Conspiracy, Danger Lurks Everywhere!

"City Lord, a fight is about to break out over there."

On top of the tall tower, Huang Lingyan gazed at the situation at the Shangguan family's residence, as his subordinate reported the current circumstances.

Upon hearing this, a cold smile appeared on Huang Lingyan's face. "Very good, very good. This brat is truly a lucky star..."

Let them fight. The bigger the commotion, the more the Shangguan family's reputation will be damaged, and the easier it will be to reel them in when the time comes.

As the City Lord, Huang Lingyan should have been the leader of Dongjiang City, holding all the authority.

However, Dongjiang City was not as simple as it seemed.

Not to mention Wang Jin and his Weiwu Martial Arts Hall, which had disciples spread throughout the city, or old figures like Xu San who held significant prestige.

Most importantly, there was the Shangguan family. Although they were a martial arts family, they also controlled many businesses in the city, leaving the City Lord with no profit in many areas.

Huang Lingyan had had enough of this feeling of being constrained everywhere, so he had long been planning to round them all up.

This led to the Fierce Wind Bandits receiving news that the Shangguan family possessed a treasure map, prompting them to prepare to abduct Shangguan Xiyun while she was out enjoying the spring scenery.

Unexpectedly, this plan was ruined by someone – a brat who showed up halfway through.

However, as the saying goes, a blessing in disguise. Although this brat messed up his plan, he provided an even better one.

The bloodthirsty Wan Sanhuo had already formed a deadly feud with the Fierce Wind Bandits. Without any other incentive, the Fierce Wind Bandits would be locked in an endless battle with him.

With the Fierce Wind Bandits as a major enemy outside, he only needed to release a little information, and the martial artists and common folk in the city would be unable to sit still.

Given the Shangguan family's usual conduct, they would naturally not stand by and watch their benefactor Wan Sanhuo be made a scapegoat by the city's people.

In this way, the conflict between them would be irreconcilable, and an eruption of conflict would be imminent.

Just as Huang Lingyan was contemplating, he suddenly felt Shangguan Liuyun's powerful aura, and the smile on his face instantly vanished.

This was the last remaining problem in this scheme. In the city, only he could contend with Shangguan Liuyun; otherwise, under Shangguan Liuyun's pressure, everyone else would have to leave in defeat.

This was also why he had initially designed the conflict between the Shangguan family and the Fierce Wind Bandits.

The original plan was to proceed slowly, and he wouldn't need to show his face to remove all obstacles. But now, to achieve complete success in one fell swoop, he couldn't stay out of it.

The next moment, a biting cold energy erupted, and Huang Lingyan shot out like lightning towards the Shangguan family's residence.

Feeling the powerful oppressive force on him, Li Yan sighed inwardly. Having just reached the Qi Condensation realm, the gap between him and the Ninth Level of Meridian Opening was like a chasm. He dared not even imagine the difference with later realms.

Ahead, the martial artists bearing the brunt of the pressure had grim expressions. Shangguan Liuyun was clearly intending to protect Wan Sanhuo by suppressing them with his aura. If they continued to confront him, they would only be humiliating themselves.

Wang Jin, who was contemplating how to retreat with dignity, suddenly felt another powerful aura and couldn't help but rejoice. "It's the City Lord! City Lord Huang is here!"

Almost as soon as the words fell, an equally powerful aura collided, forcefully breaking through Shangguan Liuyun's pressure.

"Everyone, what are you doing? This is the Shangguan family's residence. Are you trying to rebel?"

"City Lord Huang, you've arrived just in time! You must uphold justice for us!"

Wang Jin and Xu San immediately stepped forward, embellishing the entire sequence of events.

After feigning an understanding of the cause and effect, Huang Lingyan put on a look of feigned distress. "Alas, this is all due to my incompetence as City Lord, which has led to the rampant proliferation of bandits like the Fierce Wind Bandits outside Dongjiang City."

"Huang Lingyan apologizes to all of you here."

Li Yan looked at the person putting on an act before him, his heart filled with a mixture of disdain and vigilance.

This guy could break through Shangguan Liuyun's aura, clearly indicating that his strength was not inferior to Shangguan Liuyun's. He could at least stall for time.

His appearance had turned a situation that was about to be resolved back into chaos and uncertainty.

Moreover, Li Yan was certain that Huang Lingyan's intentions were not good; he was either foolish or malicious!

In such matters, one should either intervene early to mediate between the parties or not interfere at all, letting them resolve it themselves. But to appear at a moment when the situation was about to calm down was rather telling.

This guy probably had other schemes in mind.

With a spin of his eyes, Li Yan sneered, "City Lord Huang is truly a clever person. He saw the crux of the problem at a glance."

As Li Yan spoke, everyone's gaze turned towards him, but he acted as if he didn't see it, continuing, "City Lord Huang, the Fierce Wind Bandits are ferocious and bloodthirsty. There are no survivors in their wake. If the City Lord is willing, perhaps you could organize the experts in the city to launch an encirclement and suppression. With an expert like the City Lord present, the Fierce Wind Bandits will surely flee at the mere sight of us, and Dongjiang City will be out of danger."

As soon as Li Yan said this, Huang Lingyan's mouth twitched.

Damn it, what was this brat up to?

He had merely made a perfunctory remark, but instead, his words were used against him, putting him on the spot.

Setting aside whether they could actually deal with the Fierce Wind Bandits if organized, the problem of whether these people would even obey his command was a question in itself!

If he refused, it would make him look incompetent. If he agreed, not only would his plan be ruined, but he would also become their pawn.

However, Huang Lingyan was not one to be easily thwarted. He shook his head. "You must be Young Hero Wan. I've also heard about your escorting Miss Shangguan for the past few days. You are truly heroic."

"However, as a newcomer, perhaps Young Hero is not very familiar with the Fierce Wind Bandits. They are ferocious and cunning, with no fixed abode. Once we gather..."

"Hey~ None of that matters~" Li Yan interrupted Huang Lingyan with a raised hand. "I've killed two of the Fierce Wind Bandit leaders. They hate me to the bone. As long as the news is released that I want to fight them to the death, they will swarm here."

"Then, the experts from the city can charge out together. With the City Lord and Brother Liuyun joining forces, defeating Wang Dingtian will be a matter of moments. The other bandits are like clay chickens and dogs, easily destroyed in an instant."

"This... Alas, this matter cannot be rushed. It cannot be rushed. We need to make long-term plans."

Huang Lingyan was so choked up that he couldn't say a word and could only wave his hands repeatedly.

"Everyone, for today's matter, please give me, Huang, some face and depart."

Everyone present wasn't foolish. If this topic continued, they would truly have to risk their lives against the Fierce Wind Bandits. Huang Lingyan's words clearly provided an easy way out for everyone.

"Since City Lord Huang has spoken, we'll let this brat off the hook for today... Hmph!"

Wang Jin flung his hands and turned to leave.

Xu San gave Li Yan a deep look, sighed, and left.

Finally, Huang Lingyan smiled, cupped his fists, and also turned to depart.

Once everyone had disappeared, Shangguan Feiyun suddenly burst into laughter, "Hahahaha, amazing, amazing, Brother Wan! You caught Huang Lingyan's weakness as soon as he arrived and shut them down completely."

"Alright, second brother, we'll talk more back home."

The group entered the Shangguan manor, and the large doors closed behind them.

In the main hall, Shangguan Feiyun recounted the recent events to Shangguan Xiyun. Upon hearing that Li Yan had berated everyone and seized upon Huang Lingyan's words to force their retreat, Shangguan Xiyun's eyes lit up, and she looked at Li Yan with stars in her gaze.

However, both Li Yan and Shangguan Liuyun wore furrowed brows.

Sensing something was amiss, Shangguan Feiyun cautiously asked, "Big brother, Brother Wan, you two are..."

Shangguan Liuyun raised a hand to stop him and instead looked at Li Yan, "Brother Wan, what do you think about this matter?"

Li Yan took a deep breath before replying, "The Shangguan Family is fraught with danger..."