After the Buddhist Sect learned of this matter, they naturally wanted to clean their house. However, the two sides had been entangled for over a decade without any resolution.
Sui Xin Monk knew he was a nuisance to the Buddhist Sect, so he usually kept a low profile, making his whereabouts difficult to track.
Furthermore, because he had never committed any major atrocities, the Buddhist Sect could not seek help from the Martial Arts Alliance to mobilize the people of the Jianghu to assist in his capture.
Sui Xin Monk’s martial arts were not low; even among First-class Masters, he was a top-tier existence. That Female Warrior Xin was also a First-class Master.
Zhao Honglan certainly did not want to lose. If he lost, he would have to marry this Female Warrior Xin. Therefore, he absolutely would not admit defeat or retreat; he could only give it his all. It was no wonder he would end up heavily injured.
“Can this duel really be two-on-one?” Lian Li said in disbelief. “They didn’t mention that before. I always thought it was a 1v1.”
Yun Huizhou curled his lip, his gaze somewhat disdainful. “Originally, it was one-on-one. After Sui Xin Monk arrived, he spoke a bunch of shameless nonsense. Xin Ci didn’t speak up to interrupt him, and since Zhao Honglan needs something from her, he could only agree to let both of them take the field.”
He began to refer to Xin Ci by her name directly, rather than calling her Female Warrior Xin as he had before. Lian Li knew that Yun Huizhou was unhappy and dissatisfied with this Female Warrior Xin.
“What did Sui Xin Monk say?” Lian Li asked. He felt this was far too improper; how could they just add a person right as the fight was about to start?
Yun Huizhou said, “He said that regardless of the outcome, Zhao Honglan would get to know what he wants to know, whereas if Xin Ci loses, she gets nothing. He claimed the stakes of this duel were unfair.”
“He also said that Brother Zhao has been in his sect since he could speak, and as soon as he reached the age to practice martial arts, he had the best masters and conditions. Meanwhile, Xin Ci only started practicing two years after she reached the proper age. He claimed Brother Zhao competing against Xin Ci was bullying her.”
“He argued that no matter how one looks at it, Brother Zhao is taking advantage of her. He said he couldn’t stand by and watch, so he came specifically to assist Xin Ci.”
“But wasn’t this duel requested by Xin Ci herself?” Lian Li simply couldn’t understand these people’s logic. “And Zhao Honglan actually agreed to such a bullshit reason?”
Lian Li was so angry he stopped calling him Senior Brother Zhao. He practically wanted to crack open Zhao Honglan’s head to see what he was thinking.
Such shameless people should have been blasted with a torrent of creative profanity until their own parents wouldn’t recognize them. To think he actually agreed to their demand.
Yun Huizhou’s gaze darkened slightly as he said, “Brother Zhao needs something from them.”
Lian Li reached out and slapped Yun Huizhou’s shoulder hard, saying, “Are you going up there to help Zhao Honglan curse out that piece of scrap metal? Go! I support you. If you can’t out-curse him, call me, and I’ll help you!”
Yun Huizhou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He said, “There’s no need to get into a war of words with that man. Giving him a sound thrashing will suffice. Once we’ve beaten him, I’ll take you to the Buddhist Sect to grab a meal when we have time. Their food is exquisite; ordinary people can’t even get a taste.”
“That sounds good.” Lian Li nodded with satisfaction, then added, “Since that man is shameless enough to propose such conditions, he might say more shameless things when you go up. Just be a bit thicker-skinned when the time comes. Anyway, you can’t possibly be thicker-skinned than him.”
“Mm, I know,” Yun Huizhou said. “Sui Xin Monk has impure motives. Even if Xin Ci tried to stop him, there’s no guarantee he wouldn’t launch a sneak attack from the side. Moreover, I’m curious as to what reason could make Xin Ci disregard her reputation in the Jianghu and tacitly allow Sui Xin Monk to interfere in this matter.”
“But…” Lian Li said with some concern, “After you go up, will Xin Ci go back on her word and refuse to tell Senior Brother Zhao the information? Wouldn’t that just be another mess?”
Yun Huizhou lowered his eyes and said, “Since Xin Ci pulled such a stunt right as the duel was about to begin, the moral high ground is no longer hers. Whether she speaks or not is no longer up to her. Besides, who can guarantee that what she says is the truth?”
“Right now, they are just taking advantage of the fact that Brother Zhao has the reputation of a Great Hero and is unwilling to do certain things. If it truly concerns Miss Qu, Brother Zhao might not necessarily act like a Great Hero in private.”
Hearing this, Lian Li raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t this the standard operating procedure for a novel’s Male Lead?
Usually noble and bright like the wind and moon, but when it comes to the Female Lead’s affairs, they reveal another side, demonstrating the Male Lead’s double standards.
Lian Li glanced toward Zhao Honglan and saw that he currently had no expression. He merely held his sword silently, pointing it at the two of them.
Previously, his eyes had looked tired but still held some warmth. Looking at him now, although he still seemed to be smiling, he appeared cold and ruthless.
Just as the two sides were about to move, someone else drifted into the arena and stood beside Zhao Honglan.
Yun Huizhou had entered the field.
“Brother Yun!” Zhao Honglan’s voice held a hint of surprise.
“Brother Zhao,” Yun Huizhou replied. He then looked at the two opponents and made a gesture of invitation.
Seeing the sudden appearance of Yun Huizhou, Sui Xin Monk’s brow furrowed, though a smile still hung on his lips. “This is a match between us and Great Hero Zhao. What is Young Master Yun doing?”
Hearing the man’s words, Lian Li curled his lip inwardly. Obviously, he can’t stand your shameless two-on-one!
Zhao Honglan was also something else. Didn’t they agree on a 1v1 with Female Warrior Xin? How did it suddenly become a 1v2, and he actually agreed to it?
“You decided to add a person to a pre-arranged duel on the spot. There’s no logic in only allowing one side to add a person.” Yun Huizhou rested his saber on his shoulder and looked at Xin Ci, saying, “Female Warrior Xin hasn’t practiced martial arts as long as Brother Zhao. However, the combined time Brother Zhao and I have practiced is barely half of your combined time. According to your logic, you stinking baldy, you’re the ones taking a huge advantage.”
“I’m not a petty person. These extra twenty-plus years of martial arts practice just happen to offset the fact that Brother Zhao gets his information regardless of the outcome. Actually, if you think about it, we’re still at a bit of a disadvantage.”
“This matter was brought up by you, stinking baldy. Why don’t you think of a way to compensate us?”
You could say Yun Huizhou was thick-skinned—after all, he knew to let Lian Li order the food when Zhao Honglan was treating.
But if you were to say he was thin-skinned, sometimes he really was a bit of a rogue.
Sure enough, as soon as Yun Huizhou spoke, the smile on Sui Xin Monk’s face became even more forced, and Xin Ci’s expression grew more embarrassed.
Yun Huizhou didn’t intend to give them time to chatter. He drew his saber and pointed it directly at Sui Xin Monk. “Alright, everyone is in a hurry. Let’s get started. One moment you want a duel, the next you want to add people—dragging your feet and being indecisive. I wonder what you’re actually trying to do?”
Sui Xin Monk said, “Great Hero Zhao, if you are unwilling, you are more than welcome to leave.”
Zhao Honglan’s eyes suddenly turned dark and predatory. At the same time, Yun Huizhou’s gaze sank. “So, is it you, Sui Xin Monk, who calls the shots in this matter?”
Sui Xin Monk realized he had misspoken, and his expression changed.
The surrounding onlookers also began to catch on. From the moment Sui Xin Monk appeared, Xin Ci had hardly spoken; it was Sui Xin Monk calling all the shots. Thinking of this monk’s reputation, many people began to look at Xin Ci with strange expressions.
