Chapter 071: I Feel a Profound Fear

My heartfelt thanks to Ruowangshu, nn, Pharaoh’s Dancer, Zi Yi Zhan Yan, Autumn Cicada, Tong Ye Fei Fei, Solitary Wind, and Ren Yijie for their generous rewards and support over these past days.

The Lion’s Roar unleashed sound waves attacking indiscriminately, but thankfully, it caused no actual harm—only a momentary pressure and shock that left everyone stunned. Especially those entangled in the scuffle, like Lord Ji and his companions—it was a challenge directed straight at them.

Immediately, they looked around angrily, searching for the reckless culprit bold enough to ruin their business. While they were still confused, unable to locate the source of the thunderous Lion’s Roar, movement stirred in the air.

The lingering echoes had not yet faded when the Golden Lion leaped skyward, his mane of gold swirling in the night. The previous air of desolation and loneliness had vanished, replaced by a new aura—almost roguish, perhaps even flippant.

“Fellow cultivators, ah, this must be a misunderstanding,” he said as soon as he landed, wearing a sly, ingratiating smile while standing before Lord Ji. Gone was the weary, ancient Golden Lion of cold winds and lonely nights.

Lord Ji was clearly surprised. “Was it you who threatened me just now?” he asked.

“How could it be me? I’m just a vendor hawking Dao robes, clearing out my stock at a loss. Where would I get such power?” He glanced around theatrically and shouted, “Who was yelling just now? If you’ve got guts, step forward!”

Everyone looked confused, their eyes following his gaze. Only Lin Zhan struggled to suppress laughter—the Golden Lion’s act was truly masterful.

Lin Zhan was likely the only one present who had noticed, earlier, that the Golden Lion’s shout about the family head running off with his sister-in-law had carried the power of the Lion’s Roar. The others, including Lord Ji, probably hadn’t caught on.

Now, with the Golden Lion pretending to be clueless, Lord Ji could do nothing about it. His feigned ignorance left everyone bewildered.

“If it wasn’t you, then get out of the way. Don’t interfere with Lord Ji finding the girl who stepped on his foot and didn’t apologize. We want an explanation,” one of Lord Ji’s companions snapped.

The man shoved him forward, easily pushing the Golden Lion back several steps until he collided with Lin Zhan, who reached out to steady him.

Lin Zhan could see that the Golden Lion’s cultivation was not high; it matched Lin Zhan’s own disguised level—just fifth rank in the human tier. That made sense: for a commercial clan like the Jiangnan Dao Robe Family, business was priority, and cultivation came second; neglecting training was understandable.

Nearly stumbling, the Golden Lion quickly turned to thank Lin Zhan, then tossed his golden hair and strode forward again. Instead of anger, he offered a grin: “Don’t get upset. Why fuss over a woman so regrettably unattractive? These two women are well-known in Fuyang City for their looks. They usually wear veils to avoid frightening people. Come now, let’s not quibble. Fellow cultivators, don’t stoop to their level.”

Lin Zhan kept his eyes on the Golden Lion, curious how he would resolve the predicament against opponents far stronger than himself. It was clear the Golden Lion intended to help the two women escape and prevent them from being taken and harmed.

Without waiting for a response, the Golden Lion said, “If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it to you.”

Then he moved. His stance blurred, his form became indistinct, catching everyone off guard. Suddenly, he appeared beside the two women, and, amid the crowd’s confusion, somehow snatched away the veils from Feng Ying and Cui Cui.

“Ah, you—!”

“Scoundrel, what are you doing?”

“What the—what’s going on?”

A chorus of exclamations erupted: screams from Feng Ying and Cui Cui, angry shouts from Lord Ji’s group, astonished gasps from bystanders.

The Golden Lion hopped aside, then pointed at Feng Ying and Cui Cui with a look of deep distress. “See for yourselves! Two women who aren’t beautiful—Lord Ji, why not forgive them? With looks like this, can’t we show a little compassion? Can’t we let go of petty grievances? Heaven has already been so unfair to them!”

Only now did everyone understand just how “regrettable” the women’s appearance was, and what the Golden Lion meant by “proving” it. Indeed, with their veils removed, Feng Ying and Cui Cui revealed figures that could tempt kings and topple nations, but faces so hideous that the Golden Lion’s words had been kind—calling them “not beautiful,” “regrettable.” To the crowd, their ugliness was beyond regret; it was outrageously shocking. Many silently screamed inside, “Heavens, how can anyone be so ugly, so terrifying!”

Or, “I must have left home at the wrong hour today—I’m horrified by what I’ve seen!”

Some even covered their eyes: “Damn, damn, I saw nothing—I saw nothing!”

Most simply ran away as fast as their feet could carry them.

Yet none suffered more or were more shaken than Lord Ji and his closest companions. At once, as if scalded by boiling water, they flung away their hold on Feng Ying and Cui Cui, petrified in place, then staggered back as if thunderstruck. Their faces turned utterly pale, stripped of all vitality.

“I wish I could cut off my own hands! How could I have been holding such a woman, so hideous it’s a crime? I might as well blind myself,” Lord Ji gasped, as though narrowly escaping disaster. Had they dragged the women away without knowing the truth, then tried to get intimate and lifted the veils, the shock might have killed them on the spot, or left them half-paralyzed idiots.

It was truly a close call.

His companions felt the same. Earlier, Lord Ji had confidently declared that with such alluring figures, their faces couldn’t be bad—and even if unattractive, veiled, they’d make good company for a year. Never had they imagined anyone could be so appallingly ugly.

Released, the two women saw each other, froze in terror for several moments, then collapsed into sobs.

Those still in the center, once their shock subsided, exchanged embarrassed glances tinged with sorrow. Such fine women—how sad that they had to wear veils out of fear, and now, with the veils gone and everyone frightened, they wept in heartbreak. No one could bear to watch.

Ugliness that outraged gods and men, yet pitiable enough to break the heart.

A chorus of sighs rose throughout the scene.