Chapter 385: The Wu Family

Xiang Xiaoyuan gave a bitter smile. Of course, Wu Yifan couldn’t do anything to them openly, but there was no telling what he might try in secret.

Just then, a sudden clamor of gongs and drums erupted.

Immediately after, they heard an angry shout from outside the Taiping Bureau.

“Lin Qi Huan, I’ve come honorably to propose marriage! How is this any of your business?”

“No matter how domineering your Taiping Bureau is, you can’t control who people marry, can you?”

Wu Yifan’s voice echoed through the air, loud enough for almost half the city to hear.

Xiang Xiaoyuan looked at Luo Anning. It was just as she’d said; a man like Wu Yifan was a tenacious pest. If you didn’t beat him to death, he would never stop pestering you. It was infuriating.

Luo Anning’s brow furrowed as well. She stood and started walking outside, intending to make things clear with Wu Yifan once and for all.

“Junior Sister Luo, where are you going?”

Just as she stepped out the door, she saw Zhang Chenchen walking toward her.

“Senior Sister Zhang.”

Luo Anning greeted her. “I’m going to send him away.”

“Don’t go.”

Zhang Chenchen stopped her, shaking her head. “Lord Lin has already gone over. He’ll drive him away.”

“Although Wu Yifan is obnoxious, he’s only here to propose and hasn’t done anything too out of line. We can’t really do anything to him directly.”

“After all, he is the eldest son of the Wu Family.”

Zhang Chenchen said with a sense of helplessness.

If Wu Yifan had come looking for trouble, the Taiping Bureau wouldn’t have been afraid. Even if they killed him, the Wu Family wouldn’t dare say a word.

But as it stood, Wu Yifan had only come with gifts to propose. You could call him shameless, and you could despise him.

But doing anything to him over a matter like this would be hard to justify.

No matter how domineering the Taiping Bureau was, there were still some rules that could not be broken.

“Just because he’s the eldest son of the Wu Family, he can force someone to marry him?”

Luo Anning said with a frown, “How is that any different from forcibly abducting a woman?”

“There is a bit of a difference.”

Zhang Chenchen rubbed the bridge of her nose, her head starting to ache. “Right now, this is considered enticement at most, not coercion.”

If it really were coercion, things would be much simpler.

Daring to abduct a Taiping Captain? Did he really think the blades of the Taiping Bureau couldn’t kill?

But other than causing a racket at the Taiping Bureau’s entrance like a persistent pest, Wu Yifan hadn’t actually broken any laws.

He had merely brought a pile of gifts to openly declare his affections.

That was something the Taiping Bureau really couldn’t interfere with.

“Sigh. If only Master Su were here, he could make him back down.”

Zhang Chenchen sighed.

A faint blush appeared on Luo Anning’s face. So, Senior Sister Zhang knew about her and Su Mu.

“But don’t worry. He wouldn’t dare force his way into the Taiping Bureau. At most, he’s just a nuisance. You don’t need to pay him any mind, Junior Sister Luo.”

Zhang Chenchen said.

“Senior Sister Zhang, this matter started because of me. I can’t let it affect everyone. I’m going to make things clear with Wu Yifan and tell him to stop disturbing the peace.”

With that, Luo Anning stubbornly walked outside.

Zhang Chenchen sighed in resignation and could only follow.

「Outside the Wuling Taiping Government Office.」

A chair was placed in the middle of the street, with Wu Yifan sprawled arrogantly upon it.

Behind him, a troupe of Musicians was banging on gongs and drums.

Dozens of large chests were lined up in a row along the street.

Lin Qi Huan was standing at the entrance of the Taiping Government Office, watching the man coldly.

“Wu Yifan, if you don’t scram now, don’t blame my blade for being merciless.”

Lin Qi Huan rested his hand on the hilt of his blade, his eyes spitting fire.

“Go on, attack me. I promise I won’t fight back.”

“I want everyone under heaven to see how the Taiping Bureau bullies the common folk.”

Wu Yifan said with contempt, “What law have I broken that makes you, Captain Lin, want to cut me down?”

“In broad daylight, are you really going to call black white?”

“Must you hunt down and exterminate anyone who doesn’t bend to your will?”

“Nonsense!”

Lin Qi Huan snapped.

He had no good way to deal with such a scoundrel.

If he attacked, he’d be giving the man a pretext to use against them.

But if he did nothing, it was simply infuriating.

Just then, Luo Anning walked out from the Government Office.

A look of immense joy spread across Wu Yifan’s face, his eyes filled with lust.

“Miss Luo the Elder, ever since I last saw you, I have thought of you day and night, tossing and turning in my sleep.”

“I’ve come today to propose with these humble gifts. If you accept, Miss Luo, the betrothal gifts will be ten times greater than this.”

Wu Yifan said.

A middle-aged man immediately stepped out from behind him and bellowed,

“Ten thousand taels of gold! A thousand bolts of brocade! Three chests of jewelry! One hundred Divine Weapons!”

An uproar erupted on the street.

The onlookers in the crowd all gasped in astonishment.

It was rare to see such a spectacle in Wuling City. What an extravagant display!

And this was just a ‘humble gift’?

As expected of the Wu Family. They were so damn rich.

“I cannot accept a reward I have not earned.”

Luo Anning said calmly, “Wu Yifan, please leave. I am already engaged, so don’t waste your effort.”

“Engaged? To that Su Mu?”

Wu Yifan sneered. “He’s just a Taiping Captain. He’s not worthy of you.”

“Marry me, and you’ll become the Young Madam of the Wu Family. In the future, you could even become the Head of the family.”

“Isn’t that much better than risking your life working for the Taiping Bureau?”

“Besides, if you marry me, I can provide you with abundant cultivation resources. Whether it’s martial arts, Cultivation Techniques, or Mental Realm Maps—whatever you want, the Wu Family has it all.”

“What does that Su Mu have?”

“He’s just a country bumpkin who got lucky and became a Taiping Capital Captain. For all you know, you’ll be the one who has to supply *him* with cultivation resources.”

“How can he possibly compare to me?”

Wu Yifan’s face was full of pride.

‘It’s true that Su Mu has made a name for himself recently,’ he thought. ‘But no matter how famous he is, he’s still just a Rebirth Realm Martial Artist.’

‘And he, Wu Yifan, was in the True Essence Realm!’

‘Besides, he wasn’t much older than that Su Mu.’

‘In terms of cultivation talent, he might not even be inferior to him.’

‘What’s more, he had the backing of the Wu Family. The cultivation resources at his disposal were something Su Mu could never hope to match.’

“Comparing yourself to Su Mu? You’re not worthy,”

Lin Qi Huan said coldly.

“Lin Qi Huan, I’ve had enough of you,”

Wu Yifan roared, “What does this have to do with you? If you dare insult the Wu Family again, I’ll issue a life-and-death challenge to you!”

“Fine! Bring it on! Only a coward would back down!”

Lin Qi Huan retorted.

Zhang Chenchen quickly tugged on the corner of Lin Qi Huan’s sleeve.

‘No matter how shameless Wu Yifan is, he’s still a True Essence Realm Martial Artist.’

‘Lin Qi Huan only broke through to the True Essence Realm a few days ago.’

“You just wait! I’ll deal with you after I’m done with my business!”

Wu Yifan sneered, then turned to look at Luo Anning. “Think carefully, Miss Luo. In terms of cultivation, in terms of strength—”

He gestured toward the dozens of large chests. This “strength” he spoke of wasn’t just about one’s cultivation level, but also one’s financial and material power.

“A country bumpkin like Su Mu can’t compare to me in any way.”

“Marrying me is your best choice.”

SHING!

Before the words had even left his mouth, Luo Anning suddenly drew her sword.

Its tip pointed directly at Wu Yifan.

“Junior Sister Luo—”

Zhang Chenchen said in a low voice.

Luo Anning shook her head firmly, then said, “This isn’t official Taiping Bureau business. This is a personal matter.”

“Wu Yifan, you insulted my fiancé. I am now challenging you in a personal capacity—a duel to the death. Either you apologize, or you accept my challenge.”

“You mustn’t!”

Lin Qi Huan said with a frown.

‘Although Luo Anning has comprehended the Kan Water Realm, she’s still only in the Rebirth Realm. She’s absolutely no match for Wu Yifan.’

‘Not every Rebirth Realm Martial Artist was a Su Mu.’

“Challenge me?”

Wu Yifan smirked. “I could never bear to kill you.”

“Apologize. Or die.”

Luo Anning ignored his banter and stated with deadly seriousness.

“Haha, you’re a feisty one. I like it.”

Wu Yifan roared with laughter.

“I can never refuse a request from a beautiful woman. Since you want a taste of my prowess, I shall indulge you.”

Wu Yifan stood up from his chair, stretching his wrists as he spoke with a flippant expression.

“Junior Sister Luo—”

“Sister!”

Zhang Chenchen and Xiang Xiaoyuan both cried out in low voices.

Luo Anning shook her head firmly. “This is my business. I’ll handle it.”

With that, she strode down the steps.

“Lin—”

Zhang Chenchen looked at Lin Qi Huan, her face etched with worry.

“Don’t worry,” Lin Qi Huan said in a deep voice. “I will intervene when the time is right.”

He couldn’t just stand by and let Luo Anning be bullied by an outsider, not right at the gates of the Taiping Bureau.

In the blink of an eye,

Luo Anning stamped her foot. Her longsword trembled, and a fine rain began to fall from the sky. Glittering points of sword light appeared as she thrust toward Wu Yifan.

From her very first move, she unleashed her most powerful killing technique.