Xiang Jian brought Man and the others directly to the Eight Directions Sword Sect.
"Sect Leader, you're back..." Deputy Sect Leader Zhou Yan saw the people behind Xiang Jian and pulled him aside. "Sect Leader, don't tell me the person behind you is Xiao Qin."
Xiang Jian nodded. "How is it, Zhou Yan? Didn't I say I could find her if I went out? Here, I've found her."
Zhou Yan could barely suppress a laugh. They knew very little about Xiao Qin, only that she came from the Primordial Tribe and was incredibly skilled. Not only was she unafraid of Mad Blade, but she had also tricked him. Now, Mad Blade was searching for her everywhere!
"Have you brought her back? Does anyone else know?"
"Probably not," Xiang Jian said, not entirely sure. "Right, Zhou Yan, prepare yourself. I want to spar with Xiao Qin."
"I knew it." Zhou Yan knew Xiang Jian loved to spar, but there was no one in the sect who could match him. Only Mad Blade could fight him. When he heard that Mad Blade had been defeated by a newcomer from the Primordial Tribe, he couldn't resist.
"Young Master Xiao, I am Zhou Yan, the Deputy Sect Leader of the Eight Directions Sect, mainly responsible for miscellaneous affairs within the sect," Zhou Yan said, cupping his fists. "My Sect Leader has caused you trouble."
Xiao Man calmly replied, "It's alright. After all, the wager offered by your Sect Leader is very tempting."
"Wager?" Zhou Yan's heart sank. He quickly pulled Xiang Jian aside. "Sect Leader, what is the wager?"
"The position of Sect Leader of the Eight Directions Sword Sect, and her allegiance to me."
"What?" Zhou Yan's voice rose, his voice cracking clearly audible. "You're betting the Eight Directions Sword Sect!"
Xiang Jian nodded. "If I win, she gives me her divine weapon, and she becomes my subordinate, practicing with me every day. If I lose, the Eight Directions Sect belongs to her, and I become her subordinate."
Zhou Yan felt the wager was too risky and regretted not following Xiang Jian more closely. However, he felt there was still time to salvage the situation.
"Young Master Xiao, our Sect Leader..."
"Deputy Sect Leader, are you trying to cancel our spar?" Xiao Man smoothly interjected. "What, is the Sect Leader of your Eight Directions Sword Sect just a figurehead? Does he not even have this much authority? Or do you not trust your Sect Leader, believing he will lose?"
Zhou Yan was immediately choked into silence. He had intended to stop the spar, but Xiao Man's words left him no choice. Otherwise, he would be accused of undermining the Sect Leader and attempting to seize power. S novel net.
"Young Master Xiao, you misunderstand. I merely wanted to ask when it would be most convenient for you and our Sect Leader to spar?" Zhou Yan forced himself to calm down. The matter was settled, and it was too late to stop it. He could only try to find a way for the Sect Leader to win.
"Anytime is fine, as long as the Sect Leader is free."
"Anytime is fine for me too," Xiang Jian said eagerly. He was eager to know Xiao Man's true capabilities. As long as Xiao Man didn't use poison, he was confident of winning.
"In that case, let's schedule it for three days later. I'll take you three to rest first." Zhou Yan was meticulous. He immediately arranged rooms for the three and saw to their every need.
"This Deputy Sect Leader is quite resourceful," Xiao Man said slowly, watching Zhou Yan's retreating back.
"Elder, this Deputy Sect Leader might be difficult to deal with."
"As long as he doesn't cross my path," Xiao Man said as she sat down at the table, tapping her fingers rhythmically on the surface, a knowing smile playing on her lips. This Deputy Sect Leader would surely scheme to ensure Xiang Jian won. If so, it would be just to her liking.
After settling Xiao Man and her party, Zhou Yan hurried to find Xiang Jian. "Sect Leader, how could you wager the Eight Directions Sword Sect?"
Xiang Jian was polishing his treasured sword. All his collected swords had been severed by Xiao Man's daggers. He wondered what material such divine weapons were made from.
"Zhou Yan, do not provoke Xiao Qin."
"Sect Leader, I'm talking about the Eight Directions Sword Sect..."
"When have you ever seen me act recklessly?" Xiang Jian looked up at Zhou Yan. "I've tracked her all this way, followed her all this time. This person is incredibly skilled. She wouldn't be at a disadvantage even against Poison Lady."
"She uses poison?"
"At first, I thought so too," Xiang Jian said, his sword polished to a gleaming shine. "But her martial arts are also superb. If I hadn't been prepared, I might have been captured the moment we met."
Zhou Yan couldn't believe it. "Captured you in one move? That's impossible!"
"It's the truth. Therefore, you and everyone in the sect are forbidden from playing any tricks on her. Regardless of the outcome, everyone must accept it! Especially you," Xiang Jian said slowly. There was another important reason he didn't mention: Xiao Qin was resolute and had many means. He had a feeling that by following her, he might be able to enter Wuji City.
"Sect Leader, do you mean you might lose?"
"Victory and defeat are common in war. No one can remain invincible forever." Xiang Jian sheathed his sword, his gaze momentarily distant as if lost in thought. When his eyes cleared, there was no trace of emotion in them.
"Sect Leader, have you found out anything about her origins?"
"A little, and I can be sure," Xiang Jian said, looking at Zhou Yan. "She is definitely not from the Primordial Tribe."
"Why do you say that?"
"Her demeanor and conduct," Xiang Jian mused, carefully recalling Xiao Man's every action. "She must be someone who received a superior education. Her every movement exudes grace and nobility, which is not something one would find in a wild tribe like the Primordial."
"She's from the city too?" Zhou Yan frowned. If Xiao Qin was from the city, why was she here? Had she made a mistake, or did she have a purpose? Their men had been guarding the city gates, and no one could have come out without them noticing. So how had she left?
"Besides the city, where else do you think she could be from?" Xiang Jian said unhurriedly. "My spar with her is also to find out which faction she belongs to."
"Sect Leader, there's something I've always wanted to ask: Why did you end up in the Land of the Lawless?"
Xiang Jian held out his hands. There were scars on each of his wrists. His tendons had been severed, and he had been thrown into the Land of the Lawless. The pain had been etched into his bones, and every time he dreamt at night, it tortured his nerves, making him wish for death.
"I must return to the city. I also want to know why I ended up in this predicament." A fierce hatred erupted from Xiang Jian. "I also want to ask, why!"
Zhou Yan was stunned by the sudden surge of killing intent from Xiang Jian. He knew Xiang Jian had appeared in the Land of the Lawless for a reason, but Xiang Jian had never spoken of it, and he had never asked. Now, it seemed the reason was likely very unpleasant!