Chapter 083: Please Rise Quickly

Thank you to "Great One^Fallen", "Lin Nianzhen", and "57658583" for your generous rewards!

"If we're all about to die, what use are those things anyway?"

Lin Zhan had no intention of sparing Young Lord Xiao; keeping him alive would only bring trouble. He was already wounded—a half-life more or less made no difference.

Back at the inn, Young Lord Xiao had already made veiled insults, which Lin Zhan had ignored. But this time, he could not let him off so easily.

"You insolent brat!" Just as Lin Zhan was about to act, a fierce shout echoed from midair, and a gray-robed figure swooped down.

With a whistling gust, a massive black stone seal descended, aiming to suppress him.

"Not good—this must be at least mid-Yellow rank strength!" Lin Zhan hastily stowed away his ink sword, and a white bone tower appeared in his palm.

"Enlarge!" With his spiritual sense pouring in, the white bone tower, as it flew out, expanded a hundredfold in an instant.

The soaring white bone tower stood before Lin Zhan like a mountain, providing a formidable shield.

Lin Zhan was not Young Lord Xiao; this white bone tower was not as fragile as a feather fan.

Clang!

Buzz!

The echo of the collision was long and deep—the black stone seal slammed against the white bone tower, collapsing the ground several yards deep. The tower sank into the icy surface, yet stood firm, immovable. The two waves of force created a tempest, whipping hair and beards and leaving faces stung as if cut by knives.

Even the little purple-gold phoenix nearly got blown away, its tiny claws gripping the cracks in the rock, wings pressed tightly to its head, trembling all over.

The impact forced Lin Zhan back a dozen steps. Only when he managed to steady himself did his breath reach a chaotic brink.

"So there was a hidden helper after all!" Lin Zhan flicked the ice shards from his sleeve, feigning composure as he focused all his spiritual power, his senses sharp and alert, eyes fixed on his opponent, though a hint of unease lingered in his heart. "Should I have Xiao Ye intervene?"

This adversary was not to be underestimated; had it not been for the bone tower's formidable defense, Lin Zhan would have suffered.

"Uncle Li, save me!" On the other side, Young Lord Xiao let out a feeble gasp.

Seeing Lin Zhan's calm demeanor, the gray-robed man—who, despite being shaken by his own attack, had been ready for a second strike—abruptly changed his mind.

Elder Li swept to Young Lord Xiao's side, inwardly displeased. "Young Master Xiao, I only dozed off outside Drunken Moon Pavilion, why were you in such a hurry to leave?"

He had been secretly protecting Young Lord Xiao and his companions, expecting them to enjoy the night at the pavilion. He relaxed his vigilance, meditated for a bit, but did not anticipate they would depart from his protection so soon.

By the time he caught up, it was already too late.

"Uncle Li, I'm so unlucky—kill him for me!"

Seeing Young Lord Xiao's grotesquely split mouth, Elder Li cursed inwardly. "Damn it, running off on your own has landed me in trouble; when I return, I’ll surely be blamed. Now you want me to kill him? Do you not realize how unfathomable his strength is? It’s not so easily done!"

After inspecting Young Lord Xiao's injuries—his severe disfigurement and destruction of his roots—it was clear he needed urgent treatment at the sect, perhaps even the sect's holy medicine to revive him. Any delay could be fatal, so Elder Li decided escape was the best course.

"Young master, if your wounds aren’t treated at once, your life may be in jeopardy. Let us return to the Ethereal Realm." Elder Li spoke coldly.

Without waiting for Young Lord Xiao's consent, he reached out with his withered, stick-like hand, tucked him under his arm, and dashed off with wind at his heels. Only after dozens of yards did he retrieve his black stone seal.

"Uncle Li, I want to kill that wretch!"

From afar, Young Lord Xiao's despairing, ugly cries echoed.

"Come, come! I, Lin Zhan, am waiting here for you to try!"

Once they were gone, Lin Zhan called out theatrically, then stepped forward to the bone tower, placing one hand against its side, the other on his waist, standing at a slant. After a few breaths, he expelled the stale air from his chest.

Then, he stowed away the white bone tower and returned to stand before Golden Lion and the others.

"Oh, these three truly are a sight!"

Little did he know, his towering, enigmatic figure leaning against the bone tower had left a vivid, indelible memory in the hearts of Golden Lion, Lian Fengying, and Cui Cui—a vision of a radiant war god.

He escorted the three back to the trading center. By then, the wounded staff had been collected by their companions who arrived later; with rest and some elixirs, most would recover.

Two companions remained to provide close care for Golden Lion.

Of course, Golden Lion returned under Lian Fengying's insistence; his injuries were grave, and she wanted the physicians at Heavenly Treasures Pavilion to treat him.

Nightingale, who had slipped unnoticed into Lin Zhan's sleeve, quietly found a dark corner to restore her maiden form, appearing at just the right moment.

"Master Lin, why are you here? Miss, what happened?" Upon seeing them, Nightingale rushed forward in grief, her emotions intense—just like one who, unaware of the situation, suddenly sees her mistress disheveled and tattered, bringing back some bloodied person, her expression and actions full of anxious concern.

Lin Zhan nearly burst out laughing, barely holding it back. "So Nightingale really is talented at acting!"

"Thanks to Master Lin, Nightingale, you would never have seen me or Cui Cui again, sob..." At last, Lian Fengying relaxed, and the three—mistress and maids—embraced and wept together.

Golden Lion, supported by his companions, lay down on a bed in the guest quarters of Heavenly Treasures Pavilion.

After their tears subsided, Nightingale turned to Lin Zhan and said, "Master, you left the Heaven's Number One private room for some reason, and ended up saving our mistress. Please accept Nightingale's bow!"

"Savior, please accept this humble woman's bow!" Lian Fengying realized, and dragged Cui Cui with her, wanting to kneel and kowtow. Golden Lion, too, struggled to rise from his bed.

"Please, please, stand up!" Lin Zhan felt awkward; this savior and bowing business was a bit much, so he quickly stopped them, saying, "Let me check this brother's wounds first."

Yet, saying "Please, please, stand up," brought him real delight!

It was like giving someone a rose and feeling its lingering fragrance—saving a life brought a sense of spiritual accomplishment.

Every new experience for Lin Zhan was undoubtedly a kind of spiritual and Daoist elevation.

Lin Zhan prepared to treat Golden Lion, inviting Lian Fengying, Nightingale, and the others to leave the room temporarily.

"Brother..." Golden Lion's face overflowed with gratitude, his eyes sparkling.

Lin Zhan stopped him, gestured for him to lie down, and adopted a physician's demeanor, ready to begin treatment.

"No need for those fiery eyes! If my treatment goes awry, don’t blame me!"