Wang Ling'er walked out of the Zeng Mansion gates with light steps.
Recalling Zeng Wanran's pale, shocked expression, her heart grew increasingly delighted, and the corners of her lips curled up uncontrollably.
‘She hasn't even gotten her hands on the benefits yet, and she's already acting so arrogant!’
‘This is just great. Not only did she end up with nothing, but she also completely humiliated herself in front of me!’
“Hmph!”
Wang Ling'er snorted softly, a strange look flashing in her eyes.
“How could I keep such a hilarious story to myself? I'll go find a few close friends and tell them all about it...”
As she was pondering, a figure suddenly rushed toward her from the opposite direction.
Caught off guard, Wang Ling'er was knocked off balance, her foot twisting as she nearly tumbled to the ground on the spot.
She rubbed her aching shoulder and turned back to glare in anger. “Are you blind?!”
The figure seemed not to hear her. Without looking back, they hurried along the street, heading straight toward the towering pavilion at the end of the road.
The pavilion's eaves curved high into the air, presenting a grand and extraordinary appearance. A gold-embossed plaque hung over the entrance:
Wind-and-Cloud Pavilion!
On the second floor, cups were clinking amidst a feast of wine and meat.
Hou Yulin was currently raising his glass with a middle-aged deacon, the two of them chatting and laughing merrily.
The middle-aged man was all smiles as he raised his cup to offer a toast:
“Old Hou, the framework for your 《Young Tiger List》 is finally set up! If this succeeds, the Pavilion Master will surely reward you handsomely. I doubt you'll even have to wait until next year to move into a two-entry grand residence!”
Hou Yulin's face was flushed with joy, but he still maintained a modest front, waving his hand repeatedly:
“Not at all, not at all. It's entirely due to the Pavilion Master's favor. This meager contribution of mine... ah, it's not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning!”
“You're being too modest! That deserves a penalty drink! But then again...”
The middle-aged man leaned in closer, showing a hint of curiosity:
“Old Hou, that Core Disciple Shen of the Star-Plucking Sect has been in the spotlight lately, but his name is nowhere to be seen on your 《Young Tiger List》. As time goes on, won't people start questioning the credibility of the list?”
As soon as these words fell, the smile on Hou Yulin's face vanished, and his expression darkened.
“The Star-Plucking Sect has plenty of core disciples.”
He picked up his wine cup, his voice turning cold:
“Only core disciples who have reached the Huajin Rank are worthy of a second look. Those who haven't reached the Huajin Rank will be dismissed sooner or later. What is there to fear?”
Seeing his displeasure, the middle-aged man was about to press further when a hurried knock on the door rang out!
“Come in!”
Seeing the person who entered, Hou Yulin's eyes flickered, and he made a subtle hand gesture.
Understanding the cue, the middle-aged man stood up with a tactful smile:
“Old Hou, let's leave it at that for today. We'll gather again another day.”
“Definitely, Deacon He. Let me see you out.”
Hou Yulin put on a smile and personally escorted him to the staircase before returning.
Once back, the smile on his face vanished completely. He carefully shut the doors and windows. When he turned around, his face was dead serious, and he said in a deep voice:
“Speak, what is it?”
The messenger quickly stepped forward and recounted everything he had seen outside the Ji Mansion in detail, from beginning to end.
“What?!”
Hou Yulin's expression changed dramatically, and he pressed urgently:
“Are you sure? Did you see it with your own eyes?”
“This subordinate guarantees it with his life! I saw it with my own eyes, there is absolutely no falsehood!”
Hearing this, Hou Yulin's gaze grew increasingly gloomy.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his fists clenched tightly inside his sleeves. His knuckles cracked sharply as thoughts surged like a torrential tide in his mind.
‘This is bad!’
‘That Shen fellow is a core disciple of the Star-Plucking Sect, after all. If the strings I pulled behind the scenes are exposed, I'm afraid he will come to settle scores with me!’
The more Hou Yulin thought about it, the more anxious he became. Fine beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead. He paced back and forth restlessly, his boots making heavy thuds on the wooden floor.
After a few moments, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and gritted his teeth:
‘No! I can't delay this. I must go beg the young master to protect me immediately!’
Hou Yulin was originally from the Bixia Qi Lineage. For him to have risen to his current position in the Wind-and-Cloud Pavilion, he had relied heavily on the connections and care of the Bixia Sect.
And that Young Master Linghu of Bixia Villa was his biggest backer.
...
The Prefectural Governor's Mansion.
On both sides of the crimson gates, armored soldiers stood holding halberds, their cold armor inspiring awe and fear.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar, the iron shoes clattering against the bluestone pavement, quickly drawing the alert gazes of many guards.
“Halt!”
The leader of the guards, an Anjin Rank expert, placed his hand on his saber hilt. Staring at the man sitting cross-legged on the carriage shaft, he barked, “This is the Prefectural Governor's Mansion! State your name!”
The man on the carriage shaft remained calm. With a flick of his wrist...
Swoosh!
A token was revealed.
The token was entirely silver-white, engraved with the pattern of a cascading waterfall. Right below the words "Tingquan Core Disciple" in the center was the character "Shen."
Then, the man on the shaft spoke in a clear, resonant voice:
“I am Shen Xiuhan, a core disciple of the Star-Plucking Sect's Tingquan Academy. I have urgent matters to report to the Prefectural Governor. Please convey my request!”
The leader's heart jolted. He quickly looked up at the token, then carefully scrutinized Shen Xiuhan's face for a moment.
Once confirmed, he immediately cupped his fists respectfully and said:
“So it is Core Disciple Shen. However, due to the regulations of the mansion, all matters must first be verified by the Garrison Master on duty today...”
Hearing this, Shen Xiuhan glanced into the distance.
After confirming that the eight pale-gold light points were still gathered in their original spot, completely motionless, he withdrew his gaze and said calmly:
“Go quickly!”
“Please wait a moment, Core Disciple!”
The leader cupped his fists again, turned around, and quickly walked back into the mansion.
In just a brief moment.
The sound of rushing wind and rustling robes echoed from inside the mansion!
Shen Xiuhan looked up and saw that another figure had appeared on the stone steps outside the entrance.
The man was heavily built, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with a build like a tiger.
He wore red-and-black practice robes, and slung across his back was a heavy iron spear, its tip glinting with a cold, eerie light.
True Qi swirled around him like licking flames. Just standing there, he exuded a scorching, suffocating pressure.
Huajin Rank!
Shen Xiuhan's pupils contracted slightly. He swept his gaze up and down the man, a strange feeling suddenly rising in his heart.
He couldn't help but recall what Liu Chong had told him when describing the attire of the various academies of the Star-Plucking Sect:
“The Kaiyang Academy excels in sabers and spears, and they wear red-and-black practice robes...”
As he was thinking.
The muscular man's eyes flashed like lightning, locking onto him. His voice boomed like a bronze bell:
“Are you Shen Xiuhan?”
Shen Xiuhan turned around and immediately cupped his hands, saying, “I am Shen Xiuhan. Greetings, Senior Brother!”
Hearing the words “Senior Brother,” most of the hostility on the muscular man's face vanished.
He squeezed out a faint smile, cupped his hands, and said:
“I am Gu Dacheng, a Deacon of the Kaiyang Academy, currently dispatched by the sect to serve as a Garrison Master in Nanxiang. Junior Brother, what brings you here today?”
Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath, leaped down from the carriage, and stepped closer. His voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz:
“Senior Brother, I accidentally intercepted a conspiracy. A demonic path rogue has snuck into the prefecture capital with intentions to harm the Prefectural Governor...”
“What?!”
Gu Dacheng's expression changed dramatically, and two sharp gleams of light suddenly shot from his eyes.
His aura surged restlessly, pouring out a sharp and formidable pressure. He stared intently at Shen Xiuhan to make sure he wasn't joking, his lips moving as he whispered:
“Do you have proof?”
Shen Xiuhan turned around, pulled back the curtain of the carriage behind him, and said in a deep voice, “Senior Brother Gu, look!”
Gu Dacheng kept a serious face as he stepped forward and leaned in to look inside the carriage.
With just a single glance!
His pupils suddenly contracted to the size of needlepoints, and he murmured in disbelief:
“Is this... Cheng Du of the Nine Anhuai Fiends?!”
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