Conspiracy, Peril on Every Side!

"City Lord, they're about to start fighting over there."

From atop the tower, Huang Lingyan gazed into the distance at the Shangguan Family while his subordinate reported the current situation.

A cold smile appeared on Huang Lingyan's face. "Good. Very good. That brat truly is a lucky star..."

Make a fuss, then. The bigger the commotion, the harder the Shangguan Family's reputation would be hit, and the easier it would be to draw in the net when the time came.

As City Lord, Huang Lingyan should have been Dongjiang City's leading figure, holding all authority in his hands.

Yet Dongjiang City was far less simple than it appeared.

Leaving aside Wang Jin's renowned Weiwu Martial Arts Hall, whose disciples were spread throughout the city, there was also an old fellow like Xu San, whose prestige ran deep.

Most importantly, there was the Shangguan Family. Though they were a martial arts family, they also controlled many businesses within the city, leaving him, the City Lord, with no profit to reap in many areas.

Huang Lingyan had had enough of being constrained at every turn, so he had long been planning to sweep all these people away in one stroke.

That was why the Fierce Wind Bandits had received word that the Shangguan Family possessed a treasure map, luring them into preparing to abduct Shangguan Xiyun while she was out on a spring outing.

Unexpectedly, someone had ruined the plan. A damned brat had appeared out of nowhere halfway through.

Still, a loss on the frontier might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Though this brat had disrupted the plan, he had given Huang Lingyan an even better one.

The bloodthirsty Wan Sanhuo had already formed a deadly feud with the Fierce Wind Bandits. No other incentive was needed—the Fierce Wind Bandits would fight him to the death.

With the Fierce Wind Bandits as a formidable enemy outside the city, Huang Lingyan merely needed to leak a little information, and both the city's martial artists and ordinary citizens would be unable to sit still.

Given the Shangguan Family's way of doing things, they naturally would not stand by and watch Wan Sanhuo, their benefactor, become the city's scapegoat.

In that case, the conflict between them would be impossible to reconcile, and an eruption of violence was only a matter of moments.

Just as Huang Lingyan was pondering this, he suddenly sensed Shangguan Liuyun's overwhelming aura, and the smile on his face instantly vanished.

This was the final problem in this scheme. Within the city, he was the only one capable of contending with Shangguan Liuyun. Otherwise, under Shangguan Liuyun's pressure, everyone else could only let the matter end hastily.

This was also why he had first set the Shangguan Family and the Fierce Wind Bandits against each other.

The original plan had been to proceed step by step, removing every obstacle without him needing to show himself. But now that he wanted to achieve total victory in one stroke, he could no longer remain aloof.

The next instant, biting cold qi burst forth. Huang Lingyan shot into the air and streaked toward the Shangguan Family.

Feeling the powerful pressure bearing down on him, Li Yan sighed inwardly. Having only just entered the Qi Condensation Realm, the gap between him and the Ninth Level of Meridian Opening was like a heavenly chasm, and he did not even dare imagine the difference between the realms beyond.

Ahead, the martial artists bearing even greater pressure head-on all wore ugly expressions. Shangguan Liuyun was clearly using his aura to suppress them, intending to protect Wan Sanhuo at all costs. If they continued to hold their ground, they would only bring humiliation upon themselves.

Just as Wang Jin was considering how to withdraw with dignity, he suddenly sensed another powerful aura. Delight immediately rose in his heart. "It's the City Lord! City Lord Huang has arrived!"

Almost as soon as his words fell, an equally powerful aura crashed into the scene, forcibly shattering Shangguan Liuyun's aura.

"Everyone, what are you doing? This is the Shangguan Family. Are you trying to rebel?"

"City Lord Huang, you came at just the right time! You must uphold justice for us!"

Wang Jin and Xu San immediately stepped forward and gave an embellished account of the entire affair.

After pretending to understand the whole story, Huang Lingyan put on a grief-stricken expression. "Alas, it is all because I, as City Lord, failed in my duties that bandits like the Fierce Wind Bandits have been allowed to run rampant outside Dongjiang City once again."

"Huang Lingyan offers his apologies to everyone."

Watching this pretentious fellow before him, Li Yan felt disdain and vigilance intertwine in his heart.

This man had been able to break Shangguan Liuyun's aura, so his strength was clearly no weaker than Shangguan Liuyun's. At the very least, holding someone back would not be a problem for him.

His appearance had thrown the situation, which had nearly settled into dust, into chaos once more.

Moreover, Li Yan was certain that Huang Lingyan had come with ill intent. He was either stupid or wicked!

In a matter like this, one either arrived early to mediate between both sides from the beginning, or simply did not interfere and watched them settle it themselves. But to appear now, just as things were about to calm down, was highly thought-provoking.

This fellow was probably plotting something else.

His eyes rolled once before Li Yan sneered. "City Lord Huang truly is a remarkable man. You saw the heart of the problem at a glance."

As soon as Li Yan spoke, everyone turned to look at him, but he acted as though he saw nothing and continued, "City Lord Huang, the Fierce Wind Bandits are brutal and bloodthirsty. Wherever they pass, they leave no survivors. If the City Lord truly has the intention, you could organize the city's experts to launch a campaign against them. With an expert like you leading the way, the Fierce Wind Bandits would surely flee at the mere scent of the wind, and Dongjiang City would certainly turn danger into safety."

The moment Li Yan said this, Huang Lingyan's mouth twitched.

What the hell is wrong with this brat?

He had merely spoken a few courteous words, yet the brat had seized upon a flaw and directly hoisted him up on the rack.

Leaving aside whether organizing everyone would actually be enough to deal with the Fierce Wind Bandits, it was already a problem whether these people would obey his command!

If he refused, it meant he was incompetent. If he agreed, then damn it, not only would his plan go down the drain, he would become the other party's hired thug.

But Huang Lingyan was no easy opponent either. Shaking his head, he said, "You must be Young Hero Wan. I have also heard of how you protected Miss Shangguan several days ago. Truly a fine hero."

"However, you have only recently arrived, so perhaps you do not understand the Fierce Wind Bandits very well. Those bandits are brutal and cunning, with no fixed place of residence. Once we gather..."

"Eh~ None of that is a problem~" Li Yan raised a hand, cutting Huang Lingyan off. "I killed two of the Fierce Wind Bandits' leaders. They hate me to the bone. As long as word gets out that I intend to fight them to the death, they will surely swarm over."

"When that time comes, the city's experts can charge out together. With the City Lord and Brother Liuyun joining forces, dealing with Wang Dingtian would take no more than an instant. The other bandits would be nothing but chickens and dogs, wiped out in the blink of an eye."

"This... Alas, this cannot be rushed, cannot be rushed. We must deliberate over it in the long term."

Huang Lingyan was choked speechless and could only wave his hands repeatedly.

"Everyone, please give Huang this bit of face today and leave the matter here."

No one present was foolish. If this topic continued, they really would have to risk their lives against the Fierce Wind Bandits. Huang Lingyan's words were clearly giving everyone a way down.

"Since City Lord Huang has spoken, we'll spare this brat for today... Hmph!"

Wang Jin flung his sleeves and turned to leave.

Xu San gave Li Yan a deep look, then departed with a sigh.

Finally, Huang Lingyan smiled and cupped his hands, then turned and left as well.

Once everyone had disappeared from sight, Shangguan Feiyun suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Impressive, impressive, Brother Wan! Huang Lingyan had barely arrived before you caught his weakness and shut them up so thoroughly they couldn't say a word."

"That's enough, Second Brother. We'll talk after we return."

The group entered the Shangguan residence, and the great gates closed behind them.

Inside the main hall, Shangguan Feiyun and Shangguan Xiyun discussed what had just happened. When she heard that Li Yan had angrily rebuked everyone, then caught Huang Lingyan's verbal weakness and forced them to retreat, Shangguan Xiyun's eyes shone as she looked at Li Yan, her gaze sparkling with little stars.

However, both Li Yan and Shangguan Liuyun had deeply furrowed brows.

Sensing that something was wrong, Shangguan Feiyun cautiously asked, "Elder Brother, Brother Wan, what is it with you two...?"

Shangguan Liuyun raised a hand to stop him, then looked at Li Yan. "Brother Wan, what do you think of this matter?"

Li Yan drew a deep breath before saying, "The Shangguan Family is beset by peril on every side..."