Ch. 215 - Some People You Can’t Afford to Offend

“Who’s badmouthing my cousin Xiao behind her back?”

A voice came from the stairway leading to the third floor of the pavilion.

Moments later, a group of people ascended. At the front was a young man dressed in ornate brocade robes.

“I could hear your chatter all the way from the second floor,” the brocade-robed youth snorted coldly. “Which one of you was gossiping?”

“No idea,” the burly man in black quickly shook his head.

“Do you all know what the punishment is for slandering the Saintess of the Baili Imperial Clan?” the youth said coldly. “If no one steps up, then everyone here will come with me to the Baili Imperial Clan for questioning.”

At his words, all fingers pointed straight at the man in black.

The man’s face turned pale, and he instinctively stepped back.

The brocade-robed youth slowly drew his longsword, walking forward with a sharp gleam in his eyes. The blade shimmered with deadly sword energy.

“Do you believe I could kill you right here, and no one would say a word?” he said coldly.

“This is Baili City,” the burly man’s body trembled slightly. He stepped back again but then mustered his courage. “On what grounds would you kill me? Are you trying to break the city's laws?”

“On the grounds that you slandered the Baili Imperial Clan’s Saintess,” the youth replied calmly.

“I didn’t slander! Everything I said is true. Go ask around in the Western Region if you don’t believe me!” the burly man protested.

Everyone on the third floor fell silent, not daring to speak.

Someone whispered, “Who is that guy? He’s acting like he has absolute authority, even ready to kill in the name of the Baili Imperial Clan.”

“That’s Yuan Hangyu, son of the current head of the Yuan Clan,” someone replied in a low voice. “His sister married the eldest son of Baili Chengfeng. So their family is riding the Baili Imperial Clan’s coattails. But honestly, the Yuan Clan is just a second-rate power.”

“The Western Region is too far for me to bother,” Yuan Hangyu said indifferently. “If you’re telling the truth, then someone here should be able to back you up. If anyone is willing to testify, I’ll let you go.”

His words brought the room to a standstill. Everyone lowered their heads, avoiding his gaze.

“Would my testimony count?”

A calm voice suddenly rose from the crowd.

It was Xu Zimo, sipping his clear wine with a faint smile.

Yuan Hangyu frowned slightly and said coldly, “Kid, you'd better think before you speak. Meddling in other people’s business never ends well.”

“I’m just stating the facts,” Xu Zimo smiled. “I saw it with my own eyes, she fled from the Western Region like a stray dog.”

“You asked for it,” Yuan Hangyu narrowed his eyes, killing intent flaring.

“You’re lucky to still be alive,” he said to the burly man. “Be grateful.”

“Yes, yes,” the man in black quickly nodded.

“Kid, slandering our Baili Imperial Clan’s Saintess, you deserve to die,” Yuan Hangyu said as he raised his sword and walked toward Xu Zimo.

“There’s no slander here. Not only did I witness it, I was involved,” Xu Zimo said with a calm smile.

“Oh? Then ask everyone here, who’s willing to vouch for your story? If no one steps up, it proves you’re lying with malicious intent,” Yuan Hangyu said coolly.

Everyone looked toward the man in black.

Xu Zimo had just defended him. Now, he was the only one who could return the favor.

Feeling the pressure of the crowd’s gaze, the burly man’s expression shifted unpredictably. He struggled internally, then sat down in silence, turning his head away and drinking from his wine jug.

Seeing this, the crowd looked at Xu Zimo with pity.

“Seems like your luck ran out,” Yuan Hangyu said with a cruel smile as his followers began surrounding Xu Zimo.

“There are some people I can't afford to offend? Hmph. I don’t even put the Baili Imperial Clan in my eyes,” Xu Zimo muttered as he continued calmly eating.

Then he spoke two words: “Piss off.”

Yuan Hangyu’s expression darkened with rage. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “Beat him half to death! Hang his corpse on the city gate. I want his head displayed as a warning!”

As soon as he gave the order, his men charged toward Xu Zimo.

A thunderclap exploded in everyone’s ears.

A bolt of lightning descended from the heavens.

Shadow Tyrant’s blade rang through the air, and in the blink of an eye, bodies dropped to the ground like felled trees.

Amid the carnage, Xu Zimo remained calmly eating his food.

Silence fell. The floor was littered with corpses. The onlookers stared in horror.

Yuan Hangyu trembled as he watched all his subordinates die in an instant.

Facing Xu Zimo’s calm gaze, he froze in place.

“Want to live?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.

Yuan Hangyu nodded frantically, knowing this wasn’t the time to act tough.

“Alright,” Xu Zimo pointed at the man in black. “Only one of you gets to live. You decide.”

Before the man in black could react, Yuan Hangyu had already drawn his sword.

Brilliant sword light filled the space. A line of blood burst from the man’s forehead as he was cut cleanly in half.

“Sir, I didn’t recognize greatness when I saw it. Please, spare my life,” Yuan Hangyu immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.

“Take me to the Baili Imperial Clan,” Xu Zimo said as he laid down his chopsticks.

Yuan Hangyu raised his head slightly, dumbfounded.

…

Compared to the bustle of the inner and outer city, the Baili Imperial Clan itself was even livelier tonight.

The entire compound was brightly lit and filled with joy and celebration.

For the Saintess Ceremony, the Baili Imperial Clan had opened the hidden realm left behind by Grand Emperor Chang Kong.

This secret realm was a dimensional space, similar to the Heaven Domain of the True Martial Sacred Ground, used for hosting major events.

But in a remote courtyard within the Baili compound, crashing sounds echoed repeatedly.

Angry roars mixed with the smashing of furniture.

“Trash. A bunch of useless trash!”

Suddenly, the door flew open. Yuan Hangyu stepped in.

Inside, a young man in a purple robe was smashing the room to pieces, his face twisted with rage. Shards of shattered items littered the floor.

“What do you want?” the purple-robed youth asked with a frown.

“Brother-in-law… someone wants to see you,” Yuan Hangyu replied nervously.

“Not in the mood. Tell them to scram,” the youth said irritably.

“He said it’s about the position of Holy Son,” Yuan Hangyu added quickly.

Comments