Crisis Brewing, Killing the Heart

"Hmm? You're the one he injured?"

The Protector's voice held a note of surprise, mixed with scrutiny.

"You've been at the mid-stage Master realm for two years, your cultivation is already stable, yet you couldn't defeat a mere Imperial Guard Company Commander?"

He paused, his tone suddenly deepening:

"Could it be that this person is also a Master realm expert?"

A Master realm expert, yet holding only the rank of Company Commander. When did the Imperial Guard become so affluent?

The male Master lowered his head and replied:

"I exchanged a palm strike with him, and I was completely outmatched."

"Bai Yan's palm force is incredibly dominant, and his True Essence is far more profound than mine."

"Based on my assessment, his strength should be at the late-stage Master, or even stronger. Possibly at the peak Master realm!"

The Protector asked again:

"How old is this person?"

The female rebel quickly responded:

"Around twenty years old, he looks very young."

"This is absolutely impossible!"

The Protector lost his composure for the first time, his voice filled with suppressed shock and anger. The figure behind the veil seemed to tremble:

"How could a young man around twenty be a Master realm expert!"

"Let alone potentially a peak Master. Have your brains been kicked by a donkey?!"

Seeing the Protector's anger, the three were instantly terrified, kowtowing and trembling.

The female rebel said fearfully:

"This subordinate dares not deceive the Protector, that Bai Yan truly is a young man only around twenty years old!"

The male Master chimed in:

"This subordinate also dares not utter a single false word. Bai Yan's palm force is ferociously powerful; his strength cannot be underestimated."

"Only a late-stage Master, or even a peak Master, could have injured this subordinate with a single palm strike!"

Seeing their earnest words and the sincerity in their tone, the Protector, despite his disbelief, had to accept most of it.

"Could it be that such a prodigy truly exists in this world?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Even the Cult Master himself broke through to the Master realm after the age of twenty, let alone reaching the peak Master realm."

"In the current martial world, a twenty-year-old Innate is already a top-tier genius. There's no way a twenty-year-old peak Master exists!"

"This person holds a great secret! He absolutely holds a great secret!"

The Protector's heart pounded, his breathing grew rapid. He felt he had stumbled upon the truth.

He refused to believe anyone could break through to the peak Master realm at the age of twenty.

The only possible explanation was that Bai Yan had an incredible fortuitous encounter.

Such an encounter made even him feel tempted.

"Investigate! Investigate this Bai Yan to death for me!"

The Protector suddenly roared, his voice turning violent and sinister:

"Find out all of Bai Yan's background and origins! His lineage, his past, all his movements since joining the Imperial Guard, not a single detail can be missed!"

"This person holds a great secret, and this secret must be used for our Cult!"

"Even if he has no secret, this person absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

"Someone like him serving the Great Yu dynasty is a major threat to our Cult, and must be eliminated as soon as possible!"

"Otherwise, he will surely become an unparalleled Grandmaster in the future, and then it will be too late!"

"Yes, your subordinate obeys!" The three responded in unison.

"Alright, you may withdraw."

The Protector waved his hand, his voice returning to its usual calm.

"We take our leave."

The three bowed again and then retreated, until they were out of the underground palace.

Once the stone door of the underground palace was completely closed, the three exchanged glances and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They could see fear and lingering dread in each other's eyes.

Every time they met this Protector, they were on edge, as if walking through the gates of hell, terrified that a single misstep would result in the Protector killing them on the spot.

Among the six Protectors of the Demonic Cult, the one above them was notoriously moody, bloodthirsty, and cruel.

The next morning, Bai Yan arrived at the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau early.

All the Brigade Leaders and Squad Leaders along the way respectfully saluted Bai Yan.

"Good morning, Commander Bai."

"Greetings, Commander Bai."

"This subordinate greets Commander Bai."

Bai Yan smiled and nodded, as if reviewing his high-ranking subordinates.

On the way to the Company Commander's office, Bai Yan spotted an acquaintance and immediately smiled and went up to greet him.

"Yo? Isn't this Commander Zhao?"

"It's been a few days, Commander Zhao, has your injury healed?"

Seeing Bai Yan, Zhao Gaozhong's face turned as ugly as if he had eaten a fly.

His injuries had improved slightly these past few days, and he wanted to go out for a walk, get some sun, and change his mood.

He hadn't expected to run into Bai Yan by such a coincidence.

Zhao Gaozhong said nothing and turned to leave, but Bai Yan stopped him first.

"Commander Zhao, don't go. I've come to apologize this time."

"I'm truly sorry about what happened last time. It's all my fault for being too heavy-handed and accidentally injuring you, Commander Zhao."

"But then again, you can't blame me entirely. Who knew you were so weak? As a Company Commander of the Imperial Guard, you couldn't even withstand a single palm strike from me."

"But regardless, I was the one who injured you, Commander Zhao, so it's all my fault."

"How about this, how about I host a banquet at Baiwei Tower tonight to apologize to you, Commander Zhao?"

Looking at the grinning Bai Yan, Zhao Gaozhong trembled with anger, almost grinding his molars to dust.

This was psychological torture!

He was being tortured even after being attacked!

What did he mean he was too weak?

What did he mean he couldn't withstand a single palm strike?

And besides, with his current condition, could he even go to Baiwei Tower?

What was the point, to die in bed?

What kind of apology was this! What kind of reconciliation was this!

Zhao Gaozhong stared intently at Bai Yan, his eyes bloodshot, almost going mad, wishing he could skin Bai Yan alive and tear him limb from limb.

If looks could kill, Bai Yan would have died countless times over.

"Bai Yan, what exactly do you want!"

Zhao Gaozhong gritted his teeth, each word squeezed out as if from between his molars.

Bai Yan said with a sarcastic laugh, "Oh my, Commander Zhao, what are you saying?"

"I came specifically to apologize, and also to thank Commander Zhao."

"Commander Zhao, you are truly a great benefactor. I accidentally injured you, Commander Zhao, and yet you bore no grudges and gave me the opportunity to earn merit. What magnanimity!"

"If it weren't for you, Commander Zhao, I wouldn't have had the chance to achieve such a great accomplishment."

"Commander Zhao, you tell me yourself, shouldn't I thank you?"

"You..."

"Commander Zhao, you are a truly good person!"

"I..."

"I, Bai Yan, am truly filled with guilt!"

"Damn it... Bai Yan, you're going too far!"

"Don't think I'm easy to bully, let me tell you! I'm not someone to be trifled with!"

Zhao Gaozhong couldn't take it anymore. He pushed away the Brigade Leader supporting him, raised his still usable left arm, and prepared to attack.

"No, my lord! Don't be impulsive!"

"Bai Yan is provoking you, you absolutely cannot make a move!"

"Let's go back first. It's not too late to get revenge after you've recovered!"

The two Brigade Leaders held onto Zhao Gaozhong's waist tightly, dragging him away.

Even as he was being dragged further away, Zhao Gaozhong turned his head and couldn't forget to leave behind a harsh threat.

"You just wait, Bai Yan! You wait for me!"

Watching Zhao Gaozhong flee in disarray, Bai Yan couldn't help but let out a scoff.

"I didn't expect this guy to improve. He actually held back. His temper has even changed in just a few days. Is he planning to evolve into a Ninja Turtle?"

Bai Yan admitted that he was gloating and had deliberately come to stir up trouble.

If Zhao Gaozhong had dared to make a move, Bai Yan would have crippled his left arm this time, forcing him to lie in bed for another month.

It was just a pity that Zhao Gaozhong was too restrained today, leaving Bai Yan with no opportunity to act.