Who was Huang Jianchan?
Others might not know but Liu Qingyan was well-aware. The year before, she had received an invitation to a banquet held by the Forbidden City noble disciples.
Only the most outstanding noble disciples had been invited to the banquet and Huang Jianchen was one of them.
His appearance was extremely ordinary and unremarkable. He had spent the entire time sitting by his lonesome drinking liquor and did not draw anyone’s attention.
A certain event that happened later, however, left a very deep impression on Liu Qingyan.
To create some excitement, one of the noble disciples had suggested selecting a few people to spar as entertainment.
However, Huang Jianchan shook his head in disapproval and rose from his seat to declare that he was leaving. His actions immediately drew the ire of many people.
Despite this, Huang Jianchen seemed completely unconcerned. He turned and walked off, completely triggering a certain famous noble disciple.
The famous noble disciple was called Lu Guanxing and was from the Lu Clan, which was a mid-level noble clan. Due to his outstanding cultivation talent, Lu Guanxing was rather famous in the noble disciple circles.
Upon seeing that Huang Jianchen was being disrespectful, Lu Guanxing immediately rose to stop him. However, Lu Guanxing never imagined that a superb and powerful genius like him would be seriously injured by Huang Jianchen in a single move. Everyone present was utterly shocked by the outcome and the place instantly became deathly silent.Huang Jianchen merely sneered and shook his head, leaving behind a single remark, “Fancy moves but useless.”
Due to how humiliating it was, the noble disciples did not dare to mention it for fear of offending Lu Guanxing. As a result, only a small handful came to know of this affair.
As one of the people who had been there on the day itself, Liu Qingyan naturally knew it like the back of her hand and understood how frightening Huang Jianchan was. He was not someone ordinary noble disciples could ever hope to match.
Under his seemingly ordinary appearance hid a heart belonging to a ferocious beast. When he entered battle, he would transform into a bloodthirsty incarnation of violence that gave off an exceptionally terrifying aura.
After hearing that Lin Xun’s opponent was Huang Jianchen and Xie Yutang had used certain means to tell the entire city, the intent was clearly to crush Lin Xun and destroy his reputation!
This made Liu Qingyan feel rather uncomfortable. Without Lin Xun, she would still be searching for someone to help repair her ancient law ocarina!
With Lin Xun now facing hostility and bullying from the noble disciples that followed her, what should Liu Qingyan think?
Granny Feng could not help but frown when she saw this. “Indeed. Although it’s a battle to resolve their grudge, it is a little overboard to make it such a big affair.”
Liu Qingyan suddenly asked, “Granny, from what I know, although Huang Jianchen is Huang Jianxiong’s senior brother, his status should be insufficient to move his senior brother, right?”
“Xie Yutang was the one who made the request.”
Granny Feng said, “Huang Jianchen can choose to ignore a cripple but he has no choice but to give Xie Yutang face.”
Liu Qingyan scrunched her eyebrows in thought for a long time. In the end, she helplessly sighed and said, “There’s not much that can be salvaged since it already happened. I only hope that Huang Jianchen will not go too far, otherwise…”
Granny Feng immediately said, “Don’t worry Young Mistress, I will not sit by and watch that brat Lin Xun be killed.”
Liu Qingyan’s heart felt a little heavy. She hoped that Lin Xun would win so such things would not happen again.
……
When Lin Xun returned him, he asked Xue Jin, “Old Jin, do you know someone called Huang Jianchen?”
Xue Jin curiously asked, “Why are you suddenly bringing up that kid?”
Lin Xun was surprised. It had merely been an offhanded question and he had not expected someone like Xue Jin to have heard of Huang Jianchen.
Lin Xun quickly explained about the duel in three days.
“He’s your opponent?”
Xue Jin immediately frowned. “It seems that Xie Yutang intends to crush you.”
Lin Xun asked, “Is he very formidable?”
Xue Jin explained, “Three years ago, Huang Jianchen advanced to the Human Dipper stage at the age of thirteen. A rare second-grade aeth power reservoir, Black Prison Chain, was established in his body. Although it is a little inferior to first-grade aeth power reservoirs, certain aeth power reservoirs will allow its owner to cultivate some special secret arts.”
“I know about this kid because his aeth power reservoir just so happens to be capable of learning a certain secret art in Black Glory Sacred Hall. As a result, Black Glory Sacred Hall once reached out to him in an attempt to recruit him.”
Lin Xun nodded. “What happened next?”
A strange look flashed in Xue Jin’s eyes. “He turned them down.”
“Turned them down?”
Lin Xun could not help but feel surprised. Black Glory Sacred Hall was an extremely mysterious and powerful faction, and yet, Huang Jianchen had turned down the chance to join them. It was a rather incomprehensible decision.
“That’s right. The kid’s reason for turning them down was simple. He wanted to walk a path that was completely different from other cultivators. Although it is a bold thing to declare, this aspiration of his is indeed rather amazing; he is not someone who is only all talk.”
By this point, Lin Xun had already drawn a rough picture of Huang Jianchen.
Lin Xun knew that someone who could receive the attention of Black Glory Sacred Hall was definitely no ordinary person!
“Looks like Xie Yutang had found a strong opponent for me…”
Lin Xun mused.
Xue Jin asked, “Are you afraid?”
“Do you think I’ll be scared?”
Lin Xun grinned, rose to his feet, and walked toward the room.
“You’re too cunning and are always full of tricks, who knows if you’re afraid.”
Xue Jin rolled his eyes although he thought rather differently inside. From his observations over the past few days, the battle power Lin Xun possessed was sufficient to face Huang Jianchen.
The only thing that worried Xue Jin was that Huang Jianchen was from a powerful noble clan. If he had learned some of their powerful secret arts and channeled them with the Black Prison Chain aeth power reservoir, the power he could potentially output would surpass the imagination!
Xue Jin muttered inwardly, Kid, you can only rely on yourself this time. It will naturally be best if you win but it might also be a good lesson as well if you lose…
……
Savage roars and soul-shaking howls could be heard from a tightly shut private room, causing the two servants standing guard outside to shiver as their faces turned pale.
However, the beast roars soon turned into pitiful wailing before ultimately falling silent.
Bang!
The room’s doors opened and a young man walked out. His bare torso was covered in sinister-looking blood and he gave off a ferocious and savage aura. It was as if he was a god of slaughter walking out from hell.
When they saw the young man, the two servants’ expressions turned even more fearful. Terror flowed out in their eyes as if the young man was far more terrifying than the roars they had heard earlier.
The young man expressionlessly received a white towel from one of the servants and wiped off the blood on his body. Afterwhich, he indifferently said, “Go clean up.”
He then put on his clothes and walked outside.
The two servants immediately sighed in relief and looked at each other, seeing the fear in the other party’s eyes.
They walked into the room, finding the ground covered in blood, and three savage beast corpses: a wind blade snow wolf, an ice armor giant python, and a giant magma violence bear!
Three savage beasts that were comparable in strength to Earth Dipper stage experts had been killed in less than fifteen minutes in this small room!
From the remnant fear still visible in their eyes, the two servants could not help but recall the bloody young man that had walked out of the room just moments ago, causing another wave of trembles to wash over their bodies.
When the young man walked away, the torrential ferocious qi around him receded and disappeared like the tide.
The sun’s rays shone upon him. He was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, and neither handsome nor ugly. He looked ordinary and unremarkable as if he was a completely different person from earlier.
He silently walked into a hall where someone was already waiting.
“Jianchen, you’re here.” The person was dressed in an azure jade robe and his hair was tied up into a bun on his head. It was the Little Sword Lord, Xie Yutang.
The ordinary-looking young man was Huang Jianchen!
Huang Jianchan nodded and sat down by the side without saying anything. This was his character: rarely speaking and often silent when he was not in battle.
Xie Yutang clearly understood Huang Jianchen’s character well and casually initiated the conversation, “Everything has already been arranged. Lin Xun will fight you at the battle arena in three days.”
Huang Jianchan was silent for a moment before he said, “Killing him is the most effective method to resolve this.”
Xue Yutang shook his head. “No, he cannot die. Miss Yan’er still needs to borrow his master’s expertise to repair a musical instrument.”
There was an uncompromisable tone in his calm voice.
Huang Jianchan was silent again for a long time. In the end, he nodded. “I will do my best.”
Xie Yutang frowned as if he was unsatisfied with this answer. He stared at Huang Jianchen for a long time before he said, “I will come to pick you up in three days.”
After saying this, Xie Yutang rose to leave.
Huang Jianchen called out to stop him, “Wait.”
Xie Yutang’s foot paused. “Is there anything else?”
Huang Jianchen said, “The savage beasts you sent were too weak. Send stronger ones tomorrow.”
Xie Yutang raised his brow. “As you wish.”
……
Three days soon passed. Early in the morning, Lin Xun woke up from his meditation as usual.
He washed up, ate breakfast, and began to practice his martial arts. There was no deviation from his everyday routine.
“Oh, you’re pretty composed.”
Xue Jin teased.
Lin Xun tidied up himself and smiled. “It’s just a fight. Is there any need to worry and fret?”
Xue Jin laughed heartily. “No more of your nonsense, hurry up and go.”
Lin Xun asked, “Are you coming? I heard it will be very lively this time.”
“Humph, I can’t be bothered to go watch two little kids duke it out. It’s so meaningless. I might as well sleep and drink at home.”
Xue Jin displayed a look of complete nonchalance.
Lin Xun made a noise of acknowledgement and walked out of the residence with a carefree chuckle.
When he arrived at the bustling streets of Haze City, he found that everyone was wildly discussing the duel. Numerous people were converging toward the battle arena.
There was even news about today’s duel being broadcasted on the news screens at the city center.
All of this made Lin Xun sigh as a single thought rose within him: If I lost, Xie Yutang is definitely going to feel very happy, right?