Nobles (2)

Meanwhile, Jiang Che had returned from the Tianyun Mountain Range. He had barely taken a few steps past the north city gate when he spotted a crowd up ahead.

Exhausted in both body and mind, he had not intended to get involved, but he vaguely remembered the old fisherman telling him his address last time and inviting him to drop by if he had the chance.

At the time, Jiang Che had taken it as mere politeness and paid it no mind.

Now, however, Jiang Che suddenly realized that the house surrounded by people up ahead seemed to belong to the old fisherman.

Oh, fine. I'll go take a look. The old fisherman helped me quite a bit last time. If it really is someone too tough even for me to handle, there are plenty of people around anyway. I can leave without stepping in.

"Hey, brother, what happened here? Why are there so many people?" Jiang Che walked up to a man and asked.

At Jiang Che's question, the man's anger seemed to find an outlet. "Young man, you just got here, so you don't know. Those three aren't even human."

The man gave Jiang Che a rough account of what had just happened.

Jiang Che's brows furrowed slightly.

People from the Marquis’s Residence again. He really did have quite a connection with them.

From the man, he also learned that the people of the Feilun Marquis Household committed every kind of evil in Vast Sea City. Although they had behaved themselves considerably more in recent years under pressure from the Li Family, they still frequently preyed on commoners.

Should I step in or not? Jiang Che silently weighed his options.

If he really stepped in, it would mean offending the second-largest noble family in Vast Sea City.

Jiang Che surveyed the surroundings. This spot was closest to the city gate, so if he dealt with these three, he could leave Vast Sea City quickly.

A noble family in Vast Sea City was naturally nothing for Jiang Che to fear. At worst, he could move to another city and carry on living. The crucial issue was that if he killed these three and simply left, the old fisherman and his granddaughter might face even greater trouble.

The old man spat a mouthful of thick phlegm at the three men, and it landed in front of their leader's feet.

The lackeys on either side both looked at the fat man leading them, waiting for his decision.

The fat leader's face filled with fury. "You old bastard! If I don't teach you a lesson today, my surname isn't Wang!"

With that, the fat leader charged toward the old man. Another fat man followed close behind, while the last swept his gaze around to keep anyone from interfering.

Just as the fat man reached the old man, a figure swiftly approached and stepped between them. It was Jiang Che.

The fat man braked sharply, his head hurtling toward Jiang Che, only for Jiang Che to seize it with one hand. Following through, Jiang Che raised his foot and kicked him in the abdomen. His corpulent body flew backward into the fat man following him, and the two slid along the ground, one behind the other.

Jiang Che sighed helplessly. In the end, he had stepped in after all.

Although intervening this time would bring disaster upon the old fisherman later, if he did nothing now, the old fisherman and his granddaughter would suffer today.

Jiang Che turned to the girl. "Are you all right?"

The girl shook her head timidly. "I'm fine!"

She looked at her grandfather, not understanding what exactly was happening.

The old fisherman looked at Jiang Che, who had appeared so suddenly, his eyes shining with excitement. "Lord Soul Master! Xiaoduo, this is the very kind Lord Soul Master I told you about last time."

After learning who the blue-haired youth was, the girl breathed a sigh of relief as well.

Xiaoduo noticed the sweat on Jiang Che's right hand, picked up when he had touched the fat man's hair just now. She offered him her handkerchief. "Here... thank you!"

Only then did Jiang Che notice the sweat on his hand. He glanced at the exceedingly greasy fat man. "Disgusting!"

Jiang Che took the handkerchief and wiped his hand, then said gravely, "Sir, you should leave here as quickly as possible. I've stood up for you today, but the trouble you'll face later will be even worse than it is now."

Jiang Che knew full well that the Gold Soul Coins he had given the old man last time were enough for him and his granddaughter to move to another city and live well.

The old fisherman also realized the gravity of the problem and looked at Jiang Che gratefully. "Th-thank you, Lord Soul Master. Being able to meet you truly is a blessing I earned in my previous life!"

As he spoke, the old fisherman took his granddaughter and ran toward the cellar in the backyard. His entire lifetime's savings were there!

"Grandpa, will that big brother be all right?" Xiaoduo asked worriedly.

"There are three of them, and one is even a Soul Elder!"

The old fisherman said calmly, "Don't worry. Lord Soul Master is very strong."

The old fisherman had complete confidence in Jiang Che. What a joke-he had dared to hunt a Thousand-Year Soul Beast while still a One-Ring Soul Master. That was not something just anyone could do. More importantly, his strength was bound to have soared after absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

Although the other side had a Soul Elder, he was nothing but an empty showpiece who lived in pampered comfort. The old fisherman knew Jiang Che was different. Jiang Che looked young, but that fierce blood in his eyes belonged only to someone who had fought for his life and had lives on his hands.

The fat man's neck was bright red, and his abdomen burned with pain. He knew his opponent was also a Soul Master; that kick was not something an ordinary person could deliver. "You're a Soul Master too? Then we settle this through Soul Fighting, according to the rules of Soul Masters. What's the meaning of a sneak attack?"

Jiang Che looked at the fat man as though he were a complete moron. Truthfully, he really did not want to fight these three fat men.

All three were covered from head to toe in clammy sweat. One look was enough to tell that they had extremely active nightlives. If he fought them, their sweat might get on him too.

"This isn't something Soul Fighting can settle. Xiaoduo said no, and no one can force her. She isn't merchandise."

The fat leader was clearly enraged. "Even the King of Heaven himself couldn't stop this today! Kid, I can tell you're an outsider, so stay out of this trouble. Let me tell you, I'm from the Felun Family!"

Jiang Che sighed helplessly. "The Felun Family? I've already killed more than one member of the Felun Family today."

The fat leader signaled to the lackeys on either side with his eyes, and both stepped forward.

"Wang Niu. Martial Soul: War Ox. Level thirty-one, power attack system."

"Li Qing. Martial Soul: wooden club. Level twenty-three, power attack system."

"Zhao Li. Martial Soul: War Tiger. Level nineteen, power attack system."

The three activated Martial Soul Possession. Wang Niu's body rapidly swelled, his skin turned bronze, and horns sprouted from his head. Three Soul Rings appeared: yellow, yellow, and purple.

Li Qing gripped his wooden club, bent his knees, and took a stance. Two yellow Soul Rings lit up.

Zhao Li extended his claws. Thick yellow-and-white fur covered his skin, the character 王 appeared on his forehead, and a Yellow Soul Ring emerged.

Seeing this, the onlookers no longer dared to linger. This was a battle between Soul Masters. If they were caught in it, they would have no chance to regret it.

Some returned home but still could not resist drawing their curtains aside a crack to watch cautiously. Some inwardly cursed these shameless men.

Hadn't they just agreed to follow the rules of Soul Masters and settle this through Soul Fighting?

But Soul Fighting wasn't three against one, was it?

The fat man had not thought about any of that. Right now, he only wanted to give this brat, who did not know the heights of heaven or the depths of the earth, a thorough beating.