Chapter 611
But they all felt immense pain in their hearts.
Upon seeing the silver-robed man, Wang Lin's enthusiasm waned slightly, becoming somewhat formulaic. He spoke indifferently.
"Young Master Lu, I have run into an old friend and will be delayed for a moment."
At the same time, he secretly transmitted his voice to Jiang Xuan, introducing the situation at an extremely fast pace.
"Young Master Jiang Xuan, this man's name is Lu Shaoyun."
His father, Lu Tianzhao, was one of the powerful elders in charge of the Shidingzhai headquarters in the Forbidden City.
This Lu Shaoyun is a good-for-nothing playboy who boasts of his charm but is actually a complete fool. He offended a nobleman he shouldn't have in the Forbidden City because of jealousy, and his father found a pretext to expel him, so he came here to lay low. Somehow, he got entangled with Manager Mu and followed him to Huanglong City, causing quite a ruckus along the way.”
Jiang Xuan nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
Lu Shaoyun was even more displeased when he saw that Wang Lin only gave a brief explanation and did not immediately drive Jiang Xuan away, but instead led him to the center of the group.
Only then did he seem to notice Jiang Xuan, brazenly looking him up and down. Especially when he saw Jiang Xuan's faded white cloth robe and the bamboo basket on his back, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and he spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh? An old friend? Wang Lin, when did you make friends with this kind of... rustic old friend? And you even brought him into the group? Miss Mu has a noble status, and her group is not one that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can approach."
His words were extremely rude, directly belittling Jiang Xuan as a "country bumpkin" or "a nobody".
Wang Lin's face darkened, and he said coldly.
"Young Master Lu, please have some self-respect! This Young Master Jiang Xuan is a friend of Manager Mu!"
"friend?"
Lu Shaoyun seemed to have heard something funny, chuckled, and shook his head.
"Who is Miss Mu? Would she make friends with someone like that? Wang Lin, have you been deceived?"
As he spoke, he actually reached out and frivolously tried to tap Wang Lin on the forehead with a jade-shaped folding fan that he had been playing with, displaying an extremely arrogant attitude.
However, just as he raised his jade fan, before it could fall, a long, strong hand, like an iron clamp, precisely grabbed his wrist!
It was Jiang Xuan who made the move!
Lu Shaoyun felt a sharp pain in his wrist, as if it were about to be crushed. He was both shocked and furious. He tried to break free, but found that the other person's hand was rooted to the spot and wouldn't budge! He immediately flew into a rage and cursed.
"You little bastard! You're asking for death! How dare you touch me, this young master?!"
Before the curse had even finished, he raised his foot and kicked Jiang Xuan hard in the abdomen! This kick contained spiritual energy and was quite vicious. If it landed squarely, an ordinary cultivator would probably suffer serious injuries.
However, before he could even lift his foot, Jiang Xuan moved faster!
They came from behind but surpassed others!
Jiang Xuan clenched his other free hand into a fist and, without any fancy moves, punched Lu Shaoyun's face, which was filled with arrogance and anger!
"Oh!"
A dull thud of flesh colliding!
"what--!"
Lu Shaoyun let out a bloodcurdling scream, as the punch sent him staggering backward. His nose collapsed instantly, and blood gushed out like a flood, staining the front of his magnificent silver robe red!
Before he could even regain his footing, Jiang Xuan had already pounced on him like a ghost, giving him no chance to react at all, his fists raining down like raindrops!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Thud!"
Every punch landed squarely, the muffled thuds echoing throughout the room!
Jiang Xuan deliberately targeted the thickest and most painful spots, avoiding vital organs, so that he would suffer great pain without immediately killing him.
Lu Shaoyun had never experienced anything like this before. He was used to being arrogant because of his family background, and he had never been beaten like this before. He could only cover his head with his hands, curl up on the ground, and let out pig-like howls and begs for mercy.
"Ah! Stop hitting! Stop hitting!"
"My face! My bones! Are broken!"
"Wang Lin! Help me! Make him stop!"
"My father is Lu Tianzhao! You dare hit me? My father won't let you get away with this! Ah—!"
Wang Lin watched in stunned silence. Although he knew Jiang Xuan was powerful and decisive, he never expected him to act so swiftly and decisively.
The guards of Shidingzhai who were around had often suffered from Lu Shaoyun's humiliation and arrogance. Seeing him being beaten so miserably, although they dared not show it on the surface, they all felt extremely happy in their hearts. Some even clenched their fists and cheered for Jiang Xuan in their hearts.
Jiang Xuan completely ignored Lu Shaoyun's threats and screams, and beat him with another round of punches until he cried out for his parents. Finally, he raised his foot and kicked Lu Shaoyun's upturned buttocks several times.
Lu Shaoyun was beaten until he was dizzy and disoriented, tears streaming down his face, which was covered in snot and blood from his nose. His once handsome face was now swollen like a pig's head.
He sensed Jiang Xuan's undisguised coldness and ruthlessness, and finally became afraid, letting out a sharp roar.
“My father is the deacon elder of the Stone Cauldron Hall headquarters in the Forbidden City! You’re dead! You…”
"Noisy!"
Jiang Xuan coldly uttered two words, then flicked his toe, precisely kicking up a clod of foul-smelling dirt from the ground and shoving it directly into Lu Shaoyun's wide-open mouth, silencing him completely.
"Ugh...cough cough cough!"
Lu Shaoyun coughed violently, tears streaming down his face, from the stench of the mud. He wanted to vomit, but the gag made it even worse. Finally, his eyes rolled back and he fainted, losing consciousness.
Jiang Xuan then slowly withdrew his hand, straightened his moon-white robe, as if he had just casually brushed off some dust.
He glanced at Lu Shaoyun, who lay unconscious on the ground like a dead dog, looking utterly miserable, and said indifferently.
"Since you're so eager to get beaten up, I'll have to grant your wish."
After saying that, he let out a long sigh of relief, feeling refreshed and invigorated. The pent-up frustration that had been building up in his heart for days seemed to have been released with that punch.
Looking at Lu Shaoyun, who lay unconscious on the ground like a rag doll and looked miserable, and then at Jiang Xuan, who was calm and composed as if he had only done something insignificant, Wang Lin couldn't help but show a helpless, bitter smile.
This young master Jiang Xuan still acts in the same way...decisive, domineering, and leaving no room for compromise.
The guards from Shidingzhai nearby, though not daring to openly applaud, couldn't help but look at Jiang Xuan with deep admiration.
They had long disliked Lu Shaoyun, who relied on his family background to pester Manager Mu and acted arrogantly towards them. Seeing him being severely punished now, they felt extremely pleased and deeply admired Jiang Xuan's domineering actions.
As Jiang Xuan made his move, his spiritual senses keenly detected that a familiar thought was quietly observing everything happening outside from the most luxurious carriage in the center of the procession.
He understood and spoke loudly towards the direction of the imperial carriage.
"Manager Mu, after watching the commotion for so long, aren't you going to show yourself?"
A slender hand lifted the beaded curtain of the imperial carriage, and a graceful and alluring figure stepped out. It was Mu Wansu.
She was wearing a light purple dress today, her beauty still captivating. Her starry eyes first glared at Jiang Xuan with a hint of reproach, then her gaze swept over the unconscious Lu Shaoyun on the ground, but she didn't seem too surprised. Instead, she looked at him with a hint of understanding and said softly.
"I knew you weren't a reckless or impulsive person. The sudden use of such force must have a purpose. So, what do you want me to do for you this time?"
She had known Jiang Xuan for a long time and knew his character well; she would never speak without reason.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan smiled and readily admitted, "Manager Mu is indeed discerning. I do have a request."
Mu Wansu glanced at him, too lazy to even look at Lu Shaoyun, who was lying on the ground like a lump of mud, and turned around to walk back to the carriage, leaving only one sentence behind.
"Come in and talk."
Jiang Xuan cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Lin and the surrounding guards, and said.
"Everyone, don't touch this guy surnamed Lu for now. I'll take him away so he won't cause trouble for Manager Mu and everyone else."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, their gazes towards Jiang Xuan becoming even more friendly. They felt that this young master was not only incredibly strong but also very loyal, having taken on this trouble on his own initiative.
Wang Lin said in a low voice with some concern.
“Young Master Jiang Xuan, although Lu Shaoyun is useless, his father is, after all, a deacon elder of headquarters. You should..."
Jiang Xuan waved his hand dismissively.
"It's alright, I'll play the villain."
Some flies, if you don't swat them hard, they'll keep buzzing incessantly, it's really annoying.
After saying that, he boarded the magnificent carriage under Wang Lin's somewhat complicated gaze.
The interior of the imperial carriage was quite spacious, decorated elegantly yet luxuriously, with a faint, calming incense burning in the air. As evening fell, Su Zheng knelt behind a low table, her delicate hands preparing tea with graceful and composed movements.
Jiang Xuan sat down opposite her without any hesitation.
Mu Wansu pushed a freshly brewed cup of fragrant spiritual tea in front of him, looking at him with a half-smile.
"Now you can tell me, right? What is it that's worth you, Young Master Jiang, going to such lengths to establish your authority by taking down Lu Shaoyun?"
Jiang Xuan picked up the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and felt the warm tea and the spiritual energy it contained nourishing his meridians. He put down the teacup, his expression becoming more serious, and looked at Mu Wansu.
"I wasn't trying to establish my authority. I just saw you were having a hard time, and there was a fly buzzing around you, so I just swatted it away for you."
"Of course, I did need your help with something when I was swatting flies."
Upon hearing this, Mu Wansu spat lightly and gave him a charming sidelong glance.
"Pah! Stop with the high-sounding words. You, Jiang Xuan, are the kind of person who stands up for justice and helps others? I don't remember you being that kind."
Jiang Xuan smiled and didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he turned to the side, pointed to the small figure still fast asleep in the bamboo basket behind him, and said seriously.
"The favor I need from you is related to her."
Mu Wansu's gaze fell on Luo Luo's peaceful sleeping face. She was slightly taken aback at first, then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she teased her with a touch of playfulness.
"Oh? It hasn't been that long, and you already have a child? And it's so big! Did you kidnap it from somewhere?"
Jiang Xuan glared at her, annoyed.
"What are you thinking! Her name is Luoluo, she's a pitiful child..."
He briefly recounted Luo Luo's ordeal and how her mother had likely perished in the explosion of the Spirit Pattern Shuttle, his tone carrying a barely perceptible heaviness.
After hearing this, Mu Wansu's playful expression gradually faded, and she looked at Luo Luo with more pity in her eyes.
The atmosphere between the two became less playful and more somber as they discussed this heavy topic.
Jiang Xuan, whose mind had been constantly on edge due to being besieged and hunted for days, couldn't help but feel a rare sense of relaxation after meeting Mu Wansu, an acquaintance who could be considered a friend.
At the same time, his hatred for the Chi family in the Forbidden City deepened.
He even vaguely speculated that the Chi family might be one of the culprits who dug out his original spiritual veins back then!
Mu Wansu keenly noticed the fleeting cold hatred deep in Jiang Xuan's eyes. She composed herself and asked softly.
How would you like me to help you?
Jiang Xuan looked at Mu Wansu and earnestly requested.
"I would like to ask you to take Luo Luo back to Yanxia City, and then... hand her over to Brother Shi Yu, and ask him to ask Miss Xiao Man to take care of her for a while."
As dusk fell, Su Xiu frowned slightly and asked.
Why aren't you taking her with you? Where are you going?
She already had a bad feeling.
Jiang Xuan paused for a moment, then gave a brief explanation.
"My journey to the Forbidden City has been fraught with peril; I've encountered numerous ambushes and assassinations. Taking her along would be far too dangerous."
Although he spoke casually, Mu Wansu was an extremely intelligent person. From his clothes, which, though washed, still exuded a murderous aura, and from the brief words "interception and pursuit," she could already sense the danger and bloodshed involved! Her expression gradually became solemn, even showing a hint of surprise.
"Intercepting and pursuing? Who dares to be so audacious?"
Mu Wansu couldn't help but ask again, her tone filled with concern.
She knew that Jiang Xuan's strength and background were not simple. An enemy who could make him say the words "not peaceful" and entrust innocent children to him must be no ordinary person!
Jiang Xuan shook his head, his eyes resolute.
"The other party has a lot of power and is involved in many things. It's better if you don't know who it is, Manager Mu. Knowing too much will not do you or Shi Ding Zhai any good."
Upon hearing this, Mu Wansu frowned even more deeply, her expression showing a hint of displeasure.
"When did you become so distant? Do you think I, Mu Wansu, am the kind of person who's afraid of trouble?"
Jiang Xuan shook his head again, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"It's not that I'm being distant, it's just that I don't want to implicate my friends, so I can't say much. The less you know about this matter, the safer you are."
Looking into Jiang Xuan's determined eyes, Mu Wansu knew that his mind was made up and that asking further would be useless.
She pondered for a moment, sighed softly, and nodded, no longer insisting.
"Alright, since you insist on not saying, then I won't ask anymore. I will bring Luo Luo back to Yanxia City safely and personally hand her over to Shi Yu. I will also ask him to make sure that Xiao Man takes good care of her. You can rest assured."
Hearing that Mu Wansu had agreed, Jiang Xuan finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and let out a long sigh of relief, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.
"Manager Mu, thank you very much!" (End of this chapter)