Rebirth Of The Betrayed Emperor

Five Year Duel

The entire hall fell into a dead stillness the moment Kael’s words settled in the air.

“I’m the one ending it.” His voice echoed in their minds; they were unable to fully comprehend what they had just heard.

For a brief moment, no one reacted. Even the elders were stunned. Where did this playboy get his confidence? How could he utter such words?

Nora’s calm expression finally cracked. Her brows narrowed, and a faint chill spread from her body.

Even the woman seated beside her raised her brows in surprise, staring at Kael, wondering where his confidence came from.

Clearly, no one had expected this—not from Kael, and certainly not from a cripple. A coward who only spent his days doing nothing.

"You,” Nora finally spoke, her voice colder, her gaze narrowing in disgust.

“I gave you a chance,” she continued, her gaze sharp, locking onto Kael.

“At first, I intended to end this peacefully. After all, we once had a connection.” Her lips curved faintly, but there was no warmth in them.

“I even prepared a spirit pill for you, at least you wouldn’t lose out and it might even give you some hope."

A murmur spread through the elders. To them, that was already more than generous. Even if it was just a mortal pill, it was still enough for trash like him, not to talk of a spirit pill.

“Keep it,” Kael answered, his voice indifferent. Clearly, he looked down on the pill.

In the past, he wouldn't look at a pill less than a perfect-grade king pill, and now they wanted him to be happy all because of such a low-grade pill?

Besides, he didn't need it. With his experience, it was only a matter of time before he reforged his Dantian.

“I don’t need it,” Kael added, sounding rather disinterested.

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed.

Nora’s eyes flashed with a glint as she glared at Kael.

“Do you even understand what you’re refusing?” she said, her voice rising slightly.

“That pill is something you could never obtain in your lifetime.”

"So?" Kael shrugged, raising his brows slightly.

"Should I fall on my knees and worship you for giving me a low-grade spirit pill because you came to cancel an engagement?" He asked, walking towards Nora slowly.

"How about this?" He offered, his gaze settling on Nora.

"I'll offer you a perfect-grade spirit pill, and I'll break the contract!"

“Kael!” Nora’s voice turned sharp, her eyes held disgust, her body trembling as she clenched her fist.

“Don’t overestimate yourself!” She continued, her voice icy, sending chills down the spine of everyone.

“What are you now?” she carried on, her voice laced with disdain, eyes holding disgust.

“A cripple.”

“A waste.”

“Even staying alive is already a blessing, yet you dare to act arrogantly before me?”

"Do you think you're some kind of heaven-defying genius? Who the heck do you think you are?" Nora raged, barely able to suppress the anger in her heart.

The elders shifted uncomfortably, frowning slightly at Nora's harsh words. But there was nothing they could do; that was the truth.

Keith, on the other hand, gripped his chair tightly, his knuckles showing. If it were not for the fact that the wooden chair was not normal, it would have already been crushed under the weight of his strength.

Kael, on the other hand, stared at Nora, his expression blank, and no reaction came from him—not even a flicker of anger.

Seeing Kael's expression, Nora's face burned as she felt the weight of embarrassment, slapping him harshly across the face.

“You truly don’t know your place,” she spat, glaring daggers at Kael.

“If I hadn’t come here today, you would still be clinging to this engagement like a beggar.”

“A toad dreaming of swan meat. How dare you?"

Kael only smiled lightly at this, then muttered slowly,

“Are you done?”

Nora froze, eyes widening, lips parting slightly as she blinked, staring at Kael.

Something was wrong. This wasn’t the Kael she knew.

This wasn’t the desperate, humiliated boy who used to chase after her and would, no matter what, try to please her.

Kael took a step forward, his gaze steady, closing the distance even more.

“You said you wanted to save me face,” he spoke slowly,

“But from the moment you stepped into this hall, you’ve been stepping on it, trampling every bit of dignity I have left."

The hall fell silent again; everyone watched, waiting for Kael to finish speaking. Even Keith was stunned as he watched his son.

“You came here with a pill, with your master, and with your father,” Kael sighed, his voice filled with contempt.

“Not to end things peacefully, but to make sure everyone sees me fall. And also to satisfy the vanity in your heart, that I'll always be lower than you."

Nora’s expression darkened. She knew deep down Kael was right. But wouldn't she admit it?

“That’s enough,” she snapped,

“If you insist on humiliating yourself, then don’t blame me for what comes next.”

“I'll be giving you five years," she spoke, her voice sounding rather eerily calm as she stared at Kael.

“In five years, we will have a duel.” Nora’s eyes burned with pride.

“If you win....” Nora paused, her voice dropping slightly,

“Then you can say you were the one who rejected me.”

“And I will acknowledge that I was never worthy of you,"

“But if you lose, you will kneel and admit that you were never worthy of me, and you would never appear before me again," Nora concluded, her voice filled with confidence. In her heart, she was destined to come out victorious.

After all, Kael was trash who wouldn't be able to cultivate his whole life.

“Ridiculous!” Keith stood up abruptly, slapping his chair.

“This is too much, Kael cannot accept such a condition!”

The Third Elder also frowned as he uttered,

“This is going too far, after all....”

“I accept," Kael's voice sounded, cutting off the Third Elder, sounding rather firm.

The hall froze, eyes all on Kael who stood before Nora, their gazes clashing.

“Kael!” Keith snapped, his face pale, trying to stop Kael.

“Think carefully. You’ve already lost your cultivation! How can you....”

“Father.”

Kael turned, calling his father, his expression calm.

“Trust me.”

Keith sighed and fell silent, not knowing what to say.

The Third Elder stepped forward, “Young man, don’t be impulsive. Five years will pass in the blink of an eye. Even if you recover.....”

“I accept.”

Kael repeated, interrupting the Third Elder, his voice unwavering.

Nora, on the other hand, stared at Kael; an unpleasant feeling welled up in her heart. She had been expecting him to beg, back out, or even refuse, but instead, he had agreed to her conditions. Where did his confidence come from?

"Fine,” she responded flatly,

“Since you’re so confident, I hope you don’t regret it.”

“Regret?” Kael smiled faintly, shaking his head.

“I’ve never regretted anything in my life, and never would I."

“You’re interesting.” The woman beside Nora finally spoke, her voice soft, yet carried a natural authority.

All eyes turned to her; nobody dared say anything as she studied Kael, who stood before Nora.

“As a cripple, you still dare to make such a decision.” She chuckled slightly, shaking her head, her voice still placid.

“There is either courage… or foolishness...." She paused as if wanting her words to sink in.

“I will be the witness. In five years, I want to see what you become," she carried on, her tone turning slightly colder.

“Though, from what I see now, you are still nothing.”

“That’s fine,” Kael smiled gently,

“You don’t need to believe in me,” he countered, meeting her gaze directly.

“Just make sure you remember today."

The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed like this cripple had quite the confidence. She wanted to see what he could do.

Nora’s father finally stood up, his expression dark.

“So this is how your clan handles things?” He scoffed, directing his question at Keith.

“Letting a cripple speak nonsense in the hall?”

Keith’s expression hardened, gritting his teeth as he shot back, “Watch your words.”

But the man waved his hand dismissively, ignoring Keith, focusing back on Kael, his gaze full of disdain.

“In five years, you won’t even be qualified to stand before my daughter.”

Kael shrugged and didn't say anything; to him, such words were meaningless.

“Let’s go.” Nora's father turned, walking out.

Nora followed; her master also stood up, walking out of the hall with them.

But just before she stepped out, she stopped in her tracks, turned to Kael, her gaze sharp,

“Five years. Don’t die before then.”

Kael smiled faintly.

“Worry not, I won't.”

Nora didn't say anything more and just walked out of the hall. Her figure soon disappeared.

"Father, I'll also be taking my leave," Kael bowed to his father, then turned around, leaving the hall. He had more important things to do.

Keith sighed, watching his son leave. He didn't know what to say, nor did he know what he could say to him.

He could only hope the boy would be fine; after all, the blow just now was not light.