Chapter 41 0043: This Is Impossible!

Within Sentinel City, inside the Duanmu family estate.

Duanmu Ci’s father, Duanmu Han, was entertaining guests. Across from him sat members of the Murong clan, one of the city’s prominent families.

“Brother Duanmu, next year is Ci’s coming-of-age ceremony. Why don’t we settle their marriage in advance?” Murong Fu smiled, raising his teacup.

Behind him stood his wife and daughter. They had come today specifically to discuss the union between Duanmu Ci and the Murong family.

Seated quietly to the side, Murong Ling, graceful and refined, greeted Duanmu Han with polite courtesy.

Duanmu Han was thoroughly pleased with Murong Ling as his future daughter-in-law. His branch of the Duanmu family was now favored by the patriarch thanks to Duanmu Ci’s talents. It was clear the future head of the family would be Ci. Likewise, Murong Fu enjoyed a distinguished position among the second generation of the Murong clan. A marriage between the two households would surely herald a new era for the third generation of both families.

“Look at you, impatient girl,” Duanmu Han teased, casting Murong Ling a playful glance. “My Ci has adored you since childhood; he wouldn’t marry anyone else. Are you afraid he’ll find another woman? Rest assured, as long as I’m here, he wouldn’t dare!”

“Thank you, Uncle,” Murong Ling replied demurely, bowing slightly.

In truth, she was anxious. Duanmu Ci had become the foremost among the younger generation. Wherever she went, as his childhood companion, she attracted the envy of countless women. The more outstanding he became, the prouder she felt, even imagining herself as the city lord’s wife one day when he took that mantle.

But seeing those women constantly flocking around Duanmu Ci troubled her greatly. Thus, she’d pressed her father to come and formalize the betrothal.

“Still calling me ‘Uncle’?” Duanmu Han joked mischievously.

Blushing, Murong Ling lowered her head and called out softly, “Father.”

“That’s more like it.” Duanmu Han smiled, then turned to Murong Fu. “Brother Fu, shall we pick a date, then?”

“Of course,” Murong Fu replied, his face lighting up. “Our family has been urging us to settle this marriage quickly.”

Murong Fu’s wife could not resist asking, “Brother Han, I heard Ci is eligible to participate in the tournament this year?”

Duanmu Han smiled. “Indeed. To give him the best chance to excel, we arranged with the academy for him to enter the elite class early. This year, he’ll compete in the Continental Academy Martial Meet. He’s sure to achieve great things across the continent! By past records, if he takes part this year, he should be able to lead his team into the top sixteen of the Hope Continent.”

The Murong family immediately offered their congratulations. “That’s wonderful news for the Duanmu family—your reputation will soar across Hope Continent.”

Duanmu Han waved modestly, though pride sparkled in his eyes. “What concerns me more is whether the boy can one day become city lord.”

The Murong family’s eyes lit up at this, especially Murong Ling.

“He certainly will!” Murong Ling laughed. “Who among the younger generation can rival him? When Lord Guo retires, the lord will surely appoint Brother Ci as the next city lord—no one else has ever come close to matching his votes!”

“Exactly. You’re quite close to Lord Guo—has he ever hinted who the lord favors for the next city lord?” Murong Fu probed.

“According to Lord Guo, barring unforeseen circumstances, once he steps down, my Ci is currently the most outstanding candidate in the lord’s eyes,” Duanmu Han replied with a faint smile.

Murong Ling and her mother exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with joy.

Just then, a trusted retainer burst in, breathless with urgency. “Master, something’s wrong—Young Master Ci has been sent to the hospital!”

“What?” Duanmu Han shot to his feet, his face thunderous. “Who dared lay a hand on my son? Are they tired of living? Explain yourself!”

The retainer swallowed nervously. “At the Mingjue Club today, he was sparring with a young man. After being defeated, he became enraged and is now in the hospital receiving counseling from a psychologist.”

“Absurd!” Duanmu Han slammed the table. “How could he spar with just anyone without knowing who they are? Doesn’t he realize how many would use a sparring match as an excuse to cripple him? This is a violation of the Genius Protection Act! No, I must see the city lord immediately. The rest of you—go arrest that person at once!”

To nurture the continent’s prodigies, every lord had instituted protective measures. For example, adults were forbidden from challenging exceptional young people under eighteen. However, sparring and competition among peers of the same age was permitted.

“Master—” the retainer hesitated, “we can’t arrest him.”

Murong Fu scolded, “Whose child is so brazen as to be untouchable? Is he from the lord’s family? What’s stopping you? Go arrest him—if anything happens, our two families will take responsibility. Anyone strong enough to defeat Duanmu Ci must already be an adult. The lord’s edict is clear: adults must not, under any pretense, challenge those under eighteen!”

“You heard him!” Duanmu Han barked. “Go arrest him, whoever it is!”

The retainer answered gravely, “Master, the city lord forbade it. Besides…the other party did not violate the Genius Protection Act.”

“The city lord?” Duanmu Han was taken aback, then snapped, “Even the city lord cannot ignore the lord’s rules. What did you just say?”

The retainer could only repeat, “The other party did not violate the Genius Protection Act.”

“How not?” Duanmu Han slammed the table again. “What’s Lord Guo thinking? My son isn’t even eighteen—he turns eighteen this year. He’s still under protection, and yet someone couldn’t wait to strike out of jealousy. How is that not a violation? Do I need to bring the household registry to prove it?”

“It’s not that, Master,” the retainer explained awkwardly. “Young Master Ci isn’t yet eighteen, but…the person who sparred with him is also under eighteen. It was a match between peers—not a violation. I’ve investigated—the opponent is only half a year older than Young Master Ci—also under eighteen.”

“What did you say?”

Now, not only Duanmu Han but all three members of the Murong family exclaimed in unison, “The other boy is the same age as Ci, and he defeated him?”

“Impossible!” Duanmu Han replied, voice low and disbelieving. “Prepare the carriage. I want to see exactly what happened. To the city lord’s residence!”

With that, any thought of discussing marriage was forgotten. He swept his sleeve and strode out.

He could not believe his son had been defeated by a peer.

His son had shown extraordinary talent since he began martial training at five, and since the age of six had never failed to take first place in every sparring match or contest—invincible among his peers for eleven years! He’d even challenged older opponents; the youngest adult capable of drawing with him in Sentinel City was already twenty-seven. He could not believe any contemporary could defeat his son.