At the Snow Territory Heavenly Lake, Natural Residence.
Before a large bronze water vat, a group of people crowded around, gazing at the mist-shrouded scene. A nomadic yurt inn was situated at the foot of Mount Lu. At this moment, thousands of elite cavalry had already completely surrounded the inn, leaving no room for escape. Hidden amongst the cavalry were no small number of accompanying cultivators. It could be said that this cavalry troop passing by the Green Tent Inn was by no means a coincidence.
"This doesn't look good."
Su Qingjiu furrowed her delicate brows and asked, "Old sir, is this troop targeting Brother Lin Zhao?"
"Perhaps."
An old gentleman in a grey long gown looked down at the Stone of Destiny in the water vat, rapidly deducing what he could. Lin Wanhua, standing beside him, frowned and said, "This cavalry from the Xu Dynasty appears to be hostile, and there are many of them. Lin Zhao is also with the trouble-making Fan Goddess. I'm afraid he won't have an easy time. If something were to happen to him, can we offer assistance from here?"
"Don't rush."
The old gentleman took a deep breath and reached out to Gu Lingyu, who stood respectfully nearby. "Lingyu, bring me one of your bamboo slips for reading."
"Yes!"
The old gentleman's seniority was exceedingly high; Gu Lingyu's own teacher was merely a descendant of his disciples. Thus, she dared not utter a word of refusal and respectfully handed over a bamboo slip. Written on the slip was a saying from a sage: "He who strives is like one who digs a well. If he digs nine fathoms and fails to reach the spring, it is still a discarded well." As this slip fell into the old gentleman's hand, he lightly brushed it with his finger. Instantly, the words on the slip turned into wisps of golden fragments that fell into the water vat, ultimately landing on the patterns on the surface of the Stone of Destiny. Immediately, a surge of vital energy of the Great Dao began to grow.
In the blink of an eye, a lotus stem grew from the stone's greenish-blue patterns. It bloomed and bore fruit, yielding a lotus pod. However, the fruit borne by this lotus pod was quite scarce. Only two golden lotus seeds, enveloped by the pod, radiated the auspicious glow of the Great Dao.
"This..."
Huang Tingyu frowned and asked, "Old sir, what does this signify?"
"It signifies something."
The old gentleman smiled. "One leaf represents a world, one seed represents a universe. These two lotus seeds can allow us to pierce through heavenly and earthly restrictions. From this place, we can help Xiao Zhao twice. But it will only be twice. The rest, Xiao Zhao will have to handle himself. So, you must make your own decisions. If you truly feel it's necessary to help Xiao Zhao, then consume a lotus seed."
"Understood."
Lin Xingchu furrowed his brows.
Beside him, Chen Ben's body flowed with martial intent. He watched everything unfolding at the Green Tent Inn, his heart filled with worry for Brother Lin Zhao. He frowned and said, "If Brother Lin Zhao truly encounters danger, may Chen Ben throw a punch?"
The old gentleman smiled. "You may, but each punch must be your utmost effort. After all, you only have one punch."
"Yes, old sir."
Chen Ben cupped his fists and bowed. At this moment, he truly resembled a martial artist. Though the youthful innocence remained, he was also becoming steadily more composed and resolute.
...
The Green Tent Inn.
A young martial artist in golden armor, even the hilt and scabbard of his waist-worn sword were gilded and engraved, exuding an air of opulence. He raised his brows slightly and laughed, "What is it, can you not hear me speak? Where is the proprietress of this Green Tent Inn? How long must I wait?"
"Oh dear..."
From behind the counter, Maoniang, with her slender and graceful figure, approached with a pot of wine. She sat down beside the young martial artist and smiled, "Esteemed official, I wonder who has incurred your displeasure to such an extent. Come, come, the Green Tent Wine of our inn is clear and thirst-quenching. I will pour a bowl for you right away to calm your anger. Do not bother with those who are ungrateful."
"Tsk tsk?"
The young martial artist looked at the woman before him and chuckled, "As expected of a renowned beauty. Your skill in turning hard steel into soft silk must have subdued many men. Yet, it will not work on me."
Saying this, his hand moved like lightning. With a "slap," he grabbed Maoniang's wrist and pulled her into his embrace, laughing, "Every mouthful of wine I drink today, you must serve me. Do not displease me, or this Green Tent Inn will be reduced to ashes."
"Sir, you..."
Maoniang frowned. She had not expected this person to be so brutish.
Lin Zhao frowned, standing with Shen Lanzhou and Yu Qingqiu, but he did not act. Acting now would be too rash, as the young martial artist had brought far too many people.
"Who is this person?" Lin Zhao asked through telepathy.
Shen Lanzhou gritted his teeth and replied, "He is someone not to be trifled with. Have you heard of the Xu Dynasty's Royal Twin Pillars, Young Master?"
"No."
"The current emperor, Xu Chen, his civil and military achievements are unparalleled. He has two imperial princes. The elder prince is Xu Beilin, a peak Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator, said to be one of the most likely candidates to obtain a spot for ascension in this ten-year grand competition. The second prince is Xu Beiwei, a martial artist of the ninth realm, Cloud Roaming realm. His temperament is capricious and violent, and he is the commander of the Dragon String Iron Cavalry guarding the southern border of the dynasty. And the person you see before you is precisely Xu Beiwei."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao furrowed his brows, beginning to plan an escape route.
Shen Lanzhou continued, "Xu Beiwei was spoiled by the Empress since childhood and acted tyrannically in the palace, killing at least hundreds of palace servants. He even drew his sword and attacked a Minister of Rites in court. This person has always been lawless. I fear these three people at the Green Tent Inn will not escape unscathed."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao took a deep breath, but his heart felt that Xu Beiwei and the Dragon String Iron Cavalry outside were not here for the Green Tent Inn, but were likely targeting him. As for the harassment of Maoniang, it was perhaps just to make an example of her.
Maoniang was currently struggling desperately on Xu Beiwei's lap. She was even trying to use the divine abilities of an eighth-realm cat demon, but unfortunately, her opponent was a ninth-realm martial artist. Cat demons were not skilled in combat to begin with. Xu Beiwei's fist aura was incredibly dense, directly restraining Maoniang to his lap, leaving her unable to move.
Lin Zhao looked up, scanning everyone Xu Beiwei had brought.
There were two thousand-man commanders, both at the sixth-realm martial artist level, not too strong. In addition, there were more than a dozen people in the guise of retainers, all accompanying cultivators. The strongest among them was merely a young eighth-realm spiritual cultivator. But what made Lin Zhao most wary was an old servant in a black robe and palace attire standing behind Xu Beiwei. His hair and beard were white, but his eyes were fixed intently on Lin Zhao, even revealing a faint smile.
This person, Lin Zhao sensed a strong demonic aura from him. He was definitely not human, and should be a Nascent Soul realm demon. This person was Second Prince Xu Beiwei's greatest reliance. It was precisely because of the existence of this black-robed old servant that Lin Zhao dared not, nor could he, rashly draw his sword. Otherwise, not only would he be unable to save anyone, but he would also reveal himself too early.
...
"Proprietress."
Xu Beiwei, with one hand around Maoniang's slender waist, picked up a wine cup and drank from it. After putting down the cup, his hand became even more audacious. He laughed, "I've heard that women from Jiangnan are delicate and graceful. To experience it firsthand now is truly exceptional. Hahaha, tonight can be considered my good fortune. Tsk tsk... I never expected to find such elegance in this rural place. It was worth the trip!"
Maoniang struggled desperately, her eyes filled with rage. "You little beast, did your father never teach you manners?"
"Manners?"
Xu Beiwei suddenly slapped her. Instantly, a bright red five-fingered print appeared on Maoniang's cheek. Xu Beiwei's gaze grew ferocious as he laughed, "My father is the Emperor. Do I need to know those cliché manners? Of all the women in this world, besides my father's women and my own daughters, what woman do I not have?"
"Proprietress!"
At the doorway, the shop assistant gritted his teeth, pointing at Xu Beiwei. "You... you are bullying others with your influence!"
"So what if I'm bullying others with my influence?"
Xu Beiwei sneered. "You, a beast, dare to point fingers at me?"
The next moment, two cavalry soldiers instantly moved. Their spears pierced the shop assistant's back. Immediately after, the young eighth-realm cultivator raised his hand, and the shop assistant's head rolled off his neck. His body continued to convulse and curl, instantly transforming into the corpse of a wolf demon on the ground, blood flowing everywhere.
"Er Zi!"
Maoniang gritted her silver teeth, tears streaming down her face. She knew that today could not end peacefully.
"Do you not understand the laws of the Xu Dynasty?"
Xu Beiwei sneered. "Humans are forbidden from keeping demonic beasts. Otherwise, it is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of family. Your mere Green Tent Inn dares to break the law. Even if I raze the Green Tent Inn to the ground, no one will be able to say anything. Is that not so?"
"Young Master speaks the truth!"
A group of cavalry soldiers nodded with laughter.
"How about it?"
Suddenly, a telepathic voice echoed in Lin Zhao's sea of consciousness, originating from the ninth-realm demonic old servant. He narrowed his eyes, a mocking smile on his lips. "You can truly endure. As a great sword immortal who once drew his sword to repel the number one swordsman in the world, Xu Beilin, in the ancient Shu Kingdom, you can tolerate this situation before you?"
Lin Zhao furrowed his brows. "You will be the first to die in a moment?"
...
"Maoniang!"
A thunderous roar came from the kitchen. An old cook named Old Qi, limping, emerged from the kitchen holding a bone-cutting knife. He pointed the tip of the knife towards the second prince and said in a deep voice, "Beast, let Maoniang go!"
"Yo~~~"
The second prince turned around and looked at the old cook, unable to suppress a laugh. "A hideous old thing like you trying to play the hero? Are you worthy? Tsk tsk tsk... I imagine you've been lusting after this proprietress for a long time. Fine, fine. Tonight, when I sleep with her, I will tie you to the window and let you witness the sight you've always desired but could never obtain."
"You're seeking death?!"
A cavalry soldier, holding a spear, thrust it straight towards the old cripple's chest. But the moment the spear neared, it began to bend, and then shattered. The old cripple's blade moved, and a head rolled away.
"Scoundrel!"
Xu Beiwei laughed coldly. "Go, kill him!"
Two sixth-realm thousand-man commanders roared and charged, their fist intents exploding. Two streams of fist aura descended like thunder. But the moment the two punches landed, the old cripple revealed a cold smile. His skin and clothes were all blown apart by the fist aura, revealing a true form clad in golden armor patterns beneath. It was clearly a divine embodiment!