Chapter 9: Killing Without Batting an Eye (Part 1)
The next day, Li Qiye got up early and dragged Nan Huairun along to take a stroll around the Nine Saints Demon Gate's grounds. He wanted to see what kind of foundations the Nine Saints Demon Gate still had left!
Nan Huairun wanted no part of it. Whether Li Qiye was an idiot or just incredibly brazen, intuition told him that Li Qiye was an absolute troublemaker. Sticking with him would surely lead to nothing good.
But Li Qiye paid no mind to his reluctance and simply turned to leave. This forced Nan Huairun to follow with a pained expression. After all, they had come for the assessment. If anything happened to Li Qiye before it began, he would have a hard time explaining himself.
However, the two hadn't gone far before their path was blocked. The one who cornered them was none other than the Outer Disciple known as a "little genius," Du Yuanguang!
And it wasn't just Du Yuanguang who blocked their path; with him were a dozen other disciples from the Nine Saints Demon Gate. Many of the sect's disciples had long found Li Qiye to be an eyesore but never had a good opportunity to teach him a lesson. Now that Du Yuanguang was taking the lead, many were more than happy to come along and give a piece of trash like Li Qiye a beating.
"Ah, so it's Brother Du. I've long heard of your great name, long heard of your great name." Seeing that Du Yuanguang's group had ill intentions, Nan Huairun's expression changed. He quickly took two steps forward and greeted Du Yuanguang in an attempt to be amicable.
Du Yuanguang didn't even spare Nan Huairun a glance. "Nan Huairun," he said coldly, "this has nothing to do with you. Go cool off somewhere else. Otherwise, I'll deal with you too."
These words made Nan Huairun's expression change, but he was a smooth operator and managed to hold back his anger. He bowed and said, "Brother Du, what exactly is going on?"
Du Yuanguang ignored him completely. His cold gaze was fixed on Li Qiye, his killing intent palpable.
Li Qiye merely glanced at him before walking forward with unhurried composure. "A good dog doesn't block the path," he said. "If you don't want to be a dog, then get out of the way!"
The moment these words left Li Qiye's mouth, Nan Huairun knew it was over. Sure enough, the looks from Du Yuanguang and his group were sharp enough to kill.
"You're courting death! How dare a third-rate sect like the Xiyan Ancient Sect act so presumptuously in our Nine Saints Demon Gate? It seems you're tired of living! A bunch of ants, talking so big!" one disciple roared.
Just as Li Qiye was about to speak, Nan Huairun desperately pulled him back and whispered, "Senior Brother, just let it go. Don't stoop to their level. Du Yuanguang is an Outer Disciple the Nine Saints Demon Gate is heavily invested in. He's the designated Closed-door Disciple of their Guardian Xu. Once he passes this year's assessment, he'll become one of the Inner Mountain Disciples."
Nan Huairun was reminding Li Qiye that they couldn't afford to provoke someone like Du Yuanguang, who had Guardian Xu of the Nine Saints Demon Gate backing him. A Guardian from the Nine Saints Demon Gate held a higher status than even an elder from the Xiyan Ancient Sect!
A cold glint flashed in Du Yuanguang's eyes, but he didn't make a move just yet. He said coldly, "My Nine Saints Demon Gate is the leading power in the Ancient Ox Territory. Even though the Xiyan Ancient Sect is only a minor sect, we wouldn't treat our guests poorly. However, one of our brothers recently lost a precious treasure."
These deliberately slow words from Du Yuanguang made Nan Huairun's face fall. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Du, what are you implying!"
Du Yuanguang shot Nan Huairun a cold glance and said, "It's nothing. It's just that we haven't had any other outsiders at the Nine Saints Demon Gate recently. In the past two days, the only guests have been you from the Xiyan Ancient Sect!"
The implication couldn't have been clearer. Du Yuanguang was outright calling the people from the Xiyan Ancient Sect thieves. This was no longer a personal matter of honor but an insult to the reputation of the entire Xiyan Ancient Sect. Even someone as diplomatic as Nan Huairun's face turned grim.
"Brother Du, watch your words!" Nan Huairun had wanted to smooth things over, but with the reputation of the entire Xiyan Ancient Sect at stake, he couldn't just let it slide!
Du Yuanguang gave Nan Huairun and Li Qiye a sidelong glance and said with contempt, "Watch my words? The Xiyan Ancient Sect is already a decrepit, destitute has-been. Who can guarantee that some petty thieves haven't snuck into your ranks? If a useless Mortal can become your Chief Disciple, it would hardly be surprising for the Xiyan Ancient Sect to recruit a few crooks and scoundrels!"
Nan Huairun's face flushed red with anger. This was a direct insult to the Xiyan Ancient Sect. No disciple of the sect with any pride could tolerate this.
"Brother Du, we wish to see your Hall Lord Fu! No matter what, you must give our Xiyan Ancient Sect an explanation for this!" With the age-old reputation of the Xiyan Ancient Sect at stake, Nan Huairun absolutely would not back down.
Du Yuanguang was supremely confident. He let out a cold laugh. "See Hall Lord Fu? Nan Huairun, it's not that I don't want to give you face, but you and your trash of a Chief Disciple aren't qualified to meet our Hall Lord. Heh, your Xiyan Ancient Sect is just a third-rate minor sect. My Hall Master is a powerful figure on the level of a Heroic Hero. If one of your elders requested an audience, that might be barely acceptable. But you? You're not qualified. Especially not this piece of trash!" As he spoke, he stared coldly at Li Qiye.
"That's right! What does the Xiyan Ancient Sect even count for? As for that worthless Chief Disciple, he's nothing but a pile of sludge. Having him stay at our Nine Saints Demon Gate dirties our very doorstep!" the other disciples around Du Yuanguang jeered.
This was the utmost humiliation for Nan Huairun and the Xiyan Ancient Sect! He trembled with rage.
Only Li Qiye remained as calm and composed as ever. He looked at Du Yuanguang and said unhurriedly, "It doesn't matter whether this is your idea or your Hall Master's and Guardian's. You, boy with the surname Du, are just infatuated with your Nine Saints Demon Gate's successor, right? Oh, that woman named Li Shuangyan. I haven't even met this so-called Divine Maiden you all worship, but that's just a sign of how short-sighted you are. This idea of your successor, Li Shuangyan, marrying me is nothing more than your sect's wishful thinking. Given the meager status of your Nine Saints Demon Gate, if your Divine Maiden wanted to serve as my handmaiden, I'd still have to think about it..."
"...As for someone of your caliber?" Li Qiye shot Du Yuanguang a disdainful look. "An idiot like you... if your Divine Maiden has any talent at all, she wouldn't give an idiot like you a second glance! Even for a woman I, Li Qiye, might not be interested in, an idiot like you still isn't qualified to compete with me for her. Go find a corner and cool off!"
"You little bastard, you're courting death! Then I shall grant you your wish!" Li Qiye's words sent Du Yuanguang into a towering rage. He roared, and in an instant, a Divine Light flared behind his head as a Divine Sword appeared in his hand.
"Du Yuanguang, if you want a fight, I'll be your opponent!" Li Qiye's audacious taunts had filled the furious Nan Huairun with a sense of vindication. But he also knew that Li Qiye had never practiced Cultivation, so he immediately jumped in front of him.
"Fine, Nan Huairun! I'll deal with you first, then I'll execute this little bastard!" Flames of fury erupted from Du Yuanguang's eyes. In his heart, Li Shuangyan was an unparalleled Divine Maiden. Li Qiye insulting the girl of his dreams drove him even crazier than being insulted himself!
Li Qiye gently pushed Nan Huairun aside. "Huairun," he said calmly, "since someone wants to take my life, I'll be the one to kill him. You just watch."
"Good! Good! Good!" Du Yuanguang laughed instead of raging. He stared at Li Qiye and cackled. "That's the funniest joke I've ever heard. A piece of trash who's learned a few shoddy Martial Techniques dares to talk about killing me, a Palace Breaking Realm Cultivator. Very well, I'll give you the chance to a duel."
"HA, HA..." The other disciples of the Nine Saints Demon Gate around Du Yuanguang burst out laughing. They looked at Li Qiye with pity. One of them cackled, "Martial Techniques against Daoist Techniques? The people from the Xiyan Ancient Sect don't even have the most basic common sense. So arrogant and ignorant. It's truly pathetic!"
Li Qiye couldn't even be bothered to give them a second glance. "Fine," he said calmly. "I'll see you at the dueling grounds." Without another word, he headed straight for them.
"You can't—" Nan Huairun was terrified. He quickly grabbed Li Qiye and whispered, "Senior Brother, absolutely not! Du Yuanguang is already at the Pillar Foundation level of the Palace Breaking Realm. You're no match for him!"
"It's fine. It's just the Palace Breaking Realm, not a Prince. Even if a Prince from the Nine Saints Demon Gate pissed me off here, I'd still grind him into paste." Li Qiye said with a faint smile, pushing Nan Huairun away.
Nan Huairun was stunned for a moment. His first thought was, 'Li Qiye has gone mad!' Li Qiye had only been with the Xiyan Ancient Sect for a few days; he hadn't even started cultivating the most basic Daoist Heart Technique. The most he had practiced was the Qimen Saber Technique!
A person who had never practiced Daoist Techniques, even if they had practiced Martial Techniques, could never challenge a Cultivator. The difference between Martial Techniques and Daoist Techniques was as vast as heaven and earth, to say nothing of the fact that Du Yuanguang was an expert at the Palace Breaking Realm.
While Nan Huairun was still in a daze, Li Qiye was already far ahead. His voice drifted back, "You, boy with the surname Du, I'll see you on the dueling grounds."
"Heh, how pathetic is ignorance!" Du Yuanguang said grimly. "Since you wish to die, I will grant it! I don't mind using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken!"
"Senior Brother Du, you can finish him off with a single sword strike," a disciple next to Du Yuanguang said with a loud laugh.
In the eyes of both Du Yuanguang and the other Nine Saints Demon Gate disciples, a Martial Artist challenging a Cultivator was simply suicidal. Compared to Daoist Techniques, Martial Techniques were nothing but trivial, insignificant tricks! Moreover, Du Yuanguang was a young genius at the Palace Breaking Realm. Killing a piece of trash like Li Qiye with a single strike would be effortless.
Nan Huairun snapped back to his senses with a shudder. He turned and ran, intending to find his master, Guardian Mo, immediately. He had to save Li Qiye, no matter what. He knew that if Li Qiye fought Du Yuanguang, he would certainly die!