Chapter 479: 479: Battle of Life and Death
With an enchantingly beautiful visage and a proud demeanor, she was small in stature. Yet, her presence dwarfed everyone else present.
Fang Lin had a smile on his face. Yang Xuanfeng let out a sigh of relief. The Purple Mist Sect members applauded fervently, overwhelmed with excitement.
Han Luoyun looked at the petite figure, his eyes filled with gratification and sigh. He called out, “My daughter.”
The small figure turned around, came in front of Han Luoyun, and bowed to him, “Father.”
This girl was none other than Han Luoyun’s second daughter, Han Xiaoxing!
And also the third person to fight from Qian Country!
Han Xiaoxing’s eyes were clear and bright, full of agility. They differed completely from her former lifeless and soulless eyes.
As Han Luoyun looked into Han Xiaoxing’s eyes, his emotions were mixed, but joy dominated.
“Good!” Han Luoyun said with great emphasis. Han Xiaoxing could hear a tremor in her father’s voice.
“Father, I apologize for my late arrival,” Han Yinyue said, then continued to examine the rest of the Qian Country members.
Her eyes had completely recovered, but besides her father, she could not recognize anyone else from Qian Country.
After all, Han Xiaoxing had been blind since birth. If not for her familiarity with her father’s presence, she might not have been able to identify which person was Han Luoyun.
“Xiaoxing, can your eyes see now?” Yang Jianye asked in surprise.
Han Xiaoxing glanced at Yang Jianye, perceiving from his tone and attire that this man must be Qian Country’s Emperor, Yang Jianye.
“Yes.” Her eyes had recovered, but as before, Han Xiaoxing’s attitude towards everyone else, except her own relatives, remained indifferent.
Yang Jianye looked surprised. Everyone from the imperial family, including Yang Xuanfeng, was taken aback—they had not expected Han Xiaoxing’s eyes to be healed.
Han Xiaoxing, who used to be blind, had been very powerful before. She could fight evenly with Yang Xuanfeng. Now with her sight restored, how much more formidable would her strength become?
Presently, Han Luoyun informed Han Xiaoxing about the ongoing contest among the three countries and introduced her to Yang Xuanfeng and Fang Lin.
Han Xiaoxing came before Fang Lin with a blank face and softly said “Thank you.”
Fang Lin knew that this girl was expressing her gratitude for him curing her eyesight.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Your absence left Yang and me struggling tremendously. So the final opponent, Zhao Shenji, is all yours,” Fang Lin said with a beaming smile.
“Miss Xiaoxing, don’t underestimate Zhao Shenji. He is extraordinarily powerful and we must be fully prepared,” Yang Xuanfeng warned.
Han Xiaoxing nodded, then stepped into the arena.
“Han Xiaoxing of Qian Country is here, Zhao Shenji, come forth and meet your death!” Han Xiaoxing declared coldly, her gaze locked onto the Yun Country’s section.
Upon hearing this, all those who were not aware of Han Xiaoxing’s identity looked shocked.
“Is that Han Xiaoxing?”
“So, the third person from Qian Country is her!”
“Han Luoyun’s second daughter, wasn’t she supposed to be blind?”
“No, her eyes appear to be normal.”
“Maybe they have been cured.”
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The crowd was abuzz. Han Xiaoxing’s assertion angered the people of Yun Country.
What’s this? How dare she demand Zhao Shenji to meet his death? Who does she think she is?
Zhao Shenji stepped into the arena with a sullen look, “So, you are Han Xiaoxing?”
Han Xiaoxing looked at Zhao Shenji coldly, “And you are Zhao Shenji?”
Both of them questioned each other’s identity. Neither answered, as to respond would be to yield some form of advantage.
“How pathetic has Qian Country become, forcing a little girl into dueling against me? It’s so boring.” Zhao Shenji sneered; his eyes showed clear contempt for Han Xiaoxing.
It was understandable. Compared to Yang Xuanfeng, Han Xiaoxing’s fame was much less, given she used to be blind. Even if she was cured now, how strong could she possibly be?
At least, from Zhao Shenji’s perspective, Han Xiaoxing was totally unworthy of his effort. However, since the challenge was thrown, he had no option but to accept.
“I want to engage in a battle to the death with you,” Han Xiaoxing astonishingly declared.
Many on the Yun Country side changed color, even Zhao Shenji’s eyebrows furrowed in uncertainty, while lots of concerned expressions were seen on the Qian Country members.
“A fight to the death? Isn’t that a bit reckless?” Emperor Yang Jianye asked Han Luoyun.
Han Luoyun shook his head, “She came here for this purpose.”
Hearing this, Yang Jianye was taken aback. He realized that Han Xiaoxing had come to engage in a fight to the death with Zhao Shenji.
“My goodness! Han Xiaoxing really wants to face Zhao Shenji in a battle to the death?”
“Has she lost her mind? Why is she throwing her life away?”
“It’s been so many years since a battle to the death in the three-country competition.”
“Do they have a grudge against each other?”
“Not sure, but I heard that there is some resentment between the Purple Mist Sect and Yun Country’s imperial family.”
“Anyway, if it’s a battle to the death, it’s going to be ‘fight to finish,’ very exciting.”
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Decades ago, battles to the death were a part of the three-country competitions.
However, in recent years, they had disappeared, as there usually wasn’t sufficient hate between opponents to necessitate it.
But Han Xiaoxing had fearlessly proposed a fight to the death with Zhao Shenji. This came completely unexpected to everyone.
Zhao Shenji’s mood changed instantly. A fight to the death meant that only one of them could survive and the fight would only end when one of them died.
Despite his absolute confidence in himself, Zhao Shenji was still hesitant when facing matters between life and death.
“Have you lost your mind?” Zhao Shenji said.
Han Xiaoxing looked at him calmly, a calmness that incited fear.
“The battle is not just about winning, but also about living or dying,” Han Xiaoxing said, displaying an unusually strong determination.
Zhao Shenji was angry. Did it seem like he was scared of a battle to the death?
“Fine, if you’re seeking death, I will fulfill your wish,” Zhao Shenji sneered, accepting Han Xiaoxing’s challenge to battle to the death.
They signed the death duel agreement then, which clearly stated that if one of them died, no one could prevent it.
“I’m curious as to why you’ve challenged me to a fight to the death?” Zhao Shenji asked.
Han Xiaoxing replied indifferently, “Because everyone in Yun Country’s imperial family deserves to die.”
“How insolent!”
“Very despicable!”
“How dare she curse our Yun Country’s imperial family!”
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Han Xiaoxing’s words completely infuriated the people of Yun Country’s imperial family. They lashed out at her one by one.