Chapter 56 Showing its edge Ⅵ

　　The appearance of Dong Tianzhen on the stage exceeded everyone's expectations, including Qing Hu's. At this point, they had to improvise, which, at least for now, was beneficial for the Zhou Family Tavern.

　　Since his arrival in Beici County, Shen Huan had been highly regarded by the Xu Town County magistrate, and later trusted by Prefect He, becoming the leader of the police squad. One could say he had been treated with great respect.

　　As he had said, with the He family in trouble, he couldn't just stand by and watch. Moreover, he was also opposed to the Flying Star Sect and Bai Liang's collateral disciples.

　　Qing Hu saw Shen Huan and felt a surge of anger. "Shen, I thought you had run away."

　　"Running away is too much. I just wanted to watch for a while longer to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve," Shen Huan replied calmly.

　　Dong Tianzhen, who hadn't seen Shen Huan before, asked, "Who is this, Third junior brother?"

　　"His name is Shen Huan. He's currently the leader of the police squad. I don't know where Sixth Uncle found him, but he's completely aligned with the He family," Qing Hu explained with a sneer.

　　Shen Huan was more polite: "Are you a member of the Holy Monarch's family? My respects."

　　Dong Tianzhen chuckled, "You speak quite politely. I see you not only want to be the leader of the squad but also aspire to be the He family's son-in-law. Am I right?"

　　"So what if I am? What if I'm not?" Shen Huan retorted calmly.

　　"No matter how wrong He Muxian may be, she is still a branch of the Holy Monarch's family tree. You aspire to climb high? It's a foolish dream! Today, I will shatter your illusions," Dong Tianzhen declared confidently.

　　"That's right. A member of the He family must not marry someone unworthy," Qing Hu echoed, fueling the fire.

　　Dong Tianzhen held his long gun horizontally and said, "Shen, enough talk. You just want to fight on the stage, right? Come, let me test you a few rounds."

　　"Wait, wait," Shen Huan interrupted.

　　"What else do you have to say?" Dong Tianzhen asked impatiently.

　　"I just got on stage, and you've already fought a few rounds. Don't you need a break?" Shen Huan asked, trying to use a psychological tactic.

　　Dong Tianzhen chuckled, "You're using reverse psychology, knowing full well that I'll fall for it. If I step down now, I'll have lost face. Others will say I'm afraid of you."

　　Ji Yanshi had heard about his second senior brother's temperament before. He was a man who couldn't be coaxed and would glare at you if you slightly contradicted him. One had to be extra careful when speaking to him. Moreover, he was arrogant and overly confident, thinking no one could match him. The reason Yu Pingnian had personally delivered the betrothal gifts and proposed was that he was afraid of any mishaps with the He family's Miss. How could she have personally left the mansion?

　　Qing Hu also knew a little about his second elder brother, so he continued to stoke the fire. He thought to himself, "Is Shen Huan someone to be trifled with? Yet he still fell for the reverse psychology tactic? Does he really not know his own capabilities? He should let the Miss He and Shen Huan teach second senior brother a lesson."

　　Wen Yan stood silently beside, lost in his own thoughts. He wondered how this situation would end.

　　"So, do you need a break?" Shen Huan asked again.

　　"Don't even mention it. I'm not afraid of three more like you!" Dong Tianzhen boasted.

　　"Alright, alright. I have one more thing to say," Shen Huan continued.

　　"Spit it out!" Dong Tianzhen demanded impatiently.

　　"As you think, I'm not worth mentioning and can't climb your family's high branch. But you're different. You're a member of the West Peak Holy Monarch's family. If you beat me, I have nothing to say. But if I beat you, will the Holy Monarch seek revenge on me personally?" Shen Huan asked, trying to provoke a reaction.

　　Dong Tianzhen spat on the ground and said, "Pfft, what do you take me for? Losing to you? Don't even mention my surname if I lose! And don't even think about me seeking revenge!"

　　"Words are useless," Shen Huan said calmly.

　　"What do you mean by that?" Dong Tianzhen asked, feeling provoked.

　　"Sign a contract and make it official," Shen Huan suggested.

　　"I see. You want to write a life-or-death contract, don't you? Why not?" Dong Tianzhen asked rhetorically.

　　Qing Hu thought to himself, "If Shen Huan doesn't have real skills, why would Ji Yanshi and He Muxian seek his help? And why would the Sixth Uncle make him the leader of the police squad if he wasn't capable?"

　　He truly believed that outside of Snow Mist Mountain, people from other places were inferior. If he could beat Shen Huan, it would be for the best.

　　Although he felt this way, he didn't dare to say it out loud. Instead, he fetched ink, brush, paper, and inkstone to write three copies of the life-or-death contract. One copy was given to He Muxian, one was kept by him, and the other was shown to the surrounding crowd. Both men signed the contract, and then they returned to the stage while the others stepped down.

　　Dong Tianzhen stabbed his long gun into the ground and asked, "Shen, do you have anything else to say?"

　　"No," Shen Huan replied calmly.

　　"Then prepare to face my gun!" Dong Tianzhen declared as he readied his attack.

　　Shen Huan saw the swift approach of the gun and immediately raised his sword to meet it. He knew that among the eight disciples of the Holy Monarch, Dong Tianzhen was one of the most skilled, second only to his eldest brother.

　　Dong Tianzhen had inherited his martial arts from his grandfather, Dong Xizhen, who had poured all his hopes into his grandson after losing his son in the middle of his life. The old man had originally planned to force his grandson to practice everything, regardless of his interests. However, Dong Tianzhen's temperament and interests were similar to his father's. He would diligently practice what he enjoyed and neglect what he didn't.

　　Dong Xizhen had often forced his son to practice what he didn't like, but with his grandson, his attitude changed drastically. If the child didn't want to learn something, he would never force him.

　　The Holy Monarch often sighed when he saw this, occasionally offering guidance but mostly staying away from Nanying Peak.

　　Dong Tianzhen's presence in Beici County was not a coincidence. He had heard rumors in Nan Ying Town, located at the foot of Nanying Peak, that his sixth junior sister had independently set up a stage to recruit a husband. He wasn't sure if the rumors were true, so he had been sent to investigate.

　　To his surprise, the rumors were indeed true. When he arrived, he saw the stage and felt a surge of anger.

　　According to custom, marriages involving descendants of the Sage should be announced to the sect. However, his Sixth Uncle and sixth junior sister had not only failed to notify them but also didn't even send a letter, clearly disregarding Snow Mist Mountain.

　　Dong Tianzhen felt resentment towards his Sixth Uncle for forgetting his martial arts roots after becoming the prefectural governor and towards his sixth junior sister for shamelessly arranging her own marriage through a stage competition. Moreover, he was furious that an outsider like Shen Huan had been allowed to become the leader of the police squad and even dared to aspire to marry hi sjunior sister.

　　With all these unsatisfactory things piling up, Dong Tianzhen finally exploded into action, unleashing fierce and ruthless gun moves against Shen Huan.

　　After engaging in over forty exchanges, Shen Huan confirmed his suspicions. Dong Tianzhen's gun moves were swift, fierce, and ruthless, requiring his full strength to defend against them.

　　However, the stage was made of thick wooden boards instead of earth, so he wasn't sure if his swordsmanship technique would work.

　　"I have to use it regardless," Shen Huan thought to himself.

　　With that decision made, he retreated a few steps, wielding the the Mingyuan Sword and unleashing the the Mingyuan Sword Technique.

　　Dong Tianzhen sensed that his opponent was about to use a special technique. As they engaged again, he noticed that Shen Huan's sword moves were faster than before.

　　"Does he underestimate me?" Dong Tianzhen wondered.

　　After another thirty exchanges, Shen Huan had successfully set up the Minghe's Waterfall technique and unleashed the second move, Abyssal Edge.

　　As they fought, Dong Tianzhen suddenly realized that the solid wooden stage had become oddly elastic.

　　"What's going on? What trick is my opponent using?" he wondered to himself.

　　His thoughts were interrupted as he overexerted with his left foot, breaking a section of the platform. Seeing his foot about to sink in, he quickly pushed off with his right foot, leaping backwards several feet and narrowly avoiding a sword strike.

　　"Damn it!" he exclaimed.

　　"Is that so?" Shen Huan retorted, pressing his attack.

　　The spectators were confused, assuming the platform was simply not sturdy enough.

　　But those in the know, like Qing Hu, Ji Yanshi, and He Muxian, understood the real reason.

　　"Could the wooden floor really have an effect?" Qing Hu mused to himself.

　　Wen Yan looked puzzled. "What do you mean, Third senior brother? Wasn't that an accident?"

　　Yu Pingnian explained, "Brother, the solid wood used for the platform was handpicked by craftsmen from among the best available. It's almost on par with the materials used in the National Master's mansion."

　　Wen Yan understood now why their uncle had chosen Yu Pingnian to be the police team leader.

　　Shifting his gaze back to the battle, they watched as another fifty exchanges passed.

　　With several more sections of the platform broken, Dong Tianzhen had realized that it was no accident.

　　Feinting a move, he jumped out of his opponent's reach. "This is interesting. Is that a sword technique or sorcery?"

　　"It's the Mingyuan Sword Technique." Shen Huan replied.

　　"You think a little hole like that can drag me into the abyss? Think again." With that, Dong Tianzhen whispered the incantation for his gun technique and readied himself once more.

　　Shen Huan looked on as the silver dragon on Dong Tianzhen's gun seemed to be moving, almost as if it were alive.

　　What he didn't know was that this gun, named the Xiyue Youlong Gun, was a treasured weapon with a demonic spirit dwelling within it.

　　After taking a good look, Shen Huan redoubled his caution.