Chapter 125 - 124: To Help or Not to Help

"Lord Luo, we were wrong!"

The Gutter Nose Warrior dropped to his knees and admitted defeat, his earlier arrogance completely gone.

Even their leader from the Cyan Snake Gang was kneeling.

THUMP! THUMP!...

The gang members behind him hesitated for a moment before they all fell to their knees one by one.

This scene left everyone from the Dongchuan Medicine Pavilion stunned speechless.

The Cyan Snake Gang, the Royal Capital’s largest and most vicious underground force, known for their tyranny and cruelty, was actually kneeling in submission.

"This..."

Lin Dongchuan and his two sons were utterly dumbfounded, not knowing how to react.

’So this is the style and presence of a prominent figure from the Human List?’

Lin Qinghan’s heart trembled, and a strange light flickered in her eyes as she sized up the cold, handsome, and incomparably dominant young man.

He had only struck three times.

With two fingers and one sword strike, he had brought the aggressive members of the Cyan Snake Gang to their knees, begging for forgiveness.

"I said that on my third strike, I would take a head," Luo Tian said, his voice indifferent.

The Gutter Nose Warrior felt as if he’d been plunged into an ice cellar. His face was deathly pale, and his clenched fists couldn’t help but tremble.

"Luo Tian, let... let it go," Lin Dongchuan stammered.

Luo Tian wasn’t afraid of the Cyan Snake Gang, but they were small business owners who couldn’t afford to make a mortal enemy of them.

"Seeing as you were quick to admit your mistake, and since Uncle Lin has pleaded for you, I’ll just take an arm." Luo Tian’s expression softened slightly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword in his hand swung neither too fast nor too slow, slashing toward the Gutter Nose Warrior’s arm.

He didn’t even infuse the strike with True Qi.

A hint of conflict appeared on the Gutter Nose Warrior’s face.

Luo Tian was clearly holding back with this strike; he could easily dodge it.

But... what would be the consequences of dodging?

As Luo Tian swung the sword, his cold gaze remained fixed on him.

In the end, the Gutter Nose Warrior took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and didn’t move.

If he dodged, Luo Tian would definitely kill him.

Even if he got away by some stroke of luck, the Cyan Snake Gang wouldn’t let him off the hook for making a mortal enemy of Luo Tian.

Because... Luo Tian was on the Cyan Snake Gang’s taboo list—a person who must not be offended.

PFFT!

With a spray of blood, the Gutter Nose Warrior let out a muffled groan as a section of his arm fell to the ground.

"All of you, get lost," Luo Tian said impatiently, sheathing his Treasure Sword.

"Yes, yes..."

The Gutter Nose Warrior and the other gang members scattered as if granted a great amnesty, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

「In front of the Dongchuan Pharmacy.」

The Lin Family members felt as if they were in a daze, and it took them a long time to recover.

"To think Senior Brother is Luo Tian, one of the top thirty on the Human List. Qinghan was so foolish and naive, you kept me completely in the dark."

Lin Qinghan smiled sweetly, her voice like a songbird’s, revealing a shy and playful complaint.

Her pure beauty, like that of a budding peony, left the nearby men momentarily dazed.

Gu Cheng’s face darkened with jealousy and hatred.

However, faced with a prominent figure from the top thirty of the Human List, he felt utterly powerless.

Gu Cheng was certain that the strength Luo Tian had displayed was far more formidable than his rank of number thirty on the Human List suggested.

"Nephew Luo is indeed the powerful reinforcement my brother recommended. This old man was blind not to have recognized such great talent," Lin Dongchuan lamented, feeling somewhat ashamed.

Fortunately, his previous hospitality toward Luo Tian had not been lacking, and he hadn’t done anything impolite.

"Brother Luo, you are truly a stunning talent! Defeating the Cyan Snake Gang all by yourself... we are in complete awe..."

The two brothers, Lin Sheng and Lin Kai, who had been arrogant before and were now deferential, began to shamelessly flatter him.

Luo Tian ignored the two brothers and said to Lin Dongchuan, "Uncle, there’s no need to be so formal. Helping the Lin Family was a task assigned by my Mentor, so naturally, I will do my best."

"Excellent, Nephew!"

Seeing Luo Tian so unfazed by glory or disgrace, Lin Dongchuan’s eyes shone with a sharp light.

’No wonder Lin Dongfeng hinted in his letter at trying to matchmake him and Lin Qinghan. What a stunning genius, and with such character!’

Before, he had thought Lin Dongfeng was being unreliable, but now it seemed it would be a great fortune if Lin Qinghan could be paired with this young man.

「Later that day.」

The Lin Dongchuan family held a grand banquet in Luo Tian’s honor.

Luo Tian had intended to leave, but since he wasn’t sure if the Lin Family’s troubles were truly resolved, he didn’t refuse the invitation.

At the banquet, Luo Tian was indisputably the main star.

Ripples seemed to dance in Lin Qinghan’s clear eyes. She would occasionally glance at Luo Tian, her gaze radiant and her dimpled smile captivating.

As for Gu Cheng, he had found an excuse to slip away dejectedly before the banquet even started.

When he left, Lin Qinghan’s attitude was indifferent, and she made no effort to ask him to stay, which deeply pained Gu Cheng.

"Nephew Luo, your skills in the Martial Arts are outstanding among your peers. When you have time, you must properly teach Qinghan," Lin Dongchuan said, his expression warm and his tone carrying a deeper meaning.

He was subtly trying to matchmake Luo Tian and Lin Qinghan, but he couldn’t be too obvious about it.

"Haha! Qinghan has high standards. The line of men pursuing her could stretch outside the Royal Capital. Only a supreme genius like Brother Luo could move her heart," the eldest son, Lin Sheng, laughed.

"Heh! Little sister Qinghan’s eyes have been fixed on Brother Luo the whole time. It’s clear she really admires you," the second son, Lin Kai, was even more blunt.

They were desperate for Lin Qinghan to tie Luo Tian down. If she did, how could they fear the Dongchuan Pharmacy not reaching its zenith?

The corner of Luo Tian’s mouth twitched. ’These two brothers are practically selling their own sister.’

"Hmph! You two have gone too far!"

Lin Qinghan’s pretty face turned crimson as if it were about to bleed. She stomped her foot, covered her face, and ran off.

The girl’s shy, pure charm caused a faint ripple in Luo Tian’s heart, even though his impression of her was only average.

"Family Head! The Vice Gang Leader of the Cyan Snake Gang is here!" a steward from the outer courtyard rushed in.

"The Vice Gang Leader of the Cyan Snake Gang?"

Lin Dongchuan’s body trembled, and his expression changed drastically.

The hearts of the few Lin Family members present all sank.

"Hahaha... I am Xu Wenhua, and I have come to pay a visit!"

A murderous aura surged forward.

Immediately after, a man in a black robe with the build of a tiger and the waist of a bear strode in.

As he arrived, no one from the Dongchuan Pharmacy dared to stop him.

Luo Tian sensed an aura from this man that was even stronger than that of a Mentor from the Holy Mansion.

"Vice Gang Leader Xu, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Lin Dongchuan rose to his feet, trembling.

The members of the Lin Family found it difficult to breathe, terrified that this Vice Gang Leader had come for revenge for what happened during the day.

Only Luo Tian remained seated, unperturbed.

"I came to meet the famous figure from the Human List, and to apologize for the incident during the day," Xu Wenhua said with a clear laugh.

THUD!

With a wave of his hand, Xu Wenhua tossed out a cloth sack.

Then, a man’s head rolled out—it was the Gutter Nose Warrior.

"That head..."

The Lin Family members were a mixture of shocked and relieved. Cold sweat dripped down their foreheads as they let out a long sigh.

The head belonged to the Gutter Nose Warrior who had caused trouble during the day, a mid-level leader in the Cyan Snake Gang.

"Young Hero Luo, can we consider the misunderstanding between you and my Cyan Snake Gang settled?" A sharp glint flashed in Xu Wenhua’s eyes as he stared at Luo Tian.

"Fine."

Luo Tian uttered a single, level word.

"Straightforward! I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll take my leave."

Xu Wenhua laughed loudly and departed gracefully.

The Lin Family members felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Their gazes toward Luo Tian became even more cautious and reverent.

The Vice Gang Leader of the formidable Cyan Snake Gang, an undisputed big shot in the gray areas of society, had actually come personally to apologize and resolve the grudge with Luo Tian.

Not long after the Cyan Snake Vice Gang Leader left, the same steward from before rushed back in, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Reporting to the Family Head! The head of the Tenglong Medicine Pavilion is here to see you with expensive gifts!"

This time, Lin Dongchuan and the others were not surprised.

After all, even the Cyan Snake Gang had yielded. It was only natural for the Tenglong Medicine Pavilion to come and offer an apology.

"Let him in."

Lin Dongchuan sat as steady as Mount Tai, maintaining the dignified air of a family head.

「A short while later.」

A portly, mustachioed old man came hurrying in, panting, and presented a gift list.

"This is compensation for the Dongchuan Pharmacy’s losses. From now on, our Tenglong Medicine Pavilion will stay out of your pharmacy’s way."

The head of Tenglong said with utmost respect.

"Head of Tenglong, please have a seat. I wonder, is Marquis Zheng in good health?" Lin Dongchuan asked with a faint smile.

Anyone with any sense knew that the true majority shareholder of the Tenglong Medicine Pavilion was the Zheng Family, one of the Royal and Noble Families.

"Lord Marquis Xining has been recuperating in the Prince’s Mansion, living out his years in peace," the head of Tenglong replied, looking slightly awkward.

"Oh, that’s right. I wonder how Marquis Zhenyuan is doing currently?" Luo Tian suddenly interjected.

"Marquis Zhenyuan?"

The head of Tenglong was taken aback.

That marquis’s military achievements and prestige were a cut above his own master, Marquis Xining.

"I heard... Marquis Zhenyuan seems to have been locked up in the Celestial Prison, stripped of his official post, and sentenced to death," the head of Tenglong answered.

At first, he didn’t understand what Luo Tian was getting at.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted, and he stared at Luo Tian in horror.

According to rumors, Marquis Zhenyuan’s tragic fate was apparently because he had offended a certain important person.

As Lin Dongchuan and the others looked at Luo Tian, their awe was now mixed with a strange sense of unease.

In reality, Luo Tian simply wanted to know about Marquis Zhenyuan’s current situation.

「At the same time.」

In the Xining Marquis’s Mansion, several miles away.

「Inside the study.」

The white-bearded Marquis Xining stood with his hands behind his back, his expression grave.

Beside him, his middle-aged and younger children stood, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

"The younger generation is truly formidable. I have no choice but to admit I’m getting old."

Marquis Xining let out a long sigh.

「An hour ago.」

He had also just learned that the Dongchuan Pharmacy was actually connected to Luo Tian.

A while ago, Marquis Zhenyuan, whose fame shook Azure Cloud, had fallen at this young man’s hands.

"Grandfather!"

Suddenly, a handsome young man drifted into the room.

"Xuan’er, what news from the Prince?" Marquis Xining asked solemnly.

"The Prince told me to pass on a message: tolerate Luo Tian for now. He will definitely be dealt with in the future."

The handsome young man laughed, a cold light in his eyes.

...

「The next day.」

The Royal Capital was as bustling as ever, and all was calm on the surface.

News that the Cyan Snake Gang and the Tenglong Medicine Pavilion had backed down to the Dongchuan Pharmacy only circulated within small circles.

The Dongchuan Pharmacy’s business returned to normal.

Luo Tian had been preparing to leave, but Lin Dongchuan warmly insisted he stay, even using the excuse of having Luo Tian teach his youngest daughter Martial Skills.

「Early in the morning.」

Luo Tian received an invitation from Lin Qinghan to practice Martial Skills together.

The location was the same lawn from yesterday.

What was different were the people and the atmosphere.

"Senior Brother Luo, your Body Technique yesterday was amazing. You have to give Qinghan some pointers later," Lin Qinghan said with a charming smile.

Today, Lin Qinghan had dressed up a little. Her face was as delicate as snow-white porcelain, fair with a reddish tint, and her dark eyebrows were shaped as if painted.

Her bright eyes were as clear and moist as autumn waters, filled with a pure, deep-seated girlish charm as she met Luo Tian’s gaze with a mix of shyness and timidity.

In particular, she was wearing a knee-length, light blue ruffled skirt that revealed a pair of long, slender legs as fair as jade, glowing with an alluring, rosy sheen.

"Mm."

Even Luo Tian couldn’t help but feel a refreshing sense of wonder, his eyes lighting up at the sight.

Immediately after, Lin Qinghan’s graceful and beautiful figure began to dance, her snowy-white, slender legs fluttering about like a sprite in the morning light.

’Her Body Technique is decent,’ Luo Tian had to admit that Lin Qinghan’s Body Technique was quite good for her level, especially with the bonus from her Clear Sound Soft Body.

WHOOSH!

Lin Qinghan’s jade-like foot suddenly slipped on the dewy grass.

’Oh no!’

Lin Qinghan let out a soft cry. Her lovely figure became unsteady, her skirt fluttering and revealing a wide expanse of fair skin as she was about to fall.

’Huh?’

Through his Spiritual Sense, Luo Tian could tell that Lin Qinghan’s slip seemed a bit deliberate.

’Should I catch her, or not?’

Luo Tian felt a little conflicted.