Chapter 45 An Easy Win For Allen
*Ding! You receive an Emergency Quest, Defeat Lin Xue
Description: The heiress of the Lin Clan issued a formal challenge to the host. The host must defeat her and maintain the reputation of the store.
Rewards: Lin Xue's Affinity with the store increases by 1 level.
Conditions for success: Allen wins the challenge/ Lin Xue loses consciousness/ Lin Xue admits defeat
Conditions for failure: Allen loses against Lin Xue/ host admit the defeat/ Host intervene in the battle
*
If not for the Emergency quest, Mark would never agree to the challenge. He doesn't know anything about her. How would he know that Allen has the chance to win against her?
Moreover, she clearly mentioned that there won't be ether energy involved and the battle will be dependent purely on sword skills. Allen is sure strong in a fistfight as his path is a fighter. But, was he good at sword? Cutting that spy's hand during the rescue of Song Yue was never counted as skill in his eyes.
The emergency quest forced Mark to gamble. After all, even if Allen loses, there's no loss for him anyway. So, there's nothing wrong with accepting the challenge.
However, there's one more thing that Mark needed to consider. It is the protection. The moment he steps out of the store, he will become vulnerable. Maybe, this was her plan? Who knows… He can't trust her. So, Mark thought of a plan.
The sparring ground will be the space in front of the store. The alley was only ten feet wide. While it looks like it may not be sufficient theoretically, still, Allen battled the security head of Song Mansion in this very space, and also, it is only a pure sword battle.
Mark clearly told to both of them that either the battle will take place in front of the store or else, she is free to leave.
Lin Xue didn't think too much and agreed to it right away. The place doesn't matter for her. Despite being a six-realm expert, Yao Ling was nothing more than a subordinate and is quite loyal to Lin Clan. He doesn't dare to intervene in something that the lady has decided. So, he became a spectator along with Mark while Lin Xue and Allen stepped out of the store and stood before each other.
Lin Xue took out a silver grade sword from her storage card to give a handicap to Allen who received a gold grade sword given by his master. Allen's eyes turned red and scanned her for a moment before it turned back to blue and he mumbled to himself, "4-circle Realm, Advanced stage. Sword mastery: level-5."
Seeing that Allen isn't making a move, Lin Xue pointed the sword at him and spoke in a serious tone, "you can begin."
It was at that moment, Mark shouted from the store. "Allen, You are banned from using skills or killing her. You are also banned from making her disabled. Everything else is allowed."
"Roger, Big brother." The Android saluted him and grabbed the heavy sword's handle tightly with both of his arms.
"Hmm?" Lin Xue who was facing the store took a glimpse at Mark and a frown appeared on her face. She thought Mark is completely underestimating her. If that's the case, then, she has to teach his servant a lesson. She only threw the challenge because of her curiosity in Allen. But, now, she felt that it is necessary to tone down this tiny store owner's arrogance.
She didn't realize what those words really meant until the so-called challenge turned her into a laughing stock in front of commoners.
After getting the orders from Mark, Allen charged forward without giving any warning to the enemy. His speed was so fast that Lin Xue couldn't even dodge his attack and could barely able to block it.
However, the strength behind the swing overpowered her defense and she was pushed back for a couple of steps before Allen quickly twisted his hand and swung at her arm.
Although she managed to escape from it, the blade still slightly grazed against her skin and a slight cut appeared below her elbow before bleeding. The moment she was wounded, the challenge was already won by Mark but the latter didn't stop the match because of the emergency quest.
Maybe, in the heat of the moment, Lin Xue forgot about her big words and resumed the battle by trying to go on with offense. She stepped forward and tried a horizontal slash, to which, Allen stepped back at the perfect time, barely missing the sword. And just as the blade passed him, he lunged forward to hack at her arm that was holding the sword.
He managed to strike her wrist with the blunt side of his sword with high speed, making her sword fall from her hands on the ground. And before she picks it up, he thrust the sword at her neck and stopped just a centimeter away from the throat.
For a second, she was frozen on the spot and realized the difference between the two of them. It was raw strength and speed. The former she can't do anything because of the gender difference but the latter is achievable. Just at that moment, she remembered something. Her attribute was lightning and she was so fast that she never bothered polishing her talent but instead, focused on mastery over various sword techniques.
A simple spar with Allen opened her eyes. But, at the same time, she didn't feel that she lost to him in sword skill. She just remembered her challenge, that's all. Amid the stares of the commoners, she spoke, "You won, Allen."
*Ding! You completed the Emergency Quest, Defeat Lin Xue. Go to the Quest list to receive the reward.
"Hehe, an easy win," A grin escaped from Mark upon receiving the notification. The black-robed expert took out a pouch and turned towards Mark, "Owner Lu, here. And I apologize for the trouble." He was polite with Mark as he handed the pouch to him, following the rules of the challenge.
First, the tank that can wreak havoc at Song Mansion and even heavily injures a six-realm expert like Song Yun, then, a store that suppresses everyone's soul that enters, and a servant that can not only defeat 4-circle realm experts with ease but also defeat a master class swordsman like Lin Xue in just two moves.
If either Mark isn't a civilian with no ether energy or the store locates in a better neighborhood, then, Yao Ling wouldn't be troubled to think deeply.
However, the facts before him feel like he should investigate the store.
Meanwhile, Lin Xue has turned around and walked towards the carriage without even taking the dropped sword from the ground. She was embarrassed when her arrogant words hit her deeply. It hurt even more so when she saw a grin on Mark and an indifferent expression on the Android.
Yao Ling returned to the carriage with the box full of bullets and weapons that are preordered by Song Yue, a week ago. When he opened the door to put the box inside, he saw Lin Xue bent her upper body, her arms were placed on her lap and her head is touching them. He wondered whether she was crying or something. But, since there's nothing he can say to her, he quietly placed the box on the seat before her and closed the door before taking the seat at the front and rode the horse.
As they left the place, Mark gladly told Allen to collect the silver sword and return. It was then, a sudden clap escaped from one of the crowd. No one knows who started it but suddenly, many people clapped in excitement and some of them even started to praise Allen while some expressed their hatred for the nobility. "Well done, young man. You showed that noble bitch a lesson." "hahaha, deserves her right." "These nobles think they can do whatever because we are commoners." "Lin Clan's princess suffers defeat in the hands of a commoner."
The other murmured among themselves.
"Wow, he's so strong." "Hmpf, what do you know? I heard that Owner Lu even went to Song Mansion and taught a lesson to him. Minister Song begged him to show mercy." "C'mon, don't kid around. How can someone like that stay in a place like this?" "Who knows?" "By the way, do you think Lin Clan will come for revenge, later?" "I heard that third prince fancies her."
With so full of nonsense going around, Mark didn't bother listening to them and went back to his seat.