The vast inn was filled with an eerie atmosphere.
The main hall was packed with people of the Martial World.
Each was oddly dressed, their gazes icy, weapons laid before them all.
As Lu Chen suddenly pushed open the door, icy gazes like blades and swords instantly fell upon him, making him frown slightly.
Killing intent?
He remained outwardly calm. He had intended to leave, but the torrential rain outside had yet to cease. These people might not be here for him, and if they were, retreating would not spare him a battle.
With that in mind, he walked straight in.
"Shopkeeper, bring me a table of your finest dishes. And fill a jug of wine!"
Lu Chen took out the waterskin he carried and tossed it straight onto the counter.
"Y-Yes, yes!"
The shopkeeper's face was full of alarm. Catching the waterskin, he began trembling as he ordered someone to fill it with wine.
He had practically taken Lu Chen for one of these Martial World folk and could not help groaning inwardly.
Why had all these people of the Martial World gathered in his inn tonight?
If a bloody fight broke out, would his inn not be torn apart in an instant?
Misery!
True misery!
Lu Chen swept his gaze around and finally spotted the only vacant seat in a corner. He strode toward it.
Only then did he notice the inn's arrangement. The numerous Martial World figures seemed to be seated according to a peculiar formation, faintly surrounding a table of guests in the very center.
At that central table sat a man and a woman.
The man was in his early twenties, dressed in a blue robe, his face resolute. One hand tightly gripped the sword at his side.
The woman wore a long white dress. Her face held a trace of tension, and every glance she cast was filled with worry and fear.
The Martial World folk in the inn seemed to have come for them both.
Lu Chen considered it briefly and sat down in the empty seat.
"Forget it. This has nothing to do with me. I'll replenish what I've used up first."
Of course, if there were Merit Points to pick up, he would not turn them down.
As Lu Chen sat down,
the gazes of the Martial World figures quickly withdrew from him. Cold as lightning, they continued to rest upon the man and woman.
Crack!
Boom!
Lightning flashed and thunder roared outside.
The howling wind and torrential rain went on without end.
Wave after wave of rain struck the inn's windows and doors, battering them until they rattled and clattered as though countless steel pellets were pelting them.
"Jade-Faced Rainbow Liu Jinglan, this has nothing to do with your Liu Family. Why must you wade into these muddy waters?"
Suddenly, a Martial World man in black robes spoke coldly. An icy aura spread from him, locking onto the man and woman at the central table.
"As long as you, Liu Jinglan, withdraw of your own accord, we can spare your life. We only want that woman!"
"Impossible." The blue-robed Liu Jinglan shook his head lightly. "As long as I, Liu Jinglan, am here, don't even think of harming a single hair on her head!"
"We do not mean to hurt her. We merely want her to come with us. Why must you be so stubborn?"
The black-robed man said coldly.
"What a joke! You want her to go with you?"
Liu Jinglan suddenly laughed. "With her strength, once she falls into your hands, won't she be yours to manipulate as you please?"
"So you truly refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit?"
The black-robed man narrowed his eyes, his presence turning glacial.
Crack!
Bang!
Just then,
the tightly shut doors were pushed open from outside once more. Four burly figures barged in, each wearing a straw rain cape and exuding a heavy aura. Upon entering, their pairs of eyes immediately swept across the inn.
The many Martial World figures inside could not help but have their expressions flicker as they recognized them.
"The Four Tigers of Huainan!"
"It's them!"
The four burly figures quickly fixed their eyes on the man and woman, revealing cold smiles. Clearly, they too had come for the pair. Yet they did not strike at once, instead continuing to scan the room until their gazes fell directly upon Lu Chen, where the only empty seat had been.
When they saw how young Lu Chen was, their expressions darkened, and they strode toward him.
Clang!
A saber left its sheath. One of the Tigers instantly pointed his saber at Lu Chen's brow and said coldly, "Scram!"
Lu Chen frowned and looked at the four men. I didn't provoke you, did I?
"Didn't you hear me?"
The man's eyes turned cold, a sinister curve appearing on his lips. "I'll count to three. If you don't scram by then, I'll dig out your eyeballs!"
The other three men beside him all grinned savagely.
The other Martial World figures also revealed expressions of eager anticipation.
The Four Tigers of Huainan were notorious tyrants of Huainan.
This fellow was in for a great disaster!
"One!"
"Two!"
The curve of the man's lips grew ever more vicious. Just as the saber in his hand was about to strike, Lu Chen's palm shot out in an instant and seized the blade with unimaginable speed.
Clang!
The man's expression changed slightly. He shook violently, his inner force erupting as he tried to knock Lu Chen away, only to find that the saber in his hand was completely beyond his control. No matter how great his strength, the blade seemed caught in a pair of vajra pincers.
Instead, a powerful surge of inner force, like rolling waves, poured into his body. In a single instant, it shattered his inner-force defenses and made him let out a scream.
"Ah!"
"Third Brother!"
The other three men were startled. Without prior agreement, they attacked in an instant, drawing the sabers at their waists and slashing rapidly toward Lu Chen.
Lu Chen's other hand gripped the hilt of his own saber. In an instant, the blade left its sheath, bursting with dazzling light.
Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!
Blood sprayed through the air.
Three heads instantly soared high into the air before smashing down in the distance like balls. Their eyes were wide, their faces full of disbelief, as if they could not believe it even in death. The burly man whose saber had been seized was even more terrified, his body trembling violently.
"Spare... spare me..."
He released his saber and turned to flee.
His three brothers had actually been slain by this man in a single stroke?
What kind of demon king was this?
But by the time he thought to escape, it was already too late.
The instant he turned to run, a streak of saber light swept across the back of his neck. Blood sprayed, and a head flew brutally away, crashing down in the distance.
[You killed four evil Martial World guests. Merit Points +400!]
Gasp!
Everyone in the inn sucked in a breath of cold air, their hearts turning chill.
The Four Tigers of Huainan!
They had been killed so easily! Who was this man?
Liu Jinglan and the woman at the central table were even more startled as they looked toward Lu Chen.
Liu Jinglan in particular showed traces of tension, gripping his sword tightly.
Could this man have come for them as well?
If so, even he would find it difficult to escape unharmed today.
"Eat if you're eating. Why put on such an act?"
Lu Chen's tone was indifferent. He suddenly raised his head and looked at the shopkeeper. "Shopkeeper, are my food and wine ready?"
"They're ready, they're ready!"
The shopkeeper trembled all over and hurriedly called for the waiter to bring out the dishes.
Plate after plate of fine food and wine was quickly placed on the table.
Just as Lu Chen was about to taste them, he suddenly heard faint footsteps outside again, accompanied by the splashing of water. It seemed someone else was rapidly approaching.
With a crack!
The inn doors were blasted open.
Three figures instantly appeared before everyone's eyes.
When they saw who had come, everyone's expressions changed drastically.
Even Lu Chen's heart sank as he instantly gripped his saber.
Black robes and iron badges!
Cold, stern gazes!
The Town Suppression Bureau!
"You really know how to run! Even my Heavenly Silkworm Gu nearly lost your trail!"
The middle-aged man on the left gave a light laugh. In his palm lay a crimson, strange flying insect with six wings. His eyes swept lightly toward the corner of the inn. "Heartless Blade Lu Chen... are you still unwilling to surrender without a fight?"
What?
Everyone in the inn changed expression.
The newly ranked ninety-first on the Qilin list, Heartless Blade Lu Chen!
They said he had trained in martial arts for only four days, yet had already reached the Fifth Rank!
He had slain Blood Sacrifice Cult Protector Li Cangyuan with a sword!
He had cleaved Panshi City's County Magistrate Lin Mingyuan apart with a saber!
This man was actually among them?
Very soon, everyone followed the middle-aged man's gaze to Lu Chen, their expressions changing once more.
It was him!
No wonder the Four Tigers of Huainan had been killed in an instant!
"Are you Lord Yu, the Iron Masked Judge?"
Suddenly, Liu Jinglan hurriedly rose and called out, "I am Liu Jinglan of the He Shuo Liu Family. I beg Lord Yu to aid us. We have been besieged by petty villains..."
He knew that with his own strength, there was absolutely no way he could protect the young woman beside him tonight.
The moment he saw Yu Tianli of the Town Suppression Bureau, delight surged within him, and he hurriedly sought help.
As long as Yu Tianli was willing to act, everyone present would amount to nothing!
However!
Yu Tianli merely swept Liu Jinglan a cold glance and ignored him. His eyes remained fixed on Lu Chen as he said calmly, "Surrender without resistance and come back with me. You may be spared the crime of collective punishment. Otherwise, Canglang Martial Hall, young and old alike, will all be exterminated!"
Lu Chen's heart sank.
Threatening him again!
What he hated most was being threatened!
"Lord Yu, do you have a son? Do you have a daughter?" Lu Chen suddenly forced out a savage smile and turned to look toward Yu Tianli.
Yu Tianli narrowed his eyes, a cold glint surfacing within them. He instantly understood what Lu Chen meant.
Seeking death!
Before you continue