Lin Rock gazed at the resolute Zhao Yanyun, his brows tightly furrowed.
From the first moment he saw Zhao Yanyun three years ago, he had fallen for her.
Throughout these three years, he had relentlessly pursued Zhao Yanyun, but her attitude toward him had always been lukewarm.
He had originally thought that it was just Zhao Yanyun's nature, but he hadn't expected that she would go to the extent of having an irreconcilable dispute with him over another man.
"Yanyun, do you really want to have an irreconcilable dispute with me over him? What is so worthy about him that makes you do this? Have you fallen for him?" Lin Rock asked coldly, his voice tinged with suppressed anger.
The crowd around them all looked toward Zhao Yanyun, curious about the answer to this question as well.
"Lin Rock, Xu Nian is a person specially looked after by Lord Governor. As a low-level manager in the Battle Mansion, I can't just let you kill him in front of me. Moreover, whether I like him or not, what business is it of yours? Please do not call me Yanyun anymore," Zhao Yanyun retorted coldly.
With this statement, the crowd sighed in relief.
It turned out to be just a command from the Lord Governor.
If Zhao Yanyun had truly fallen for Xu Nian and was thus desperately protecting him, then Xu Nian must really be defying the heavens.
After all, Zhao Yanyun was also a desired pursuit among the members of the Battle Mansion.
Hearing this, Lin Rock's expression eased a bit, but his gaze toward Xu Nian remained filled with killing intent.
"Fine, Yanyun, today I will let him go for your sake. But next time, if he appears before me again, I will kill him," Lin Rock said, flinging his sleeve before turning and leading the Battle Mansion members away.
Though Ding Hao was unwilling, he could do nothing, especially now that Xu Nian had Zhao Yanyun's protection.
What frustrated him the most was that Chen Yao's look toward him had turned extremely unfriendly.
He knew that staying further would only worsen the impression he made on Chen Yao.
"Remember to settle the bill before you leave!" Chen Wudi shouted at Ding Hao, who was walking down the stairs.
Hearing this, Ding Hao, overwhelmed with anger, spit out a mouthful of blood.
He had lost all his money to Xu Nian, leaving him with nothing to pay the bill.
Eventually, he had no choice but to borrow several hundred thousand Gold Coins from Sun Zhan to settle the account before dejectedly leaving.
Watching the Mo Lang Team leave, the young disciples also dispersed.
Suddenly, only Xu Nian, Chen Wudi, Zhao Yanyun, and Chen Yao remained in the field.
"Sister Zhao, are you all right?" Xu Nian asked, looking at Zhao Yanyun.
"I'm fine, just a minor injury. Lin Rock is one of the standout members among the Four-star members. You should still be cautious around him in the future," Zhao Yanyun replied, turning to Xu Nian.
Xu Nian nodded, his heart filled with gratitude.
If it weren't for Zhao Yanyun's intervention today, he truly didn't know how he would have countered Lin Rock's move.
"Xu Nian, I'm sorry," Chen Yao also stepped forward and said.
Xu Nian, however, smiled and shook his head: "You don't need to apologize to me; you don't owe me anything. Besides, if anything is to blame, it's only your mischievous brother. He specifically targeted Ding Hao, allowing you to see Ding Hao's true colors. I was merely used by him as a tool."
Chen Yao quickly glared at Chen Wudi upon hearing his words.
Chen Wudi, wearing an unapologetic expression, chuckled and said, "Sis, that's just the way it is. Ding Hao is a despicable person, and I had to use this method for you to see his true face. His pursuit of you is purely out of greed for our family's power. If you were really deceived by him, your entire life would be ruined. Besides, I genuinely hope you could end up with Xu Nian."
Chen Yao glared fiercely at Chen Wudi, then turned to Xu Nian with gratitude and said, "Thank you!"
Xu Nian smiled slightly and said, "Wudi is right. Ding Hao is indeed a hypocritical villain. You should be cautious of him in the future."
Chen Yao nodded. Through tonight's events, she had also seen through Ding Hao's true nature.
"Alright, now that things have been settled, I should head back. Xu Nian, here are your ten million Gold Coins." Zhao Yanyun threw two Qiankun Bags to Xu Nian and then prepared to leave.
Xu Nian took the Qiankun Bags but his face showed a hint of hesitation. Eventually, he asked, "Sister Zhao, does the Battle Mansion have Pills that can enhance one's realm?"
Zhao Yanyun was taken aback for a moment, then turned to Xu Nian with a furrowed brow and said, "Yes, but what do you need those Pills for? Xu Nian, with your talent, advancing your realm is only a matter of time. Why rush? You should know that such Pills for forcefully enhancing one's realm come with significant side effects."
"Yes, Xu Nian, you are only sixteen and have already reached One-star Battle Sect. Why the rush to advance your realm?" Chen Yao also couldn't help but advise.
Xu Nian shook his head.
He hadn't been in a hurry, but tonight's events had taught him a lesson.
If he continued to cultivate at this pace, he wouldn't be able to achieve the realm he had promised Leng Yanran in two years.
Then he wouldn't have the strength to face the upcoming crisis in the Imperial Capital, and what could he use to rescue his mother?
"Don't worry, I have my own judgment, and I won't jeopardize my future." Seeing Zhao Yanyun and Chen Yao so anxious, Xu Nian said with a smile.
Zhao Yanyun and Chen Yao both nodded, trusting that Xu Nian was not someone impulsive.
"If you want Pills to enhance your realm, come find me at the Battle Hall tomorrow." After leaving these words, Zhao Yanyun walked away.
Xu Nian and Chen Yao, along with Chen Wudi, also returned to the Governor Mansion.
Meanwhile, inside the Ding Mansion in the western city, four people were gathered.
These weren't just any people; they were the Mo Lang Team members who had left the Tianhua Restaurant earlier.
"Senior Brother Lin, we must avenge this insult; otherwise, I can't swallow this grievance," Ding Hao angrily said, his body moving, wincing from the intense pain.
Xu Nian had embarrassed him in front of so many people and made Chen Yao think so poorly of him. How could he rest until Xu Nian was dead?
"Yes, Xu Nian must die. I also find him displeasing. Daring to offend our Mo Lang Team is simply seeking death. But with Zhao Yanyun protecting him, killing him is going to be difficult," Sun Zhan said, adopting a defiant tone.
Hearing Sun Zhan's words, Lin Rock's expression immediately grew colder.
"Now Xu Nian is living in the Governor Mansion, and killing him there would be difficult; it seems we must wait until his next mission and ambush him outside the city," Lin Rock suggested.
"Hmph, next time I'll definitely flay him. Losing to him was solely because he was deceitful. If it had been a fair fight, he could never have been my match," Ding Hao said angrily.
A cold smirk appeared on Sun Zhan's lips, and his eyes flickered with killing intent.
Lv Cheng, who had been silent, also revealed a trace of killing intent in his eyes.
Xu Nian's performance today had sparked intense jealousy in him—thus Xu Nian must die.