Chapter 8: The Duel

Young master, as for this duel, I shall not speak of the Tatar's Nulu, nor do I regard the Jiala and Gushan with any concern

After pondering for a moment, Erdao said: "If that is the case, then return the goods to me, and I will let you leave."

Master Luo continued, "This Ma Wu you just met, his bandit name in the jianghu is 'The Jade-faced Little Flying Hero.'" The white-faced man, around thirty years old, nodded proudly.

The lean old man said with a smile: "We have lost, and the extra twenty carts of goods over here will be given to you. However, we, as people of the rivers and lakes, do not ride horses; we only fight on foot. Do you dare to have a contest?"

Xue Yun, feeling reassured, stepped forward and said to the thin old man: "It shall be as you wish, but how do you propose to address our losses"

Xue Yun instructed the young men of the Xue family to step back fifty paces. He watched as Master Luo and the three individuals approached. Master Luo, with a pleased expression, said to Xue Yun: "If you lose even one of these three, it counts as your defeat, doesn't it?" Xue Yun nodded.

The lean old man insisted, "If you fight alone, I am three; if you bring three, I am still three. Do you dare to compete?"

Xue Yun's spear pointed towards the sky

Xue Er listened and quietly said, "Young Master, we cannot just let them go like this; we are capable of eliminating them."

Elder Wang said to Master Luo: "Let us go, there is another reason for my actions, you will understand in the future. If we delay any longer, they will take action."

A subordinate reported that nearly all the goods were on the cart, but three people died and five were injured, resulting in a total loss of approximately over 1,000 taels of silver

The lean old man beside the burly man who just spoke chuckled and said, "Young General, you have misunderstood. It is merely the subordinates below who have acted thoughtlessly and offended the General. This old man is here to offer an apology on their behalf."

Xue Yun then said to Qian Kai: "Once I win, I will naturally compensate you for the loss of those twenty carts of goods. How much have you lost?"

Xue Yun, feeling quite speechless, said: "Rest assured, I have my own ideas and will definitely not let you suffer any loss"

Xue Yun lunged at "The Jade-faced Little Flying Hero" Ma Wu with the ferocity of a tiger pouncing on a rabbit. Ma Wu floated gracefully around the arena, evading Xue Yun's eighteen consecutive strikes, each move narrowly escaping by mere inches.

Xue Er and Qian Kai still had something to say to Xue Yun, and Xue Wu and Xue Liu also joined in. Xue Yun: "Second Uncle, you have seen my master's abilities; I believe my skills are on par with my master's. Rest assured, I will not undertake anything without confidence."

Xue Yun also rode forward a few steps and asked in confusion: "Is there anything else for us to discuss between the three of us?"

It is quite refreshing; we will send three people, and you will also send three people to compete in three matches. The side that wins the most will take charge. If we win, you will let us leave; if you win, we will leave the goods and allow our people to depart.

Little rascal, you got off the horse, ha, ha, let's see how your uncle will entertain you

The emaciated old man turned back and instructed Master Luo, who then called three individuals from the front of the formation. After that, he ordered the troops to retreat fifty steps. Only then did Master Luo approach with the three individuals.

The emaciated old man then said to Xue Yun: "However, we have already seized the goods, and you have killed our brothers who came to assist us. According to the rules of the jianghu, you must provide us with an explanation, right"

Xue Yun said, "Well then, go ahead and draw the line."

Xue Yun thought: Ever since that day when I recovered from my illness, not only have many things entered my mind, but my martial arts skills have also improved significantly. The internal energy taught by my master, Qi Bo, originally had only three levels, but that day, a mysterious force that surged into my body allowed my skills to suddenly break through to the level of seven layers of internal energy. My master only possesses seven layers of internal energy, and according to my master's wife, he is ranked among the top ten in the martial world. In these past few days, through fighting and practicing, I feel that my internal energy is abundant, and there is a faint possibility of breaking through to the eighth layer of internal energy.

Thinking of this, Xue Yun raised his head and said to the thin old man: "Then let me compete with the three of you alone."

Xue Yun was enraged and said: "I have not yet decided how to deal with you, yet you dare to take advantage of me. You are truly courting death. I will seek revenge for those you have killed and eliminate the harm you pose to the world."

Xue Yun: "So how do you want to resolve this"

Xue Yuncheng stood there calmly and steadily, while "Jade-faced Little Flying Hero" Ma Wu circled around him. Xue Yun maintained a face-to-face standoff with him, and at this moment, Ma Wu's circling around Xue Yun became slower and slower.

Elder Wang and Master Luo slowly approached Xue Yun

Qian Kai: "However, we lost lives this time, and our losses are significant; you need to have them compensate us"

Xue Yun: "Here, only I know a bit about foot combat. How about we each send one person to fight and determine the winner?"

The emaciated old man looked at Xue Yun and said, "This is your own doing, so do not blame us for taking advantage of you."

Cavalry, in the afternoon sunlight of March, the cold armor of more than thirty brave warriors glimmered, exuding a hint of chill

Well, if those twenty carts of goods are worth this much money, I will give you over one thousand taels of silver. The excess will be the hard-earned money of our Xue family sons

Xue Er listened quietly, gazing at Xue Yun, and finally said in a low voice: "The Xue family has been saved, the Xue family has hope."

Ma Wu said with great pride: "I never expected that even in the northern region, there are people who know me, Ma Wu. Hahaha"

Xue Yun fell silent for a moment and said: "Second Uncle, I do not wish to let my own family and brothers bleed and suffer for these people. I have a responsibility to bring them back home after bringing them out."

Xue Er said, "Shut your mouth; the matters of the Xue family are not for you to prattle on about." Qian Kai looked at Xue Er in surprise, staring blankly for a long time without being able to speak.

Xue Yun stared coldly at the enemy across from him, who stood there unmoving. It was time. Xue Yun shouted, "Mount up." More than thirty brave warriors mounted their horses in perfect unison. This was a strong force of the Xue family, a force forged in the blood of their enemies, and no one dared to ignore their presence

Master Luo exclaimed: "The young general on the opposite side, my elder wishes to speak with you"

Qian Kai hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Xue Yun, you mustn't. If you lose, won't the goods be lost as well?"

Xue Yun said to Qian Kai: "Rest assured, I have my own ideas and will ensure that your goods do not suffer any loss"

Xue Yun and the others looked curiously at Elder Wang and Master Luo approaching from the opposite side, wondering if the two of them, along with the *illustrated* book person, had some explanation for not taking action all this time

"General, our actions in seizing the goods this time are also for the sake of the displaced refugees from Liaodong fleeing the capital. We did not intend to provoke you, General."

The lean old man said to Master Luo, "Have the people behind you prepare to heed my command." He then instructed Ma Wu not to engage in a hard fight, but to exhaust his opponent's stamina using lightness skills, considering that as the primary contribution.

Xue Er angrily said: "You are so shameless; what does it matter if the duelists are not on horseback?"

Xue Yun turned to Xue Er and said, "Uncle Er, how about we have a contest with them."

The lean old man said: "It doesn't have to be a duel; a competition will suffice. Are you brave enough to have a contest, Xue Yun"

Qian Kai was taken aback and said to Xue Yun: "This person is a notorious thief in the martial world, particularly skilled in lightness skills. He is also notoriously arrogant, with a fair complexion, and is known as a lecherous thief in the Jiangnan region. His most infamous incident occurred when he attempted to break into a house in Zhenjiang to commit theft but was caught by the local constables and righteous heroes. He fought while retreating, managing to escape the city without fleeing, relying on his exceptional lightness skills to move back and forth, killing thirteen constables and righteous heroes from Zhenjiang before vanishing. What is most appalling is that on the same night, he returned to the house where he had failed earlier, violated and assaulted the young girl there, and then killed her, slaughtering her entire family, totaling seventeen people, which caused a sensation in Jiangnan. He had not been heard from in the past two years, and I did not expect him to appear here."