On the following day, as a ray of sunlight filtered through the window, casting specks of light upon the ground, Xiao Yan, who had kept his eyes tightly shut, slowly opened his eyes. He murmured softly, “It seems I must head to the city center today. Within the vast expanse of Thousand Mile City, only there is a spatial wormhole.” A light sigh escaped his lips. With a fluid motion, Xiao Yan got out of bed and, after a quick wash, left the room, calling Little Healer Immortal and the two others. The group then set out, heading straight for the city center.
Strolling along the bustling streets, Xiao Yan and his companions moved at a leisurely pace. The fresh morning air carried with it the unique, invigorating dampness of the forest, lending a sense of clarity and vitality to the atmosphere. The cobblestone-paved streets reverberated with the varied calls of vendors; wares were displayed in dazzling array within the shops that lined both sides, with throngs of people weaving through like industrious ants. The entire expanse of Thousand Mile City exuded a bustling, chaotic vibrancy.
“Rumor has it that the Ancestor of the Luo Family has invited assistance to repair the spatial wormhole. We can go and see what’s happening, but whether we intervene or not will depend on the circumstances. After all, the forces within this city are rather convoluted, and it would be unwise for us to become entangled in their affairs.” As Xiao Yan spoke, he walked with a steady, rhythmic gait, his gaze sweeping over the nearby shops.
“Okay,” Little Healer Immortal nodded faintly, knowing that among their group, she was the only one who had reached the level of Battle Sect and possessed the ability to control spatial energy.
*Clack! Clack!*
As they conversed, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly echoed from ahead on the street, causing the previously orderly scene to descend into chaos. A fiery red blur charged down the thoroughfare, toppling countless bystanders in its wake. As those affected by this disruption looked on in anger, they noticed a girl in a striking red dress astride the steed. Her appearance was captivating, though her countenance was marred by an air of wild audacity. A red leather whip was coiled around her slender waist, and her delighted laughter echoed throughout the street, unabated.
The red horse, swift as a bolt of flame, dashed past them, appearing only a short distance away from Xiao Yan and the others in mere moments. “Out of my way, you ruffians! Clear a path for me, or if you end up trampled, don’t blame me!” the red-clad girl, seeing the unflinching figures in her path, cried out furiously, her brows knitting together in a fierce scowl.
Xiao Yan, who had been about to step aside, heard her imperious tone and his expression immediately turned cold. Never one to suffer arrogance kindly, he simply stopped and continued walking at the same steady pace, not even lifting his eyes to acknowledge her.
“Humph, you’re asking for trouble!” Her demand did not go unmet, and the young woman narrowed her eyes, grabbing the whip with deft fingers. The sharp crack of it slicing through the air heralded the lash snapping towards Xiao Yan’s head with a forceful gust of wind.
Yet Xiao Yan’s visage remained unruffled, casually catching the whip in his hand with a simple gesture.
“Aah!” The jolt of intense force transmitted through the whip caused the young lady to scream in surprise, her body being tugged off the horse and landing abruptly on the ground.
“Rogue, scoundrel, how dare you attack me?” her indignant cry rang out, her face turning livid as her bottom hit the filthy earth. She glared at Xiao Yan, a veritable tiger mother filled with indignation.
“I’m merely teaching you a lesson on behalf of your elders,” Xiao Yan said coolly, sparing her a brief glance before disregarding her completely. Taking Little Healer Immortal and the others with him, he resumed his progress down the street, away from her.
“Who do you think you are? You dare to teach me? What makes you so special?” Her ire further ignited by his dismissiveness, her voice rose to a shrill pitch. “Uncle Hua, Uncle Liu, kill this rascal!”
At the sound of her cries, two elderly figures swiftly appeared, blocking the way in front of Xiao Yan and his companions. The pair, one dressed in grey and the other in white, were clearly of advanced age but exuded a powerful aura—somewhere between Five to Six Star Battle Emperor. They were formidable opponents indeed.
“Friend, my little miss may be a bit mischievous, but she’s still just a girl. Do you think your treatment of her is quite appropriate…?” The elder clad in grey cast a reproachful eye at the furious girl, then turning to Xiao Yan, frowned.
With his discerning eyes, he could tell that the black-robed youth in front of him was roughly on par with themselves, if not slightly stronger, and thus tempered his words accordingly.
“She’s still alive, isn’t she?” Xiao Yan’s voice remained dispassionate, tinged with an underlying coldness. He was no saint, and if a boorish man had dared speak to him in such a manner, he wouldn’t have been pulled down so gently from his mount.
By now, quite a crowd had gathered due to the commotion. Seeing the notorious red-clad girl, many shook their heads before turning to Xiao Yan and his companions with empathetic gazes. In Thousand Mile City, she was famed as a wicked little witch; anyone meeting her could only consider themselves unlucky. It was unexpected that this person would dare to stand up to her, likely indicating he was an outsider.
The old men’s countenances changed slightly, their eyes darkening. The red-clad girl was the adored granddaughter of their clan’s Ancestor, and very few dared to treat her so disrespectfully in Thousand Mile City.
“Rascal, how dare you act so arrogantly in Thousand Mile City? For beating me, my grandfather will never forgive you. If you know what’s good for you, kneel and kowtow to me right now!” Having risen from the ground, the girl was mortified by having been humiliated in front of so many, her already high self-esteem battered. Just as she finished her threat, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared before her, delivering another stinging slap in full view of the stunned onlookers.
The resounding slap echoed through the street, sending a shiver down everyone’s spine. This blow… it was truly cathartic.
The girl, her head reeling, sported five slightly purple finger marks on her cheek, a trickle of blood seeping from her mouth. Disbelief was etched in her eyes. She could hardly believe that someone had dared to strike her.
“Dare to speak another word, and if he doesn’t finish you off, I will!” A cold, venom-laced voice cut through the air, making the girl tremble. Looking up, she saw a beautiful, plainly-dressed woman glaring at her, eyes filled with genuine, frigid intent.
“You dare!” snapped the two elderly men, taken aback by the slap, their figures blurring as they lunged at Little Healer Immortal.
Before they could reach her, a faint thunder rolled ominously. A black figure stepped forward, unleashing punches brimming with fiery, explosive power, causing their faces to pale and hastily counter.
*Bam!* The dull sound of bodies colliding abruptly resounded, and the crowd watched in shock as the two well-known elders staggered back rapidly, while the black-robed youth stood firm as a rock.
“This situation is entirely of your own doing. If you continue to be unreasonable, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Xiao Yan’s eyes glinted with lethal intention, his patience wearing thin.
The two elders, intimidated by his display of might, dared not make another move. They inwardly cursed their misfortune; this rogue had run afoul of their family’s spoiled princess, and though he appeared young, his strength was formidable. His previous demonstration rivaled the skills of only a select few in their clan.
“Friend, I am from the Luo family. The one who provoked you was our clan’s young mistress. Please show mercy and refrain from harming her,” the grey-clad elder bowed, his voice heavy with regret.
“The Luo family?” Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, realizing that the girl’s background was far more influential than he expected.
“Do… do you dare hit me?” The red-clad girl, regaining her senses, felt her throbbing cheek, trembling as she pointed at Little Healer Immortal, her fury reaching frightening levels.
Snatching a jade token from her ring, she crushed it viciously, spitting venomous words, “Wretched woman, my grandfather will never forgive you for this. When you fall into my hands, I will chop off your fingers one by one!”
Ignoring her venom, Little Healer Immortal cast a cold glare at her and heard a chilling, detached voice in her ear, “If she continues to display such malevolence, it’s better to eliminate the threat…”
Little Healer Immortal’s lips curved, and despite the girl’s wide-eyed terror, brought her hand up for another slap without hesitation.
*Smack!*
No sooner had that slap landed than a streak of grey light tore through the sky from the center of the city, stopping in mid-air above the street. A massive surge of intimidating aura swept through, enveloping the area.
“Such brazen defiance, you really don’t take the Luo family seriously, do you!” A deep, menacing voice reverberated through the thoroughfare, lingering in the air.
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