Wu Rong was mid-bite, chewing contentedly in the warm lamplight of his office, a bowl of fragrant spirit rice before him. Across from him sat his niece, Mei Rong, sipping lightly from a porcelain teacup. They were sharing a quiet moment, discussing recent events—the kind of familial pause that was rare in a place like the Jade Basin.
Then came a knock.
Mei Rong set her cup down with a gentle clink. "Come in," she called.
Wu Rong shot her a playful frown. "You're stealing my lines now?"
Before she could reply, the door creaked open. An elder stepped in first, face stern and composed—and behind him followed a figure whose presence all but declared itself.
Agabah, the Young Master of the Second Moon.
Wu Rong immediately set down his bowl, his demeanor shifting in a heartbeat. He stood and smoothed his robe with practiced grace.
"Young Master Agabah," he said warmly, though the tension in his voice betrayed him. "Welcome to the Jade Basin."
Mei Rong rose as well, bowing with polite reserve. "An honor to meet you, Young Master."
Agabah didn't return the courtesy. His sharp eyes swept the room, then locked onto Wu Rong with thinly veiled disdain.
"You are Wu Rong?" he asked, voice cold and clipped.
"That I am," Wu Rong replied, still standing. "I trust your experience here has been... satisfactory?"
Agabah's jaw tightened. His eyes were dark coals, simmering.
"As a matter of fact—no," he said flatly. Without waiting for an invitation, he brushed past Wu Rong and seated himself, legs crossed, arms folded across his chest.
"I'm dissatisfied," he declared, "with one of your customers."
Mei Rong's expression subtly shifted, a flicker of disdain passing through her eyes. She kept silent, knowing this was not her stage.
Wu Rong, however, remained composed. He gave a dry chuckle and sat down slowly across from Agabah, folding his hands neatly over his desk.
"With all due respect, Young Master," he began, "the Jade Basin does not consider itself a business, nor its guests as customers. We're not a store, nor a market stall." His tone was polite, but laced with undertones of defiance. "The Jade Basin is a shared ground—built by the community, for the community."
Agabah scoffed. "Spare me the philosophy. If you truly believe in community, then perhaps you'll do something about that disrespectful brat of the Immortal Sect."
Wu Rong's brows rose slightly, but his smile remained. "Ah... I see. I take it you're referring to Kazel?"
Agabah's silence was answer enough. His glare said the rest.
Mei Rong raised her teacup once again, her lips curved in a slight, knowing smirk. Things were about to get interesting.
"As much as I'd love to escort Kazel out for your satisfaction, I have neither the power nor the authority to do so—nor the reason."
Agabah's brow twitched.
"However," Wu Rong continued smoothly, "I can offer you something better. A proper, lawful way to settle this... the Jade Basin way."
"The Jade Basin way?" Agabah echoed, suspicious.
"A duel," Wu Rong said simply, "on the fourth level. A formal match. No killing, no crippling of meridians. A fair and open challenge, observed by many."
He let the words settle for a moment.
"And in honor of the Young Master of the Second Moon, I shall personally oversee the match. That way, no foul play or serious injury will occur."
Mei Rong's eyes lit up—not because she wanted to see Agabah's prowess, but because she had long been waiting to see Kazel in a real fight. The Sect Slayer versus the Young Master of Second Moon? The very idea made her heart race.
"I think it's a great idea," she said, stepping forward. "If you defeat Kazel in front of everyone, his reputation will take a massive blow."
The elder nodded in approval. "Indeed. That brat needs to be taught a lesson. And with your strength, Young Master... it's highly likely he'll crumble."
Agabah mused quietly, fingers stroking the thin mustache above his lips. The thought of humiliating Kazel in a public match clearly pleased him.
"Very well," he said finally, a smirk forming. "Host it, Wu Rong. I'll fight him."
"With pleasure," Wu Rong replied with a bow of his head. "When would you like the match to be held?"
"Tomorrow. First thing in the morning."
"Consider it done."
"I'll go spread the word," Mei Rong said, bowing once more before gracefully making her exit. Once outside the office, her composed expression broke into a gleeful grin—and then, with a burst of energy, she sprinted down the corridor like a messenger on fire.
---
Kazel opened the door with a lazy yawn, his hair messy and his robe barely tied. He rubbed one eye as he looked at the trio standing before him—Mei Rong, Xie Lian, and Jin Shui.
"What did you say I was facing again?" he asked groggily, still in his pajamas.
"Agabah," Mei Rong replied, her tone a little stiff. She stood with her arms folded, clearly frustrated about something.
"Who?" Kazel blinked, stretching his arms behind his head.
"The yapping guy from the second floor," Jin Shui jumped in with a grin. "The one who tried to buy your blue soul nut. The one you called a fly."
Kazel's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, that guy. Yeah, I was about to complain to Wu Rong about the buzzing in the hall."
Mei Rong blinked, caught off guard. "T-The fly…?" she echoed, confused, before shaking her head. "Anyway... Agabah insulted my uncle. Disrespected the Jade Basin right to his face."
"So?" Kazel asked, scratching his neck.
"So," Mei Rong continued, stepping forward, "if you have an issue with him, you can challenge him to a duel tomorrow morning—fourth level of the Jade Basin. Settle it properly, in the ring. Please... do this. For the face he disrespected."
There was a pause.
Kazel simply nodded. "I'll do what I can tomorrow."
And with that, he closed the door in their faces with the same casual energy he greeted them with.
There was a beat of silence.
"...Well, I guess that's our show then," Xie Lian said, his voice dry.
Jin Shui nodded, clearly amused. "Can't wait to see how that fly gets swatted."