Chapter 7

Woyeong's expression stiffened at the Grand Master's whisper.

Yaxian looked at Woyeong upon hearing the Grand Master's whisper.

Judging by her appearance alone, Woyeong was not a beauty of the ages. However, she possessed a subtle charm within her refined demeanor that would make any man want to possess her.

Seeing the tension in the Grand Master and Woyeong, it seemed they were quite powerful martial arts factions. Woyeong was not just a lady from a noble family but the owner of the Honglou, so it was likely that after a few unsuccessful attempts, they decided to use force to possess her.

Yaxian watched with interest as he raised his wine glass, wondering how Woyeong would handle the situation.

"Ah!"

The cries of a few courtesans and the commotion outside the door broke the silence.

Bang!

Sure enough, the door was roughly pushed open, and a man with a sharp face and slit eyes, who looked quite narrow-minded, entered the room where Yaxian and Woyeong were.

He was Lu Zhaqiu, the Young Master of the Iron Horn Sect.

A dozen men, exuding a menacing aura, surrounded the door outside, accompanied by the screams of a few courtesans.

Lu Zhaqiu, who had entered the room, approached the wine table without being invited and looked Yaxian up and down.

A clean but low-quality black robe, a flat temple, and a meager aura.

Lu Zhaqiu seemed to have decided that Yaxian was not worth his attention, smiled, and then looked at Woyeong.

"All the talk about not serving guests was a lie, it seems."

His voice was filled with greed.

"Master Lu, you have come."

Woyeong stood up calmly and greeted him respectfully.

"I was having an important conversation with a guest. I will find a room for you first and come to see you once we are done."

"An important conversation with a guest?"

Lu Zhaqiu looked down at Yaxian and curled his lips into a mocking smile.

It was clear he didn't care much.

But Yaxian felt the same.

Since it was none of his business, Yaxian leisurely sipped his wine.

"Hey."

Lu Zhaqiu called out to Yaxian in a rough manner, trying to create a menacing atmosphere.

Yaxian looked up at Lu Zhaqiu.

Lu Zhaqiu smiled and placed his foot on the table.

Crack! Bang!

The table broke in half, and the food on it spilled out.

"Please step aside for a moment."

"Isn't it unnecessary to drink a farewell toast?"

The subtle threats from the Iron Horn Sect disciples outside the door continued.

Yaxian suppressed a smile, but the friendly smile in his eyes had disappeared. He stood up with a deep, serious look in his eyes.

"You understand, don't you? The guest is leaving, so clear the way."

Lu Zhaqiu seemed not to notice Yaxian's smile.

The men blocking the door looked at Yaxian with expressions of disdain and contempt, making way for him in a threatening manner.

Although it wasn't his business, he couldn't ignore it anymore.

Yaxian stood up and looked at Lu Zhaqiu.

"…!"

Yaxian's cold eyes.

Lu Zhaqiu involuntarily flinched.

Despite the cold eyes, Lu Zhaqiu carefully examined Yaxian again but felt nothing. No, the meager aura was insignificant.

Lu Zhaqiu's smile returned, and he puffed out his chest confidently. His smile was filled with arrogance, the other face of confidence.

Who was he?

Wasn't he the successor and Young Master of the Iron Horn Sect, which dominated Nanzhou? No one in Nanzhou could stand against him. Whatever he wanted, he got.

Moreover, he was among the best of the best among the young talents of Nanzhou.

"Hey, don't you know me?"

"…"

"You seem to be from out of town… I'm Lu Zhaqiu, the Young Master of the Iron Horn Sect, which holds the power in Nanzhou."

Lu Zhaqiu tapped Yaxian's neck with his hand.

"I have something to discuss with the owner, so let's postpone our meeting. Since I made you leave, I'll pay for your wine generously."

He bowed slightly, as if bestowing a favor, and spoke arrogantly.

Arrogant and narrow-minded.

It didn't matter to Yaxian.

However, that was only when it didn't concern him.

"Choke!"

Yaxian grabbed Lu Zhaqiu's throat in one swift motion.

"What do you plan to do?"

Yaxian smiled coldly and tightened his grip.

"Ugh, choke! You, you brat!"

Despite the situation, Lu Zhaqiu seemed to have some skills. He quickly twisted his body, shook off Yaxian's hand, and kicked at Yaxian's head.

Whoosh! Thud!

Yaxian easily blocked Lu Zhaqiu's kick with his hand.

"I didn't want to see blood today… but you are inviting it."

Yaxian's eyes were icy, and his smile was even colder. Lu Zhaqiu's body involuntarily stiffened, like a prey animal frozen in front of a predator.

Crack!

Yaxian's hand plunged into Lu Zhaqiu's chest in one swift, relentless motion.

"Choke!"

Lu Zhaqiu's eyes widened like saucers, and his trembling pupils were filled with unbearable pain. His eyes naturally dropped to his chest.

Yaxian's hand, which had pierced his chest.

He could feel it.

Yaxian's hand was gripping his heart.

"Ah!"

Woyeong, who had been watching the scene, gasped in shock and drew in a sharp breath.

"Ugh!"

Lu Zhaqiu groaned as the pain finally hit him.

"Ah!"

As the pain reached its peak, Lu Zhaqiu grabbed Yaxian's shoulder and screamed.

Bang!

Since Lu Zhaqiu had his back to the door, the Iron Horn Sect disciples didn't know what had happened until his scream echoed. They rushed into the room in a panic.

"Master, Master!"

The room was filled with murderous intent.

"Take one more step, and the Young Master's heart will be crushed."

It was as if he was casually plucking a flower from the roadside, or even more relaxed.

"Ugh—save… me…"

Lu Zhaqiu struggled in pain.

"…Please save Master Lu."

Woyeong's voice was flustered. She pleaded with a pale face, hoping to resolve the situation through him.

But this was not the way.

Who was Lu Zhaqiu? The Young Master of the Iron Horn Sect, the dominant force in Nanzhou. Trying to extinguish a fire by pouring water on it, it was like pouring oil on the flames.

"Is that acceptable?"

Woyeong nodded instead of answering.

"Save… me…"

Lu Zhaqiu clutched Yaxian's clothes and groaned in pain.

"Save me, and I will cover everything."

At that moment, a heavy voice, carrying the weight of years, echoed from among the Iron Horn Sect disciples. A middle-aged man pushed his way through the crowd and entered the room.

"Deputy Master."

"Deputy Master."

He was Zhang Mengji, the younger brother of the Iron Horn Sect Master and the Deputy Master.

"Bring a doctor. Lu, we need to borrow the next room."

Zhang Mengji gave orders as if he had received permission.

"Hmm?"

Yaxian looked at Zhang Mengji and smiled strangely.

"A promise that seems unlikely to be kept…"

"I swear by the name of the Iron Horn Sect. You can trust me."

A voice that inspired trust. But Yaxian saw the sinister glint in Zhang Mengji's eyes.

'Not a bad entertainment.'

With a light smile,

"I will trust you. But… it would be best not to break it."

The warning, delivered with a relaxed expression, made Zhang Mengji's eyes twitch.

"A man's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

A heavy response.

Thud—Crack!

Yaxian pulled his hand out of Lu Zhaqiu's body and struck an acupoint to stop the excessive bleeding.

"Choke!"

"Carry the Young Master."

"Master, Master."

"Master."

Following Zhang Mengji's orders, the subordinates carried the collapsing Lu Zhaqiu to the next room.

Zhang Mengji looked at Yaxian for a moment and then turned around.

"What… to do…"

Woyeong, with a stiff expression, approached Yaxian. Yaxian calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his hands.

"…And I will also wait for good news about the Zhenjin Sect."

Yaxian patted Woyeong's shoulder a few times as if nothing had happened.

* * *

Crack! Bang!

The massive table made of iron-hard wood, known for its toughness, shattered under a fist.

"Brother, please calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down? Younger Brother Zhang, did you just tell me to calm down?"

Lu Yanming, the Master of the Iron Horn Sect, could not contain his anger and released a murderous aura. What kind of son was Lu Zhaqiu to him? A precious only child, born to him in his forties. The sole successor to the Iron Horn Sect, which he had built.

Fortunately, his younger brother and Deputy Master, Zhang Mengji, had saved Lu Zhaqiu's life in time, or he would have lost his life.

For Lu Yanming, the fact that his beloved son had been severely injured was unforgivable.

"Stay calm. I, this foolish younger brother, am not saying not to avenge Lu. Regardless of the situation, we have already agreed to cover up the incident for Lu's sake, using the name of the Iron Horn Sect. People's tongues are lighter than the wind."

Crunch!

Lu Yanming gritted his teeth and had no choice but to remain silent. Despite his fiery temper, he was the Master of the Iron Horn Sect, one of the three major sects in Gansu Province. Although Gansu was considered a remote area, the Iron Horn Sect was the dominant force in Nanzhou, the capital of Gansu.

No matter how angry he was, he was not foolish enough to act recklessly without considering the consequences.

# Chapter 8