"Rise, there's no need to be so formal." Ian Song lifted his hand slightly.
"Thank you, Chief Ian." Quentin Stone bowed again, but didn't fully straighten. He stayed slightly hunched, head lowered, not daring to look at Ian Song, obviously very nervous.
"I'm planning to redeem Susie's freedom. Boss Quentin, whatever terms you have, just name them." Ian Song said again.
Standing to the side, Susie was quietly moved by his words.
"Chief Ian showing favor to Susie is her blessing—and mine too. How could I dare make demands?" Quentin Stone said, a little panicked. The man before him was the Number One Bandit Under Heaven, daring to kidnap Saintesses and injure Holy Sons; as a mere first-class martial artist, how could he ask for anything?
Ian Song was quite pleased with Quentin Stone's tact and continued, "Susie is a kind, grateful girl who remembers your kindness. Since I'm taking her away, I should repay that debt. So, just say what you want—if I can do it, I won't refuse."
"This...?" Quentin Stone's face showed hesitation and inner conflict. At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh at Susie's luck—she'd actually caught the eye of the Number One Bandit Under Heaven.
Ian Song's voice rang out again: "Since you can't decide, I'll choose for you. I see your cultivation has reached the peak of first-class. How about I help you step into the Innate realm?"
"Thank you, Chief Ian, for making it possible!"
With a thud, Quentin Stone knelt on the ground, his face full of excitement as he spoke.
"Come here."
Ian Song beckoned him over.
"Yes!"
Quentin Stone respectfully walked up to Ian Song.
Suddenly, Ian Song moved like lightning, tapping a finger to Quentin Stone's dantian. Instantly, the true qi in Quentin's dantian surged forth and rampaged through his body.
"Hold your breath and focus—feel the changes in your body!" Ian Song reminded Quentin Stone, who looked a bit panicked.
Quentin Stone hurriedly steadied his mind, observing the changes within his body.
After a while, under Ian Song's guidance, Quentin Stone's true qi successfully broke through his Ren and Du meridians, bridging the link between Heaven and Earth and letting him step into the ranks of Innate martial artists.
Ian Song then withdrew his hand.
About five minutes later, Quentin Stone suddenly opened his eyes, which now gleamed with energy and spirit.
"Thank you, Chief Ian, for making it possible!" Quentin Stone bowed to Ian Song again.
Ian Song smiled and nodded. "As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. If you hadn't shown kindness to Susie, you wouldn't have received this blessing. Have you memorized the internal circulation route I left in your body?"
Quentin Stone nodded.
Follow that route in your cultivation, and you may reach the Ninth Layer of Innate.
What?
Quentin Stone couldn't help but cry out, looking even more excited.
Just then, Steward Ma rushed in frantically: "Boss, something's wrong! Heaven Fragrance Pavilion has been surrounded by the prefectural troops!"
"Why panic? It's just the prefectural troops. Who's leading them?" Quentin Stone frowned and rebuked him coldly, though he thought to himself: The prefectural army is nothing—there's a true great god here. If the prefectural lord knew who was inside, he wouldn't dare send troops even if he had ten times the courage. After all, this man refused the position of National Preceptor, second only to the emperor. Not just the prefectural lord—even the provincial lord would be nothing in front of him.
Steward Ma calmed down after Quentin Stone's rebuke: "Captain Young is leading them."
"Alright, you may leave now!" Quentin Stone nodded and waved Steward Ma away.
"Chief, how should we handle this? Should I go drive off those prefectural troops?" Quentin Stone asked cautiously. Having just entered the Innate realm, his strength had greatly increased and he was feeling confident; Captain Young was only a first-class martial artist, and Quentin was sure he could defeat him.
Normally, even if he broke through to Innate, he wouldn't dare oppose the prefectural troops. But now, with Ian Song backing him, he was completely fearless.
Go ahead.
Ian Song nodded.
Quentin Stone left, but Susie looked at Ian Song with curiosity. "Sir, who are you really?"
"Actually, I'm a bandit. Susie, do you regret it yet?" Ian Song asked with a smile.
"Sir, you must be joking. There's no bandit like you." Susie replied with a gentle smile, clearly not believing Ian Song's words.
"Alright, Susie, have a seat and let's drink and chat some more." Ian Song beckoned to her.
"As you command, Sir Ian."
Susie replied playfully. What young woman hasn't dreamed of romance? Susie had always imagined that one day a cultured, heroic man would come to take her away. She never expected that day would really come, so at this moment she was very happy, very excited, and all the shadows in her heart were swept away.
Let's set aside Ian Song and Susie for now.
Following Ian Song's orders, Quentin Stone strode downstairs to confront Captain Young.
"Greetings, Captain Young." Quentin Stone said calmly to Captain Young, who sat astride his horse.
"So it's you, Boss Quentin!" Captain Young replied with a sneer. Suddenly, his eyes flashed with menace. "Quentin Stone, you've got some nerve—how dare you let someone injure the prefectural lord's son? What crime do you deserve?"
Heh heh!
Quentin Stone was completely unafraid and gave a cold laugh. "Captain Young, let me give you some advice: you can't handle what's going on here. If I were you, I'd wait for the prefectural lord to arrive before making any decisions. Otherwise... heh heh!"
Seeing Quentin Stone so confident, Captain Young was momentarily uncertain, but quickly decided Quentin was just bluffing. He suddenly drew his saber, raised it overhead, and shouted, "Men, storm Heaven Fragrance Pavilion and seize the criminal!"
"Captain Young, I guarantee you'll regret your decision today for the rest of your life!" Quentin Stone retreated to the entrance of Heaven Fragrance Pavilion, casually striking down several charging soldiers, and shouted, "With me here, no one will set foot inside Heaven Fragrance Pavilion!"
Quentin Stone, you're courting death!
Captain Young shouted angrily and suddenly leaped into the air, his saber flashing with cold light as he slashed at Quentin Stone.
Faced with the flashing blade, Quentin Stone remained fearless. He exhaled, stepped forward, and threw a punch.
Bang!
The blade-light shattered, and Quentin's fist landed on Captain Young's chest. In the next moment, Captain Young was sent flying, and after landing, he staggered back several steps before barely steadying himself.
Quentin Stone, you've got some nerve—how dare you attack me!" Captain Young shouted angrily.
So what if I did?" Quentin Stone sneered, then declared firmly, "Anyone who sets foot in Heaven Fragrance Pavilion will be killed without mercy!"
Good, very good!
Captain Young's eyes blazed with fury as he shouted, "Men, ready the fire arrows!"
At those words, Quentin Stone's expression changed. "Captain Young, you'd better order them to stand down, or you'll face consequences you can't handle!"
But Captain Young just sneered. "Fire!"
Stop! All of you, stop!
Just then, a fast horse galloped over. When Captain Young saw who had arrived, his expression changed slightly, and he felt a growing sense of foreboding.
Your subordinate greets the Deputy General!
Bang!
Deputy General Charles Lee leaped off his horse, landed before Captain Young, and slapped him across the face. "Idiot! Who gave you permission to burn down Heaven Fragrance Pavilion?"
Stunned by the slap, Captain Young's sense of foreboding grew stronger.