Lin Zhentian stood in the devastated courtyard, watching Xiao Yan's figure disappear behind the door, and remained silent for a long time.
The night wind blew through the bamboo forest, and the few remaining bamboo stalks made a soft, mournful sound in the wind, as if singing a silent elegy for this battlefield.
The oil lamp was still burning in the corner of the yard, its flickering light illuminating the mess on the ground.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the ruins of the Qingzhu Pavilion were already filled with people.
The craftsmen that Lin Zhentian had summoned overnight were clearing away rubble and broken bamboo. Several strong young men carried stones in and out of the backyard, their shouts and the sound of chiseling stones mingling together in a chaotic yet orderly manner.
Xiao Yan stood at the edge of the courtyard, looking at the ruins he had created, and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
" Brother Tang, it seems this place will need to be repaired for a few more days."
Lin Zhentian stood beside him, his tone slightly embarrassed.
"For the next couple of days, you'll have to stay at the Moon-Embracing Pavilion on the west side. It's smaller than Qingzhu Pavilion, but it's much quieter."
"It's alright." Xiao Yan nodded.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
A guard jogged into the courtyard and bowed to Lin Zhentian.
"Master, someone from the City Lord's Mansion has arrived. City Lord Chen himself has come, and his sedan chair is already at the gate."
Lin Zhentian and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.
Chen Yuanzhou was not at home yesterday, but he came to visit in person early this morning. It seems that the commotion at the Qingzhu Pavilion last night spread faster than he had imagined.
"I'll go greet them right away."
Lin Zhentian turned and walked out of the courtyard.
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, then followed.
Outside the main gate of the Lin residence, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue robe was looking around the Lin residence.
He was not tall, had a thin face, and three long wisps of beard. He didn't look like Nine-Star Dou Emperor, but rather like a schoolteacher.
Chen Yuanzhou, the city lord of Tianbei City.
"Lord Chen, your presence is an honor; I, Lin, have failed to greet you properly."
Lin Zhentian strode out the door to greet them, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting.
"You're too kind, Patriarch Lin Clan."
Chen Yuanzhou waved his hand, his gaze passing over him and landing on Xiao Yan, who walked out afterward, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The aura of this young man...
He was secretly surprised.
Last night, he received a secret report that a young master capable of killing the Yellow Springs Pavilion's protector had arrived at the Lin residence, but he thought it was an exaggeration.
Seeing it with my own eyes now, I realized that the secret report was not exaggerated at all, but rather underestimated it.
This young man's aura was clearly only at the level of Five-Star Dou Emperor, but the calmness and composure in his eyes were something that a young man of this cultivation level could not possess.
"Is this Mr. Tang?" Chen Yuanzhou cupped his hands in greeting to Xiao Yan.
"I dare not accept such praise," Xiao Yan returned the greeting, " Tang San."
"Lord Chen, please come in." Lin Zhentian stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
The three of them walked through the front yard to the main hall and took their seats as host and guest.
After the maid served the tea, she withdrew, leaving only the three of them sitting facing each other in the main hall.
Chen Yuanzhou picked up his teacup, but didn't drink. Instead, he watched the steam rising from the tea and slowly said:
"Around midnight last night, a major battle broke out at the Lin residence."
The newcomer appears to be a protector of the Yellow Springs Pavilion. Was it Mr. Tang who made the move?
Xiao Yan picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip:
"It's me."
Chen Yuanzhou slowly put down his teacup:
" Yin Li was Seven-Star Dou Huang, and Mr. Tang single-handedly wiped them out. Such a feat would cause a sensation anywhere in the Northern Region."
" The Yellow Springs Pavilion has suffered repeated losses in Tianbei City, which will surely enrage them. At that time, the Northern Region headquarters will definitely send even more powerful people."
After saying this, Chen Yuanzhou looked up to see Xiao Yan's reaction.
Xiao Yan put down his teacup and said calmly, "Then come on over."
Chen Yuanzhou smiled at his indifferent attitude.
"It's a good thing for young people to be proud."
His smile slowly faded, and his tone turned serious.
"However, Mr. Tang, are you aware that the Yellow Springs Pavilion has many Dou Zong )? With your current strength, what are your chances of winning against One-Star Dou Zong?"
Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment.
If he were just a One-Star Dou Zong, Xiao Yan thought that if he went all out, he would still have a chance.
However, the Yellow Springs Pavilion has more than just One-Star Dou Zong, so he did not speak.
Chen Yuanzhou didn't press the matter. Instead, he took out a token from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Xiao Yan.
The token is entirely silver-white, with the words "Tianbei" engraved on the front and Chen Yuanzhou's seal engraved on the back.
"Take it. From today onwards, you are a guest elder of the Tianbei City Lord's Mansion. If the Yellow Springs Pavilion wants to harm you in Tianbei City, they'll have to get past me first."
Xiao Yan looked at the token but did not reach out to take it.
He was well aware of the size of Tianbei City in the entire Northern Region of the Central Plains —a city of slightly lower-middle size, whose city lord was Nine-Star Dou Emperor, already one of the top experts within a thousand miles.
But compared to a behemoth like the Yellow Springs Pavilion, a Nine-Star Dou Emperor is no match for it.
Despite knowing the immense power of the Yellow Springs Pavilion, Chen Yuanzhou still readily produced his token, openly siding with this troublesome outsider.
This decisiveness and boldness were beyond his expectations.
"Has Lord Chen thought this through?"
Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, his tone calm, "Accepting this token means openly opposing the Yellow Springs Pavilion."
Chen Yuanzhou chuckled, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
" Tianbei City is my city. The Yellow Springs Pavilion lost seven people on my territory. If I don't even dare to take in one person, what kind of city lord am I?"
Moreover, I've long wanted to clean up the dirty deeds that Yin Li and Lin Zhenshan have been colluding for years in Tianbei City, but I haven't had the right opportunity yet.
You actually pulled a nail out for me this time.
Moreover... as the city lord of Tianbei City, Chen naturally has ways to mediate matters.
Xiao Yan exchanged a glance with him, then reached out and picked up the token on the table.
The token felt cold and heavy in my hand.
He turned it over and glanced at the seal on the back, then tucked it into his pocket:
"Thank you for your kindness, City Lord, but I'm used to being free and easy, so I won't trouble you."
Although Xiao Yan was worried about the Yellow Springs Pavilion sending out Dou Zong experts, he also did not want to be tied to the warships of Tianbei City.
"Heh, truly a heroic young man."
Chen Yuanzhou was not surprised by Xiao Yan's rejection, and simply said:
" Tianbei City welcomes Brother Tang at any time."
As the two were talking, Lin Zhentian strode into the main hall and bowed to Chen Yuanzhou:
"Lord Chen, my father has emerged from seclusion."
Tea has been prepared in the study. Please, you and Brother Tang, move in for a chat.
A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Yuanzhou's eyes. " Lin Li has emerged from seclusion?"
The previous head of the Lin Clan, Lin Li, was a genuine Seven-Star Dou Huang.
Although he couldn't match Chen Yuanzhou, a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, he was still a formidable figure in Tianbei City.
Lin Li had been in seclusion for years, and even when Chen Yuanzhou hosted a banquet, he couldn't get him to come out. So, he took the initiative to come out of seclusion and invite him, which surprised Chen Yuanzhou.
He turned to look at Xiao Yan. Lin Li's decision to leave seclusion was most likely due to this young man.