Chapter 88: Princess Wan Ning

Shen Chen’s words were not only sharp but also utterly merciless, akin to a harsh slap in the face for the old man.

"You—!" Liu Gu seemed as if his tail had been stepped on, glaring at him angrily.

In the surroundings, a group of village chiefs and elders burst into unrestrained laughter, as if Shen Chen had said something that greatly pleased them.

"Ha ha ha..."

The villagers laughed loudly, just like Shen Chen, showing no mercy to Liu Gu. Some of the young, rough men even spat on the ground.

Not long ago, the old monster Meng An had been selecting girls for a sacrifice in nearby villages, and many were chosen. However, without exception, they were all dissuaded by the simple and honest fishermen. Only in the case of Liu Hanyan did no one stand up to speak.

This was partly because the old monster Meng An had become furious, and the villagers did not dare to offend him further. But more importantly, it was due to Liu Gu’s poor reputation in the area, which made no one willing to speak up for him.

Liu Gu’s family originally came from the Moon Lake River Mouth Village. After their family became prominent, they moved to Northwind City. Due to some connections, the fish and game caught by the nearby fishermen were mostly sold through the Liu family.

However, instead of being grateful, Liu Gu, who had roots here, had taken advantage of the monopoly on trade routes to exploit the villagers’ interests. Over time, his reputation became worse and worse.

Of course, at this moment, the old man was not about to reflect on anything. Facing Shen Chen’s mockery and the surrounding laughter, his face turned grim, and he glared at Shen Chen as if ready to tear off his mask.

"What? Did I hit a nerve, young master?" Shen Chen sneered, "Didn’t you ask what I want? Very well, I’ll be straightforward. I want your daughter, Liu Hanyan, to repay me with her body. I think such a repayment for saving her life is quite appropriate. Money and wealth are external things; I don’t care for them!"

Shen Chen spoke his demands almost word by word. As soon as he finished, the surroundings fell silent, and the laughter abruptly stopped.

Many of the young people present had their mouths twitching, looking at the young man with a mix of awe and speechlessness. They never expected him to make such a demand.

Of course, there were also many who secretly rejoiced, gloating over Liu Gu’s misfortune. Liu Gu was a despicable person, and this time, he had finally met his match—a small clan that was even more unreasonable and tyrannical. Many people were curious to see how Liu Gu would handle the situation.

"Mr. Shen, I showed you respect because you saved my daughter, but now, it seems you don’t respect me at all!" Liu Gu’s face darkened as soon as Shen Chen spoke, and his tone became completely unreserved. His gaze toward Shen Chen also turned colder.

"Ha, I’ve known for a long time that you’re not a good person. It’s a shame you only show your true colors now," Shen Chen sneered, "Enough talk. Will you agree to let your precious daughter serve me?"

"Hmph! Impossible!" Liu Gu coldly snorted, "Mr. Shen, did you not hear what I said earlier? My beloved daughter Hanyan is a close friend of Princess Wan Ning, the Northwind Marquis’s beloved daughter. The princess has already arrived. Even if you don’t respect me, you can’t act recklessly in front of the princess!"

Liu Gu seemed to have some resentment in his heart and then added with a mocking tone, "Moreover, as an elder, I advise Mr. Shen, a beautiful woman is not something any mediocre person can touch. I hope you will recognize your own limits and act accordingly!"

"Oh? So you think I’m a toad lusting after a swan by making such a demand?" Shen Chen’s face showed a strange smile as he slowly stepped forward, glancing at Liu Gu with disdain.

In the next moment, he suddenly extended his hand, grabbed Liu Gu’s arm, and pressed him onto the round table. His smile froze, and he said expressionlessly, "The old monster Meng An threatened me, and I killed him. Now, it seems you’re eager to join him on the path to the netherworld!"

"Ouch... Ah—"

Liu Gu, pinned to the table, screamed in pain, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Shen Chen’s arm was incredibly strong, and even though he hadn’t used a fraction of his strength, it was already causing Liu Gu unbearable pain. His right arm creaked, as if it was dislocating.

"Boy, I advise you... to let go, or... Ouch! Or... Princess Wan Ning will not spare you when she comes in!" Liu Gu, on the verge of fainting, shouted in pain and threatened Shen Chen incoherently.

"Hmm, I’ll wait, but on the condition that your arm can hold out until your savior arrives!" Shen Chen sneered, applying a bit more force to his wrist, causing the old man to scream even louder.

"Wan Ning, hurry! The savior of Hanyan is inside; I’ll take you to meet him!"

At this moment, Liu Hanyan’s voice from the bamboo grove outside the ancestral hall was getting closer, and she was leading someone toward the hall.

"Hanyan, save me!" Inside the hall, Liu Gu, upon hearing her voice, shouted for help as if he had grabbed a lifeline.

At the same time, he endured the intense pain and threatened Shen Chen, gritting his teeth, "Boy, you’re so arrogant and tyrannical; you’ll regret it later!"

"Is that so?" Shen Chen smiled indifferently, sighing softly, "I wonder if that girl still remembers me after more than a year..."

...

In the forest, Liu Hanyan soon heard her father’s cries for help.

Although she didn’t know what had happened, she quickly turned to the young girl with a light veil on her face, pleading, "Wan Ning, help me..."

"Sure." The girl with the light veil nodded slightly and then led a few subordinates quickly toward the ancestral hall. Her slender and graceful figure moved beautifully through the bamboo grove, and despite her young age, she already had a striking figure.

"Ha, I feel a familiar aura nearby. I’ll go check it out..." After the girl left, the old man in a purple robe stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes flickering. He then moved swiftly, following her.

The old man’s speed was like a hurricane, and in a flash, he caught up with the girl and her group, exuding a powerful aura.

At the original spot, Liu Hanyan’s large, clear eyes showed a hint of worry, fearing for her father’s safety, and she also ran after them...

In the main hall of the ancestral hall, Liu Gu was almost on the verge of fainting, drenched in cold sweat, and no longer dared to be defiant.

Every time he screamed, Shen Chen would apply more force, making him suffer greatly.

However, although Liu Gu no longer dared to speak, the dark look in his eyes did not fade but became even more intense. He clearly hated this young man and was enduring it to wait for the arrival of the noble girl to settle the score!

"Hey! You insolent ruffian, release my Uncle Liu immediately!"

Not long after, the person Liu Gu had been waiting for arrived. The girl with the light veil rushed into the hall and saw her close friend Liu Hanyan’s father being held down on the table, groaning in pain. She shouted and pointed her finger, and a purple short sword, about a foot long, flew out of her sleeve, heading straight for the young man’s back.

This purple short sword was clearly a powerful spirit weapon, emitting a faint purple glow. If it struck, even a Blood Fusion Realm Eighth Stage cultivator would die instantly.

However, before the purple short sword could fly far, the young man suddenly turned around, and a familiar face appeared in the light-veiled girl’s beautiful eyes.

"How can it be you, Brother Shen Chen?"

In a panic, the girl quickly retracted the short sword, and a look of surprise and excitement appeared in her eyes. The anger on her face vanished, replaced by a deep sense of joy.

"Ha, little girl, after so long, this is how you greet your Brother Shen Chen with a spirit weapon?" Shen Chen turned around with a light smile, revealing a row of white teeth.

Although he looked ragged and disheveled, he showed no embarrassment when facing the beautiful girl with the light veil. Instead, he acted as if he were meeting an old friend.

In fact, the girl and he were very familiar, even... childhood playmates who grew up together.

In the past, when Shen Chen was still at home, he and the Northwind Marquis’s beloved daughter played very well together. However, as they grew older, the girl, due to her noble status, was kept in the palace to cultivate, and Shen Chen, because his family feared he would die like other clan members, was not allowed to cultivate. As a result, they saw each other less and less. After Shen Chen was taken away by the old ghost You Quan, they hadn’t seen each other for nearly two years...

Meeting in this small fishing village, Shen Chen was also moved. He slowly released Liu Gu’s arm, walked forward in his ragged clothes, and, in front of the surprised subordinates who followed the girl, casually pulled off the light veil on the girl’s face, teasing, "Wan Ning, after more than two years, why are you learning to cover your face like the women of the Jade Pool Holy Land? Take it off, it’s not natural..."

However, as the light veil slipped off, Shen Chen was momentarily stunned, his eyes widening in surprise.

The girl before him was no longer the chubby little girl from a few years ago. The clear and beautiful face that