Chapter 76 of 100

Chapter 76: Hero of Men

16 min read4,004 words

The sky was dimly lit with the first light of dawn.

In the third upper room of the Smoky Rain Pavilion, Xia Xinyan slowly awoke. Her eyes, clear as lake water, were filled with confusion. Her gaze swept around the room and finally settled on the large bed draped in red cotton.

Xia Xinyan's heart involuntarily tightened. She abruptly sat up from the soft carpet, her eyes filled with panic as she stared at the large bed. On the bed, the two girls from the Smoky Rain Pavilion, Yan Yun and Rou'er, lay sprawled out, their bodies exposed, and the room was filled with a peculiar scent.

Xia Xinyan's expression changed rapidly. She hurriedly examined her body and only after confirming that she was unharmed did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

She had been seriously injured in her battle with Beiming Shang. When she fell into the Biyue Lake, she had only managed to swallow a single Butian Pill. Due to the pill's effects not immediately dispersing, she had suddenly fainted when she reached the shore.

The memories before she fainted gradually became clearer. She slowly recalled the figure of Shi Yan standing by the shore...

—This was her last memory before fainting.

In the next moment, Xia Xinyan felt something on her face. She reached out and pulled it off, revealing the strip of cloth that Shi Yan had used to cover her beautiful face.

Looking at the strip of cloth, which was mixed with sweat and odor, Xia Xinyan frowned, her confusion deepening.

What exactly happened?

Xia Xinyan stood up and stared at the two girls who were sound asleep on the large bed. After a moment of contemplation, she took a plain white handkerchief from her sleeve and covered her face. She then went to the door, pushed it open, and called out, "Is anyone there?"

"Coming!" The madam's voice promptly responded.

Shortly after, the madam who had brought Shi Yan to this room walked over with a smile.

Upon entering the room, the madam glanced nervously at the large bed and suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, where is that young master?"

"Young master?" Xia Xinyan's eyebrows furrowed, and a strange light flashed in her eyes. "Where am I? Who brought me here?"

"Miss, you don't remember anything?"

The madam was taken aback, her face, covered in powder, showing a strange expression. She sized up Xia Xinyan and then giggled, "Miss, that young master must have had his fun and left without a trace. Ha, I don't know who that young master is, so please don't cause me trouble."

Xia Xinyan's expression turned cold, and she lightly tapped the table in the room.

"Bang!"

The solid wood square table shattered instantly, the pieces of wood falling to the ground.

The madam's face turned pale with fear, and she almost burst into tears, crying out, "It's not my fault! I did nothing! Miss, please spare me!"

"Tell me where I am and who brought me here." Xia Xinyan's eyes were filled with impatience.

"The situation is like this..."

The madam, crying and trembling with fear, recounted the events, repeatedly denying any involvement. "Miss, it really has nothing to do with me! Please spare me!"

She assumed Xia Xinyan had been defiled by Shi Yan and was worried that Xia Xinyan might take revenge out of anger, so she kept pleading and crying.

After listening to the madam, Xia Xinyan was stunned, her eyes filled with a strange expression.

Who is that person?

He brought me to a brothel and, without any regard for me, boldly sought pleasure, truly a despicable lecher!

Xia Xinyan had absolute confidence in her beauty!

Throughout her life, she had seen countless men who lusted after her beauty. She knew very well how fatally attractive her appearance was to men.

That was why she always wore a veil to avoid unnecessary trouble.

That person was clearly a lecher, evident from the fact that he brought her to a brothel. Yet, this despicable lecher only took the two coarse and vulgar girls from the brothel and did not touch her.

Why?

While feeling confused, a hint of hidden anger also flashed through Xia Xinyan's mind.

Am I not even as good as two brothel girls? Is he blind?

"It's not my fault! Really, it's not my fault!" The madam continued to plead, while secretly observing Xia Xinyan and tentatively asked, "Miss, what did that boy do to you?"

Xia Xinyan's eyes turned cold as she glanced at the madam.

The madam felt as if she had fallen into an ice pit, shivering all over, and dared not ask any more questions.

Xia Xinyan stood there for a moment, seeing the sky gradually brighten, and then flew out of the window through which Shi Yan had jumped.

On the early morning street, she flashed a few times and disappeared.

The madam watched her leave, feeling a sense of relief. After a while, she muttered to herself, "I've been a madam for so many years, but I've never seen a woman with such a beautiful figure. That young master must have accumulated great virtue in his past life to be able to enjoy such an exquisite woman."

...

The Shi Family, the Rock Hall.

Shi Jian was raging, roaring, "Find him! Find him for me! Everyone, temporarily ignore the Mo Family and find Shi Yan first! If you can't find Shi Yan, don't come to see me!"

Shi Tie, Shi Dang, and Han Feng, along with other Shi Family experts, all hung their heads, their expressions gloomy.

"Head of the family, it's all my fault. I failed to protect Young Master Yan." Han Feng lowered his head, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. "The effects of the Blood Hand's pill only lasted an hour. Now that the effects have worn off, I will bring the head of Blood Hand."

"Blood Hand must not leave Tianyuan City alive!"

Shi Jian's eyes were bloodshot, his killing intent surging. "But for now, ignore Blood Hand. Focus on finding Shi Yan! Everyone, go to that area. Even if you have to dig up the entire Tianyuan City, you must find Shi Yan! He has a dual martial soul, so he won't die easily. Search with all your might!"

"A dual martial soul?"

Shi Tie and Shi Dang were shocked. Only now did they understand why Shi Jian was so furious.

A dual martial soul is a one-in-a-million talent, and almost every dual martial soul practitioner will become a hero of men in the future.

—This was also why Beiming Shang had assigned Yin Kui and Jushan to Beiming Ce.

A dual martial soul family member, without any unforeseen circumstances, would definitely become the future leader of the family, ensuring the family's long-term prosperity.

The sudden death of such a person would be a devastating blow to the family.

"Brother, I will go and search personally!" Shi Tie realized the severity of the situation, his face turning serious as he was about to leave the Rock Hall.

"Head of the family, Young Master Yan has returned."

At this moment, Han Zhong suddenly appeared, excitedly saying, "Young Master Yan is fine and is about to reach the Rock Hall."

"Ha ha ha!"

Shi Jian laughed heartily, his face changing from a storm to a clear sky. "I knew that boy would be fine! Look, he's back safe and sound."

Shi Tie and the others had strange expressions, thinking to themselves: Who was the one who was so panicked just now, more so than if their parents had died?

Shortly after, Shi Yan calmly entered the Rock Hall and said, "Mo Qi and Li Han are dead."

"You killed them?" Shi Tie was stunned, looking at Shi Yan in disbelief. "Li Han is a Human Rank martial practitioner! How could you kill him?"

"In the middle of the battle, I suddenly advanced to the Human Rank, and then it became simple." Shi Yan smiled calmly.

Upon hearing this, the many Shi Family experts in the Rock Hall were stunned, their mouths agape, looking at Shi Yan with strange expressions.

Shi Jian was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly flew to Shi Yan's side, grabbed his arm, and probed him. He then burst into laughter again, "Heaven has not forsaken our Shi Family this time! I knew this boy was a good material! Excellent, excellent! Seventeen years old, Human Rank! All my efforts in cultivating you have not been in vain! You will surely become a hero of men in the future!"

"What about Mo Tuo?" Shi Yan frowned and asked.

"He is severely injured and used the Blood Escape technique to return to the Mo Family. He won't recover for three years. He's probably hiding in the Mo Family now and won't dare to leave for a while." Shi Tie coldly snorted, still somewhat indignant. "If the two people from the Ethereal Pavilion hadn't stopped pursuing, Mo Tuo wouldn't have escaped. It's a pity we couldn't directly eliminate him."

"Not bad. With Mo Tuo severely injured, and Mo Zhan and Mo Qi both dead, many of the Mo Family's top experts have also been killed. From today on, the Mo Family no longer has the qualifications to compete with our Shi Family! We should now focus on expanding our gains! Father, should we launch a full-scale attack?" Shi Dang said.

"Spread my order. All the experts in the outer cities should immediately attack the Mo Family's strongholds! In Tianyuan City, launch the attack immediately. Except for the Mo Family's main base, attack all other areas with full force!" Shi Jian roared.

...

The Zuo Family.

In a secret room, Chixiao looked disheveled, a bitter smile on his lips.

Zuo Xu sipped his tea, also looking helpless, and sighed, "Forget it. Who would have thought that girl had the strength of a Heaven Rank practitioner? We need to think of another plan."

"That girl's true realm is at the Third Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations. However, her martial soul is extremely peculiar, seemingly able to borrow the power of her previous life, allowing her to instantly advance to the Heaven Rank. It's very terrifying! This kind of martial soul has never appeared in our area before. It seems the Endless Sea is indeed mysterious."

Chixiao's face was grim, and he sighed helplessly, "That girl can instantly advance to the Heaven Rank, so no one in Tianyuan City can easily take the fragment from her. Although I'm not afraid of her, I don't want to end up in a lose-lose situation. If that happens, my identity will be exposed, and Beiming Shang will definitely notice."

"I hope the Ethereal Pavilion doesn't know it was us, or things will get complicated." Zuo Xu sighed.

"What should we tell the Shi Family?" Chixiao pondered for a moment and suddenly asked.

"I will communicate well with Shi Jian. After this storm passes, I will send someone to the Ethereal Pavilion to seek cooperation. Sigh, that girl can instantly advance to the Heaven Rank, so we can only do this."

"Yes, only this. I hope that girl doesn't hold a grudge against me. Sigh, attacking a young girl really makes me feel guilty and uneasy."

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