Chapter 117: The Clash of Two Estates

The sky was overcast, and a biting wind swept through the mountains, whipping up flurries of peach blossoms. These petals were the only touch of color in an otherwise monochromatic landscape, yet they only served to make the scene feel more oppressive and somber.

Four riders galloped across the fields. They were fine steeds, Mongolian crossbreeds brought from the Famous Sword Villa. Although Zhang He had pushed them hard, he knew he had lost precious time. The events of the previous day had consumed too much of his schedule, and the system had forced him to log off in the middle of the night. With nowhere to go, he had spent the night browsing technical forums for posts by Jun Ruojian, logging back in at dawn to race toward the Hidden Sword Villa.

The silhouette of the Xie Family Post came into view. It looked the same as always—prosperous and bustling—as if nothing were amiss. Yet, this very tranquility was unsettling; it felt like the calm before a storm. Chen Guangxi, Yan Jiu, and Fourth Sister sensed it too, and the four horses quickened their pace toward the mountainside.

Suddenly, a corner of the dark clouds parted, and a beam of sunlight pierced through, striking the Sword Stone at the entrance of the Hidden Sword Villa. Yet, the sunlight brought no joy; instead, it made the scene feel even more ominous.

Qi Shiqi sat calmly in a rattan chair, his white robes as pristine as snow. He sipped tea from a small cup on the side table from time to time. He possessed the demeanor of a true gentleman—unhurried, composed, and steady. However, Zhang He noticed that the Hidden Sword Villa was on high alert. Even Fatty Mantis, who stood beside Qi Shiqi, had lost his usual smile, his brow furrowed with worry. Behind him stood a ring of disciples, fully armed and ready for battle.

As the four of them dismounted, Qi Shiqi remained motionless. He did not offer a greeting or even a nod, as if he hadn't seen Zhang He at all. He simply continued to drink his tea.

Fatty Mantis stepped forward to greet them. "Brother Wu, was the journey alright?"

Zhang He nodded, his expression grim.

Fatty Mantis then bowed to Chen Guangxi. "Elder Chen, your presence is an honor. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner."

He then caught sight of Yan Jiu and Fourth Sister. Maintaining his composure, he gave a faint nod. "Steward Yan and Fourth Sister have come as well." He didn't ask why they were there, for he didn't need to; it was clear they had arrived with Zhang He. Obviously, some startling incident had occurred at the Famous Sword Villa, and since this was not the time for hostility, he remained courteous.

Zhang He skipped the pleasantries. "What happened?"

Fatty Mantis, an intelligent man, got straight to the point. "Last night, Jin Mailang of the Famous Sword Villa sent a formal challenge, inviting the Villa Master to a duel here today."

"What?" All four of them were shocked.

They had all guessed that Jin Mailang would seek revenge, but no one expected him to do so by issuing a formal challenge. Was this really revenge? Yan Jiu and Fourth Sister realized that Jin Mailang was far more unfathomable than they had imagined.

Usually, when one thought of revenge, the first image that came to mind was Jin Mailang arriving at the Xie Family Post with Baili Feng and Ximen Jian, burning and slaughtering, leaving a trail of bodies to show Qi Shiqi the consequences of crossing them. But they now realized that such rash behavior was for the naive and immature—those who thought themselves powerful but were merely laughable. In the eyes of others, such people were nothing more than hot-headed brutes who could never reach the upper echelons of the martial world. If Jin Mailang had chosen that path, would Qi Shiqi and Zhang He have needed to be so wary of him?

Jin Mailang had chosen a different, unexpected path, and it was clear this challenge held a deeper, more sinister meaning.

"What time did the challenge arrive?" Zhang He asked.

"Ten o'clock last night," replied Fatty Mantis.

Zhang He calculated. If they were riding fine horses, they could have reached the post by seven in the evening. The fact that the challenge arrived at ten meant they had spent those three hours preparing their strategy. For a master, three hours—even ten minutes—was enough to plan a great deal.

"What does the challenge say?" Zhang He pressed.

Fatty Mantis looked indignant. "He challenged the Villa Master to a duel here at five this afternoon. If he loses, he will forfeit the Xie Family Post. If the Villa Master loses, we must agree to his proposal and hand over four-fifths of the territory."

Zhang He was stunned. He couldn't fathom why Jin Mailang was so confident. Yet, he quickly realized that this might be the best way to resolve the conflict. A full-scale faction war would lead to heavy losses for both sides, leaving neither party the victor.

"He applied through the system," Fatty Mantis added. "A formal challenge is the most legitimate way to settle this."

Zhang He’s pupils constricted. He saw the brilliance of Jin Mailang’s move. This method was recognized by the system as an efficient way to resolve disputes between players. However, it wasn't available to everyone; one had to possess a "titled status," which was tied to one's affiliation with major factions, chivalrous paths, or underworld organizations.

For instance, Zhong Shuman, as a "Little Knight" of the Chuan Province chivalrous path, had the standing to challenge titled figures in other sects, like Fatty Mantis or Hua Feihong. She could not, however, challenge Zhang He, who was a rogue cultivator with no sect, as the system prohibited such things.

The benefit of a formal challenge was that it settled disputes fairly. No outsiders could intervene, and death would not result in losing equipment or levels. Instead, the loser would forfeit reputation, sect prestige, chivalry, or evil alignment points, and sometimes even luck-based auxiliary stats. It was a trade-off that avoided the catastrophic losses of a full war.

Zhang He now understood why Jin Mailang had chosen this path. Given the current state of the Hidden Sword Villa, Qi Shiqi could not refuse. In the game *Dynasty*, a sect’s fate was inextricably linked to its players. Each sect had its own rules and hierarchy, and a sect’s prestige—earned through the collective efforts of its members—determined its growth, available resources, and the permissions granted by the system.

A sect like the Hidden Sword Villa was not just a guild; it was a living entity. If the sect leader or its members acted against their established nature—or if they suffered defeat in these formal challenges—the sect’s prestige would plummet. Jin Mailang had forced Qi Shiqi into a corner where, for the sake of the Villa’s reputation, he had no choice but to fight.