Tao Ping raised a brow, reminding him, "Although Junior Brother Chen is also at Great Success in Skin Refining, he has already reached Minor Achievement in Manifest Force. Are you sure you want to challenge him?"
Chen Kai nodded, gritting his teeth. "I’m sure!"
So what if Chen Yuan had reached Minor Achievement in Manifest Force? When Chen Kai was clutching his Finger Tigers and fighting for his life in the real world, Chen Yuan had still been exchanging light punches in safe sparring matches. How could a flashy amateur who just trained bitterly inside the Martial Arts Hall compare to the actual combat experience he had honed in bloody struggles?
Chen Kai could only use these excuses to hype himself up and maintain his confidence. He knew that this was the moment when the gap between him and Chen Yuan was at its narrowest, giving him the highest probability of defying the odds. After consuming the Elixir, his strength would never progress again. This was the only chance he would ever have in his life to trample Chen Yuan to death!
Tao Ping said no more. Just as he was about to ask for Chen Yuan’s opinion, Chen Kai spoke again, his voice icy. "I have one more request. I want to sign a Life and Death Contract with Chen Yuan! A fight to the death!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings instantly fell silent. No one had expected this slightly naive-looking challenger to be so ruthless.
Tao Ping furrowed his brows, his voice dropping. "Signing a Life and Death Contract is no trivial matter. I advise you to think it through."
Coming to their door to issue a challenge was already provocative enough; signing a Life and Death Contract made it glaringly obvious that he was here for revenge. It wasn’t just about deciding a victor, but deciding life and death.
"I’ve already thought it through," Chen Kai said without a shred of hesitation.
He had made up his mind before coming here. After signing the Life and Death Contract, he would go all out and beat Chen Yuan to death. As for the subsequent two death matches, he would simply forfeit. He had learned this trick from Chen Yuan himself. As for offending the Huo Courtyard or even the Li Family, he didn’t care. As long as Chen Yuan died, nothing else mattered.
Tao Ping fixed his gaze on Chen Yuan. "Junior Brother Chen, what do you say? Are you willing to fight a life-and-death battle with Chen Kai?"
Chen Yuan didn’t hesitate either, simply shaking his head. "I refuse."
Although he felt Chen Kai lacked real skill and had likely been provoked or manipulated into demanding a duel, it would be troublesome if the kid had some dirty trick up his sleeve. There was no need to take that risk. At worst, he could just find an opportunity to ambush and kill him later.
Chen Kai never expected Chen Yuan to hide like a turtle, especially since Chen Yuan had been so arrogant when challenging him before. Exasperated and furious, he roared, "Chen Yuan, you cowering rat! Your technique is better than mine, yet you still don’t dare to accept the challenge? Where did all your bravado go when you challenged me back then? Coward! Spineless wimp!"
He had, of course, considered ambushing Chen Yuan—the success rate would be higher. But whenever he remembered how Chen Yuan had defeated him in front of a crowd, the humiliation threatened to drown him like a tidal wave, making it nearly impossible to breathe. He had to exact an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, to relieve the hatred in his heart.
Unfazed by his taunts, Chen Yuan looked at Tao Ping and said indifferently, "Senior Brother, this boy is speaking insolently. According to the rules, he should be thrown out of the Courtyard."
Tao Ping’s expression also turned cold. "Chen Kai, since Chen Yuan is unwilling to fight you, choose someone else, or drop the demand for a death match and I will select someone to spar with you. If you dare speak insolently again, don’t blame me for being merciless."
Chen Kai could only suppress the fury burning in his chest. "Chen Yuan, I will give you one more chance," he said darkly. "Step up like a man and accept my challenge. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something that drags your family into this."
The "family" he mentioned naturally wasn’t Chen Yuan’s parents, but his aunt’s family. Although Chen Yuan didn’t even acknowledge his biological father, Chen Kai could only bet that he still cared for his aunt’s family.
Chen Yuan’s gaze suddenly turned frigid, a bone-chilling killing intent flashing through his eyes. "Aren’t you afraid your own family will be retaliated against?" he asked lightly. "Are you that dead set on fighting me?"
Chen Kai sneered. "I don’t want to break the rules either, but you forced my hand. If you have the guts, go beat your own biological father to death and become a treacherous patricide." He no longer cared.
Chen Yuan slightly lowered his eyes, his face a mask of indifference. "Then I will grant your wish. Bring the Life and Death Contract."
If he let Chen Kai leave today, with the boy’s temper, he really might drag everyone down with him in a suicidal rage. His aunt’s family was his weakness, but also his armor. Because of this, he had no choice but to completely eradicate this hidden danger.
Seeing this, Chen Kai was overjoyed. "At least you have some backbone," he mocked.
Listening to their exchange, Tao Ping noticed something amiss. They seemed to be brothers, yet he had never heard Chen Yuan mention him. However, since the two had reached an agreement, he stopped trying to dissuade them and simply ordered someone to fetch the duel’s Life and Death Contract from the storehouse. Once signed with their thumbprints, it would take effect; whether they lived or died, the Government Office would not intervene.
At the same time, he sent a disciple to the Inner Courtyard to inform Master Huo of the matter. After all, it involved life and death, and Chen Yuan was now considered an elite disciple of the Huo Courtyard.
"Junior Brother Chen, be careful," Fang Minghai warned softly. Just a few days ago, he had watched Chen Yuan spar with Lv Mingyuan and come out slightly on top. Lv Mingyuan looked much more formidable than this Chen Kai. He had confidence in Chen Yuan’s strength, though he didn’t know where Chen Kai got his nerve. However, there had to be a reason behind the boy’s actions, so it was best to stay cautious.
Chen Yuan nodded. "Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I know what I’m doing."
If he didn’t beat him to death, he might as well admit to being weak. His blood was already surging like a mighty river, and his Elephant Bone hummed faintly as he gradually adjusted his condition to its peak.
From the direction of the Inner Courtyard, Huo Lin and Xu Heng walked out together, having learned the general situation from the reporting disciple.
"Heng, what do you think?" Huo Lin asked mildly.
Xu Heng frowned. "Is this Chen Kai crazy? Seeking death like this? What a buzzkill."
Chen Yuan was someone who had earned his approval, someone qualified to chase his shadow. As for this Chen Kai, where did this wild dog come from? Was his rabies acting up? He hadn’t even reached Minor Achievement in Manifest Force, yet he dared to challenge Chen Yuan? Did he think he was a genius? Although Chen Yuan hadn’t participated in the previous sparring meet, Xu Heng was certain he was far from simple; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to enter the Li Family. According to Senior Brother Song, he was even doing quite well there.
Master Huo smiled faintly. "It seems you have a lot of confidence in Chen Yuan. That’s fine. He didn’t participate in the last sparring meet, so this is a good opportunity to see his current progress."
Ever since discovering Xu Heng, most of his attention had been focused on this particular disciple. As for the others, he merely fulfilled his duties as a master by teaching them martial arts, without taking any active interest in their personal affairs.
On the table in front of Tao Ping, a Life and Death Contract was spread flat, a tin of bright red ink paste sitting beside it. Without a shred of hesitation, Chen Kai coated his thumb in the ink and pressed his print onto the document. Chen Yuan followed suit, stamping his own thumbprint.
Tao Ping declared loudly, "In this duel, fists and feet have no eyes, swords and blades have no mercy. Should there be crippling injury, severe wounds, or death, it is by your own volition and the will of fate. You shall absolutely not hold the other party accountable for their life, legally or financially. Nor shall the Government Office or your relatives seek revenge or cause trouble. Life and death are up to fate, and there shall be no regrets. Gentlemen, if you please."
Chen Kai walked to one side of the arena, his heart pounding powerfully, betraying his urgency. He recalled how, when they parted ways that morning, his mother had looked at him with a face full of worry and asked, "Will you win?"
Afraid she would stop him, he had claimed it was just an ordinary sparring match to prove he was stronger than Chen Yuan. He had been confident when proposing the death match, and his answer back then had been just as confident.
"I will win."