The Mysterious Young Man

"This is an inn. Why are you causing trouble and fighting here? Don't you know that within the Heaven Dou Empire, soul masters are forbidden by law from casually attacking civilians?"

The young man's voice was as gentle as the wind, yet it carried a faint authority within it. Before Jiang Xuan, the bearing of someone long accustomed to a position of power was impossible to conceal.

Although he did not yet know who this person was, it seemed he might be saved for now.

His eyes darting about, Jiang Xuan hurriedly began playing the victim.

"Kind sir, you came at just the right time! This shameless old bastard was just about to forcibly kidnap me! He's far too strong—I'm no match for him at all. Please, save me!"

Hearing Jiang Xuan's words, Flender was briefly stunned, but he did not take them too seriously.

Though this young man looked presentable enough, he was ultimately just an older brat.

So what if he had a little influence behind him?

He, Flender, was a dignified Soul Saint. How could he be so easily cowed by mere power and influence?

Thus, he directly threatened the young man without any restraint.

"Boy, I'll compensate this inn for its losses at full price later. As for everything else, it has nothing to do with you. This old man advises you not to meddle in other people's business, lest you bring trouble upon yourself!"

As he spoke, he released his Soul Saint pressure at the young man without holding anything back, intending to crush any thought of meddling right out of him.

Yet events unfolded completely differently from what he had imagined.

Not only did the young man fail to lose his composure under the pressure, but his calmness and poise made it seem as though he had not been affected at all.

Clearly, this young man who had appeared from nowhere and loved meddling in other people's affairs was no ordinary person!

This discovery immediately made Flender narrow his eyes.

"Who might Your Excellency be? I do not recall having any prior acquaintance with you. If I have inadvertently offended you before, this old man offers his apologies. Might you give this old man some convenience today? I will surely repay you in the future!"

Flender surrendered and sought peace at lightning speed, yet he did not find it embarrassing. In fact, he believed his choice was entirely correct.

After all, getting Jiang Xuan back to Shrek Academy as quickly as possible was the only important thing he needed to do right now.

However, the young man did not respond to his proposal for peace. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Jiang Xuan and asked gently.

"Young brother, don't be afraid. With me here, no one can forcibly kidnap you. Could you tell me exactly what happened here, from beginning to end?"

Since someone was willing to stand up for him, Jiang Xuan naturally did not refuse. He immediately explained, quickly and concisely, how Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai had made noise in the corridor, been taught a lesson by him, and how their teacher Flender had then appeared and tried to kidnap him.

After listening, Flender looked at his disciple Ma Hongjun in surprise.

He had arrived relatively late. By the time he got there, his disciple was already on the verge of being beaten to death, so he had not known what had happened beforehand.

Who would have thought that this whole mess had been caused by his own disciple...

Seeing Flender's questioning gaze, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai immediately turned their heads away in shame, not daring to meet his eyes.

Though neither of them said anything, that one action was as good as a direct admission.

Seeing this, the young man's expression instantly darkened.

"Good! Your disciples started the trouble, and after they were taught a lesson, you, their master, not only failed to educate them, but even attempted to kidnap someone outside the city and silence him forever? Such viciousness is unforgivable! Like disciples, like master indeed! My Heaven Dou Empire will never tolerate scum like you and your disciples!"

Flender: ???

Was that right? When had he ever wanted to silence anyone?

After berating him, the young man merely clapped his hands casually. Two masked figures wrapped head to toe in black robes silently appeared behind him like ghosts.

"Escort these three scum to the city lord's manor. Tell the city lord that I ordered it, and have him strictly punish these three scum according to the laws of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

Upon hearing the young man's command, the two masked figures in black robes nodded, then stepped forward to make their move.

Naturally, Flender was unwilling to surrender without a fight.

Yet just as he prepared to resist, he discovered in horror that his soul power was being suppressed by two immensely powerful forces of soul power at once!

This was...

Title Douluo!

And two Title Douluo at that!

Just who in the world had he provoked?

Without question, under the simultaneous pressure of two Title Douluo at such close range, Flender did not even have a chance to flee. He could only watch helplessly as he and his disciples were restrained and captured, then forcibly dragged out of the inn without even being able to utter a single word.

This wasn't right!

Was the script supposed to go like this?

Just a few minutes ago, he had held an absolute advantage. How had his entire future turned dark in the blink of an eye?

The two masked men in black quickly took Flender away, along with the utterly bewildered Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai.

To be honest, even Jiang Xuan himself had not expected things to develop this way.

He had merely acted on a sudden impulse and tried his luck, yet he had actually latched onto a powerful backer—and not just any powerful backer.

Now that someone else had resolved the trouble, a sincere expression of gratitude should bring this matter to a perfect close.

With that thought, Jiang Xuan cupped his hands toward the mysterious and powerful young man and thanked him earnestly.

"Thank you for stepping in, big brother. I am deeply grateful!"

At his words, the young man's smile remained gentle.

"It was nothing, merely a small effort. Maintaining peace within the Heaven Dou Empire is what I ought to do. May I ask where young brother lives? Do you have any elders nearby? If necessary, I can escort you safely home."

The young man's words seemed to contain a kind of magic that made people instinctively want to draw closer to him...

For a moment, Jiang Xuan almost nodded without thinking and agreed to let the young man escort him.

But as the words reached his lips, Jiang Xuan suddenly sensed that something was wrong and quickly stopped himself.

Thinking carefully, although the young man had put it differently, his core purpose seemed no different from Flender's!

This guy also seemed to be trying to probe into his background!

He had just escaped one pestilence god, and now an even fiercer one had shown up right after?

After thinking rapidly, Jiang Xuan decided to test him.

"Thank you for your kindness, big brother. I appreciate it, but I won't trouble you over going home. To be honest, I snuck out without my family elders knowing. If I go back now, I'll definitely suffer terribly!"

Upon hearing this, the young man's eyes immediately lit up. Then, in a voice full of temptation, he took the initiative to extend an olive branch.

"Then do you have a fixed place to stay now, young brother? If not, why not come with me? Since you and I met here today, it proves that we are fated! I would gladly provide you with some conveniences!"