The Mirror Master

"This Young Hero Lu has shot to fame with his ruthless methods, injuring my clansmen. There must be an accounting for this. Today, I, Sun Bohan, formally issue you a challenge on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform!"

Sun Bohan stared at Lu Bai in the crowd and spoke slowly.

In the Wu Dynasty, Martial Artists were forbidden from dueling privately within towns and cities to avoid harming the innocent and causing too much destruction.

But the Wu Dynasty revered martial arts, and Martial Artists were often hot-blooded and vigorous, frequently drawing their swords at the slightest disagreement.

Thus, every major prefecture and commandery had established a Martial Arts Discussion Platform for Martial Artists to spar and settle personal grudges.

You have your reasons, and he has his. There are a thousand truths in the world, but the real one is revealed on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform.

The one lying down shuts up.

Only the one still standing has the right to speak!

Of course, in a challenge on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform, the challenged party could refuse.

However, Martial Artists must contend. To refuse meant that you would be at a disadvantage in any future meeting.

Luo Tianxiong glanced at Sun Xuan.

The Sun Family Patriarch’s face was expressionless. He did not intervene.

For Sun Bohan, a junior of the Sun Family, to suddenly step forward was clearly premeditated.

Luo Qing sneered faintly. "You’re an Inner Martial Artist who has opened the Eight Acupoints, and Xiaolu hasn’t even entered the Inner Strength Realm. Challenging him on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform... you have no shame."

Everyone present frowned slightly.

Generally speaking, both parties in a challenge on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform were of the same Realm.

If the challenged party’s Cultivation was a major Realm lower, it was the challenger who would be disgraced.

"There’s no point in a challenge on the platform if it’s just the strong bullying the weak."

"That’s right. It wouldn’t be too late to fight after Young Hero Lu enters the Inner Strength Realm."

Before the Luo Family members could even speak, people in the crowd started speaking up for Lu Bai.

Sun Bohan smiled faintly and announced, "I’m sure you’ve all heard of Young Hero Lu’s ’heroic’ deeds—how he single-handedly killed Zhao Wuji and seventeen other vicious criminals with just one sword.

However, from what I know, that’s not the truth! He’s just a fraud chasing fame, trying to earn a heroic reputation!"

As soon as he said this, a commotion instantly broke out in the crowd.

"You’re full of shit!"

Luo Ben couldn’t help but curse, "Lord Li personally came forward to acknowledge this matter! Many people from the academy were there."

"That’s right."

Luo Xiao added, "Sun Bohan, are you questioning Lord Li with those words?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

Sun Bohan’s expression was calm. "Lord Li is wise and discerning, but he is, after all, busy with public affairs, attending to a myriad of state matters. It’s inevitable he might overlook something, especially when he’s been deceived by a petty person.

My reason for issuing this challenge on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform is precisely to expose the true, villainous face of this ’Young Hero Lu’!"

"Utter nonsense."

Luo Qing said coldly, "My Maid was there that day and saw it with her own eyes. Lu Bai’s reputation is not something you can slander with just a few words."

"Indeed."

Sun Bohan nodded. "Besides your Maid, there was also a Qi Refiner from Danding Temple present that day! Someone saw Lu Bai enter the city with this Qi Refiner."

"So what?" Luo Qing retorted.

Sun Bohan didn’t answer her. Instead, he looked around at the crowd and said, "Most of you seniors are Martial Artists. You should all know that let alone a Martial Artist in the Root Bone Stage, even a true Inner Martial Artist couldn’t possibly escape unscathed from the siege of eighteen criminals, much less kill them all.

What’s more, the criminals’ leader, Zhao Wuji, was a genuine Inner Martial Artist."

The crowd exchanged glances and nodded to themselves.

In fact, when this news first spread, everyone had their doubts.

That battle truly defied common sense.

It was just that since it didn’t concern them, no one bothered to look into it deeply.

Sun Bohan continued, "The only explanation is that the Qi Refiner who was present made a move and killed the eighteen criminals.

It’s just that in the end, Lu Bai deceived the world to steal the fame and took all the credit."

Luo Qing sneered, "My Maid can prove what happened. What evidence do you have?"

"Heh."

Sun Bohan gave a light chuckle. "This speculation wasn’t just something I made up. The initial rumor came from your Luo Family."

Luo Tianxiong’s expression changed slightly.

That day, when they were discussing matters in the main hall, Luo Hongyuan had indeed mentioned it.

Luo Tianxiong turned to look at the people behind him, his gaze sharp.

Luo Hongyuan and the other two frowned deeply, their faces grim.

Luo An averted his gaze and lowered his head.

Luo Tianxiong was inwardly furious. ’That kid is too young and has a loose tongue. He doesn’t know the gravity of his words and just blurts everything out. Now he’s given them leverage, and the Sun Family is using it to make trouble for us.’

Luo Qing suddenly said, "So you just want to fight? Fine, I’ll fight you!"

"Why the rush, Junior Sister Luo? What does this have to do with you?"

Sun Bohan raised his voice. "I, Sun Bohan, have challenged Lu Bai on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform for two reasons. First, for my three clansmen. Second, to expose a fraud!

They all say you, Lu Bai, are a young hero, a young champion. I’m here to beat down a fake hero, a false champion!"

Many eyes fell upon Lu Bai.

Lu Bai’s reaction left everyone a little baffled.

He neither showed the embarrassment of being exposed in public, nor did he offer any rebuttal.

There wasn’t even a hint of anger on his face.

He seemed completely detached from the situation, even a bit distracted.

It was as if the matter had nothing to do with him at all.

Even Sun Xuan, noticing this, nodded to himself. ’Setting aside everything else, just this calm and composed demeanor in the face of crisis puts him far above his peers.’

In reality, Lu Bai just couldn’t be bothered to deal with it.

’A fight? There’s no benefit. If you can kill, don’t just fight. As for empty titles like ’hero,’ I couldn’t care less. The name Black Hand Young Hero sounds awful anyway. Whoever wants it can have it. A good chance to get rid of it.’

While Sun Bohan spoke with righteous passion, his words resonating, Lu Bai let it all go in one ear and out the other. He was just trying to figure out where to get some Soul Light...

’Now *that* was what’s important.’

Luo Tianxiong had originally been worried that Lu Bai, being so young and thin-skinned, wouldn’t be able to take the provocation and would impulsively accept the challenge.

Seeing that Lu Bai seemed completely unfazed, he finally relaxed.

Luo Tianxiong shook his head. "A fight won’t prove anything. The innocent need no defense. Let’s go."

"I must disagree with that."

Sun Xuan slowly began to speak. "Bohan has said that even with his strength of having opened the Eight Acupoints, he couldn’t kill eighteen criminals single-handedly with one sword and escape unscathed.

Since this Young Hero Lu possesses such an ability, he might as well accept Bohan’s challenge. If he can defeat Bohan, he will have proven his innocence."

The crowd once again looked at Lu Bai.

That line of reasoning did make sense.

Sun Bohan stared at Lu Bai, his fighting spirit surging, and shouted, "Lu Bai! All the seniors of Bluestone City are present to bear witness! Do you dare to accept my challenge!"

Lu Bai waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, alright, I’m scared."

The corner of Sun Bohan’s mouth twitched. He felt like he had just punched a ball of cotton—an utterly frustrating and awful feeling.

He had practically worn out his tongue. For the sake of making a grand, righteous statement and showing off in front of everyone tonight, he had specially prepared a page-long script and memorized it until he knew it by heart.

’And he’s ending it all with a simple "I’m scared"?’

Sun Xuan said slowly, "Young Hero Lu, do you know what it means if you don’t accept this challenge?"

Lu Bai said, "It means your Bohan is amazing. The young hero of Bluestone City, silver-tongued and eloquent. Mmm... keep up the good work. You have a boundless future."

Sun Xuan clenched his fist.

’This kid... If it weren’t for my status, listening to him makes me want to beat him up myself!’

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