Chapter 34: An Invitation to the Death Arena

Page 1/3

"You don't need to know that," said the man standing behind Wu Qiwei. "I heard your next candidate for heir has been hiding here ever since the battle at General's Mountain. This is my apprentice, Yoyo. Her talent is on par with mine. I believe she is qualified to contend for the position of heir."

The person who stepped forward was immediately recognized by Ye Tang—she held in her hand the sword Phantom, and though she was about the same age as Ye Tang, there was an unmistakable air of menace about her.

"You are no longer a member of the Hunting Clan. Your apprentice has even less right to compete for the succession," came the cold retort.

"Twenty years ago, none of you could match me, let alone now after another two decades," Wu Qiwei replied, his tone laced with scorn. "Whether she is qualified is not for you to decide. What do you think would happen if the entire world learned the location of the Hunting Clan’s headquarters—including the vampires?"

A strange, oppressive aura emanated from Wu Qiwei, sweeping over everyone present. His gaze finally locked onto Ye Tang in the distance.

"Insolence! Are you threatening us?" The elders bristled with anger, preparing for a fight, but the clan leader held them back. "Do not be rash."

"Threatening you? I wouldn’t dare," Wu Qiwei said. "I grew up here; I don’t wish to see this place reduced to ruins. You have only one chance. So, does she have the right or not, Grand Chief?"

"Hmph. If she wants to compete for the heir's position, she'll have to get past the eight elders first."

The eight elders, unable to restrain themselves, formed a line. Wu Qiwei seemed unsurprised. "Ah, age has only made your tempers worse. Yoyo, go play with your elders, but don’t hurt them."

"Yes, Master." Yoyo stepped forward and bowed, then unsheathed the sword in her hand. The moment Phantom left its scabbard, a chilling aura merged with her own cold presence.

"Hmph, just a green little girl, is she? Take this!" The elders began their attack. Facing the onslaught, Yoyo summoned wall after wall of ice to block their strikes. Two elders flanked her, unleashing crackling bolts of lightning. Water, being a conductor, made the ice walls perfect targets for their thunderous assault.

Yoyo retreated as the ice walls shattered under the electric force. She flexed her numb left hand, but the attack was not over. The remaining elders joined in, their combined lightning forming a great sphere that hovered, crackling, before slamming toward Yoyo’s head with a deafening boom.

"Ah, underestimated," Wu Qiwei said, shaking his head at the elders’ self-satisfaction.

As the lightning struck, electric arcs danced around Yoyo, her body engulfed in crackling energy. The elders looked smug. "A mere child dares to dream of succession when she can't even defeat us!"

Yoyo’s face twisted in pain. To the others, this seemed a good sign, but to Ye Tang, something was amiss—Yoyo wasn’t even trying to dodge. She could only hope the elders had a plan.

Time passed. Yoyo stood within the lightning for nearly half an hour. The elders, though exhausted, refused to show it, but the clan leader, suspicious of Yoyo's endurance, suddenly shouted, "Disperse the formation! Now!"

The eight elders stared in confusion. The clan leader cried, "Her sword is absorbing your power! Her agony is feigned—she’s unharmed!"

Wu Qiwei clapped his hands in admiration. "As expected of the clan leader. You saw through it."

Alarmed, the elders tried to break the formation, but Yoyo smiled, raising her sword to the lightning. They struggled to reclaim their power, but it was already pouring into Phantom, which glowed brilliantly as it absorbed their energy.

Seeing the elders in danger, Ye Tang snatched a sword from the hands of someone nearby and rushed into the storm without hesitation. Wu Qiwei had expected this. "Even after the lesson of General's Mountain, your impulsiveness remains unchanged."

Yoyo met Ye Tang’s attack head-on, sword against sword. With Phantom no longer siphoning energy, the lightning formation dissolved and the eight elders collapsed to the ground, spent.

A thunderous crash resounded as the two clashed, one attacking and one defending, their movements a blur. Yoyo seemed exhilarated. "This power… so familiar. It’s yours, isn’t it?"

Page 2/3

Ye Tang slashed diagonally. "What are you talking about?"

"A week ago, on a mail ship off Hainan Island, I met a boy with an unusual necklace. The power inside it was exactly like yours."

Ye Tang immediately knew she meant Du Bin. Was this why he had called her—was he trying to warn her? "You killed him."

Sensing her anger, Yoyo smirked. "You care that much? Is he someone important to you?"

"That’s a private matter. None of your concern." Ye Tang dodged her counterattack and spun, delivering a horizontal slash.

Yoyo lifted her left hand and an ice wall rose instantly. "Oh, big sister, I’m only looking out for you."

"Not necessary." Ye Tang channeled her power into her sword. Flames wreathed the blade as she struck with all her might. Yoyo raised her sword to block.

With a loud crack, Ye Tang’s sword snapped clean in two. Yoyo seized the chance, her blade flashing to rest at Ye Tang’s throat. For a moment, everyone’s hearts stopped.

"Stop!" the clan leader cried out in panic. Thankfully, Yoyo had not intended to kill—otherwise, Ye Tang’s fate would be sealed.

"Oh, big sister, your skills are rather lacking," Yoyo taunted.

Ye Tang remained silent.

"Our abilities are clear," Yoyo went on. "Sheltered as you are, you’ve hardly been tested, let alone in actual combat. I, on the other hand, have been hunting vampires alone since I was eight. Countless vampires have fallen to my sword these past ten years."

Wu Qiwei spoke up. "I’m here today to secure the heir’s position for my apprentice. You’ve seen for yourselves—the current candidate is easily defeated. Still, since she’s just starting out, I propose a final showdown between the two of them, to take place one year from now in the Nansha Islands. There, a global tournament will gather the world’s greatest fighters—including vampires. If either woman is eliminated by another team, she will be considered defeated."

"You mean the death tournament?" The clan leader’s tone turned grave.

"Exactly. Teams of four—I've already picked two members for you: the pair from General's Mountain. You may choose the last member yourself."

"They’re just ordinary people—no powers at all! Forcing them onto my team is nothing but a handicap. This isn’t fair."

"There’s no such thing as fairness in this world," Wu Qiwei replied. "If you’re capable, carry them to victory. If not, you have one year to train them. Otherwise, be prepared to lose both the succession and your life. Hahaha..."

His hateful laughter stung, but Ye Tang was powerless to refute him. The prospect of entering the death tournament with two novices—Du Bin and Hu Guozheng—was daunting. She was allowed to choose one more teammate, but finding a willing partner within the clan—spoiled by comfort—was impossible. Only her aunt, Ye Lan, remained a hope.

Wu Qiwei’s rampage left the Hunting Clan in turmoil. Though the clan leader was reluctant to recognize Yoyo as a candidate, under threat, he had no choice but to agree: the person who triumphed in next year’s death tournament would become the new heir.

When Ye Tang informed Du Bin and Hu Guozheng about the death tournament, they were left speechless. Seeing Du Bin’s stunned face, she laughed.

"Are you kidding us?" Hu Guozheng grumbled from the back seat.

Page 3/3

"Wasn’t he dead? How did he come back?" Du Bin was shocked that Wu Qiwei had survived.

"Yeah, is he immortal or something?"

"Starting now, I’m taking you both to train inside the Hunting Clan. First, though, I’ll have to test you. But if you refuse to participate, the organizers will send assassins after you. You’ve seen what those people can do."

Du Bin said nothing. He knew that the death tournament in a year would be brutal. He and Hu Guozheng were just ordinary men; no amount of training could make them true contenders. Refuse and they’d be killed; participate and death seemed certain.

"Du, isn’t this just sending us to die?" Hu Guozheng complained, punching the seat.

"Stop, Hu. If not for that mess at General’s Mountain, we wouldn’t be forced into this life-and-death struggle. Whether we survive or not is up to fate."

It was already ten at night when the three parted ways, each lost in thought. As Du Bin was getting out of the car, Ye Tang leaned out and said, "Once you’ve wrapped up your personal affairs tomorrow, come with me to train. That all right?"

"No problem," Du Bin answered firmly.

At that hour, the shops were closing and the sidewalks were emptying. Suddenly, a girl walking along the street stopped and stared at someone ahead.

Ye Tang noticed the girl watching them and asked Du Bin, "Do you know her?"

Du Bin turned, stared, and unconsciously whispered her name: "Yilin."

On the busy street, neither made a move. Fang Yilin wanted to approach, but seeing the girl in Du Bin’s car, her feet refused to budge. In her heart, she wondered—didn’t Du Bin love her? How could he find another so quickly?

Just then, Wu Jiahao appeared beside her, carrying takeout. Seeing Fang Yilin staring, he followed her gaze and spotted Du Bin. An awkward air settled over him, but he still slipped his arm around Fang Yilin and drove away.

"Your girlfriend?" Ye Tang asked.

"Ex-girlfriend."

"Oh. She’s quite pretty—looks rather innocent. Pity it’s not you standing beside her," Ye Tang said, then drove off, leaving Du Bin alone on the sidewalk.

Perhaps, for Du Bin, this was the best outcome. At least Fang Yilin wouldn’t be dragged into this. He once believed that hand in hand, they could grow old together—but in the end, money won out.

"So in the real world, there really is a kind of love called letting go. If I fall in the death tournament a year from now, will you still remember me?" With a bitter laugh, Du Bin stood alone as passersby gave him a wide berth, taking him for a madman.