Chapter Seven: A Duel with An Dingdao

Ye Yan didn’t rush upstairs. Instead, he stood at the bottom of the building, finishing a cigarette, and only ascended to the rooftop at the very last second before their appointed time.

For Night Watchers, “mental timekeeping” was one of the most basic skills. Even without a timer, they could measure time down to the second with great accuracy.

“Punctual as always!”

As Ye Yan set foot on the unfinished rooftop, Ding Jian’an’s voice rang out.

“You’re no different,” Ye Yan replied with a smile.

Then his gaze fell to the center of the rooftop. There, in a light blue tracksuit, a pale mark between his brows giving him a monk-like appearance, sat Ding Jian’an, cross-legged and composed.

This man’s features were not what one would call handsome, nor did his physique suggest brute strength. Yet just by sitting there, he exuded an oppressive, mountainous presence.

Ye Yan studied him, pondering. So this was Ding Jian’an, one of the two renowned heroes? His reputation was clearly well-deserved. He wondered what kind of formidable figure the other, known as “the Tiger,” must be.

“I thought you’d refuse my challenge again this time,” Ding Jian’an said, still seated, making no move to rise or fight.

The two of them chatted as if they were old friends.

Ye Yan walked over and sat down cross-legged a short distance away, sprawling out comfortably.

“I did mean to refuse at first, but then an elder talked me into it. I figured, well, there’s no harm in coming out for a brawl with you, so here I am…”

Ding Jian’an laughed.

Ye Yan stroked his chin and continued, “By the way, I’ve already turned down your challenge five times. If I’d refused again today, what would you have done?”

He was genuinely curious.

A short distance away, Ding Jian’an answered seriously, “I’d issue a sixth, a seventh… until you agreed to fight me.”

“You martial maniac…” Ye Yan smacked his forehead in exasperation. Then, tilting his head to the sky, he said, “It’s a good day today—a fine night for a fight.”

Ding Jian’an looked up.

He saw a sky thick with clouds, not a trace of stars or moon in sight. It wasn’t so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, but for those with poor senses, it would have a considerable impact…

“A good night for battle?” Ding Jian’an didn’t reply, but he made a mental note of the comment.

The two sat there, chatting idly. Before long, ten minutes had passed.

“All right, let’s not waste any more time,” Ye Yan said, slapping the dust from his pants as he stood. “Let’s get this over with quickly. If we finish early enough, maybe I can go home and cook a late-night snack.”

“Agreed,” Ding Jian’an replied. He too rose smoothly to his feet with a single fluid motion.

The atmosphere grew tense and heavy.

Deep blue energy and pitch-black auras swirled around them, surging like raging tides.

Before anyone noticed, seven “Radiant Fiend Banners” were already flying around Ye Yan, encircling him.

“So these are the Radiant Fiend Banners?” Ding Jian’an found the sight of the small, greenish triangular flags quite fascinating.

The “Radiant Fiend Banners,” the “Soul-Calming Gong,” and the “Soul-Shaking Hammer” were the three treasures of the Night Watchers—a fact well known in their circles.

But this was Ding Jian’an’s first time seeing them in person.

He dared not be careless. Channeling his energy, he entered a state of “Observation,” scrutinizing Ye Yan’s condition.

As he watched, his expression turned odd.

He realized Ye Yan’s energy was quite thin and not particularly refined—no better than someone just a few years into training, perhaps even worse.

And yet, this was someone so famed in their world that even Ding Jian’an himself had been compelled to issue a challenge.

Was the Night Watcher’s reputation all just hype?

A moment’s arrogance flashed through Ding Jian’an’s mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

He would never underestimate an opponent.

With that resolve, he formed a hand seal, activating both “Observation” and “Spirit Official’s Finger,” maintaining his peak state.

Just as Ding Jian’an was going all out, bracing for an epic duel, he saw Ye Yan across from him suddenly relax his stance and flash an apologetic look.

“What’s this about?” Ding Jian’an was baffled.

Then, to his astonishment, Ye Yan, surrounded by his Radiant Fiend Banners, suddenly pulled out his phone and took a call.

Ding Jian’an: “…”

“Hello? Wang Ye, why are you calling now? I’m busy, you know!” Ye Yan grumbled.

“What? You’re asking when I’ll start fighting Ding Jian’an? Seriously… if you hadn’t called, we’d already be throwing punches by now…”

“Fine, fine, we’ll talk about the little things later. Ping me on WeChat tonight and we’ll chat.”

“Mm, all right.”

He hung up, black lines of exasperation etched across his forehead.

That clown really knew how to pick his moments.

“Sorry about that, shall we continue?” Ye Yan offered a sheepish smile, resuming his stance. Before putting his phone away, he switched it off and stuffed it back in his pocket.

Despite the interruption, Ding Jian’an, though bemused, quickly regained his composure.

“Let’s begin.”

The instant those words left his lips, one of the Radiant Fiend Banners swirling around Ye Yan unfurled—and the figure of Jin Erpeng materialized.

A gust of fiendish wind surged.

Before Jin Erpeng could even settle in, Ye Yan’s right hand was enveloped in a dense black light.

He gave a sharp tug with his dark-shrouded hand.

In the next moment, the greenish figure of Jin Erpeng was drawn instantly into Ye Yan’s body, which was then shrouded in a greenish fiendish glow.

Bathed in this light, Ye Yan’s body became lighter, more agile, and a massive pair of wings sprouted from his back.

“Commanding Spirits”

The technique of Commanding Spirits, from the art of Spirit Command and Confinement, was something he’d acquired in a trade with Feng Zhenghao. It allowed him to invite a spirit or fiend into his body and wield some of its power.

Without the support of “Spirit Confinement,” the Commanding Spirits technique was of little use on its own.

But Ye Yan could channel the fiendish spirits stored in his Radiant Fiend Banners into himself using this art.

Depending on the nature of the spirit, the effects varied.

By channeling Jin Erpeng, Ye Yan gained a pair of wings and enhanced speed.

“What’s this now?” Ding Jian’an had watched the whole transformation and recognized at once that this was no ordinary power.

“Be careful,” Ye Yan cautioned briefly. With a flap of his wings, his body vanished, reappearing behind Ding Jian’an and launching a punch.

“Not good!” Sensing the force behind him, Ding Jian’an reacted instantly—a pale blue “Escape Light” enveloped his body.

Bang!

The blow landed heavily on the protective aura. Though it failed to injure Ding Jian’an, the sheer force sent him flying.

“No effect, huh?” Ye Yan wasn’t surprised his sudden attack hadn’t succeeded. He pressed the advantage, moving in again.

After all, he was facing Ding Jian’an, one of the two acknowledged heroes. If he could be defeated so easily, he wouldn’t have deserved his reputation.