Get Out

"If Miss hadn't taken me in back then, where would there be any outer disciples of the Qingyun Sect!"

Lu Ren chuckled.

"Lu Ren, don't say that. I only took you in because I pitied you back then. Even without me, someone else would have helped you!"

Wan Cuilan said, her face blushing.

After catching up for a while, Lu Ren changed the subject and asked, "Miss Cuilan, has Nie Liuxiang appeared recently?"

Wan Cuilan sighed deeply and said, "My father hired two experts who had opened ten Spiritual Apertures to protect me day and night. Nie Liuxiang didn't dare to show up, but those two experts became more and more demanding. They started with a commission of one Low-grade Spirit Stone per day, and now it's two per day. They haven't done anything, but they've already earned over a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones from my father these past few days!"

"Although my Wan family runs a rice business, a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones is not a small amount for us. If this continues, my Wan family will go bankrupt sooner or later!"

As she spoke, Wan Cuilan's voice became choked with emotion.

"Miss Cuilan, as long as Nie Liuxiang is alive, your Wan family will never have peace. This kind of drain is not a solution. Dismiss those two, and I will protect you!"

Lu Ren said.

"Okay!"

Wan Cuilan nodded, choosing to trust Lu Ren without hesitation.

In a pavilion within the Wan Mansion!

Two middle-aged men were enjoying fine wine and delicacies.

"Haha, come, come, let's drink. That Wan Sanqian is really willing to spare no expense for his daughter, even willing to pay a commission of two Low-grade Spirit Stones a day!"

"Tomorrow, we'll go and ask for more, demand four Low-grade Spirit Stones a day!"

The two chatted as they drank, completely immersed in their pleasure.

Bang!

Wan Cuilan, who had overheard their conversation from outside, angrily pushed open the door and stood at the entrance, saying furiously, "You two are just taking advantage of the situation! Get out! I don't need your protection!"

The two were surprised that Wan Cuilan was eavesdropping outside.

However, they showed no panic and continued to savor their wine and delicacies.

One of the burly men put down his chopsticks and laughed heartily, "Little girl, we are indeed taking advantage of the situation. Without our deterrence, you would have been abducted by Nie Liuxiang long ago!"

"You want us to leave? Let your father tell us!"

The other strong man slowly stood up, his voice icy.

"You two can leave. From today onwards, I will protect Miss Cuilan!"

At this moment, Lu Ren, clad in a Qingyun Sect robe, walked in.

Hearing the commotion from outside, the two Spirit Stream Realm Martial Artists became furious.

"Who dares to steal our business?"

The burly man roared.

Although they were not sect disciples, they often lived on the edge of danger. Daring to steal their business was practically seeking death.

However, when their gazes shifted and they saw Lu Ren in his Qingyun Sect robe, their anger gradually turned to fear.

It was an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect!

Disciples of the Four Great Sects, especially outer disciples, held noble status and were aloof. Ordinary people would not dare to provoke them.

However, the burly man frowned again and said, "I've dealt with many Qingyun Sect disciples before. Outer disciples of the Qingyun Sect must all be in the Spirit Stream Realm. If I'm not mistaken, you're just a Martial Artist in the Aperture Opening Realm?"

The aura of a Martial Artist in the Aperture Opening Realm and one in the Spirit Stream Realm was vastly different.

"What? Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist? You have a lot of nerve, impersonating a Qingyun Sect disciple!"

Upon hearing this, the other strong man was enraged.

It was common knowledge that outer disciples of the Four Great Sects must be in the Spirit Stream Realm. This person was merely an Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist, so he absolutely couldn't be a Qingyun Sect disciple.

Impersonating a Qingyun Sect disciple was a serious crime!

If they could hand over this impersonator to the Qingyun Sect, they would surely receive a reward!

Lu Ren displayed his identity token and said, "I don't have time to waste with you. Hurry up and get lost. My protection is enough for Miss Cuilan!"

One of them stared at the token in Lu Ren's hand, then sneered, "You're trying to fool us with a piece of iron? You dare to impersonate a Qingyun Sect disciple? I'll kill you first!"

Whoosh!

Then, he struck at Lu Ren with his palm.

No matter how capable an Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist was, he couldn't be an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect. After he killed Lu Ren, he might even go to the Qingyun Sect to claim a reward.

Lu Ren's eyes turned cold, a sneer playing on his lips. He watched the opponent's palm, remaining motionless.

"Die!"

The big man's face wore a cruel expression.

"Haha, this guy still claims to be an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect. He's probably scared stiff!"

His companion also burst into laughter.

Suddenly, a flash of sword light erupted, the cold blade slicing through the air.

Slish!

A spray of blood followed, accompanied by a piercing scream.

"Ahhh, my hand!"

The burly man cried out as he stumbled backward, one of his palms gone, severed by Lu Ren's sword.

"How is this possible?"

His companion's heart trembled.

His second brother had been in the Aperture Opening Realm for over thirty years, opening ten Spiritual Apertures. He was practically a king in that realm, yet this man had severed his hand with a single sword strike. Such terrifying strength.

"Ahhh, who exactly are you!"

The burly man shrieked.

"As I said, I'm an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect. If you don't want to die, return all one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones you swindled from the Wan family's rice shop!"

Lu Ren shouted coldly.

"You're really an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect!"

The two were shocked at that moment, then realization dawned. To possess such strength in the Aperture Opening Realm, he was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses.

The other companion's face showed fear. He stepped forward, his voice trembling, "Young hero, we only have fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones left. We'll return them all to you!"

The companion produced fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones, then picked up his second brother's severed hand and left the Wan mansion in a sorry state.

Meanwhile, Wan Cuilan, standing nearby, had already turned as pale as a ghost. She had never witnessed such a bloody scene in her life.

"Miss Cuilan, here are the Spirit Stones. From today onwards, I will protect you without leaving your side!"

Lu Ren handed all fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones back to Wan Cuilan.

Wan Cuilan nodded in surprise, looking bewildered and unable to snap out of it for a long time.

In the following days, Lu Ren stayed by Cuilan's side, acting as her personal bodyguard.

Nie Liuxiang did not appear.

A month later!

Nie Liuxiang still hadn't appeared.

During this month, the people of Linjiang City learned that the outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect who had been personally protecting Wan Cuilan was the down-on-his-luck young man she had taken in two years ago.

Instantly, the entire Linjiang City buzzed with talk.

"Miss Cuilan truly has a discerning eye. She's struck gold! He's an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect!"

"Now that Nie Liuxiang knows Miss Cuilan is the benefactor of that Qingyun Sect outer disciple, he'll likely have to give up his plans!"

"There's no good end to opposing an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect!"

Discussions erupted in every corner of Linjiang City.

Wan Mansion!

"Miss Cuilan, a month has passed, and Nie Liuxiang hasn't made a move. He's likely given up. Without further delay, I should return to the sect!"

Lu Ren said to Wan Cuilan.

Wan Cuilan bowed slightly. "Young Master Lu has been kind to me. Please allow me to personally escort you out of the city!"

"Then I thank you!"

Lu Ren smiled.

Immediately, Wan Cuilan ordered a carriage prepared and personally escorted Lu Ren out of Linjiang City.

Wan Cuilan pulled back the curtain and, seeing they had left Linjiang City, said, "Young Master Lu, we are out of the city now. We shall meet again!"

Lu Ren turned around. "Miss Cuilan, please lower your skirt for me!"