NOVPUB"Then let’s head to another city," Xu Zimei glanced at Yellow Spring City and spoke slowly.
If it were just him, he wouldn’t care.
But with a few people from Martial Extreme Holy Sect following him, whose cultivation wasn’t very high, Xu Zimei didn’t want to bother. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
They set off again, and by the time they reached the next city, the sky had completely darkened.
"Liuhuo City!"
The group entered the city, where the lights were bright and the atmosphere was lively.
Styx explained from the side, "This land, including Liuhuo City, is under the rule of Heaven Expanse Holy Mountain.
Although Heaven Expanse Holy Mountain is not an Imperial Rule Immortal Sect, its strength is by no means inferior.
It’s also one of the renowned forces in the Shenghua domain."
The group casually picked an inn to stay for the night and planned to leave the next day.
They didn’t make much of a choice.
In the brightly lit inn, Xu Zimei and his party got their rooms and then ordered some food downstairs.
"Let’s part ways tomorrow," Xu Zimei said to the few from Martial Extreme Holy Sect.
"I’m heading to Extinct Heaven Sect, and you all need to gain experience on your own paths."
"Thank you, Brother Xu, for looking after us on this journey," Lv Tian stood up first and downed a glass.
The others expressed their thanks to each other as well.
Shang Xiaoxiao, who was sitting nearby, pursed her lips and was silent for a moment, looking somewhat disinterested.
She looked at Xu Zimei and said, "Young Master Xu, if you ever come to the Northern Continent, be sure to visit us at Martial Extreme Holy Sect."
Xu Zimei smiled and nodded, replying, "Certainly, meeting is fate."
...…
While the group was chatting, the night had fallen outside the window; the moon shone brightly like white frost, and the stars were sparse.
A group of people in black suddenly burst into the inn.
Without saying a word, these black-clad assailants began to smash up the inn right after they barged in.
"Bang, bang, bang," echoes of destruction resonated.
The other guests in the inn retreated to their second-floor rooms upon witnessing this scene.
Only Xu Zimei’s table and another table beside them remained seated.
"Stop smashing, please stop," the innkeeper hurried out to stop them.
But the masked men in black paid no heed, kicking the innkeeper to the ground and continuing their rampage.
Seeing he couldn’t stop them, the innkeeper watched helplessly as his inn was wrecked and eventually burst into tears, clutching his head in despair.
...
As the assailants kept vandalizing, they noticed Xu Zimei and the people at the other table were still there.
They snorted coldly, "Brave souls."
Then they picked up a nearby chair and hurled it towards the tables.
"What are you doing?" Lv Tian frowned slightly and drew his longsword, cutting the chair in half.
"These people are looking for trouble," the other disciples from Martial Extreme Holy Sect at the side also drew their longswords and charged at the black-clad attackers.
At the other table sat three people.
A graceful young man and two older servants.
As the scene descended into chaos with the disciples of Martial Extreme Holy Sect fighting the assailants, the graceful young man coughed softly.
One of the servant-like elders waved his right hand, and the boundless spiritual energy around him surged; a pair of hands formed from spiritual energy appeared, flinging the men in black away.
"Saint Vein Realm," Styx murmured softly from the side.
Xu Zimei chuckled and continued to enjoy his meal, saying, "A woman dressed as a man."
Although the elegant gentleman was well-disguised, Xu Zimei could still tell at a glance that the person was actually a woman.
"Shopkeeper, what’s going on here?"
Guo Zhi, standing nearby, was curious as he looked at the still weeping shopkeeper.
"It’s the Liu Family, it must be that Second Young Master of the Liu Family who instructed someone to do this," the shopkeeper hastily said.
"What Liu Family, Second Young Master of the Liu Family, could you be more specific," Lv Tian asked with a frown.
"The Liu Family is the foremost great family in Liuhuo City, and they are also the city managers designated by the Heaven Expanse Holy Mountain," the inn’s shopkeeper quickly explained.
"This Second Young Master Liu Zhe is inherently arrogant and overbearing.
Basically, all the shops within the city have to pay him protection fees in secret.
Some time ago, he sent someone to ask me for protection fees, and I didn’t give it, so he had someone come and smash my shop."
"Outrageous, does his Liu Family not manage him at all," Guo Zhi said indignantly.
"The old grandfather of the Liu Family is extremely indulgent with Liu Zhe. In the Liu Family, he’s like a Little Overlord King; no one dares to manage him."
The shopkeeper sighed and said, "I think I should just get the silver ready as soon as possible, lest I’m unable to carry on with the business."
"Shopkeeper, don’t be afraid, I’m here today, and I want to see for myself just how awe-inspiring this Liu Family is," the disguised elegant gentleman stood up and said coldly.
"I appreciate everyone’s good intentions, but the Liu Family really is not someone to provoke," the shopkeeper shook his head and said.
"I don’t want any more trouble."
Watching the shopkeeper’s retreating figure, the elegant gentleman came over to Xu Zimei’s table, clasped a fist and said with a light smile, "You all stood up against the injustice just now, so you seem like gentlemen of chivalry.
My name is Ying Wushuang; may I know how to address you all?"
Xu Zimei smiled, and then everyone at the table reported their names in turn.
Anxiously, Shang Xiaoxiao said from the side, "Shouldn’t we leave quickly?
After all, Liuhuo City is the Liu Family’s territory."
Hearing Shang Xiaoxiao’s words, the disciples of the Martial Extreme Holy Sect frowned slightly.
Although they had not experienced much hardship, they were not naïve.
They understood the saying that even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake.
"It’s fine, you don’t need to be afraid," Ying Wushuang said with a calm demeanor.
"If the people of the Liu Family dare to keep bothering us, I, this lady—no, this young master, will definitely make them regret it."
"Young Master, perhaps it’s better to let the Sect Gate handle this matter," an elderly servant by the side replied.
"What, can’t I even handle a minor Liu Family?" Ying Wushuang said coldly.
"Dare not, it’s just that some people in the Sect Gate might inevitably indulge in gossip, making a big fuss out of a small issue," the elder hastily replied.
"I will take care of this matter. Tomorrow, I will go to the Liu Family," Ying Wushuang replied with a cold snort.
The elder nodded and did not dare to dissuade further.
"Everyone, would you like to join me tomorrow to seek justice for the citizens of Liuhuo City?" Ying Wushuang turned her head to look at Xu Zimei and the others and smiled.
"Don’t worry, nothing will happen with me there."
"Yes, yes," the Martial Extreme Holy Sect’s people all nodded eagerly, ready to try.
They weren’t fools; it was obvious that Ying Wushuang had a significant backing and wasn’t afraid of the Liu Family.
Moreover, based on the conversation between the two, it was possible that Ying Wushuang had some connections with the Heaven Expanse Holy Mountain as well.
"I don’t mind," Xu Zimei glanced at Styx and did not object.
...
After finishing their meal, everyone went to rest.
A quiet night passed until the next morning when everyone got up early, washed up, and under Ying Wushuang’s lead, set off towards the Liu Family in a grand procession.
Everyone was also curious about Ying Wushuang’s background.
