Chapter 280 - Your Name Has “Sword” In It, So You’re a Sword Cultivator? You Think You Deserve That?
Song Jian was both shocked and enraged. Right or wrong, Gu Han had killed three people right in front of him. It was equivalent to stomping on his face. Still, as much as he wanted to turn hostile, he didn’t dare to.
In the end, all he could do was fall back on the greater good once more. “Fellow Daoist, you have gone too far!”
Yun Fan was furious. “Shouldn’t scum like Song the lackey be killed?!”
Gu Han smiled. “There’s no need to rush. Let him talk. It’s his turn next anyway.”
Song Jian’s heart dropped yet he remained stubborn. “If the Yudan Sect finds out that three of their disciples died in the imperial capital, they will surely be displeased. The war is intense right now. If they were to interrupt or reduce their pill demand because of this, do you know how great the losses would be? Not to mention you, even His Highness couldn’t bear that responsibility!”
Yun Fan laughed coldly. “He wouldn’t dare! That would be defying heaven!”
Song Jian’s words carried a double meaning. “Whether he dares or not, no one can say for sure. When people are pushed to the brink, it’s hard to predict what irrational things they might do.”
Gu Han shook his head. “Ridiculous. I only killed three of their people, and they’re dissatisfied? They killed over a hundred of the Xue family. Just how much dissatisfaction should that amount to? Also, I’m very curious, what exactly will you do when you’re pushed to the brink?”
Song Jian gritted his teeth. “Y-you can try and see!”
Gu Han thought for a moment. “Actually, you’re pretty smart. Using Elder Xue as leverage to force Miss Xue to submit to you, then using Miss Xue as leverage to force Elder Xue to refine ten thousand Return Essence Pills for you. In the end, you get the person, the pills, and complete the task. It really is a perfect plan.”
Upon hearing this, Divine Physician Xue’s face turned pale. Though he had expected Song Jian to break his word, he never imagined the marquis would go this far.
With his hidden, malicious scheme exposed, Song Jian was filled with shame and anger. “Nonsense!”
He understood that Steward Song had betrayed him. He secretly cursed at the steward. Once the man returned, Song Jian would kill him personally!
The female cultivator beside him couldn’t hold back any longer. “So what if he did?! Xue Yu should be grateful that the young marquis has taken a liking to her!
What kind of place is the Xian Ya Pavilion? Everyone knows what it’s like! Is there a single pure person in that place? Do you honestly think she only sells musical skills? Who knows how many shameful, unseen deals she’s done behind the scenes! What right does she have to refuse the young marquis—”
Every word was like a knife viciously carving into Xue Yu’s heart. She desperately wanted to explain to Gu Han, but felt she had no right to, so she could only bury her head deeply.
Divine Physician Xue’s aged face was streaked with tears, unable to speak a single word. His guilt grew even stronger.
Song Jian was furious. “Shut up!”
Under the pretext of the greater good, he had hoped to make them cautious and restrain their actions. Who would’ve expected that after all his effort, the female cultivator ruined it! Those few words maxed out the hatred.
Gu Han smiled again. “Look. This is a typical example of someone with no brains.”
With that, he raised his hand and sent a sword light. Even if he was a cripple, how could a mere Essence Gathering cultivator with an abysmally poor foundation block it?
She only had time to utter a single word before her head left her neck. Song Jian didn’t stop Gu Han. Even if Gu Han hadn’t acted, he would have done it himself.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mengyou frowned slightly. She vaguely felt that Gu Han was a bit in the wrong.
Yun Fan asked. “What’s wrong?”
Zhao Mengyou thought for a moment. “His killing intent is much stronger than before.”
Yun Fan seemed to be pondering something. “Is that so? Did Brother Gu like to smile when he killed people before?”
Zhao Mengyou said, “When he doesn’t have killing intent, he smiles a lot. When he has killing intent, he never smiles! It’s the exact opposite now!”
Yun Fan’s expression changed slightly. “Oh no. Is his mind having problems?”
Zhao Mengyou rolled her eyes at him. “What are you thinking! It’s just the impact of those events on him is too great.”
Yun Fan glanced at her. “Oh? You’re observing this closely? Didn’t you want to bite him to death? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Brother Gu?”
Three soul-piercing questions made Zhao Mengyou’s face turn bright red. ”N-nonsense! This is just... just a personal habit...”
“You think I’ll believe that?”
Zhao Mengyou lightly bit her lips. Bite Gu Han to death? No, she wanted to bite Yun Fan to death!
Still smiling, Gu Han turned to Song Jian. “Alright, shall we settle accounts?”
Yun Fan instantly perked up and moved closer. “Brother Gu, let me! You’re not fit to fight right now. Just say the word. Cripple him? Or cut off his limbs first?”
Song Jian’s heart sank. “Don’t go too far!”
Gu Han shook his head. “Forget it. There’s no need for that.”
Yun Fan seemed dejected, while Song Jian felt slightly relieved inside.
Gu Han then added, “Just kill him immediately.”
Song Jian was stunned on the spot. Not just him, even Yun Fan hadn’t expected that as he stared wide-eyed at Gu Han. Crippling someone and killing them were absolutely not the same concept!
Xue Yu and Divine Physician Xue were anxious.
“Young Master!”
“Kid!”
Killing a young marquis right in the middle of the imperial capital had a completely different meaning than killing three Yudan Sect disciples.
Yun Fan swallowed his saliva. “B-Brother Gu, are... are we doing this for real?”
Gu Han patted his shoulder. “Mhm. He has to die. Otherwise, things won’t feel right!”
Song Jian’s eyes turned bloodshot. “You bully me too much!”
The smile on Gu Han’s face grew even wider. “Yes. I am bullying you, just like you bully others. What can you do about it?”
Song Jian’s eyes were red. He could do nothing to Gu Han. No one in the Great Flame Empire dared to touch Feng Xi’s junior brother!
“Brother Gu, does he really have to die?”
“Definitely.”
Hearing the finality in Gu Han’s tone, Yun Fan gritted his teeth. “Fine. Then I’ll do it!”
As he looked at Song Jian, he turned solemn, even changing how he addressed him, “Song Jian, I’m challenging you to a duel to the death!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole crowd was shocked.
After seeing Gu Han’s confusion, Yun Fan explained a bit. The death duel was indeed a tradition within the Great Flame Empire. If cultivators had an irreconcilable conflict, they could engage in a death duel regardless of cultivation realm and status. As long as both parties agreed, they could fight fairly until death, with no outsiders allowed to interfere. Of course, they said regardless of cultivation realm, but such duels mostly happened between cultivators of similar strength.
Song Jian clenched his fists tightly, knowing he couldn’t kill Yun Fan. Yun Fan was a fourth-stage Heavenly Tribulation cultivator, whereas he was only at the second stage. Moreover, Yun Fan had followed Feng Xi to the battlefield many times, while Song Jian had only been hiding in the comfort zone of the capital.
The only way was to refuse! Although it would mean a complete loss of face, being unable to hold his head up, it was the safest option.
“I refu—”
Gu Han suddenly interjected, “Wait. The one having the death duel isn’t him. It’s me.”
Song Jian was in disbelief. “What did you say?”
Gu Han frowned slightly. “What? You don’t even dare to do that?”
Song Jian was so excited he almost trembled. “I—you said it yourself!”
Yun Fan also trembled. “Brother Gu, t-this isn’t right!”
Xue Yu and Divine Physician Xue also advised bitterly, not wanting Gu Han to take any risks because of their matters.
“Kid!”
“Young Master!”
Gu Han was clearly not someone who listened to advice. “Don’t worry. This guy is suitable. He’ll do.”
Yun Fan understood that Gu Han wanted to use Song Jian as a stepping stone to break through. No matter how you looked at it, Song Jian was indeed the most suitable person.
Zhao Mengyou bit her lip as a strange, unfamiliar feeling surged in her heart. Was she worried about him?
Gu Han glanced at her. “Don’t worry. You've been well-behaved recently. Even if I lose, I won’t sell you out.”
Zhao Mengyou rolled her eyes, but her heartbeat quickened. She lowered her head, glanced at her abundant chest, and silently cursed herself for being weak.
Song Jian also understood that Gu Han had no intention of letting him go today. The death duel was his only hope. Even more importantly, Gu Han had proposed it first. According to the rules, if he killed Gu Han openly and fairly, not even someone as proud as Feng Xi would come after him.
His tone carried an inexplicable excitement. “Good! I agree!”
He thought Gu Han was foolish and naive for giving up all advantages just to seek death.
Gu Han swept his gaze around and shook his head. “However, we need to change location!”
“Name it.”
“Outside the mansion.”
Upon hearing this, Song Jian lit up with joy, and he instantly flew out of the mansion. “Fine.”
The more people who knew about this, the fewer problems he would have after killing Gu Han. Even the Flame Emperor would have nothing to say about a fair fight.
“Brother Gu—”
Yun Fan wanted to advise again but was stopped by Zhao Mengyou. “Don’t disturb him. Before a battle, especially a life-and-death one, distraction is the worst thing.”
Meanwhile, Gu Han smiled calmly, a trace of killing intent hidden beneath it. The brighter the smile, the stronger the intent. He slowly walked outside, where a crowd had already formed.
Just now, they had heard the news deliberately spread by Marquis Song’s mansion. Someone wanted to fight the young marquis to the death. This kind of excitement was almost unheard of, something one would only see once in a lifetime. Of course they didn’t want to miss it.
Many people kept surging from all directions, appearing like a dark, crushing mass at a glance.
After seeing Gu Han come out, Song Jian forcefully contained his excitement. “Remember! You proposed this yourself, you can’t go back on it!”
Gu Han smiled, slowly raising his sword. “Of course. Come. Let me see how much weight you carry.”
Huh? Upon seeing that Gu Han was Song Jian’s death duel opponent, the crowd was completely dumbfounded. Leaving aside appearance, the difference in cultivation level made it seem like a joke! A Spirit Profound cultivator fighting against a Heavenly Tribulation cultivator? Is his mind okay? Forget a death duel, he’s literally seeking death!
They had seen many instances where a higher realm proposed a death duel to a lower realm, but this was their first time seeing the opposite.
Nevertheless, doubts aside, martial prowess was highly esteemed within the empire because of the war. Although Gu Han’s actions seemed reckless, they secretly admired him. A weakling challenging a strong one. This was called bravery and fearlessness, honorable even in defeat.
Not far away, Yun Fan watched with agony. Of course, he understood it was both Gu Han’s killing tribulation and his opportunity to survive. He cursed inwardly, Damn it! If Brother Gu loses, I’ll kill that bastard for him no matter what!
Song Jian seemed to suddenly think of something, leering at Zhao Mengyou. “Wait! How about a little wager?”
Gu Han understood his meaning, his smile growing even wider. “Dream on. My maid isn’t something a scumbag like you can covet.”
Zhao Mengyou’s heart beat violently for a moment. She secretly made up her mind that if Gu Han lost, she would definitely use all means to kill that hateful bastard to avenge him, the not-so-hateful bastard.
A cold glint flashed in Song Jian’s eyes, and he instantly pulled out his sword. “Fine!”
It was clearly a top notch sword, radiant with spirit light. Compared to the broken sword in Gu Han’s hand, it looked infinitely better.
He gently waved the sword, instantly pointing it at Gu Han. “As a fellow sword cultivator, I also want to see your skills.”
Gu Han laughed a little crazily. “Sword cultivator? Just because your name has ‘sword’ in it, you’re a sword cultivator? You think you deserve that?”[1]
Already somewhat uncontrollable, the killing intent in his eyes almost turned into a bloody glow. Sensing its master’s overwhelming killing intent, his sword trembled without end.
With a light swing of the sword, a majestic and unparalleled, brilliant sword light instantly arrived before Song Jian.
1. Song Jian’s “Jian” means sword in Chinese ☜
