Chapter 652 205: Attending the Banquet, a Show of Force

The night was a dark curtain, as quiet as still water.

In the deep darkness, no pedestrians walked the streets. All was silent, a dead stillness.

Zhang Dao Ling took a step forward, blocking Shen Bai. Terrifying characters swirled around his body, emanating immense pressure.

He was a Scholar, and a Scholar at the peak of the Celestial Spirit Realm.

In Lingyun Dao, he was undeniably one of the top masters.

Yet when he stood before Shen Bai, blocking his path, the first to react—especially as those terrifying characters radiated outward—were Ding Quan and his men.

"Lord Zhang, what do you think you're doing!"

Ding Quan and the hundred-odd members of the Observatory at his back all drew their weapons, poised to strike.

The man before them may be the head of the Government Office, but the Government Office and the Observatory had always been two completely separate organizations.

If anyone dared to attack Shen Bai, Ding Quan and his men were duty-bound to protect him, as well as the reputation of the entire Observatory.

But Shen Bai alone wore a look of detached calm, as if he couldn't care less.

He raised a hand and clapped Ding Quan on the shoulder, signaling him to stand down.

As Ding Quan stared in a daze, Shen Bai slowly took two steps forward until he was standing right before Zhang Dao Ling.

"Go on, attack me. Do you dare?"

Shen Bai's tone was utterly composed.

Zhang Dao Ling's hair and beard seemed to stand on end. Though he had the air of a middle-aged Confucian scholar, he now looked like a man brazen enough to splash ink across the heavens.

Hearing Shen Bai's words, his fury deepened.

"I wanted nothing to do with you, yet you have repeatedly offended me, shown me nothing but contempt, and insulted me with your words. If you, Shen Bai, do not give me an explanation today, this will not end until one of us is dead."

"Until one of us is dead? You think you're worthy?"

Shen Bai scoffed at his words. "You? Worthy? A Scholar studies his entire life, but you seem to have poured all that knowledge into a dog's stomach."

"That good-for-nothing loitering around the Government Office earlier... that was your son, wasn't it?"

Zhang Dao Ling flinched, his imposing aura faltering for a moment.

Shen Bai continued, "I noticed he bore a strange resentment toward me, and I couldn't fathom why. But since you and I have no prior dealings, and you clearly feel the same animosity, I can only guess it has something to do with that son of yours. In that case, I don't care what your reason is."

"If you choose to be my enemy because of your son, then so be it. I have no interest in associating with you either. And don't bother explaining why, because you and I were never on the same path to begin with."

His every word was sharp and pointed.

Everyone present turned their gaze to Zhang Dao Ling.

Among them, a few constables from the Government Office who knew the situation showed looks of sudden understanding.

"Ding Quan."

Having said his piece, Shen Bai turned his head.

Ding Quan quickly cupped his fist in respect. "I am here."

"If anyone dares to block my path today, kill them on the spot. That includes Zhang Dao Ling. No exceptions."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Shen Bai started walking toward the Marquis of Ren De's location.

As for everything else, just as he'd said, he didn't care in the slightest.

Since Zhang Dao Ling was making trouble for him over such a trivial reason, there was no need for explanations.

If any problems arose in the future, he wouldn't show any courtesy.

If it came down to a matter of principle, Shen Bai wouldn't mind plucking off Zhang Dao Ling's head and playing with it for a while.

Zhang Dao Ling watched Shen Bai walk past him, the characters swirling around his body once more.

But feeling the pressure from the hundred-odd Celestial Spirit Realm members of the Observatory, he couldn't help but clench his fists.

Only after Shen Bai was some distance away did he release his fists, his expression ugly.

At that moment, the constables came up to stand by Zhang Dao Ling's side.

The Chief Constable in the lead wore a conflicted expression, wondering if he should say a few words.

But Zhang Dao Ling simply waved his hand. "To Marquis Rende's Mansion."

"The Marquis of Ren De has never seen eye-to-eye with the Observatory. I'm curious to see what tricks Shen Bai has up his sleeve this time."

The Chief Constable sighed and said no more, feeling a sense of relief.

After all, they had been suppressed by the aura of the Observatory members and failed to react, which was a disgrace to the Government Office. They had also been afraid that Zhang Dao Ling would make things difficult for them.

It seemed now they wouldn't be punished for what just happened.

From within the Government Office, the young man's head poked out again.

Zhang Dao Ling caught sight of him and barked, "Zhang Huan, get back inside! Don't come out unless I call for you."

The young man shivered and quickly disappeared back into the Government Office.

Zhang Dao Ling said no more and led his men toward the Marquis of Ren De's residence.

The street fell quiet once more. No one spoke.

But many of the Chief Constables watched Zhang Dao Ling's retreating back and shook their heads internally.

Regardless, tonight Zhang Dao Ling had been thoroughly bested by Shen Bai.

Shen Bai had walked away with an air of impunity, while Zhang Dao Ling, despite unleashing his aura to its fullest, hadn't dared to make a move.

'The heavens of Lingyun Dao are about to change.'

The lead Chief Constable thought to himself, quickening his pace to keep up.

Soon, they disappeared down the street.

...

Marquis Rende's Mansion.

Gilded and magnificent, the architecture was grand.

The pair of stone lions at the entrance was a full size larger than those of an ordinary household.

And the objects held in the lions' mouths were not the usual stone beads, but two exceedingly precious Treasure Pearls.

Even left out in the open like this, no one dared to steal them.

For this was the residence of the Marquis of Ren De, a man who commanded a massive army.

At this moment, the entrance was festooned with colorful ribbons and decorative lanterns.