Chapter 217
Chapter 217: Taking Action
Li Mu Sheng glanced at the old man before him and the six surrounding flower courtesans, slightly raising an eyebrow. He truly wondered how this old man had the audacity to speak such words. Yet he didn’t dwell on it and merely waved a hand casually, saying: “What exactly do you want to ask?”
The Hemp Robed Elder fell silent for a moment, then quietly transmitted through qi threads: “This old one is curious why the Great Li court suddenly decided to attack Fallen God Peak. What gives you such confidence?”
Li Mu Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at him calmly. “Do you truly believe I would tell you something so important?”
At these words, the Hemp Robed Elder immediately fell silent. He knew very well that his question had been too rash. After all, the Great Li court’s secret weapon against Fallen God Peak was certainly an extremely guarded secret—how could it ever be casually revealed?
However, just as the elder was thinking this, Li Mu Sheng suddenly continued speaking, “Of course, if you truly wish to know, I don’t mind telling you.”
The Hemp Robed Elder’s eyes brightened, quickly gesturing for the flower courtesans beside him to halt, urgently asking: “Is young master serious?”
Li Mu Sheng nodded slightly, speaking with carefree ease: “Both of your questions share one simple answer… and that answer is naturally—me.”
The Hemp Robed Elder visibly froze, gazing at Li Mu Sheng in shock and suspicion: “You? How is that possible…”
He left the sentence unfinished, but clearly, he did not believe Li Mu Sheng’s words.
At that moment, the scar-faced man suddenly approached. After being stopped earlier, he had not acted further against the black-robed woman. Instead, he had viciously slapped her face over a dozen times until it was utterly ruined, then tossed her aside. Having vented his anger, he finally calmed down enough to speak, fear evident in his eyes as he said: “Old senior, I’ve thought carefully. If we flee right now, we might still have a chance of escaping Hundred Refinement City.”
Now sober, the scar-faced man no longer wished to die, desperately wracking his mind for a way out. Although offending Fallen God Peak meant death was nearly certain, he hoped that with the Hemp Robed Elder’s considerable martial prowess, there might still be a chance to survive, however slim.
Hearing these words, the Hemp Robed Elder glanced at him but said nothing, lost in thought about Great Li’s attack on Fallen God Peak. As for Li Mu Sheng’s statement—he dismissed it completely.
Suddenly, the young girl who had previously left the hall flashed back inside, hurriedly addressing the Hemp Robed Elder: “The people from Fallen God Peak have arrived!”
At once, the scar-faced man froze, eyes wide with terror as he stared toward the entrance, murmuring in despair: “It’s over!”
Just then, a group slowly entered the hall from outside. Leading them were two youths in Cloud Peak Dark Robes, followed closely by two graceful young women, two elderly men, and a middle-aged warrior.
“I hear someone actually dared stir trouble in Hundred Fragrance Pavilion—quite unusual indeed,” said a square-faced young man with a jade crown, strolling leisurely into the room with hands clasped behind his back. Sweeping his gaze around, he took note of the black-robed woman’s pitiful state and the defeated guards. “At a glance, it appears these troublemakers have some skill after all.”
Then the square-faced young man turned his indifferent gaze toward the scar-faced man’s group, asking coldly: “Who did this?”
Beside him, a thin-faced young man folded his arms across his chest. Ignoring the pink-clad girl completely, he eyed the trio carefully before pointing his finger directly at the Hemp Robed Elder. “Let me guess… surely it must be this old fart.”
“But, Senior Brother Zheng, as the young lord of Hundred Refinement City, you’ve grown rather lax, letting such reckless fools into the city.”
Zheng Zi, the square-faced youth, narrowed his eyes slightly and replied coolly, “Junior Brother Yuwen jokes. Father’s birthday celebration is soon approaching. It is inevitable that some insignificant riffraff from the martial world would slip in among the guests.”
He then turned his dark gaze back toward the Hemp Robed Elder’s group, continuing icily: “Tell me, how would you prefer to die? Of course, I’ll grant you intact corpses to hang at the gates of Hundred Refinement City as a warning to others.”
Then, shaking his head bitterly, he muttered with chilling fury: “I wonder what’s been going on lately? Is Fallen God Peak too subtle in its actions, or has the martial world grown too peaceful, that even insignificant vermin dare provoke us openly?”
“Especially those Heavenly Brocade Guards from Great Li—who gave them the audacity to strike at Fallen God Peak!” By the end of his words, Zheng Zi’s voice had turned vicious, brimming with murderous intent.
The scar-faced man shivered uncontrollably, eyes darting desperately between the Hemp Robed Elder and Li Mu Sheng. Hearing Zheng Zi’s words, he was filled with utter despair. He realized, with bitter certainty, that facing the young lord of Hundred Refinement City himself, death was inevitable. Still, he wished dearly to see what fate awaited these two who had dragged him into ruin.
At this moment, the Hemp Robed Elder exchanged a quick glance with Li Mu Sheng and quietly transmitted via qi thread: “Young master, how will you deal with this? Have you secretly arranged for martial dao experts from the Great Li court to ambush?”
Li Mu Sheng merely shook his head slightly, replying: “You don’t need to concern yourself with my affairs. Do as you see fit.”
The Hemp Robed Elder frowned slightly at Li Mu Sheng but asked no further. Indeed, the young master did not appear to be someone who had come here intending to die. With a wave, the elder dismissed the six flower courtesans, sighing lightly with regret: “What a pity; too short a time, and this old one hasn’t even enjoyed himself yet.”
The pink-clad girl rushed to the elder’s side, casting a serious glance at Li Mu Sheng, then secretly transmitting to the Hemp Robed Elder: “If we don’t leave now, we might never escape Hundred Refinement City.”
Earlier, neither had truly worried about Hundred Fragrance Pavilion. However, the current situation had clearly spiraled far beyond their expectations. They never anticipated encountering the young lord himself here, accompanied by genuine martial dao masters. Now, leaving this pavilion alone would likely become extremely difficult.
“Don’t worry. I always plan before I act—I’ve prepared ahead,” the Hemp Robed Elder reassured her calmly. Then, turning to Li Mu Sheng, he spoke aloud: “Young master, I hope you indeed have the ability to survive. Until we meet again.”
As his voice faded, the Hemp Robed Elder suddenly unleashed a fierce palm strike directly toward Zheng Zi and his group.