“What’s going on here!”
At that moment, Sister Ding, the owner, hurried over.
“Why are you two fighting? Calm down, it’s just a misunderstanding,” she said, smiling to defuse the situation.
“Sister Ding, this kid dared to attack me. If he doesn’t pay for it today, I’ll write my name backwards!” Young Master Li fumed.
Sister Ding quickly turned to Lin Yun, pleading earnestly, “Young master, Young Master Li is the heir of the Li family. You can’t afford to offend him. Hurry and apologize to settle this.”
Lin Yun poured his wine slowly, saying calmly, “Not to mention this tiny Ye Shi County, even in all of Dongyuan Prefecture, there’s no one I can’t afford to offend. He’s the one who should apologize.”
Sister Ding’s face shifted, thinking to herself, *This guy’s too arrogant! Boasting he fears no one in Dongyuan Prefecture?*
“Who’s so bold as to claim there’s no one he can’t offend in all of Dongyuan Prefecture?”
A loud voice boomed from the second floor.
Everyone looked up to see a pot-bellied man in a brocade robe descending slowly, exuding authority.
“It’s the city lord of Ye Shi County!”
“Didn’t expect this to draw the city lord himself. Things just got interesting.”
The hall buzzed with whispers.
“Sir!” Sister Ding hurried forward with a beaming smile.
“This is bad. Things are about to get out of hand!” Shu Zhang, the beggar across from Lin Yun, paled as he saw the city lord descend.
He turned to Lin Yun urgently, “Young hero, don’t say anything reckless. Bow your head, or you’ll be in mortal danger.”
Lin Yun didn’t respond, instead asking, “The city lord comes to a place like this? Seems like he’s a regular?”
The city lord had reached the ground floor.
“Greetings, sir!”
As he passed, the guests bowed, not daring to show disrespect.
He ignored them, hands behind his back, striding to Lin Yun’s table.
“Godfather!” Young Master Li rushed to greet him.
“Godfather, this guy attacked me. You have to back me up!” Young Master Li urged.
“Embarrassing yourself,” the city lord snorted, then turned to Lin Yun.
As a mere county city lord, he’d never seen Lin Yun in person. Plus, Lin Yun rarely appeared publicly in Dongyuan Prefecture, spending most of his time in secluded cultivation.
“Brat, you attacked someone in the city, breaking the law. As city lord, I’ll arrest you for trial!” he declared, standing tall with an air of authority.
Lin Yun set down his cup, not even glancing at him. “Young Master Li attacked first. I was just defending myself. If anyone’s to be arrested, it should be him, right?”
The city lord sneered, “Still arguing? I say it’s you, so it’s you. Understand?”
He waved his hand. “Men, seize him for judgment!”
“Yes!”
Four subordinates behind him rushed toward Lin Yun.
“Kid, I told you, crossing me is asking for death. You’re done now, heh heh!” Young Master Li cackled triumphantly.
He knew once the city lord took Lin Yun, he could deal with him however he liked.
“City lord, he didn’t mean to offend anyone. Please spare him!” Shu Zhang stood, urgently pleading for Lin Yun. He knew Lin Yun wouldn’t have clashed with Young Master Li or the city lord if not for him.
The city lord frowned, snapping, “Shu Zhang, you’re just a filthy beggar. You think you’re qualified to plead before me? One more word, and I’ll arrest you too!”
At that moment, Lin Yun slowly stood.
All eyes in Flower Moon Tower turned to him.
“What’s that guy doing? Is he planning to fight the city lord?”
“Then he’s truly doomed.”
The city lord looked at Lin Yun with disdain. “What, you dare resist? Resisting arrest by force is a grave crime! I can kill you on the spot!”
“I just want to show you something,” Lin Yun said, reaching to reveal his prefecture lord token.
Everyone watched his hand, curious. A weapon? Something else?
But Lin Yun paused.
He was here to ambush Zhu Kui.
If he revealed his identity as prefecture lord now, word would spread through the county: *The prefecture lord is in Ye Shi County, at Flower Moon Tower.*
If Zhu Kui caught wind of this, knowing the prefecture lord was here, would he dare show up? Absolutely not!
So, he couldn’t expose his identity now—not because of them, at least not yet!
Instead, Lin Yun produced 200,000 spirit crystals.
“Here’s 200,000 spirit crystals as an apology to the city lord and Young Master Li,” he said.
The city lord’s eyes lit up at the sight.
For a county city lord, this was a sizable sum, especially since it came so easily!
“He’s paying up?”
“With his calm demeanor earlier, I thought he was some big shot. Turns out he’s just buying his way out.”
“Pfft, this guy’s hilarious!”
Lin Yun’s payment stunned everyone.
“I won’t take your money personally, but I’ll accept it for city repairs. As a discerning city lord, since you say you didn’t strike first, I won’t pursue it further!” the city lord said, pocketing the money with a grandiose excuse.
“Godfather, that’s it?” Young Master Li was visibly unwilling, especially since he wouldn’t get a share.
“Godson, spare those who can be spared,” the city lord said in a lecturing tone.
“Our city lord is truly magnanimous,” Sister Ding flattered with a smile.
“Let’s go, godson. Have a drink upstairs with me.”
The city lord led Young Master Li upstairs.
“Phew…” Shu Zhang exhaled in relief as they left.
“Young hero, that was too close. If you hadn’t backed down and paid, you could’ve been in mortal danger!” Shu Zhang said, wiping sweat from his brow, feeling like he’d escaped disaster.
