Chapter 32 - This is an Honored Guest of the Murong Family, Bow and Apologize!

The commotion inside the inn drew the attention of many onlookers.

“Did this person just offend Young Master Liu?”

“Who is he? How dare he be so audacious?!”

“I don’t recognize him, but judging by the bloodstains on his clothes, he seems to be one of those who just entered the city today.”

“No wonder he doesn’t know Young Master Liu.

Tsk tsk,

this guy is really unlucky. After narrowly escaping death outside the city, he’s landed himself in trouble again by offending Young Master Liu...

Hah!

I doubt he’ll even get the luxury of dying easily!”

The crowd pointed and whispered, filled with the glee of spectating.

They all knew Liu Tong well. His cultivation was mediocre, just like his talent, but he was the crown prince’s cousin. With such a connection, he’d flourished in the capital, developing an arrogant and vindictive personality. Aside from a select few, no one dared to recklessly provoke him, as they’d often met miserable ends.

In recent years, Gu Han was the first person bold enough to stand up to him. Backed into a corner, Gu Han’s anger burned fiercely, and he had no intention of backing down.

“Why would I go anywhere? I was planning to stay here anyway.”

Liu Tong sneered. “Stay? Steward Song!”

“Young Master Liu, what are your orders?”

“What a coincidence. My Junior Sister Liu wants to stay, and he says he wants to stay too. However, there’s only one first-class room left. What do you think we should do?”

Steward Song casted a sidelong glance at Gu Han. “As you two have heard, our inn is fully booked. If you wish to stay, you’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.”

Having regained some dignity, Liu Tong’s resentment eased slightly. He glared at Gu Han, full of provocation. “Well? Whether you’re qualified to stay or not is up to me. And one more thing... Kneel! You just insulted Junior Sister Liu. Bow and apologize to her! Otherwise, don’t even think about leaving the capital alive today.”

Given his personality, letting Gu Han leave so easily was out of the question. Hearing this, the crowd immediately shifted their attention to Gu Han.

“Do you think he’ll kneel?”

“It’s better to kneel, if you ask me. At least he gets to keep his life.”

“Young people are reckless and competitive. Maybe this will knock him down a peg. With such a high ego, his future cultivation path will be fraught with difficulties.”

“As expected, Young Master Liu knows how to handle things.”

Amid the chatter, they eagerly awaited Gu Han’s response. If he knelt, he’d lose his dignity. If he didn’t, he’d keep his dignity, but lose his life.

Liu Ying stared intently at Gu Han, her eyes betraying a trace of excitement. Seeing Gu Han kneel would definitely pluck out the thorn in her heart!

Gu Han took a deep breath, suppressing his fury and killing intent. He patted Ah Sha’s head with his left hand, and retrieved a worn-out sword from his storage bag with his right.

The crowd gasped in shock.

“What?!”

“What... What is he planning to do?”

“No way, is he actually choosing to fight?!”

“Idiot! What an imbecile! This leaves no room for reconciliation. This kid is really courting death!”

They never imagined Gu Han would make such a mad choice.

You want me to kneel? Over my dead body!

Liu Ying felt a pang of disappointment, but soon, joy surged in her heart.

This isn’t Tianwu City, and Liu Tong isn’t some minor character from the Gu family with no backing! By offending him, Gu Han is as good as dead!

Ignoring the crowd’s reactions, Gu Han coldly stared at Liu Tong. “I’ve already said it. I’m stubborn. I just don’t listen.”

Liu Tong was in disbelief. “You... You dare draw your sword against me? Do you even know who I am?”

“No!” Gu Han flashed forward.

At a glance, he could tell that while Liu Tong’s cultivation was slightly higher, his aura was unstable and his foundation was shaky. His opponent was clearly lacking in combat experience. Most likely, Liu Tong had forcibly raised his realm with pills. Half a breath was all he needed against such a person.

The crowd inhaled sharply.

This young man has an astonishingly fierce killing intent!

Opposite him, Liu Tong stood frozen like a wooden chicken. Given his special status, few had ever dared to defy him since he was young, let alone draw a sword against him.

For a moment, he was at a complete loss. The tip of the worn-out sword gleamed with a cold light. The Great Evolution Sword Qi was ready to strike, about to pierce several holes through Liu Tong’s body

“How dare you!”

At that moment, an angry roar erupted. Before the voice faded, Steward Song had stood in front of Liu Tong. He unleashed a surge of spirit power that transformed into a fist-sized force, colliding head-on with Gu Han’s attack.

Gu Han managed to slash through the force, but was sent staggering back by the impact. His blood and qi churned violently, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Ah Sha rushed over to support him. “Young Master, are you alright?”

Steward Song seemed taken aback. “

Hm?

You’re still alive?”

Not only was he at the seventh stage of Essence Gathering, he had used a high-grade Yellow-tier technique. Although his earlier strike had been somewhat rushed, it still contained 50% of his power. Contrary to his expectation, instead of dying or rendered helpless, Gu Han had only suffered minor injuries.

However, he had no time to dwell on it. Aside from the usual benefits he received, it’d spell significant trouble for Steward Song if Liu Tong perished here. Moreover, from the very beginning, he had disliked Gu Han. Now that the opportunity had arisen, he had no intention of letting Gu Han off easily.

“You’ve got a death wish! This is the Murong family’s territory. How dare you cause trouble here?”

Murong family?

The crowd was stunned.

“Which Murong family? Is there such a family in the capital?”

“Which one could it be? It’s...

ahem...

that

one from the upper sect!”

The crowd gasped in shock.

“So that’s it!”

“It’s really

that

Murong family!”

“Obviously! Why else do you think this inn is located in the most prominent and bustling part of the inner city? And with Steward Song’s cultivation, he could easily serve as the chief guest elder of a middle-class family. Why would he settle for being a mere steward in an inn?”

“No wonder! This inn has such a strong background!”

“

Tsk tsk,

that kid is done for!”

The crowd reveled in his misfortune.

“He even offended the Murong family!”

“Young people don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. This time, he’s going to take a hard fall!”

“

Hah,

exactly! He doesn’t even have any background! Just watch, even if someone from the imperial family came, there’s no saving him!”

Amid the chatter, Liu Tong finally regained his senses. His face was flushed red with humiliation, and his eyes were brimming with venomous hatred. For a moment, he had genuinely felt the threat of death. He’d disgraced himself in front of so many! How he wished he could tear Gu Han to pieces!

“Steward Song, help me capture him. I’ll reward you handsomely.”

In spite of his delight, Steward Song maintained a calm facade. “Young Master Liu, you flatter me. Not only did he disregard the Murong family’s rules, this brat even dared to commit violence here! I won’t let him off. You brought this upon yourself. Don’t blame me for what happens next.”

“There’s something I’d like to ask.” To everyone’s surprise, Gu Han suddenly regained his composure, a hint of amusement playing in his eyes. “Do you know Murong Yan?”

Steward Song’s eyes narrowed. “Such impertinence! How dare you address the young lady by her name!”

Mid-sentence, he unleashed the full power of his seventh-stage Essence Gathering cultivation, throwing another punch at Gu Han. A suffocating pressure bore down on Gu Han.

It’s over!

The crowd shook their heads. With this punch, Gu Han would likely be reduced to a pulp on the spot.

Liu Tong wore an expression of vindictive satisfaction. As for Liu Ying, her expression was complex, even carrying a hint of relief as she watched Gu Han on the brink of death.

As the force of his fist approached, Ah Sha moved to shield Gu Han. “Young Master!”

Gu Han held her tightly. “Stay still.”

Then, with a flip of his hand, he produced a dark iron token. In that split second, Steward Song came to an abrupt stop.

“What...” His eyes widened in shock. Ignoring the backlash from forcibly retracting his power, his face paled. “Where... where did you get this?”

Gu Han exhaled subconsciously. Had the token been useless, he’d have no choice but to block with all his might and flee with Ah Sha once again. Fortunately, Murong Yan hadn’t lied to him about the value of this item.

Liu Tong grew frantic. “Steward Song? Attack! Don’t stop! You don’t have to worry, I’ll send someone with your reward as soon as I return. You won’t miss out on a single benefit!”

However, the usually obedient Steward Song seemed deaf to his words, staring blankly at the iron token. Liu Ying grew uncertain, having a premonition.

Outside the inn, the crowd exchanged puzzled glances.

What is this unremarkable little iron token? How did it make Steward Song hesitate... No, actually, judging by his expression, it wasn’t hesitation, it’s outright fear.

“You fool!”

Suddenly, an authoritative voice reverberated in everyone’s ears like a toll of a great bell, leaving their heads ringing. By the time they recovered, another figure had appeared in the room. It was a purple-robed, middle-aged man with a commanding presence and unreadable aura.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Steward Song hurriedly bowed. “M-Manager...? Why have you come?”

“Song Xing, have you forgotten your place?” the man said with a straight face.

Steward Song’s scalp tingled, instantly drenched in cold sweat. “N-no, I wouldn’t dare...”

The man didn’t even spare him a glance. “Wouldn’t dare? Since when do you have the right to interfere in the Murong family’s affairs?”

Steward Song trembled uncontrollably, unable to form a coherent sentence. “I... I...”

“Imbecile. You’re just a watchdog of the Murong family, yet you dare bite our most honored guest? Tell me, what punishment do you deserve?”

Steward Song’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees. “Spare me, please! Manager, I was blind! I didn’t recognize the honored guest! Please... spare me this once!”

Silence fell. It wasn’t just Liu Tong, but even the onlookers outside were stunned. Steward Song was now kneeling and begging for mercy like a dog, not even daring to offer an explanation.

Who is this man? And since when did this inn have a manager?

Before they could figure it out, something even more shocking happened.

The man, whose cultivation was unfathomably high, shed his icy demeanor and broke into a warm smile.

He cupped his hands toward Gu Han, politely and enthusiastically saying, “So you’re our honored guest! I’m Murong Chuan. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner. I hope you won’t take offense, Little Brother!”