Why Ya Fei Went to Wutan City

Mu Zhan's eyes were filled with shock. Dou Qi condensed around his body into a Dou Qi Gauze Robe.

"Stop!"

Just as the sword in Lin Hao's hand was about to fall, an aged voice rang out.

It was Tengshan of the Mite'er Family, along with Ya Fei and several other high-ranking figures.

"Mu Zhan!" Ya Fei's delicate brows were tightly furrowed, and her face practically had the words "disgusted" written all over it.

Lin Hao slowly exhaled, withdrew his Dou Qi, and stored the Green Edge Sword in his storage ring.

Mittel Tengshan walked up to Lin Hao and asked with concern, "Lin Hao, are you hurt?"

Lin Hao shook his head slightly.

Ya Fei asked worriedly, "What happened here? Mu Zhan, why are you here? And what were you trying to do just now?"

Mu Zhan hesitated, his gaze drifting toward Lin Hao.

What was he supposed to say?

Was he supposed to admit that he had come to find Lin Hao in the dead of night for a battle between men, only to lose?

"What is your cultivation level, exactly?" Mu Zhan asked.

Mu Zhan sensed that Lin Hao was only a Dou Zhe. Yet he, a two-star Dou Shi, had just lost to Lin Hao.

He suspected that Lin Hao had concealed his true cultivation.

Lin Hao said, "Dou Zhe!"

Ya Fei put her hands on her hips. Rather than questioning Lin Hao any further, she interrogated Mu Zhan. "You still haven't explained what happened here! Mu Zhan, are you causing trouble again?"

Mu Zhan replied nonchalantly, "It wasn't anything major. My hands were itching, so I just wanted to spar with him!"

Lin Hao smiled. "That's right, just a spar. He said that if I could withstand three of his moves, he would let me stay out of your sight. It really wasn't a big deal."

Uh!

Mu Zhan froze for a moment.

A slap in the face!

Lin Hao had claimed that it was no big deal, speaking as lightly as possible, yet he had revealed the entire matter.

Of course, Lin Hao had not mentioned the other half.

Not only had Lin Hao taken Mu Zhan's three moves, he had nearly seriously injured Mu Zhan just moments ago.

Anyone with eyes could see that if Tengshan had not spoken up in time, Mu Zhan definitely would not have been able to withstand Lin Hao's Sunset Flare.

Although Lin Hao did not say the latter half, he had defeated Mu Zhan instead.

Precisely because he did not say it, Mu Zhan felt that the invisible slap hurt even more.

After hearing the full story, Ya Fei was truly furious. She shouted, "Mu! Zhan!"

"Alright, alright. It's getting late. I should go back and sleep!" Mu Zhan strolled away from the scene at an unhurried pace under everyone's watchful eyes.

Although Tengshan and the others wanted to reprimand him, none of them spoke out to scold him. Mu Zhan was, after all, descended from a military family.

After Mu Zhan left, everyone else followed suit. Only Lin Hao and Ya Fei remained in the courtyard.

Ya Fei said apologetically, "Lin Hao, I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing to me?"

"I originally wanted you to help me pretend that we were close, so I could drive off Mu Zhan, who keeps pestering me. I didn't expect him to be so reckless. He nearly got you hurt."

"It's fine. Aren't I alright?" Lin Hao shrugged and chuckled carelessly.

"Maybe... maybe I should listen to the others and leave Holy City for a while." Ya Fei lowered her head, suddenly voicing her thoughts.

"Oh? Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know. I want to be assigned to one of the family's businesses for experience. On one hand, I can broaden my horizons. On the other, I can avoid Mu Zhan! Tomorrow, I'll ask the clan head for permission to be transferred to the lower ranks and experience life for myself!" Ya Fei's gaze was firm. She had already made a major decision in her heart.

If nothing unexpected happened, Ya Fei would go to Wutan City and become an auctioneer.

The next day, Ya Fei came to see Lin Hao again.

Just as Lin Hao had expected, Tengshan agreed.

After asking around, he learned that Wutan City lacked an auctioneer. The manager of the Miteer Auction House in Wutan City had happened to retire last month, and someone needed to be arranged to take his place.

Ya Fei had already agreed to go to Wutan City.

Only then did Lin Hao fully understand. So this was how Ya Fei had become an auctioneer in Wutan City, driven there by Mu Zhan's relentless harassment.

After finishing their meal, Lin Hao bid Ya Fei farewell.

He had already completed the task for which he had descended the mountain. Now, he only needed to return to the sect and exchange it for the medicinal pills he wanted.

Tengshan proposed sending expert guards to escort Lin Hao back to the Misty Cloud Sect, but Lin Hao refused.

His reason was that the moon-white robe he wore was the best proof of his identity.

The Jia Ma Empire was currently in a peaceful period. Minor scoundrels might fail to recognize his identity and provoke him. But experienced Dou Zhe, especially those from prestigious clans and families, would absolutely not dare to casually provoke him.

Mu Zhan had felt the urge to pick a fight with Lin Hao last night, yet he had still been forced to cover his face. He did not dare reveal his true appearance.

Mu Zhan was merely an exception.

After their clash last night, Lin Hao believed Mu Zhan would not be foolish enough to provoke him again. Going out of his way to put his own face in front of Lin Hao to be slapped was simply stupid.

Just as Lin Hao was walking through the streets on his way back to the Misty Cloud Sect, a maid approached and stopped him.

"Young master, my mistress invites you."

Lin Hao sized her up.

She wore a plain blue-gray cloth ruqun, its collar embroidered with subtle white thread patterns. A light-blue sash was tied around her waist, her sleeves rolled to her forearms, and her skirt reached her ankles. On her feet were slightly worn soft blue cloth shoes. Her hair held only a simple silver pin. She was neat and understated, every bit the proper palace maid.

Lin Hao asked tentatively, "Are you a palace maid?"

"Young master, please enter the carriage." The palace maid bowed politely and gestured toward the carriage behind her.

The carriage had a wooden compartment with plain paint and no patterns. A small window was set into each side, covered by coarse cloth curtains. Its solid wooden wheels were rimmed with iron, and it was pulled by a single scrawny horse. It was simple and unadorned, meant only for travel.

The palace maid's identity was now confirmed, but the carriage was utterly ordinary.

Lin Hao asked, "Who is your mistress?"

The palace maid merely smiled without answering. "Young master, please get in."

"What if I refuse?" Lin Hao's temper flared.

"My mistress said she would invite you again."

The palace maid's answer was passable.

The fact that she could dispatch a palace maid showed that her mistress was either wealthy or noble.

Yet the carriage was an ordinary one, showing that she did not wish to attract attention.

More importantly, judging by the maid's reply and her mistress's attitude, it did not seem that they would force Lin Hao into the carriage if he refused.

Lin Hao asked with a smile, "If you won't tell me who your mistress is, how can I feel at ease getting into the carriage and leaving with you?"

The palace maid kept smiling and replied politely, "Young master, I guarantee you will not suffer a loss! You are the disciple of the former sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect. No one would dare harm you in Holy City. Young master, please get in!"

Lin Hao hesitated for a while.

When facing an invitation from a stranger, although there would be no kidney-harvesting incident on the Dou Qi Continent, the consequences could be even worse. It could cost him his life.

But Lin Hao truly was not afraid that the other party might harm him.

"Then I'll go with you."

With that thought, Lin Hao boldly climbed into the carriage.

There was no one inside the carriage. The palace maid led the carriage out of the bustling streets and into an ordinary courtyard where the surroundings were exceptionally quiet and few people passed by.

Like the carriage, the courtyard was completely unremarkable.

Once he entered the courtyard, Lin Hao saw a woman sitting inside.