155: We're still too late.

"Your strength is truly extraordinary; you even defeated a powerhouse like Zhang Sanfeng."

Li Qiushui approached Duan Zhengchun, looking at him with excitement.

"Be serious; acting like this will cause misunderstandings," Duan Zhengchun said solemnly.

"Who dares? The Empress Dowager will kill them directly," Li Qiushui said overbearingly.

"Fine, fine, fine, you're amazing. Let's go. With such a big commotion, someone will likely be here soon," Duan Zhengchun said.

"What? Are you afraid?" Li Qiushui raised an eyebrow at Duan Zhengchun.

"Afraid? What do I have to fear? The person who can make me afraid hasn't been born yet. I'm worried about the impact on you."

"You have to consider your current identity," Duan Zhengchun said.

"Alright, I'll listen to you. Let's go back. This elder sister still has some points about cultivation she doesn't understand and needs to ask you." After saying this, Li Qiushui turned and left.

"Since elder sister has spoken, I will naturally do my best," Duan Zhengchun nodded.

Not long after the two left, a masked figure appeared at the site of the recent battle.

It was Li Hanyi, who had rushed there at high speed from Snow Moon City.

"Is the battle already over? I didn't expect to still be late." Li Hanyi looked at the marks left on the ground.

Feeling the lingering Sword Intent, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She was sensing the residual Sword Intent in the area.

After a few breaths, Li Hanyi opened her eyes and looked toward the Western Xia Imperial Palace.

"Over there..."

As her voice faded, Li Hanyi's figure vanished.

After Duan Zhengchun and Li Qiushui returned to the palace, they saw Gan Baobao pacing back and forth anxiously.

"Baobao, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Duan Zhengchun asked with concern.

"Brother Duan, you're finally back. You scared me to death." Gan Baobao excitedly approached Duan Zhengchun.

"What's wrong? Don't cry, don't cry; you won't look pretty if you keep crying," Duan Zhengchun comforted her.

Looking at Gan Baobao's appearance, Li Qiushui shook her head and smiled without saying anything.

She ordered the Palace Maids to prepare dinner... After eating, just as Duan Zhengchun and Li Qiushui were about to find a quiet place for him to guide her martial arts, a cold voice rang out through the entire Imperial City.

"Li Hanyi of Snow Moon City, here to seek a sword duel."

The cold voice spread throughout the Imperial City and reached the ears of Duan Zhengchun and Li Qiushui.

Hearing that the visitor was Li Hanyi, Duan Zhengchun's expression became peculiar.

Li Qiushui also had a puzzled expression. Why did Li Hanyi run to Western Xia to seek a sword duel? Who was she looking for? She herself didn't even use a sword.

"Wait, is this Li Hanyi crazy? Why run here for some sword duel for no reason? The Empress Dowager doesn't even use a sword."

"You wait here, I'll go send her away," Li Qiushui said displeasedly.

"Wait a moment, I think I might know why she's here," Duan Zhengchun said after a moment of contemplation.

"Could it be she's here for you?" Li Qiushui looked at Duan Zhengchun in surprise.

"Most likely. This Li Hanyi is a Sword Dao Genius. Once she achieved success in the Sword Dao, she began traveling everywhere to challenge people to duels. Her coming here is likely because of my previous move, One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate," Duan Zhengchun said.

"If that's the case, let's go take a look together," Li Qiushui nodded.

The two left the palace directly, and their figures instantly appeared before Li Hanyi.

Li Hanyi was momentarily stunned when she saw Duan Zhengchun and Li Qiushui appear, her eyes fixed intently on Duan Zhengchun.

"What a handsome man, and that temperament he has."

In this moment, Li Hanyi felt her long-frozen state of mind actually stir, her heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably.

Such a change made Li Hanyi feel a bit flustered.

From childhood to adulthood, she had never felt this way about a man.

Reason told her she must stay calm, must stay calm.

However, her body was out of her control, her eyes staring fixedly at Duan Zhengchun.

Seeing a person in white clothes wearing a mask and a small mustache staring at her man like that, Li Qiushui felt a surge of annoyance.

"Has Your Excellency seen enough?"

"Doesn't Your Excellency think it's a bit impolite to stare at The Empress Dowager's man like this?" Li Qiushui said in a cold tone.

Hearing Li Qiushui's words, Li Hanyi suddenly snapped back to her senses, her pretty face instantly flushing with two patches of crimson.

Having regained her composure, Li Hanyi did not dare to look directly at Duan Zhengchun's incredibly handsome face again.

She was afraid that if she took another look, she would fall completely into it.

"Apologies, I was lost in thought just now," Li Hanyi said, cupping her hands.

"I wonder what business the Second City Lord of Snow Moon City has in my Western Xia?" Li Qiushui asked coldly.

"A sword duel," Li Hanyi said directly.

"A sword duel? You can go find a Sword Dao Master for that. Why come to my Western Xia? My Western Xia has no Sword Dao Master for you to find," Li Qiushui shook her head.

"Empress Dowager, we are both sensible people. You should be clear about why I, Li, have come here. There is no need for us to beat around the bush," Li Hanyi said directly.

As Li Hanyi spoke, she looked toward Duan Zhengchun.

Only, when looking at Duan Zhengchun, she couldn't be as calm as she was when facing Li Qiushui; her eyes flickered, and she didn't dare look at him directly.

"It seems the Second City Lord has come for This Prince," Duan Zhengchun said with a smile as he looked at Li Hanyi.

When she saw Duan Zhengchun's smile, Li Hanyi was momentarily dazed.

This smile was simply too beautiful, too handsome, wasn't it?

If one were to say who in the world could compare, it would only be those handsome devils, the readers.

"That's right. I can feel that the incredibly powerful sword technique in the forest outside the city was performed by you," Li Hanyi said, taking a deep breath.

"Yes, it was indeed performed by me. However, the Second City Lord has found the wrong person for a sword duel; I am no Sword Dao Master."

"I only use a sword occasionally; I cannot compare to a Sword Dao Genius like the Second City Lord," Duan Zhengchun shook his head.

"Your Excellency shouldn't be so modest. Regardless of whether you are a Sword Dao Genius, the fact that you can perform such a powerful sword strike at your age is enough to show that your sword dao attainment is very strong," Li Hanyi said.

"So? Must I agree just because you've come for a duel?" Duan Zhengchun shook his head.

"You..."

Li Hanyi hadn't expected Duan Zhengchun to say that, leaving her momentarily unsure of how to respond.

If it were anyone else in the past, she wouldn't have said so much and would have just started fighting.

But today, she didn't want to start fighting directly. Even the other party's answer didn't make her feel angry, only a bit aggrieved.

I came all this way just for a sword duel, yet you're so Ruthless as to reject me directly. Isn't this just bullying me too much?