HPDBC Chapter 251: A Duel Beneath Gathering Storms
Chapter 251: A Duel Beneath Gathering Storms
A Duel Beneath Gathering Storms
"I promised you, and I’ll keep my word," Yana Tyson said irritably as she stood up.
Her orange eyes burned with determination.
Even after being pushed back so effortlessly by Steffan, there wasn’t a trace of fear in them.
The morning breeze drifted through the Tyson Family courtyard, stirring strands of her long black hair. Around her, tension thickened the air like an approaching storm.
"Yana, don’t be reckless. You can’t beat him," the Tyson Family members said, rushing to hold Yana back from continuing to fight Steffan.
Several elders immediately stepped forward.
One grabbed her wrist.
Another stood in front of her.
A third tried to calm her down.
"Young Miss, please think clearly."
"The gap is too large."
"You’ll only get yourself hurt."
"We understand your intentions, but this isn’t a battle you can win."
Yana clenched her fists.
Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to suppress her frustration.
How could she retreat now?
The Tyson Family had survived for generations because they honored their word.
More importantly...
Julian had saved her father.
Without Julian’s help, Wren Tyson would still be trapped in a wheelchair.
How could she pretend none of that happened?
Why should she risk her life for someone who talks nonsense?
Several family members couldn’t understand her determination.
To them, Julian was just an outsider.
A talented outsider.
But still an outsider.
Only Yana knew that beneath Julian’s playful attitude was someone who never abandoned those standing beside him.
"What, are you just going to hide behind a woman?" Steffan looked at Julian with disdain.
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every word carried overwhelming contempt.
If it weren’t for completing the task, killing such a waste would dirty his hands!
Julian remained seated for a moment.
His golden eyes calmly met Steffan’s gaze.
There wasn’t the slightest ripple of anger.
The contrast between the two men couldn’t have been greater.
One radiated killing intent.
The other looked like he had come to attend a tea gathering.
After a brief silence, Julian slowly stood up.
"Let’s take it outside," Julian said, pointing to the door and walking out expressionlessly.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
As though he wasn’t walking toward a life-and-death battle.
Steffan sneered and followed him out with large strides.
A mere early Silver Realm weakling.
He could crush this kid with just one finger!
"Julian D’Aurelius, are you really going to duel him? Are you crazy?" Yana shouted anxiously.
But several elders held her tightly, preventing her from rushing to help.
Her voice echoed through the courtyard.
For the first time since Steffan arrived, genuine worry appeared on her face.
Julian paused.
He turned around.
A faint smile appeared on his handsome face.
The sunlight reflected in his golden eyes.
"Don’t worry, I won’t lose."
His words were simple.
Yet strangely reassuring.
[This woman is quite trustworthy.]
[If only I had cleared relationship matters with all the women in my life. I’d definitely welcome someone like her into my circle.]
[But whatever. One more loyal woman isn’t exactly a bad thing.]
[For now, once I beat this guy, I’ll give you some pointers on your cultivation.]
Hearing Julian’s inner thoughts, Yana nearly choked.
Her face instantly darkened.
The worry she felt a second ago disappeared.
This shameless bastard!
Who wanted to join his ridiculous circle?
And what was with that confidence?
Did he really think a Silver Realm cultivator could defeat a Gold Realm monster?
Still...
Somehow...
Hearing his carefree thoughts eased a little of the tension in her heart.
At least he wasn’t scared.
As the two walked out, the crowd followed them outside.
The Tyson Family estate quickly became lively.
Disciples.
Guests.
Representatives from various Old Martial Arts families.
Everyone hurried toward the training grounds.
No one wanted to miss this battle.
At the entrance, Elder Smith stood with his hands behind his back.
His eyes followed Yana briefly before settling on Julian.
A trace of displeasure flashed across his face.
Beside him stood a young disciple from Voidspring Mountain.
The young man stared at Yana with obvious concern.
His fists were tightly clenched.
His name was Adrian.
For years, he had admired Yana.
Ever since they trained together during exchanges between the Tyson Family and Voidspring Mountain.
He considered her the perfect martial artist.
Beautiful.
Determined.
Talented.
Unfortunately for him, Yana never returned those feelings.
Three years ago, he had finally gathered enough courage to confess.
He still remembered that afternoon.
"Yana, I like you."
The young Adrian had spoken nervously.
Yana’s answer had been immediate.
"I’m sorry."
"I respect you as a fellow martial artist."
"But I don’t have those feelings."
The rejection wasn’t cruel.
Yet it was decisive.
No room for misunderstanding.
No room for hope.
Since then, Adrian had buried his feelings deep inside.
But seeing Yana repeatedly risk herself for Julian made the old wound ache once again.
"Master," Adrian said quietly.
"Why is she protecting him so desperately?"
Elder Smith snorted.
"Young people are foolish."
Adrian’s expression darkened.
To him, Julian looked completely ordinary.
Nothing special.
Nothing worthy of Yana’s attention.
Yet somehow, she was willing to oppose Voidspring Mountain itself for him.
How could he accept that?
Elder Smith’s thoughts weren’t much different.
Not that he, an old man, had feelings for the young Yana.
In his youth, he was obsessed with needlework, and by his early twenties, he was already impotent, the kind that couldn’t be cured, making him lose interest in women early on.
One of his disciples had always been infatuated with Yana, but unfortunately, he couldn’t win her over.
His family’s boy couldn’t get this Fairy, but someone else’s boy might have the chance.
How could he feel comfortable with that?
Moreover, the Tyson Family was willing to break ties with Voidspring Mountain for this kid.
This made him even more eager for the kid to die.
Fortunately, today’s opponent was Steffan.
This terrifyingly powerful young man, even he wasn’t a match for him.
In a battle between the two, life and death would be decided in a second.
Steffan would live.
This kid would die!
The crowd gradually arrived at the open training grounds.
The spacious area was surrounded by stone platforms and ancient trees.
Leaves rustled softly in the wind.
Birds fled from nearby branches as if sensing the incoming clash.
The atmosphere became increasingly heavy.
Yana finally managed to free herself from the elders.
She stood near the front.
Her orange eyes never left Julian’s back.
Nearby, Cheery quietly observed everything.
Her silver-pink hair swayed gently behind her.
Unlike many others, her gaze wasn’t focused entirely on the upcoming battle.
Part of her attention remained fixed on Julian.
The mysterious young man continued to surprise her.
Everyone believed he was walking toward certain death.
Yet he remained completely relaxed.
It was as though he knew something nobody else did.
Wren Tyson sat silently in his wheelchair.
His fingers gripped the armrests.
He trusted Julian.
But trust and worry were two different things.
Steffan’s strength was simply too terrifying.
A mid-Gold Realm expert.
Someone capable of crushing entire families alone.
The distance between such a person and a Silver Realm cultivator was practically insurmountable.
The crowd slowly parted.
Julian and Steffan stood opposite one another.
The wind swept across the open ground.
Dust drifted between them.
One calm.
One arrogant.
The contrast created an almost surreal scene.
Once they reached an open space, Steffan stood there with a calm expression and said, "Don’t say I bully weaklings. You can make the first move. If you can hurt me within a minute, I’ll spare your life."