The Martial Unity

A few days passed as Rui began getting used to his new living quarters. He wasn't particularly irked when he found out that his personal quarters inside the chamber weren't luxurious or particularly hospitable. In fact, he would even feel guilty if he was given a five-star accommodation. Like he was just relaxing, having a vacation even though the protection for his family was running out every second.

Word must have spread about the newbie that jumped to the nine hundred and first chamber directly because he could definitely feel fellow guardians sizing him up when they passed him when he occasionally passed them. It meant that he went from being an amateur initiate to a superior to the ninety-nine guardians who were below him at the moment.

"Hoh…" A group of guardians bumped into him one time when he left his chamber to go meet Kane. "So this is the Martial Squire that beat Saiwal. You look young as hell."

The three of them tried looming over him, scowling with contempt. "You don't look like much."

Rui simply ignored them. He couldn't be bothered with these types, with an ego that surpassed their intellect, they were essentially bullies that tried to pick on those that they perceived as weak.

"Hey, I'm talking to you," He scowled as he tilted his head as Rui simply shifted away from them.

PAT

"I said…" The man's glare intensified, as he stopped Rui with an arm on his shoulder. "I'm talking to you. Looks like reaching the nine hundred and first chamber has given you a bit of an ego, eh?"

A wave of bloodlust arose from the man as he tried intimidating Rui with his aura.

"I'd suggest you let me go."

It was as though the atmosphere itself held its breath. The air chilled uncomfortably, growing icier by the second.

Rui's eyes sharpened into slits as a profoundly deep wave of pressure washed over the three of them.

They leaped back, taking their stances instinctively as a bead of sweat trickled down their head.

Yet, just a moment later, the pressure disappeared.

"Physical conflict is prohibited outside a chamber or an official duel," Rui calmly remarked. "I'd rather not break any rules so soon after joining the Floating Sect. I'm feeling rather good today, so I'll make this easy for you; leave, and I'll forget this happened."

Rui expected the three of them to scurry away with their tails between their legs. He had experience with bullies. One of the reasons that he had developed a strong love and admiration for Martial Art as a child was because he was bullied due to his illness, and yearned to be one of those martial artists that soloed groups of antagonistic mobs.

Bullies targeted the weak to make themselves feel better, however, the more resistance and impedance that the target offered, the more inconvenient it became, and the likelier it was that the bully would just avoid the trouble.

He had expected something similar to occur here, after all, he had projected a particularly powerful aura, partially with the help of Mind Mask, though most of it was authentic. He had shown them that he was not to be trifled with well enough with just that. Putting on a Senior-level mask was far too overboard.

Yet to his surprise, the three of them didn't back down and simply leave. Instead, the man who appeared to be their de facto leader smirked. "You're right, violence is prohibited outside duels and chambers. So, why don't we fix that?"

"Hm?" Rui raised an eyebrow.

"He challenges you to a duel." The man gestured to one of his lackeys.

Rui furrowed his eyebrows. This was not proceeding the way he expected it to. Not only were they still sticking around for some reason, but they even made the affirmative gesture of challenging him to a duel.

That was strange.

A challenge was actually something Rui was going to do if they stuck around just to show he didn't mind fighting and beating them. Most bullies were full of hot air and would not put their money where their mouth was.

Yet they upended his expectations by challenging him to a duel.

Now he was confused. Did they really think they could beat him? After reflexively distancing themselves from him when he flexed his mind back?

He didn't understand.

"Are you serious?"

"Hah!" The man who allegedly challenged him snorted. "What. Too scared?"

Rui just frowned. "I accept."

"Hehe, of course, you do. You haven't accepted a challenge in the past ten days, so you're obligated to," The man grinned.

"Don't get the wrong idea," Rui remarked as his sharp eyes fixated on them. "I'd accept your challenge even if you challenged me right after a duel, or a heavy meal. There are no circumstances under which I'd run away from the likes of a group of pathetic losers that compensate for quality with quantity."

"You fucking bastard…" The man's expression curled. "You talk that shit, we'll see if you can back it up."

"Come along, I'd rather get it done sooner than later," Rui calmly retorted.

"Eh, now?"

"What's the matter?" Rui teased. "You're the one who challenged me. Now you don't want to do it?"

"Three days! The challenger gets to decide when the duel will occur, the duel will occur in three days."

Rui shrugged as he left them behind, equally confused and amused. He wasn't sure if they were just genuine morons that somehow managed to avoid dying to this point, or if they thought they were just trying not to lose face.

('Or are they trying to intimidate me by challenging me first?') Rui scratched his head. ('This could be a silly little ploy of some sort too where they think they're being devious and clever.')

He wasn't sure. It was easier to predict the thoughts of an intelligent man than a moron, he realized. It all depended on how stupid and egotistical they were, really.