"Lord Luo, you see our inside man now, don't you?" Qinglong chuckled lightly. "There are fourteen thousand top-tier experts present.

If you insist on monopolizing the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword, they will all become our inside informants." "Are you still not handing over Lu Tong?" Tong Lei demanded. "Hand him over!" "Hand him over!" "Hand him over!" Immediately, voices echoed the call, rising into a single, surging wave.

"Fine, I admit defeat." Even Luo Hao, despite his denseness, could clearly read the situation. Every eye fixed upon him was laced with murderous intent.

If a fight broke out now, these people could turn Su City upside down, and outside, the Qinglong Gang and the Yun family lay poised with massive forces. The White Tiger Alliance stood no chance of gaining any advantage.

"Men, go bring Lu Tong up," Luo Hao ground out through clenched teeth. No one had anticipated that the joyous wedding feast would transform into this scene; truly, the fortunes of heaven and earth had shifted in an instant.

Everyone stared tensely toward the main gate of Tiger Fortress. Lu Zhao was especially beside himself with emotion.

Before long, three figures appeared at the entrance. Two Golden Blade Guards flanked a man, virtually carrying him onto the main floor like a sack of grain.

The moment I saw Lu Tong, a chilling dread settled in my heart, swiftly followed by an irrepressible surge of rage and heartache. The frail, white-haired old man before me was utterly unrecognizable from the image I held of the ethereal, dignified Uncle Lu.

His entire being was stained with gore; the originally blue robes were already hardened with patches of brown bloodstains. His legs trembled uncontrollably, his eyes hollowed out like those of a walking corpse, vaguely scanning his surroundings without any reaction indicative of a living man.

I had no idea what the White Tiger Alliance had subjected him to during this time, but it was surely beyond anything I could imagine. "Uncle!" It felt as if my heart had been ripped in two.

I recalled our first meeting, the kindness and care in Lu Tong's eyes. Though we had met only once, he had treated me like a close relative, placing immense hope in me.

Not only had he gifted me the Dragon Shadow Sword, but he had also recommended me to the Dragon Shadow Manor. Simply put, without Lu Tong, I would not be who I am today.

At this moment, I longed to tear Luo Hao limb from limb for subjecting Uncle Lu to such torment. The surrounding crowd was equally aghast, their gazes toward Luo Hao revealing scorn and shock.

It was clear they understood the kind of man Luo Hao was; to inflict such degradation upon someone spoke volumes of his ruthlessness. "Sect Master," Lu Zhao hissed, his own eyes blazing crimson as he stared at Lu Tong.

Both Lu Zhao and I felt an uncontrollable urge to rush forward and seize Lu Tong back. "Hold it," Luo Hao bellowed, his face darkening as he scanned the crowd, finally fixing his gaze upon me.

It was as if two sharp swords sought to pierce a hole through my body. Clearly, my presence ignited his deepest hatred.

"I have brought the man, but I have one condition." "A condition?" Qinglong appeared slightly perplexed. "What more do you want?" Lu Zhao roared, nearly driven mad, yet he dared not take another step closer while observing the gleaming dagger held against Lu Tong's throat.

"What other tricks do you have?" I asked, my voice low. For some unknown reason, meeting Luo Hao’s venomous, serpent-like gaze gave me a profound sense of impending disaster.

"I can hand over Lu Tong!" Luo Hao ground out, pointing fiercely at me, "But only for his life in exchange." "Ah." A wave of murmuring swept through the crowd, though upon reflection, it was not entirely unexpected. After all, I had publicly executed his younger brother right in front of so many people.

The enmity between him and me was already far too deep. "What?" Lu Zhao thundered.

"Luo Hao, you capture our Sect Master, murder our brethren, and still have the audacity to propose such terms." "If you hadn't done it in the first place," Tong Lei interjected, "If you hadn't captured their uncle and killed so many of their kin, then Binghe killing your brother was merely equal retribution. Why press the matter further?" "Enough nonsense, I only want his life," Luo Hao roared.

"If not, nothing is up for discussion." "Luo Hao, what standing do you have to set terms?" Qinglong remained cool and collected. "Hahaha, standing?" Luo Hao let out a wild, desolate, and resolute laugh, yet his gaze towards Qinglong was filled with disdain and mockery.

"You claim to be saving him, but in truth, you merely wish to lay your hands on the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword." "You!" Qinglong’s expression shifted slightly, but he offered no rebuttal. "What, did I hit the nail on the head?" Luo Hao pressed, his tone sinister.

"What exactly do you want?" Qinglong took a deep breath and said slowly, "Pressing too hard won't benefit you." "Nothing," Luo Hao insisted. "I simply want his life, because he killed my brother and disgraced my White Tiger Alliance.

If you refuse, I will kill Lu Tong right now, and then nobody gets the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword!" Luo Hao adopted a stance of absolute resolve, looking at the crowd with undisguised contempt: "Aren't all of you seated here also after the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword?" "Lord Luo, we can discuss things civilly. Please, don't let this spoil the atmosphere," someone immediately called out loudly.

"How despicable! You caused all this, and now you shamelessly try to hold us hostage," Lu Zhao spat, his teeth clenched.

"If you hadn't seized the Sect Master and pursued us with such viciousness, none of this would have happened today." "Hah, I don't care about all that!" Luo Hao was clearly losing patience. "If you want this old man's life, trade it for his!

At worst, we all part ways." Luo Hao’s stance was unwavering. "Kill this old man, and none of you get the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword.

Choose now." "You!" I suppressed the resentment boiling within me, daring not utter any more provocative words, lest Luo Hao, given his nature, might actually plunge the dagger into Lu Tong. "Damn it!" Lu Zhao was even more agitated, yet utterly helpless.

"Hahahaha," Tong Lei burst into laughter. "I never imagined the dignified leader of the White Tiger Alliance would resort to such despicable tactics to blackmail a young junior." "Indeed, this behavior is unbecoming of a hero," others immediately began to remark.

"I just can't swallow this humiliation," Luo Hao declared, as if he had already thrown caution to the wind. "If you don't agree, I'll hack off Elder Lu's head myself." "Ah!" Everyone gasped in shock, and Qinglong grew visibly anxious, subconsciously glancing at me.

"I might have a solution that benefits everyone," I stated calmly. "What solution?" Luo Hao sneered.

"Taking my life is not difficult," I continued calmly. "However, if I simply stand here and let you kill me, the world will only say that you, Luo Hao, resorted to vile, despicable blackmail to coerce a junior." "I care zero about what the world thinks," Luo Hao retorted.

"You might not care," I pressed on, "but from this day forward, the White Tiger Alliance will be notorious. Remember, everyone present is a hero and master from across the entire Mafa Continent.

They will only say that the White Tiger Alliance has an incompetent leader who lacks the courage to deal with a junior himself." "What a sharp tongue," Luo Hao said darkly. "Then tell me what I should do." "Since we are both Wanderers, let us abide by the rules of the Wanderer's world," I declared proudly.

"I will duel you. If you win, I am yours to command—kill me or cut me up as you please." "A duel?" Luo Hao looked somewhat taken aback.

"Could it be that the great leader of the White Tiger Alliance is afraid to duel a junior?" I looked at Luo Hao with open disdain, then shouted to the crowd: "Everyone, look! This is the courage of the renowned Roaring Sky Tiger, Luo Hao, the second-ranked master on the Demon Dragon Continent!" "Tch!

Kid, don't look down on our Demon Dragon Continent," someone immediately shouted back. "He's long since been struck off the lists," another was even more cutting.

"This kind of conduct doesn't even qualify for the top masters' rankings." "Exactly. Such a coward doesn't deserve the second seat in our Demon Dragon Continent," Tong Lei stated gravely.

"He lacks the most fundamental courage required of a martial artist." "If you dare to act, you must dare to take responsibility. If you want someone's life, you must prove it with your own strength," Qinglong said evenly.

"Luo Hao, you disappoint me greatly. I imagine everyone in the White Tiger Alliance must feel ashamed to have you as their leader." "..............." The White Tiger Alliance members present shifted, their expressions complicated as they looked at Luo Hao.

In the Wanderer's world, the greatest fear for any faction is internal fracturing. Once a leader loses the trust of his subordinates, there is no possibility of recovery.

Luo Hao’s expression also changed drastically. No matter how much he hated me, he now had to consider his reputation.

His previous actions could perhaps be excused as being blinded by desire and resorting to any means necessary. But if he refused a duel now, he would forever be branded a coward and weakling, completely ruining his life.

This was precisely the leverage I intended to use when I proposed the duel. "Silence!" Luo Hao growled through gritted teeth.

"Fine, I'll give you a chance, but I will make your life a living hell." "I shall await it," I replied calmly. "If you lose, you must release my uncle." "Hahahaha," Luo Hao roared with laughter.

"Do you think I will lose?" "It’s better to be cautious than sorry," I said dismissively. "Frankly, I have no confidence in a man of your character, Luo Hao." "Fine.

In this duel, regardless of who wins or loses, I will hand Lu Tong over to you," Luo Hao stated grimly. "This duel will have no winner or loser, only life or death." "Agreed, it's settled then," I said, barely containing my excitement.

"In front of all these heroes, I don't fear you plotting any treachery." "Enough talk, let's begin," Luo Hao commanded. "Duel!

Duel! Duel!" The roar from the assembled crowd was deafening; no one could have foreseen the situation devolving into this.

"Binghe, fight! Binghe, fight!" A large group of young men cheered me on with fervor.

"Binghe, I've involved you again," Lu Zhao said apologetically. "Don't worry, Brother Lu.

Binghe might not lose," Tong Lei clapped Lu Zhao on the shoulder. "Right.

With my current strength, Luo Hao can't defeat me," I said confidently. "Kid, you have quite the confidence," Qinglong smiled.

"But I have faith in you." The surrounding crowd had already cleared a large space in the center, where a large banner bearing the character 'Duel' had been planted! This was the established custom of the Wanderer's world on the Mafa Continent—the official Duel.

And what Luo Hao and I were about to engage in was the cruelest form of duel: a life-or-death battle where there was only survival or demise! The duel was imminent!