1 vs. 1500?

"It's nothing. That man just disgusted me, so I hit him a little harder."

Tian Yan casually tossed aside the chair covered in blood and stood up.

"Looks like raising Tian Yan's affection for me really is a long and arduous road. For the sake of my own life, I'd better just let things take their natural course."

Jiang Lin's mouth twitched as he stared at that mangled heap, silently warning himself.

"Sigh, how did things end up like this?"

"This guest, you were far too impulsive. He was the eldest son of the City Lord's Manor. The city lord definitely won't let you off now. I may even be implicated by you."

A helpless voice rang out from afar. Then, a fat middle-aged man dressed in luxurious brocade robes walked over from the distance.

"You are?"

Tian Yan's gaze swept over him.

"Miss, my name is Xu Yan. I am the manager of this Gathered Delicacies Tower."

"Mm. Manager Xu, you just said the city lord might take his anger out on you. There's no need to fear that. Since I dared to kill Xiao Chenyuan here, I naturally have a way to clean up the loose ends with the Notting City lord."

"This—"

Hesitation flickered in Xu Yan's eyes. Just as he was about to say something else, Tian Yan impatiently waved her hand.

"That's enough. Have someone clean this place up."

"Sigh, all right."

After Xu Yan left, Jiang Lin cautiously approached Tian Yan's side. After hesitating for a while, he spoke.

"Sister Tian Yan, are you going to act personally? This doesn't count as one of those three times you'll make a move, right?"

"Heh, then it doesn't count. He's merely an ant with the cultivation of a Soul Ancestor. Let alone me, even Sister Long'er could handle him herself."

Tian Yan did not take Jiang Lin's words too seriously. After all, dealing with Xiao Shan, the lord of Notting City, was truly as easy as crushing an ant for her.

"Then when will Sister Tian Yan set out?"

"What's the rush? We've been shopping all morning, so let's eat something first. Don't tell me you're afraid Xiao Shan will run away?"

"Cough, cough. Right."

Jiang Lin smiled awkwardly, then waved at a uniformed young waitress in the distance.

"Miss over there, come here for a moment. We'd like to order."

"..."

Meanwhile, in the City Lord's Manor at the center of Notting City, Xiao Shan listened to the report from the person below him, his face darkening to the extreme.

"Xiao Yan actually lost to a little girl?"

"Hmph, what a piece of trash!"

"What exactly is Jiang Lin's background? Have you found out?"

"R-reporting to my lord, Jiang Lin came from Holy Soul Village. His parents died when he was young, and he only survived thanks to the village chief, Old Jack. Then, just two days ago, he awakened his Martial Soul under the witness of Martial Soul Hall deacon Su Yuntao. As for anything else, this subordinate is incompetent and truly found nothing."

"What about that little girl?"

"I-I don't know. It was as though she appeared out of thin air. This subordinate couldn't find the slightest trace of her."

"Hmph, you're trash too. I spend so much money raising you people every year, and this is all you bring me?"

Fury immediately surged across Xiao Shan's face. He grabbed a wine jug from beside him and viciously hurled it at the person below the platform.

Bang!

A dull thud rang out. The man below was smashed to the ground, his forehead covered in blood. Yet even so, he did not dare voice the slightest complaint. He hurriedly climbed back up and continued kneeling where he had been.

Just as Xiao Shan was about to say something else, another man dressed in black entered from outside.

"What is it now?"

Xiao Shan frowned.

Remembering Xiao Chenyuan's miserable state, the man in black hesitated, unsure whether he should say it.

"What? What happened? Why are you stammering?"

Xiao Shan's gaze immediately turned icy.

"Reporting to my lord, the young master... he, he is dead."

"What?"

"Chenyuan is dead? What exactly happened?!"

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Shan felt his vision go black. It took him quite a while to recover.

"M-my lord, the young master was eating at Gathered Delicacies Tower today when he took a fancy to a woman. But that woman's strength was unfathomable. She dealt with the young master's guards in a single move, then beat the young master to death with a chair."

"What?!"

"Ha ha ha—"

"Good, very good!"

"In all these years, this is the first time anyone has dared to provoke me, Xiao Shan, like this!"

Xiao Shan laughed in extreme anger, the killing intent in his eyes instantly becoming incomparably dense.

"Spread the word! All 1,500 City Guards are to mobilize! Whoever captures those thieves and brings them back will be rewarded directly by this city lord with one thousand Gold Soul Coins and a promotion of three ranks!"

At those words, everyone below the platform was startled, and wild delight appeared in their eyes.

Thus, under the temptation of such an incredibly generous reward, all 1,500 City Guards assembled in just half an hour. Then, under Xiao Shan's orders, they charged directly toward Gathered Delicacies Tower.

Burp—

"Mmm, the food at this place is so good. Jiang Lin, let's come back here to eat again if we get the chance, okay?"

"Sure. Next time for sure."

A smile appeared on the well-fed Jiang Lin's face. It truly was a case of getting what one paid for. Although a single meal had cost five Gold Soul Coins, the taste was undeniably excellent.

"All right, now that everyone has eaten their fill, let's go."

With that, they stood up. But before they could take more than a few steps, manager Xu Yan came running toward them, sweat pouring down his face.

"Manager Xu, what's wrong?"

Xu Yan sighed, then walked over and opened a window. Pointing below, he said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to leave. The City Lord's Manor's army has already surrounded this place."

"An army?"

Jiang Lin was somewhat puzzled. He walked to the window and looked into the distance. Immediately, one armored figure after another, each holding a spear, entered his sight.

"Th-that many people?"

Jiang Lin's face became extremely grave as he looked toward Tian Yan beside him.

"Sister Tian Yan, are you confident you can get the few of us out?"

There were a full 1,500 people. Even if most of them were ordinary people, they could still bury them to death with sheer numbers. Thus, Jiang Lin had no intention of fighting them. As long as Tian Yan was confident she could take them away, it would not matter if he had to use one of his chances for her to act.

"Kid, it seems you aren't entirely fearless after all. But aren't you underestimating me a little too much?"

In contrast to the gravity on everyone else's faces, Tian Yan showed no hint of panic. She even had the leisure to tease Jiang Lin, as though she did not take the 1,500 City Guards seriously at all.

"Could it be that Sister Tian Yan is confident you can fight all 1,500 of them?"

Jiang Lin swallowed, his pupils contracting slightly.

"Heh, fight?"

"If I were still my former self, let alone 1,500 people, even 300 would have sent me fleeing in panic. But now, after that lord enhanced my strength, it has already undergone a qualitative transformation."

"Now, as long as I wish it, wiping out all 1,500 of them by myself would not be difficult!"

"So, Jiang Lin, do you really only want me to take the few of you and run away?"

At those words, Jiang Lin fell silent.