Chapter 081: Still Holding Back a Trump Card

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Most of the Gold Lion’s men were already sprawled on the ground, defeated, and Gold Lion himself was drenched in blood, a testament to the fierce battle he had endured. Lian Fengying and Cuicui still wore black veils over their faces, but their once dark green dresses were now stained with mud, rendering them somewhat disheveled. They huddled behind Gold Lion, trembling and supporting each other.

On the opposite side, the white-robed, feather-fan gentleman and his companions were closing in, step by step.

He laughed lightly, "The girls from Drunken Moon Pavilion sound enticing, but business there tonight is overwhelming. When I went, they told me I’d have to queue till dawn before my turn—utterly unreasonable! But, brothers, these burning flames within us cannot be extinguished. After much pondering, rather than waste the night, why not return and savor the taste of these so-called ugly women? It would not be a life lived in vain..."

Lin Zhan heard these words and clicked his tongue in amazement, as if the reasoning was sound. Everything should be experienced—how else can one grasp the myriad facets of life? He nearly slipped into an epiphany.

Naturally, Nightingale would not allow her master to be confused. She emerged, intent on rushing out, but Lin Zhan caught her.

"Young master, what are you doing? Nightingale must go save the lady!" Nightingale transmitted her voice urgently.

"Silly girl, wait, don’t rush." Lin Zhan replied.

"Why not? It’s so dangerous right now," Nightingale protested, bewildered.

Lin Zhan, confident and composed, stroked the head of the little Violet-Gold Luan. "It seems perilous now, Gold Lion is clearly at his limit, and whatever tricks he has left are useless. But it’s precisely at moments like these, when life hangs in the balance, that a person’s true heart is revealed. Tell me, Nightingale, aren’t you curious what kind of man your lady has chosen?"

"I am. Since following you, young master, I’ve wondered whether my lady will be safe, whether she’ll find happiness, whether her future husband will treat her well. The thought makes me reluctant to let go," Nightingale admitted.

"Then watch with me. Let’s see how your prospective master, Gold Lion, will conduct himself," Lin Zhan said.

Still worried, Nightingale asked, "Will something really happen?"

Lin Zhan reassured her, "Don’t worry, we can intervene at any moment. Oh, by the way, do you have any special skills?"

Speaking of Nightingale, the last surviving Violet-Gold Luan bloodline, Lin Zhan was unsure of her current strength.

He looked at the small bird in his hand, uncertain.

Nightingale tilted her clever little head, pecked at the violet-gold feathers on her wing, and proudly transmitted, "Though not fully grown, with my current power, I can unleash three imprint attacks, each equivalent to a third-grade Yellow Rank human cultivator. If I combine all my strength into one, it would rival a full-force attack of fifth-grade Yellow Rank."

Lin Zhan was secretly astounded—a fifth-grade Yellow Rank’s full-force attack! Under normal circumstances, even a third-grade strike could finish him off, let alone a fifth-grade one.

This was assuming no enhancement from his Nine-Star Diagram; a first-grade Yellow Rank was indeed insignificant before higher ranks.

Knowing Nightingale’s strength, Lin Zhan felt much more at ease.

Judging from the age and aura of the white-robed feather-fan youth and his companions, Lin Zhan guessed their strength was not particularly high—at most peak ninth-grade Human Rank, and the others not even ninth-grade.

He also confirmed they were not disguised elders; there was no sign of any disguise.

These men approached Gold Lion with mocking, ferocious smiles. Should Lian Fengying and Cuicui fall into their hands, who knows what horrors awaited them.

If they discovered that Lian Fengying and Cuicui were not hideous women, but actually beauties in the prime of their youth, what would they feel then?

"You, stop right there!" Gold Lion, eyes blazing with fury, stood upright, his chest thrust forward.

He knew from the earlier exchange that he was outmatched. His men, all mid-level Human Rank cultivators, had been swiftly defeated.

He himself was only early ninth-grade Human Rank, unable to withstand their combined assault, and his body had suffered severe, though not fatal, injuries.

Still, to the end, he was willing to save others. Regardless of the outcome, the young master of the southern Daoist Robe family showed resolve and courage. "Stop! What will it take for you to let these two ugly women go? They’re already so unattractive—is this really necessary?"

The white-robed feather-fan youth sneered, "Cloth seller, you look like a dog. Beg me—kneel and beg—and perhaps I’ll let you leave. Otherwise, you’re included in the fun!"

He rolled his eyes and grinned wickedly, clearly intent on pushing things to the limit.

This cloth seller had disrupted his plans several times; soon, he’d cut him down without mercy. What did it matter if he was from the southern Daoist Robe family or the northern Shoe clan? They were but wandering merchants.

The white-robed feather-fan youth considered himself noble, hailing from the eastern Misty Land of the Maze Glacier, a member of a prominent clan, known as Young Master Xiao. Gold Lion was nothing in his eyes.

The Misty Land was a holy place, and its sects carried an innate sense of superiority.

What Xiao did not expect was that Gold Lion, for the sake of two ugly women, would endure such humiliation. He knelt on one leg, as if truly about to bark like a dog!

"Damn it, the world is full of wonders. I’ve never seen such a worthless creature," Xiao grumbled, stepping forward, ready to slap him down.

He had no interest in hearing any barking; his earlier words were merely to toy with Gold Lion.

"Brother Jin, you don’t have to do this!" Lian Fengying and Cuicui nearly fainted, their vision swimming, screaming desperately.

They cursed themselves for not training with the elders of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion; at least then they might have had some ability to defend themselves.

Nightingale in Lin Zhan’s hand was restless, but Lin Zhan comforted her, "Don’t worry, we’ll soon see. The young master still has a trump card."

Lin Zhan knew Gold Lion possessed the Lion’s Roar technique—a surprise attack with it could exert considerable force beyond his rank, inflicting irreparable damage to the opponent’s spiritual sense.

It remained to be seen if Gold Lion was willing to pay the price to use it.

From Lin Zhan’s observation, Gold Lion’s agility wasn’t bad; were he to flee alone, Xiao would likely be unable to catch him.

If Gold Lion unleashed the Lion’s Roar, it would confirm his resolve to protect Lian Fengying and Cuicui at all costs.

Just as Xiao’s companions believed Gold Lion was about to die on the spot, Gold Lion suddenly raised his head, opened his mouth, and a thunderous lion’s roar erupted, shaking the air.

Before Xiao, it was as if a storm had been unleashed, or a tidal wave crashed forth, carrying shards of ice and snow, surging violently...