Chapter 23: Sword Duel

Ruan Sang escorted Tang Yue back to Kunwu City without lingering and promptly returned. During her time in Xuanwu Town, Ruan Tianyun—Shui Yima's husband—had arrived in Kunwu City specifically to express his thanks. He brought many gifts from the Ruan family. Most of these were handed over to the city's public treasury, leaving only one or two for Tang Yue. Because of this, she didn't even want to speak to Tang Wenhua. But then, Tang Wenhua had never paid her much attention in the first place and didn't notice her discontent at all.

Shui Yima, however, saw she was upset. "How could I ever forget you? Didn't you sign up for the Dao Discourse Conference? I invited a well-known Dao scripture master from Wuji Mountain to tutor you. He's even authored exam questions for the conference before. With his lectures, at the very least, you won't be eliminated in the first round."

Hearing this, Tang Yue immediately brightened up. She had been worrying about the lack of skilled Dao instructors in Kunwu City to help her prepare. "Thank you, Yima. You really are the best."

These past few days, ever since Ruan Ying learned her life was no longer in danger, she'd returned to her usual attitude. "Cousin, that lowborn girl actually forced you into joining the Dao Discourse Conference? How outrageous!"

She assumed Tang Yue had been coerced. To her, the Dao Discourse Conference was a boring, lengthy affair filled with incomprehensible droning from old scholars. How could a lively young girl like Tang Yue possibly enjoy something so dull?

Tang Yue smiled but didn't agree with her. "Cousin, it's not because of Tang Wan. I personally think the Dao Discourse Conference is a good learning opportunity. It lets me exchange ideas with other elite cultivators of Liu Continent."

Because of her cultivation, Tang Yue had been forced to study the Dao scriptures. But over time, she began to appreciate their depth. The cultivation world had its own theoretical system—different from science, yet often intersecting with it in curious ways. By studying both, she'd deepened her understanding of each and begun forming her own intellectual framework.

This kind of intellectual joy was something Ruan Ying simply couldn't comprehend.

While Kunwu City cultivators were highly skilled in swordplay and could offer sparring insight, they were not particularly strong in Dao scripture. So Tang Yue had long decided that the conference would be a rare chance to test her theories against others—not just to prove she hadn't cheated on her year-end exam.

Ruan Ying thought Tang Yue was just saying all this to console others. Surely she was inwardly suffering and too proud to show it. In her mind, she had to help her cousin reclaim her dignity.

She believed Tang Yue was far too weak—she couldn't even handle a lowborn girl and kept getting humiliated. It was up to her to step in and "repay" the life-saving favor. "Cousin, don't force yourself anymore. Watch me stand up for you."

She'd already forgotten how close she'd come to dying thanks to her last bout of impulsiveness. Now she was raring to punish another "wretched girl" again.

Tang Yue, remembering exactly why her cousin had come to Kunwu, got nervous and quickly tried to stop her. "Cousin, there's no need. Everything's been fine. No one is bullying me."

But Ruan Ying wouldn't listen. She was determined to "repay the debt." Tang Yue didn't know what she was planning, so she could only wait anxiously for the next day.

Ruan Ying said she wanted to check out Kunwu City's academy. She'd been attending lectures with Tang Yue during her stay. Today just happened to be swordsmanship class, and she said she wanted to see the city's sword arts for herself.

Swordsmanship was a mandatory subject for all Qi Refining stage disciples. They were grouped into pairs to spar under the guidance of sword instructors, as real combat was the best way to improve.

Disciples could choose their opponents or issue challenges. Knowing that Ruan Ying's cultivation was close to her own but that she didn't practice swordsmanship, Tang Yue worried she might get hurt. So she suggested they team up.

But Ruan Ying had her own plan. She strode straight toward the dueling platform, where Tang Wan and Zhou Huaisu were chatting.

Ruan Ying barked, "You lowborn wretch! You've bullied my cousin enough. Today, I challenge you to a duel!"

Tang Yue was horrified. Her cousin's cultivation and sword skills were nowhere near Tang Wan's level. Did she actually think she could win?

"Cousin, don't do this. Let's just pair up and train. Sword duels are no joke."

But Ruan Ying ignored her. Just looking at Tang Wan reminded her of the little snake who had tried to harm her. Enraged, she insisted on the duel. "You're just a concubine's daughter—nothing respectable about you. Now you don't even dare fight?"

Tang Wan was furious. She had been avoiding Ruan Ying for days. When they were little, Ruan Ying used to visit the mansion and would often gang up on her with Tang Yue. Fortunately, Tang Wan had always been clever and never suffered much.

Right now, she was working hard to build her reputation and didn't want any unnecessary drama. But now Ruan Ying was publicly provoking her. If she didn't respond, wouldn't everyone think she was weak and easy to bully?

"Fine. I accept. Let's see what marvelous sword techniques Wuji Mountain has to offer. Let's make this the first match of the day."

Chu Tianshu, the instructor for today's class, was also present. Though young, his swordsmanship surpassed most Core Formation cultivators, which was why Zixiao Mansion had invited him to teach the Qi Refining disciples.

Seeing Tang Wan about to duel another girl, he grew concerned and stepped forward. "Then I'll supervise this first duel."

Tang Yue felt a wave of dread. This was exactly how those toxic supporting characters in cultivation novels met their doom—swept off stage for offending the protagonists. Was her cousin about to walk into that cliché?

But she couldn't stop it. She could only watch as the duel began. In the original novel, Ruan Ying had been only slightly more competent than Tang Yue. There was no way she could beat Tang Wan, whose cultivation and sword skills were superior.

In just a few moves, Ruan Ying was already losing. She slashed her sword, and a few droplets of liquid flew out with it, hurtling toward Tang Wan. Caught off guard, Tang Wan couldn't dodge in time.

Chu Tianshu immediately flew onto the stage, caught Tang Wan, and waved his hand. A blast of spiritual energy forced the unknown liquid back.

This time, things were serious. Ruan Ying hadn't even realized what she'd just done.

Tang Yue acted quickly, firing off a talisman. A glowing shield appeared midair, blocking the splattering liquid. A few drops slid down the transparent barrier and landed on the stage—burning a massive hole into it.

Tang Yue was speechless. What kind of grudge did her cousin have against Tang Wan?

Chu Tianshu, seeing how vicious the liquid was, exploded in anger. "Sword duels among Qi Refining cultivators are meant to be friendly exchanges to promote mutual improvement. Miss Ruan, why have you come all this way just to harm the people of Kunwu City?"

Ruan Ying flushed with embarrassment. She'd only intended to humiliate Tang Wan. The poison wasn't lethal—it would just dissolve clothes. If the opponent reacted quickly, they wouldn't be hurt.

She hadn't expected the duel platform to be so fragile. Turns out, Kunwu City had saved money by not building high-grade platforms for Qi Refining disciples—so the corrosive liquid burned right through.

Chu Tianshu also realized the liquid probably wasn't that dangerous, but he was furious that someone had tried to harm Tang Wan, whom he treated like a cherished younger sister.

"According to Kunwu City rules, anyone who deliberately injures another during sword class is to have one arm severed. That law must be enforced."

His expression turned icy. He drew his sword and prepared to strike Ruan Ying's arm.

Terrified, Ruan Ying scrambled off the stage and hid behind Tang Yue.

Tang Yue recalled that the punishment depended on the severity of the injury. The male lead had jumped straight to the most brutal sentence—how domineering.

"Senior Brother," she said calmly, "my cousin is a guest from Wuji Mountain, not one of our Kunwu disciples. Whether she should be punished should be decided separately."

Chu Tianshu's anger flared. "Tang Yue, I haven't even questioned you yet. Did you instruct this girl to poison your elder sister again? Is your hatred so deep just because she's more talented and favored by the City Lord? How is that her fault?"

Tang Wan also spoke. "Senior Brother, I believe little sister didn't do it on purpose." She conveniently didn't say Tang Yue wasn't responsible.

Now Tang Yue was truly annoyed. So this is what people found attractive about the male lead's overbearing personality? She used to swoon over him when reading the novel—now she found him downright insufferable.

"Senior Brother, why do you so casually tarnish my reputation? Do you also want to cut off my arm? I will report this to the Taiping Office to clear my name!"

Well then, no one was going to have a peaceful sword lesson today. If she was upset, then everyone else could be upset too.

With that, she dragged her cousin out of the academy, secretly activating a speed-enhancing artifact. On the way, she also sent a message to Shui Yingrou and her uncle, urging them to come to the Taiping Office quickly—otherwise, her cousin's arm would be forfeit.

Chu Tianshu had no idea why Tang Yue was heading to the office and rushed to catch up—but he couldn't. Only then did he realize she must've used a magical item.

By the time he reached the Taiping Office, Tang Yue was already pounding on the Injustice Drum, surrounded by curious onlookers.

"How could someone be accusing the City Lord's daughter of injustice?" the crowd whispered.

As she beat the drum, Tang Yue shouted, "I beg the Taiping Office to give me justice! Chu Tianshu has slandered my name!"

The onlookers were shocked. The top disciple of Kunwu City was being accused of slandering a teenage girl? Outrageous!

Chu Tianshu frowned. "Tang Yue, what nonsense are you spouting?" He couldn't interfere near the Taiping Office, which prohibited violence on its premises.

The official overseeing the Taiping Office had already been informed that the City Lord's second daughter was beating the Injustice Drum.

The disciple who reported the matter hadn't been clear on the details. The official assumed Chu Tianshu had done something truly appalling, and feeling this was beyond his pay grade, he immediately sent word to the City Lord.

Then he rushed out to welcome Tang Yue and the others inside. But he was troubled—this case involved a noble young lady's reputation and really wasn't suitable for open court.

Yet Tang Yue didn't hold back. "Master of the Office, I wish to lodge a formal complaint against Chu Tianshu, top disciple of the City Lord's mansion!"