Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 15 Life and Death Game
Zhang Chengdao shook his head slightly: "No need. You should take care of your personal matters as soon as possible. I will go to town to buy some things first."

His family was running out of food, and he couldn't even afford to feed his apprentice one more meal. He needed to quickly buy some food and clothing supplies!

There are two roads leading east from Baishi Post Station: one leads to Feihu County, and the other leads directly to Zhujian Manor.

Although the entire Sword Forging Manor complex is not just one manor, the main building is indeed "Sword Forging Manor." The old manor lord and the future heir also live here, while the other elders and the second and third manor lords, who have long since retired from power, live in two other manors, one called Hidden Sword Garden and the other called Quick Snow Clearing Manor. The three manors are not far apart and are all built around Laishui Lake.

The outer gate of the Sword Forging Manor is very grand. There is a stone forest for testing swords at the entrance. The stones are of varying heights and form a row. If you count them roughly, there are at least a hundred of them.

Perhaps because it was the dead of winter, the gate under the eaves was tightly closed and no one was on duty.

Chang Pingan silently knocked on the door, then took a few steps back to wait.

There are usually people on duty in the gatehouse inside the gate.

Sure enough, after a short while, footsteps came from behind the door, and the door slowly opened inward.

"You are... a young man from the Chang family!?"

The person who opened the door was an old acquaintance, a disciple surnamed Xu whom Chang Ping'an had exchanged nods with when he was still an outer disciple.

He looked around and lowered his voice, asking, "How did you get in through this door?"

The disciples and swordsmiths in the manor all enter through the back or side gates. The main gate is only opened wide during important occasions and is usually closed.

Chang Ping'an knew this, of course, but he had come back this time to seek revenge, so how could he not enter through the main gate in a dignified manner?
“I am no longer a member of the manor,” Chang Ping’an said calmly. “Please inform your senior brother that I have come to find your disciple Xie Yan to arrange a life-or-death duel to avenge my father.”

A life-or-death duel is a type of challenge in the martial arts world, where the two sides compete with almost any means necessary until one side dies.

"Life, a life-or-death struggle!?"

The disciple surnamed Xu was so frightened that he could barely speak. He glanced at Chang Ping'an, whose face was calm yet carried a hint of murderous intent, and was completely bewildered: "But Xie Yan is a disciple under the sect leader's elder, and he already has a cultivation level close to the seventh rank, you..."

Chang Ping'an unslung the broadsword from his back, propped it on the ground, and emphasized, "Senior brother, just go and inform them. I will wait here."

"You, oh you! Oh!"

The disciple surnamed Xu sighed repeatedly. He wanted to persuade him, but he was forced to back down by Chang Ping'an's imposing manner. In the end, he could only clasp his hands slightly and hurriedly run into the courtyard.

Before long, a large group of people walked out, led by Wan Qizhongqiu, the second master of the Sword Casting Manor with a white beard.

"Chang Ping'an, are you having a fit of hysteria?"

A steward behind Wan Qizhongqiu shouted angrily from a distance, "What are you doing here, acting crazy!"

Chang Ping'an said, "I wish to challenge your disciple Xie Yan to a life-or-death duel. Please grant my request."

Wanqi Zhongqiu frowned and advised, "I know a little about the matter between your two families. It was my negligence that led to this terrible mistake by failing to guide the child in time... But the dead cannot be brought back to life, and the cycle of revenge only continues. Why not take a step back and let me step in to ensure you enter Kuai Xue Shi Qing Manor to study literature, calligraphy, and painting, so that you can develop your own style? Then you two can turn hostility into friendship, what do you think?"

Kuai Xue Shi Qing Manor is the residence of the Third Master and the only place under the Sword Forging Manor where people study literature. The disciples accepted by the Third Master all study literature and have a history of being recommended to the court. Therefore, Wan Qi Zhongqiu's words were already a way to find a way out for Chang Ping'an, which can not be considered anything less than generous.

Whether or not one will have the opportunity to learn from the Third Master after entering the Kuai Xue Shi Qing Manor is another matter entirely.

Chang Ping'an remained unmoved and repeated, "I want to make a life-or-death duel with Xie Yan, a disciple of your sect."

"You! You! You! Are you a stubborn mule?!"

It was that talkative steward again. He was so angry that he jumped up and down, cursing, "You have no qi left, your true qi channels have long been broken, and your natal sword is destroyed. What kind of life-or-death struggle are you talking about?"

Chang Ping'an repeated the same words: "I want to settle this with Xie Yan in a life-or-death duel, until death do us part." "What arrogance!"

A young man's voice rang out from afar, shouted with true energy, and even echoed in the courtyard.

Upon hearing this voice, Chang Ping'an narrowed his eyes.

It is Xie Yan.

Then, Xie Yan leaped up from the inner courtyard, gathered his energy, and in just a dozen steps, he was in front of Chang Ping'an.

Behind him were five or six young men and women dressed similarly, all inner disciples of the Sword Forging Manor. However, their martial arts skills were not as profound as Xie Yan's, and they fell behind him, several feet behind.

Xie Yan stopped in front of Chang Ping'an and said sarcastically, "Since you insist on going to your death, then I will grant your wish!"

"Xie Yan!"

Wanqi Zhongqiu called out in disapproval, and was about to say something when Xie Yan raised his head and deliberately said loudly, "Second Master, don't worry! I, Xie Yan, am not a despicable person. Even if he insists on a life-or-death struggle, I will spare his life!"

As he spoke, he looked around and saw that his fellow disciples who had come with him to watch the excitement were arriving one after another. He then added, "It's a good opportunity to teach this arrogant brat a lesson in self-awareness!"

"Ugh……"

This time, even Wanqi Zhongqiu sighed and said nothing more.

Xie Yan turned around again, full of vigor, and asked, "Tell me, when and where should this life-or-death duel be scheduled? I, Xie Yan, am ready to oblige at any time!"

Chang Ping'an drew his longsword and replied, "At this time, in this place."

"Oh? Then you'd better watch out!"

Xie Yan also drew his natal sword. The sword gleamed coldly and was surrounded by true energy, clearly no ordinary weapon.

"My sword is named Wufeng (meaning 'no edge'), weighs three jin and twelve liang (approximately 1.5 kg), and was forged by my father from white stone iron from Baishi Mountain before his death."

After saying that, Xie Yan looked smugly at the ordinary sword in Chang Ping'an's hand, which was even wrapped with white cloth strips. His mockery was even more pronounced, but he did not take the initiative to attack, obviously deliberately letting the other party make the first move.

“This sword,” Chang Ping’an raised the sword, assuming the starting stance of the three sword techniques, and said, “is named Night Talk with the White Egret.”

After speaking, Chang Ping'an looked at Xie Yan but did not make a move.

The cold wind lashed at their cheeks and whipped at the corners of their clothes, as if urging them on.

The two remained locked in a standoff for a while, when Xie Yan suddenly realized something, his eyes widening in disbelief as he angrily demanded, "You want me to make the first move?!"

Chang Ping'an replied, "Life and death are not matters."

Although there was no answer, the tone confirmed Xie Yan's meaning.

"Good lad, you really have a death wish—"

Xie Yan was furious and felt extremely humiliated. He immediately gathered his strength and thrust his sword forward.

The blade of the sword was covered with a layer of crimson true energy, burning like a raging fire and distorting the air. Chang Ping'an stood there without making a move.

You bet I won't kill you in front of the Second Master?
Xie Yan sneered inwardly, slightly adjusted the direction of the sword tip, pointing it straight at Chang Ping'an's heart.

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(End of this chapter)