Chapter 917: Why Should I Accept Your Challenge?

Qian Fucheng hurriedly said, "No, no. We were the ones who came unannounced and disturbed you."

Niu Youdao did not waste time on further courtesies. He extended a hand and invited everyone into the main hall.

Once the group entered and host and guests had taken their seats, Kunlin Shu and Fire Phoenix could hardly sit as equals with Qian Fucheng, so the two stood behind him.

Fresh tea was served. After inviting everyone to drink, Niu Youdao asked, "May I ask what brings Elder Qian here to see me?"

Qian Fucheng sighed and put on a troubled expression. "The State of Qin has only just been reestablished, and it borders our State of Qi. We truly cannot make sense of Xiaoyue Pavilion's attitude. Everyone beneath Heaven knows Elder Niu has a good relationship with Xiaoyue Pavilion—even Qin's emperor is your student—so I came specifically to ask Elder Niu what you know of the situation."

Niu Youdao said, "To tell you the truth, Elder Qian, all of that is a misunderstanding from the outside. I am actually not familiar with Xiaoyue Pavilion at all. If you insist on saying I know someone there, then I know Mr. Yucang. As for that student of mine, he's a bookworm. Before all this, I doubt even he himself knew anything about Xiaoyue Pavilion. Before Xiaoyue Pavilion founded a state, I genuinely had no idea what they were planning. How should I put it? Mr. Yucang kept me thoroughly in the dark. When all is said and done, I know almost nothing about Xiaoyue Pavilion. If Elder Qian came to ask me, I'm afraid you've asked the wrong person."

Xiaoyue Pavilion had only ever been Qian Fucheng's pretext. He had no intention of digging to the bottom of the matter. Hearing this, he stroked his beard and murmured, "I see. Then that truly is a pity."

Now that they had finally seen Niu Youdao, and with the conversation reaching this point, Kunlin Shu could no longer hold himself back. "Elder Niu, do you still remember me?"

Qian Fucheng frowned slightly. Why was Kunlin Shu so impatient? But the words were already out and could not be taken back.

Niu Youdao glanced over. Of course he remembered him, but he said, "You look somewhat familiar. Which distinguished expert of Tianhuo Sect might you be?"

"Kunlin Shu!" He gave his name. "Years ago, at Heavenly Mirror Lake near the Qi capital, I crossed hands with Elder Niu and was defeated by you."

Niu Youdao gave an "Oh." "Now that you mention it, I remember. So it's you. I didn't expect we'd meet again."

After brushing him off with that one remark, Niu Youdao clearly had no interest in continuing. He rose and said to Qian Fucheng, "Elder Qian, I truly know nothing about Xiaoyue Pavilion. I still have some matters in hand. Since you've come all this way, let Elder Yan play the host properly. I'll take my leave first."

"Elder Niu..." Qian Fucheng rose as well. He wanted to persuade him to stay but did not know what to say.

Instead, Kunlin Shu flashed forward and blocked the way, raising an arm. "Elder Niu, please stay!"

At the sight, Guan Fangyi's brows shot up and her eyes flashed. She shouted sharply, "Insolence! Men!"

The instant her voice rang out, several figures flashed in from outside—Uncle Chen, Old Six Xu, and the others. Wu Zhaoxing in particular appeared at Niu Youdao's side at once, on guard. Another shout went up beyond the hall, and an entire group from the Maolu Annex emerged.

At the slightest sign that something was wrong, they were plainly ready to move against the Tianhuo Sect party immediately.

The atmosphere inside and outside the hall turned tense in an instant.

Niu Youdao regarded Kunlin Shu, who stood blocking his path, with a half smile. This fellow had nerve. He had actually come here to throw his weight around. A mere Tianhuo Sect disciple had dared come to Zijin Cave and block the path of a Zijin Cave Elder. He truly must be tired of living.

Yan Li frowned. "Elder Qian, what does Tianhuo Sect mean by having one of its disciples come to Zijin Cave and start laying hands in people's way?"

Qian Fucheng was angry too. Before coming, he had promised the Sect Leader they would not cause trouble here. Since they had come, they could state their purpose and do their best to persuade Niu Youdao; if persuasion failed, then the matter ended there. Kunlin Shu himself had agreed to those terms, which was why Qian Fucheng had accompanied him. Yet this madman had actually dared to block a Zijin Cave Elder's path on Zijin Cave's own ground. This was going much too far.

What sect could tolerate an outsider running wild inside its gates? If Zijin Cave killed him here and now, there would not even be anywhere to go plead his case.

The key was that the two men's status was completely unequal. If a Tianhuo Sect Elder had done this, at least it would have been another matter.

"Impudent!" Qian Fucheng shouted at Kunlin Shu as well.

Fire Phoenix panicked. She hurried forward, pushed down the arm her Senior Brother had raised to block the way, and tried to pull him aside. "Senior Brother, don't do this."

Kunlin Shu's jaw was taut.

Niu Youdao planted his sword against the floor with one hand and used the other to nudge Old Six Xu, who was partly shielding him, out of the way. Looking at Kunlin Shu, he said, "I remember that years ago I yielded to you again and again, yet you kept pressing me and refused to let matters rest. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you still haven't changed that self-righteous habit of bullying people. Kunlin Shu, you're not making life difficult for me. You're making life difficult for yourself, and one day you'll bring trouble down on your own head. This is not a place where you can run wild. Do you understand?"

Pain showed on Kunlin Shu's face. He cupped his hands. "Elder Niu, this isn't what you think. I came here to apologize to you."

"Oh, is that so?" Niu Youdao waved to either side. "If he's here to apologize, then there's no need for everyone to be so tense. Back off. All of you, back off."

The people who had rushed into the hall slowly withdrew, though they did not leave altogether. Wu Zhaoxing, expressionless, remained close beside Niu Youdao on guard.

Kunlin Shu cupped his hands again. "Elder Niu, what happened back then truly was my fault. You are a magnanimous man. Please do not stoop to my level or keep it in your heart."

Niu Youdao smiled. He did not believe for a moment that this man had sat up an entire night waiting for him merely to apologize. There was simply no need. Niu Youdao had not been the one who suffered a loss back then; Kunlin Shu was the one who had been beaten and injured. Why would the loser need to travel all this way to apologize to the winner?

So Niu Youdao smiled and said, "To recognize a fault and correct it—there is no greater good. Fine. I accept your apology. Can you move aside now?"

Kunlin Shu did not move. Still cupping his hands, he said, "Elder Niu, after suffering that crushing defeat at your hands, I entered seclusion and have remained there until now. I cultivated bitterly for ten years, all so I could come see you."

Niu Youdao chuckled. "You cultivated bitterly in seclusion for ten years just to come apologize to me? Isn't that taking things a little too seriously? Fine. The past is past. I won't hold it against you anymore. Is that enough of an answer for you?"

Kunlin Shu said, "Elder Niu, I came hoping you would give me one more chance."

Niu Youdao looked puzzled. "A chance? What sort of chance can I give you?"

Embarrassment crossed Kunlin Shu's face. He knew the words were difficult to say, but this was why he had come. In the end, he spoke. "I hope Elder Niu will fight me once more. I ask Elder Niu to grant me this."

Yan Li's brows rose. He said coolly, "Impudent! What are you supposed to be, that you dare come here looking for trouble with a Zijin Cave Elder?" He turned his head toward Qian Fucheng. "Brother Qian, is this how Tianhuo Sect disciplines its disciples? He comes right to our gates looking for trouble. Don't tell me this was your purpose in coming here."

Qian Fucheng hurriedly explained, "No, no. I don't know what madness has gotten into this fellow either. Once we return, I will deal with him properly and teach him what rules are."

"He's already broken the rules. We can discuss rules or no rules afterward." Niu Youdao cut in, continuing to stare at Kunlin Shu. "My friend, who gave you the confidence to come here? Even at my boldest, I wouldn't do something this brainless. You've come all this way to humiliate yourself. Do you know that?"

Kunlin Shu's expression was complicated. "Elder Niu, I mean nothing else by it. I only ask that you accept my challenge once. We can stop at the point of contact and treat it as a friendly exchange. I harbor no malicious intent."

Fire Phoenix stood to one side with the same complicated expression, misery twisting inside her. She knew her Senior Brother should never have come, but she had been unable to stop him.

She also knew that what happened all those years ago had become a heart demon for him. He had once been a rising talent of Tianhuo Sect, one of the finest among his generation, only to be knocked from the clouds in a single defeat. Because of it, he had not hesitated to enter the forbidden grounds and spend ten years in seclusion. He had even risked his life cultivating the Heavenly Fire Limitless Art. Why had he done all that? The answer was obvious. For ten years, his cherished wish had been to fight Niu Youdao one more time.

Niu Youdao sneered. "A challenge? Kunlin Shu, I'm not putting on airs or looking down on you. The facts are simply what they are. What gives you the right to challenge me?"

Kunlin Shu lifted his eyes. "Could it be that Elder Niu is afraid of me?"

He had actually resorted to a provocation.

"Impudent!" Qian Fucheng and Yan Li shouted almost in unison.

Niu Youdao raised a hand to stop them from interfering. He found the fellow rather interesting. With a trace of amusement, he asked, "Kunlin Shu, let me ask you something. If I refuse your challenge and refuse to fight you, what will you do?"

That truly stumped Kunlin Shu. He did not know how to answer. Force Niu Youdao to fight by attacking him? If Niu Youdao did not want to fight, forcing the issue would achieve nothing. Zijin Cave had more than enough people to deal with him; there would be no need for Niu Youdao to lift a finger.

Yet if he said he could simply give up if Niu Youdao refused, he could not bring himself to say that either. This was the wish he had carried for so many years, the sole conviction that had sustained him through ten years of barren solitude. Anyone who had never endured that long, empty seclusion could not imagine what it had been like.

Seeing that he could give no answer, Niu Youdao chuckled. "Fine. I won't make things difficult for you. I only have one question: why should I accept your challenge? Give me one answer that satisfies me, and I can consider it."

Kunlin Shu's head snapped up, his eyes suddenly bright with hope. But his mouth opened and closed several times, and still no reason came. Why should Niu Youdao accept his challenge? Why? He did not know. Could he offer Niu Youdao power? Status? Anything Niu Youdao wanted? There was nothing he could give him.

Niu Youdao rested both hands on the hilt of the sword planted before him, his ten fingers tapping lightly as he waited for an answer, seemingly in no hurry whatsoever.

Guan Fangyi looked sidelong at Kunlin Shu with cold eyes and cursed him for an idiot inside. She shook her head to herself. She had looked the man over from head to foot and still could not see a single thing about him that could get the better of Master Dao. With that sort of temperament, how could he possibly match Master Dao? He would be lucky if Master Dao did not toy with him to death.

Yan Li slowly turned to look at Qian Fucheng. Seeing Qian Fucheng remain silent and simply allow matters to continue, he understood. So they truly had come here because of Kunlin Shu. He simply could not fathom what medicine Tianhuo Sect had taken to indulge a disciple in doing something this foolish. If Zijin Cave had a disciple like this, they would have broken his legs. How could they possibly let him run wild?

After a long silence, Kunlin Shu suddenly asked in return, "Elder Niu, what would it take for you to accept my challenge?"

"You're asking me?" Niu Youdao laughed. His gaze slowly shifted to the nervous Fire Phoenix beside him. "I hear you've just married. I assume this is your new wife?"

Kunlin Shu's heart tightened. He answered with difficulty, "Yes. She is my Junior Sister."

Niu Youdao gave an "Oh," his fingers slowly tapping the sword hilt. "She's rather pretty... Suppose I said the condition for accepting your challenge was that your wife leave Tianhuo Sect and come serve at my side as a slave. Would you agree?"

[End of Chapter 917]