Chapter 104: A Pact of Life and Death, Each to Their Own Fate

“Brother Haoxuan asked you for an explanation, and you just brush him off. Are you in the right?” Seeing Liu Huan shout at Qin Haoxuan, Xu Yu could no longer contain herself.

She stepped forward, placing herself between them, her beautiful eyes spitting fire as she advanced on him. “You nearly killed Little Gold. Are you in the right?”

Behind her, Luo Jinhua gathered her spiritual energy, her hands forming a seal. If Liu Huan dared to make a move, she would strike.

The Uncolored Seed Qin Haoxuan was one thing, but Liu Huan recognized the girl before him as an Unsurpassed Purple Seed.

Offending her was no different from digging his own grave. And even setting her aside, the formidable Luo Jinhua, who stood ready to attack, was not someone he could defeat either.

Though they were both at the Twentieth-Leaf Realm, Luo Jinhua was a favored disciple of her Hall Master and had learned far more advanced techniques than he had.

If their dual threat had merely flustered him, Qin Haoxuan’s next words were like a clap of thunder that shattered his spirit completely.

“I will ask you one more time. Why was my Little Gold poisoned?”

His voice was even, but it was clear he was on the verge of exploding with rage. Each word was bitten off and spat out. The Spiritual Sense in his mind condensed and began to spin, its power leaking out through his furious gaze.

Though he didn’t launch a direct attack, the sheer pressure of his mind was far more than Liu Huan, who had never cultivated his own Spiritual Sense, could possibly withstand. The words, laced with his unconscious mental power, struck Liu Huan’s soul like a physical blow. His mind went blank, and his body began to tremble.

He had been so focused on Xu Yu that he mistakenly attributed the terrifying pressure to her. “I… I really wasn’t there yesterday,” he stammered, his voice shaking.

“Junior Brother Yan Dong… he told me he saw a monkey just like Little Gold on Hundred Beasts Mountain and gave me the location… I went to catch it… I just got back this morning. As soon as I heard what happened, I rushed right over… I’m not lying…”

His gaze darted fearfully toward Xu Yu. Is the presence of an Unsurpassed Purple Seed really this powerful?

“Yan Dong…” Qin Haoxuan murmured the name. His gut told him this was the poisoner. But why? He had no grudge against the man. Could he have been acting on Li Jing’s orders?

Pu Hanzhong also mulled over the name, and then it clicked. “Don’t you remember?” he said. “At Yixiantian, the one who tried to get Xu Can and Chang Jizi to lowball us, and then tried to rob us on the way back? Wasn’t his name Yan Dong? And he’s also from the Ancient Cloud Hall.”

With that, everything became clear. Without another word, Qin Haoxuan patted Little Gold on his shoulder. “Little guy,” he said, “we’re going to get your revenge.” He turned and strode toward the carriage station. Xu Yu shot one last glare at Liu Huan and hurried after him.

Left standing there, Liu Huan was filled with a regret so profound it turned his guts green. It wasn’t his fault, yet he had acted tough and ended up offending a Purple Seed. His future in the sect was now bleak.

He slapped himself hard across the face, then looked after their retreating figures. Wait a minute, he thought, confused. That Purple Seed’s aura didn’t seem that strong. Her glare didn’t give me that soul-crushing feeling… it was the Uncolored Seed whose presence was so intense… No, that’s impossible. How could an Uncolored Seed be stronger than a Purple Seed? It must have been my imagination.

They took a carriage to Emperor Peak. Under Luo Jinhua’s guidance, they made their way to the Ancient Cloud Hall. Its entrance was grand and imposing, a world away from the dilapidated temple of the Nature Hall.

“Halt!” A few guards at the gate blocked their path. A short, fat Fifteenth-Leaf disciple eyed them with disdain, which only deepened when he saw the Nature Hall insignia on Pu Hanzhong’s robe. “The Ancient Cloud Hall isn’t a place for any stray cat or dog to enter,” he sneered.

Seeing they were barred from entry, Luo Jinhua whispered, “Let’s go back. I’ll find another way to get to Yan Dong.”

But just then, Pu Hanzhong stepped forward. “In ten days, it will be the semi-annual Minor Martial Tournament,” he announced, his voice ringing with authority. “I wish to issue a formal challenge to Yan Dong of your Ancient Cloud Hall. Please call him out to receive it.”

The guards stared, stunned, then burst into mocking laughter. “A coward from the Nature Hall is actually issuing a challenge?” the fat one jeered. “Go on, get Yan Dong… wait, what’s the reason for the challenge?”

“He poisoned my junior brother’s monkey.”

This sent them into fresh peals of laughter. “That’s a new one! Usually you can poison one of them directly and they won’t complain. Now they’re getting worked up over a monkey?”

While Luo Jinhua and Qin Haoxuan worried, Pu just smiled calmly. “My junior brother is a man of courage and conviction,” he said, ignoring their concern. “If I, his Guiding Senior Brother, were to back down, wouldn’t I become a laughingstock?” As he spoke, he was wracked by another coughing fit.

Qin Haoxuan was deeply moved. His senior brother was supporting him in the most direct way possible. “Thank you, Senior Brother,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Soon, Yan Dong was brought out. He had no choice; by sect law, a formal challenge for the tournament must be accepted. He saw them and panicked for a moment, but then his hatred took over.

Pu Hanzhong formally presented the written challenge. “I, Pu Hanzhong of the Nature Hall, challenge Yan Dong of the Ancient Cloud Hall.”

“You’re asking for death,” Yan Dong sneered, taking the paper. “Don’t blame me if you die on the stage.”

“Let fate decide,” Pu said coldly. He then looked him straight in the eye. “You failed to rob us, so you took your anger out on my junior brother’s monkey.”

“Nonsense!” Yan Dong’s face turned red, but he still tried to deny it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“The heavens are watching what men do,” Pu said, his voice like ice. “Be careful not to be struck by lightning for speaking against your conscience.”

(End of Chapter)