Chapter 279: One vs. one (2/2)

“What, jealous? Why you don’t hide behind one as well?” Han Yunxi replied with a grin.

Jealous?

That’s right, she was so jealous, she was about to go crazy. Chu Qingge’s arrow narrowly flew out right then and there, but she kept her cool in the end. Not only did she conceal her indignation, she even revealed a smile. “No wonder Princess Duan says you’re a burden to the Duke of Qin. All you can do is weigh him down. It looks like Princess Duan wasn’t just smearing you out of jealousy.”

Han Yunxi felt unwell all over at these words. If this was any other day, she’d kept calm even if the other repeated such words ten times over. But right now, the name ‘Duanmu Yao’ had become the reason for the cold war between her and Long Feiye.

Very good. Chu Qingge, I’m convinced that you’re Duanmu Yao’s best friend!

Originally, Han Yunxi had no plans to really start fighting. She could tell their chances of victory weren’t that great, but now she’d really lost her temper. “What, does Miss Chu want to go one on one with me?” Han Yunxi asked coldly.

Everyone assumed that she’d step forward, but instead she’d mentioned ‘one on one’ instead. Han Yunxi, ah, Han Yunxi. The other woman’s a high-level archery expert. Are you seeking death?

Long Feiye didn’t say a thing, but tightened his grip on Han Yunxi’s hand and refused to let go. He was afraid that a moment of carelessness would see her struggling free. Chu Qingge was only too eager to have a bout. Instead of answering, she actually walked forward three steps to look provokingly at Han Yunxi. But once again, Han Yunxi’s reaction was beyond expectations.

“I don’t know martial arts or archery, so what are you planning for our duel?”

Long Feiye’s mouth twitched at the words and even drew itself into a smile. Aunt Ru simply laughed outright and said, “Naturally, it’ll have to be a duel in martial arts and archery. Otherwise, how can she beat you?”

When faced with a formidable foe, Han Yunxi was very willing to cooperate with Aunt Ru despite her bad impressions of the woman. She adopted an earnest expression and looked at Chu Qingge. “Is that so?”

A one on one duel only involved matters of victory or defeat; as long as both parties were willing, it was done. Who cared about other details? But Han Yunxi and Aunt Ru’s tag team duet made it seem like Chu Qingge was the one bullying others. Chu Qingge’s face alternated between shades of red and white before she finally put away her bow with reluctance.

“Qingge!” Duanmu Baiye immediately spoke up to stop her, but Chu Qingge was too angry to pay him any mind.

“Then what do you want to duel in?” she asked coldly.

Han Yunxi was amused. Was there anything else Chu Qingge was good in besides martial arts and archery? She was about to speak when Chu Tianyin hastily said, “Your Highness Duke of Qin, is it possible for this one to say a piece first?”

Anyone could tell that Chu Tianyin didn’t even want to fight in the first place. Long Feiye pulled Han Yunxi’s hand behind him and kept it there with his other hand on top. With both his hands on hers, Han Yunxi knew that Long Feiye was intending to give Chu Tianyin some face. Indeed, he next coldly said, “Speak.”

“Qingge and Qin Wangfei will have a one on one duel. If Qingge wins, I ask that Your Highness Duke of Qin gives us the convenience of leaving this place. If Qingge loses, then we’ll leave, how’s that?” Chu Tianyin said seriously.

His words touched on the main point. He was very clear that the Chu Family was aiming for the secret hidden behind these five doors. In a situation where both sides were equally matched, nobody would be able to get what they wanted. But a one on one duel was a way to resolve such issues.

“What will be the subject of the duel?” It was clear that Long Feiye had agreed.

“Poison arts!” Duanmu Baiye said in a rush so before Chu Qingge could expose her own skills in the subject.

Chu Qingge knew poisons? So that was how they knew to use mint leaves to deal with the Violet Miasma? Han Yunxi was very surprised, but she was perfectly willing to compete in poisons.

However, Chu Tianyin immediately rejected the idea and said, “Let’s just compete to see who can return safely from one of these five doors. Each of you can pick a door to enter yourself.”

Everyone became on guard at these words. Han Yunxi couldn’t help but look at Chu Tianyin with increased respect; this guy really was something. Not only had he solved Chu Qingge’s predicament, he even avoided a straight out confrontation so as to make things more fair. Choosing depended on luck, while making it back out depended on skill.

“Your Highness Duke of Qin, this is the fairest method. What do you think?” Chu Tianyin asked, modest and polite. Compared to Duanmu Baiye and Chu Qingge, Chu Tianyin was really too formidable. His smile hid daggers that cut the flesh to pieces, like needles in silk that picked at the marrow and muscles. Though he looked polite and unassuming, he was a tough person to deal with. Indeed, this was the fairest method, so it was hard to reject his ideas.

Long Feiye very much admired Chu Tianyin, but he wasn’t planning to agree. Han Yunxi’s combined strengths really couldn’t match up to Chu Qingge’s. Moreover, no one could be sure what kind of dangers lay hidden behind the five doorways. He was about to refuse when Han Yunxi nodded her head and said, “All right!”

Even Chu Qingge had said she was Long Feiye’s burden. How was she supposed to let Long Feiye refuse Chu Tianyin’s request here?