"Miss Yan, you see, this isn't something my Sun Family initiated. As for Master Chen Guang's injury, it was caused by sword forging. The rules of a death match can't be invalidated just because one party gets injured during the forging process, can they?" Sun Yang turned his head again to address Yan Zi.
Yan Zi's face paled slightly, and she remained silent.
Sun Yang only gazed at Yan Zi with a half-smile, gently waving his folding fan without urging her.
"Xiao Dingdang, what exactly is a death match? Is it a duel to the death between two sword forgers?" Tang Jian's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he asked in a low voice.
"No, a death match refers to two sword forgers wielding their own forged swords to battle until one sword breaks, determining the winner and loser," Xiao Dingdang explained in a hushed tone, though anxiety lingered in her heart.
For sword forgers, each forged sword consumes immense mental effort and financial resources. To engage in a battle where the swords might break signifies a tremendous loss.
Although Situ Ran also noticed that Chen Guang was severely injured, the Sun Family's proposal for a death match was indeed within the rules. He merely felt regret that one of these two high-quality swords would inevitably be destroyed.
"Master Situ, Master Chen Guang is in no condition to compete. I hope we can wait until he recovers before scheduling another match. After all, the rules of a death match don't stipulate that a winner must be decided immediately, do they?" Yan Zi looked at Situ Ran and spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Situ Ran pondered for a moment before turning to Sun Yang and Qiu Batian, saying,
"If we proceed with the match today, it would indeed be unfair. How about we reschedule it for three days later? What does the Sun Family think?"
Sun Yang hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, his eyes filled with inquiry as he looked at Qiu Batian.
"Is it necessary to reschedule? Alright, today, we won't be rigid about whether the sword forgers must personally wield their swords. Your Yan Family can simply send anyone to compete with me," Qiu Batian glanced at Yan Zi and said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Yan Zi's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she nodded in contemplation. Tang Jian, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief rather than worry.
As long as the Yan Family won, not only would the debt owed to the Sun Family be forgiven, but the Sun Family would also have to pay a substantial compensation to the Yan Family.
In this way, the current crisis of the Yan Family would be completely resolved.
"This is already the greatest concession we can make. If you don't agree, then the Yan Family can admit defeat," Qiu Batian's voice turned slightly cold as he reminded them.
"Alright, then let's have the death match today," Yan Zi lifted her head, a determined glint flashing in her eyes as she spoke.
"Since everyone has decided on a death match, this hall won't suffice. Please follow me to the square outside the hall," Situ Ran said upon hearing this.
With that said, he ordered the guards outside to ignite bonfires and led everyone out of the hall to the vast square outside.
Dozens of giant fire basins were set up in the night, illuminating the entire square as bright as day.
"The competition between both sides only involves the quality of the swords, not the depth of cultivation or the techniques of swordplay. The competitors shall only use their maximum magical power to drive their swords, striking each other. The one whose sword breaks first loses," Situ Ran walked to the center of the square and announced to everyone.
Although the rules stated that cultivation levels wouldn't be contested, those with higher cultivation levels would inevitably have an advantage in the competition.
Qiu Batian let out a snicker, gripping the "Purple Qi" long sword and striding forward. He stood with the sword in hand, his gaze shifting towards Yan Zi's side, a mocking smile appearing on his face as he said,
"Has your Yan Family chosen someone for the sword fight?"
After speaking, his body suddenly emitted a bright light, and an invisible rigid qi surged out, causing his clothes to flap and rustle.
Within his dantian, strands of magical power flowed out and converged into the Purple Qi sword in his hand.
A "buzzing" sound echoed as the symbols on the long sword lit up, and purple light flared. A layer of faint purple mist enveloped the sword, condensing without dispersing.
"Qi Refinement eighth layer... When did this happen?"
Seeing this, the corners of Yan Zi's eyes couldn't help but twitch slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in Chen Guang's eyes.
Qiu Batian took in everyone's gazes, his face displaying even more pride.
A smile also appeared on Sun Yang's face, and a hint of mockery lingered in his eyes as he looked at Yan Zi.
"I'll handle it." Yan Zi's eyes flickered slightly as she stepped forward.
"Miss..." Xiao Dingdang tugged at her sleeve, her face etched with worry.
Yan Zi turned back and gave her a gentle shake of the head.
"Master Chen Guang is injured. It would be good if Uncle were here..." Xiao Dingdang whispered.
Yan Zi's cultivation was only at the fifth level of the Qi Refining stage, whereas her second uncle, Yan Xiang, was a cultivator at the ninth level, the highest in the entire Yan family at present.
However, due to the Yan Family Commerce Association recently accepting a crucial large order that required someone to escort it to the Jin-Yue border, Yan Zi, distrusting others, had asked her uncle to personally oversee the escort. Naturally, he was unable to lend his hand now.
The Sun family had obviously seen this and, emboldened by the knowledge, proposed that the Yan family could send anyone they liked.
Yan Zi's gaze shifted, and she walked over to Tang Jian, extending her hand to him.
Seeing this, Tang Jian held the sword with both hands, offering it to Yan Zi.
She grasped the hilt with one hand, intending to lift it, but found the sword unmovable, unable to be taken from Tang Jian's hand.
Her eyebrows slightly raised, she looked at Tang Jian with confusion. She saw a layer of red light glowing on his palm. His hand wasn't tightly gripping it, yet the Redbrow Sword was firmly adhered to it, making it impossible for her to take it off.
"Let me fight this battle on your behalf," Tang Jian suddenly grinned and said.
Upon hearing this, not only Yan Zi but all eyes in the room focused on him.
"Tang Jian, you..." Xiao Dingdang's face was filled with surprise as she muttered.
Yao Bin's expression was complicated and hard to read. He glanced at Tang Jian and then looked away, while Chen Guang's eyes became somewhat enigmatic.
"Hehe, it seems the Yan family truly hides dragons and tigers. An apprentice swordsmith dares to speak so boldly. Impressive, impressive," Sun Yang said with disdain, lightly waving his folding fan.
Tang Jian ignored everyone else, his eyes fixed on Yan Zi without blinking, and he nodded slightly.
Seeing Tang Jian's firm gaze and the sparkle in his eyes, Yan Zi, for some reason, felt a stir in her heart and instinctively nodded.