Arrogant Youth

Lei Mingxing and Chang Liuyun looked at each other with equally pleasantly surprised and regretful eyes.

Who would have thought that the beast they killed was actually a third-rank demon beast? And its value can't be that low either, judging from the mercenaries' behavior.

But, alas, owning something so valuable will arouse the jealousy and greed of others, especially when you don't have the strength to protect it.

"I admit, we were pretty lucky, but we did indeed kill the Horned Red Jade Tiger. There is even a stab wound on its chest from my sword," Chang Liuyun explained patiently.

"Hah!" the mercenary leader laughed.

"So, that's your excuse now? Saying you were lucky while using the magic weapon you stole as evidence? These two are the most shameless thieves I have ever met! Please punish them, Young Master Suan!"

Frustrated, Chang Liuyun and Lei Mingxing stared at the scrawny mercenary. They really wanted to go up to him and slap him in his smug face. But there was nothing more they could do or say to prove their innocence without revealing their secrets.

That was what it meant to have all the odds stacked against you.

"Is that so? Well, then it's settled, arrest the two thieves and take them to the town guards, also make sure they are banned from ever receiving the services of any Somber Spirit Pharmacies," the voice finally gave his casual verdict.

The guards around the sedan chair began moving toward Lei Mingxing and Chang Liuyun.

Satisfied, the scrawny mercenary crossed his arm in front of his chest and watched the process with a triumphant grin on his face.

"Hold on, those guys are lying! We killed the tiger by the skin of our teeth yesterday, almost dying ourselves!"

Lei Mingxing finally opened her mouth, angrily exclaiming, while glaring at the hateful mercenaries and the guards with anger. But her true disdain was reserved for that young master in the sedan chair who had yet to show his face.

Barging into an argument the other had no business with and carelessly passing down his judgment like some king! She hated that type, to her very bones!

It was exactly those kinds of people who perpetrated the horrors of her past life.

They had no regard for human life, but reigned over it like the gods themselves. As if they had the right to massacre and harm anyone they wanted, just because of their more fortunate situation.

"Halt!"

The voice stopped the guards.

"You, who spoke just now, come over here."

Lei Mingxing skeptically raised her eyebrow upon hearing this Young Master Suan's request.

She had a bad feeling, with a hunch of what was about to happen.

But, despite her dislike and unwillingness, she still stepped in front of the sedan chair after a short and silent exchange with Chang Liuyun.

Chang Liuyun intently watched as Lei Mingxing walked towards the sedan chair, his body tensing up more and more the closer Lei Mingxing got.

Although it was meaningless for him to be so tense. Both of them knew that there was actually no way either of them would be able to help the other if something happened, not with a line of guards separating them.

Still, the thought alone acted as some kind of assurance to Lei Mingxing, helping her to walk somewhat confidentially.

The moment Lei Mingxing reached the sedan chair's side, the curtain, keeping the privacy of the young master, lifted. Revealing a white hand and the handsome face of this 'Young Master Suan' as he grabbed Lei Mingxing's chin.

Shocked, Lei Mingxing quickly retreated and propped up her collar again.

Chang Liuyun also instinctually took a step forward as if to rush towards Lei Mingxing, but the threatening gazes of the guards stopped him in his tracks.

But it was too late, the Young Master had already seen her face.

His eyes widened and he felt his heart beat faster in his chest, unable to utter even a single word for a moment.

An entire minute passed before the young man snapped out of his daze. He embarrassedly closed his eyes and let out a short cough.

"After further consideration, I've changed my mind, the girl and her companion are the ones in the right. Arrest the others."

With this new order, the guards around Chang Liuyun withdrew no hesitation in their actions whatsoever, instead walking up to the group of mercenaries.

But the mercenaries didn't just let themselves be apprehended, they tried to fight back, using their various weapons, techniques and inner Qis, but were inevitably suppressed by the much more powerful guards.

Throughout the entire, although very short, confrontation, the shock and disbelief on the mercenaries' faces only grew stronger.

This was especially the case for the mercenary group's leader. He had also been the one to resist the most, but it ultimately only earned him a bloody lip and blue eye.

"You can't do this to us! You know our group of mercenaries, Young Master Suan. We are the exclusive mercenary party of the Somber Spirit Pharmacy!"

The scrawny mercenary shouted with an ugly expression on his face while a guard pressed him to the ground.

The other mercenaries also joined in, desperately pleading for mercy.

If they actually ended up at the town guard, they would most certainly lose one of their hands due to the crime they committed.

Which in turn would spell the end of their careers and pretty much future cultivation.

This was the law enforcement of mercenary towns, the only way to keep the lawless and brutal mercenaries somewhat in check.

Their only chance to avoid this punishment was to have a strong backer, something they had had until this very moment.

But it was precisely their backer who cut off their lifeline!

This situation was so unexpected that the mercenaries who had previously acted as the great local tyrants at Dark Spirit Town could only beg pathetically.

But the young man who had caused all this didn't even blink in face of their desperate shouts and cries, just secretly casting a few infatuated looks at Lei Mingxing.

These glances weren't that secret from Lei Mingxing though.

They caused chills to run down Lei Mingxing's spine every time they hit her body. The disgust inside her heart grew with every glance, as she observed the consequences of his unfeeling and ruthless actions.

Soon the mercenaries were tied up and a few guards roughly dragged them through the forest back to the town as they struggled with all their strength.

You could still hear their pleading and begging even after their figures had disappeared between the trees.

"Now that's that settled, why don't we talk business?"

The young man suddenly chimed in, forcefully yanking Lei Mingxing back from her breathless, focused state.

With a 'charming' smile, the young man happily continued.

"You wanted to return to town, right? How about I escort you back and we talk about business on the way?"

The young man playfully winked at Lei Mingxing, but instead of the usual shy giggle or blushing, Lei Mingxing just squinted her eyes slightly in response.

The young man didn't notice Lei Mingxing's more than unfavorable gaze, directly opening the sedan chair for her to join him.

A sneer appeared on Lei Mingxing's face, hidden by the collar of the outer robes.

Wordlessly, Lei Mingxing turned around and walked over to Chang Liuyun. After carefully grabbing his arm, she supported him to walk towards the sedan chair.

Young Master Suan's inviting smile froze on his face, as he awkwardly watched Lei Mingxing lead Chang Liuyun inside the sedan chair before staying outside.

""...""

Small theater:

Lei Mingxing: Pah! As if I will sit in the same sedan chair as you.

Chang Liuyun who now sat in the cramped sedan chair with Young Master Suan:...

Chang Liuyun: I feel very uncomfortable.