Chapter 20: The Trap for the Demon

"Are you thinking that once I let you go in a moment, you will figure out how to deal with me, how to torture me, and make me wish I were dead?"

Yan Xiao shook his head; he had seen such tricks far too many times.

Shi Haochi was stunned; he had not expected his thoughts to be seen through by Yan Xiao, and for a moment, he did not know how to retort.

"Leave a margin in all things so we may meet again in the future; young man, you had best not go too far."

Shi Xingfeng gripped his long sword, looking at Yan Xiao with a face full of murderous intent.

"Dazhu, come and explain the sequence of events so everyone can judge for themselves who is truly going too far," Yan Xiao said, glaring at Shi Xingfeng.

Hearing Yan Xiao call him, Wang Dazhu immediately perked up, gripped his broadsword, walked to the center of the clearing, and said with a look of indignation: "Greetings, heroes.

My master and our group intended to enter the city, but this greasy-headed brat actually coveted the beauty of my young mistress and Sister Qingyao.

He insisted that we cut in line and even falsely accused my Master of touching his backside!

My Master is the Chief Offering and Chief Disciple of Luoxia Mountain, with profound cultivation!

How could he be insulted by this greasy-headed brat? But my Master has always been kind, so he only lightly tapped the greasy-headed brat's backside as a small punishment.

But!

This greasy-headed brat used the power of his sect to threaten us. My Master could not endure it and intended to strike them down. I ask everyone here to bear witness that my Master is not wantonly killing the innocent.

Thank you all!"

Wang Dazhu finished his impassioned speech and did not forget to bow to everyone at the end.

Yan Xiao was dumbfounded. It was true that he wanted to kill this greasy-headed brat, but did he have to announce it with such fanfare?

"Yes... it was indeed the greasy-headed brat who provoked them. We all saw it. Young hero, feel free to act; kill this scourge."

"The young hero has a chivalrous heart; we admire you. Feel free to act today; we will bear witness for you."

The crowd shouted loudly, their emotions running high.

Yan Xiao rolled his eyes. People love to watch a spectacle, but if he killed Shi Haochi, these same people would surely be the ones to report him tomorrow to collect the bounty.

"Do you really dare to kill me?"

Shi Haochi's body trembled; he was truly afraid.

Fear Value +3.

Hmm?

Has this guy reached the limit of the Fear Value he can provide?

What trashy cultivation; it hit the limit with just this little bit.

"Behave yourself."

Yan Xiao was annoyed and slapped the top of his head, causing him to howl in pain.

"Is your Excellency the Chief Disciple of Luoxia Mountain?"

Shi Xingfeng had been bluffed by Wang Dazhu's nonsense. If Yan Xiao were truly the Chief Disciple of Luoxia Mountain, this matter would be difficult to handle.

Their Yuhua Sect wanted to replace Luoxia Mountain, but they had not yet completely torn off the mask of civility. If a conflict occurred and Luoxia Mountain became vigilant, it would be detrimental to their plans.

"That is correct!"

Since Wang Dazhu had already bragged, Yan Xiao had no choice but to follow along and cover the lie.

"Do you have proof?"

Shi Xingfeng said sternly.

"The Sect Master Token of Luoxia Mountain is here; I am the successor to the Luoxia Mountain Sect Master—Xiao Yan!"

Yan Xiao took out the golden token and shouted loudly.

Since the lie was already told, he might as well continue to show off.

Seeing the surprised expressions of the crowd, Yan Xiao thought resentfully, if my system could absorb Pretending Value, this wave should have yielded quite a harvest...

Fear Value from a group of people +200.

Sigh, Fear Value is hard to come by.

Yan Xiao grumbled; 180 of that Fear Value was provided by the people from the Yuhua Sect. While others were surprised, they were not afraid.

Seeing the shiny token in his hand, the words "Luoxia Mountain" were engraved on it using a special technique.

It looked like the genuine article at a glance.

Shi Xingfeng took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "I did not know the Young Master's identity earlier and have offended you. I ask that you show mercy and spare my young master. I will visit Luoxia Mountain to pay my respects another day."

"Not an apology?" Yan Xiao sneered.

Shi Xingfeng's eyes turned cold; he was clearly angry.

"No need for you to visit; my Luoxia Mountain will naturally demand compensation from your Yuhua Sect."

Yan Xiao chuckled, slapped Shi Haochi, and said sternly, "Write me an IOU. Write that Shi Haochi of the Yuhua Sect owes Yan... owes Xiao Yan ten thousand taels of gold, fifty Superior Grade Spirit Pills, one hundred cultivation manuals, plus half of his family assets."

"You are asking for the impossible!"

Shi Xingfeng was so angry that his old eyes blurred, and he nearly fainted.

"Are you going to write it or not? If you don't, I'll beat your backside until it blooms."

Yan Xiao couldn't be bothered with the old man and kicked Shi Haochi in the backside, threatening him.

Fear Value +1.

Shi Haochi nodded hurriedly, "I'll write, I'll write, I'll write!"

He thought to himself that he wouldn't acknowledge it anyway after writing it, so he wasn't afraid no matter how much he wrote.

"You are fast; go find some paper and a brush."

Yan Xiao glanced at Fairy Feng and ordered.

Fairy Feng was stunned; she looked at Shi Haochi, then at Shi Xingfeng, not knowing what to do.

She was currently in a daze, worried for her family yet feeling that Yan Xiao was doing the right thing, which felt satisfying.

"I have paper and a brush here, fifty taels of silver per sheet!"

At this moment, a young man dressed as a scholar walked out with his face covered, holding paper and a brush in his hands.

Damn...

Still thinking about making money at a time like this, he has a pretty good head for business.

The crowd held back their laughter, wanting to laugh but afraid of offending Shi Xingfeng.

"You, pay up!"

Yan Xiao pointed at Shi Xingfeng, signaling him to pay for the masked scholar's paper.

Shi Xingfeng took several deep breaths before taking out a gold ingot and tossing it to the scholar.

"Many thanks... many thanks!"

The masked scholar took the gold ingot and scurried away in a flash, disappearing into the crowd.

"Young Master Xiao, you must keep your word and release my Young Master afterward."

Shi Xingfeng said in a deep voice, thinking to himself that he would save the young master first, and as for future matters, the Sect Master would settle them with Luoxia Mountain.

"You white-headed old fool, stop talking so much; your words are too unpleasant, and I don't like hearing them," Yan Xiao retorted.

"You... you!"

Shi Xingfeng was so angry that smoke was coming out of his seven orifices.

"Qingyao, Dazhu, watch him write!" Yan Xiao instructed.

And so, under the coercion of several people, Shi Haochi wrote down the exorbitant IOU.

The crowd watched the events of the day as if they were in a dream.

How could it be so absurd?

Has this world changed?

Yan Xiao could not care about their thoughts; he took the IOU with a chuckle, cast the Earth Escape Technique, and disappeared from the spot with Qingyao and the others.

"Little thief, leave my Young Master behind!"

Seeing that Yan Xiao had taken Shi Haochi along with him, Shi Xingfeng shouted loudly.

Before his voice had even faded, Shi Haochi's body slowly emerged from the ground, with several bumps on his head, already passed out.

Seeing this, Shi Xingfeng grabbed him, held him, and flew away quickly on his sword.

Seeing the farce end, the crowd in the area dispersed, but they still talked about it with great relish, discussing it in a hubbub of voices.

Yu Chang walked to Feng Jingting's side, looked at her with concern, and asked in a low voice, "Junior Sister, what do you plan to do?"

"What else can I do?"

Feng Jingting's face was bitter; having fallen out with Shi Haochi this time, she either had to agree to the marriage or become an enemy.

But if she were to marry that bastard, it would be a fate worse than death.

"I will return to my family first; you should go too, Senior Brother. Leave this place of trouble, seek another path, and absolutely do not return to the Yuhua Sect."

After Feng Jingting finished speaking, her Qingfeng Longsword floated up, and she flew away on her sword.

Yu Chang sighed; how could he not know that returning to the Yuhua Sect would only lead to a dead end?

He looked toward the direction of Luoxia Mountain, hoping that Young Master Xiao Yan would be able to crush the Yuhua Sect, so that Junior Sister Feng Jingting might have an easier time.