Chapter 509: Blood Duels and Hidden Schemes

Some rules might be ignored, but others form the very foundation of the entire system.

When Yenir once again initiated a Death Duel, everyone present sensed something was terribly off.

Earlier, they had dismissed Yenir as merely losing his mind in a bout of youthful recklessness.

But now—despite all the measures already taken and Chu Long and his comrades having forcefully subdued the situation—the mere mention of it carried an entirely different weight.

Once a Death Duel is formally declared, there is simply no way to refuse it.

Seeing the silence fall over the crowd once more, Yenir was not the least bit surprised.

Indeed, although peace had prevailed for ages—in fact, for decades—the brutal and straightforward rule of Death Duels had long been forgotten, except when Yenir revived it.

Yet that didn’t mean the rule had lost its sting; otherwise, why else would he choose to challenge Lu Tianming?

At the onset of the apocalypse, clashes erupted frequently between former Military personnel and unofficial Awakener groups.

One side insisted that, before the end, they belonged to the Authorities and that those beneath them should follow orders without question.

The other side, comprised of Awakener survivors forged from a mountain of corpses and blood, revered power above all—especially when the first Awakener recruits absorbed by the Military refused to be bossed around by mere ‘officials’.

If you’ve never even fought a zombie, what right do you have to command them!?

And so, in that most chaotic era, the Death Duel rule was born.

In an apocalypse, might truly speaks for itself!

If you disagree or rebel, then let blood decide—in the Death Duel arena, rank means nothing, and even in death, no reprisals are allowed!

No sooner had the rule been introduced than it was embraced by Awakener groups, becoming an unbreakable law.

One high-ranking official replaced another, and every commanding officer had to ask themselves whether their ignorance might provoke a Death Duel.

It was this very rule that enabled the Huaxia Battle Zone to swiftly rally an iron-blooded unit with formidable combat prowess that wouldn’t crumble from internal strife.

“Yenir! Stop spouting such foolishness…!!”

“Hey, kid from the Yé clan, are you really set on this Death Duel?”

After a brief silence, Chu Long drew a deep breath and fixed his gaze on Yenir.

He couldn’t fathom where this little brat’s confidence came from, but at this point, Yenir’s insistence rendered their protests moot.

He was certain that once they departed, the two would inevitably clash—either Lu Haishan, exploiting a moment of lax defense to drag Yenir before a military tribunal, or the kid continuing to provoke Lu Haishan for yet another bout.

In any case, there was no room left for reconciliation.

Among the high-ranking officials who arrived, Li Xuanguo shook his head in quiet dismay; he least wanted this scene to unfold.

In an earlier meeting, he had defied the majority, determined to protect Yenir at all costs.

But now, it seemed his efforts had been rendered meaningless.

No matter how hard one tried, ignoring Yenir’s own call for a Death Duel would destabilize the entire Military.

Some rules and measures have the power to sway the hearts of men.

“Prime Minister, let them settle it themselves…”

“If Yenir…”

Walking just behind Li Xuanguo, the Secretary General murmured under his breath with a troubled expression.

He took no strong stance, but to him, Yenir had clearly crossed the line.

If the Authorities’ gracious offer was nothing more than asking you to apologize and lower your head—and you refuse—then you’re practically inviting your own doom.

With so many geniuses around, a rebel genius who disobeys every command is, as some high-ranking officials whisper, nothing short of a menace!

If Yenir were to die at Lu Haishan’s hands, the matter would finally be settled.

Bathed in radiant light, Lu Haishan’s eyes flickered with uncertainty; yet he had little need for contemplation. After a brief moment, he sneered dismissively.

“Fine! If you want to die, I’ll make sure you do!”

“Proclaim it across all of China!? Do you really think I’m afraid of you? You expect me to spare you because of your rank!?”

“Prime Minister! Chu, set up the Death Duel arena! Once today’s business is over, I, Lu Haishan, will return to the Northern Battle Zone!”

Without another word—and dismissing Yenir’s reckless arrogance—Lu Haishan agreed without hesitation.

To him, there was no difference between killing Yenir outright and dispatching him during a Death Duel; the latter was even more beneficial.

After contemplating, the only explanation he could muster was that this little bastard intended to tie his own hands, avoiding a tarnished reputation by not killing him directly! Otherwise, he couldn’t think of another motive!

All the better—set the venue right on the platform where Tian’er once met his fate! There, he’d ensure that this little wretch bleeds out on the spot, as a message to Lu Tianming in spirit!

As the absurd turn of events hurtled towards its worst outcome, Hu Zhiping—who had long played the role of peacemaker beside Li Xuanguo—could only remain silent, unable to object.

It wasn’t that Lu Haishan couldn’t handle the situation; it was that Yenir was marching straight toward his own doom!

A look of regret touched Commissar Hu’s eyes as he recalled the very first time he met Yenir; somehow, he felt fate had already sealed the boy’s destiny.

Even then, he thought Yenir’s brilliance was razor-sharp—a soaring sword that was bound to break one day.

He just hadn’t expected that day to come so soon…

Just as he hesitated and sighed, about to have someone arrange a venue, an Awakener of Third-Stage Advanced level standing behind Lu Haishan suddenly leaned in and hissed a warning.

“Old Commander, don’t be fooled!”

“That kid deliberately called for a Death Duel at this moment—he banked on the fact that you’re injured!”

As he spoke, the Middle-Aged Man grimaced and signaled for Lu Haishan to check his wounds.

After sprinting at full speed and expending a large amount of Spirit Energy along the way, Lu Haishan was jolted back to reality, his heart leaping into his throat.

His Spirit Energy was nearly depleted.

He had even resorted to using his S-Level Skill in a desperate bid!

Not to mention, he had actually faced three Peak Third-Stage opponents! During Chu Long’s interception moments earlier, he suffered a severe backlash—reducing his strength to almost nothing compared to its peak.

His pupils flashed with a mix of shock and anger.

Had it not been for a subordinate’s warning, he would have nearly fallen into that little bastard’s trap!

“How dare you!”

“No wonder you still dare challenge me! Ridiculous! Do you honestly think you can survive in this state!?”

Staring intently at Yenir, Lu Haishan declared that, despite his current condition, he could still crush this insect—though inside, he was utterly shaken.

No wonder that little scoundrel carried himself so arrogantly; beneath his swagger, he was constantly scheming against him!

Exactly!

Yenir had always been well-protected, his condition at its peak, while Lu Haishan, injured and stripped of his trump cards, had revealed everything.

By his careful calculations, it was possible the kid aimed to reduce his power to a Third-Stage Advanced level before striking with some underhanded move—at worst, allowing him to escape unscathed!

Such terrifying ambition and calculation—he had truly underestimated him!

Tian’er was likely doomed as well, falling victim to similar machinations!

And that wasn’t all.

As if regaining his wits and recognizing Yenir’s treachery, Lu Haishan cast a wary glance at the high-ranking officials in the Capital.

As a veteran powerhouse and one of China’s former high-ranking figures, he knew better than anyone that friction between the new and old factions had long simmered—though they had voluntarily stepped aside.

Could it be… that this was a setup targeting him and all of the old guard!?

Is everyone simply playing a role!?

Before anyone noticed, Lu Haishan’s heart pounded wildly, as if uncovering a world-shattering secret, filling him with an endless chill.

“You little bastard! In two days, I’ll personally send you on your way! Consider these next two… three days as a bonus for staying alive!”

“Whoosh—Boom!”

In an instant, after vividly imagining an all-out killing spree, Lu Haishan barked his parting words and shot off without looking back, disappearing like a fleeting shadow as he raced madly beyond the Capital.

Run! You must run now! He needed to find out if someone was plotting against him!

At the Death Duel in three days, he planned to rally his old comrades to back him up!

“Huh!?”

Lu Haishan was running far too fast.

To everyone’s surprise—including Yenir—the crowd was stunned as they watched Lu Haishan suddenly bolt away.

Even several Army generals, who were dissatisfied with Yenir and eager for a grand spectacle, were left dumbfounded.

“What the hell!?”

Lu Haishan just ran off like that!?

And now he plans to return in three days! Isn’t that supposed to avenge his son!?