CHAPTER 795: She Cares About You!

Ralph might be unfriendly to everyone, but his loyalty to Wallace was unquestionable. Despite the fact that no one liked Ralph, Wallace still trusted him.

One by one, the Divine Guard chiefs and family clan patriarchs dispersed. Andre understood that his brother Wallace wanted to talk to Ralph, so he turned to Carmelita with a smile and said, "Let's go, Carmelita!" Carmelita nodded knowingly and followed, leaving Wallace and Ralph alone in the viewing stand.

"About what happened today, well, don't take it to heart," after looking around and seeing that no one else was around, Wallace looked deeply into Ralph's eyes and consoled him.

"My Lord, I refuse to give in," Ralph said with his head down. A muffled growl came from his throat. Then he raised his head and said to Wallace, "I have always trained the Divine Guards of the Second Corps in the manner ordered by Your Lordship. It has always been the Second Corps that has handled and solved the most dangerous and challenging missions. The strength, power and privilege that we have has not come to us by chance, but at the cost of the lives of our Divine Guardians. It has not come without great sacrifice."

"I understand," Wallace nodded calmly and said, "It is the Second Corps that has solved countless difficult problems that have plagued the city. Rest assured, the position of Second Corps will not be affected by today's outcome." After a brief pause, Wallace added, "No matter what happens, Second Corps belongs to the House of Sainte. And no matter how strong the Fifth Corps becomes, it belongs to Bryan; it belongs to the House of Han. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Ralph stared blankly and thought silently for a moment before replying, "Yes, I understand!"

Ralph and his Second Corps were powers wielded by Wallace to secure his own position and privilege. Wallace needed someone to intimidate the other major family clans for him; someone who would be unpopular; someone like Ralph.

As City Lord of the City of Shadows, Wallace must not act in a way that would tarnish his image and public reputation. But luckily for Wallace, he had Ralph. Wallace did not have to get his hands dirty, for Ralph would make the lives of those Wallace disliked very miserable. Ralph would take the blame and be the hated villain, while Wallace remained a just ruler. Because of the unique nature of Ralph's role, he was destined to be hated by almost everyone, even some of the House of Sainte.

All this was Wallace's design. It was all Wallace's doing that Ralph would be as unpopular as he was.

After hearing Wallace's words, Ralph understood that even if the entire City of Shadows despised him, Wallace the City Lord would still have his back because he and the Second Corps existed for Wallace. Just as they relied on Wallace, Wallace relied on them.

"Excellent," Wallace smiled faintly and said, "In short, whether you have won or lost the competition, your position and that of the Second Corps in the City will not be affected in the slightest."

"Understood, my lord!" Ralph was finally at peace. Shortly afterwards, he sneered grimly and said, "In the competition between the Divine Guard Chiefs in three days' time, I will surely humiliate him!"

Wallace shook his head and looked at Ralph somewhat pitifully. He let out a soft sigh and said, "Forget it. You don't stand a chance of defeating him in a duel. Wallace knew that Han Shuo had managed to amputate Hofs, the City Lord of Hushveil City and a Late-stage Highgod who was much stronger than Ralph. If Han Shuo could defeat Hofs, then Han Shuo could easily defeat Ralph.

"That's impossible! I'm sure I can defeat him!" said Ralph confidently. He solemnly vowed, "Rest assured, my lord, I will crush him!"

Needless to say, Wallace would not reveal to Ralph the fact that Han Shuo had defeated Hofs. Although Wallace knew with absolute certainty that Ralph was no match for Han Shuo, there wasn't much he could say to convince Ralph. So he simply told Ralph to be careful in the duel.

Ralph's mind was soothed by Wallace's words of comfort. He left the viewing platform and returned to his campsite to punish his divine guards for failing him, and to prepare to avenge his defeat in three days' time.

***

Aobashi and Erebus went cheerfully to the Fifth Corps campsite, bottles of fine wine in hand. They had come to celebrate Han Shuo's victory. Erebus looked particularly pleased, as if it were his own Third Corps Divine Guards who had won the competition.

"Oh? Who are you?" Soon after entering the campsite, Erebus noticed Spider Goddess Rose standing next to Han Shuo. As they were both Dark Energy Cultivators, Erebus was able to instantly sense the terrifying power that Rose possessed.

As Han Shuo was worried that someone might recognize Rose, he rarely took Rose to places crowded with strangers. Therefore, it was only now that Erebus and Aobashi have met Rose for the first time.

Aobashi too was stunned for after secretly sensing for a moment, she discovered that this beauty wearing a dark headscarf had the same strength as herself.

<i >Since when does this chap have such a powerful expert by his side? thought the astonished Erebus and Aobashi.

"She is Rose, a guard of my House of Han," Han Shuo introduced Rose to the two smilingly.

Rose was always cold to everyone. She nodded at Erebus and Aobashi and left without a word.

The campsite was enormous and there were Fifth Corps divine guards scattered everywhere. Rose disappeared from their sights in no time.

"You sure are remarkable, Bryan. Your House of Han has only just started out but you have managed to recruit an expert of this grade!" praised Erebus as he casually tossed a bottle of fine wine to Han Shuo. He smilingly added, "You really are inconceivably amazing. I thought that Ralph's Second Corps will always take the monopoly of the first place. But unexpectedly, you managed to defeat him!"

"And how long has it been since you took over Fifth Corps? A bright future awaits you, Bryan!" praised Aobashi with a smile.

"Oh? Isn't that Lord Aobashi and Lord Erebus? I have just arrived in the mountains today and heard that Lord Bryan has defeated the Second Corps and avenged my aunt. I have come to express our gratitude to Lord Bryan!" an elegant voice came from the distance. Jiya of the Kinson family was seen walking gracefully towards the party with a beautiful smile on her face.

Han Shuo was stunned. He had not expected that this beauty of the House of Kinson would come to thank him in person. Kiffan and his team had injured many of Camilla's Divine Guards of the Fourth Corps. During the conflict with Ralph, Camilla had defended and sided with Han Shuo. She was grateful to Han Shuo that his Fifth Corps had taught Kiffan and his company a bloody lesson.

"Does Lord Bryan find me unwelcome?" Jiya asked softly in a somewhat uneasy voice when he saw Han Shuo standing there blankly.

"How could I find a beauty like you unwelcome? Haha, I'm just worried that Miss Jiya might find a rough army camp like mine unwelcoming," Han Shuo replied with a laugh.

"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Bryan," Jiya replied with a smile. Then she looked through her bright eyes at the divine guards standing behind Han Shuo. Her gaze lingered a little longer on Bollands, Sanguis and Gilbert than on the others. Then she praised, "Lord Bryan is truly extraordinary for being able to train the divine guards of the Fifth Corps to such a level in such a short time!"

"They are talented. I have not done much at all," Han Shuo replied very modestly. The two continued to exchange pleasantries for a while.

Jiya was exceptionally beautiful. Her charming appearance had attracted the attention of all the divine guards in the area. These divine guards wore Lenny faces. It seemed to them that this Jiya, who was famous for her beauty in the City of Shadows, was throwing herself at Han Shuo. They secretly admired their chief's ability to charm beautiful women.

Although Rose was also a beauty, she was always ice-cold to everyone. Furthermore, Han Shuo's divine guards had all witnessed Rose's inhuman strength. They all feared and worshipped Rose. They dared not look at Rose with an unbridled gaze for fear that Rose would give them a beating.

However, the beautiful and powerful Rose was very submissive to Han Shuo. She would obediently obey any of Han Shuo's orders!

There were many more nubile maidens in Han Shuo's House of Han. Each and every one of them was heavenly beautiful and drop-dead gorgeous. Not only was Han Shuo able to make his ladies live together harmoniously, but somehow even more beauties were throwing themselves at Han Shuo. This was far beyond what an ordinary man could do!

These divine guards were in awe of Han Shuo's brave strength, but they were even more in awe of Han Shuo's ability to subdue stunning beauties. They thought that Han Shuo had reached perfection in the art of wooing women.

The divine guards watched and listened intently to their conversation. They had never been so concentrated. They memorised every word, every movement and every expression on Han Shuo's smiling and relaxed face. They intended to make a detailed analysis later, hoping to improve their own skills in this area.

With Jiya present, the three Divine Guard chiefs couldn't talk as freely as they usually did. After more gentle laughter and polite conversation about unimportant matters, Jiya took her leave of her own accord. But before she left, she repeatedly emphasised that she most admired a character like Han Shuo. Her gaze towards Han Shuo even contained a tiny hint of something unspoken.

"That girl is interested in you!" Erebus, his face flushed with alcohol, said with a suggestive grin soon after Jiya left.

"That's nonsense. Her main purpose here is to express her goodwill so that her family clan will get a bigger share of the medicines I will refine," Han Shuo said smiling.

"Look at you, you clearly know otherwise! What an idiot!" said Aobashi as she glared at Han Shuo. She then added, "But you certainly have the chips to be proud of yourself. This girl is known in the city for her very high standards. We have never heard of her approaching a young man. The fact that she came alone to thank you is more than enough to conclude that she is interested in you. I'll be damned if she isn't!"

Han Shuo shrugged and said, "It's none of my business. I already have plenty of ladies in my house, and I'll get a headache if I see a beauty. If anything, I hope she won't bother me!"

Suddenly, Aobashi glared at Han Shuo angrily and put her hands on her hips. "Do you get a headache when you see me?"

"N- No! I don't!" Han Shuo replied hastily. But for some reason, Aobashi seemed even angrier after hearing the answer. Han Shuo immediately realised that he had answered badly.

Aobashi asked in a loud and angry voice, "Are you saying that I'm not a beauty?!"