On the Sky Screen.
Ye Ziyun and the others successfully caught up with Chen Linjian's main group.
Suddenly.
"Everyone up ahead, listen up!"
The voice was incredibly loud. They looked back and saw Huyan Lanruo.
"I've decided to pursue Nie Li! If anyone else dares set their sights on him, they'll have me to answer to!"
Her declaration thundered through the entire group.
"What? Miss Lanruo actually has her eye on Nie Li?"
Even Nie Li hadn't expected Huyan Lanruo to dare pull a stunt like this. He had always held everything in the palm of his hand, yet now, at last, panic crossed his face.
Ye Ziyun said, "I'm going to find Brother Chen."
"I'll come with you, Zi Yun!"
When they passed Chu Yuan, he still hadn't recovered and was being supported by someone.
Seeing Nie Li pass, Chu Yuan hadn't forgotten his hatred over having his soul force stolen, so he threatened him. "Nie Li, this isn't over between us!"
Nie Li put both hands behind his head and immediately began needling Chu Yuan. "Of course it isn't. You still haven't barked like a dog, have you?"
"You!"
"You can owe me for now. I'll come listen when I have some free time."
Chu Yuan hadn't recovered physically in the first place. Provoked by Nie Li, he only managed to spit out that single word before fainting again on the spot.
He had passed out from anger.
And Huyan Lanruo embarked on her long, boundless quest to chase down her future husband.
"Nie Li, try my apricot blossom cakes and this fine apricot blossom wine. I brewed it myself, you know."
"Ah! A demon beast!"
"Where?"
Nie Li quickly used that excuse to get Huyan Lanruo to look up at the sky for a moment, giving him time to make his escape.
When she realized Nie Li had tricked her again, Huyan Lanruo stamped her feet in anger.
He chased after Ye Ziyun, who was walking at the very front.
Ye Ziyun even asked him why he wasn't with Huyan Lanruo.
Nie Li hurriedly explained that there was absolutely nothing between him and Huyan Lanruo.
But just as he wanted to explain further, a sudden cry of "Nie Li!" came from behind, sending him running forward again.
The sight made Ye Ziyun laugh. She rarely saw Nie Li looking so flustered.
By evening, Nie Li was tiptoeing even when he walked through the camp.
Huyan Lanruo lounged seductively at the entrance to her tent, having even taken off her outer garment. "Nie Li, come cultivate with me-"
Before she could finish, Nie Li shoved her straight into the tent.
When the sun rose, Nie Li finished cultivating up in a large tree, only to find Huyan Lanruo standing below.
"Nie Li! You're done cultivating! I just made breakfast!"
Nie Li lost his footing and fell straight off the thick branch.
He truly had to hand it to this woman!
Beneath the Sky Screen.
The men felt both admiration and envy toward Nie Li.
A beauty like Huyan Lanruo was throwing herself into his arms, yet his heart didn't so much as stir.
Their interactions certainly had quite a few people below roaring with laughter.
They had watched Nie Li keep everything firmly under control for so long. This was truly their first time seeing him reduced to such a sorry state by a woman.
At the City Lord's Mansion.
Nie Li had already made up his mind that he absolutely must not meet Huyan Lanruo in the future. He simply couldn't handle this woman.
Ye Ziyun tightened her grip on Nie Li's arm.
So did Xiao Ning'er.
At that moment, both girls' wariness toward Huyan Lanruo had reached its peak.
Still, they really couldn't imitate Huyan Lanruo's antics or her relentless pursuit.
Ye Zong's face darkened as well. He had known what his old friend Huyan Xiong's daughter was like from the start.
Huyan Lanruo was something of an old maid who couldn't get herself married off. It wasn't as though the city lacked talented young men from wealthy families; the problem was that none of them caught her eye.
She had seen how young his son-in-law was and wanted to fleece him for all he was worth!
At the Heavenly Marks Family.
Even Nie Ming felt envious of his son's luck with women.
Romantic blossoms certainly flourished around his son.
At the Huyan Family.
Huyan Lanruo had already decided that she would pay a visit to the City Lord's Mansion before long.
She simply had to see Nie Li!
She refused to believe she had no chance. Ye Ziyun's future charm was indeed beyond question, but wasn't she still young right now?
Why shouldn't she have a chance?
On the Sky Screen.
Nie Li was genuinely afraid of Huyan Lanruo now.
As they neared their destination, Nie Li mercilessly pushed away Huyan Lanruo, who was leaning against his shoulder, and leaped onto the ruined city wall.
"We're finally here."
At the city gate, Chen Linjian took the map he had prepared beforehand out of his Space Ring, and everyone gathered around.
The map was indeed very detailed. Chen Linjian pointed out that although there were no powerful demon beasts left here, some Azure-Armed Giant Apes still used the place as their lair, so they had to move quickly.
Shen Yue suggested that they enter the main city directly through the West Gate, then search the residential district.
Chen Linjian considered it for a moment, then asked Nie Li what he thought.
Nie Li shook his head. Would commoners have much treasure? Most of the wealth would surely be found in the great families' compounds.
Shen Yue began sneering again, saying that everyone knew that, but with ruins this vast, how were they supposed to determine where the great families had lived?
Nie Li pointed out that great families generally had their own courtyards. They only needed to look for clusters of more widely spaced buildings.
Huyan Lanruo immediately jumped forward and pointed to a spot, then looked at Nie Li as though seeking praise.
Chen Linjian said that the buildings in that area were indeed quite extensive, but it had already been explored, and some things had been found there.
Some people grew dejected, feeling they had come for nothing.
Shen Yue sneered again. Did Nie Li think no one else could come up with what he had?
Nie Li immediately shot back, asking whether someone had just farted. It stank so badly.
Unable to bear the provocation, Shen Yue was about to erupt, but a single look from Chen Linjian forced him to shut his mouth on the spot.
Both were young masters of the three pinnacle families, but Chen Linjian's standing was far above Shen Yue's.
Nie Li resumed his analysis. The area along the city's central axis should be the City Lord's Mansion. He guessed it had already been searched too, but then pointed to a place beside it.
Chen Linjian explained that this was the Drill Ground, where the City Lord's Mansion trained its soldiers. It should have been an unremarkable place, but after Nie Li drew his attention to it, Chen Linjian felt there must be something strange about it.
Nie Li explained that soldiers generally made camp outside the city to train, yet this place was not only inside the city, but right beside the City Lord's Mansion. When something strayed from the norm, there had to be a demon lurking behind it.
Chen Linjian also found Nie Li's reasoning sound and chose the Drill Ground as their destination.
Nie Li took out his crossbow and quiver as well.
As the group entered through the city gate, another party appeared behind them.
They were all dressed in black robes whose hoods concealed their faces, leaving only their chins and mouths exposed. Strange symbols were printed on the robes, and each person carried a weapon. The man at their head wore a dark red robe instead, clearly marking him as the leader.
"Are you certain those brats are all children of noble families?"
"Yes, Lord Yunhua."
"Good. Capture the ones with the highest status and bring them back for ransom. As for the rest, leave none alive."
The black-robed figures behind him all cupped their hands in acknowledgment.
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