WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

Bloodshot eyes blazing, Yang Lie snarled at Reon,

"Hey, bastard! Enough with your blabbering! Are you going to fight me to a Life and Death Duel or not?!"

Reon glanced at Yang Lie ahead, dabbing at the fake tears in his eyes with exaggerated care.

"Brother Yang Lie… y-you still want to…?"

His voice trembled, yet the faint twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed the laughter he was holding back.

"P-Please… tell me. What can I do to redeem myself? I'm willing to do anything... anything at all—to atone for my past sins!"

Yang Lie's face flushed a deep crimson, veins bulging like writhing snakes beneath his skin as his jaw clenched tight.

"Y-You… you fucking bastard!!"

"Can you seriously stop with that pathetic display already?! I don't give a damn about your so-called atonement!"

His eyes narrowed, locking onto Reon with murderous intent.

"The only way you can redeem yourself… is by dying at my hands!"

Reon staggered back half a step, voice quivering as if he were about to shatter.

"I-I… I just… wanted forgiveness…"

The vulnerability in his tone struck like a gong through the Arena, sending the watching disciples into an uproar.

Faces twisted in shock and disbelief.

"Th-That bastard… Yang Lie… is he even real?!"

"Y-Yeah! Brother Taiyang's begging for forgiveness... and he still wants to kill him?!"

"What kind of heartless man refuses a sincere atonement?!"

"Is he even... human at this point?!"

"He's nothing but a narrow-minded freak!"

"I thought Yang Lie was a great person… a true role model for the sect."

"Same here! Especially since he's the possessor of the Heavenly Peerless Sword Body from our Founding Ancestor! But now? I can only see him as a scumbag!"

"Yang Lie! Just die already—you deserve it!"

"Go drown yourself in a pothole, you bastard!"

"That's right! People like you—vengeful to the bone and incapable of forgiveness—have no place in our righteous Supreme Dao Sect!"

On the Grand Platform—

Yang Lie's expression twisted further with every harsh word from the crowd.

His once-composed face now looked downright hideous as he lowered his head to hide it.

'Xue Taiyang… you bastard… I'll kill you... kill you... kill you!!'

'I... I definitely kill you in the most humiliating way imaginable, right here, before every single one of them who dares insult me!'

Forcing himself to rein in his fury, he leveled his sword at Reon, voice sharp with venom.

"Xue Taiyang! Do you really think anyone here would actually stand for you if you keep acting so cowardly?!"

"They might shout their support now… but when it comes to real combat, will they ever fight for you? Will they ever risk their lives for you? Never!!"

A haughty sneer curled his lips.

"After all, they're nothing but weak trash... just like you—unworthy even of a single glance from my proud eyes!"

Reon's lips twitched in a faint, knowing smile as his thoughts swirled.

'Stand for me? Fight for me? You fool… I alone am more than enough to crush you.'

'Those so-called "losers"—I was only using their voices to polish my reputation in the eyes of the Elders and other high figures lurking in the shadows, watching every move on this platform.'

'Sure, I could have remained the same old Xue Taiyang, carrying the stain of a poor reputation… but that would only close doors.'

'When the stronger storms of this world come, I can't survive on my own strength alone.'

'I'll need the favor of certain powerful and influential figures within the sect.'

'For that… a little goodwill goes a long way.'

'And thanks to you, Yang Lie… I've gained far more of that favor than I could have hoped for.'

'A pity you don't even realize you've handed it to me yourself.'

But then—just as Reon was about to respond—

"If everyone else is a 'loser' and refuses to stand for Brother Taiyang… then I will stand for him!"

A soft yet resolute voice rose from beside Reon.

He blinked, momentarily taken aback, and turned his head—

Only to see Yi Ran, her delicate fingers resting firmly against the tip of Yang Lie's sword.

"W-What…?"

Yang Lie's eyes widened in disbelief.

"L-Lady Yi Ran… do you have any idea what you're doing right now?!"

Yi Ran's gaze shifted toward him, her beautiful eyes narrowing with open contempt.

"Am I… doing something wrong?"

That look—sharp, disdainful—only fanned the flames of Yang Lie's rage, his face twisting even further before the watching crowd.

"Of course you are! You're disgracing your noble status by protecting a mere commoner!" he spat.

Her brows knitted in irritation.

"In the Supreme Dao Sect, only strength determines one's worth."

"And right now—he is stronger than me. Even if he is a commoner… he has earned my respect!"

"Also… I'm doing something far better than you—someone who doesn't even understand the simplest act of forgiveness!"

Whoosh—

Awakening-Stage Purple Saber Qi flared to life around her, sharp and radiant, as she prepared to slice Yang Lie's sword in half.

"Y-You—"

But before her strike could land—

A firm hand caught hers.

"B-Brother Taiyang…?" Yi Ran turned to him, startled.

Their eyes met—his calm, hers uncertain.

"Thank you for your help, Sister Yi. But…" he began.

Before he could finish, she bit her lip lightly and lowered her gaze.

"Brother Taiyang… you can call me by my given name, you know. No… please, call me Ran'er from now on."

A faint blush dusted her cheeks, her voice soft yet expectant.

But Yi Ran's mind was in complete turmoil.

'Ugh! W–W–What in the heavens did I just say?! He's supposed to be... my greatest rival!'

'I didn't even allow my cousin Long Ming to call me Ran'er… and yet I just handed that privilege to him like it was nothing?!'

'It's just… I respect him as my rival, so I wanted to stand up for him! But… letting him call me that so affectionately…'

'Doesn't that make it sound like we're… l–l–lovers?!'

Reon, on the other hand, was stunned to see Yi Ran's cheeks tinted pink and her eyes averting shyly.

'Is this really… the Yi Ran I know from the novel? She never even acted like this with Yang Lie!'

'With him, she was always the dominant, untouchable ice queen—never once giving him permission to use her given name!'

'Maybe… it's because her affection toward me has already passed 80…'

He shook his head, letting the thought drift away with a sigh.

'Well… if that cunning fox says it so cutely, then I'll call her whatever she wants.'

Lifting his gaze, he met her eyes.

"Alright. From now on… I'll call you Ran'er."

Yi Ran's eyes lit up, and a strange warmth spread through her chest.

'I… I don't know why, but hearing him say that makes me… happy.'

Before the moment could linger, a furious roar cut through the air.

"Hey, you bastards! Stop acting all flirty in front of me!!"

The outburst was met with complete, unceremonious silence.

Reon didn't even glance his way.

Instead, he kept his focus locked firmly on Yi Ran.

"Ran'er… I know you want to help me. But please—let me fight him myself. If I don't, I won't even be able to call myself a man."

Inwardly, though, his thoughts were far less noble.

'You're weaker than me now anyway. And if you beat him, I'll lose the System rewards!'

Yi Ran felt a faint, unexplainable ache in her chest at his words, her face flushing deeper.

'Augh! That strange feeling again! I'll have to visit Great Uncle, the Royal Physician, when I return home!'

She exhaled softly, meeting his determined gaze.

"Alright… if that's what Brother Taiyang wants, I'll step back. But—please, be careful."

'Ugh! Why am I even saying this?!'

"Yeah. Thank you."

Reon nodded with a calm smile before turning away.

With unhurried, steady steps, he strode toward Yang Lie.

The crowd's murmurs grew faint as the tension sharpened in the air.

Stopping before his foe, Reon's voice rang clear and cold.

"Yang Lie… I, Xue Taiyang, accept your challenge—Life and Death Duel!"

Yang Lie let out a mocking laugh at Reon.

"Hah! So, you're actually accepting my challenge?!"

His tone dripped with derision.

"I thought you'd just cower and hide behind a woman—like the coward you truly are~!"

Reon's gaze remained steady, his voice calm as he spoke.

"No… I've decided that if I'm to earn your forgiveness, it won't be by mere words… perhaps only by something far more decisive."

Before he could finish, Yang Lie cut in, his tone sharp and mocking.

"Ha! You can only earn your atonement by dying!"

Reon's eyes narrowed as he thought silently,

'We'll see… whether I even need your forgiveness… when I utterly crush you.'

Yang Lie turned to face the Minor Elder ahead, then raised his gaze toward the assembled Elders.

"Minor Elder, esteemed Elders present, bear witness to this Life-and-Death duel between me and Xue Taiyang!"

He lifted his chin arrogantly.

"I swear… no one will interfere in this fight, no matter the outcome. Even if I were to be defeated—though that will never happen~!"