Sean Xiao usually seems honest and good-natured, but once he enters battle, his domineering side comes out in full force.
There were seven people with Victor Wu: four at Qi-Refining tier six, two at tier seven, and one at tier eight.
If Sean Xiao were alone, their seven could gang up on him and still have a chance to win. But with fifty saber-wielding guards at his side, their outcome would definitely be miserable.
"Young master, what do you think?" the Qi-Refining tier eight attendant quietly asked Victor Wu.
A look of struggle flashed across Victor Wu’s face. At last, he glared fiercely at Song Yan, spat out a menacing, "Just wait and see," and led his people out of the inn.
As the saying goes, coincidence makes a story.
Not long after Victor Wu left, a tall woman in a purple training outfit entered the inn, her face showing a trace of exhaustion.
"Innkeeper, are there any rooms left?"
"Sorry, miss, the last eight rooms in our humble inn have all been rented out by that young master over there!" The innkeeper glanced at Song Yan as he spoke.
Lana Gao couldn’t help but frown. She’d already checked more than ten inns, but none had any rooms. With dusk approaching, if she couldn’t find a place soon, she’d have to sleep on the street.
After thinking it over, she walked toward Song Yan.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on Little Wu and Little Tiger, and she felt they looked familiar.
"Young master, I heard from the innkeeper that you rented eight rooms. Could you let me have one? I can pay double."
Song Yan wasn’t planning to hold a grudge over Lana Gao’s earlier beating, but didn’t expect her to come asking for help. He chuckled coldly, “Hey, little miss, is that how you talk to people? What, you think I’m broke or something?”
Lana Gao frowned slightly. "Please don’t misunderstand, young master. That’s not what I meant—I just wanted to ask if you could give up one of your rooms."
Who do you think you are? Just because you want something, I have to give it to you? You think I’m your dad?
"Bastard! You’re asking for it!"
Ssshing!
Her longsword leapt from its sheath, flashing like lightning as it stabbed toward Song Yan.
Clang!
A flash of snowy blade-light burst forth, instantly overtaking the sword’s arc and slicing it clean in half.
Lana Gao stepped back two paces, sword in hand, warily eyeing Sean Xiao as he stood with his saber.
Song Yan’s obnoxious voice rang out again: "A gentleman talks things out—he doesn’t resort to violence! You women, always ready to draw your sword at the slightest provocation. So vicious, so cruel! With a temper like yours, you’ll never get married!"
Song Yan’s words made Lana Gao so angry she could practically explode, but she knew that with the saber-wielding man present, she couldn’t do anything to Song Yan. She took a deep breath, turned, and walked out of the inn.
Seeing this, Song Yan thought to himself, Leon Huang, I’ve avenged you at least a little.
With the danger gone, Sean Xiao sheathed his saber and sat down again, quietly eating his meal. He thought to himself, My young master really isn’t one to be trifled with. First he offended the Wu Clan’s young master, now he’s chased off General Gao’s sister. At this rate, who knows how many more people he’ll offend.
Meanwhile, in a room above another inn in the small town—
Victor Wu’s face was dark. Was he really just going to let that brat off so easily?
No way. He absolutely couldn’t let him off that easily!
Just thinking about that brat’s infuriating face made his teeth itch with rage.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Victor Wu snapped.
A tall young man in a white star-embroidered robe pushed open the door and entered, smiling. "Who made my cousin so angry?"
Seeing his attitude, Victor Wu’s anger flared. He snapped, "You punk, open your eyes and listen up—my cousin is a Pristine Way Sect inner disciple! You’d better show some respect!"
In the Pristine Way Sect, outer disciples wear plain white robes, inner disciples wear white star-embroidered robes, elite disciples wear white moon-patterned robes, and core disciples wear purple star robes.
"Cousin, you’re here!" Victor Wu’s face lit up.
"You called, so of course I came," Ryan Chen said with a cheerful smile.
"You’re too polite, cousin!"
After a few pleasantries, they got down to business.
After listening to Victor Wu’s account, Ryan Chen couldn’t help but look intrigued. "You’ve confirmed all this?"
Victor Wu said seriously, "Don’t worry, cousin. I sent people to Kaiyuan City to check. That kid Nate Moore used to be just an ordinary pharmacy apprentice, but in a little over ten days, he became a Qi-Refining tier five martial artist.
To reach that level in such a short time, he must have taken some incredible heavenly treasures. Plus, his martial arts skills are strange—I sent five Qi-Refining tier six experts after him, but he killed two with that black sword of his. The other three died at Leon Huang’s bodyguard’s hands! If I’m right, that black sword is no ordinary weapon; at least spirit-grade. Treasures, spirit weapons—he must’ve stumbled upon a major fortune!"
Ryan Chen’s eyes gleamed at Victor Wu’s analysis, a hint of greed flickering beneath the surface.
"So what’s your plan, cousin?"
A trace of venom flashed in Victor Wu’s eyes. "Leon Huang must be here for the Pristine Way Sect’s entrance trial. If you can make sure he fails, then Nate Moore is yours—I won’t take a thing!"
"Wouldn’t that be a little unfair to you?" Ryan Chen asked, feigning concern.
Victor Wu waved his hand. "Doesn’t matter! Leon Huang dared to insult me, so I’ll pay him back double!"
Ryan Chen nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, then. Let’s go see this Leon Huang together and make him hand over Nate Moore!"
In another inn room, Song Yan was cultivating the Undying Phoenix Codex. Thanks to his strong spiritual power, his progress was rapid—he’d already opened thirty-eight acupoints and reached Qi-Refining tier three.
Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted his cultivation.
"Young master, bad news! That Wu guy brought a Pristine Way Sect inner disciple to cause trouble for us!"
Song Yan got out of bed and opened the door, where Little Tiger anxiously shouted.
"Don’t panic. It’s just an inner disciple," Song Yan said.
Song Yan scolded, "Where are they now?"
"They’re waiting downstairs," said Little Tiger.
Sean Xiao, who lived next door, also stepped out and quietly reminded Song Yan, "Young master, if they really are Pristine Way Sect inner disciples, you should be careful. Otherwise, it could affect your chances of joining the sect!"
"Alright, I understand!"
Song Yan nodded and headed downstairs.
At a table downstairs, Ryan Chen and Victor Wu sat sipping tea, looking relaxed. Seven attendants stood behind them.
As soon as Song Yan appeared, Victor Wu couldn’t suppress his rage and glared at him with venom.
"I’m Ryan Chen. Please, Leon Huang, have a seat!"
Ryan Chen smiled and gestured to the seat opposite him.
Song Yan didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down opposite him, drawling, "So, what do you want with me?"
Seeing his attitude, Victor Wu’s anger flared up. He snapped, "You punk, open your eyes and look—my cousin is a Pristine Way Sect inner disciple! You’d better show some respect!"