Chapter 10: Three-Month Appointment (Part II)

The explorer shuttle took off, accelerating rapidly, as the scenery outside the window retreated like shooting stars.

A quarter of an hour later, the explorer shuttle arrived at the designated location. The panoramic view unfolded, revealing Black Wind Stronghold directly below.

At this moment, the martial arts hall of Black Wind Stronghold was already packed with people. Left Sword Envoy Yun Che led the experts of the Cloud Hidden Villa to stand in formation, quietly waiting for Lin Fan to appear.

Lin Fan chuckled, "Meng Li, look, your Left Sword Envoy Yun Che is right there."

Meng Li lowered her head and softly retorted, "What 'my' Left Sword Envoy Yun Che? I…"

Before she could finish, she was jolted, turning around to glare at Lin Fan.

"Lin Fan, what are you doing? We have already broken up, let me go!"

Lin Fan did not answer, only holding her gently in his arms with a playful expression and a low voice:

"I want him to see with his own eyes, who it is that I truly possess."

Upon hearing this, Meng Li's eyes became misty. Gazing at Left Sword Envoy Yun Che below, her heart was in turmoil.

Dreams of the Mortal World are hard to sever, old lovers and new grudges shared on the pillow.

Before a word is spoken, shame makes the heart tremble; looking back, it seems as if mountains stand between them.

Others do not understand the meaning of love; alone facing the villa, tears stream down silently.

Even with a thousand words stuck in the throat, it is hard to express the lingering attachment of this moment.

Inside the shuttle, Meng Li nestled in Lin Fan's arms like a piece of paper, letting the outside world change, while only love and hatred intertwined in this moment.

Time flew by, and the sun was high in the sky, yet Lin Fan still had not appeared.

Below the martial arts hall, discussions began to rise. People whispered to one another:

"Why hasn't the young master of Black Wind Stronghold come out to accept the challenge yet?"

"Indeed, does he not even have the courage to face the challenge? This does not seem like the actions of a hero in the Jianghu."

"I heard his Cultivation has not been going well lately; he might not have the ability to fight at all."

"Looking at it this way, Black Wind Stronghold is just an empty reputation."

Under the eyes of everyone, a storm was brewing. When Lin Fan would appear became the question on everyone's mind.

Just then, Left Sword Envoy Yun Che sneered coldly and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Black Wind Stronghold, you dare call yourselves people of the Jianghu, yet you are so cowardly when facing a challenge. It is truly disappointing."

His words were like adding fuel to the fire, immediately causing everyone to become even more disdainful. The reputation of Black Wind Stronghold collapsed at that moment, and the people of the Jianghu lost all face.

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che was shouting enthusiastically, not knowing that his Meng Li was being ruthlessly devastated by Lin Fan, who showed absolutely no tenderness.

Time passed bit by bit. By evening, the atmosphere on the field grew even more tense. Just as the crowd was whispering and had lost patience, Lin Fan finally appeared.

He was unhurried, walking slowly to the center of the field. Facing the gathered people of the Jianghu, he slightly cupped his hands in greeting, "Everyone, I have kept you waiting."

The surrounding whispers gradually died down, and everyone's gaze focused on Lin Fan, anticipating the start of this duel.

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, however, showed no appreciation, cold-snorting with a tone full of dissatisfaction and mockery, "Lin Fan, you have finally come!"

The two stood facing each other, the atmosphere tense and ready to explode.

Just as they were exchanging words, a slender figure slowly walked from afar.

It was Meng Li, dressed in white, her clothes as snowy as winter, taking light, small steps.

Her small face was flushed and tender, like grapes nourished by spring dew, making her endearing.

Seeing Meng Li, whom he had missed day and night, Left Sword Envoy Yun Che felt a surge of excitement, and all his mockery and contempt for Lin Fan were instantly thrown to the back of his mind.

He couldn't bother to maintain his usual cold and arrogant demeanor, rushing to Meng Li, his eyes full of concern and anxiety.

"Meng Li, are you alright? Did Lin Fan bully you?" Left Sword Envoy Yun Che asked anxiously, his eyes filled with worry and concern.

Meng Li was startled, a surge of complex emotions rising in her heart.

She lowered her eyes, her hands gripping her sleeves tightly, as fragments of her time with Lin Fan just now flashed through her mind.

It was more than just being bullied; she had been thoroughly bullied, and just a moment ago, she had been bullied all over. However, how could she speak of all this?

She lowered her head and shook it slightly, her voice revealing a hint of reluctant calmness, "No… I was not bullied."

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che breathed a sigh of relief, the anxiety in his heart slightly easing.

The longing from days of separation became even harder to suppress at this moment. He slowly approached Meng Li, his gaze full of deep affection.

"Meng Li, I was really worried about you." Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's voice became gentle and low. He approached her step by step, opening his arms, wanting to pull her tightly into his embrace.

Meng Li retreated in terror; she couldn't say why she retreated, it was just an instinctive resistance.

"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Lin Fan quickly appeared in front of Left Sword Envoy Yun Che and pushed him away, stopping his further actions.

"Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, Meng Li was snatched by me from you to be my stronghold mistress. Now she is mine; if you want to touch her, you must ask if my chopper agrees."

As Lin Fan spoke, he fiddled with his exaggeratedly shaped large chopper. The blade glinted with a cold light in the sunset, full of dominance.

"Might! Might! Might!" The surrounding bandits and robbers of Black Wind Stronghold shouted in unison, their voices deafening.

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che glared fiercely at Lin Fan, his eyes almost spitting fire as he cursed, "Lin Fan, what kind of love potion did you give Meng Li to make her resist me so much!"

Lin Fan laughed heartily, "Of course it is because of me, handsome and dashing, mighty and extraordinary, which made Miss Meng Li offer herself voluntarily."

Once these words were spoken, the crowd of Jianghu people burst into laughter, "That's right, our young master is mighty and extraordinary; how can some pretty boy compare to him!"

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che cold-snorted, his face carrying a disdainful sneer, "Stop boasting here. If I win against you, are you sure you will let me take Meng Li away?"

Upon hearing this, a trace of cunning flashed in Lin Fan's eyes, but he immediately restored his cold expression. He puffed out his chest, a confident smile on his face, "Of course, we people of the Jianghu naturally keep our word."

He turned to the surrounding bandits and robbers, his voice resounding through the valley like thunder, "Today, I am having a fair duel with Left Sword Envoy Yun Che. If I lose, or if I am killed by Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, he can take Meng Li away, and no one is allowed to retaliate!"

"Yes! Young Master."

"Good, worthy of being the young master of Black Wind Stronghold."

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che looked at Meng Li, casting her a gentle gaze, "Meng Li, wait for me, I will take you home soon!"

Meng Li was moved to tears by this sudden, familiar tenderness. She had long been completely possessed by Lin Fan; how could she go home with Left Sword Envoy Yun Che?

"Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, go… we cannot be together anymore…" Meng Li's voice was weak, yet it pierced into Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's heart like a sharp sword.

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che was stunned, his whole being collapsing instantly. "Why!"

"I am sorry to you, go. I have already…" Speaking of this, Meng Li's expression was complex, and she could not continue.

Although Meng Li did not finish, Left Sword Envoy Yun Che already knew: Meng Li had fallen for Lin Fan. His girlfriend was just snatched away like this?? His three years of being a simp??

The anger in his heart turned into tearing pain. His eyes turned red, his breathing became rapid, and anger and unwillingness intertwined into madness.

He could no longer endure it, suddenly leaping up from the ground, his eyes shooting out monstrous anger. "Lin Fan! I will kill you!" Left Sword Envoy Yun Che roared, his long sword drawn, his anger soaring to the sky.

The sword light was swift and fierce, carrying the full power of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, charging straight at Lin Fan.

The sword tip was like the wind, carrying all his hatred and despair, pointing straight at Lin Fan's throat.

However, facing Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's crazy attack, Lin Fan's expression was calm as water.

At this moment, his Golden Core Stage Cultivation stood firm and immovable, like an unshakable giant mountain.

Moreover, his Cultivation Technique was incredibly profound, enough to make him stronger than others in the same Realm, not to mention that he was a whole Realm higher than Left Sword Envoy Yun Che.

Before Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's sword light could even get close, Lin Fan had already made his move.

Seeing him wave one hand, the exaggeratedly huge chopper was suddenly slashed out from his hand. The air seemed to be torn apart, and the Saber Qi, carrying the momentum of thunder, slashed straight down.

"Bang——!"

The blade light instantly swallowed Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's Sword Qi. In just one exchange, Left Sword Envoy Yun Che was hit in the chest by Lin Fan's chopper.

His body was knocked flying like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily onto the ground. He spat out a large mouthful of blood, his face pale as paper.

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che lay on the ground, struggling to get up, but the excruciating pain all over his body made it extremely difficult for him to even move.

His long sword had long since left his hand, and his gaze looked powerlessly at Lin Fan, filled with despair and pain.

Lin Fan put away his long chopper and looked coldly at Left Sword Envoy Yun Che lying on the ground, his tone as indifferent as ice, "Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, with just your amateur skills, you still want to kill me!"

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, "Amateur? Let me show you my true strength."

On the dueling stage, thick fog suddenly gushed out, making it hard to see clearly. Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's figure moved, and he merged into the surrounding environment.

This was the ability bestowed upon him by the "Fog Concealment Technique" he had been Cultivating for many years.

He turned into a wisp of light smoke in the air, elusive, making Lin Fan unable to lock onto his position for a moment.

Lin Fan did not care, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold smile. As a Golden Core expert and a powerhouse skilled in Body Refining, his control over his body had reached an astonishing level.

He felt the flow of the surrounding air, waiting for Left Sword Envoy Yun Che to launch an attack.

In a flash, thud~~, a muffled sound spread. Left Sword Envoy Yun Che was hit by Lin Fan's punch, flew backward, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth again.

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che flashed his figure again and merged into the thick fog. His figure flickered like a ghost, constantly shuttling across the martial arts field.

Relying on the flexibility of the "Fog Concealment Technique" to circle with Lin Fan, he kept looking for opportunities to launch attacks.

And Lin Fan, relying on his extreme control over his body, could always predict Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's movements at critical moments, turning danger into safety time and again.

The battle between the two became increasingly intense. Fists whistled, trees snapped, and the ground was trampled into pits.

Although Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's movement technique was flexible, as time passed, he gradually felt his physical strength failing.

After all, he only had the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Stage, while Lin Fan was at the Golden Core Stage, a whole Realm higher, and also possessed a Body Refining bonus.

"Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, give up! You are not my opponent! Leave Meng Li to me to protect!" Lin Fan's voice carried a hint of disdain.

"Lin Fan, you are wrong! The level of Cultivation cannot determine everything!" Left Sword Envoy Yun Che gritted his teeth and launched a charge at Lin Fan again.

This time, he did not dodge, but chose to confront him head-on.

He knew that only in this way could he stimulate all his potential and possibly create a miracle.

The two collided again, fist winds and palm shadows weaving together, and the surrounding space seemed to be trembling.

Although Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's Cultivation was inferior, his determination and courage made him seem to possess the strength to fight Lin Fan at this moment.

But this was, after all, only a short-lived brilliance. With a roar from Lin Fan, Left Sword Envoy Yun Che was knocked flying again.

He slammed heavily onto the ground, his chest heaving violently, and blood constantly gushed from the corner of his mouth.

He struggled to prop up his body, his gaze still locked on Lin Fan, his face full of anger and unwillingness, his body tottering, but the anger in his heart would not let him fall easily.

"Cough, cough…" A few difficult coughs came from his throat, and the blood at the corner of his mouth looked ferocious and terrifying. His palms pressed hard against the ground, as if he wanted to stand up again.

Even though he knew he was no match for Lin Fan at all, that feeling of hatred and loss made him unable to retreat no matter what.

"Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, stop fighting!" Meng Li's tears fell like rain, her voice hoarse and painful.

She rushed in front of Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, blocking him from Lin Fan, her eyes full of pleading. "We really cannot be together anymore, do you understand?"

Meng Li's voice trembled, and tears had long blurred her vision, "Go, I beg you, okay? Go! Don't be like this anymore!"

Her eyes were full of despair, her hands trembling as she grabbed Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's shoulders, trying to stop his madness.

She knew clearly in her heart that her body and mind had long been ruthlessly taken away by Lin Fan, and it was impossible to return to the past with Left Sword Envoy Yun Che.

She could only watch helplessly as Left Sword Envoy Yun Che was knocked down again and again, crawling up again and again; Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's persistence only made her more painful.

However, the pain and hatred in the depths of Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's eyes intertwined into a near-crazy obsession.

He broke free from Meng Li's hands, his face mixed with tears and blood, and roared hoarsely, "Meng Li! Impossible? Do you really think we have no possibility? For you, I am willing to risk everything, even if it costs my life!"

He clenched his fists again, gritted his teeth, and stood up. Although his body was already tottering, he still straightened his back, his gaze locked firmly on Lin Fan.

"Lin Fan! Even if I exhaust my last ounce of strength, I will fight you to the death!"

Left Sword Envoy Yun Che roared lowly, carrying the final determination and madness, and rushed towards Lin Fan again.

Seeing this scene, tears slid down from Meng Li's eyes like pearls with broken threads. Her voice was so choked with sobs that it was almost impossible to hear clearly, "Left Sword Envoy Yun Che… I beg you… stop fighting…"

Lin Fan looked at Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's crazy eyes, feeling playful in his heart, "Left Sword Envoy Yun Che, in my eyes, you are nothing but an ant. Your anger only excites me."

"Wait until I cripple you, and let you watch as Meng Li and I linger in intimacy day and night."

Upon hearing this, Left Sword Envoy Yun Che's eyes turned blood-red. The intense sense of humiliation in his chest condensed into an unstoppable sword radiance, breaking free from the shackles of a millennium, and the aura around him surged violently.

Rays of brilliant sword radiance erupted from within him, weaving into an airtight sword net, shrouding the entire dueling stage.

"Ding, Little Master, the villain mission was done very successfully, the protagonist has completed his Awakening. Please, Little Master, let the protagonist kill you to complete your villain mission!"

Lin Fan immediately panicked, "What did you say, let me be killed by the protagonist!!!"

The System repeated, "Yes, please, Little Master, let the protagonist kill you. You can choose your own way of dying!"

Lin Fan cold-snorted, "This weakling wants to kill me, and even let me choose the way to die? Why should I agree to that?"

The System let out a sweet laugh, "If you do not agree, the System will Seal your Cultivation and take back all the rewards given to you. A friendly reminder, this includes the nine-turn reincarnation bead."

Lin Fan's face twitched uncontrollably. If his Cultivation were Sealed, he would definitely die. Without the nine-turn reincarnation bead, he wouldn't even have a chance to resurrect.

But if he let the protagonist kill him, he could still rely on the nine-turn reincarnation bead to resurrect.

"Fine, I will think of a reasonable way to die myself."

"Hmm! Good boy."