The room grew tense as all eyes turned to Bai Zihan.
The challenge had been thrown, and there was no going back now.
The crowd murmured, waiting to see how Bai Zihan would respond.
Would he accept, or would he walk away?
Knowing Bai Zihan’s strength, many thought that he would probably avoid the fight since he wouldn’t win at all.
Bai Zihan’s fists tightened under the table, his jaw clenched.
He wasn’t surprised by Li Feng’s challenge, but the audacity of the man still grated on his nerves.
Li Feng might have thought he could humiliate him, but Bai Zihan wasn’t going to let him get away with it so easily.
“Li Feng, who do you think you are to make trouble in the Bai Clan?”
Bai Xueqing’s voice rang out with an air of arrogance and dominance.
“Your opinion is irrelevant here. And if you want to challenge someone, how about I accompany you?”
Bai Xueqing said.
Li Feng was flustered.
He had never expected Chu Ziyan to be so against him breaking off an engagement with a waste like Bai Zihan, and now even Bai Xueqing was getting involved.
His plan was simply to fight Bai Zihan, and knowing Bai Zihan’s short temper, he was confident that he would succeed.
But who could have predicted that before Bai Zihan even spoke a word, first Chu Ziyan and then Bai Xueqing would respond to his threat?
Him fighting Bai Xueqing?
What was the difference between that and suicide?
Even with his arrogance, he knew better than to challenge Bai Xueqing, who was already known as the strongest in their generation.
Li Feng was caught off guard for a moment but quickly turned to Zhao Chen, his expression practically begging for assistance.
The Zhao Clan usually preferred to operate from the shadows, but in this case, there was no need to.
Everyone knew about the Zhao and Li Families’ alliance, and it was no secret that they opposed the Bai and Chu Clans’ engagement.
Zhao Chen, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke, his voice calm and composed.
“Miss Bai, there’s no need to escalate things.”
He smiled faintly, his tone ever so reasonable.
“Li Feng merely spoke from the heart. He has feelings for Lady Chu—strong ones, at that. Watching the woman he admires being engaged to another, especially someone he believes unworthy, is not an easy thing.”
His words were smooth and unhostile.
They painted Li Feng as a man hopelessly in love rather than an arrogant troublemaker.
“He simply wishes for a chance. A duel. Nothing more,” Zhao Chen continued, his tone gentle yet firm.
“If Bai Zihan wins, Li Feng will have no choice but to accept reality and move on. Surely, the great Bai Clan wouldn’t be so petty as to deny a young man closure?”
The way he framed it put the Bai Clan in an awkward position. If they refused, it would look like they were too afraid to accept a fair challenge.
Zhao Chen’s words caused murmurs to ripple through the crowd. Some people even nodded in agreement.
However, Bai Xueqing merely hmphed, her cold eyes locking onto Zhao Chen.
“Enough with the flowery words. You’re only saying this because you know how weak my brother is and want to bully him.”
Bai Xueqing wasn’t one to mince words.
Her piercing gaze remained on Zhao Chen.
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
Zhao Chen chuckled, unfazed.
“Of course not, Miss Bai.”
His smile widened slightly before he continued, his voice still as smooth as ever.
“But there’s no bullying here. Li Feng will obviously lower his cultivation to match Bai Zihan’s realm. Won’t you, Li Feng?”
Zhao Chen asked.
“Of course! It’s not like I enjoy bullying others, unlike someone,” Li Feng answered.
At those words, a new wave of murmurs spread through the hall.
“Zhao Chen is right! Love is heavier than Mount Tai! How can the Bai Clan be so heartless as to not give a man a chance to fight for it?”
“Hmph, if Bai Zihan is truly worthy, why not prove it? A duel is the perfect way to settle this fairly!”
“Li Feng is showing sincerity! If Bai Zihan refuses, doesn’t that mean he himself knows he isn’t worthy of Lady Chu?”
“Exactly! Li Feng is even willing to lower his cultivation to match that of Young Master Bai Zihan.”
…
All eyes turned toward Bai Zihan.
Even Bai Xueqing couldn’t say much, as Li Feng was willing to lower his cultivation.
Although she knew that even if Li Feng’s cultivation was the same as Bai Zihan’s, Bai Zihan stood no chance.
Be it body refinement or technique mastery, Bai Zihan was far inferior to Li Feng.
However, if she interfered, it would only make it seem like the Bai Clan was afraid of Li Feng and subject them to public criticism.
Now, all they could do was wait for Bai Zihan’s response.
Bai Zihan was simply watching the whole commotion as if it had nothing to do with him, despite being one of the main figures in this conflict.
So, when everyone’s attention shifted to him, he lazily looked at them and, in an irritated voice, asked.
“What?”
Bai Zihan spoke as if he had no idea why these people were looking at him.
Zhao Chen’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he observed Bai Zihan’s lazy and indifferent expression.
With a light chuckle, he shook his head as if pitying Bai Zihan’s ignorance.
“Young Master Bai,” Zhao Chen said, his tone calm yet edged with subtle mockery, “it seems you weren’t paying attention. But I suppose that’s to be expected.”
He glanced around, ensuring the crowd was still focused on them before continuing.
“Allow me to explain it to you again—simply, so that even you can understand,” Zhao Chen said, his voice dripping with condescension.
“Li Feng has challenged you to a duel. A fair one. He will lower his cultivation to match yours, so there is no excuse of an unfair advantage. If you win, the engagement remains, and Li Feng will gracefully step aside.”
Zhao Chen continued.
“But if you lose… well, then surely even you must agree that Lady Chu deserves better than to be tied to a man who can’t even defend his own honor.”
Zhao Chen’s words caused another round of murmurs from the crowd.
“That’s right! It’s not even unfair anymore. What excuse does Bai Zihan have now?”
“If he refuses, doesn’t that just prove he’s scared?”
“Even his own sister can’t protect him forever. Sooner or later, he has to stand up for himself.”
Zhao Chen smiled at the reaction, then turned his gaze back to Bai Zihan.
“Well, Young Master Bai? Do you accept it?”
His words were sharp, pushing Bai Zihan into a corner.
The entire hall was waiting for his response.
“Puh! Hahaha… You really think I care about your challenge?”
