Chapter 1532 - 1529: Long Yijian's Provocation

His tall yet slightly thin frame was wrapped in a loose deep blue cloak, making his figure look more like a mage not from this world rather than a swordsman.

But his most distinctive feature was his eyes. Those incredible brass-colored pupils exuded a powerful charisma that made those confronting him feel intimidated. Although it wasn't the first time seeing him, at this moment, Ye Qiu was already losing considerably in terms of aura.

Fang Wushang walked to the table, making his boots squeak, and gently bowed to him.

"Clan Leader, I am here to temporarily bid you farewell!"

Upon hearing her words, Long Yijian first sneered maliciously, then spoke:

"Wushang, don't be hasty, let me speak with Ye Qiu first."

After Long Yijian finished speaking with Fang Wushang, he kept staring at Ye Qiu. To be polite, Ye Qiu took off his hat and walked over to Fang Wushang.

"Is this the first time we've met outside of combat, Ye Qiu?"

"Not really, maybe you forget things easily. Actually, during a clan joint meeting, I talked to you briefly."

Ye Qiu answered Long Yijian's question in a very respectful manner, not knowing why.

Long Yijian lightly nodded and clasped his thin hands together on the table.

"Back then! It was really tough at that time, after the first wave, all clans were severely weakened. Although you see the Lantian Clan owning many things now, there are very few who can actually be called combat effective. And now, you intend to take away our strongest Swordswoman..."

"But, actually, you don't really value Wushang that much either."

"If you truly value her, at least the guard should have been chosen to be someone better."

After hearing Ye Qiu's sharp and unfriendly retort, the man sitting at the left end of the table immediately changed his expression and stood up slowly.

Long Yijian gently pressed him down and said:

"Regarding that matter, I've already ordered him to reflect at home. I sincerely apologize here for the trouble caused to you."

"However, we can't let you take the Vice Clan Leader away so easily, Ye Qiu."

Bai Zhuotian stared tightly over here. From his metallic-colored eyes, a strong willpower emanated.

"If you want to take Wushang away, then use your own power to earn it! If you win against me in a duel, you can take Wushang! But, if you lose to me, you'll have to join our Lantian Clan."

"......."

Ye Qiu felt as if he could somewhat understand the mysterious man's thoughts before him.

Ye Qiu felt that, actually, this man was also deeply fascinated by sword combat. And he had absolute confidence in his own skills. Even in the face of an apocalypse, he could not abandon a swordsman's self-esteem, an incorrigible guy. In other words, Long Yijian and Ye Qiu were actually of the same ilk.

After hearing Long Yijian's words, Fang Wushang, who had remained silent until now, couldn't hold back and spoke:

"Clan Leader, I'm not saying I'm leaving the clan. I just want to leave for a while and think about some things."

Ye Qiu placed his hand on Fang Wushang's shoulder, who wanted to continue speaking, and stepped forward to directly face Long Yijian's gaze. Then he spoke as if on autopilot:

"Alright then, if you really want to have a match with me, then let's duel!"

"Ye Qiu? Really, what the hell... you... you... idiot idiot idiot!"

After finishing the conversation with Long Yijian, Ye Qiu and Fang Wushang returned to the second floor of the grocery store. After kicking the shopkeeper trying to peek downstairs, Ye Qiu made efforts to comfort Fang Wushang.

"People were clearly trying so hard to keep you from fighting, yet you... you... agreed to the duel yourself!"

Fang Wushang slightly leaned her waist against the armrest of the rocking chair Ye Qiu was sitting on, continuously punching Ye Qiu's sturdy body with her petite fists.

"Alright alright, it's my fault, it's all my fault, okay... I also couldn't help but accept his challenge..."

Ye Qiu grabbed Fang Wushang's fist, gently squeezing it before she finally quieted down, but she pouted her cheeks in anger. Her appearance was so different from when she was at the clan headquarters that Ye Qiu had to work hard to swallow back the surge of laughter.

"Don't worry so much, it's just a one-strike battle, so there won't be any danger, I also have a chance of winning..."

"Uh..."

Fang Wushang sat on the armrest and crossed her long legs, then whispered:

"Actually when I first saw you using the Profound Celestial Ice Sword, I felt that weapon was really terrifying. I'm not speaking ill of Dong. It's just that the Profound Celestial Ice Sword seems not to belong to the same world as us."

"But the Clan Leader's weapon, the Holy Cross Shield, like the Profound Celestial Ice Sword, is acclaimed as the strongest shield. However, it actually holds a sword inside, but the Clan Leader just has yet to face an opponent where he needs to use the sword!"

"That's actually nothing to worry about, I just don't want you to get into such trouble to help me. If... if you lose, then you'll have to join the Lantian Clan!"

"Don't be so pessimistic!"

"Even if we lose, our goal hasn't changed, it's just a different way to achieve it!"

"Huh? What?"

Ye Qiu struggled to open his rigid mouth to respond:

"Actually, actually, as long as I'm with you, I'll go anywhere as long as you're there..."

If this were before, Ye Qiu would never have been able to say such things even at the cost of his life.

Hearing these words, Fang Wushang's eyes widened in surprise, soon she blushed as red as a ripe apple. Then, for some unknown reason, she pouted her face again, stepped down from the chair, and walked to the window.

Beyond the window and the back of Fang Wushang, who was facing away from Ye Qiu, you could hear a little of the lively noise from the city bathed in the setting sun filtering through.

What Ye Qiu just said was true, though he felt some resistance towards joining the clan. Reminiscing about a clan he once joined but no longer existed brought a sharp pain to Ye Qiu's heart.

Ah, I won't lose that easily anyway... Ye Qiu muttered to himself and then stepped away from the chair to Fang Wushang's side. Shortly after, Fang Wushang's head softly rested on Ye Qiu's left shoulder.

They supported each other this way, gazing at the sunset outside the window. Who could have imagined how much longer such a beautiful world would remain to be admired?