Chapter 33: A Life-and-Death Duel Three Days Later

"Master Wu?"
Seeing the newcomer clearly, Ji Yuntian's brows furrowed slightly.
He had not expected that Master Wu from the Treasure Pavilion would stand up for the Jun family.
"Wu Shanhe? Why is it you!"
Nangong Lei evidently recognized Master Wu as well, his eyes now filled with astonishment.
"Nangong Lei, why aren't you staying peacefully in the imperial capital? What are you doing here?"
Master Wu's expression was grim and he showed no courtesy to Nangong Lei.
Although Nangong Lei hailed from the Nangong clan, Master Wu's status was no lower, and being older, he was considered Nangong Lei's elder.
"Wu Shanhe, do I need to report my actions to you?"
Nangong Lei sneered, equally unceremonious.
Master Wu's status might be high, but his talent was limited, his strength ordinary, and he had long since left the capital—so Nangong Lei felt no fear.
"Hmph, the Jun family are honored guests of our Treasure Pavilion. If you dare harm them, you make yourself an enemy of the Treasure Pavilion!"
Master Wu and Nangong Lei were clearly at odds.
Now that Nangong Lei sought to annihilate the Jun family, Master Wu could not stand by.
After all, Jun Wushuang was his mistress!
"Wu Shanhe, are you really going to oppose the Nangong clan for the sake of a local snake?"
Nangong Lei stared intently at Master Wu, his voice low and threatening.
He could not fathom why Master Wu would so fervently support the Jun family, but his words were a veiled warning for Master Wu to consider the consequences.
To offend him—and even the entire Nangong clan—for the sake of such a minor family was not worth it.
"If you dare touch the Jun family, you stand against the entire Treasure Pavilion."
"These words hold true not only here in Jiangning City, but even within the imperial capital."
Master Wu spoke with absolute confidence.
After all, the King of the South himself had gifted a royal token to Jun Wushuang.
And as the King of the South was the chief master of the Treasure Pavilion, Master Wu had every right to say this.
Nangong Lei's gaze sharpened.
He could dismiss Master Wu alone, and even ignore the Treasure Pavilion's branch in Jiangning City.
But the entire Treasure Pavilion? Not even he, nor the whole Nangong clan, would dare offend them.
For behind the Treasure Pavilion stood the formidable King of the South!
"What is so special about the Jun family that makes this old Wu Shanhe defend them so fiercely?"
Nangong Lei felt a surge of irritation.
He had thought them to be mere ants, easily crushed.
Yet, now, Wu Shanhe and the Treasure Pavilion had emerged.
He could disregard the Jun family, but not the Treasure Pavilion.
"Wu Shanhe, do your words and actions today truly represent the Treasure Pavilion?"

"If the King of the South and the Azure Pill King learn of your borrowed authority, you won't need me to act—your fate will be sealed in the deepest hell!"
Nangong Lei fixed Master Wu with a cold stare.
He refused to believe the Treasure Pavilion would oppose him over a trivial Jun family.
"Of course I speak for the Treasure Pavilion!"
Master Wu replied with a chilly laugh.
"If the King himself stood here, he would tell you: offending the Jun family is offending the Treasure Pavilion!"
"As for you, if you dare offend our honored guest, should your father and grandfather learn of it, you might well have your legs broken."
The King of the South had personally gifted the royal token and allied himself with Jun Wushuang.
Master Wu feared nothing!
"You..."
Nangong Lei clenched his fists at these words.
But what Master Wu said hinted at something amiss.
Who would dare joke about the King of the South?
Master Wu's boldness suggested secrets unknown to him.
"My son-in-law, Jun Wushuang holds a royal token from the King of the South!"
Ji Yuntian suddenly realized, quickly reminding Nangong Lei and recounting the events from the martial contest.
"What?"
Nangong Lei was stunned.
He knew well what the royal token signified.
To see the token was to see the King himself.
Even his own father would kneel upon seeing it.
How could a mere Jun Wushuang possess such a token?
Yet Master Wu and Xu Huanhu confirmed its authenticity.
Besides, forging such a thing would invite the extermination of nine generations.
The four words 'Royal Token of the King of the South' sank Nangong Lei's heart instantly.
If Jun Wushuang revealed the token now, he would be forced to kneel.
Such a situation Nangong Lei absolutely did not wish to witness.
"The Ji family are kin to the Nangong clan, while Jun Wushuang betrayed us first, and Jun Zhantian targeted the Ji family after. This enmity must be avenged."
"Since Jun Wushuang is hailed as the true dragon of the Jun family, I hereby challenge him!"
"Three days from now—a duel to the death."
"If I win, not a soul will survive in the Jun family!"
The emergence of Master Wu and the news of the royal token prevented Nangong Lei from advancing further.
But he refused to leave in defeat.
So he hatched a plan: to challenge Jun Wushuang.
A duel to the death—there would be no mercy, only survival or demise.

"Nangong Lei, you're at the ninth tier of the Myriad Phenomena Realm challenging someone at the first tier. Have you no shame?"
Master Wu could not agree to such a proposition.
Nangong Lei, with extraordinary talent and formidable strength, had dispatched Jun Zhantian in a single blow.
In a duel to the death, Jun Wushuang would surely perish.
"He is the true dragon of the Jun family—he even slew Xu Huanhu, who was at the fourth tier of the Divine Sea Realm. What does my challenge amount to?"
"If he refuses, then he is faithless and treacherous. Don't blame me for being ruthless!"
A fierce light flashed in Nangong Lei's eyes.
He had promised Ji Qingchen, and he intended to fulfill it.
Jun Wushuang must die!
"I accept!"
As Master Wu was about to speak, Jun Wushuang's voice suddenly rang out from the inner courtyard.
"You heard him—he agreed himself!"
"Prepare yourselves. In three days, I will come for your heads!"
Nangong Lei was overjoyed, sealing the matter with finality, giving Master Wu and Jun Zhantian no chance to retract.
He then led Ji Yuntian away.
Master Wu was anxious, and Jun Zhantian filled with worry.
The two rushed into the inner courtyard.
At this moment, Jun Wushuang had not yet emerged, but had sensed the situation outside and spoken.
"Wushuang, you were too impulsive. Though Nangong Lei is only at the ninth tier of the Myriad Phenomena Realm, his combat strength rivals the third or fourth tier of the Divine Sea Realm, and he is a profound-level student of the Royal Martial Academy. A wise man does not court disaster!"
Jun Zhantian believed in Jun Wushuang, yet this adversary was simply too powerful.
He himself had been defeated in a single blow.
No matter how strong Jun Wushuang was, how could he be Nangong Lei's equal?
"Father, rest assured. Since I have accepted, I am certain of victory!"
Jun Wushuang's voice came forth, devoid of fear.
"Master Wu, I require large quantities of spirit stones, elixirs, monster cores, and healing pills—the more, the better!"
Jun Wushuang spoke again, determined to hasten his recovery for the coming duel.
"Your humble servant obeys!"
Master Wu dared not refuse, agreeing instantly.
Within the secret chamber,
Jun Wushuang's complexion was pale, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
"Ji Qingchen, you truly are a venomous beauty, even ensnaring the genius of the Nangong clan in your schemes."
"Sadly, you have underestimated me!"
"In three days, I will kill Nangong Lei!"