Chapter Sixty-One: The Local Tyrant

In a small courtyard in Autumn Pond City, Li Zihong had just finished her cultivation practice and stepped outside for some fresh air. She immediately spotted Dao Sansheng returning, his head drooping and his entire demeanor listless—he looked just like a walking corpse.

“Hey! Dao Sansheng, didn’t you go to Purple Immortal City this morning? I heard the girls by the river there are quite lovely. Judging by your appearance—and the mud clinging to your shoes—I’d never have guessed you’d be up to something in the mud like that.”

Only then did Dao Sansheng notice the mud and sand still stuck to his shoes from his early morning trip to the riverside, and even some willow fluff had clung to his robe.

“I just went to the river for a look. The scenery there is nice. That’s enough talk—I’m heading to my room to cultivate. If anyone comes looking for me, just say I’m not here. Be sure to say I’m not here.”

With that, he darted inside, disappearing from Li Zihong’s sight.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

The sound of dogs barking reached her ears as a spirit beast carriage pulled up. Hitched to the carriage was a strangely shaped spirit beast—none other than a three-headed spirit hound. To see a mid-stage Foundation Establishment beast harnessed to a carriage was impressive indeed; clearly, the person inside possessed considerable status and wealth.

Li Zihong was no stranger to such displays—after all, as the daughter of the lord of Kunling County, she had grown up surrounded by luxury and power, and she recognized the beast at a glance.

The carriage came to a slow halt beside the courtyard. The elderly driver leapt down, drew back the curtain, and inside, a young man lay fast asleep, his steady breathing audible from within.

Seeing this, the old man dared not speak, simply waiting by the door, holding the curtain, for the youth to wake.

“Hey, old man! You parked your carriage right in front of our gate, blocking the entrance—what’s the meaning of this? If you want to stop, do it somewhere else! Don’t think you can bully us just because we’re a small household. I’m not so easily cowed!”

The girl’s sharp voice roused the sleeper inside. The old man wiped sweat from his brow, glared fiercely at the girl as if warning her to hold her tongue.

The silk cushions inside the carriage were slippery, and as the youth turned over, his foot slid out from under him and his head struck the carved woodwork. Rubbing the sore spot, he opened his eyes without bothering to look up.

“Steward Liu, what kind of driving is this? And this dog—how did it end up pulling the carriage? Are you trying to get rid of me and inherit the family fortune? Don’t get any ideas. I won’t leave you a dime.”

“Young master, the carriage stopped, I didn’t move it,” Steward Liu protested, feeling wronged. The carriage had been stationary the entire time.

“And you still dare to talk back?”

Before he could finish, the girl’s scolding voice rang out from outside. The young man poked his head through the curtain and caught sight of a striking figure.

The young woman’s eyes were bright, her teeth pearly white. She wore a pale green gauzy dress, her snow-white skin faintly visible beneath, and her lips a soft rose, gleaming with sunlight—a vision of beauty, as if framed by a rainbow. Her hair was hastily twisted into a bun, lending her a pure, innocent air in the morning light.

The saliva of the youth on the carriage had already dripped onto the spirit beast below. With a shiver, the beast shook off the drool, finally waking the youth from his daze.

“If you insult me again, I’ll make sure you die here today.”

Steward Liu rushed forward, about to strike, but the girl instantly began to channel her energy, ready to fight back.

“Enough, Steward Liu. Who told you that you could act without my command?”

With those words, the young man leaped down from the carriage and strode toward the girl.

“Young master, she just insulted you. Let me teach her a lesson.”

Steward Liu withdrew his hand and bowed, offering an explanation.

“I didn’t hear this young lady insult me at all. In fact, I heard her praise me greatly—she just mentioned a few small flaws of mine. I’m grateful, truly! Tonight, I must invite the young lady to dinner; I would be most honored.”

Zichen Yu tried to play the gentleman, but he was unaware that his reputation had long since preceded him. Li Zihong and her father had attended several banquets where they had witnessed his notorious behavior firsthand—no one believed his act.

“Zichen Yu, don’t think I don’t know who you are. Aren’t you the infamous good-for-nothing from the Zichen Family, one of the three great families? I’ve had the misfortune of meeting you a few times already.”

Exposed by the girl, Zichen Yu was momentarily at a loss for words. Still, he was not one to let a girl slip from his grasp so easily.

“Is Young Master Dao at home? The young master and I have come to see him on important business. Please, inform him,” Steward Liu interjected, breaking the awkward silence.

“So that’s why he ran off so early—making friends with the wrong crowd. What do you want with him? He’s not home. If you want to find him, look elsewhere,” Li Zihong replied, refusing them outright. No wonder Dao Sansheng had told her to say he wasn’t in if anyone came looking for him—so he was mixed up with this playboy, and now trouble had followed him home.

“If you know who we are, you’d best be sensible. With just a word from me, this house of yours could change ownership. I came to discuss serious matters with him. Don’t force my hand,” Zichen Yu threatened.

Li Zihong, however, was fearless; she squared her stance, making it clear that only a fight would let them through.

Meanwhile, Dao Sansheng had just settled into his room, crossed his legs, and begun circulating his energy according to his cultivation method. Yet he couldn’t calm his mind enough to truly enter a meditative state, so he simply sat quietly.

Before long, voices rose outside—Li Zihong’s, unmistakable in its sharpness, clearly arguing with someone. He thought to himself that he’d better not interfere; the girl was willful and spoiled, and if he tried to mediate, she might even blame him.

But then the sound of two male voices followed. It seemed one of them was an idle young master—Dao Sansheng began to feel uneasy. He stood up, hesitating for a moment about whether to go out, when he heard the argument escalating and the situation about to turn violent.

Without another thought, Dao Sansheng pushed open his door and stepped out into the courtyard. There, he saw Li Zihong had been seized.

“Let go of my friend, or else—”

“Or else what? What can you do, little brat at the eighth level of Qi Refinement? You dare shout at me?” Steward Liu advanced, prepared to strike.

Zichen Yu held Li Zihong tightly, caressing her face. “Such a lovely, charming girl—I have no intention of letting you go. Rest assured, I’ll take good care of you. I’ve been craving you for quite some time.”

The old man’s palm turned upward, spiritual energy from all directions converging into his hand, forming a black vortex that devoured everything around it.

Seeing this, Dao Sansheng tried to dash forward, but was caught by the suction from the old man’s palm, drawing him closer. He steadied himself and activated his cultivation technique; fortunately, both his spiritual sense and soul strength far exceeded those of his peers, allowing him to hold his ground.