Chapter 146

When the visiting guest walked up the stairs, what he saw was Bai Lang having taken a sip of tea, just setting the teacup down on the table. His bearing was solemn and mighty, his aura overwhelming; there was no doubt this was the aura of an Innate Expert. Bai Lang sensed the qi, realizing that the one coming up was probably also an Innate Expert.

"Huai River Gang...... if they were looking for me to seek revenge, they shouldn't be like this? Then perhaps they're trying to recruit?" Bai Lang already had this thought, and he indeed saw that this Innate Expert was a woman.

"She can be considered a rare beauty, her demeanor all-encompassing with a hint of wildness." Gazing at the woman before him, Bai Lang thought so. The beauty of this Huai River Gang woman is truly extraordinary; the Tian Li and Yan Xiaoyan types he has seen wouldn't even be fit to hand her shoes.

In Bai Lang's eyes, as the woman slowly approached, she appeared ever more beautiful, her swaying figure full of charm. Suddenly, Bai Lang's heart roared like a tiger, a bronze bell rang long, and he instantly sobered up. "You, is this enchantment technique?" Bai Lang wasn't angry; instead, he asked curiously.

He doesn't get angry at martial arts that are useless against him.

The other party smiled beautifully, "It's just some lowly martial arts; I'm also quite sorry. This martial art constantly emits allure. As a weak woman like me, I have only this martial art to protect myself."

Bai Lang laughed heartily, "An Innate Expert talking about protecting oneself? As long as one doesn't cause trouble, who would specially come to provoke?" He tapped the table, "Please sit, may I ask?"

"I am the hall master of the Huai River Gang, Yang Liniang. This time I came to see Mr. Bai..." As she said this, Yang Liniang turned her bewitching eyes, glanced at Bai Lang; Bai Lang also smirked inwardly, but the Internal Force of his Golden Bell Shield began to circulate slowly.

"It's also to apologize for the previous misunderstanding; I specially came to make amends to Mr. Bai." Yang Liniang said in a soft voice, then took out a box from her bosom, placed it on the table and pushed it toward Bai Lang. The box emitted a faint fragrance; one couldn't tell whether it was the scent of rouge and powder or her own bodily fragrance.

Bai Lang felt it, opened the box with one hand to find a round pill inside. Bai Lang, inexperienced, didn't know what it was, but the medicinal fragrance that wafted out, distinct from any woman's scent, when it reached his nose, his dantian's innate true qi trembled: "This medicinal effect seems quite potent......"

"Oh, the ignorant are not guilty; let's consider this matter settled." Bai Lang knew that on the water these gangs were still strong; they even knew his name. And Yang Liniang's visit this time was certainly not just to "apologize". "Ming people don't speak in riddles; you coming here surely isn't just to \"make amends\", right? And this elixir..." Thinking it over, the act of making amends might actually make more sense the other way around.

Those gang members hadn't even done anything yet; they just jumped up and were slaughtered by Bai Lang. Speaking of it, Bai Lang seems unreasonable—but that reasonableness is from the modern society he previously lived in, not this world's reasoning. This world probably discusses reasoning based on the size of one's fists...... It's awful, but likely that's how it is.

How could a few petty gang members compare to an Innate Expert?

Yang Liniang was the same; she now chuckled and continued speaking, "Mr. Bai, would you like to come help us?"

This woman is experienced in dealing with people, perceptive of human nature; she naturally knows how to size someone up and decide how to treat them. Seeing Bai Lang's type, she knows what persuasive approach to use to win him over. Bai Lang is unaffected by her enchantment technique, so naturally he won't "fall for" her—Yang Liniang already knows this. As for using threats? No Innate Expert could possibly do that, unless absolutely subdued and forced to take poison; otherwise it's utterly impossible.

Among various persuasion methods, the one most suited to someone like Bai Lang is probably the simplest direct approach; such people are straightforward—either it works or it doesn't; trying to be tactful just wastes everyone's time. Having heard Yang Liniang's words, Bai Lang realized that the gang had likely investigated as well—Innate Experts aren't like cabbages grown in the ground; numbering in the hundreds, they are taken across the whole expanse of the Great Yan's vast territory......

Therefore many Innate Experts have backgrounds; newly emerged Innate Experts can basically be looked up roughly, especially on the water—the boat boss certainly wouldn't dare conceal Bai Lan's whereabouts; he would clearly state where Bai Lang boarded and where he was headed. Bai Lang also didn't plan to blame the boat boss, because he had prepared for this as well.

Bai Lang closed the box lid, "Thank you for your good intentions, but I'm merely going to Great Yan's Capital (Jingcheng) to be a wealthy gentleman; I really don't want to join a gang...... I'll wash my hands in a golden basin, wash my hands in a golden basin." Bai Lang saying this himself didn't believe it, but it was a very good excuse.

Naturally, trying to win someone over cannot fail and turn them into an enemy; the boss of the Huai River Gang is likely also an Innate Expert, not much higher, so Yang Liniang remained polite. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Bai Lang and teasing him a while, she prepared to take her leave; Bai Lang stood up to see her downstairs.

"This woman's age......" After her figure and the boat disappeared from sight, Bai Lang shook his head and sighed inwardly. Disciples from prestigious sects can enter the Innate realm in their thirties or forties or even younger, but ordinary martial artists relying on arduous training, even with great talent, likely only reach it after forty—moreover, after achieving Innate status, maintaining youthful appearance and even reversing "the visage of time" is not difficult...... Thus Yang Liniang is actually an "old woman", at least over forty.

Innate martial artists are full of vital energy; unless their oil is exhausted and the lamp is about to go out, judging age purely by qi sensing has some margin of error—experts can do it, but Bai Lang cannot yet...... "She also couldn't fathom that he is actually under twenty......" As for Yang Liniang's exact age, Bai Lang naturally didn't know either.

Since the enchantment technique couldn't bewitch him, Bai Lang could naturally think of all this; the remaining trace of his psyche affected by the enchantment had mostly dissipated. Bai Lang held the box under his nose, lightly sniffed, felt the fragrance permeate, and the corner of his mouth also curled into a smile: "Indeed she is a refined beauty...... Not considering age, it actually doesn't matter at all, hahaha."

At this moment Bai Lang bore the demeanor of Lei Daoguan, making it impossible to see that he was still a novice. But that was only momentary; Bai Lang soon put the box away properly and never thought about it again.

Bai Lang truly didn't want to get involved in the jianghu; he already had enough troubles, should he go mix in societies? Or wait for trouble to find him—he himself had no desire to seek trouble. The capital of Great Yan is Jicheng, also one of the major cities under heaven, with a population in the millions, the most prosperous place within Great Yan, where three waters converge.

From Ye Cheng to Jicheng, the entire route can be traveled by water; finally disembarking at Shuicheng outside Jicheng, entering through the Land Gate—this is what Bai Lang found from the materials.