Chapter 17: The Duel Invitation

Li Shuang stood at the edge of Wuqing Peak, the newly awakened Frostcut Sword resting at her side.

From the moment the sword had revealed its true name, its aura had transformed completely.Gone was the dull, dormant blade Zhaozhao once discarded.Now it pulsed with sharp, cold elegance—an extension of Li Shuang's very soul.

She was practicing silently when Luo Mingyue arrived, holding a sealed letter.

"Junior Sister," she said, voice serious. "You've received a challenge."

Li Shuang turned. "From who?"

Mingyue held out the letter. "Sheng Yuan. He wants to duel you on the Moonfall Platform in three days."

Li Shuang took the letter and opened it. The contents were brief and direct:

"Senior Sister Li,For the sake of truth and justice, I, Sheng Yuan of Lingxu Peak, challenge you to a public duel.Let all past grievances be settled with swords.—Three days hence, Moonfall Platform."

Mingyue frowned. "What justice? What truth? He's clearly trying to save face. He was humiliated during the sect meeting—this is his way of getting back at you."

Li Shuang was calm.

"It's fine."

"Are you really going to accept it?" Mingyue asked. "You've only just entered Foundation Establishment. He's had two years at that stage. It's reckless."

Li Shuang sheathed her sword. "I don't need to win."

Mingyue blinked. "Then why go?"

Li Shuang looked out toward the mountains in the distance, her expression cold and still.

"I just need everyone to see what kind of person he truly is."

At Lingxu Peak, Sheng Yuan stood nervously before his master.

"Have you delivered the letter?" Lingxu Zhenren asked.

"Yes," Sheng Yuan said. "She hasn't declined."

Lingxu Zhenren nodded. "Good. That girl's reputation is rising too quickly. The longer she stays in Wuqing Peak, the harder it will be to contain her."

"You're going to beat her," he said, voice firm. "Not just for yourself—for the entire peak."

Sheng Yuan swallowed hard.

His master had been harsher with him ever since Li Shuang left.

He had always wanted to be acknowledged… but lately, everything he did seemed to fall short.

Now, finally, he had a chance to redeem himself.

"I will win," he said, more to himself than anyone else.

But deep down—he wasn't so sure.

He remembered the look in Li Shuang's eyes during their last encounter.

It was no longer the gaze of a senior sister.

It was the gaze of someone who had let go of the past.

And that made her dangerous.

The day of the duel arrived.

Moonfall Platform—a vast circular stage atop a flat mountain peak—was filled with disciples from across the sect.

Duels were not uncommon, but this one had drawn special attention.

Not just because of the tension between Lingxu Peak and Wuqing Peak.

But because everyone wanted to see what the once-disgraced Li Shuang had become.

Disciples whispered among themselves.

"She's only been in Wuqing Peak a short time. Can she really take on Sheng Yuan?"

"I heard she's cultivating the Supreme Forgetting Love Technique."

"No way. That's just a rumor."

"Rumor or not, the sect master recognized her. That says something."

Li Shuang arrived quietly, wearing her white and silver Wuqing Peak robes, her Frostcut Sword hanging at her side.

Sheng Yuan was already on the platform, sword drawn, face tense.

He looked at her.

She looked at him.

No words were exchanged.

A sect elder stepped between them. "This is a formal challenge. No fatal strikes. First to yield loses. Are both parties agreed?"

Sheng Yuan nodded.

Li Shuang nodded.

The elder raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Sheng Yuan charged instantly.

His sword moved with sharp precision, a technique Li Shuang herself had once taught him.

But when it met her blade—it stopped dead.

Frostcut shimmered with ice. Her movements were light, almost effortless.

She didn't strike back. She simply blocked, deflected, avoided.

Sheng Yuan grew more agitated with each exchange.

"Why won't you fight me seriously?" he growled.

Li Shuang answered calmly, "You don't deserve it."

Her words struck deeper than any blade.

Sheng Yuan shouted and unleashed a wave of spiritual energy—but it was messy. Desperate.

Li Shuang raised Frostcut with one hand and redirected his attack effortlessly.

She stepped forward.

With one clean strike, she knocked the sword from his hands.

Sheng Yuan staggered backward, stunned.

The audience fell silent.

Li Shuang stood still.

"I never abandoned you," she said softly. "I only gave up on being betrayed."

Sheng Yuan's face crumpled.

He dropped to his knees.

The elder stepped forward. "Winner—Li Shuang of Wuqing Peak."

Applause did not erupt.

Instead—quiet respect rippled through the crowd.

Not because she had won.

But because she had shown restraint.

She had already won long before the first strike.