Under the night sky, the Patrol Prefecture in West City of the Market was brightly lit. Singing could be heard even outside the residence, and no one knew how many people secretly envied the scene.
Having a high cultivation and being an alchemist really was wonderful. They could live so freely without anyone stopping them, as though it were only natural.
Inside the main hall, all manner of delicacies on the wine table gave off tantalizing aromas, accompanied by faint ripples of spiritual energy. The sight made Li Han and Qi Feng's mouths water.
"Come, come, drink."
Lin Chang'an smiled as he invited everyone to eat and drink. Even when the Liu sisters walked out of the main hall, he acted as though he had not seen them.
Beneath the star-filled sky, the veiled Liu Yanran looked at her younger sister and said gravely, "Feiyu, why do you think that Wang bastard isn't afraid of me? Even if I've been poisoned with Black Thread Poison, if I unleash the strength of the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, it's still not something the Wang Family can withstand."
Hearing this, guilt immediately appeared in Liu Feiyu's eyes. "Sister, if not for me, you wouldn't have ended up like this."
Seeing Liu Feiyu's grief, Liu Yanran, who had always doted on her sister, revealed a rare glint in her eyes. "That's right. They have hold of my weak spot, so you don't need to blame yourself either!"
As she spoke, Liu Feiyu fell silent beneath Liu Yanran's resolute gaze, then nodded gently. "I understand."
"Tell me, if I became a rogue cultivator, would the Wang Family be afraid of me?" Liu Yanran's sudden question immediately filled Liu Feiyu with alarm.
"Sister, you can't!"
Liu Feiyu suddenly stopped speaking, astonishment appearing on her face. Nervously covering her mouth, she turned to look back at the people in the main hall enjoying the music. At this distance, her sister had made no effort to hide those words. The people inside should have heard them clearly.
"Sister!" At that moment, Liu Feiyu came to a realization. Though Liu Yanran's face was hidden behind a veil, she saw it clearly—her sister was smiling. It was the first time she had smiled since disaster had struck the Liu Family.
"You go back first."
Liu Yanran smiled faintly. Sure enough, when she openly walked out of the Patrol Prefecture, Lin Chang'an and the others acted as though they had not seen her. The corners of her lips rose at once.
A favor carried along with the current! Draw blade and sword!
Lowering her head to look at the Soul-Confusing Incense Lin Chang'an had discreetly handed her at the wine table, Liu Yanran suddenly understood. So that was how it was.
Inside the main hall.
When Liu Feiyu returned alone, something was clearly off about her expression. After all, for someone as young as her, telling barefaced lies with her eyes open still made her blush.
"Brother Lin, let me toast you."
With flushed cheeks, Liu Feiyu raised her cup. Her expression was still unnatural, yet Lin Chang'an acted as though he had seen nothing, his eyes fixed straight on the dancing singer in the hall.
Liu Feiyu felt rather awkward. Li Han and Qi Feng merely buried their heads in their food. They had seen nothing and heard nothing.
Only Zhang Qing secretly gave him a thumbs-up. Good fellow—he was plainly eating from both sides, and it had only cost him a little breath.
Beneath the star-filled sky, lights still burned in a shop in West City of the Market. Strangely, the cultivators patrolling outside all kept far away from it.
Inside the room.
"Father, that pig Lin is too ruthless! He actually demanded so many Spirit Stones from us."
Wang Sheng looked utterly aggrieved, fury gleaming in his eyes. Although Shopkeeper Wang's heart ached over the Spirit Stones they had paid today, he understood even better that one had to know the times.
"You little bastard, what do you know? That brat may be greedy, but he still follows the rules."
At this point, Shopkeeper Wang sighed. "I've already received word that the Liu sisters were brought to the Patrol Prefecture. They haven't come out for an entire day."
Upon hearing that Liu Yanran and her sister had been taken into the Patrol Prefecture for a whole day, a lecherous glint flashed through Wang Sheng's eyes, followed immediately by fear.
"If not for the Black Thread Poison, that Liu Yanran..."
As he spoke, Wang Sheng added sourly, "That pig Lin got lucky. Liu Yanran's younger sister is a stunning beauty too."
Seeing his son thinking with his lust, Shopkeeper Wang snorted irritably. "If you want to die, then go find Liu Yanran!"
After being scolded by his father, Wang Sheng shrank his neck and said aggrievedly, "I was only saying it. Who could have imagined Liu Yanran would be poisoned with that stuff?"
At the mention of Liu Yanran, Shopkeeper Wang could not help sighing. "It's fate. If not for this, I wouldn't have needed to seize it by force. We could have simply joined families by marriage. The shop would still be ours, and with Liu Yanran's spiritual roots, she would surely bear outstanding descendants."
As the two talked, neither noticed the masked black figure outside the shop. A nearly burned-out stick of incense was held in her hand as she slowly used the Clear Wind Technique to blow the colorless, odorless Soul-Confusing Incense into the room.
Inside the room.
Looking at the bulging pouch of Spirit Stones on the table, greed appeared on Wang Sheng's face. "Father, look!"
A father knew his son best. Shopkeeper Wang knew what his son wanted from a single glance, and immediately snorted as he slapped the table and scolded him, "These Spirit Stones are the savings of several generations of our family. Don't even think about them."
After being reprimanded, Wang Sheng curled his lips. "Fine, then don't give them to me. Father, don't worry. I'll definitely break through to late Qi Condensation. Then I'll make you proud to follow your son."
Looking at his filial son, Shopkeeper Wang smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "It's good that you understand. While you're young, you must cultivate diligently. Once your potential is exhausted and your cultivation stops advancing, there will be plenty of time to enjoy this dazzling world."
Crack!
In an instant, the door was pushed open. A black-clad, masked figure stared fixedly at the father and son. Shopkeeper Wang's expression changed at once, and he cried out in terror, "A rogue cultivator!"
"Father, my spiritual power!" To his credit, Wang Sheng was no fool. The instant he heard the commotion, he tried to circulate his spiritual power and launch a sneak attack. Yet he suddenly discovered in horror that he could not mobilize his spiritual power at all.
"Soul-Confusing Incense! Colorless and odorless—and for such a long time!" The masked figure sneered and removed her mask, revealing that face. Yet dense black veins covered the stretch from her chin to her neck, making it obvious that she was poisoned.
"Liu Yanran! You actually dared to disguise yourself as a rogue cultivator!"
The instant he saw Liu Yanran, Wang Sheng shouted in shock and fury. Shopkeeper Wang beside him, however, had gone pale as a sheet and hurriedly waved his hands. "Let's talk this out. This is the Market, and patrol squads are always outside."
The moment Liu Yanran removed her mask, Shopkeeper Wang knew that today would likely not end peacefully. Terrified, he waved his hands to placate her while secretly circulating the spiritual power within his body like mad.
Looking at the Wang father and son's ugly, cowardly faces, Liu Yanran merely sneered, her eyes brimming with ruthlessness. "If I don't slaughter you father and son, I'll have failed my mother!"
"Don't, don't!"
As Shopkeeper Wang staggered backward again and again in panic, Wang Sheng beside him displayed a rare viciousness. "Come on! If you've got the guts, Liu Yanran, then do it!"
Yet Liu Yanran calmly sat before the table, with nothing but icy coldness in her eyes as she watched the two of them.
"Brother Lin said today that if I had gone to find him sooner and delivered Spirit Stones to him, he would have done me a favor carried along with the current. Then there would have been no need to draw blade and sword."
"What a pity—you insisted on forcing me to draw blade and sword!" As Liu Yanran's calm voice echoed through the room, the Wang father and son immediately began cursing Lin Chang'an.
Too black-hearted! Not only had he accepted their benefits, he even wanted to eat from both sides!
Shameless beyond measure!
Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for your support. Advancing to the second round is secure.
Before you continue