A Pawn's Passage

No matter how one looked at it, Zhao Fu’an had no choice but to accept the challenge.

It was true that those in officialdom needed to know when to bend, but they also had to maintain their dignity.

As long as private duels did not result in death, being provoked by a junior in such a way was akin to a direct insult. That was already bad enough. To make matters worse, having a junior of lower cultivation level deliberately “yield” to him was no longer courtesy, but outright humiliation.

Of course, Zhao Fu’an could choose to back down. Whether it was the young Daoist or the old one, neither could do anything to him nor could they openly come knocking on his door for revenge.

However, backing down in front of so many witnesses would be no different from admitting defeat. What would others think of him? What would they say? More importantly, he was a Garrison Chief Military Officer. Being branded as a coward afraid of battle would be detrimental to his career, regardless of whether the claim was true or false.

If he sought a promotion in the future, his rivals would only need to casually bring up today’s events. It could cause significant repercussions. Not everyone could endure humiliation today and turn the situation around in the future.

Thus, Zhao Fu’an finally spoke, giving himself some room to maneuver. “Since Mage Qi will not be using firearms, then I, too, will refrain from using them for the sake of fairness.”

Qi Xuansu responded, “General Zhao sure is forthright.”

Since they were now discussing the specific conditions of the duel, it meant Zhao Fu’an was agreeing to fight.

Zhao Fu’an removed the Divine Dragon Pistol holstered at his waist, which was more ornamental than practical, and handed it to the guards behind him. “Shall we use weapons?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “No need for such trouble. Since you’re a Martial Arts Practitioner, your fists are your best weapon. So, let’s forgo weapons and magical artifacts entirely. What do you say?”

At this moment, Zhao Fu’an’s doubts deepened. He could not fathom where Qi Xuansu’s confidence came from. However, there was no turning back now. He could not agree to the terms only to renege on them later. If word spread, he might be forced to resign due to political and public pressure.

No matter how uncertain he felt, Zhao Fu’an had no choice but to agree.

In truth, Zhao Fu’an could have left himself some leeway by stating that weapons and magical artifacts were optional while relying solely on his fists. However, he was not confident in an absolute victory. He lacked that certainty. At this moment, only one thought filled his mind—so long as he won, all disgrace would be wiped clean, and this ordeal would be behind him.

Thus, Zhao Fu’an tacitly accepted Qi Xuansu’s statement.

Qi Xuansu chuckled again, making no effort to hide his mockery.

In truth, Qi Xuansu was not inherently so arrogant and disrespectful. He deliberately acted this way to humiliate and provoke Zhao Fu’an. However, Qi Xuansu did not expect Zhao Fu’an to be so composed. Instead of being angered, the latter became even more cautious.

Court officials’ ability to feign humility was truly unmatched by Daoists, who were used to preaching about equality.

Qi Xuansu could not afford to concede any further. He certainly could not claim to defeat Zhao Fu’an with just one hand, as that was beyond his capability.

In terms of the actual duel conditions, Zhao Fu’an was not at a disadvantage. However, when it came to verbal sparring, he did not mind throwing out a few harsh words—not for the sake of momentary satisfaction, but to salvage his dignity. “Mage Qi, the last time we parted, I gave you a piece of advice. I wonder if you still remember it?”

“Of course, I remember. You advised me to go with the flow,” Qi Xuansu replied. “I found it quite reasonable.”

Zhao Fu’an continued, “If you found it reasonable, then why would you do something that jeopardizes the relationship between the Imperial Court and the Daoist Order? Even now, I still do not wish to engage in a private duel with you, for the sake of the greater good.”

“General Zhao, isn’t that an overstatement?” Qi Xuansu said indifferently. “I do not represent the Daoist Order, and you do not represent the Imperial Court. Our private duel only concerns the two of us. It has nothing to do with the grand affairs of the Daoist Order or the Imperial Court.”

Qi Xuansu paused before continuing, “Even if we assume it does affect others, why were you unconcerned about the greater good back in Baidi City? Or perhaps, you simply think that someone as insignificant as me has no bearing on such matters?”

Zhao Fu’an furrowed his brows and fell silent for a moment before slowly replying, “Indeed.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but laugh. He pointed at Zhao Fu’an from a distance and sneered. “You finally spoke the truth.”

Zhao Fu’an asked, “Shall we put this in writing, then?”

Qi Xuansu countered, “Do you not trust Sage Ji as a witness?”

Zhao Fu’an said nothing more. He spread his arms, raising them level with his shoulders.

His personal attendants immediately understood and stepped forward to remove the outer layer of his second-rank court robes, revealing the soft armor beneath.

Qi Xuansu had previously seen the Flying Squirrel Armor and Bull Dragon Armor. Above that were the Ram Armor, Tiger Armor, and Dragon Trapping Armor. Among them, the Bull Dragon Armor was a low-grade spiritual object, the Ram Armor was a standard spiritual object, and the Tiger Armor was a top-grade spiritual object.

At this moment, Zhao Fu’an was clad in the Tiger Armor, which defended against innate qi, dissipated external forces, and provided some resistance against spells.

Qi Xuansu removed the Flying Shadow and Nine Yang Fiery Dome Replica from his waist. Instead of storing them in his magical receptacle, he handed them directly to Sage Ji. “Sorry to trouble you with these, Sage Ji.”

Sage Ji smiled lightly. “It’s no trouble.”

Qi Xuansu said no more and turned to face his enemy.

Zhao Fu’an dismissed his personal guards and attendants before striding forward.

In no time, the distance between them shrank to less than 30 meters.

Qi Xuansu clenched his fists lightly, assuming a fighting stance.

Zhao Fu’an stomped hard on the ground and shot forward like an arrow.

The two collided with immense force, causing the entire open courtyard to tremble violently.

They separated the moment they clashed.

Zhao Fu’an was forced back all the way to the entrance of the Chief Military Office, only stopping when his foot shattered the lowest step of the staircase.

On the other hand, Qi Xuansu crashed into a flagpole, snapping it from the base.

Neither of them hesitated before charging at each other once more.

The previous clash seemed evenly matched on the surface, but in reality, Zhao Fu’an held a slight advantage. After all, Qi Xuansu’s Martial Arts Practitioner lineage was incomplete, so he was no match for a true Heavenly-Being Martial Arts Practitioner.

When they collided a second time, the ground beneath them finally gave way, collapsing with a thunderous roar. The area where they stood sank the deepest, and cracks spread outward in layers, forming a massive bowl-like depression.

A golden sheen coated Qi Xuansu’s arms.

This was the Golden Body of Shamans. But Qi Xuansu had not revealed its full form.

Seizing the brief moment of his Golden Body’s transformation, Qi Xuansu forced Zhao Fu’an’s arms apart and landed a punch squarely on the latter’s chest. The force penetrated through the armor and struck his body directly.

Zhao Fu’an’s body trembled from the impact, but at the same time, he landed a punch on Qi Xuansu’s forehead.

Qi Xuansu was sent flying backward at a speed no slower than when he had lunged forward, soaring more than 30 meters through the air.

However, Zhao Fu’an was in no position to pursue him. He pressed his chest, relying on his rapid body regeneration to heal his injuries.

Qi Xuansu stopped his retreat and looked up, now fully transformed into his Golden Body. His entire form resembled a golden statue. The center of his forehead, where Zhao Fu’an’s punch had landed, had caved in, surrounded by a web of cracks. Strangely, not a single drop of blood seeped out. Instead, his face looked like a fractured porcelain mask.

Qi Xuansu remained expressionless as the cracks on his face slowly faded away. Within mere moments, his face had returned to normal.

This was not the body regenerative abilities of a Martial Arts Practitioner, but the reconstruction of a Shaman’s Golden Body.

In the next instant, Qi Xuansu appeared silently before Zhao Fu’an. The two of them were now standing face-to-face.

Qi Xuansu used his hand as a blade, striking Zhao Fu’an with the Demonic Blade Technique.

Zhao Fu’an responded with his second punch.

Their impact sounded like a massive bell being struck, echoing with a resonating toll.

Qi Xuansu was once again sent flying more than 30 meters back.

However, Zhao Fu’an did not escape unscathed. His headpiece shattered, and fresh blood trickled down from his scalp, drawing a stark crimson line across his cheek.

Qi Xuansu inhaled deeply and then exhaled a long, turbid breath. His Golden Body flickered—at times radiant and dim.

This time, it was finally Zhao Fu’an’s turn to attack. He leaped high into the air like a soaring eagle, unleashing his third punch from above, crashing down with the weight of a mountain.

The punch smashed Qi Xuansu violently into the ground.

The earth trembled continuously, and dust billowed into the air.

Only Qi Xuansu’s upper body remained above ground. Glowing golden fragments flickered off his Golden Body, dissipating into nothingness.

Zhao Fu’an’s expression finally relaxed slightly as he thought to himself, This brat has boasted so much, yet in the end, he turns out to be nothing special.

Although this Golden Body manifestation had indeed caught Zhao Fu’an off guard, the Garrison Chief Military Officer still believed that he was much better off than this boy with half-baked skills.