Qin Chuyuan looked at the departing Nangong Jue with a frown on his face.
The intelligence he had obtained indicated that Nangong Jue was not as carefree and unrestrained on the surface as he appeared. When it came to killing, he was still just as ruthless and merciless.
"Didn't you say you weren't sure you could win against him? Yet you proposed a martial arts contest with him. Do you know you're putting yourself in danger?"
"Fighting him was part of our plan all along. Otherwise, the fish won't bite if there's no bait. Besides, Qin Yi and the others are no match for Nangong Jue."
"No, I don't agree."
"I didn't ask for your opinion. We've already decided this internally. And I only said I wasn't sure I could beat him, not that I would definitely lose. At worst, it will end in a tie if we're both injured."
"You?"
"A tie with both injured? You say that so lightly. Do you know what kind of person Nangong Jue is? He's not as simple as you imagined."
"I don't know if he's simple or not, but he is pretty easy to deceive, that's for sure. Don't worry, we already have foolproof plans for tomorrow."
"What foolproof plans?"
"Didn't I already say it? If I can't beat him, we'll just gang up on him."
Qin Chuyuan was speechless.
"What was the purpose of asking me out today?" Gong Xiaohua changed the topic.
Qin Chuyuan looked at Gong Xiaohua. He knew that no matter how much more he said, it wouldn't change her mind.
Forget it. In any case, he would be going with Qin Yi and the others tomorrow, so he didn't dwell on the matter further.
His left hand started caressing the poem he had stayed up all night writing, tucked in his sleeve.
"Uh, um..." Qin Chuyuan saw her bright eyes staring at him intently. He had barely spoken a few words before his ears were already turning red.
"If you can't think of what to say, why don't we talk another day? It's getting late, I should head back first."
"Wait."
Gong Xiaohua stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at Qin Chuyuan, waiting for him to continue.
But seeing her, he still couldn't get the words out.
"What exactly did you want to say?"
Qin Chuyuan put the poem he was about to hand over back into his sleeve. In the end, he didn't have the courage.
"Oh, nothing. Be careful tomorrow."
Gong Xiaohua was puzzled. All that hesitation just for this?
"Got it, thanks."
The hidden bodyguards all around cursed Qin Chuyuan's cowardly behavior in front of their future mistress.
At the Nandragon Palace, in the study.
"My lord, word from the courier station is that the young lady accompanying the Inspector will be fighting a duel with Nangong Jue on the outskirts of the city tomorrow, a fight to the death."
"Is this true?"
"Absolutely, I heard Lord Li and the others will also go to watch the fight."
"Foolish. At a time like this, instead of staying put at the courier station, they actually want to go watch a fight, just asking to die? Well, it's just as good if that girl dies, we can get rid of the Inspector and them all at once, killing two birds with one stone."
"Send out the orders, move separately."
The next day, at You hour, outskirts of Nandragon County.
Nangong Jue had arrived early, alone. Still dressed in his cyan waist-tied long robe, a folding fan tucked into his waist, he had a solemn expression as he looked at the arriving Gong Xiaohua.
Gong Xiaohua was now dressed in dark clothes and armor, sword in her left hand, her long hair tied tightly in a high ponytail.
Behind her were Qin Chuyuan and his servants, Lord Li, Junior Tutor, and others. But this group stopped about a hundred meters away, only watching the fight from afar.
Seeing Nangong Jue now, so different from his usual flippant demeanor, Gong Xiaohua realized this was the true aura of a killer that he should have.
"You've changed your weapon?"
Nangong Jue looked curiously at the weapon in Gong Xiaohua's hand. It wasn't her usual saber, but a long sword.
"Yes, I'm most proficient with the sword, not the saber." Gong Xiaohua explained, looking at the sword in her left hand.
"Very good. For today's fight, I hope you give it your all. I won't be holding back either."
"Don't worry. When fighting an enemy, I never underestimate my opponent, let alone you."
With that, Nangong Jue struck first, taking out the folding fan from his waist and flicking it open forcefully. His body darted forth as he waved the fan straight at Gong Xiaohua, sending out a tremendous surge of power.
This was no ordinary folding fan. Beneath the exquisite silk fan surface were thin fan ribs as light as cicada wings but made of steel.
Each rib was crafted like a small sword, with extremely sharp blades on both edges and tips, glinting brightly as Nangong Jue swung the fan rapidly forward.
Gong Xiaohua immediately felt the pressure multiplying. She hurriedly retreated while raising her sword horizontally to block the ferocious attack.
Nangong Jue's moves were swift and relentless, leaving no openings.
Gong Xiaohua's sword followed her body's movements seamlessly.
The two tangled for over seventy exchanges, battling intensely without a clear victor.
When they broke apart again, both their clothes were slashed in several places, stained with blood from the other's weapon.
Nangong Jue had a small cut on his face from Gong Xiaohua's sword, while three long gashes on Gong Xiaohua's left neck from the fan looked gruesome with flowing blood.
"What sword art is that?"
"Qingping Sword."
The Qingping Sword Art was an ancient martial arts sword art developed by generations of martial arts masters and chivalrous warriors. Among the diverse ancient martial arts sword arts today like Qingping, Sancai, Damo, Yunlong, etc., the Qingping Sword Art had the longest set, with 365 movements focused on actual combat and capturing techniques, making it one of the most sophisticated sword arts.
"Your swordsmanship is quite good. To have lasted over seventy moves under my hands and only suffered some superficial wounds, that's impressive."
"You also live up to your reputation as the number one killer in the jianghu. Much stronger than the number two."
"I've trained in martial arts since young, constantly challenging top jianghu masters to attain my current accomplishments. You're the strongest opponent I've met so far. I have to admit, your martial arts skill is superb."
"Again."
Nangong Jue wielded the fan's sharp edges like a blade, chopping towards Gong Xiaohua. She raised her sword to meet the fan.
Clang, clang, clang. Fan against sword, colliding repeatedly.
Green shadows mixed with black, the spectators only hearing the sounds of fighting but unable to see the blurring movements, so incredibly fast!
Hidden five hundred meters away, the stationed garrison troops.
"Captain, when do we charge out?"
"Not yet, wait for Lady Gong's signal."
On the other side of the garrison, another group of black clothed, masked men lay in ambush.
"Boss, when do we move?"
"Not yet, wait until they're both injured."
