Chapter 49: An Unyielding Duel

After achieving his breakthrough and cultivating alongside Bai He for so long, his strength was no longer something that could be compared to what it had been a month ago.

The current Ye Shiyuan had the confidence to once again widen the gap between himself and everyone else, just as he had in the past.

"You should go back first. If there’s an opportunity, we can have another match. If you can truly defeat me, I will take you seriously. But you will not win."

Although Xue Yanming was angry, Ye Shiyuan was not wrong.

Only by defeating Ye Shiyuan could he prove that Ye Shiyuan was not invincible.

Not far away, Bai He was secretly watching.

This Ye Shiyuan was not usually like this.

Why was he being so distant and unapproachable now?

It really did feel a bit like the original novel.

"The male protagonist treats people differently depending on who they are. Whoever treats him well, he treats well in return."

"Master, what are you doing over there?"

Ye Shiyuan suddenly spoke.

Bai He immediately froze, feeling a little embarrassed.

He then forced himself to walk out and said, "What a coincidence. I was just taking a stroll around here. I didn’t expect to run into you."

The moment he said it, Bai He regretted it.

At this time of day, unless something unusual happened, Ye Shiyuan would always be cultivating here.

"Master, then why didn’t you come over?"

"I saw you talking to someone else. I didn’t want to interrupt."

Now that Xue Yanming had already left, Bai He had no choice but to walk over.

"It was this disciple’s fault. It won’t happen again."

There were very few people on Baize Peak and it’s the fewest in the entire Lingguang Sect.

Seeing Bai He like this, Ye Shiyuan assumed his master disliked outsiders coming to Baize Peak without permission.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Shiyuan, you also need to make friends. As long as their character is good, you can invite them over as guests. As your master, I’m actually quite open-minded."

Yet Ye Shiyuan still looked as though he kept others at a thousand miles’ distance. "This disciple has no friends."

After serving as the Sect Master’s chief disciple for so many years, Ye Shiyuan truly had no friends.

He thought perhaps it was his own problem.

When he had been the chief disciple, he had been too strict with the others and far less easygoing than Pan Yi had been when Pan Yi held the position.

But Ye Shiyuan did not believe he had done anything wrong.

A trace of confusion flashed through his eyes. His gaze lowered and the sight made Bai He’s heart clench painfully.

Could the male protagonist not look like that? He truly looked pitiful.

Bai He was still thinking about how to comfort Ye Shiyuan and keep him from feeling so dejected.

Who would have thought that the very next moment, Ye Shiyuan had already lifted his head.

"However, Master, that isn’t important."

Ah...

"That’s true enough. When it comes to friends, quality matters more than quantity. And I believe that one day, you will certainly have many friends."

Ye Shiyuan did not seem to care much about the matter.

"Earlier, Xue Yanming said that he would completely defeat me in the competition. But for the sake of Lingguang Sect, and for Master, I will absolutely not lose."

Bai He nodded slightly. "Just do your best. I won’t disturb your cultivation any longer."

"Yes, Master."

The next day, the competition began.

Bai He’s task was for Ye Shiyuan to win three matches and one of them had to be against Su Yuluan of Qixiu Valley.

At first, Bai He had been worried.

There were so many disciples, how could he arrange for Ye Shiyuan to be matched against Su Yuluan?

But today, the opportunity had appeared on its own.

The first three matches were contests between other sects.

The fourth match was Ye Shiyuan’s turn.

Ye Shiyuan’s appearance drew even more attention than it had the day before.

Standing opposite him was Qixiu Valley’s exceptionally talented disciple, Su Yuluan.

In truth, most people had a favorable impression of her.

Not only was she powerful, she was also obedient and gentle.

Her eyes seemed to speak and one could imagine that she must be very beautiful.

In fact, Su Yuluan knew Ye Shiyuan.

Or rather, among those of the same generation, there was no one who did not know him.

She had never expected that one day she would be able to compete against Ye Shiyuan.

Compared to the previous day, her expression was far more solemn and focused.

The match began.

Ye Shiyuan held the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword in his right hand and in an instant, his aura rose far above Su Yuluan’s.

In truth, there was little suspense in this match, judging from the bout yesterday, when Ye Shiyuan had defeated Huang Yuegong.

Among the disciples present, there were very few whose strength could be mentioned in the same breath as his.

"Master, will Senior Brother show mercy?"

Bai He shook his head. "Probably not."

Xu Feng already knew that Bai He had taken Ye Shiyuan as his disciple.

Although Xu Feng had entered the sect after him, he was already used to calling Ye Shiyuan Senior Brother and simply could not change the habit.

Besides, in the entire Lingguang Sect who did not know when Ye Shiyuan had entered the sect? So, calling him junior brother would feel far too strange.

The match then began.

Ye Shiyuan’s expression was resolute.

He did not show leniency just because his opponent was a woman.

On the arena stage, if one wanted to win, one had to remain vigilant at every moment.

Otherwise, even if one’s strength surpassed the opponent’s, unexpected accidents could still occur.

Because of arrogance and complacency, one might lose the match.

Su Yuluan’s fingers had already begun to tremble.

She increasingly felt the strain.

Even the sword in her hand was becoming impossible to hold steady.