"What? Cliff is going to duel the Aurelian Dragon!" Both Gilmans and Prince Elnario were incredulous upon hearing the news, but their reactions were quite different.
Marco Bwe curled his lip and sneered, "That guy is really interesting. He's only just arrived in the capital and he's already challenged Cliff to a duel. Even I'm not confident I can defeat Cliff. Aurelian Dragon certainly knows how to pick his opponents!"
Prince Elnario was initially delighted, but then regretted making his decision too quickly. Perhaps the great price had been paid in vain, and perhaps his wish would have been fulfilled even before he needed to use that move.
Gilmans stamped his foot and cursed, "Aurelian Dragon is too ungrateful. He actually dared to duel with Cliff, one of the Four Swordsmen of the Capital, who is famous for his fast sword. He's courting death! All my scheming has been for nothing."
Jeff smiled sinisterly and said, "My lord, you are overthinking it. In fact, we will benefit from this battle regardless of the outcome. If Aurelian Dragon wins, he will offend the neutral faction, since Cliff's father is an important figure in the neutral faction, so he will have no choice but to join us; if he loses, it means that he is not worth our effort to win him over, so as not to waste our resources."
These words turned Gilmans' anger into laughter, and he nodded repeatedly, praising Jeff highly.
On the way back home, Joe, waving a military fan, poured cold water on Jeff's smugness.
"Does Your Excellency think that the Left Chancellor is unaware of the implications of this?"
Jeff was startled upon hearing this and looked up at the expert from the Church of the Underworld.
"That old fox already knew what was going on; he's just pretending to be stupid!" Joe continued, offering his opinion. "Maybe he even orchestrated this duel!" However, he had overestimated Gilmans in this regard. Gilmans had considered testing Aurelian Dragon's skills, but not so soon; this unexpected event had saved him a lot of trouble.
Now, Gilmans received even more exciting news: the people from Wenjianzhai would arrive in the capital within two days. He received Gan Zongming, who was delivering intelligence to him, in a secret room, because Gan Zongming was another pawn in his game, a hidden agent lurking in the shadows.
Looking at Gan Zongming, who seemed a little melancholy, Gilmans asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Gan Zongming bowed respectfully and said, "My lord, they have brought a total of thirteen skilled swordsmen this time. They are all the Sword Master's prized disciples and are all excellent swordsmen who can take on a hundred opponents at once."
Gilmans patted Gan Zongming on the shoulder with satisfaction and said, "You did a great job! Did she become suspicious?"
Gan Zongming hesitated for a moment, then said, "No!"
"Good! Good!" Gilmans looked at Gan Zongming, whose eyes were full of expectation, and chuckled inwardly, but his face remained full of concern as he said, "She's waiting for you behind! Go on!"
Gan Zongming was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, sir!" With that, he rushed out of the secret chamber like a gust of wind. He didn't see the strange look in Gilmans' eyes behind him.
※ ※ ※
In the back garden of Sanssouci Palace, a beautiful young woman sat on a swing set on the west side of the Nine-Bend Bridge. Her face was like a lotus blossom, her eyebrows delicate as spring mountains, and her eyes sparkled like autumn waters. Her skin was as white as snow, and her bright eyes exuded an air of nobility. What was most surprising was the black jade ring on her slender, fair finger. It should be known that there were no more than ten such rings in the entire continent, awarded to Grand Master Mages after rigorous examination by the Elder Council of the Magic Guild.
On the continent of Fengyue, those who possess magic can be broadly categorized into four types: White Sorcerers, Magic Swordsmen, Black Sorcerers, and Magic Strategists. White Sorcerers excel in white magic, as well as defensive and restorative spells; Black Sorcerers specialize in offensive magic and terrifying black magic; Magic Swordsmen are proficient in one or two types of magic, along with superb swordsmanship; and Magic Strategists are the only ones who excel in both black and white magic. Magic Swordsmen and Magic Strategists can further their training to become Magic Sword Masters and Magic Strategists, respectively.
This is because humans are different from other races; magic can only be practiced by those with the necessary aptitude. Some people are born with an affinity for magic and are suited to practicing various spells. However, different spells have different suitability for different people. If one tries to practice a spell without reaching a certain level, it may result in the destruction of both body and soul.
Ludeo, hailed as the strongest magic master on the continent, perished both body and soul after forcibly practicing the ultimate magic "Law Without Heaven and Earth." Afterwards, no one dared to practice "Law Without Heaven and Earth" again. Because practicing both black and white magic simultaneously is extremely dangerous, those with less aptitude are even more prone to problems. Therefore, magic masters are becoming increasingly rare, while swordsmen specializing in a single magic specialization are becoming more and more common.
It's unbelievable that such a beautiful young girl, only fifteen or sixteen years old, is actually a Grand Master of Magic. At this moment, she is idly kicking her small, delicate feet, making the swing set sway gently.
Suddenly, a clear female voice called out from afar, "Your Highness! Your Highness!" Light footsteps sounded, and two girls, around fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in bright red brocade robes, came running towards them.
Upon reaching the Nine-Bend Bridge, they lightly touched the ground with their lotus feet, their delicate bodies leaping into the air. In just a few bounds, they cleared the bridge, displaying their remarkable martial arts skills.
As the two maids approached her one after the other, the beautiful princess frowned slightly and scolded, "Why are you so late? I've been waiting for a long time." As she spoke, she flicked her slender fingers, and without any apparent movement, two sparks flew from her pale fingertips, heading straight for the two women's chests.
Knowing the princess's temperament, the two pretty maids stood obediently, not daring to dodge, watching anxiously as a spark flew towards their slightly protruding chests. Just as it was about to touch their clothes, the spark suddenly flashed and disappeared instantly. Both of them secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll spare you this time." The beautiful princess jumped off the swing and walked up to the two identical maids, asking anxiously, "What interesting news is there?"
The maid standing slightly in front announced in her clear voice, "Your Highness, they are going to have a duel tomorrow!"
"Who? Which two are they?" The princess's eyes lit up, and she said to the maid who hadn't spoken until now, "Xiao Qiu, you tell me!"
"Yes, Your Highness," Xiao Qiu said respectfully. "It is Baron Aurelian Dragon, newly promoted to Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry, and Young Master Cliff."
"Heh! It's that lecherous scoundrel who got soaked to the bone by Your Highness just now, and that arrogant playboy who loves to show off." The maid with the clear voice chimed in, not wanting to be left out.
The princess couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Xiao Chun, I didn't ask you to say it. You really are sharp-tongued; be careful someone cuts your tongue off one day!"
Xiaochun stuck out her pink tongue and said with a grin, "Your Highness, weren't those what you said?" Then, mimicking the princess's tone, she said, "That guy who flaunts himself with a woman is so disrespectful when he's paying homage to Father Emperor! He even dares to peek while bowing! He's got some nerve! Xiaochun, let's teach him a lesson!"
Xiao Qiu said anxiously from the side, "Sister, please say less! No matter what, they are nobles of the empire. How can we little girls talk like that!"
The princess waved her slender hand dismissively and said, "You two sisters are really interesting! Twin sisters with completely different personalities. If you didn't look exactly alike, I would really doubt that you're not biological sisters." Then she pointed at Xiaochun and said, "Since you like to talk so much, then you can talk all the time from now on!"
Xiaochun bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness!" Then she said with great interest, "Your Highness, do you know? They have made a life-or-death duel."
"Oh, this hasn't happened among nobles in a long time. Do they have some deep-seated hatred that makes them want to fight to the death?"
Xiaochun shrugged and said, "I don't know! Logically speaking, Aurelian Dragon has only just arrived in the capital, so he shouldn't have made enemies with others so quickly."
The princess waved her slender hand and said, "Forget it, let's not worry about these things."
She gracefully struck a pose as beautiful as a butterfly in flight, and said happily, "Let's go practice our skills!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiu and Xiao Chun's pretty faces immediately turned pale. They waved their four delicate white hands and cried out in unison, "Your Highness, please find someone else! For example, those palace guards with high martial arts skills. We want to rest for a few more days."
The princess stamped her foot and said, "Useless girl..."
The quick-witted Xiaochun rolled her eyes and changed the subject, "Your Highness, don't you want to watch their duel?"
The princess's attention was indeed diverted. Her small, rosy lips curved slightly, and she said in her sweet and charming voice, "It's not so bad to see two fools hacking and slashing at each other. But..." She looked at Xiaochun with a smile, "This kind of brute force fighting style is pretty much the same every time we see it, there's nothing new about it."
"Brute force?!" Xiaochun exclaimed in her heart. She knew Cliff's strength, which could not be described as brute force. "How many people can be as talented as you, possessing magic that is rare in the world at such a young age?"
Thinking this to herself, Xiaochun's pretty little face showed a look of deep agreement as she replied, "Yes, how could those stupid guys be as clever as Your Highness? Besides using such clumsy methods to show off their strength, where else could they come up with any better ideas?"
This little compliment made the princess smile broadly and she was very happy. Her bright black eyes darted around for a moment, and then she said in a clear voice, "Why don't we get them something fun?"
Xiao Qiu felt a sense of foreboding and was about to object when her twin sister, Xiao Chun, who always seemed to thrive on chaos, had already raised both hands in agreement and exclaimed, "Yes! Yes! Your Highness, please speak!"
A sweet smile appeared on the princess's pretty face, a smile that made Xiao Qiu's heart flutter. Xiao Qiu was very familiar with this smile. Whenever the princess came up with a way to play a trick on someone, she would show this smile. And the crazier the idea, the sweeter the smile would be. Xiao Qiu especially remembered this smile.
She remembered seeing the same smile half a year ago, and the consequence was that half of the Hall of Audience was burned down, and several grown men were forced to perform a naked run in the palace. She wondered what terrible idea this spoiled princess would come up with this time. She couldn't help but worry about the two men who were going to duel tomorrow. To be honest, she had a good impression of Cliff; after all, handsome men always make young girls' hearts flutter.
The princess's beautiful eyes flashed with a strange look as she stared at Xiaochun, making Xiaochun's heart pound with unease. The smile on her pretty face stiffened, and she felt extremely uncomfortable. Just as Xiaochun was anxiously trying to find out what was going on, the princess had already moved her graceful steps toward the palace. The two poor maids hurriedly followed.
※ ※ ※
And so, the duel between Aurelian Dragon and Cliff quickly became the talk of the town, thanks to the efforts of those with ulterior motives. Some even set up betting odds, allowing people to place bets on who would win. Naturally, most people favored Cliff, one of the Four Swordsmen of the Capital, since Aurelian Dragon was just an unknown newcomer from the countryside; who in the capital knew who he was?
Aurelian Dragon was unaware of these things. At this moment, he was looking at Lynette Quill with a worried expression. They were currently in the backyard of the Flying Phoenix Mansion.
After being distracted by Cliff's matter, Aurelian Dragon lost interest in asking Lynette Quill any more questions. Lynette Quill also fell into deep thought without saying a word. The two of them rode back to Flying Phoenix Palace in silence.
Upon arriving at the manor, after Aurelian Dragon changed his clothes, Lynette Quill pulled him to the backyard and had him truly demonstrate his signature martial arts skills. The result left Lynette Quill utterly astonished, stamping her feet in disbelief. Lynette Quill had sparred with Cliff before back in the capital and was deeply impressed by his abilities. She knew that with Aurelian Dragon's current skill level, his chances of winning tomorrow were virtually nonexistent.
It turns out that Aurelian Dragon's skills were more than enough to deal with those minor characters, but he was still a bit short of a true master, while Cliff was precisely that kind of master. Among the Four Swordsmen, Cliff was famous for his lightning-fast swordsmanship; frankly, finding someone in the capital who could outsmart him would be extremely difficult.
Seeing Aurelian Dragon's skeptical look, Lynette Quill said angrily, "Look carefully!" With that, she tossed a branch into the air. Aurelian Dragon was about to ask a question when a flash of light appeared; Lynette Quill had drawn her sword.
Aurelian Dragon felt a blur before his eyes as Lynette Quill's graceful body danced, as if several Lynette Quills had suddenly appeared. White rainbows flashed in the air, accompanied by the sound of wind breaking.
With a "whoosh!", Lynette Quill sheathed her sword, and the tree branch in the air transformed into uniform pieces of wood, which fell like raindrops.
Lynette Quill, without batting an eye, asked Aurelian Dragon, "Did you see clearly how many sword strikes there were in total?"
Aurelian Dragon hesitated for a moment, then said tentatively, "Eighteen swords?!"
"Twenty-one sword strikes in total!" Lynette Quill shook her head. "If you don't believe me, you can count the branches on the ground. When I left the capital three years ago, Cliff's 'Flash Combo' had the ability to unleash nineteen sword strikes in a row. I suppose he's about at that level now?"
Aurelian Dragon gave an awkward laugh and said, "I know my swordsmanship isn't very good, but I'm very good at fighting."
Lynette Quill was both annoyed and amused. She stomped her foot and said, "My young master, you are now in a duel with someone. Every move is witnessed by experts. It's not like a street brawl or a chaotic melee."
Seeing Aurelian Dragon just awkwardly chuckling at her, Lynette Quill couldn't help but complain, "Knowing your swordsmanship is bad, why did you accept the challenge in the first place? Didn't you even ask me first? Now look what's happened..."
Aurelian Dragon smirked and said, "Just look at the way that guy looks at you, and you can tell he has ill intentions towards you. Do you think I can tolerate someone plotting against my woman, Aurelian Dragon?"
Lynette Quill blushed and said coquettishly, "Who's your woman?"
Aurelian Dragon's eyes darted around, then he stepped forward, his face gleaming as he wrapped his arms around Lynette Quill's slender waist. He whispered in her ear with a laugh, "Yes, yes, yes, you're not my woman, you're my good wife!" He then lightly kissed her smooth, jade-like face.
Lynette Quill nestled weakly in his arms, whispering, "Aurelian, why bother with what others think? Don't you know my heart? I've already considered myself a member of your Ye family. Why did you act rashly?"
Aurelian Dragon held this beautiful woman, deeply in love with him. Her soft, full body gave him an infinitely wonderful feeling, and he gently kissed her luscious lips, deeply moved.
Unexpectedly, Lynette Quill suddenly became aroused, wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her lips tightly against his, and kissed him passionately. Her cherry lips parted slightly, and her tender little tongue slid into Aurelian Dragon's mouth like a nimble snake, arching and teasing him passionately, while soft moans escaped her delicate nose.
After a long while, Lynette Quill finally pushed Aurelian Dragon away, panting softly. Her beautiful eyes were glistening with tears as she said weakly, "Aurelian, I'm so scared! You're no match for Cliff right now, what am I supposed to do?"
Aurelian Dragon retorted defiantly, "We haven't even competed yet, and you already know I'm inferior to him?" In truth, this was just him being stubborn; men always want to appear strong in front of women, and they're unwilling to show weakness. Especially in front of a stunningly beautiful woman like Lynette Quill, Aurelian Dragon absolutely couldn't afford to lose face.
After listening to Lynette Quill's description and witnessing her swordsmanship, he realized he was still somewhat inferior to them. He had previously been a formidable force in Xijiang, and recently, having acquired the true Yin essence of several exceptionally beautiful women, he felt he had made significant progress. However, in just a few days in the capital, he had encountered several masters far superior to himself, proving that he had truly been a frog in a well.
After much thought, his only advantage was that his martial arts skills were honed in actual combat, and he deeply understood the principles of ruthlessness, accuracy, and viciousness. Perhaps only close-quarters combat would give him a chance. The question was, would Cliff allow him to get close? He might not even be able to touch the hem of Cliff's clothes before being cut into several pieces by Cliff's "flash combo".
"I'm done playing!" The thought suddenly popped into his mind. Knowing he was no match for his opponent, why risk his life? Recognizing the situation was always the only way to survive.
At this moment, Lynette Quill gave him a light push and said coquettishly, "You men..." Suddenly, she tilted her head back and said with a hint of unease, "Aurelian, why don't you not go? We're leaving in three days anyway, so we can postpone this duel until we get back."
Just as Aurelian Dragon was about to speak, he suddenly saw Obsidia Shade hurrying in from outside, her expression solemn. He couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion and quickly embraced Lynette Quill to greet her.
"I found that guy and tested his skills," Obsidia Shade said with a slightly heavy tone. "He can unleash a flashing combo of nineteen sword strikes. You, young master, may not be able to match his speed."
Lynette Quill said with slight confusion, "Strange, how come he hasn't improved at all these years? This is good news." This is because the higher the level of the Flash Combo, the harder it becomes to master, and twenty strikes is a significant hurdle. In fact, Lynette Quill herself only recently broke through this barrier. It was after her Yin-Yang synergy with Aurelian Dragon that her skill level rose, allowing her to reach a point above twenty strikes. Lynette Quill was unaware of this and naturally assumed Cliff was at the same level. However, Cliff should be proud to have mastered the Flash Combo to nineteen strikes; most people would be quite accomplished at fifteen.
Lynette Quill thought for a moment, then sighed dejectedly, "Even so, he's still a little stronger than Aurelian!"
Aurelian Dragon knew Obsidia Shade was subtly hinting at his point, and he couldn't help but smile wryly to himself. Both women believed he had no chance of winning, which only fueled his fighting spirit; his blood boiled again. He declared with boundless enthusiasm, "What's the point of life if you only do things when you're absolutely certain?"
If Phoenix Vane were present, she would undoubtedly scoff at this; meticulous planning was her style, and she resolutely opposed impulsive acts of bravery. But to Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade, this was heroic spirit—doing what they knew was impossible. Both women gazed intently at him, their beautiful eyes filled with boundless admiration, captivated by Aurelian Dragon's magnanimity. They felt that the man before them had suddenly become a towering figure.
The beauty's admiration intoxicated Aurelian Dragon, but after the intoxication subsided, reality troubled him, and he couldn't help but regret his gambler-like temper.
The two women also snapped out of their momentary intoxication, and the three of them began to reconsider their strategy. After all, the reality of the gap between them was obvious, and it couldn't be bridged by mere words or by heroic rhetoric.
Obsidia Shade suddenly said fiercely, "Young master, why don't I go and take care of that guy first, or at least injure him a little? That way, we'll be fine tomorrow!"
Lynette Quill shook her head vigorously, saying repeatedly, "No, no! It's too obvious!"
Aurelian Dragon thought to himself, "Damn it, these two beautiful young women are both stronger than me, and this little vixen Obsidia Shade talks so casually. Does she think he's made of paper?" However, he also knew Obsidia Shade's current strength; there were probably very few people on the entire continent who could surpass her. The Dark Clan, whose seals had been broken, were said to be able to rival the gods.
As the three were discussing, a servant suddenly came to report: "His Majesty has decreed that Aurelian Dragon be summoned to the palace!"
Upon hearing this, the three exchanged bewildered glances. Aurelian Dragon had just returned from Sanssouci Palace; they truly wondered why the Emperor wanted to see her again.
※ ※ ※
When Aurelian Dragon arrived at the palace, she was taken aback to find Cliff there as well. Just as she was wondering what was going on, a palace attendant summoned them both into the council chamber.
Aurelian Dragon paced back and forth in the luxurious room, her mind filled with questions. "What is that old emperor up to? He summoned us to the palace, gave us a night to rest here, and even wants tomorrow's duel to be held in the palace."
"Forget it, don't think about it, it's too troublesome! Anyway, it's not a bad thing!" Aurelian Dragon stopped, comfortably sat down in a cushioned chair, and picked up the jade cup on the table to play with it. "How to get through tomorrow's challenge is a problem. It seems that running away is impossible. Perhaps..." A smile slowly appeared on his thoughtful face, and he gradually made a decision.
"Hey! Come out!" Aurelian Dragon suddenly raised his head, glaring at him, and said, "I know you're here. If you don't come out, you're going to get a spanking!" As soon as he finished speaking, the beautiful figure of Obsidia Shade slowly appeared before him.
"Young Master, Sister Qin would like to ask what's going on? Ah…" Before Obsidia Shade could finish speaking, Aurelian Dragon pressed her down onto his knees and swung his hand across her alluring buttocks.
"Slap, slap, slap!" Without saying a word, Aurelian Dragon slapped three times in a row.
Amid Obsidia Shade's agonizing cries, the Aurelian Dragon said, "Don't try anything funny in front of me again, understand? You've been here for a while now, and you still haven't shown up. What are you trying to do?"
Obsidia Shade rubbed her backside with her hand and said sullenly, "Ouch! I just wanted to see if you could really find me, sir!"
Aurelian Dragon, having finalized his plan, was in high spirits. He gently kneaded Obsidia Shade's ample buttocks and said with pity, "Does it really hurt? Come, let me see!" As he spoke, his fingers hooked onto Obsidia Shade's belt and tugged at it.
Before Obsidia Shade could even comprehend what was happening, her trousers had been pulled down to her buttocks, revealing a plump, white, and lustrous bottom. A few red palm prints were visible on it, making her alabaster-like bottom even more alluring and captivating, sparking endless fantasies.
Obsidia Shade felt a cool sensation on her buttocks, followed by a heat, as Aurelian Dragon's hand began to caress them. She couldn't help but say shyly, "My lord, it's daytime, and we're in the palace..."
Aurelian Dragon laughed and said, "Don't worry, no one will come here. The Emperor doesn't want anyone to disturb us so that we'll be in top condition tomorrow."
"But, Sister Qin, she still…" Obsidia Shade pressed down on Aurelian Dragon's restless hand, still trying to make a final effort.
Without hesitation, Aurelian Dragon vigorously stroked Obsidia Shade's buttocks. Obsidia Shade's slender hand, which was pressed against the back of his hand, seemed to be helping him to stroke her more forcefully: "What does it matter if your sister Qin's end is a little later? Goodness, I've been wanting this tempting butt for so long. It's so tender and smooth! And so bouncy, it's making me so drool!"
A slight itch came from her buttocks, and upon hearing Aurelian Dragon's words, Obsidia Shade couldn't help but feel aroused. After all, in the past, when she was with Aurelian Dragon, there were always several people around, and they shared the pleasures of each other, rarely having time alone. She released her slender hand from the back of Aurelian Dragon's hand, lay down on his legs, and raised her plump, snowy buttocks high.
At this moment, Aurelian Dragon's fingers slid into the deep crevice between the mounds of flesh, splitting into two paths: his middle finger explored the front garden, while his thumb pressed against the anus. The nimble middle finger tapped, hooked, and pressed between the two delicate, smooth petals, causing Obsidia Shade to moan and wriggle her hips slightly. In this way, her sensitive, delicate anus, hidden deep between the mounds of flesh, constantly rubbed against Aurelian Dragon's thumb.
The simultaneous itchy and tingling sensations coming from two places in her lower body made Obsidia Shade feel both happy and sad. She secretly tightened her labia, clamping the fingers crawling on her vulva in hopes of getting more pleasure, while simultaneously retracting her tender anus, because she felt that the anus was very unclean, and the contact between her thumb and that place made her feel ashamed.
Sensing Obsidia Shade's reaction, Aurelian Dragon couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He was still thinking about deflowering Obsidia Shade! 'I'll make you even more embarrassed later!' Thinking this, he pressed his thumb closer to her anus and gently rubbed it, while his middle finger slipped into her already moist and warm honey hole.
At this moment, Obsidia Shade's secret cave was overflowing with spring water, her honeyed flesh itching, tightly gripping the unmoving middle finger, writhing and entwining. Her drooping hands grasped Aurelian Dragon's calves, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, and she kept panting and moaning.
Just as Aurelian Dragon felt Obsidia Shade's fleshy opening burning hot and aroused, about to experience ecstasy, he heard light footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the door. Obsidia Shade, burning with desire, quickly jumped up, pulled up her trousers, and vanished in a flash. Aurelian Dragon cursed inwardly at this ungrateful wretch for ruining his good time.