Chapter Ten: The Beginning of It All (Part Two)

"Two peaches to kill three warriors?" Bu Jingyun asked, puzzled. "Does Xiongba intend to eliminate the three of us brothers?"

Having said this, Bu Jingyun shook his head. It was impossible. If Xiongba truly wanted to get rid of them, there would be no need to go to such lengths to take them in as disciples and train them. To spend over a decade nurturing them only to discard them made no sense; such self-destructive behavior did not seem like something Xiongba would do.

"Besides, it is true that I am fond of Kong Ci, but if there is to be any killing, it would be between you and me. Why would it involve Junior Brother Nie Feng?"

"Hahaha..."

Qin Shuang suddenly began to laugh, his laughter wild and hysterical. Xiongba, regardless of all else, was a master strategist; this single scheme alone was enough to prove his brilliance. Knowing the truth about Bu Jingyun and Kong Ci—that Kong Ci actually harbored feelings for Nie Feng—Xiongba had deliberately arranged for her to marry the unrelated Qin Shuang.

By adopting a servant as his foster daughter and involving all three disciples, Xiongba had set a trap. Bu Jingyun’s nature was inherently resolute and unyielding; in all likelihood, he would attempt to take Kong Ci and leave the World Gate. All that was needed was for Nie Feng to discover the relationship between them at the right moment, and Nie Feng would undoubtedly stand in Bu Jingyun’s way.

Because the Cloud-Shattering Palm countered the Wind-God Legs, once Bu Jingyun made up his mind, he would strike without mercy. Nie Feng, being kind-hearted, would certainly hold back. Since Bu Jingyun’s martial arts were already superior to Nie Feng’s, the result would inevitably be Bu Jingyun killing Nie Feng. Once Nie Feng was dead, Bu Jingyun would become a traitor to the World Gate, and having stolen Qin Shuang's bride, any bond of brotherhood would vanish the moment the killing blow was struck.

At that point, sending Qin Shuang to intervene would be the final stroke. Currently, Qin Shuang’s martial arts were superior to both Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng, and the Frost Fist naturally countered the Cloud-Shattering Palm. In a fight between them, how could Bu Jingyun survive? This way, Xiongba could easily eliminate both Feng and Yun without bearing any ill repute.

From the moment Xiongba received the prophecy from Mud Buddha to the implementation of this plan, how much time had actually passed? One had to admit that Xiongba was truly a formidable overlord. He kept secrets even from his own disciples, and his schemes, while seemingly calm and ripple-free, accounted for every detail.

"Have you laughed enough?" Bu Jingyun asked coldly. His face, already frosty, now carried a murderous edge. The woman he loved was to marry the man before him, and yet this man stood there laughing wildly. If not for their decade-long bond, Bu Jingyun would have already struck him down with the Cloud-Shattering Palm.

Qin Shuang stopped laughing and looked at Bu Jingyun with a hint of pity—a look, of course, that also reflected his own predicament.

"There is only one way to break this game," Qin Shuang said, his voice laced with ruthlessness. "I must take control of the World Gate!"

***

Qin Shuang was furious at Xiongba’s machinations. Admiration for the scheme aside, the resentment was real; he had tried to steer clear of such matters, yet upon his return to the World Gate, Xiongba had sprung this trap. It showed just how impatient the old man had become.

"You?" Bu Jingyun sneered. While his senior brother’s strength was unfathomable, since he couldn't even protect the Mud Buddha, he surely wouldn't be a match for Xiongba in a direct confrontation. Bu Jingyun wanted to kill Xiongba because of a deep, blood-stained vendetta; for Qin Shuang to speak so sanctimoniously about seizing power was truly contemptible. Besides, if Xiongba were so easily killed, he wouldn't have waited until now, nor would Xiongba have reigned safely for so many years. There were countless people in the world who loathed Xiongba, yet he lived on, his influence growing ever greater.

In terms of pure martial arts, Qin Shuang could not defeat Xiongba, though he likely wouldn't be defeated either. However, Qin Shuang had no intention of facing Xiongba just yet.

"I will arrange everything," Qin Shuang said coldly. "For now, stay quiet."

With that, he turned and left. Bu Jingyun’s cool demeanor was something one might admire in a story, but in reality, it was incredibly grating. As for whether Bu Jingyun would agree, Qin Shuang knew he would; even if he refused to cooperate, he was not the type to report to Xiongba.

Two days later, Qin Shuang finally received the news he wanted: he had located Duan Lang.

Qin Shuang went to meet him personally. Duan Lang looked like a stray dog, fleeing in all directions and appearing quite disheveled. Just as he managed to evade a group of World Gate guards and turned down a side path, he looked up to find the World Gate’s head disciple, Qin Shuang, waiting for him.

"Qin Shuang!" Duan Lang said, his voice dry. Encountering the head disciple here meant his luck had likely run out.

"Follow me." Qin Shuang began to walk. After several turns, they arrived in a secluded courtyard. Duan Lang followed; for him, things couldn't get much worse—with the area swarming with World Gate forces and Qin Shuang holding him in check, there was nowhere to run.

Duan Lang said with a mocking tone, "I wonder what advice the loyal Hall Master Qin has for me?" Clearly, since Qin Shuang hadn't attacked immediately, he must have a task in mind, and Duan Lang allowed himself a bit of insolence.

"One thing," Qin Shuang said, pulling a prepared map from his robes and handing it to Duan Lang. "Find the Sword Saint. Tell him to avenge Wushuang City and challenge Xiongba to a duel."

Qin Shuang stood with his hands behind his back, speaking words that shocked Duan Lang. The ever-honest and loyal Qin Shuang actually wanted to move against Xiongba?

***

"What’s in it for me?" Duan Lang, getting carried away, actually tried to negotiate.

Qin Shuang reached out and patted Duan Lang’s cheek. "Isn't your life enough?"

A flash of malice appeared in Duan Lang's eyes, though it did not escape Qin Shuang’s keen perception. Duan Lang immediately put on a fawning smile. "Forgive me, Hall Master Qin. I overstepped my bounds!"

No matter how humiliated he felt, Duan Lang was now the fish on the chopping block, and Qin Shuang was the blade. He had no choice but to endure it—that was the price of survival.

"I expect to hear good news at the Tianshuang Hall. If I don't hear back within three days, I don't think you'll want to see me again." Qin Shuang patted Duan Lang’s shoulder and left with his men.

"Qin Shuang!" Duan Lang hissed through gritted teeth. "I will repay today’s humiliation tenfold in the future!"

...

Shortly after, the World Gate received news that the Sword Saint had returned to the martial arts world, and Duan Lang arrived with the formal challenge. For a time, rumors of the upcoming duel between the Sword Saint and Xiongba spread throughout the land. The legendary feats of the long-secluded master were once again on everyone's lips.

The Sword Saint himself, however, paid little mind to these rumors, instead searching for his old nemesis—the only person who had ever defeated him in the way of the sword.

As for the other party, inside the Sanjue Hall, Xiongba’s gaze shifted as he looked at his three disciples. He intended to eliminate Feng and Yun, but Qin Shuang’s power was unfathomable, and his intentions were impossible to read. Now, facing the challenge from the Sword Saint, he felt uneasy leaving the vast World Gate in anyone’s hands.

Moreover, the timing of the Sword Saint’s arrival was suspicious—it was set for the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, exactly three days before Qin Shuang’s wedding.

Now, he had no choice but to go into seclusion to cultivate his Three-Part Origin Qi, leaving the World Gate to Qin Shuang. Xiongba suddenly realized he had made a grave mistake in marrying his foster daughter to Qin Shuang; if anything were to happen, Qin Shuang now held enough authority to legitimately take control of the World Gate.