If everyone acted reasonably, Ling Xiao would naturally be innocent. However, Sin City was not a place for reason.
Ling Xiao had killed a member of the Black Python family. If Mang Xiao did nothing, he would look far too weak.
Everyone turned their eyes to Mang Xiao, eager to see how the top genius of the Black Python family would handle the situation.
Mang Xiao was deeply displeased.
Killing intent even flickered within him.
He knew perfectly well that his subordinate had ambushed Ling Xiao first and suffered the consequences, but Ling Xiao had killed his man in front of so many people. That was clearly refusing to give him face, openly slapping him across the face.
Some things could not be tolerated.
At this moment, he had completely cast aside his elders’ warnings. If he showed no reaction, he, Mang Xiao, might as well stop trying to survive in this world.
“Ling Xiao, do you realise how angry I am right now? Even if my man was in the wrong, you showed no respect to me or to the Black Python family. Isn’t that somewhat inappropriate?”
Purple light flared across Mang Xiao’s body, and powerful battle intent blazed forth. The crowd grew instantly excited.
It was finally going to happen.
What kind of lesson would Mang Xiao, a young warrior comparable to the Six Sword Princes, teach this newcomer to Sin City?
“Face? Is face more important than your life?”
Ling Xiao gave a faint smile. “Right now you would only lose face. If we truly fight, you will lose your life.”
A threat.
A completely undisguised threat.
Mang Xiao’s expression grew even uglier. He could not gauge Ling Xiao’s true strength at all, yet the other man remained so calm, as though he had him completely figured out. This made him hesitate.
Should he attack or not?
What would be the consequences if he did?
He had no idea. His mood was terrible.
“This kid is too arrogant. From what he’s saying, it sounds as if he could even kill Mang Xiao.”
“Exactly, that’s definitely what he means. I vaguely recall that name now. Could he be the Chosen Son that caused such an uproar in the Divine Phoenix Empire?”
Once someone mentioned it, the others immediately remembered.
Most people present had only heard rumours about the Chosen Son, Ling Xiao. They knew nothing of his actual strength or personality.
“Could the Chosen Son of the Heavenly Dragon Continent really be a match for the young master of the Black Python family?”
The crowd eagerly anticipated the coming battle.
“Young Master, why waste words on that stinking brat? Just kill him! He actually dared to disrespect our Black Python family!”
“Right! Even if our man ambushed him first, he should have accepted death obediently. To actually fight back, does he have no regard for the law?”
In their eyes, the law of Sin City was that the Black Python family was supreme. Everything here was decided by them.
If they wanted to kill someone, that person could only kneel and let them do it. Fighting back made one a rebel.
“If you’re going to fight, stop talking. I’m standing right here waiting.”
A provocative smile appeared on Ling Xiao’s face, as though the loudly shouting warriors were nothing more than useless trash with mouths.
All talk and no action.
The Black Python family warriors were furious, yet even in their anger they dared not strike.
Ling Xiao had effortlessly killed their brother earlier, moving so fast that none of them had even seen it clearly.
Fighting someone like that meant death for them too.
That was why they goaded Mang Xiao into acting. Only he could fight Ling Xiao, giving them the chance to strike from the shadows.
Mang Xiao was now in an impossible position. He truly did not want to fight Ling Xiao, whose strength was unfathomably deep.
Yet under these circumstances like these, he had no choice but to defend the Black Python family’s dignity.
What he needed was a way out, an excuse to leave without losing face.
Otherwise, simply walking away would be far too humiliating.
But if he really fought, he might actually lose his life.
“Young Master, something serious has happened!”
Fortunately, some people were clever.
A Black Python family member suddenly dashed out of the crowd and shouted to Mang Xiao, “The family head says you must return at once! It concerns a major matter for the Black Python family!”
Of course this was false.
It was simply an excuse to give Mang Xiao a way to back down.
Upon hearing it, Mang Xiao immediately withdrew his battle intent, glared at Ling Xiao and said, “You got lucky today. In Sin City, you’d better behave yourself, or you’ll suffer for it! Let’s go!”
Mang Xiao seized the chance and left without hesitation.
Everyone was stunned.
Although he had a reason to leave, based on what they knew of Mang Xiao, once he was enraged he would never walk away from anything.
He would definitely kill whoever provoked him.
Why had he suddenly become so rational today?
Could he actually be afraid?
The Black Python family warriors were even more dumbfounded.
Their usually domineering young master had watched his own brother be killed and done nothing about it?
But Mang Xiao had already gone, so the rest of them certainly did not dare cause trouble for Ling Xiao. They slunk away in disgrace.
The surrounding onlookers wanted to laugh but did not dare.
After all, this was Black Python family territory. They genuinely feared retaliation.
“You may go.”
Ling Xiao waved a hand at the guide.
The Black Wind Tower was already in sight, so the guide was no longer needed.
“Thank you, Young Master, for sparing my life.”
The guide cupped his hands and fled as though his life depended on it.
The scene of Ling Xiao killing a Black Python family member in front of Mang Xiao had left an indelible impression on him.
“Master, shall we continue strolling?”
Leng Mei warily watched the growing number of people wearing Black Python insignia on the street and asked in a low voice.
Clearly, although Mang Xiao had found an excuse to leave, he had not swallowed his anger. The Black Python family was already mobilising.
Given the chance, they would undoubtedly try to eliminate Ling Xiao without mercy.
“Let’s head to the auction house first, so no one else snaps up the items.”
Ling Xiao thought for a moment and replied.
“Ling Xiao, I just overheard something interesting that you might like to know.”
Yue Nu suddenly spoke.
“What is it, Sister Yue Nu?”
Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.
“It seems that in a couple of days Sin City will hold an alchemy convention. Alchemists from the Heavenly Dragon Continent, the Divine Phoenix Continent, the Seven Martial Sect Islands, and even the Five Immortal Islands will participate. Aren’t you always interested in alchemy? Shall we go and watch?”
Yue Nu answered with a smile.
“Of course we must take part. Where will it be held?”
Ling Xiao had no doubt about Yue Nu’s words. As a Yin-Yang realm expert, her perception far exceeded his own.
It was perfectly normal for her to hear things he could not.
“The Black Python family.”
Yue Nu laughed.
