Chapter 62

In the city of Cangyun, four figures slowly walked along the wide main road. Each wore a straw hat, and from their silhouettes, it could be discerned that there were three women and one man.

"Ling'er, although it is mostly likely that Dantai Jin was behind the assassination attempt on Zhong Wen, it is still just a guess. What if we are wrong?" One of them spoke, and by the voice, it was Lin Zhiyun, the palace master of Piaohua Palace.

"That's simple. I've heard that the Wanjin Tower has an unwritten rule: they do not take contracts to assassinate their own clients. As long as Dantai Jin's current commission is not completed, he is still considered a client of Wanjin Tower." Nangong Ling, quick-witted, instantly thought of a way to verify it. She turned to another woman and asked, "Senior Aunt Leng, do you know where the Wanjin Tower's base is in Cangyun City?"

"Sure." Leng Wushuang nodded, "It's an inn."

"Let's go. Wanjin Tower recognizes you and Zhong Wen, and they might also know something about Master, but they probably don't know who I am." Nangong Ling smiled, "I'll place a contract to assassinate Dantai Jin, and we'll see what happens."

"Good idea." Zhong Wen's eyes lit up, deeply impressed by Nangong Ling's intelligence.

...

Dantai Zhaoming, the head of the Dantai family, had been deeply worried recently. His originally black hair had started to turn white. The family had been too arrogant and overbearing in the past, relying on the protection of the old ancestor. Now, in their time of decline, they found it difficult to find allies among the other three major families in Cangyun City.

It's all because of that wicked son!

Every time he thought about how Dantai Jin had offended an unknown Tianlun expert, even though he doted on his eldest son, this thought would still occasionally surface in his mind.

Dantai Jin had already confessed to him about his collaboration with Xiao Wenjian to target Piaohua Palace. Dantai Zhaoming did not actually find anything wrong with his son's ambitious plan to align with the Xiao family.

However, this was a world where results spoke louder than words. The fact was that the plot to seize Piaohua Palace's assets had failed, not only failing to win the favor of the Xiao family but also incurring the wrath of a Tianlun expert, causing the Dantai family's position in Cangyun City to plummet.

After I pass away, can I really let Yan'er inherit the position of family head?

Dantai Yan, the youngest son, had been overly pampered by the old ancestor since childhood, developing a rebellious and arrogant personality. In Dantai Zhaoming's view, he was far from suitable to lead a major family.

Dantai Zhaoming rubbed his aching eyes, put aside his worries, and continued to study the documents in his hand.

"Who dares to intrude on the Dantai family's territory!"

The shouts of the guards outside interrupted his thoughts.

"What's going on?" He frowned, pushed open the door, and sternly rebuked.

The courtyard was silent, with no sound of people.

What met his eyes was a blue-robed woman, about in her prime, with bright eyes and a beautiful smile, a graceful figure, and long black hair that reached her waist. She held a long sword that emitted a faint moon-white light, and her long dress fluttered gently in the breeze, making her look like a celestial maiden from the moon palace, beautiful beyond description.

Several Dantai family guards lay in front of the blue-robed woman, not dead but trembling all over, their teeth chattering, clearly in great pain.

"Who are you...?" Dantai Zhaoming, who should have been angry at the intrusion, found himself unable to say a harsh word when he met the blue-robed woman's enchanting beauty.

Such beauty in the world!

As the head of the Dantai family, he had seen countless beautiful women, but compared to this woman, all the so-called "beauties" he had seen before were mere庸脂俗粉, not worth looking at.

Dantai Zhaoming felt a strong desire to possess the blue-robed woman from the bottom of his heart.

"Piaohua Palace, Lin Zhiyun." The blue-robed woman coldly said a few words.

Immediately, an overwhelming cold aura enveloped Dantai Zhaoming. He widened his eyes in shock as six giant spiritual energy sword lights appeared in front of the blue-robed woman.

A Tianlun expert!

A Tianlun expert even stronger than the old ancestor!

Dantai Zhaoming trembled all over, and the desire for beauty instantly vanished. He forced a dry laugh, his tongue tied, and said, "It's Lin Palace Master, I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me."

Lin Zhiyun looked at him coldly, saying nothing.

Feeling the threat to his life, Dantai Zhaoming, surrounded by the oppressive cold aura, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead: "What brings you here, Lin Palace Master?"

"This question should be asked by the head of the Dantai family." Lin Zhiyun's voice was filled with anger, "The Dantai family has invaded Qingfeng Mountain twice, and Piaohua Palace has been lenient and did not hold it against you. Now, your family has hired Wanjin Tower assassins to target our disciples. Are you trying to bully Piaohua Palace because we have no one to stand up to you?"

"How, how could this be!" Dantai Zhaoming's heart trembled, and he quickly denied, "Lin Palace Master, is there some misunderstanding here?"

"I just came from 'Fusheng Inn.' Now, Dantai Jin has been placed on Wanjin Tower's list of untouchable targets." Lin Zhiyun said slowly, "What this means, the head of the Dantai family should know, right?"

Dantai Zhaoming's face changed drastically, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead, stammering, "This, this..."

"Politeness is a two-way street, and I won't bully you." Lin Zhiyun slowly raised her long sword, emitting a domineering Tianlun aura, "I've heard that the Dantai family has a Tianlun realm old ancestor. Why don't you have him come out and fight? If he can withstand my sword, the grudge between Piaohua Palace and the Dantai family will be settled. What do you think?"

Dantai Zhaoming felt bitter. The Dantai old ancestor was already near the end of his life and was severely injured. If he fought another Tianlun expert, he would surely die, and the Dantai family would likely be swallowed up by the other three major families, leaving nothing behind.

"Lin Palace Master, I was unaware of this matter. It must have been that wicked son acting on his own." At the critical moment of the family's survival, Dantai Zhaoming no longer cared about father-son affection, "I will capture that wicked son and hand him over to you for punishment. Please calm down, Lin Palace Master!"

Is this what family ties mean in a major family?

Lin Zhiyun, seeing Dantai Zhaoming's decisive betrayal of his own son, and thinking of the news about the Lin family brought back by her senior disciple Nangong Ling, felt a deep sorrow.

Seeing that Lin Zhiyun was not speaking, Dantai Zhaoming became even more anxious, turning to look at the few subordinates who had gathered around him: "Quickly bring that wicked son Dantai Jin to me!"

As he watched the subordinates rush away, he put on a fawning smile and said to Lin Zhiyun, who was emitting a cold aura, "Lin Palace Master, that wicked son has offended you. You can do whatever you want with him. I am willing to offer a thousand spirit crystals as an apology. Please don't refuse, Lin Palace Master."

"One thousand five hundred spirit crystals, and Dantai Jin will be handed over to me." Lin Zhiyun was not polite, "Otherwise, I will wash the Dantai family in blood today."

This number was not a random price. To rescue Qiao Erniang and others, she had spent one thousand five hundred spirit crystals, which she had firmly remembered.

"Agreed, agreed, as you wish." Dantai Zhaoming breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed.

He was not afraid of her asking for a price, but afraid of her not asking. The Dantai family could not afford the wrath of a Tianlun expert.

Shortly after, Dantai Jin was brought to Lin Zhiyun, bound, along with a ticket for one thousand five hundred spirit crystals.

"Is Zhong Wen dead?" Seeing Lin Zhiyun, Dantai Jin's eyes showed a sudden realization, knowing he would be abandoned by his father, he asked recklessly.

"You will find out soon." A cold look flashed in Lin Zhiyun's eyes as she lifted the bound Dantai Jin, glancing back at Dantai Zhaoming, "I hope this doesn't happen again, or else..."

"Lin Palace Master, please rest assured. The Dantai family and Piaohua Palace have no grudges. It was all that wicked son's doing." Dantai Zhaoming, feeling an无形 pressure from her gaze, almost couldn't breathe, quickly said, "I, Dantai Zhaoming, swear to the heavens that this will never happen again."

Lin Zhiyun said no more, turned, and lightly stepped on her spiritual energy sword, carrying Dantai Jin away.

Watching Lin Zhiyun leave on her sword, Dantai Zhaoming's face turned bleak, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

...

"Little brother, you really aren't that easy to kill." Looking at the smiling Zhong Wen, Dantai Jin's emotions were complex, "But directly asking the family's Tianlun expert to capture me doesn't seem like your style. With your intelligence, isn't this a bit beneath you?"

"Dantai brother, you are truly amusing." Zhong Wen was speechless at Dantai Jin's logic, "You hired a Tianlun assassin to kill me, but I can't hire a Tianlun expert to capture you?"

Dantai Jin chuckled, seemingly not convinced.

"Of course, if it was just an assassination, I could have played a few more rounds with you." Zhong Wen pointed to Leng Wushuang and continued, "But the assassin you hired has already harmed the people around me. Zhong Wen can only resort to some brutal means."

"Is it worth getting so angry over a woman?" Dantai Jin looked at Leng Wushuang, shaking his head in confusion, "Although this lady is very beautiful, there are many beautiful women in the world. If one dies, you can find another. Women are just playthings. If you let them control your emotions, you will never achieve greatness."

Lin Zhiyun and Nangong Ling looked at the bound and cowering Dantai Jin with disapproving eyes.

"Dantai brother, you are mistaken. In my view, women are a higher existence than men." Zhong Wen scoffed at Dantai Jin's view, "Aren't we all brought into this world after our mothers endure unimaginable pain for ten months? After receiving such great kindness from women, to treat them like trash is worse than being a dog."

These words made the three women around him look at him with softer eyes.

Dantai Jin sneered, showing no sign of repentance.

Zhong Wen sighed, turned to Leng Wushuang, and asked, "Wushuang, do you want to take action yourself?"

Leng Wushuang shook her head, "Do as you see fit."

Zhong Wen nodded, approached Dantai Jin, and with a tug, untied the ropes around him.

"Little brother, what are you doing?" Dantai Jin asked in confusion.

"Dantai brother, I'm giving you a fair chance to fight. It's a one-on-one battle." Zhong Wen smiled, "With Lin Palace Master here, I won't say something stupid like 'if you win, I'll let you go.' But if you can capture me as a hostage, you might have a chance to survive."

"Do you not know I am at the Dili