure. What if he lost? Could he really become Mu Hanyan’s henchman?
But facing Huayue as his opponent, he had no worries at all. The disparity in their strengths was obvious, and for a Fifth Rank Swordsman to defeat a Sixth-tier Swordsman was as difficult as climbing to heaven. Even if Huayue had some exceptional ability beyond a regular Fifth Rank Swordsman, Jiang Yuzhe was no ordinary Sixth-tier Swordsman and was similarly stronger than his peers.
In short, he wasn’t worried at all.
Moreover, it was precisely because the gap between their strengths was so apparent that he couldn’t refuse Mu Hanyan’s proposition. As the noble Young Master of the Jiang Family, a prominent Sixth-tier Swordsman, if he were afraid to accept a challenge from a mere Fifth Rank Swordsman, how could he show his face again?
Everything was within Mu Hanyan’s calculations.
The crowd around them automatically moved aside and cleared a large space.
A team of guards from the City Lord’s Mansion, having heard the news, quickly arrived. However, upon seeing Jiang Yuzhe had set a fair duel, they silently guarded the perimeter without uttering a word.
On the Holy Court Continent, swordsmen held a very respected position. Duels between swordsmen were considered sacred, and no one was permitted to interfere—not even a king, much less them.
Jiang Yuzhe stepped into the middle of the open space, his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking down disdainfully at Huayue, who stood beside Mu Hanyan.
Yet, Huayue’s face was serious, and, imperceptibly, there was a hint of the tragic resolve of a hero who knows they might not return from battle. Official source is NovєlFіre.net
"Don’t be so tense, it’s going to be fine," Mu Hanyan said with a smile.
In fact, Huayue hadn’t felt so tragic initially, but upon hearing Mu Hanyan’s words, the true gravity of the situation sank in: My Young Master, of course you’re not worried or tense, since you’re not the one fighting. I’m the one a rank lower in strength, how can I not feel tragic?
The higher the strength, the greater the gap between realms. Accepting a challenge at Fifth Rank against a Sixth Rank was nothing like an easy challenge from a Second Rank against a Third Rank!
Suddenly, Huayue felt a twinge in his back. It’s easy for others to talk without pain, but all he could do now was to feel the pain...
"Just hold on firmly and drag it out with him," Mu Hanyan added.
Now Huayue’s pain had spread from his back to his teeth: Hold on firmly, do you think I’m as indestructible as a cockroach? Dragging it out sounds nice, but more crudely, it might just end in being dragged to death.
"Drag it out until he uses his killing move. Half an inch below the Heart Meridian—there’s his fatal opening!" Just as Huayue was wallowing in his back and toothache, a whisper came, low and earnest, from Mu Hanyan. Though it was not as focused as the Gathering Qi Transmission of a Great Swordsman, it was condensed enough that only those who deliberately eavesdropped could hear it.
Huayue’s gaze sharpened as he looked towards Mu Hanyan, only to see determination in his eyes. The tension in his nerves eased instantly.
Clearly, Mu Hanyan wasn’t sending him to fight recklessly or to his death; he had a strategy prepared. Although Huayue didn’t understand how Mu Hanyan knew about Jiang Yuzhe’s fatal opening, he chose to trust him.
Even Huayue himself did not realize that this trust had initially been born out of helplessness—given their different statuses, he had no choice but to trust. But now, it seemed to have gradually become a habit.
"Are you going to blame me for not taking action myself?" Mu Hanyan approached Mu Yuying and asked indifferently.