C5 They Had Agreed to Meet at the Life and Death Arena

"What kind of world have I been reborn into?" Ye Bufan mused aloud amidst the silence. "Everyone here seems as cunning as a fox!" In his past life, Ye Bufan had wandered the secular world and wasn't a stranger to online novels.

Weren't the protagonists in those stories reborn into worlds where everyone was solely focused on cultivation, with little to no scheming? How advanced were the cultivation levels of the people in this current world? It was too soon for Ye Bufan to judge, but their cunning was certainly worthy of awe.

"Why is Young Master Lin injured, yet Young Master Ye remains unscathed?"

"Isn't Young Master Ye merely at the Sixth Stage of the Power Stage?"

"Plus, I've heard that Miss Yun was harassed by Ye Bufan. He's probably trying to silence her..."

Whispers of discord began to ripple through the crowd, growing louder and more pointed at Ye Bufan, spurred on by the manipulations of a few instigators.

Yun Tianao could clearly see that the commoners outside the hall had ties to the Lin family. His initial plan was to gloss over the incident with Yun Ruoshuang, as such scandals were not befitting for a young lady's reputation. The matters concerning the Ye and Lin families could be settled in due time.

But now that the issue was out in the open, silence was no longer an option. He addressed the crowd, "I'm curious, Nephew Ye, do you have a different take on Nephew Lin's account?"

Ye Bufan glanced sideways, noting the Great Elder still deep in his meditative trance, and felt compelled to speak up. "My view differs greatly!" He reiterated his fabricated story for the third time. Having repeated it twice before, even Ye Bufan began to believe his own words.

As he concluded, tears welled up in Ye Bufan's eyes. "Lord Yun, though I have been wronged..." He shot a piercing look at Lin Feiyang, insinuating that he was the true villain, and continued, "I ultimately succumbed to the effects of the drug and committed an unforgivable act. I implore you, Lord Yun, to mete out punishment. Nevertheless, I vow to seek justice for Miss Yun, even at the cost of my own life."

With that, Ye Bufan fell silent, fixing Lin Feiyang with a venomous glare, as if the entire plot had been orchestrated by him alone.

Up until now, Yun Tianao was still in the dark about the whole incident. Once Yun Ruoshuang arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, she sequestered herself in her room, neither emerging nor speaking to anyone. The Lin family's involvement seemed certain, yet Yun Tianao was unclear about Ye Bufan's role in the affair. Despite Ye Bufan's generally good reputation, Yun Tianao had his doubts about his innocence.

The Great Elder opened his eyes, giving Ye Bufan a somewhat puzzled look, then nodded and let his eyelids fall shut once more. Today, Ye Bufan had impressed him, not displaying his usual recklessness.

Among the commoners, the Lin family's presence was sparse. After Ye Bufan's impassioned speech, a portion of the crowd began to believe him, casting skeptical looks toward Lin Feiyang.

The dilemma, however, remained in Yun Tianao's court. With both parties having presented their cases, the onus was on him to deliver a verdict.

Deep down, Yun Tianao was inclined to detain both Ye Bufan and Lin Feiyang, but that was clearly not feasible. Lin Feiyang had arrived with the Lin family patriarch, and Ye Bufan had outdone himself by bringing along the Ye family's top expert for protection. Waging war against both the Ye and Lin families simultaneously did not align with the Yun family's interests.

Allying with one family against the other was an option, but not before the truth came to light. If he were to side with the family that had wronged his daughter, Yun Tianao couldn't stomach the thought. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke up: "Nephew Lin has sustained serious injuries, while Nephew Ye remains unscathed. This discrepancy seems questionable, considering everyone is well aware of your respective strengths. Therefore, I find Nephew Lin's account to be more credible."

Lin Feiyang's face lit up with glee at Yun Tianao's words, and he cast a smug glance at Ye Bufan. Lin Shanfeng, however, furrowed his brows, noting the particular emphasis Yun Tianao placed on the words 'strength' and 'weakness'.

The Great Elder's eyes were open again, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on Ye Bufan.

"Is this a test?" Ye Bufan thought, catching the Great Elder's look. "Yun Tianao has made his terms clear: I must duel Lin Feiyang, or he'll side with Lin Feiyang's version of events. That's why he stressed the words 'strong' and 'weak.'" Ye Bufan understood Yun Tianao's implication, while Lin Feiyang was still oblivious to the underlying challenge.

To survive in this world, one still needs the backing of the Ye family. When faced with the Great Elder's probing look, Ye Bufan didn't waver and declared resolutely, "I plan to defeat him fair and square, no sneak attacks. If I do, does that prove Lin Feiyang's accusations are false?"

A spark of insight flickered in the Great Elder's eyes before they closed once more, leaving Ye Bufan to wonder if the old man suffered from insomnia, given his tendency to keep his eyes shut all day.

Lin Shanfeng and Yun Tianao exchanged a glance, both puzzled. Ye Bufan's response was at odds with his notorious image as a playboy.

They had assumed the Great Elder would handle the negotiation, doubting Ye Bufan's ability to grasp Yun Tianao's intent. Yet, to their surprise, not only did Ye Bufan understand, but he also set the stakes, essentially asking if the Yun family would drop the matter should he triumph over Lin Feiyang.

Hearing Ye Bufan's words, Lin Feiyang nearly laughed out loud, thinking it a grand joke. Their past conflicts in Cloud Peak City always ended with Lin Feiyang giving Ye Bufan a thrashing. Now, Ye Bufan was brazenly issuing a challenge. If not for the presence of their elders, Lin Feiyang would have openly scoffed.

"So be it. Let your strength validate your claims. The victor will be deemed truthful, and as for the thief involved in this affair, rest assured, I, as the city lord, will not let him off lightly!" Yun Tianao made his stance clear – he would support the winner in dealing with the defeated party.

Lin Feiyang, eager to see his scheme come to fruition, was itching to thrash Ye Bufan on the spot.

But to everyone's surprise, Ye Bufan spoke with righteous indignation, "Young Master Lin is grievously wounded. I refuse to exploit that, nor do I want any excuses after a loss. Let's settle this in the Life and Death Arena one month from now."

As Ye Bufan's words echoed through the hall, a wave of shock swept over the assembly. Even the commoners at the entrance couldn't help but release a collective sigh.

Every city boasted a Life and Death Arena, situated to the left of the City Lord's Mansion. This arena was reserved for private duels, where, with mutual consent, combatants could engage without the victor bearing any legal repercussions. Such a choice was rare among nobles, who typically placed a high value on their own lives.

So when Ye Bufan, facing a formidable opponent, suggested a duel in the Life and Death Arena, even Yun Tianao questioned internally, "Could Ye Bufan truly be innocent?"

Lin Feiyang, though wounded, was confident in his ability to best the so-called wastrel, Ye Bufan. Yet, to challenge Ye Bufan now might lead others to suspect his injuries were feigned, leaving him reluctant to respond and looking instead to his father for guidance.

Lin Shanfeng declared, "Agreed! In one month, we meet at the Life and Death Arena!" With a respectful gesture to Yun Tianao and the Great Elder, he departed with Lin Feiyang. He believed in his son's prowess; among the young generation of the three families, only the Yun family's martial fanatic could pose a real threat.

Under the Great Elder's escort, Ye Bufan exited the City Lord's Mansion.

The onlookers dispersed, convinced that news of Ye Bufan and Lin Feiyang's impending showdown would circulate throughout Cloud Peak City by day's end. The issue between Yun Ruoshuang and Ye Bufan, overshadowed by the duel, seemed trivial in comparison and was quickly slipping from memory.

Inside the carriage, the Great Elder scrutinized Ye Bufan with such intensity that it sent a shiver down his spine. "Have I unwittingly revealed a weakness?" he wondered.

"You did well today," the Great Elder remarked before settling back into his meditation.

Upon returning home, the Great Elder, with little else to pique his interest beyond his own cultivation, left Ye Bufan behind and retreated to his private chamber.

"Reckless!" Ye Jian exclaimed with fury as soon as he laid eyes on Ye Bufan. Clearly, he was already aware of the events that had transpired at the City Lord's Mansion before Ye Bufan had even made it home.

"Father, please, I beg your forgiveness. I had no other choice at the time!" Despite Ye Jian's angry rebuke, Ye Bufan felt no ire. Instead, a warmth enveloped him as he deeply appreciated his father's love and concern.

"Even without taking a stand, Yun Tianao wouldn't dream of collaborating with the Lin family. Do you think he'd be oblivious to the Ye family's scheming? Cloud Peak City is a power balance among three major families. If mutual trust were so easily established, we wouldn't be facing the current situation," Ye Jian explained with patience.

"Damn! Outsmarted by someone else's game, and to think I played right into their hands," Ye Bufan muttered, frustration bubbling within him.

"Some things take time. Today, you've surpassed my expectations. Your response and composure were impressive—you've shown the true spirit of the Ye family men!" Ye Jian said, his face breaking into a rare smile.

For Ye Bufan, this was the first time he had seen his father smile in this world, a smile sparked by his own growth.

"I will not tarnish the Ye family's honor!" Buoyed by his father's tidal wave of affection, Ye Bufan resolved to do something that would bring his father joy.

"Lin Feiyang reached the Eighth Rank of Power Stage last year. What are your thoughts on the upcoming battle?" With that question, Ye Jian pulled Ye Bufan back to the sobering reality.

Being two ranks below the Eighth Rank of Power Stage meant facing a significant challenge, as the gap between each level—beginning, middle, and end—was vast. Essentially, the disparity between the third and fourth ranks, as well as between the sixth and seventh, was immense.

"Isn't there still a month to go? I was thoughtless before, causing you worry. This month, I will dedicate myself to rigorous training and I will defeat Lin Feiyang!" Ye Bufan declared with unwavering conviction.

Having set the duel for a month later, Ye Bufan had already begun to strategize...