After the city lord and Young Master Li went upstairs, the guests on the first floor of Flower Moon Tower turned their attention away.
But the whispers didn’t stop.
“That guy paid up and bowed his head. A bit humiliating, but a wise move to save himself.”
“Humiliating? He was boasting earlier, acting like he feared no one. That’s the real joke. Saying no one in Dongyuan Prefecture could scare him? Does he think he’s the prefecture lord?”
…
Sister Ding looked at Lin Yun, her gaze now tinged with contempt.
“Young master, if you’d just bowed your head earlier, wouldn’t it have been easier?” she said, shaking her head.
She’d briefly wondered if Lin Yun was some big shot when he claimed to fear no one in Dongyuan Prefecture.
Now, it seemed like a massive joke!
With that, Sister Ding turned and hurried upstairs.
“Young hero, we shouldn’t stay here. Let’s leave,” Shu Zhang said, his expression grave.
“No need. We’ll stay. Don’t worry—the matter’s settled for now. Since the city lord publicly said it’s over, he won’t go back on his word and come after us, for the sake of his own face,” Lin Yun said.
He hadn’t caught his target yet—how could he leave? Paying was just to ensure his mission didn’t fail.
Otherwise, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough for that city lord to face Lin Yun’s wrath!
Seeing Lin Yun stay, Shu Zhang wavered, unsure whether to stand or sit.
“Fine. My life’s worth nothing now. If you’re not afraid, young hero, what’s a filthy beggar like me got to fear?” Shu Zhang said, sitting back down.
“Sit down too,” Lin Yun said to the courtesan beside him.
She returned to his side, but her enthusiasm had clearly waned.
Maybe she thought Lin Yun’s clash with Young Master Li and the city lord, or his backing down, made him less impressive. Lin Yun didn’t care.
Upstairs in a private room.
“Godfather, even though that kid paid, I can’t swallow this insult,” Young Master Li said, seething.
“If you want revenge, wait till he leaves Flower Moon Tower. Do what you want then. But here, no fighting. I publicly spared him, so I can’t break my word in front of everyone,” the city lord said slowly.
At that moment, Sister Ding entered with several girls.
“City lord, Young Master Li, these are new girls at Flower Moon Tower. Enjoy them first,” she said with a smile.
“Haha, good! Come here!” The city lord waved them over, grinning.
…
In the days that followed, Lin Yun stayed at Flower Moon Tower, drinking daily until late when the guests dwindled, then resting in an upstairs room. To keep up appearances, he had the courtesan Tian Rou join him, and arranged a room for Shu Zhang.
One day, two days, three days…
Time passed, and Lin Yun waited patiently.
During this time, he chatted with Shu Zhang, learning that the Shu family was once a prominent clan in the county, thriving in business. But they offended the Li family, who wiped them out with the city lord’s backing. The Li family gave half their wealth to the city lord.
Shu Zhang, the sole survivor, was captured by the Li family, who crippled his dantian and meridians to humiliate him. Left with nothing, he became a beggar, unable to leave Ye Shi County without money or inner energy.
“Don’t you hate Young Master Li and the city lord when you see them?” Lin Yun asked.
“I do, but what’s the use? I’m a useless cripple now,” Shu Zhang said, shaking his head.
On the ninth day.
“Young master, how long do you plan to stay?” Tian Rou asked, sitting beside Lin Yun.
“Why? Got something else to do?” Lin Yun replied calmly.
“No, just asking,” she said with a smile.
Lin Yun had been requesting her daily, earning her money without effort, so she was pleased. She didn’t care about his earlier “cowardice”—as long as she got paid, nothing else mattered.
Just then, a man in a black robe and bamboo hat entered the hall.
“Hm?”
Lin Yun felt the temperature in the first floor drop sharply.
“So cold!”
Tian Rou and Shu Zhang shivered.
“Such terrifying malevolent aura!” Lin Yun was startled.
He quickly glanced over with his peripheral vision.
The man removed his hat, revealing a bald head with a menacing scar.
“It’s him!” Lin Yun’s spirits lifted.
He instantly confirmed—this was Zhu Kui.
After nine days of waiting, his target had finally appeared.
It was quicker than he’d expected.
“Master Zhu, you’re here! A rare guest! Upstairs, please!” Sister Ding hurried over, smiling.
“Where’s Xiao Cui? Have her accompany me!” Zhu Kui demanded domineeringly.
“I’ll fetch her right away!” Sister Ding said eagerly.
Zhu Kui’s arrival sent a chill through many guests. Who in Ye Shi County hadn’t heard of the infamous demon?
In a small county like this, even a Mahayana realm cultivator could dominate, let alone a fifth-stage tribulation realm like him.
As Lin Yun prepared to act, the city lord came clattering down the stairs, Young Master Li trailing behind.
“Master Zhu, you’re here! It’s been over a year since your last visit, hasn’t it?” the city lord said, smiling broadly and hurrying to greet him.
“Master Zhu!” Young Master Li also bowed respectfully.
Lin Yun was stunned.
A city lord bowing to a notorious demon?
Then, Lin Yun stood.
On the other side.
“Master Zhu, this is my tribute!” The city lord offered 200,000 spirit crystals, his face full of fawning smiles.
“City lord, I’ll remember your gesture,” Zhu Kui, his face rugged, reached for the crystals.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the air exploded with a piercing whistle. A terrifying sword aura shot toward Zhu Kui.
“Who!”
Zhu Kui’s face paled in shock. He spun, waving his hand to form an inner energy barrier.
Boom!
The sword aura shattered the barrier, slicing across Zhu Kui’s neck, leaving a gruesome wound.
Blood sprayed instantly!
“Cough, cough…”
Clutching his neck, Zhu Kui slowly turned, eyes wide.
He saw Lin Yun!
