The crowd burst into an uproar upon hearing those words.

The onlookers retreated one after another as if they had encountered great danger. A few buyers about to make a deal were shocked by the news. They turned around and left with no intention to continue the business.

Ding Hao shook his head. It seemed that the young master of the City Lord’s Mansion was an important figure.

The surly-looking middle-aged scholar said triumphantly, “How is it, little girl? You’d better send the goods to the City Lord’s Mansion if you know what’s good for you.”

Gu Xing’er snorted and replied disdainfully, “I’d rather let this batch of Blood Demon Wolf Skin rot and stink in the wilderness than sell it for half a gold ingot. You can find me at the Earth Tiger Inn if you want them, but prepare 600 gold ingots for the trade. If you don’t want to buy them, get out of here!”

After that, she packed the Blood Demon Wolf’s Skin and left with the armed escorts.

The scholar blushed with anger and embarrassment. He gnashed his teeth but refrained from making a move to snatch the goods. In the end, he stomped his feet and left with a menacing look.

Ding Hao could see that the man would not give up.

The City Lord’s Mansion seemed to be powerful. Gu Xing’er might get in trouble soon.

That Black Rose had some character indeed. She didn’t even yield to the City Lord’s Mansion.

However, it didn’t make sense. Experienced armed escorts like them should be extremely tactful in dealing with things; they would avoid provoking such an influential person. Still, Gu Xing’er was tough but immature, as if being blinded by anger. She would end up offending a lot of people along the way if she continued behaving that way.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have formidable strength.

Ding Hao shook his head and left.

He wandered in that big market and bought a few lovely treasures. Anyway, the space bag in Evil Moon’s belly was so massive that it was able to store countless things. He could give all those little souvenirs to Li Lan and the other girls as a token of his appreciation when he returned to the Snow Province.

Ding Hao spent about two to four hours strolling around. Unsurprisingly, he lost his way back.

He hired a local guide to lead him to the Earth Tiger Inn.

As he chatted with this guide, Ding Hao learned that the demons in the Earth Province suddenly became irritable after entering the mid-spring season. The human settlements had already endured hundreds of demon attacks. They even showed up in Guo City and assaulted the city guards.

For a moment, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

The Crouching Tiger Sect, the City Lord’s Mansion, and the Inspector of Mysterious Frost; all of them were preparing for the fight.

“Was it like this in previous years?” Ding Hao was a little puzzled.

“No, although demons had attacked human settlements in the past, they seldom attacked major cities on such a large scale. Rumor has it that Demonic Spirit Mountain, the demonic sect in Earth Province, has invaded three big cities successively. Millions of humans were killed…”

The guide was a well-informed local of Guo City. He was in his twenties and seemed like a clever fellow.

“Is it true?”

Ding Hao was also shocked.

This meant that the two clans were already at war. Was another holy war about to begin?

They reached the Earth Tiger Inn while they spoke.

Ding Hao took out a gold bar and threw it to the guide.

The young man was ecstatic. He didn’t expect that he could make a fortune just by leading the way. He bowed to express his gratitude and also left his address, telling Ding Hao to find him if he ran into trouble while in the city.

However, this transaction was seen by Gu Xing’er who was standing by the door of the inn.

Gu Xing’er scolded him, “Nerd, you have no idea how dangerous the world is. Don’t you know it’s bad to flaunt your wealth? And still you acted so generously in public. Aren’t you afraid of people with ulterior motives? You may be killed for money without realizing how you died.”

Ding Hao said with a smile, “Uh, there aren’t that many bad people. I find the people here to be quite nice!”

Looking at Ding Hao’s pedantic look, Gu Xing’er felt a little sorry for him. She poked hard on Ding Hao’s forehead. “Alas, you’re too stubborn to talk sense into. I don’t understand how people like you manage to survive.”

Ding Hao immediately ran away.

Gu Xing’er looked at his back with a smile.

She shook her head pitifully. “He’s such a handsome and decent person. Unfortunately, a weak nerd like him would never be able to control his own fate in this chaotic world… What a pity!”

Ding Hao returned to his room and shook his head disapprovingly.

Although Gu Xing’er was a little harsh, she spoke with good intention. It proved that this wild girl was caring and kind-hearted.

Soon, a fellow from the Camel Caravan knocked on the door. He came to tell Ding Hao that they had already made a reservation for the space gate and to leave early the next morning. He asked him to prepare in advance so as to not be late.

Ding Hao sat cross-legged on the bed and began to practice after the man left.

He had decided to use that time to enrich himself, so the focus was not so much on pursuing a breakthrough as it was to meditate and solidify his foundation. He slowly ran his Qi, concentrated, and entered a state of no-mindedness. There was no self and no substance. His mind had transcended.

After an unknown period of time, a noise suddenly came from outside, waking Ding Hao up from his meditation.

He released his divine senses after that jolt to his heart. He instantly saw everything that was happening outside.

Gu Shaochu glared at his sister, then smiled and said to a young man in fancy clothes, “My sister is stubborn and she doesn’t know the rules. Please accept our apology if she has offended you. I can make a special offer since the City Lord’s Mansion wants this batch of Blood Demon Wolf Skin. Three hundred taels of silver for a piece of Blood Demon Wolf Skin. How about that, Young Master?”

The middle-aged scholar they had met in the day shouted with a sinister face, “Our young master has already come in person, and you still dare to ask for money…”

Before his voice died away—

Pa!

The slap was loud and clear.

The young man slapped the middle-aged man so hard that blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.

While everyone was in a state of shock, the young man took out a piece of snow-white handkerchief and wiped his hands.

He threw away the handkerchief as if the middle-aged man’s face would have stained his hand. After that, he said with a smile, “Ignorant servant. This slap is to remind you not to bully left and right in the name of the City Lord’s Mansion. Don’t tell me that I, Zhu Hong, can’t even afford a few hundred pieces of Blood Demon Wolf Skin and have to ask for them for free?”

The middle-aged man covered his face and bowed. “Yes, Young Master. You’re right. I’ve made a mistake and won’t do it again.”

Zhu Hong, the young man in fancy clothes, looked at Gu Shaochu.

“Mr. Gu, head of the Changfeng Escort Agency, right? It is not the City Lord’s Mansion that needs those blood demon wolves. Demons have been very active recently, attacking human cities. Even Guo City has been affected. That is why we ordered our man to buy the wolf skin to make inscription leather armors for the city guards. I didn’t know this reckless servant had dared to bully people while taking care of this mission.”

Before his voice died away—

The young man in fancy clothes suddenly moved his hand and struck the middle-aged man’s forehead.

“Pfft!”

The scholar didn’t even manage to make a sound as he was slammed into the soil like a nail, with only his head remaining above the ground. He had no chance to survive.

Everyone’s hearts trembled.

It was ruthless.

Zhu Hong killed a man while chatting with others. How vicious of him.

“Haha, a selfish person who puts his interests before the safety of Guo City deserves to die.” Zhu Hong looked at Gu Shaochu with a smile and asked, “Head Gu, wouldn’t you agree?”

Gu Shaochu couldn’t help but shudder.

Having traveled around the world for so many years, he intuitively sensed danger.

The young man in front of him was atrocious beyond imagination. What’s more, the move which seemed to be effortless was actually an advanced magic skill. It required the strength above the Primordial Grandmaster Realm, which was far beyond his capabilities.

Gu Shaochu said with a smile, “You’re right, young master. Such being the case, the Changfeng Escort Agency is willing to help reinforce the security of Guo City. We will donate the six hundred Blood Demon Wolf Skins to the City Lord’s Mansion. It is also for the Human Clan’s sake.”

“Brother, how could you…?” Gu Xing’er lost her composure. Six hundred Blood Demon Wolf skins was a great fortune. Its worth equaled to more than half a year’s income for the brothers of the escort agency.

Gu Shaochu glared at his younger sister with a rare stern look, as if trying to tell her to stop talking.

Gu Xing’er was stunned. She retreated to the side.

Zhu Hong nodded and said matter-of-factly, “I will thank you on behalf of the Guo City guards for your generosity.”

Upon hearing his words, the dozen warriors around him quickly approached them. They took out all the wolf pelts from the inn and placed them on carriages that they had already prepared.

Gu Xing’er glared at Zhu Hong with open fury. He sounded noble and righteous as if he weren’t interested in the wolf skin. But he had long been eyeing that batch. He obviously wanted to steal their goods.

Zhu Hong nodded with satisfaction and said, “Well, now that this business was settled, let’s talk about a private matter.”

Everyone was stunned as soon as those words came out.

A bad feeling rose in Gu Shaochu’s heart. He smiled and said, “Private matter? May I know what it is that you’re referring to?”

Zhu Hong looked at Gu Xing’er up and down and said with a smile, “I heard that your sister has made disrespectful remarks of the City Lord’s Mansion in the market today. Even though we’re not powerful, we can’t bear to be ridiculed or insulted. I have always been fair, so I have already punished my subordinate since he made a mistake. Your sister has expressed the wrong thing. Shouldn’t she pay for her words?”