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Join the ServerThis truly felt like a windfall from the heavens; what kind of person could possibly conjure such a sum of money on a whim?
Even if Zhang Liang were granted ten lifetimes, he would never dare to guarantee earning such a colossal fortune.
Moreover, aren’t you merely a steward? Is it truly permissible to dispense such a vast amount of money without authorization? Surely your master would disapprove?
Having already secured the funds, it would be prudent to make a swift escape before his master could voice any objections.
Zhang Liang swiftly scanned the faces of those around him, mentally concocting an excuse to flee, only to inadvertently lock eyes with a female guard.
“What nefarious schemes are you hatching?”
“None at all,” Zhang Liang replied, his gaze flickering away. “I was merely surveying our surroundings, maintaining vigilance.”
It was fortunate he had delved into ‘The Self-Cultivation of a Villain’, otherwise, such a sudden fright might have utterly undone him.
An ordinary antagonist would surely have betrayed their intentions by now, but I, for one, am a true professional!
······
His words held merit; brigands could indeed still be lurking nearby. The female guard lapsed into silence.
The female guard, Liu Hua, a third-year student representative from the Saint Spirit Academy, was currently tasked with safely escorting the esteemed individual within the carriage to the royal capital.
Yet, at this moment, she found Zhang Liang exceedingly suspicious, particularly given the sinister smile that had played upon his lips as he accepted the gold coins.
His demeanor, in every conceivable way, screamed of a scoundrel whose nefarious plot had just come to fruition.
A moment’s reflection revealed a glaring inconsistency: three Emperor Realm experts had been present, yet they had retreated upon merely catching sight of this man?
Such a scenario defied all logic.
Judging by his aura, this individual clearly had not attained the Emperor Realm.
While the elderly steward might not discern it, Liu Hua, having undergone two and a half years of professional tutelage, could confidently assert that this man’s abilities were decidedly unremarkable.
Thus, only one truth remained: they were all in league with each other!
His aim was to play the hero, rescue the damsel, then win her trust, and ultimately swindle her out of immeasurable wealth!
Those supposed Emperor Realm experts were nothing more than hired hands, expensive pawns in his elaborate scheme!
His ultimate objective was equally transparent: to secure himself a wealthy wife.
A veritable toad lusting after swan meat—he was utterly deluded.
“Who are you?” Liu Hua demanded, her sword now aimed squarely at Zhang Liang. “Do not presume I am ignorant; you are in league with that nefarious band!”
Upon hearing Liu Hua’s accusatory words, the three remaining guards laboriously pushed themselves upright, grasping their weapons.
Meanwhile, the elderly steward and the coachman exchanged bewildered glances, completely at a loss.
“Oh? And what evidence do you possess?” Zhang Liang retorted, a hint of disdain lacing his voice, knowing full well they lacked the means to prove anything, regardless of the truth.
“Do you dare to face us in combat?”
Liu Hua was absolutely convinced that the man before her possessed no martial skill whatsoever. If she could simply prove his inability to fight, his identity as a charlatan would be unequivocally established.
As for those Emperor Realm experts, they presented no real challenge; at worst, she could simply offer double their original fee to secure their allegiance.
With four of us at the high-level Spirit Realm facing a single opponent who is clearly below the Emperor Realm, how could we possibly lose?
“Alas,” Zhang Liang sighed, a weary expression on his face. “Can you truly not perceive the vast disparity between our strengths?”
“Cease your blustering at once!” Liu Hua snapped, her arm tensing as she thrust her sword towards Zhang Liang, the blade emitting a sharp hum. “Will you accept my challenge or not?”
“Very well, very well,” Zhang Liang conceded, bending to retrieve a slender tree branch from the ground. “My apologies, I couldn’t find a weaker weapon to hand.”
“You! You shall regret this insolence! Attack!”
Liu Hua, a prodigy from the esteemed Genius Academy, had never endured such profound humiliation. Fury instantly surged within her, flushing her cheeks crimson as she charged forward without hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, the four guards enveloped Zhang Liang, their swords poised menacingly before him.
“Oh, a sword formation, is it?” Zhang Liang mused aloud, observing with a curious detachment, making no move to defend himself. “Four individuals, four shadows… an Eight-Shadow Sword Formation, perhaps?”
This particular formation was designed for coordinated attacks, allowing multiple combatants to strike a target’s blind spots from all directions. The more ‘shadows’ generated, the more arduous it became to defend against.
Eight converging shadows lunged, assailing Zhang Liang from every angle.
Zhang Liang, however, merely sprang upwards, avoiding the eight intertwining blades by a hair’s breadth, emerging utterly unscathed.
“Hmph,” Liu Hua scoffed, a cold glint in her eyes. “To flee upwards? Is he not simply inviting death?”
Suspended in mid-air, evasion was impossible; his only fate was a brutal beating.
“Hundred-Shadow Sword Formation!”
In a single, dazzling instant, Zhang Liang fragmented into a hundred distinct shadows. The very next second, Liu Hua and her companions found themselves completely encircled.
“What in the —!”
“What in the blazes is happening!?”
“These clones… they’re all real! They cast shadows! Is this even humanly possible?”
“We’re surrounded by a single person! What are we to do now?”
Hah, thoroughly terrified, are we? I simply relish witnessing the expressions of you frogs in a well, so utterly unacquainted with the wider world.
Now that the clones are out, I’ll simply knock them unconscious, then make my swift getaway.
Just as Zhang Liang prepared to strike, a melodious female voice drifted from within the carriage.
“Benefactor, I implore you, please show mercy.”
Her true visage remained unseen, yet her voice, as soft and melodious as a nightingale’s song echoing from a valley, left Zhang Liang utterly captivated, certain that she must be a beauty of unparalleled grace.
“Liu Hua, you too should offer your apologies to our benefactor.”
“Yes…” Liu Hua murmured, stepping before Zhang Liang and bowing deeply. “I apologize; I gravely misunderstood you.”
With such overwhelming power undeniably displayed before her, she had no choice but to concede. If he had genuinely intended to kill, she would have been nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter.
Those Emperor Realm experts must have discerned his true capabilities, realizing they were no match, which explained their swift and decisive retreat.
Just as he had implied, her own weakness prevented her from even perceiving the vast disparity in their strengths.
To draw a weapon against a benefactor was akin to repaying kindness with enmity, an act beneath even pigs and dogs.
“I am truly, deeply sorry!” Liu Hua reiterated, bowing her head once more, her apology imbued with profound sincerity.
“It’s alright, it’s alright,” Zhang Liang waved dismissively.
As the hundred shadows converged back into one, Zhang Liang tossed aside the tree branch he held. Given the profound sincerity of their apology, he found himself with little choice but to let bygones be bygones.
“This humble woman hails from Changbai; my given name is Ying, signifying a firefly that illuminates the night. May I be so bold as to inquire about your esteemed name, Benefactor?”
The Changbai Kingdom? Wow, that land is renowned for its beautiful, affluent women. No wonder she possesses such considerable wealth.
And what, pray tell, is the Changbai Kingdom most famed for? Why, their Bright Moon Princess, of course. Rumor has it she possesses a beauty akin to a celestial fairy, with countless high-ranking officials and nobles squandering their entire fortunes merely for a glimpse of her. Alas, such a radiant beauty was destined for a tragically short life.
“My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Liang. I chose it myself.”
“Self-chosen…?” Ying whispered, repeating his words softly. Her melodious voice now carried a subtle note of sorrow, as a self-chosen name often implied that the individual was an orphan.
“I extend my deepest gratitude for your timely intervention, Benefactor,” Ying began, pausing briefly after her words, seemingly to gauge Zhang Liang’s reaction before continuing. “This humble woman has a presumptuous request: would you be willing to accompany us to the royal capital?”
Ah, he understood. She intended for him to act as her bodyguard. Judging by her elegant demeanor, she hardly seemed the type to renege on her word, which meant the promised sum was all but secured.
It was on his way, after all, and what conceivable reason could there be to decline the company of a beautiful woman?
“Should you harbor any reservations, Benefactor, I am prepared to sweeten the offer further. I assure you, your great kindness will not be taken for granted.”
“There’s no need,” Zhang Liang replied. “It happens to be on my way.”
He had already accepted a substantial eight hundred gold coins; to demand more would not merely make him a villain, but a veritable vampire!
Zhang Liang settled himself onto the front of the carriage, taking a seat beside the coachman. ‘Heh,’ he mused, ‘not only have I earned a fortune, but I also get a complimentary ride in a luxurious carriage. This is an absolute windfall!’
A slight tremor from the carriage’s front stirred a flicker of confusion within Ying.
“Benefactor, would you not prefer to join me inside?”
“No need,” Zhang Liang responded. “Given that you’ve remained out of sight, I presume you prefer not to be seen. This arrangement suits me perfectly.”
Bullshit, who wouldn’t want to gaze upon a beauty!
However, Zhang Liang exercised caution. He had been ensnared by such schemes before, nearly losing a kidney in the process.
Furthermore, he had been traveling for days without the luxury of a bath. What if he were to offend the beauty with his stench? His carefully cultivated image as a benefactor would surely crumble.
Unacceptable, utterly unacceptable.
“That truly is a shame for you, Benefactor,” Ying’s voice carried a distinct note of regret.
The guards mounted their horses, and with a practiced flick of his long whip, the coachman set the carriage in motion, heading towards the royal capital.
Throughout their journey, Zhang Liang and Ying conversed with delightful ease. He observed that Ying possessed a keen fondness for conversation and an insatiable curiosity about the outside world, as if she rarely ventured beyond her confines.
Before long, Liu Hua, the young woman, also joined their lively discussion.
She harbored an intense curiosity about the Hundred-Shadow Sword Formation Zhang Liang had employed, incessantly questioning him about its execution.
To which Zhang Liang simply offered two words: “Movement technique.”
Despite Liu Hua’s palpable confusion regarding those two words, the convivial atmosphere of their conversation remained undimmed.
Although Zhang Liang was full of exaggerated stories, Ying found it quite interesting, and kept chuckling softly.
However, she was also perplexed as to why Liu Hua did not challenge his tall tales. Given her serious nature, she would typically not be amused by such fanciful remarks.
Was Liu Hua perceiving something she could not?
How she longed to glimpse the Benefactor’s countenance.
The more Liu Hua conversed with Zhang Liang, the more she found him utterly captivating, devoid of the haughty airs one might expect from an otherworldly master.
While he possessed a somewhat villainous face, his facial contours were undeniably clear and handsome; with a little grooming, he would surely be a striking man. Yet, in his current disheveled state, it was easy to harbor suspicions.
His stories were outlandish, yet the scars adorning his body seemed to corroborate their veracity.
To remain so optimistic after enduring so much, this must be the realm achieved by a true master.
In a flurry of internal rationalization, Liu Hua’s gaze upon Zhang Liang gradually transformed into one of profound admiration.
A master emerging into the world must surely have a grand purpose, especially during the enrollment season. Could it be…
“Mr. Zhang, have you emerged from seclusion this time to cultivate in the city? Our Saint Spirit Academy is truly an excellent place!” She absolutely could not allow this reclusive master to enter any other academy!
Emerging from seclusion? What was that all about? Wasn’t that typically the domain of old hermits who had renounced the mortal world?
However, Zhang Liang had indeed heard of the Saint Spirit Academy, the institution founded by old man Bai Huo, which had once been incredibly renowned.
He hadn’t received systematic training in his previous life, and now that the opportunity presented itself, he truly wished to try. Perhaps it could even accelerate his cultivation.
Zhang Liang inquired about the relevant details.
The entrance examination was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and tomorrow marked the final day for registration.
Wasn’t this simply perfect timing?
Zhang Liang decided to enter the academy first and dedicate himself to intense cultivation. Lin Na was in this country anyway, and having a legitimate identity would make it easier to approach her later.
Approximately half a day passed, and night had fallen. Zhang Liang and the others entered the city. Ying had intended to invite Zhang Liang to stay overnight, but he declined.
He hadn’t slept for days; who would want to chat all night with her?
Besides, eight hundred gold coins was a staggering sum that made his hands tremble. What if their conversation went sour, and she regretted her generosity?
It was Zhang Liang’s first time seeing so much money. Even though he knew she wouldn’t ask for it back, he still harbored reservations.
An excellent villain knows when to seize an opportunity and then vanish. Farewell, then!
With money in hand, what was there to do? Eat delectable food, drink fine spirits, sleep in a grand bed, and enjoy a spa.
After Zhang Liang departed, the carriage door opened a crack, and a gentle breeze caused waist-length black hair to sway like willow branches. She wore a light veil over her face, yet through her exquisite eyes, her beauty was discernible, like an ethereal fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.
‘Fate… will guide us to meet again.’
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, I Want To Bite You is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : I Want To Bite You
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