The Prodigal Son

Although negotiations with the State of Chu have been completed, Da Ning cannot withdraw its troops from Yuechi until the State of Chu delivers the silver.

At the same time, we must keep a close eye on all units of the Chu army to prevent the Chu state from going back on its word and causing trouble.

Qin Yu has already reported the results of the negotiations.

If things go smoothly afterward, Qin Yu should be out of the picture.

As for when they will return to the capital, that depends on Zhao Luan's imperial decree.

Taking advantage of this time, Qin Yu decided to resolve the matter of Huang Dengxing first.

Whether his method works or not, we have to try it to find out.

After entrusting the affairs of Yuechi to Xue Lie and Guo Su, Qin Yu led his men to Yuwang Pass.

He didn't bring many people with him on this trip. Besides his personal guards and Xu Wan and his group, there were Lü Si and others, as well as the Golden Armored Imperial Guards who escorted them.

Just as Qin Yu and his group were rushing towards Yuwang Pass, a troop of cavalry galloped towards them.

Upon seeing Ning Huang, everyone was overjoyed.

The lead cavalryman, panting heavily, looked at Ning Huang: "Grandmaster, Huang Dengxing is challenging us outside Yuwang Pass with a coffin, declaring he wants a duel to the death! If he doesn't see you by noon tomorrow, he'll spend the rest of his life slaughtering the people of Great Ning, until he dies!"

He thought Qin Yu and the others were still in Yuechi, and he was worried that Ning Huang wouldn't make it in time!

Unexpectedly, they encountered Qin Yu and his group before even reaching Shiqi.

Now there's no need to worry about Ning Huang missing the deadline.

Upon hearing this person's words, Qin Yu and the people around him were simultaneously taken aback.

What's going on?

Why did Huang Dengxing not seek out Qin Yu, but instead challenged Ning Huang to a life-or-death duel?

What does he mean by that?

He's fought Ning Huang before, so how could he not know that he's no match for Ning Huang?

He even brought a coffin?

Is this... a desire to die?

He had previously fled with Empress Wu while heavily injured, but now he has suddenly returned to challenge Ning Huang to a duel.

What triggered this?

However, this was definitely an unexpected surprise for Qin Yu.

He was worried that Huang Dengxing, the grandmaster, would pester him, so he wanted to use Yu Wu to lure Huang Dengxing out.

Unexpectedly, Huang Dengxing showed up on his own initiative and specifically challenged Ning Huang to a duel.

Ning Huang was also somewhat bewildered by Huang Dengxing's unusual behavior.

Once he came to his senses, Ning Huang's eyes flashed with intense fighting spirit, and he burst into wild laughter: "Good! He's got guts!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Huang spurred his horse and galloped towards Yuwang Pass.

It seemed they couldn't wait to fight the yellow-light traffic.

"Has Huang Dengxing taken the wrong medicine? How dare he challenge Senior Ning to a duel?"

Lu Si looked at Qin Yu in astonishment, wondering if he had misheard.

He had heard that Huang Dengxing couldn't even beat Zhao Po, yet he wanted to duel Ning Huang.

Is he tired of living?

"Forget all that! Hurry up and keep up! Don't miss this big battle!"

As Qin Yu spoke, he immediately led everyone to rush towards Yuwang Pass.

The group ran all the way and returned to Yuwang Pass before dusk.

Upon learning that Qin Yu and the others had returned, Zhao Po, who had stayed at Yuwang Pass to maintain order, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He had previously dealt with Huang Dengxing.

Although he was stronger than Huang Dengxing, he would never be able to stop Huang Dengxing if Huang Dengxing was determined to escape.

If Huang Dengxing were to escape, and if he were to spend the rest of his life taking pleasure in slaughtering civilians, he would definitely cause widespread panic in Da Ning.

Now that Ning Huang has returned, even if Huang Dengxing tries to escape after his defeat, with the combined strength of Ning Huang and Ning Huang, Huang Dengxing will have no chance of escaping.

At this moment, Huang Dengxing stood outside Yuwang Pass, sword in hand.

Behind him was a coffin that was a size larger than a regular coffin.

The coffin was very new; it wasn't even painted.

This coffin was handcrafted by Huang Dengxing over two whole days.

As soon as the door opened, Ning Huang darted out like a bolt of lightning, with Qin Yu and the others following closely behind.

Although the duel had nothing to do with them, that didn't stop them from coming out to watch.

A life-or-death duel between grandmasters is not something everyone has the chance to witness.

Huang Dengxing looked up and glanced at Qin Yu and the others indifferently before his gaze fell on Ning Huang.

Ning Huang moved swiftly and stopped less than two zhang away from the yellow light.

"I heard you want to duel me?"

Ning Huang remained as arrogant as ever, his eyes filled with deep contempt as he looked at Huang Dengxing.

It was as if they didn't take the yellow light seriously at all.

"right!"

Huang Dengxing's eyes held no anger or hatred, only a fierce fighting spirit. "Today, only one of us will survive!"

"A defeated opponent dares to spout such arrogant words?"

Ning Huang raised an eyebrow. "Are you healed yet? I don't want to take advantage of you!"

"alright!"

Huang Dengxing looked at Ning Huang with fierce fighting spirit. "Ning Huang, you can be considered a hero of your generation. Before we go to war, how about we make a gentleman's agreement?"

"Oh?" Ning Huang became interested. "Tell me, what kind of gentleman's agreement?"

Huang Dengxing said in a deep voice, "If I defeat you, regardless of whether Yu Wu lives or dies, hand him over to me!"

"good!"

Ning Huang agreed without hesitation, "I can tell you definitively that Yu Wu is alive and well! Since you still have some guts, if you want to see him one last time before you die, I can grant your last wish!"

Is Yu Wu still alive?

Huang Dengxing glanced silently at the coffin behind him, then gently shook his head: "No need!"

He and Yu Wu didn't have much to say to each other.

If he didn't want to hurt Liu'er, he would have even killed Yu Wu with his own hands.

Upon seeing Yu Wu, he had nothing to say.

The only reason he wanted to take Yu Wu away was because he was Liu'er's son!

"what ever!"

Ning Huang, too lazy to say more, asked with interest, "Have you finished explaining your gentleman's agreement? If you're done, I'll send you on your way!"

"No!"

Huang Dengxing shook his head. "If I die by your blade, please bury me and Liu'er together, and plant a rhododendron in front of our graves!"

"Liu'er? Empress Dowager Wu!"

Ning Huang's gaze suddenly fell on the coffin. "She's gone?"

"right."

Huang Dengxing nodded slightly.

"So, you have no more attachments and want to fight me to the death, even if you die by my blade, it won't be a wasted life?"

Ning Huang asked again, his face showing less contempt and more of a strange expression.

"good!"

Huang Dengxing stared intently at Ning Huang, "My repeated retreats were not out of fear of you, Ning the Madman, but simply because I couldn't let go of my Liu'er!"

"I grant your request!"

Ning Huang dropped the disdain on his face, turned to Qin Yu and the others who were watching the battle from a distance, and said, "Have someone bring two jars of wine!"

Qin Yu agreed and immediately ordered someone to send over two jars of wine and two wine bowls as quickly as possible.

Soon, people from inside Yuwang Pass delivered a jar of wine and two wine bowls.

However, Ning Huang didn't take the wine bowl. Instead, he grabbed a jar of wine and tossed it to Huang Dengxing. Then, he grabbed another jar, raised it to Huang Dengxing, and said, "I take back what I said earlier. You're a real man! Much better than the likes of Guo Yang! This jar of wine is for you!"

"OK!"

Huang Dengxing slapped open the seal on the wine jar, a look of heroic pride on his face. "To be able to drink heartily with you in Ninghuang is one of life's greatest pleasures!"

As they spoke, the two of them almost simultaneously grabbed their wine jars and began gulping down the wine.

A five-pound jar of wine was spilled, with most of it broken.

But nobody cares about these things now.

Soon, both of their wine jars were empty.

"Snapped!"

Ning Huang abruptly smashed the wine jar in his hand, slowly pulled the Broken Mountain sword from his back, and looked at Huang Dengxing with fierce fighting spirit, "As a sign of respect, I will use all my strength to take your life in the shortest time!"

"Snapped!"

Huang Dengxing smashed the wine jar in his hand and suddenly drew his sword: "Come on! Let me see just how strong you really are!"