Chapter 275

In the Liang Kingdom, only Qiao Huizhu and Qiao Xiaoqiao knew He Pingsheng's true name.

As long as those two didn't reveal He Pingsheng's true name.

Then He Pingsheng in Hongshi City was Xu Kunlun.

So it was perfectly fine for the disciples of the Free Immortal Sect to call him Xu Kunlun.

He Pingsheng's gaze fell again on the Free Immortal Sect disciple.

The man was tall and slender, with fair skin and a strikingly handsome face.

But his aura was slightly frivolous.

In response to the man's provocation, He Pingsheng merely smiled.

"What?" the man said. "You won't accept?"

He Pingsheng strolled lazily behind the counter and sat down slowly. "Speak. Why are you challenging me?"

"First, tell me who you are."

Though he had already guessed most of it, He Pingsheng still asked.

The man said: "Listen well—I am Zhang Qi, a core disciple of Jade Tree Peak, Free Immortal Sect."

"And why am I challenging you?"

"Heh… I heard Xu Kunlun is Qiao Huizhu's fiancé?"

"Simple—you're not worthy of her. If I defeat you today, you leave and never bother my Qiao sister again!"

He Pingsheng laughed.

Still trouble caused by his own wife.

"You're wrong!" He Pingsheng looked coolly at Zhang Qi. "First, Qiao Huizhu is not my fiancée, and I am not her fiancé!"

"Not?" Zhang Qi frowned. "But…"

He Pingsheng waved a hand, cutting him off. "We are husband and wife—bound as Dao partners!"

"Understood?"

"Ah…" Now it was Zhang Qi's turn to be stunned.

He'd heard Qiao Huizhu had a fiancé.

How did it become husband?

His Qiao sister had already been taken by this…

Thinking of it, and seeing He Pingsheng's ugly disguise, Zhang Qi's anger flared: "You ugly thing—how dare you?"

"Hmph… Don't slander my Qiao sister's reputation!"

"If you're a man, fight me!"

"Zheng…" As he spoke, Zhang Qi drew a sword.

He Pingsheng was greatly surprised.

Usually, cultivators' swords were magic treasures, palm-sized, transforming to full size with a breath.

Zhang Qi carrying his sword strapped to his waist was truly unusual.

"If you refuse…" Zhang Qi sneered. "I'll tear your damn shop apart!"

Hum…

A chilling sword intent surged outward.

He Pingsheng waved his hand. "Cheng Laobai, Xiaohe—go back to the courtyard. Don't get hurt."

Both were Qi Refining cultivators; they knew their limits and hurried back immediately.

Zhang Qi thought He Pingsheng was afraid. Smugly, he said: "You accept?"

"Pathetic!"

He Pingsheng shook his head. "I didn't accept. If you want to tear down my shop, go ahead now."

Zhang Qi: …………

What the hell does this bastard mean?

"You… you…" Zhang Qi said. "You won't even accept my challenge?"

He Pingsheng yawned. "Why should I accept every stray dog's challenge?"

"Does every Tom, Dick, and Harry get to challenge me?"

"I'm not that bored!"

"If you want to buy elixirs, as a Free Immortal Sect disciple, I'll give you a discount. If not, get out."

"You… you…" Zhang Qi trembled with rage.

He Pingsheng's attitude, his ugly, shameless demeanor—it infuriated him beyond measure.

Had his Qiao sister gone blind to pick someone like this?

"I mean what I say!"

Zhang Qi's sword slashed toward He Pingsheng in a flash.

A Foundation Establishment disciple's strike was no small thing.

Instantly, the counter was torn apart.

He Pingsheng stepped aside with a flick of his foot.

The sword light turned and chased after him.

Whoosh—the three rows of elixir shelves behind him were obliterated.

Bottles and jars shattered everywhere.

Of course, He Pingsheng had dodged with perfect timing—this second strike missed too.

Two failed attacks left Zhang Qi rattled. Panic made him reckless—he unleashed his full power in a final slash.

This time, golden light flashed beneath He Pingsheng's feet, and he vanished onto the street.

Boom…

A thunderous crash—the alchemy shop was reduced to rubble.

Dust and energy surged outward, flinging debris across the street.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of the city lord's men.

A squad of six surrounded the site.

"Who dares defy the city lord's edict and fight in Hongshi City?"

The squad leader's cold gaze swept down.

He Pingsheng raised his hand. "It's this bastard—he claims to be a Free Immortal Sect disciple, came to my shop to cause trouble, said he'd tear it down, then smashed it with three strikes!"

"Our alchemy shop has paid taxes for a hundred years—the city lord promised to protect us!"

"My lord, why wait? Arrest him now!"

Zhang Qi couldn't deny it—he still held the glowing blue sword.

"This…" Perhaps he'd never seen the city lord's authority; the man who'd been so fierce moments ago now stood frozen.

The gold-clad squad leader waved his hand. "Disrupting city lord's order—seize him!"

The six surged forward and captured all four Free Immortal Sect disciples.

"Take them all back—someone will interrogate them!"

The leader sent the captives off, then turned to He Pingsheng. "Xu Daoist, did you lose any elixirs?"

He spoke to He Pingsheng with great courtesy.

The squad leader was a cultivator himself and had bought elixirs from He Pingsheng before.

He Pingsheng bowed. "I haven't counted yet, but thank you, Captain. Next time you buy 【Spirit Gathering Elixir】, I'll prepare a bottle of top-grade for you."

"And I'll give you a fifty percent discount."

The captain's eyes lit up.

Top-grade Spirit Gathering Elixir?

At fifty percent off?

That was a fortune.

"Thank you… thank you…" the captain said. "Xu Daoist, tally your losses and report them to me—I'll make sure these lawbreakers pay!"

He Pingsheng's shop was now a pile of ruins.

How bad was the damage?

Definitely bad.

But not as bad as it seemed.

The elixir shelves were destroyed, but the elixirs themselves weren't all ruined.

Buildings and shelves weren't worth much anyway.

But that bastard Zhang Qi came to wreck my shop—I won't let him off easy unless I tear a piece of flesh off him.