Ying Wushuang was the most surprised. She didnât know Jiang Chen very well, but she knew one thing about him.
Jiang Chen was a stubborn person. He never chickened out when things came up, but there was one thing about him. He knew how to control himself. He wouldnât lose his mind. Usually, he would wait until his enemy launched an attack and fight back when he found out his rivalâs weakness.
It was the first time that she had seen him draw his knife first.
Shui Chun was also eager to take his revenge against Jiang Chen for that slap, so he reacted promptly.
âFlying Current and Angry Palm!â
He threw both of his palms out. His tremendous palm power erupted. The lake water was collected by his palm power.
One of his palms was aimed towards the blade, while the other pointed towards Jiang Chenâs chest.
Under the manipulation of the palm power, the gentle water turned into unceasing waves with great height.
Jiang Chen turned the blade and dashed over.
With a glint of the knife, the palm power erupted and water splashed.
Jiang Chen was behind Shui Cun when he took his knife back.
âYouâre more foolish than I thought.â
Shui Chun was fine, but he was extremely angry.
âAngry Waves!â
He exerted all of his power. The energy he gave off kept clashing around. The lake wasnât as calm anymore.
He launched an attack. His palm carried a much stronger power. It was like the arrival of a tsunami that left people no place to escape.
âHeâs courting death. How dare he attack Apprentice Brother Shui Chun?â
âDoesnât he know Apprentice Brother Shui Chun is ranked on the Fighting Power List? How could a newbie be a match for him?â
âHe hurt Murong Xing with the help of his mount. So what? Does he think he did it by himself?â
Those of the Sword Association came to themselves. They werenât surprised, but kept scoffing at Jiang Chen.
They had to call Shui Chun apprentice brother with respect. Of course, he wasnât an average person.
Shui Chun, ranked 43rd on the Fighting Power List, had broken through to the Reaching Heaven State when he was developing his fourth extraordinary meridian and was currently in Cloud Three.
He was skilled at martial arts techniques. He had even mastered the great doctrine of the creation of water.
Although he was only one cloud level higher than them, his fighting power was dozens of times greater than theirs.
He exerted the Angry Waves with great anger. Large amounts of water were sucked into his palm.
As soon as he exerted this palm movement, there seemed to be a water dragon trying to kill Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen steadied himself, put his knife horizontally before his chest with the blade facing outward, and confronted the water dragon face to face, intending to split it into two.
However, as soon as the knife blade cut the water dragon, he was pushed back by a great force. His feet were stuck in mud.
When the water dragon had brushed past him completely, Jiang Chenâs arms felt numb. His body had been soaked with water.
âOh? He parried my attack?â
Shui Chun was surprised. A Reaching Heaven State in Cloud One should have been knocked down by his palm attack and collided with the water dragon.
âI thought you were greater,â said Jiang Chen.
âItâs difficult to even kill a cockroach with one attack, but that doesnât mean a cockroach is powerful,â said Shui Chun coldly.
âFlying Current Damages World!â
He launched another attack. Crazily swirling water columns appeared in the lake this time.
âStop.â
At this moment, several lights landed between Jiang Chen and him.
It was Nan Gong and other grand elders.
âYour fight will affect the disciples practicing at the bottom of the Soothing Lake,â said one grand elder.
âI didnât start the fight,â Shui Chun said.
âRegardless, just stop,â said Nan Gong. He looked towards Jiang Chen helplessly, thinking this guy was troublesome.
âElder, I didnât start the fight. I wasnât at a disadvantage in the fight. Itâs okay for me to stop, but he has to apologize to me!â said Shui Chun.
This wasnât too much to ask, but everyone knew Jiang Chen would in no way do that.
âYou were at an advantage? What a joke,â Jiang Chen scorned as expected.
âSo letâs continue.â Shui Chun raised his eyebrows, about to exert another palm attack.
âShui Chun, even if you defeat him, itâll be an unfair victory.â Ying Wushuang, who hadnât yet spoken, suddenly opened her mouth.
âWhat does that mean?â
âJiang Chen has injuries, severe injuries,â said Ying Wushuang.
âYeah?!â
The people around recalled how Jiang Chen had been attacked by Shui Yuan and hit a mountain wall after he had killed Zhao Yajun.
The grand elderâs palm attack had injured him severely.
That was only a few days ago. He couldnât have fully recovered yet, but Jiang Chen hadnât behaved like he had any injuries. If Ying Wushuang hadnât reminded them of it, no one would have remembered.
They looked towards Jiang Chen again. He raised his head without saying anything.
âI was fighting a wounded guy.â
Shui Chun realized what Ying Wushuang had meant by âan unfair victory.â He had an unreadable expression.
âWhy donât you continue the fight after Jiang Chen recovers?â said Nan Gong.
âHow long will that be?â said Shui Chun.
Nan Gong looked towards Jiang Chen. The latter thought for a while and said, âThree days. Letâs continue the fight in three days.â
âOkay. But since Iâm doing you a favor, I have one requirement. Itâll be a life-or-death fight in three days. What do you say?â
As he spoke, he touched the handprint on his cheek. His look was extremely cold.
He spoke again without waiting for Nan Gongâs response. âIf you donât dare, kneel down now and apologize to me. Donât waste my time.â
He knew Nan Gong wouldnât want to see a life-or-death fight, so he made Jiang Chen decide.
It was Jiang Chen who had started the fight. It would be fine if he didnât agree to make it life-or-death.
It seemed like Shui Chun had conceded, but it was actually an aggressive move. He was good at this. If Nan Gong tried to stop them, he would turn to his father.
Jiang Chen seemed surprised. âDonât you like living in this world?â Then he sneered and said, âI agree. Three days from now, a life-or-death fight.â
âOkay.â
Shui Chun looked toward the other members of the Sword Association and said, âSpread the news and notify the whole Hero Palace.â
âNo problem. Leave it to us.â
They were quite excited. They glanced at Jiang Chen before leaving, gloating.
âElders, see you later.â
Shui Chun left, too.
âJiang ChenâŚâ
The other elders stopped Nan Gong when he was about to say something to Jiang Chen.
âItâs his decision,â a grand elder said.
Jiang Chen was definitely a troublemaker. They were disappointed in him. They would rather leave the life-or-death fight to the leader than meddle in it themselves.
âTake care.â Nan Gong glanced at Jiang Chen and left with the grand elders.
Only Jiang Chen and Ying Wushuang were still by the lake.
âYou didnât have to step in just now. I could have defeated him,â said Jiang Chen.
âHow much do you know about Shui Chun? You were out of your mind to say that so confidently,â said Ying Wushuang.
Jiang Chen was surprised. He closed his eyes. His chest was heaving up and down.
Whitty only had the intelligence of a child. His whereabouts was still unknown. Although his vitality had increased, who knew what kind of pain he could be suffering?
He felt heartbroken at the thought of this, then his sadness had turned into anger.
But Ying Wushuang was correct. If he went on like this, he would end up destroying himself.
He inhaled deeply after a long while and exhaled slowly.
âWhatâs done is done. I have to try my best to fight. If he wants a life-or-death battle, Iâll give it to him,â said Jiang Chen.
âItâs up to you.â
Ying Wushuang wasnât surprised at all. Besides feeling helpless, she felt something complicated deep in her heart.
Compared to Jiang Chen, she thought she was a coward.
That being said, she didnât have the same support from Nan Gong, nor was she thought so highly of by the Hero Palace. She had done whatever she could.
âGood luck,â said Ying Wushuang again.
Those two words were the biggest surprise for Jiang Chen that day.