Trouble

Two horses neighed softly and lowered their heads to the grass. They were tied to two trees and the song of crickets echoed in the background but Li Chen's eyes were serene.

He laid on the ground, supporting his head with his hands and crossed his legs, causing his robe to tilt, exposing his high-quality boot.

His sword lay beside him. 

A few meters away, Old Li was leaning against a tree. His cheeks were ruddy and he glared at his empty gourd.

"Brat, I'm hungry. Get me a bowl of noodles and don't forget to refill this." The old man threw the gourd over and Li Chen caught it without looking.

Inwardly, he felt awed at his ability.

Sighing, he sat up and turned to Old Li. [I'll refill it with water. You've had enough wine.]

As expected, Old Li hurled words about how untrained Li Chen was. Shaking his head, Li Chen walked down the hill. He was still around the mountain and he could see people pointing and whispering about him. 

Ignoring them, he looked around. Lanterns were everywhere and tents were grouped in camps. The environment was filled with cultivators chatting and laughing. 

Fifty meters away from them were the meditation grounds, also known as the starting line of the mountain of enlightenment. 

Cultivators came to be enlightened both in their sword path and in achieving great accomplishments with destructive elements. 

The moonlight illuminated the wide plain and he could even see the gleams of the sharp cut that split the mountain. Deep in that dark valley was where he trained.

At the moment, everyone knew he was the one who absorbed the sword heart lotus. His fear was neutralized when Old Li was adamant about spending the night here.

The old man wasn't weak so he had nothing to be afraid of. 

When he arrived at the open store, Li Chen saw the steam emanating from the pot as the cook transferred a portion to a bowl and gave it to a young man.

He walked to where others sat and there Li Chen sighted Yan Sen. "Brother Li," he said softly, clasped his hands, and lowered his head. 

Li Chen bowed his head a little as a response. [Two bowls. Extra spicy.] He placed a jade on the table and the cook took it with a flattering smile.

He gave him eight white jades and his meal. Before he could grab the bowl, a hand came from his right. Li Chen grabbed the wrist and twisted it, and a girlish scream pierced the air.

"Do you want to break my wrist?!" A young lady who tied her hair to two ponytails snarled. 

Ignoring the woman, he grabbed the sides of the wooden tray.

"I heard you defeated Ming Yue and Yan Sen. Since you're the number one swordsman here, I challenge you to a duel." 

The spectating crowd went wild. "Did Qi Xuanyue just issue a challenge to Li Chen? Right before my eyes?!" 

"Xuanyue, he's very strong. Don't provoke him," a pleasant voice rang and Ming Yue emerged from the crowd.

Li Chen's eyes narrowed.

"I, Qi Xuanyue, challenge Li Chen to a duel. Be a man and accept a woman's challenge," Qi Xuanyue snickered. 

[You lack manners. Go back to your master and learn how to be a better human.] Li Chen scoffed. However, he just took two steps when Ming Yue spoke.

"Sister Xuanyue, stop it. Brother Sen and I couldn't defeat you; what makes you think you can do it alone?" 

Yan Sen, who slowly ate his noodles, paused. His mouth fell, and the noodles held by his chopsticks fell back into the bowl.

"Is Ming Yue purposely trying to cause a fight between Li Chen and Qi Xuanyue? They both received the heart lotuses of this decade so their strength should be equal."

"Perhaps she wants to get back at him." Another said.

"That's petty." Yan Sen spat. His voice was loud enough for Ming Yue to hear. Her expression turned ugly when she saw that his infatuation had turned to disgust.

Qi Xuanyue closed her eyes as Li Chen walked away. A second later, her eyes snapped open. 

Purple fire formed a large circle around Li Chen and she walked through it. 

"Who did you say lacks manners?!" 

[A person with manners won't challenge someone about to eat. Clearly, your mental aspect is lacking.] Although Li Chen's voice was calm, the anger in his tone did not go unnoticed.

"You…!"

Furious, Qi Xuanyue struck at his chest. "White Tiger Claws"! 

Her technique made her fingers similar to a tiger's claws and Li Chen could feel her understanding had reached great success. 

Flickering to her side, he launched a kick, which she blocked by crossing her arms. Lunging toward him, she clawed at his abdomen but he dodged.

Li Chen kept evading with a step or two while balancing his body so as not to spill the noodles. His speed gave him an edge against Qi Xuanyue's fierce attacks. 

He saw masters on the sidelines. Instead of stopping the fight, they watched in silence. Some even whisper to themselves.

'Is this some kind of joke?!' Li Chen thought. Despite trying to curb his anger, it rose rapidly. Should this food spill, he would forget he had unknowingly created Qi Xuanyue and beat her till she became crippled!

Suddenly, a cold wind blew. Li Chen's neck hair stood and he quickly flickered forward, narrowly avoiding Qi Xuanyue, who used some movement technique that seemed like she teleported!

Deflecting her claws with his feet, Li Chen spun around. He kicked her knee, causing her to fall. Cursing, Qi Xuanyue blasted flames wildly. 

Li Chen watched it approach without moving. Since those masters, some of whom might be her teachers, wanted a spectacle, he would give them one.

However, before the purple fire touched him, a sword fell from the sky. 

"Who dares to attack my meal?" 

'Really, old man! Your food is more important than me!'

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