The Duel That Cannot Be Avoided
Chapter 10: The Duel That Cannot Be Avoided
The training ground was silent.
Lanterns flickered against the wooden pillars, their glow stretching across the sand-covered floor. The night rain had slowed, leaving the air cool, damp—charged with something unseen.
Ye Xian stood at the center.
Across from her, Shen Liwei.
His robes were dark, simple, free of excess weight—a man who carried only what was necessary. His stance was easy, controlled, as if this duel was nothing more than another routine match.
But Ye Xian knew better.
She had spent years studying warriors. The way they moved. The way they stood before a fight.
And she could tell—Shen Liwei was watching her. Studying her.
Waiting for something.
A mistake. A hesitation. A sign of who she really was.
A test.
A trap.
And one she had no choice but to walk into.
A Fight Without Blades
"Shall we begin?" Shen Liwei's voice was calm, but there was an edge beneath it.
Ye Xian placed a hand on her heart, lowering her gaze slightly. Measured respect, not submission.
"As the Sect Leader wishes."
Shen Liwei didn't move immediately. He simply stepped into position, feet shifting slightly—testing the ground.
No wasted motion. No unnecessary flair. Efficiency, perfected.
Ye Xian mirrored him.
The rules were clear. No weapons. No killing strikes. A test of skill—nothing more.
But in Jianghu, a duel was never just a duel.
It was a conversation. A challenge. A silent war where every movement spoke louder than words.
And tonight, Shen Liwei was speaking first.
He struck.
The Measure of Strength
His palm cut through the air—not wild, not forceful, but precise. A strike aimed directly for her centerline, meant to test her reaction.
Ye Xian moved instantly.
She twisted, pivoting just enough to let the force of his attack slip past her, her breath steady as the wind brushed against her sleeve.
Not a block. Not a counter. A perfect dodge.
She felt it then—his eyes sharpening.
Another step, another strike. Faster this time. A sharp movement toward her ribs, a subtle test of balance.
She flowed around it, light as a shadow.
And that's when she knew.
He wasn't fighting to win.
He was fighting to unmask her.
A normal physician—a woman with no martial background—should not be able to react this fast.
This wasn't a duel.
It was a hunt.
And she was the prey.
The Moment She Couldn't Hide
She had two options.
She could keep evading, keep pretending—but that would only make him press harder.
Or she could fight back, just enough to satisfy him—without revealing too much.
A dangerous line. But she had walked dangerous lines her whole life.
So, when his next strike came—a palm angled toward her shoulder—she met it.
Her hand caught his wrist, redirecting the force in a smooth arc, sending him off balance for just a fraction of a second.
A second was all she needed.
She stepped in.
Twisted.
And suddenly, Shen Liwei's stance was broken.
Not enough to make him fall.
But enough to make him pause.
Enough to make the smallest flicker of surprise cross his face.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
And before Ye Xian could retreat—
He countered.
The Trap She Didn't See
A shift of weight. A change in stance.
Then—a strike faster than she had predicted.
A sharp pressure at the crook of her arm—not an attack, but a capture.
Ye Xian's breath caught.
In less than a second, Shen Liwei had reversed their positions.
Her wrist was caught, her space closed, her balance compromised.
He had trapped her.
And he knew it.
The duel hadn't ended. But he had already won.
Not because of strength. Not because of skill.
But because in that one moment—she had shown too much.
The silence between them was deafening.
Then—
A whisper.
Soft. Unshaken.
"You're skilled," Shen Liwei said, his grip firm, but not unkind.
A statement.
A truth.
A problem.
Ye Xian met his gaze, her pulse steady despite the storm inside her.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—Shen Liwei released her.
A slow step back. A return to stillness.
Ye Xian exhaled, rolling her wrist slightly—not because it hurt, but because she needed to break the moment.
She lowered her gaze slightly, placing her hand over her heart.
"I did not expect the Sect Leader to be so relentless."
Shen Liwei studied her, then gave a small, unreadable nod.
"Jianghu does not favor those who hesitate," he murmured. "You understand that well."
A pause.
Then—
"I look forward to our next match."
Ye Xian smiled slightly. "So do I."
She turned to leave.
And that's when she felt it.
The Watcher in the Shadows
A shift in the air.
A flicker of movement at the edge of the training grounds.
Someone was watching them.
Not a disciple. Not an elder.
Someone else.
Ye Xian didn't react. Didn't let her eyes flick toward the presence.
But she knew.
She was not the only one keeping secrets tonight.
And if she didn't find out who that was soon—
She might not live long enough for the next duel.
End of Chapter 10