The Prince Regent clasped his hands behind his back, every inch of him lofty and above it all, and said, "Mu Lei, trade a few passes with Marquis Ning."

"Yes!"

Mu Lei took the order, rose, and looked at Ning Chen. "Marquis Ning, instruct me!"

"You aren't fit for it. Your own master thinks he isn't qualified to raise a hand against me, and you dare ask me to instruct you?"

Ning Chen threw it back at him without the least courtesy.

The Prince Regent's face darkened. He had meant to display his own exalted standing and humiliate Ning Chen while he was at it... and had not expected a single sentence to come straight back at him.

Pan Yucheng stepped forward. "Let me."

Ning Chen gave a slight nod.

There would have to be a fight, that much was certain. He represented Great Xuan now, and he could not shrink from a contest and lose face.

"Are you sure of it?"

The corner of Pan Yucheng's mouth twitched slightly.

Ning Chen smiled. "I mean — in how many passes can you beat him?"

Pan Yucheng shook his head. He had never crossed hands with the man and did not know his strength, so he would not risk a rash conclusion.

Ning Chen said, "Settle him in the shortest time you can."

Pan Yucheng nodded, then looked at Mu Lei. "You aren't fit to cross hands with the marquis. I'll trade a few passes with you."

Mu Lei looked at Pan Yucheng with contempt in his eyes.

The Prince Regent laughed coldly. "Mu Lei is my personal bodyguard, and his swordplay is quick as lightning... Blades have no eyes, and injuries are hard to avoid. Is this man of Marquis Ning's up to it?"

Ning Chen smiled easily. "Cheap tricks, and he dares wave his axe at the master carpenter's gate... Old Pan's Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon wipes out every goblin and ghoul alive."

Pan Yucheng glanced sideways. What martial art was the Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon?

The Prince Regent said contemptuously, "Mu Lei. Play with him."

"Yes!"

Mu Lei…