Though they supposed it would be a conversation talking time for more details, time flied and did not allow them more time to think step by step. Three days had passed, on the fourth day, a team from Westeren Xia arrived in Dali. There were twenty or thirty people in the team, including the prince named Li Yuanzhe and twelve of the thirteen guardians. The other people were attendants and servants.

　　It was extremely bright in the hall. The visitors from Western Xia were aggressive, but Duan Zhengyan was well prepared to meet them. Battle was battle, he still welcomed them with a banquet including good wine. Duan Yichang stood up and toasted, saying, "Your Highness Royal The Prince, please."

　　A fatty and lazy man, Li Yuanzhe, did not stand up and sat still in place, then lifting his cup to Duan Yichang. The behavior got Yichang mad, and he was about to scold, but someone tugged at his sleeve. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father, Duan Zhengyan. Finally, Yichang controlled his temper for the moment and just finished wine in his cup. Seeing this, Li Yuanzhe smiled smugly and slowly finished his drink as well. He slammed his silver cup back onto the table with a loud clink, the noise grating to the ears, and immediately, both Zhan Zijiang and Shi Shutong were out of great anger. Shi Shutong reached for his iron spear, but he failed to move it; it was Zhang Wentong who had caught the spear’s shaft with a pair of judge’s pens and stopped him.

　　Duan Yichang sat down. Duan Zhengyan asked: "May I ask if everything is ok with the Great Protector Li Qianzheng? It’s a shame that he was unable to join the dinner. I have been looking forward to meeting him." Li Yuanzhe didn't answer him right away. The Second Protector, Li Yaonan said, "The Great Protector has been resident in the cold, harsh lands of Mountain Tian for years. He didn’t like the weather in Dali when he was here, now he had to go back soon." Duan Zhengyan heard this and took a breath of relief. Then he seemed to forget prince Li Yuanzhe’s rudeness. Zhan Zijiang, however, spoke coldly, "Always, we see some people not respect the head, loving to meddle in other’s work too.”

　　Li Yaonan understood Zijiang was talking about him, smiled slyly and replied, "So, your country has strict hierarchy. Right? In the battle, if Your Majesty acts, none of my team will face the challenge.” Zhan Zijiang said in despise: "Just admit you worry about losing it. Don’t make excuses."

　　Before using weapons, both sides had started a debate first. Among Western Xia army, the Second Protector Li Yaonan, Third Protector Li Linqi, Fourth Protector Li Zhuangwei, Fifth Protector Li Zhenzong, Sixth Protector Li Chaozheng, Seventh Protector Li Donghe, Eighth Protector Li Zhaoyun, and Ninth Protector Li Shaowen were quarrelling with Duan’s team. The other four Protectors were women; they tended to behave graceful so kept quiet. As for the representatives of Dali, except the king and prince, Wang Wenqing, Zhang Wentong, Zang Wengong, and Ming Wenzhang, everyone joined in the argument. Especially Shi Shutong and Cui Shiqing were getting mad. Shi Shutong could not stop himself cursing. And the same with Cui Shiqing, he was eating while talking and had thrown out many pieces of bones. However, he still did not want to lose face, just tossed bones to their feet and shoes, not on their tables.

　　It was a noisy argument in the hall. Zang Wengong and Ming Wenzhang seemed not to care about what was happening at all. One was focused on grinding ink and painting, while the other was reading the poetry on his fan. Wang Wenqing, far beyond our imagine, he was using his dagger to trim his nails, occasionally giving a threatening eye contact to the four silent female Protectors. This was a fierce oral battle that Duan Zhengyan would like to stop but no one listened to him. Suddenly, Zang Wengong threw a paper as long as ten feet, it flew in the air and landed on the ground. Prince of Western Xia, Li Yuanzhe squinted at the paper; this was a painting on which shapes of thirteen small figures were recognized. But from a distance, he was unable to tell the details of the look. Li Linqi got the painting and showed it to his prince. The other eleven people tried to see from close to far by themselves. There were nine men and four women figures, yet to be colored, but each one looked vivid.

　　Someone said, "Hey, it’s us!" Li Yuanzhe took a closer look. He immediately noticed that one figure dressed more exquisitely than the others was just a portrait of himself. They originally felt interested in the painting, but as soon as they realized they were the models of figures in the painting, no one could control the temper. In an instant, they all stood up and shouted to curse again, but different voices and different words from each person, it was quite a chaotic time.

　　Zang Wengong’s painting skills were incredible. In a few minutes, he managed to capture the characteristics of all thirteen individuals and paint out. All thirteen people were painted in a nasty style, thirteen figures were presented in different kinds of ugly. However, most of these traits were not created by Zang himself; he was inspired by expressions of a moment each person had shown. Li Yaonan was gloomy, Li Linqi had affected behavior, Li Zhuangwei was reckless, Li Zhenzong was speechless, Li Chaozheng was urgly... As for the four female Protectors, they did not take any unproper action, so Zang Wengong imagined making a dark mole to Li Jinghua’s cheek, a deep scar to Li Yanwen’s face, and painting Li Xuting a blind person, Li Yingling a nun.

　　Among all, the angriest ones were Li Yuanzhe, Li Zhaoyun, and Li Shaowen. Zang Wengong witnessed a particularly amusing moment when Li Zhaoyun choked on drinking in the debate; the detail was presented in the picture. Li Shaowen, who had been picking his teeth with his pinky finger, was also kept in the artwork. For prince Li Yuanzhe, wiping his nose with his hand was visible in the painting too.

　　Ming Wenzhang took the pen from Zang Wengong, leapt to the edge of the painting, and bent down to write. The words read: "In the 14th year of Da Guan, a welcoming dinner for Thirteen Tanguts in Dali". The writing style was elegant and powerful. Furious Li Yuanzhe slammed his palm on the table and shouted, "Bring the fake princess here!" Soon, a young woman was brought to the hall. Li Yuanzhe turned to Duan Zhengyan and said, "Ten years ago, my ‘father-in-law’ dropped off your fake daughter to my home country; today I am here to return her to you." He carried Li Linqi's golden ringed saber, and suddenly the woman was cut in half. No one expected him to “return” her in this way. The Duan’s people could no longer sit still. Even Duan Zhengyan had his hand on the hilt of his sword.

　　Shi Shutong cursed, “Go fucking Tanguts!” Cui Shiqing was also shouted, “Go to the hell! I will kill you!” and was raged to carry the sword. Hu Wenchang caught his wolf’s-tooth mace and was about to run to Tanguts, but being stopped by Wang Wenqing.

　　Wang Wenqing used his pinky finger to gently pull back Hu Wenchang, continuing to trim his nails leisurely. When Zang Wengong finished his stroke, another sheet of paper flew out again. Ming Wenwen took it, wrapped it around his body and spread it out on the ground, then writing the title: "In the 14th year of Da Guan, Prince Li Yuanzhe of Western Xia kills a Baichi girl in Dali." Li Yuanzhe saw this new painting about his act of murder; he was surprised by Zang’s fast painting skill. If a scholar could create an article soon, then he would be also good at creating a nice painting in a few minutes.

　　Li Yuanzhe tried to calm down and questioned Duan Zhengyan, "I wonder, it was us to show our power first, or does your side bully us first?" Duan Zhengyan replied, "Our side did make mistakes, but we have already sent ambassadors to make sincere apologies to Your Highness Prince. Now that you are flaunting your power in my territory and killing her without any care, I think we have closed the issue." Li Yuanzhe sneered, "Killing a woman is a small case. If you lose the battle today, I will still take your princess home; if I lose, we will not stay here for one single day!"

　　Ming Wenjian's pointed at Li Yuanzhe and questioned him, "Your Highness, you never take life of women seriously?" Li Yuanzhe said it without hesitation, "Of course. I am prince of Western Xia; why do I care about a woman?" Ming Wenjian said slowly, "Your Highness, you... killed this Baichi girl today. Our Majesty was so wise that he didn’t send Her Highness Princess to your country, if so, the princess would not be able to escape your cruelty in the future. I would like to check with the many witnesses, "who is willing to marry your daughter to a vicious monster harm to his wife?" " Li Yuanzhe said, "Why would I kill the princess!" Ming Wenjian said, " Just now Your Highness said killing a woman is a small case." Li Yuanzhe said, "If she were the true Princess of Dali, I would respect and cherish her." Ming Wenhua immediately followed, "The princess is a woman too, and His Highness the Prince’s should not deny your words. Since you’ve declared that you don't care about any women all over the world, how can you break your words?" Li Yuanzhe was speechless.

　　Ming Wenhua continued, "His Majesty knew much about your personality, so he refused to marry Her Highness Princess to you and found someone to take her place. Frankly speaking, His Majesty is kind-hearted; he didn’t want to send the maid to an endangered place. But the maid herself is also a good girl, she said that if she refused the plan, it would worsen the relations between two nations. She hoped she would be able to touch you, but unfortunately, she still got a miserable ending to her life."

　　Seeing Wenhua speaking in emotion, Li Yuanzhe rushed to explain, "Bullshit! Ten years ago, I was only twelve years old, your maid was only about ten years old..." Ming Wenjian interrupted him and said, "We know Your Highness the Prince is a vicious soul, when as a child, Your Highness was keen to kill puppies or kittens or cut cattle and horses to death. This is well known to all nations! I was just predicting the personality of a grown-up from what it was in youth. It is common sense!”

　　Li Yuanzhe shouted "You!" Ming Wenjian continued to say, "I have a question. Still by common sense, Your Queen Majesty is a lady?" Li Yuanzhe could not speak anything else just another word “You…”. He paused for a long time before saying, "Then the maid understood sacrifice for justice when she was ten years old? " Ming Wenjian looked surprised and spread his hands, "Of course!" Li Yuanzhe said, "Why!" Ming Wenjian said in a loud voice, "Everyone in Dali understood sacrifice for justice since childhood," and paused for a moment, "Different from some people who love killing since childhood." He sighed and continued, "It's true that the local environment shapes the local people."

　　Li Yuanzhe was getting crazy. He slammed the table for the second time, and the table was violently split in two parts. Wei Yuqing turned to Zhao Ziren and said, "Western Xia prince cannot argue over Ming Xian?" Zhao Ziren smiled and replied, "Yes, he has no chance to win."

　　Li Yuanzhe looked gloomy and took several deep breaths. Pointing at Ming Wenzhang, he shouted, "Who can give the guy a lesson?" At his command, the Third Protector, Li Linqi, leaped forward, brandishing his great broadsword, and pointed it at Ming Wenzhang. "As a general of a nation, do you use words only? Your fan can battle with my steel blade?" Ming Wenzhang calmly opened his fan in front of his chest and walked toward the center of the hall. "I am good at literature. Though I am a martial general, my folding fan is my weapon, and my headband works as my helmet."

　　Only then did Li Linqi notice the cloth tied around Ming Wenzhang's head. He spat and said, "Alright, I’ll see what ultimate skill you have!" With a swift motion, the golden-edged blade of his sword swept across. The golden rings on the back of the blade made a ringing sound. Ming Wenzhang maintained his stance, stepping back calmly. He allowed the sword tip to glide past the fan, the fan trembling slightly, while his hair fluttered in the motion. Li Linqi immediately reversed his grip and struck again. This time, the style of the attack changed mid-swing—from a slash to a thrust, aiming to pierce through Ming Wenzhang’s fan. Ming Wenzhang closed his fan just in time, trapping the blade between the folds. Li Linqi quickly yanked his blade back, but Ming Wenzhang seized the opportunity to press forward. With a flick of his wrist, his folding fan opened and closed like a fluttering dance, filling the air with movement. Li Linqi, desperate to cut the fan, found his blade unable to land a single strike.

　　After a fierce battle, Ming Wenzhang swung his folding fan in a diagonal cut. Li Linqi thought, what a perfect timing! With a quick motion, he pushed his blade outward, blocking in front of him. There was a loud "clang" as the fan and sword collided, sparks flying. Li Linqi shouted, "It’s iron!" As the two came closer, Ming Wenzhang smiled faintly. He suddenly flung the iron fan open, and the steel ribs of the fan struck Li Linqi squarely in the left eye. With a cry of pain, Li Linqi dropped his sword and clutched his injured eye. Ming Wenzhang turned away and said, "It’s done!" He moved back, his iron fan spreading open behind him, continuing to sway gently.

　　Li Linqi, still crouching on the ground, let out a series of painful cries before suddenly grabbing his golden sword and throwing it at Ming Wenzhang. The people from Dali side saw Ming Wenzhang unaware of the action of Li Linqi, they knew if the blade pierced his back, no one could save him. They all shouted to remind Ming Wenzhang, as well as rushing to stop. Duan Zhengyan was the first one to get close to him, but still too late to stop the knife. The knife struck, but its broad blade was deflected by the fan’s steel ribs, which tore through the iron fabric before the full force of the blow could land. The strength of the attack was significantly reduced, hence Ming Wenzhang did not die there.

　　Duan Zhengyan supported the severely injured Ming Wenzhang in his arms, seeing that his face had turned pale, his voice filled with fury as he said, "Is this how Western Xia people win a battle?" The doctors in the palace got here immediately, carrying Ming Wenzhang away for treatment. Meanwhile, Li Yaonan sitting in opposite spoke: "The letter clearly stated that there would be no regrets, regardless of life or death. Our Third Protector has neither admitted lose nor been injured to the extent he cannot continue fighting, so naturally, we must go on for a victory." Duan Zhengyan was speechless, but his anger was far from quelled. Drawing his longsword, he pointed it at Li Yaonan and declared, "Even if you win this round, the next will be my turn to test the Second Protector!"

　　Wei Yuqing stepped forward to persuade, saying, "Your Majesty, please take care of your safety and not join this. Let me avenge this blow on your behalf." He then supported Duan Zhengyan to sit, turning to Li Yaonan and stating, "Live or death, I will not regret. Let me handle!" Li Yaonan, without speaking anything, also drew his sword and immediately launched into a swift and relentless attack.

　　Wei Yuqing used the Dragon's Movement Sword Technique, his sword flowing with the grace and power of a dragon. Li Yaonan as the Second Protector, with long arms and legs, was a surly excellent opponent. He proved himself that capable because he had been engaging in such a fierce battle with Wei Yuqing beyond a hundred rounds. However, the Dragon's Movement Sword Technique was the inheritance of the Duans royal family. It was the same sword technique that Duan Siping had used to defeat the leaders of various tribes and establish Dali on the southwestern border. The power of this sword technique was therefore unquestionable.

　　Wei Yuqing's sword went astray and hit Li Yaonan's left shoulder. Li Yaonan endured the severe pain and stabbed his sword straight into Wei Yuqing’s chest. Wei Yuqing dodged sideways and cut off the opponent's wrist with the sword, soon he kicked it away. This time Wei Yuqing used his best power and sword skill, all for Ming Wenzhang. He thought that he had completed revenge, but he saw two white lights in front of him and realized that that was the hidden weapons from the opponent. He leaned back seeing two bone-piercing nails. "Terrible!" he said in his mind. When he wanted to straight body, Li Yaonan was lying on the ground, he asked: "Is this the way you Western Xia battle?" Li Yaonan was bleeding a lot, but he smiled and said: "There was no rule that we cannot use hidden weapons." Wei Yuqing did not notice Li’s strange smile, and still mocked him: "It's a pity that you didn't win but lost one hand."