Chapter 102: Is Your Young Master Really This Mad?

The Day of the Decisive Battle.

In Beiling City, public opinion was overwhelming, with some even setting up large bets on how long Li Yunji could hold out.

Yet, the Beiling Prince’s mansion remained calm and serene.

Li Yunji leisurely rocked back and forth in his grand chair, sipping on homemade watermelon juice.

Upon hearing about the bet from Chu Qi, he smirked and said, “This is quite interesting.”

“You can still smile?” Chu Qi snapped angrily, “Eighty percent of people think you won’t last longer than one incense stick.”

“One incense stick?” Li Yunji sneered, “They sure think highly of me.”

“If Zhou Cheng goes all out, I’m afraid I won’t even last half an incense stick.”

Chu Qi fretted, “What are we going to do then?”

Li Yunji drained the last of his juice, slowly stood, and stretched.

“I can’t win, but someone else can.”

“Let’s go meet this Zhou Cheng.”

...

At the Beiling Cavalry Camp.

Zhou Cheng had been waiting for a long time, his gaze sharp as a blade as he surveyed the incoming Li Yunji.

Zhou Li sat solemnly in the main seat, his eyes cold and piercing.

“Such a grand setup?” Li Yunji glanced around, frowning slightly.

Zhou Cheng snorted coldly, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “The brothers all want to see the Crown Prince’s prowess.”

“If His Highness is afraid of losing face, I’ll have the brothers look the other way!”

He was about to give the order when Li Yunji shouted loudly, “No need.”

Then, with a leap, he stood steadily on the platform. “Let’s get this over with.”

Zhou Cheng’s eyes narrowed as he crossed his sword in front of him. “You have some courage!”

“Surely the Crown Prince knows—there’s no joking in the army!”

“Since you accepted the challenge, I, Zhou, will fight with all my might!”

With those words, his great sword flashed out of its sheath, the scabbard embedding into the gatepost outside with a dull thud.

“Clang—”

Zhou Cheng smashed through the wooden boards, the cold gleam of his blade rushing straight at Li Yunji.

Unlike Chen Jingshan, who specialized in defense, Zhou Cheng focused on speed.

At the peak of Fifth Rank, he was lightning fast—appearing before Li Yunji in the blink of an eye!

Li Yunji drew his sword, fighting back with all his might.

Zhou Cheng’s assault was like a violent storm, the clash of sword and blade ringing out metallic sparks.

After more than a dozen rounds, Zhou Cheng suddenly roared, unleashing the full power of his great sword.

The blade, sharp and fierce, aimed straight at Li Yunji!

In a flash, it stabbed deep into Li Yunji’s right shoulder!

Everyone in the camp was stunned, whispers rising all around.

“That’s not right, from what I saw, the Crown Prince could have dodged that attack.”

“Is he just giving up now?”

“If so, he might as well surrender outright—why come here to embarrass himself?”

“After that strike, Deputy General Zhou probably can’t fight anymore!”

Even Zhou Cheng’s face flashed with surprise.

Yet Li Yunji frowned tightly, not uttering a sound.

Blood dripped along the blade, staining his white robe red.

“This is his idea of a head-on fight?” Su Qingmeng’s brow twitched, worry creeping into her expression.

Before she finished speaking, Zhou Cheng abruptly withdrew his sword and sneered, “I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to be so fragile.”

“Looks like I overestimated you!”

But then, Li Yunji suddenly grinned. “Deputy General Zhou!”

Beneath his pale face was an inexplicable confidence. “You think this is over?”

Amid the stunned gazes, he plunged the broken sword he held into the very wound just inflicted!

“What is the Crown Prince doing?”

“He can’t be deliberately harming himself, right?”

“Exactly. Kneel and beg Deputy General Zhou, maybe he’ll spare him.”

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

“Is your master crazy?” Su Qingmeng frowned, watching the scene.

Eleven, however, caught a hint of something. He chuckled softly and said calmly, “Zhou Cheng is going to lose.”

At that moment, the broken sword in Li Yunji’s hand suddenly shimmered with faint light, as if infused with spiritual power.

Zhou Cheng’s pupils contracted sharply, sensing danger. He gripped his great sword tightly and swung a sword aura to try to stop Li Yunji’s move!

But Li Yunji showed no sign of retreat.

At the critical moment, the broken sword seemed to respond, suddenly slipping free from Li Yunji’s grasp.

It traced a brilliant arc through the air, effortlessly piercing through the sword aura!

Before anyone could react, a sharp whistle of wind was heard—the Azure Abyss had already appeared at Zhou Cheng’s throat!

Silence fell instantly, all chatter ceasing.

“A sword spirit?” Su Qingmeng’s expression tightened, recalling Li Yunji’s earlier actions. “He used his own blood as a conduit to awaken the sword spirit?”

“Even I didn’t expect this,” Eleven smiled approvingly. “As expected of the young master—his mind is sharp.”

Su Qingmeng stared at Li Yunji, a faint smile playing at her lips.

On the platform, Li Yunji gasped heavily, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

“Zhou Cheng, you’ve lost.”

Zhou Cheng’s face turned pale, his lips trembling as he stared in disbelief at the Azure Abyss pressing against his throat.

His grip loosened, and the great sword clattered to the ground with a heavy sound.

The crowd remained silent for a long moment before someone dared to whisper.

“Did you see that? Was that sword control just now?”

“But the Crown Prince didn’t even manipulate the broken sword!”

“Could it be...” An older soldier’s eyes widened in astonishment, “That’s the Prince’s sword?!”

At this revelation, chaos erupted instantly!

“That’s right! That’s the Prince’s broken sword!”

“So that light just now was clearly the Prince’s sword spirit!”

“So does this mean the Crown Prince has gained the sword spirit’s recognition?!”

...

The murmurs grew louder, stirring unrest.

Several soldiers in the crowd spontaneously knelt on one knee, saluting the Azure Abyss sword with military respect!

Others followed suit.

This was the highest honor in the Beiling army!

The Azure Abyss trembled slightly, as if responding to the soldiers’ reverence.

“Return,” Li Yunji said weakly, drawing his sword sheath.

The Azure Abyss hummed softly, circling Zhou Cheng a few times before bursting forth a sharp cold light, as if issuing a warning.

Zhou Cheng’s face went pale, stepping back involuntarily.

Only then did the Azure Abyss, satisfied, trace an elegant arc and slowly return into Li Yunji’s sword sheath.

With all settled, Li Yunji’s face showed no trace of triumph.

Instead, expressionless, he turned his gaze toward Zhou Li in the main seat and spoke solemnly.

“General Zhou.”

“The death of Zhou Jingzhi is indeed related to me, and I do not deny that.”

“But it was never my intention.”

“I believe Zhou Jingzhi was no villain.”

“The reason he went to his death alone must be because he was deceived.”

Zhou Li’s brows furrowed deeply, his eyes complex and unreadable as he regarded Li Yunji.

He made no reply, merely snorted coldly and stormed out.

Watching Zhou Li’s resolute back, doubt flickered in Li Yunji’s eyes.

Suddenly, the unexpected happened!

Eleven’s eyes widened in alarm. “Bad!”

Before the words finished, Li Yunji spat a mouthful of fresh blood!

His vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground...