Commandant of the City Gate

Amid the crowd of onlookers, a ragged but handsome young man was leading a donkey cart toward Zhang Bin.

Just as Zhang Bin was about to fly into a rage, Xiao Fan approached with a smile, pulled out ten taels of silver from his robes, and stuffed them into his hand, speaking pleasantly.

"Sir, I know that girl. We're from the same village. There's no way she could be an Eastern Yue spy. How about you let this father and daughter go? Consider this silver my offering to you on her behalf."

At the sight of the silver, Zhang Bin finally let out a cold snort. "I can spare that old bastard, but I'm definitely searching that woman!"

"Sir, you search so many people every day. That must be exhausting. Why not take a rest today?" As he spoke, Xiao Fan took out another ten taels of silver and slipped them to Zhang Bin.

Zhang Bin accepted the money, yet still refused to release them. "You brat know how to behave, at least. Fine. Drag that old thing away. Let me search this woman first. If she isn't a spy, we'll call it settled."

As he spoke, he began pawing at the woman, his filthy hands burrowing straight into her clothes. Anyone with eyes could see that this was no search—it was blatant molestation!

Xiao Fan clenched one hand into a fist. Unable to endure it any longer, he was about to strike when the young master's furious roar came from inside the donkey cart.

"You dog of a servant! Stop right there! Who gave you the right to bully the common people here?! Dare you give your name? Once I return to the palace, just see how I deal with you!"

Ji Xuanyuan was beside himself with rage. He completely threw Xiao Fan's instructions to the back of his mind, jumped off the donkey cart, and prepared to hit someone.

The moment those words fell, Zhang Bin exploded. "Your grandmother's ass! You're tired of living, aren't you?!"

"You beggar dare spout such wild nonsense? I am Zhang Bin, Gate Commandant of the city gate! This west gate is under my command! These three thieves are suspected Eastern Yue spies! Men, surround them!"

With that, he called over five city guards, who drew their blades and surrounded the donkey cart.

Seeing that the other side outnumbered them and wore armor with swords at their waists, Ji Xuanyuan immediately realized he definitely could not beat them. He swaggered back behind Xiao Fan. "Old Xiao, teach them a lesson for me!"

Big Brother... are you trying to get me killed...? Xiao Fan was speechless. This had thoroughly enraged Zhang Bin now.

"You lot, seize that foul-mouthed one first!" Zhang Bin roared as he gave the order, pointing at Ji Xuanyuan.

As soon as he spoke, three armored city guards strode forward to capture Ji Xuanyuan.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Xiao Fan, who had been speaking courteously all along, sprang into the air and lashed out with three midair kicks, sending the three armored guards flying several yards away. Their breastplates shattered, and they collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.

Such was the overwhelming strength of a Qi Refining Realm warrior!

"Let me see who dares touch him!"

Watching the valiant young man, Ji Xuanyuan was so moved that his eyes immediately reddened. He muttered, "Old Xiao... no, Brother Xiao! From this day onward, you're my real big brother!"

That's not something you should say so casually, Young Master... Xiao Fan muttered inwardly. One did not casually claim to be a prince's elder brother.

At this sight, Zhang Bin was greatly shocked. "A Qi Refining Realm warrior! So you really are an Eastern Yue spy!"

Good grief, now I'm an Eastern Yue spy too. Do you see spies in everyone? Xiao Fan grumbled helplessly to himself, wondering whether this thug had something seriously wrong with his brain.

Zhang Bin's beady eyes were bloodshot, murderous light blazing within them. It was as though he had been waiting for precisely this moment. His face began twitching uncontrollably, unable to conceal his bloodthirsty, frenzied nature.

He drew the sword at his waist and activated the transcendent spiritual resonance within his body, causing the aura within a three-foot radius to tremble violently!

Eighth Rank of the martial path, Iron Bone Realm!

Xiao Fan inwardly cried out in alarm. He had run into a tough opponent—and a bloodthirsty madman at that.

"Mazi! Keep an eye on His High... keep an eye on Old Fifth!" Xiao Fan realized that a fierce battle was inevitable and had to keep the young master from getting caught up in it.

Wang Mazi immediately understood and dragged Ji Xuanyuan backward, only for them to be surrounded by a squad of armored soldiers rushing over as reinforcements.

"All of you, get back! I'm going to personally slice them into a thousand pieces! Hahahaha... hahahahaha!"

Amid his maniacal laughter, Zhang Bin charged forward with his sword, killing intent aimed straight at them.

Xiao Fan did not dare be careless. He kicked an armored soldier away, seized his sword, and raised it to block the incoming blade. Yet he had not expected the strike to carry the force of a thousand jun. The shock split the web between his thumb and forefinger with pain, and he nearly lost his grip on the hilt.

Before Xiao Fan could steady himself, Zhang Bin launched three more consecutive thrusts, seizing the opening to press his attack relentlessly. Every move was lethal. He truly intended to kill him.

Clang! Clang! Clang...!

In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged no more than seven or eight moves, yet Xiao Fan had already suffered two cuts from the blade...

Fuck! What a lunatic!

After their brief exchange, Xiao Fan quickly sensed something unusual about his opponent through a warrior's keen perception.

Zhang Bin's fighting style was utterly extreme, his aggression pushed to the limit. He did not consider defense in the slightest, like a bloodthirsty beast reveling in the pleasure of slaughter.

What was more, the turbulent aura around him radiated a powerful, sinister presence. It was calamity toxin!

Xiao Fan quickly realized what was wrong. This man's calamity toxin ran deep. He must have only recently broken through to the Eighth Rank, Iron Bone Realm, and his physical condition was extremely unstable!

He caught a split-second opening during the man's assault, spun, and swept his leg out fiercely, kicking Zhang Bin two zhang away.

Pain, pain, pain...

Though he had opened up the distance, that kick felt as though it had struck a block of iron, leaving his leg split and bruised.

Eighth Rank warriors possessed bronze skin and iron bones. Compared to the Ninth Rank, their greatest improvement was their defensive power. That was the confidence Zhang Bin relied on to attack so crazily without sparing a thought for defense.

Xiao Fan glanced at the sharp sword in his hand. It already had no fewer than three chips along its edge, all from striking Zhang Bin's body without breaking through his defenses.

"Hehe, who would've thought that you little bastard aren't just a Qi Refining Realm warrior, but a Ninth Rank warrior at Great Perfection, only a hair's breadth away from the Eighth Rank? What a pity. That tiny hair's breadth is still a gulf as vast as heaven and earth!"

Zhang Bin laughed like a madman, his twisted face nearly losing all human shape. The calamity toxin in his body visibly deepened before the naked eye!

Provoking him and sending his baleful poison out of control... The corner of Xiao Fan's mouth curled ever so slightly. He already had a plan in mind.

With that thought, Xiao Fan gave a mocking smile and said in an extremely provocative tone, "So this is all an Iron Bone Realm warrior amounts to? You're nothing but an iron-shelled turtle—a mere tortoise!"

The deeper the baleful poison ran, the weaker one's control over their emotions became. Such provocation might have had limited effect on an ordinary person, but to Zhang Bin's ears...

"You still dare spout such nonsense? I'll skin you alive and tear out your tendons!"

Zhang Bin charged at him like a madman, sword in hand. His assault was even fiercer than before! Even the forms and patterns of his techniques began to warp, making him increasingly resemble a crazed wild beast.

In contrast, Xiao Fan completely changed his strategy. Since he could not cut through him anyway, he simply devoted all his energy to dodging and circling, making delay his main tactic!

"Brother Xiao is in trouble."

At this moment, Wang Mazi, watching from the rear, wore a grave expression. Though he was not a martial artist, he could still see that Xiao Fan was at a disadvantage—and no small one.

Wang Mazi did not know what Xiao Fan had planned. He only felt that Xiao Fan was in an extremely passive position and likely would not be able to hold out for long.

He formed a hand seal with one hand, his fingers arranged in an orchid seal. His lips moved in silent incantation, and a faint shade of dark blue tinged his eyes.

Unexpectedly, before he could even finish the wind-up for his spell, three sharp swords had already been laid across his neck... The armored soldiers around them were no pushovers either.

"A spellcaster? Heh heh, don't try anything funny. My sword was just sharpened—it's nice and keen!"

Wang Mazi gave a dry laugh. Left with no alternative, he had no choice but to give up.

A spellcaster's strength lay in all sorts of flashy methods, but in close-quarters combat, they were at a considerable disadvantage—nowhere near a match for martial artists.

"You... you rebels! Do you know who I am?! I am..."