Late at night.
Under cover of moonlight, several figures galloped out of Green Maple Valley.
They raced toward the prefectural city.
Two days later...
At last, the travel-weary group arrived beneath the walls of Ascending Dragon Prefecture.
As the seat of a commandery, Ascending Dragon Prefecture was naturally far more prosperous than Baihe County.
Its permanent population alone numbered several million.
Looking at the towering walls before him,
a thing called ambition burned fiercely in Li Xinge's eyes.
"One day, I will be the master of this land."
Li Xinge thought to himself.
The group entered the prefectural city without hindrance.
They walked along the bustling streets.
Beside him, Li Yanzhao, dressed in a green robe, smiled and said, "Clan Head, we've been on the road for two days. Everyone must be tired. The auction doesn't start until tomorrow, so why don't we find a restaurant, have a meal, and rest for the night?"
Li Xinge looked at the weary faces around him, then nodded.
Soon...
Led by Li Yanzhao, the group stopped in front of a restaurant called Green Willow Tower.
Li Yanzhao smiled as he introduced it. "Clan Head, Green Willow Tower's medicinal dishes are the finest in Ascending Dragon Prefecture!"
"Then let's give them a try."
At his current level, ordinary medicinal dishes no longer had any effect on him.
Still, there was nothing wrong with indulging his appetite.
Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators had yet to reach the point where they could go without food.
As soon as they reached the entrance,
the waiter hurried over with a fawning smile. "Gentlemen, are you here to eat or to stay the night?"
"We're here to eat. Prepare a private room and serve us one of every signature dish."
Li Yanzhao answered from beside him.
The waiter took one look at the group's imposing bearing.
He bowed even lower, his manner growing more deferential. "This way, gentlemen. Please, come inside."
As he spoke, he gestured for them to follow.
The group went after him.
Before long, the waiter had shown Li Xinge and the others into a private room.
"Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I've already asked the kitchen to prepare your dishes. They'll be ready shortly. I'll be waiting outside; just call if you need anything."
With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Li Xinge and Li Yanzhao took their seats one after the other.
Several guards stood respectfully to one side.
Li Xinge didn't have to wait long. After about half a quarter of an hour...
The attendants brought in the medicinal dishes, their unique aromas wafting through the room.
"White Jade Lingzhi Soup!"
"Coiled Dragon Eel!"
"Steamed Spirit Fish!"
"..."
They brought out ten dishes in all, filling the table.
"Your dishes are all here, gentlemen. Please enjoy. In a little while, Miss Wen Xi, the famous musician of our Ascending Dragon Prefecture, will perform for the guests here at Green Willow Tower!"
The attendant spoke respectfully.
Looking at the delicious dishes, each one a feast for the eyes and nose, Li Xinge couldn't help salivating.
As for the attendant's last words, he hadn't heard a single one.
He set about sampling the delicacies before him.
As Li Yanzhao had said, the food was indeed delicious, and it did benefit cultivation to some extent—but only for those in the Body Realm and Body Forging Realm.
Its effect on Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators was almost negligible.
Meanwhile,
outside the private room,
a lilting, melodious tune rose from a qin.
The notes flowed through the air like a babbling brook.
At times they soared, impassioned and stirring, like a waterfall plunging down a mountain ravine.
At others they sank, soft and gentle, like a candle flame swaying in the night wind.
The whole of Green Willow Tower seemed to grow tranquil all at once.
Everyone seemed so immersed in the beautiful melody that they couldn't tear themselves away.
Only Li Xinge remained completely unaffected, enjoying the food before him.
He knew nothing about music. He thought it sounded nice, but that was all.
Soon, the piece ended.
Outside the private room, cheers and applause surged like a tide.
"This tune belongs only in the heavens. How often could one hear it in the mortal world? Miss Wen Xi is truly the most famous musician in Ascending Dragon Prefecture. To have seen her today is a blessing I'll treasure for three lifetimes!"
"Miss Wen Xi plays the qin beautifully—and she's a beauty herself!"
"If I could marry Miss Wen Xi, I'd gladly give up ten years of my life!"
"A toad hoping to feast on swan meat!"
"Better hope Second Young Master Zhang doesn't hear you say that. Otherwise, he'll skin you alive!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"..."
The racket outside made Li Xinge frown without thinking.
Beside him, Sixth Elder Li Yanzhao quickly shot a glance at one of the guards.
The guard understood and shut the door firmly.
The noise grew much fainter.
After another half hour or so, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, and they prepared to settle the bill and leave.
They had barely stepped out of the room
when a heated argument reached Li Xinge's ears.
"Wen Xi, don't push your luck. I've already given you plenty of time. Nothing you say now will make a difference."
Across from the private room,
a short young man in brocade robes, with a pale face and a stout body like a groundhog, spoke viciously.
Two middle-aged men in black Warrior Robes stood behind him.
Li Xinge was a little surprised. Both men were Body Realm Cultivators.
In Baihe County, Body Realm Cultivators were already the backbone of a local power.
Yet here, two Body Realm Cultivators were merely serving as guards.
The young man in brocade robes clearly had a formidable background.
The woman called Wen Xi leaned against a corner, her eyes moist and her face full of terror.
"Wen Xi, I'll ask you one more time. Are you coming with me or not?"
Like a frightened kitten,
the woman shook her head over and over, her voice trembling. "N-no..."
The young man in brocade robes seemed to have run out of patience.
With an impatient look, he strode straight toward her. As he drew closer, the woman gritted her teeth. Somehow finding the courage, she shoved him away.
Caught completely off guard, the young man in brocade robes fell to the ground.
Seizing the chance, the woman tried to flee in a panic.
But the two guards blocked her way, their faces expressionless.
Seeing the gleaming steel sabers in their hands, the woman instinctively backed away.
She lost her footing and tumbled to the ground.
She looked to the customers who had just been fawning over her, among whom were more than a few dignitaries.
But when they saw the figure lying on the ground, they looked apprehensive, turned their heads, and pretended not to see.
Just as despair took hold...
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Li Xinge and his group. As if she had found her last chance of survival,
she scrambled to her feet and, under Li Xinge's startled gaze...
grabbed his robe and hid behind him.
Only her head showed as she pleaded desperately, "Young master, please, be kind and save me! This Young Master Zhang is a notorious wastrel in the prefectural city. Anyone who falls into his hands meets a terrible end."
There was no denying that the woman was quite beautiful.
With that pitiful expression on her face,
it was hard for anyone to say no.
Seeing this, the two guards walked toward Li Xinge and his party with hostile looks.
The guards behind Li Xinge weren't about to back down either. They drew their sabers and stepped in front of him.
A fight seemed about to break out.
The stout young man, who had fallen to the ground, finally managed to get back up. He trotted over.
He glanced at the woman hiding behind Li Xinge, his face full of anger.
He was just about to speak
when Li Xinge smiled faintly, reached back, grabbed Wen Xi by her waterfall of long hair, and shoved her toward the stout young man.
The tearing pain on her scalp made the woman scream. She stumbled and fell into the stout young man's arms.
"Brother, I don't know this woman. I'm handing her over to you now. I hope I haven't spoiled your fun."
The stout young man looked stunned.
After a moment,
he finally came to his senses and burst out laughing. He glanced at the two attendants who had drawn their sabers, then barked coldly, "Put your weapons away! This young master is my friend now!"
The two Body Realm attendants sheathed their sabers and respectfully took their places behind the stout young man.
The guards in front of Li Xinge returned to their places as well.
The tension dissipated in an instant.
"My household servants were out of line. I'll apologize on their behalf. I hope you won't take offense, brother."
The stout young man tossed the woman in his arms to the two guards, then smiled at Li Xinge and cupped his hands.
"This one is Zhang Qin Hu. I'm second in my family. If you don't mind, you can call me Zhang Er. May I ask your surname, brother?"
At the sound of that name, Li Xinge couldn't help laughing inwardly, though his expression didn't change.
But beside him, Li Yanzhao's calm face changed abruptly when he heard the name.
Li Xinge smiled faintly,
and replied, "My humble surname is Li. Li Xinge."
Zhang Qin Hu's mind raced. He thought long and hard but couldn't recall any prominent family in the prefectural city with the surname Li.
Still, his expression remained unchanged. If anything, he grew even more enthusiastic. "So you're Brother Li. I'm sorry to have interrupted your meal today. To make amends, let me set a table here at Green Willow Tower. We can have a good drink together!"
Li Xinge shook his head.
Zhang Qin Hu's expression changed slightly.
"I appreciate your kindness, Brother Zhang, but I've already eaten and drunk my fill. I really can't manage another bite. Besides, I have important business to attend to. Perhaps another day—I'll treat you and make it up to you."
A smile bloomed on Zhang Qin Hu's face again.
"In that case, I won't insist."
With that,
he called out, "Innkeeper?"
At his call,
a kindly old man hurried out. The moment he saw Zhang Qin Hu, a fawning smile spread across his face. He bowed respectfully. "Second Young Master, what can I do for you?"
Zhang Qin Hu glanced at Li Xinge
and said with a smile, "Put this young master's bill on my tab."
"Certainly!"
The innkeeper hurriedly agreed with a smile.
This time, Li Xinge didn't refuse.
"Then I'll let you pay for our meal, Brother Zhang."
Zhang Qin Hu laughed heartily. "What are you saying, Brother Li? We hit it off at first sight. What's a few dishes between friends? Since you have important business to attend to, I won't keep you. We'll talk again another day!"
"Until another day!"
They bid each other farewell and passed by one another.
Watching Li Xinge and his group walk away, Zhang Qin Hu looked thoughtful.
At his side,
Wen Xi's eyes brimmed with hatred as she watched Li Xinge.
Before you continue