Chapter 31: Wei Zidan

Li Bucai said: "No one dares to resist?"

"Even with their strength, who would dare? When you weren't here, each of them had at least 30 elite soldiers in hand. Look at now—just Tan Jiang alone brought no fewer than 50 people to Luo Ping Hai, plus those staying in the camp, an uncertain number."

"If we can unite the other newcomers, we could stand up to them."

"It's difficult. I've mentioned this to a few newcomers, but no one dares to take the lead. Moreover, our Territory has been split into pieces; many places are too far, distant water can't extinguish a nearby fire. Tan Jiang's Territory is right to your west. To the east there is only you, me, and that pretty MM."

"If the three of us join forces, would you dare to challenge them?"

Qian Feng chuckled: "I don't dare to challenge them, but my purpose in seeking you is to form an alliance, at least we can support each other. What do you think?"

"Fine, but if you ally with me, it's easy to drag you into a fire pit; I just want to spar with them."

"Big brother, that's not it; you don't even have ten people."

"Of course not now; we'll talk after a month."

Qian Feng slapped his thigh: "Exactly what I wanted. These days I've been biding my time. If we can recruit a few more, we'll launch a sudden raid on them. Are you familiar with that pretty MM?"

"It's fine."

"Better if we can bring her in as well."

Li Bucai said: "I'll give it a try. By the way, how much do you know about Sky City? What's the most valuable thing there?"

"Food, and also round Magic Crystals. On the way here we encountered the Ant Tribe; these exotic beasts have Magic Crystals on their bodies, but they're low level, so the chance of hitting them is low, though we can harvest some other stuff. It's still early; why not go out and try our luck."

Li Bucai nodded, summoned Xianghong to come in, had everyone prepare to set out, took the fat of a Lulu beast from the bundle—these days' lamps are fueled by that fat. Then he took several wooden sticks, wrapped them with scrap cloth, and made a few Torches.

"Hey, whose tent is this? Send a manager out."

Li Bucai and the others were in the tent; just after finishing the Torches, an arrogant voice shouted. Li Bucai told the young women to wait a moment inside the tent, and with Qian Feng accompanying, walked out of the tent. At that moment the school‑uniform girl also heard the voice and was the first to emerge from the tent.

The speaker was a man in his early twenties, tall and thin, wearing a Cloth Robe, his face long as a donkey—none other than the great lord of Le Ping Country, Tan Jiang. Because the school‑uniform girl rushed out ahead of Li Bucai and the others, he gave her a sidelong glance, grinned, and said, "Are you from south of Shalanjiang?"

The school‑uniform girl replied coldly, "So what?"

"Didn't expect a lord to have such looks. Hmm—hard to get us together, and I'm here to inform you that I'm collecting protection fees. But you are a beauty; I, the master, love women like you the most. I can open a door for you; choose: either two gold coins a month, or come to my place each month to keep me happy for a few days."

The school‑uniform girl smiled faintly: "Fine, shall this princess accompany you for a bit of fun right now?" With that, she suddenly drew her Dual Swords, and with the move "Twin Serpents Emerging from the Cave", she swung the swords and lunged forward.

Tan Jiang stood firmly in place; when the sword tip reached his chest, he flashed, vanished into thin air before everyone's eyes. The school‑uniform girl's attack missed, and as she landed, Tan Jiang had already leapt to the top of the tent, balancing on one foot on the tent's top pole, standing there in a childlike lotus‑sitting posture.

"Yo ho, what a spicy girl."

The school‑uniform girl snorted, "If you're a man, don't hide. If you have the skill, come and spar with this princess openly."

Tan Jiang laughed oddly, "Hehehe, openly, I'm afraid that if I act properly I'll hurt my beauty. Fine, since my beauty wants to see my skill, it's better to obey than be polite."

He took out a fist‑sized round orb, placed it flat in his palm, muttered incantations, and the dark green orb gradually turned fiery red, a powerful gust of wind sprang forth, making the tent rustle.

Qian Feng said, "Wind‑mastery technique, that MM is in danger."

The whirlwind beside him grew stronger, lifting sand and dust from the ground to form a tall barrier around the tent. This was only a warm‑up display, not the full activation yet.

Li Bucai subtly rested his hand on the spear at his waist, ready to lend a hand at any moment.

Above the tent, Tan Jiang suddenly waved both hands; the fierce wind lifted his cloak behind him, and in a grim tone he said, "If you beg for mercy now, I might consider giving you a piece of a shame‑covering cloth."

The school‑uniform girl stood there; the gale made it hard for her to keep her eyes open. She suddenly flickered, used the Gale Mantra exclusive skill "Invisibility Technique", vanished from the spot, and slowly moved to the side.

"Heh heh, you can't run away," Tan Jiang roared, flicking his hand toward the orb; in an instant, the tornado‑like sand column dispersed, forming a sand wall that, with a forward push, could send all that sand straight to the school‑uniform girl's location.

Li Bucai, seeing the unfavorable turn, swiftly drew his spear, channeling Qi through the spearhead, intending to use the new skill "Wind‑Assault Stab" with its massive impact to carve a gap in the sand wall, providing the school‑uniform girl a space to evade.

But at that moment, a massive wave of water descended from the sky, forcing Tan Jiang to halt his gesture and, using the light‑step technique "Nether Ghost Step", leave the tent's top to dodge the wave.

The water wave cascaded like a waterfall from the sky, scattering the sand wall, yet the tent below remained intact.

"We agreed that all people south of Shalanjiang belong to the two of us; what do you mean by this?" Tan Jiang, looking like a soggy chicken, emerged from the side in human form and shouted at the shadowy figure walking this way in the darkness.

From the shadow emerged a graceful young man in white, of medium build, his snow‑white robe giving him an ethereal aura, sword‑shaped eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose and square mouth, and long hair flowing like silk; he was a remarkably beautiful youth.

He gave the school‑uniform girl a warm smile, bowed, and said, "Wei Zidan arrived late, causing the princess to be startled."

The school‑uniform girl said lightly, "I'm not your princess; you don't need to bow to me. Thanks."

"No matter whose princess, a princess is a princess. Anyone daring to offend the princess's heavenly authority must first get past me. The scenery in Luo Ping Hai is pleasant; I've prepared some desserts there. I wonder if the princess has a taste for them; perhaps we could sit there for a while."

Tan Jiang shouted angrily, "You, surnamed Wei, are you trying to oppose us?"

"Princess, please wait a moment while I handle this." Wei Zidan then turned to Tan Jiang: "Wei Zidan has always spoken with weight; what I say is as irrevocable as water poured out. The people of Jiangnan are yours if they are yours, but I will not allow anyone to be disrespectful to our princess. Therefore, Qian Feng belongs to you, the princess is my princess, you won't lose out."

"It's rare to meet such a peerless beauty, especially one of lordly rank; how could Tan Jiang possibly give up?" he said, "If you replace someone on your own, you must first ask the two of us."

Wei Zidan coldly smiled, "I said the princess is my princess; are the Tan family brothers trying to haggle with me?"

The smile held a sharp, cold glint that made Tan Jiang shiver involuntarily; Wei Zidan's Mystic Gate Mantra had already broken through level 10, each skill more refined than his, and several of his water‑type skills were specifically designed to counter himself. If he truly acted, he'd likely suffer a loss; now is not the time to openly challenge him.

Tan Jiang clenched his teeth, fuming, "If this happens again, remember to inform me in advance." He then pointed at Li Bucai, "At month's end, obediently bring the money to me, or you'll die without a burial place." With that, he flung his sleeve and left.

Wei Zidan said to the school‑uniform girl, "He's a scoundrel; make sure he doesn't spoil the princess's enjoyment." He made a pleading gesture.