Chapter 224: The Grace of That Finger (II)

The meal began on a rather peaceful note. Wang Sheng listened for a while, then looked down and saw that the table in front of him was already filled with dishes. Mu Wanxuan and the silver-haired half-immortal were gracefully, yet efficiently, wiping out these "formidable foes."

Well, the other party was just a Golden Core Realm cultivator. Naturally, neither felt any pressure.

He then heard a report in his earpiece.

—The captain will arrive in five minutes.

Chi Ling was already on her way. Suddenly, some noise came from both his side and the earpiece. Wang Sheng glanced sideways and saw that Liu Yunzhi had already gotten to his feet.

Shen Qianlin quickly handed him a napkin, and Liu Yunzhi calmly wiped at the area around the front of his pants. It looked like wine had spilled on him.

—How careless. There's a dryer in the restroom. Come, I'll help you clean up.

Shen Sui'an stood up and led Liu Yunzhi away.

Liu Yunzhi wanted to say it was fine, but Shen Sui'an had already closed in. Before he could react, Shen Sui'an flipped his hand over and pressed a pressure point on his arm, sealing his true essence instantly.

So much for the plan.

Wang Sheng shook his head. The sect master of the Hidden Earth Sect was more decisive than expected, and he had made the first move.

Shen Sui'an smiled.

—No need to be polite with me. Let's go, I'll hold the door for you. Just take off your shirt and use the dryer. There aren't many people in the restaurant at noon anyway.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Noticing how the situation seemed half forced, Shen Qianlin wanted to interfere. However, just as Shen Qianlin was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of Wang Sheng standing up from the corner of her eye.

Wang Sheng casually picked up his sword case. Mu Wanxuan had just started to stand, too, but a look from Wang Sheng stopped her.

He whispered, "Cover me, Big Sister."

Xi Lian waved her hand as if to say, "Go ahead. I have everything under control."

Wang Sheng didn't hesitate any further. Carrying the sword case, he strode toward the restroom. Shen Qianlin sighed quietly.

As soon as he reached the door to the men's room, two of Shen Sui'an's bodyguards stepped in front of him. "Sorry, the restroom is in use."

Wang Sheng smiled calmly. "I'm just going to use the restroom. We're all men here. What's there to hide about drying a shirt?"

He walked forward. The two bodyguards reached out to block him, but Wang Sheng seemed to shift ever so slightly, making them miss completely. He then used a thread of true essence to knock them out cold, causing them to stumble forward and collapse.

Wang Sheng pushed open the wooden restroom door. Inside, he heard running water, but a faint brownish-yellow light barrier blocked his way.

From twenty meters away, Xi Lian snapped her fingers. A soft cyan light wrapped around Wang Sheng.

"Go on in. If you need help, just shout. Holding off a Golden Core Realm cultivator is nothing for me."

With her advice in mind, Wang Sheng stepped forward, passing through the glowing light barrier. From inside the restroom, he heard a conversation.

"Who sent you to get close to my daughter? Liu Zhi?

Ha!

Did you really think I pay no attention to the cultivation world? You're Mount Mao's Liu Yunzhi!"

Shen Sui'an sounded cold, but not exactly vicious. He had one hand gripping Liu Yunzhi's wrist, pinning him against the wall. Golden Core Realm pressure filled the tight space.

Wang Sheng knocked on the wooden door of the nearby stall. With Xi Lian's concealment technique, it made sense that Shen Sui'an hadn't noticed his presence yet.

Liu Yunzhi smiled helplessly, but he didn't panic at all.

Turning toward him, Shen Sui'an's brow furrowed. His expression grew stern as he radiated an oppressive force.

"And who are you?"

Wang Sheng cupped his hands and bowed. "Greetings, Sect Master Shen. I am Wang Sheng, disciple of Daoist Master Bu Yan. Daoist name Fei Yu."

Shen Sui'an narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Wang Sheng. He smiled in slight amusement. "So it's you. Qianlin has mentioned you quite a few times, and I've also had people look into your background. You and your sect all work for the government. So the Special Investigation Unit is targeting my sect now, huh?"

"We're not targeting your sect," Wang Sheng replied with a polite smile. Though only at the mid-stage of the Illusory Core Realm level, he showed no signs of being intimidated. "But to clarify, we three are not agents of the government. We're simply part of the cultivation world."

"What difference does it make?"

Instead of getting stuck on the point, Wang Sheng added, "Because of the female immortal, the Nether Gate burst open from underground. Your sect plans to attack righteous cultivators who enter the Small Nether Realm. If that wasn't the case, Brother Liu and I wouldn't have come here to meet with you."

Shen Sui'an's expression darkened. "Who told you that?"

"Senior Shen Qianlin," Wang Sheng replied calmly. "She doesn't want your sect clashing with the authorities. If you had unsealed the ghost soldiers on the Yellow Springs Road, the ones meeting you now wouldn't have been us juniors, who come in peace."

"Peace?" Shen Sui'an glanced at the barrier he had set up at the door. Looking guarded, he coldly questioned, "Using my daughter to lure me here is peace?

Pfft!

What a joke!"

"Don't be angry, Sect Master Shen," said Wang Sheng. "The Hidden Earth Sect has always stayed away from worldly affairs. But with the Nether Gate's sudden appearance, what the authorities worry most about is—"

"Enough! I'll take you down first, then let your master come explain everything!" Shen Sui'an shouted and stepped forward to attack.

Wang Sheng raised his left hand. "Hold on, Senior!"

"What now?" Shen Sui'an actually stopped, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. It was as if he found Wang Sheng increasingly interesting. "You think you can fight me?"

Wang Sheng nodded and clasped his hands behind his back, deliberately projecting the confidence of a powerful figure. "Yes, I can."

Shen Sui'an laughed. "Very well. I'll give you a chance. Let's go to the parking lot downstairs. There's not enough space here for your sword techniques."

Wang Sheng said, "If I happen to land a move or two, would you be willing to sit down and talk things over peacefully?"

"Forget landing one or two moves. If you can withstand ten of mine, I'll admit defeat," Shen Sui'an flatly countered.

Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow. "In that case, how about you take my strongest move? If you can block it, I won't dare act out again."

"Fine! Come!" Shen Sui'an clasped his hands behind his back and smiled even more broadly at Wang Sheng. He was starting to like this young sword cultivator, whom his daughter kept mentioning.

The sect master had a powerful defensive technique that could defend against all kinds of techniques. Even if he were up against Wang Sheng's master, he would still be confident in his defenses.

At that moment, Wang Sheng lifted the sword case with his left hand. His right hand formed a sword gesture and pointed gently at Shen Sui'an.

"One!" Despite making no visible movement of true essence, a cyan flash burst from his fingertip. Shen Sui'an's eyes widened as he trembled and froze like a statue. He couldn't even breathe.

Wang Sheng calmly cupped his hands. "Thanks for letting me win."

Liu Yunzhi was momentarily stunned, but he soon realized what had just happened. He held back his laughter.

"I'm still far too weak. I can only seal you for one minute." Wang Sheng flicked his hand. The sword case rose upright beside him, and Spiritless shot out. He caught it cleanly and spun it in a flourish. "But tell me, Senior. In that state, do you still think this sword can't hurt you?"

Shock filled Shen Sui'an's gaze. His expression turned bleak, then resigned.

After a minute, he trembled and regained control of himself. He stepped back two paces and stared at Wang Sheng as if he had seen a ghost.

Wang Sheng sheathed Spiritless back into its case and courteously cupped his hands, signaling for Shen Sui’an to begin. "Now, can we talk, Sect Master Shen?"

"You've impressed me, Young Hero." Shen Sui'an also cupped his hands in a grand gesture of surrender. "I admit defeat. Let's talk."

At the window-side table, Xi Lian had curled up. Holding her stomach, she laughed heartily but silently.

She really is something else,

Wang Sheng thought.