Chapter 19: The Duel's Prelude

As Tang Jian made his way back to the dormitory, he noticed a commotion echoing from the nearby practice hall. Curiosity piqued, he decided to investigate the source of the disturbance. Pushing open the doors, he found Liu Ying and Huang Xiang engaged in a heated quarrel.

"You think your Huang family is superior to my Liu family? Apart from refining arrays, what good are you? Your Patriarch can't even withstand a single blow from my father," Liu Ying shouted, frustration etched on her face.

Huang Xiang, hailing from the Huang family renowned for their artifact and array refining skills, concealed half his face behind a fan and calmly responded, "There you go, mocking array refiners again. Last time, you even made a rude remark that we array refiners aren't true refiners. You should be aware that the Immortal Council of Refiners has included array refiners as part of the refining profession." Huang Xiang's words put Liu Ying in a difficult position, implying that her comment disrespected all array refiners.

The Immortal Council of Refiners was a committee formed by refiners and cultivators from small realms after the great calamity. Initially, alchemists were also part of the council, but they later separated to form the independent Immortal Alchemist Association. Alchemists and refiners held significant influence and respect in all realms, as they played vital roles in supporting cultivation families.

As the people in the practice hall witnessed the altercation, their gazes turned sharply toward Liu Ying. Panicking, she stood frozen, realizing the gravity of her immature remark. The instructors present in the hall refrained from intervening, silently conveying the message that the students should handle their problems—a defining aspect of the academy's environment.

Huang Xiang, sensing Liu Ying's panic, wore a sly smile behind his fan, relishing in her discomfort. Chen Hao, another spectator who had yet to make a move, also wore a satisfied expression, clearly reveling in the scene before him.

Just as the situation began spiraling out of control, another senior brother stepped forward, his voice seething with anger. "Huang Xiang, restrain yourself! You cannot speak to Young Miss Liu in such a manner. You know better than anyone that she only stated you are not a refiner; she never implied that array refiners should be excluded from the refining community," he reprimanded, pointing a finger at Huang Xiang.

Witnessing the senior brother standing up for her, Liu Ying heaved a sigh of relief, indicating her recognition of his identity. Huang Xiang, however, closed his fan, revealing a cunning smirk as he aimed his fan toward the senior brother and responded, "What are you saying, Liu Fan? I am an array refiner, and she clearly stated that I shouldn't be considered a refiner, which inherently implies that array refiners are not part of the refining profession." Huang Xiang's words dripped with guile.

It became apparent that Liu Fan, the senior brother who had come to Liu Ying's aid, was also from the Liu family. Huang Xiang's family, on the other hand, had instilled refining and eloquence skills in its members from an early age, starting as young as three years old. This training gave Huang Xiang an advantage in debates against his peers, except for Tang Jian.

Feeling cornered, Liu Fan erupted in anger and shouted, "You coward! All you can do is talk big. If you have any guts, then face me in a duel, Huang Xiang!"

The situation quickly escalated, with Liu Fan unwittingly making matters worse for himself. As a senior challenging a junior, Huang Xiang had the authority to appoint a representative of higher strength to fight in his stead against Liu Fan. Tang Jian understood the gravity of the situation but remained silent, recognizing the predicament at hand.

Huang Xiang's face lit up with excitement as he covered it with his fan once more. He responded with a twisted smile, "Ah, so you wish to duel a junior, Liu Fan? Aren't you even a bit ashamed? If you insist on dueling me, let my elder brother fight in my place. He, too, is at the 3rd layer of the Body Forging Stage, just like you. What do you say?"

Upon hearing Huang Xiang's proposal, whispers rippled through the crowd, magnifying the incident in the practice hall. As Tang Jian had predicted, this whole affair was a deliberate setup by the Huang family, aiming to shame the future head of the Liu family. Huang's reputation for being cunning and vicious remained intact.

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With the crowd in the practice hall gossiping about Liu Fan's impulsive challenge, he exploded in anger, accepting Huang Xiang's offer. The duel was set to take place in a week's time.

After accepting the challenge, Liu Fan took hold of Liu Ying's hand, and the pair left the practice hall, followed closely by Huang Xiang and the other spectators. Tang Jian, feeling the need for fresh air, stepped out of the practice hall for a moment, his thoughts consumed by the unfolding events.

Ding!

[A new side mission has been generated.]

Help Liu Fan win the duel that is going to take place in a week.

Reward - Depends on the performance.

Time limit - 1 week.

Failure Penalty - Body paralysis for 3 days.

Just then, a familiar "ding" resonated in Tang Jian's mind, signaling the generation of a new side mission. The notification caught his attention, as it was the first time he had received such a mission from the system.

"So, this is how side missions are generated—randomly, in special situations. It further confirms my theory that someone is observing me through this system," Tang Jian muttered, fixated on the blue screen.

Lost in his thoughts, Tang Jian failed to notice Liang Meng sneaking up on him. "What are you up to, fellow classmate?" Liang Meng shouted near Tang Jian's ears, startling him.

Tang Jian glared at Liang Meng, contemplating whether people in this world possessed an innate ability to startle others. "I was just thinking about the incident in the practice hall. And don't startle me like that again," he replied, his anger slowly subsiding.

Liang Meng gestured towards the nearby canteen and suggested, "Why don't we discuss the incident over a meal in the canteen? I'm famished, you know," his mischievous tone evident.

Tang Jian glanced at the canteen, nodding in agreement to Liang Meng's proposal. Together, they made their way to the bustling canteen, where students from various halls and years congregated. Grabbing plates, Tang Jian and Liang Meng joined the line to receive their share of food. The scene stirred a sense of nostalgia within Tang Jian, reminding him of his school days when he used to be a bully.

As a typical plump canteen lady served him his food, Tang Jian's face took on a nostalgic expression. Liang Meng noticed and chuckled, questioning, "What's on your mind, Tang Jian? Is it something special that you're reminiscing about?"

Tang Jian placed his plate on an empty table in a corner, settling down. "I was merely thinking about my hometown. It's nothing for you to be concerned about. By the way, who is this Liu Fan?" Tang Jian inquired, his tone serious.

Observing Tang Jian's seriousness, Liang Meng set down his spoon and responded, "Liu Fan is the son of the current patriarch of the Liu family. He is Liu Ying's elder brother. However, Liu Fan possesses lightning spiritual roots, which don't align with the elemental techniques of the Liu family. Consequently, he can never succeed as the family's patriarch."

Tang Jian's curiosity was piqued further upon learning this new information. He probed further, asking, "What about Hall Master Liu Mei and Liu Ming from the Liu family? Are they also disqualified from becoming the family's head?"

Liang Meng's expression turned disappointed as he heard Tang Jian's question. "Why do you ask that? I thought you were only interested in Liu Fan since you can bet on his victory in the upcoming duel. But here you are, asking about these insignificant matters," Liang Meng lamented. Sliding his plate away, he climbed onto the table, leaning toward Tang Jian. "You know, if you bet on Liu Fan and he wins, you can earn triple the betting amount. However, the chances of Liu Fan winning are quite low since his opponent will undoubtedly be of higher rank. Hence, the potential winnings are higher."

Suddenly, a roar erupted from the food distribution counter, silencing the canteen. "Hey, you brat! How dare you climb on the table? If you don't climb down right this instant, I'll ban you from eating for an entire day!" bellowed the plump canteen lady who had served Tang Jian earlier.

Startled by the outburst, Liang Meng promptly climbed down from the table, making no further noise. He said, "Think it over, Tang Jian. Opportunities to earn easy money like this don't come by every day." With that, Liang Meng departed.

Tang Jian sat at the table, his mind filled with indecision, and muttered to himself, "So, I have to ensure Liu Fan wins the duel, huh? This is quite a predicament." He weighed the pros and cons of the upcoming event, deep in thought.

As Tang Jian pondered the situation, he realized the complexity of his predicament. On one hand, he understood the potential benefits of betting on Liu Fan and earning a substantial amount of money if he emerged victorious. The allure of easy wealth was hard to resist, especially considering his financial constraints.

On the other hand, Tang Jian couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more at stake than just money. He had witnessed the humiliation Liu Fan endured at the hands of Huang Xiang and his family's scheme. However, the path he chose wouldn't be an easy one. It meant going against the flow, risking his reputation, and potentially facing the wrath of the Huang family. Tang Jian had to carefully weigh the consequences of his actions and consider the best course of action.