Trouble

Lin Qingyang took two steps and looked past the shelves.

In the corner by the window, the fox demon boy knelt on the floor, his upper garment half off, a branding iron still trailing white smoke pressed against his bare shoulder. Cen Yue calmly lifted the iron, revealing a lotus-shaped brand on the fox demon's back. Besides the brand, his back bore streaks of vivid red whip wounds that had yet to heal. The fox demon braced himself against the low table before him, his face covered in cold sweat and his fingers trembling slightly. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air.

Lin Qingyang could not help frowning. Mo Yan's expression was not much better. Although he disliked the Demon Clan, he held even greater contempt for taking pleasure in abuse, especially since Cen Yue belonged to the Immortal Sects.

The fox demon slumped over the table, his face deathly pale, nearly fainting from the pain. Still, he struggled to turn his head and offered a fawning smile. "Thank you, young master."

Cen Yue did not look at the fox demon. Instead, he studied the branding iron in his hand with interest and said casually, "This one will do."

He handed the branding iron to the Xuanhuang Sect disciple behind him, then turned to leave without paying. Naturally, the proprietress dared not say anything and saw him out with a smile.

Though the fox demon was still in pain, he dared not delay. He hurriedly scrambled up and followed, without even stopping to put his clothes on properly.

When Cen Yue came out, he saw Lin Qingyang's group. He swept a haughty glance over them and headed outside, but upon reaching the door, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to look their way again.

Lin Qingyang frowned. After looking their way for a moment, Cen Yue turned and approached. Ignoring everyone else, he walked straight up to Qi Mo, looked him over, and said arrogantly, "I want him. Name your price."

Qi Mo looked at him coldly, while Lin Qingyang blurted out without thinking, "One hundred million."

Cen Yue frowned, his gaze finally landing on Lin Qingyang. "You're making a fool of me!"

Lin Qingyang shrugged. "No, I'm not. If you can afford it, I really will sell him."

Qi Mo gave him a displeased look. Lin Qingyang winked at him, signaling for him not to take it seriously.

Cen Yue glared at him furiously. After a moment's thought, he glanced at the fox demon beside him and yanked him over. "This is a Fire Spirit Fox. You don't see many on the market. I'll trade him for yours!"

With that, he shoved the fox demon forward. Already in terrible pain, the fox demon lost his footing and fell right at Mo Yan's feet. Mo Yan glanced down indifferently and took a step back.

"Yours is just an ordinary wolf demon. His market price is five hundred at most, far cheaper than a Fire Spirit Fox," Cen Yue said haughtily.

Lin Qingyang gave a soft snort. "I already said one hundred million, yet you're still spouting all this nonsense. Why act like a big shot when you haven't got the money?"

Cen Yue glared at Lin Qingyang, too furious to speak for a moment. The proprietress watched nervously from the side, terrified they would start fighting in her shop.

Cen Yue ignored him and turned to order the two disciples behind him, his face livid. "Take him away!"

At his words, the two Xuanhuang Sect disciples immediately stepped forward to seize Qi Mo. Lin Qingyang raised an eyebrow at them.

Out on the street, the doors of the Pleasure Pavilion flew open with a bang. Three people were thrown out in succession, landing sprawled in the middle of the street.

Passersby stopped to watch. Cen Yue scrambled to his feet, covered in dust, and glared at Lin Qingyang as he sauntered out of the shop, roaring in fury:

"You dared to hit me! Do you know who I am?"

Lin Qingyang glanced at Mo Yan beside him and asked innocently, "Who is he? Do you know?"

Mo Yan took a deep breath and said helplessly, "No idea."

Cen Yue glared at them furiously and shouted, "Listen carefully! I'm-"

Before he could finish, Lin Qingyang suddenly flashed in front of him. With a sweep of his sleeve, a powerful gust sent Cen Yue flying. He crashed to the ground again, and the two Xuanhuang Sect disciples hurried over to help him up, revealing his bruised, swollen face and bleeding nose.

One disciple pointed at Lin Qingyang and shouted, "You're dead! He's-" Before he could finish, another sweep of Lin Qingyang's sleeve sent him flying too.

Seeing this, the other disciple stumbled back two steps in fright, pulled a whistle from his robes, and blew it sharply twice. The next second, he went flying as well.

Qi Mo stood to one side, watching Lin Qingyang beat them with pleasure, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly despite himself.

"You've got the nerve to smile? This is all your fault!" Just as those words fell, another soft chuckle came from beside them.

Mo Yan looked down and saw that the fox demon from earlier was now hiding behind him, looking at him with satisfaction all over his face and muttering, "Good! Hit them!"

Mo Yan watched, somewhat speechless. Noticing his gaze, the fox demon raised his head fearfully, looking up at him timidly with large eyes.

"Get lost!" Mo Yan snapped coldly with a frown. Frightened, the fox demon hurried farther away.

As Qi Mo watched, his ears suddenly twitched. He frowned and looked into the near distance.

More than a dozen Xuanhuang Sect disciples hurried over, drew their blades, and surrounded them.

Helped to his feet, Cen Yue pointed at Lin Qingyang's group and roared furiously, "Kill him! And the one in black! Kill them all!"

Lin Qingyang calmly glanced at Mo Yan beside him. "You're going to put up with that?"

Mo Yan frowned impatiently. Electricity flashed in his hand as he summoned his Thunderclap Mace, and the surrounding Xuanhuang Sect disciples swarmed them at once.

Mo Yan drove the Thunderclap Mace straight into the ground. Light blazed as lightning spread across the ground in every direction, striking the charging disciples. Amid flashes of lightning and crashes of thunder, the disciples were sent flying, landing with screams, their hair trailing smoke.

Mo Yan let out a long breath and put away the Thunderclap Mace. Accompanying Lin Qingyang on this shopping trip had already filled him with frustration. At last, he felt better.

Panic finally appeared on Cen Yue's face. Terrified, he tried to run, but his legs gave out and he dropped onto his backside. Seeing Lin Qingyang approach, he scrambled backward in fear.

"Well? Still want to buy him?" Lin Qingyang stepped forward and raised an eyebrow at him. As he spoke, a fierce gust swept past his ear.

Lin Qingyang reached out and summoned the Windflower Sword. Raising it to block, he knocked aside the incoming Bone Whip and turned to look. The newcomer was none other than Hua Jin.

"Proprietor Hua, long time no see." Seeing her, Lin Qingyang greeted her with a smile, as though he had completely forgotten nearly making her cough up blood in anger before.

Hua Jin looked at Lin Qingyang coldly. "Such an impressive display of power, Elder Lin, coming onto Xuanhuang Sect territory to beat people."

At the sight of Hua Jin, Cen Yue looked as though he had found his savior. He scrambled up and ran to her side. "Peak Master Hua, save me!"

Seeing this, Lin Qingyang suddenly put on a surprised expression. "Proprietor Hua, you know him?"

Hua Jin's face darkened as she said through gritted teeth, "He is Sect Leader Cen's son, the young master of the Xuanhuang Sect!"

Lin Qingyang froze at her words, then slapped his thigh and said ruefully, "Oh my! So you're my dear nephew!"