In the Exile Lands, where might makes right, Shi Chun was already used to all sorts of brute force situations, so he wasn't particularly angry.
But he didn't expect a place like Eternal Dawn City, known for abiding by heavenly rules, to have fallen into chaos as well.
As for the challenge of a duel, he wasn't afraid.
What worried him was the new duel rule: after ten drumbeats, if no winner was declared, both participants would be executed.
A duel in such limited time? How was that even fair?
The bigger issue was that it wasn't just him at risk.
Only one side would walk away alive.
If he lost, Wu Jinliang would also lose his life alongside him.
The duel itself wasn't intimidating, but the fatal loophole in the rules was.
If the opponent decided to stall and avoid confrontation, dragging out the count to ten was easy.
It could lead to both parties perishing together.
As he pondered his strategy, he took advantage of the lifted restrictions on his body to quickly check his condition through channeling his energy.
Thankfully, the punishment hadn't lasted long.
Though he appeared battered with surface-level injuries, they were merely flesh wounds and hadn't reached his bones.
For someone like him, accustomed to injuries, this was routine.
The real torment was the strange vision in his right eye that acted up again during the punishment, making the ordeal unbearable.
Since that fateful night, he had tried numerous times to activate the vision in his right eye but couldn't find the right method.
Unexpectedly, it happened again.
While he quietly adjusted his internal state, the accuser who falsely blamed them was brought forth.
Dressed in the same dirty, patched-up cloth as before, the accuser looked visibly uneasy.
Their unease was understandable.
Having made false accusations, their conscience was shaky.
Moreover, Du Huoguan's promises were unreliable.
Even if they won, would their promises still be kept, or would there be another betrayal?
Before he could think further, he was shoved into the open space opposite Shi Chun.
Realizing the one facing him was the accuser, Shi Chun felt a sense of relief.
His greatest fear was that Shen Youkun's influence might have infiltrated the city guards.
If that power were controlling his fate, he would be doomed.
The presence of the accuser indicated that the interrogation direction had correctly shifted, and the power behind the scenes had lost its grip on the matter.
Still, no matter the judgment, Shi Chun knew he must first pass this hurdle.
Boom!
As hostility began to brew in their eyes, sizing each other up, the guards by the side picked up their drumsticks and struck the drums.
The sound made their hearts skip a beat.
They hadn't anticipated the duel would start so abruptly, without any time to prepare.
The spectators had no interest in watching them dawdle.
Both men, eyes gleaming with ferocity like ravenous wolves, focused on each other.
Only one would survive; there was no choice.
Neither had weapons since it was demanded to see hand-to-hand combat.
Boom!
Another drumbeat resounded, marking the second out of ten.
The urgency was enough to drive them mad.
Neither opponent dared hesitate; they both dashed towards each other.
Escape or evade? Impossible!
At the moment of collision, the accuser swiftly pulled away the dirty cloak draped over him, flinging it out towards Shi Chun like a curtain.
Now it was clear why he clung to the ragged cloth—it had its use.
This kind of move usually hid tricks!
Shi Chun's eyes flashed with wariness.
Having fought his way since childhood, he knew well that any opening move by an opponent might lead to hidden schemes.
However, it was too late to dodge with the oncoming clash.
“Break!” With a sudden burst of energy, Shi Chun roared, channeling all his cultivation into his palms, unleashing a violent strike.
Boom!
A dull explosive sound accompanied the drum's beat, throwing chaotic shadows around.
The cloth from the accuser burst like countless butterflies fluttering into the air, fragments and sparkles among them.
Overseer Du Huoguan, observing through the windows above, murmured with appreciation, “Impressive!”
At his cultivation level, he knew that while an Initial Martial Realm cultivator could easily shatter rocks, smashing a soft cloth like this was much harder.
Although tearing it might be simple, comprehensively shattering it in midair was almost impossible for someone at the Initial Martial Realm.
Without knowing Shi Chun had been checked and his limits were clear, one might think Shi Chun had already reached the Advanced Martial Realm.
While praising, Overseer Du also furrowed his eyebrows slightly, having glimpsed the glinting needles among the fragments.
The worn cloth concealed many tiny needle weapons, likely poisoned judging by the color.
This was a cunning trap.
Needles were weapons too.
Although instructed it should be barehand combat, one side had sneakily brought a weapon.
Overseer Du glanced at the Warden beside him, but the Warden showed no particular reaction.
Shi Chun wasn't blind.
He was both startled and furious.
Before the cloth exploded, the accuser, not entirely letting go, still had a grip on a corner, intending to ensnare Shi Chun on contact.
Seeing a sinister smile of triumph beginning to form, Shi Chun knew what might happen.
Just touching any part of it—hand, leg, any contact—and the accuser would yank it with force.
However, just as the accuser shifted to pull with force, the sight of countless "butterflies" exploding stunned him.
The swift pain that followed almost frightened his soul out of him.
Several poison needles stabbed into the accuser himself.
He knew his own needles well.
Coated with deadly, instant toxins, causing paralysis quickly.
Luckily, he had an antidote on him, always prepared for accidents when playing this dangerous game.
However, Shi Chun gave him no chance to remedy the situation.
As the diversion exploded, Shi Chun saw his opponent appear and changed direction with a powerful kick-off to attack him.
The accuser hastily withdrew his hand to block, attempting to fend off the incoming attack but was caught in Shi Chun's counter, twisted like a pretzel.
As their four arms tangled, another drumbeat sounded.
The drum roared like a death knell, time pressing on mercilessly.
Shi Chun, his brows furrowed in fierce determination, a killing intent written all over his face, stomped down hard, causing cracks to spiderweb across the thick stone ground.
His tattered clothes fluttered unnaturally, and the wounds on his body spat out beads of blood.
With a cry, like a sea dragon surging forth, he unleashed a thunderous punch-turned-palm against the accuser's chest.
The force was violent.
The accuser felt fiery pain where their arms rubbed, then was struck by an immense power that made him release his hold and stumble back.
Barely steadying himself, he swallowed the blood threatening to burst from his mouth, feeling his organs twist in agony.
The opponent's fierce attack had a strange heaviness, as if trying to break through him.
Watching intently from above, Overseer Du’s pupils shrank suddenly, witnessing what seemed like a captive human face on the accuser’s back, struggling to break free from the skin.
Like a malicious spirit, it nearly broke through, then disappeared in silence, leaving a skull-like blood print on the skin.
What kind of sorcery is this? He displayed a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty.
Warden Nie’s eyes narrowed slightly as he softly uttered three words, “Demon Bathing Technique...”
(End of Chapter)