“Won’t there be a trick to this?” Ling’er frowned, “After all, she might not be reliable!”
“With wolves in front and tigers behind, all we can do now is trust him!” Lu Fan said with a wry smile, “If anything goes wrong, we can only leave it to fate!”
Ling’er’s expression turned bitter. Lu Fan’s words were understandable. Currently, within Heavenly Scar City, two factions wanted to deal with them, which was no trivial matter. If they could leave, it would be the best outcome. If they couldn’t, they might have to fight to the death.
“That’s a celestial item you obtained with great difficulty. Are you not heartbroken to trade it away just like that?” Zhao Xue asked in surprise.
“It’s a matter of extreme urgency, I can’t bother with that much,” Lu Fan shrugged, “Besides, the Haotian Pagoda has already merged with me. Once we leave Heavenly Scar City, perhaps I can recall it through a secret technique!”
Zhao Xue looked astonished and immediately fell silent, not daring to say more. She knew very well that if Liu Ruyan were to find out, there would be endless trouble.
“What are you few dawdling for?” Liu Ruyan’s voice cut in, “We’re about to leave Heavenly Scar City, don’t delay. Hurry up!”
Lu Fan and the others quickly nodded, not daring to say more. Not long after, they arrived at a valley that appeared quite desolate. Unexpectedly, there was a secret passage within the valley that led directly to Heavenly Scar City.
“This is the only way from Heavenly Scar City to the Imperial Capital, which is why the secret passage was built. Only the successive city lords would know!” Liu Ruyan explained, “So, after you leave, please do not reveal this matter to anyone. I have already violated the rules of Heavenly Scar City. If I am discovered, I’m afraid I won’t be able to remain Heavenly Scar City Lord for many more days!”
“Don’t worry, since you’ve said so, we naturally won’t tell anyone!” Lu Fan nodded slightly, and at the same time, cupped his fists, “We shall meet again!”
Liu Ruyan blinked her eyes but didn’t take it too seriously. Letting Lu Fan obtain the Haotian Pagoda was a transaction from which she stood to gain, not lose.
After Lu Fan left, Liu Ruyan returned to Heavenly Scar City. Within the city, numerous experts had gathered, completely surrounding the City Lord’s Mansion. Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, many people wore ashen faces. These intruders had already caused the deaths of several City Lord’s Mansion guards.
“How dare you act within Heavenly Scar City!” Liu Ruyan looked at the people before her, her gaze ice-cold, and turned towards the Patriarch of the Situ family.
“Where did that brat go? If you don’t give me an explanation today, I will raze your City Lord’s Mansion!” The Patriarch of the Situ family said sternly, “I hadn’t made a move before out of consideration, but I didn’t expect you to be so shameless. How can I let you off today!”
“What bold talk! This is Heavenly Scar City, not Dragon City!” Liu Ruyan said coldly, “You have quite the audacity, forcefully entering the City Lord’s Mansion. Even if you report it to the dynasty, you’ll be in a lot of trouble!”
“That depends on whether you have the ability!” The Patriarch of the Situ family sneered, “To sacrifice your life for a mere youngster is not a good deal!”
“I always act according to my principles, why do I need you to inform me!” Liu Ruyan said coldly, “If you don’t give me an explanation today, I will report it to the dynasty. By then, I’m afraid your position as the City Lord of Dragon City will also be implicated!”
“You think I’m afraid?” The Patriarch of the Situ family burst into laughter, “Since I’ve chosen to act, I have no intention of stopping. If you don’t hand him over today, even you will not be able to protect yourself!”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve!” Liu Ruyan smiled slightly and said to the guards of the City Lord’s Mansion, “If anyone dares to step half a step into the City Lord’s Mansion, kill them without mercy.”
The guards nodded in unison and exuded an imposing aura. The Patriarch of the Situ family’s actions had created chaos, and they were quite displeased. At this point, even if they had to fight to the death, they would not let the Patriarch of the Situ family succeed.
“City Lord Liu, what benefit did that brat give you for you to protect him so fiercely?” Steward Zhao said with a faint smile as he arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion, emanating an aura.
“It seems you’ve made up your minds and intend to make a move against me!” Liu Ruyan narrowed her eyes, “To cause such a stir, it truly makes me a little afraid.”
“Hand over that brat, and you might still live!” Steward Zhao stated directly, “Otherwise, this Heavenly Scar City will likely be your burial ground.”
“You are the steward of the Northwest Commandery Prefecture, and you should be very clear about the rules of the Heavenly Court Dynasty!” Liu Ruyan said with a cold laugh, “If anything happens to me today, the Heavenly Court will not let it go easily.”
“This Celestial Realm is quite chaotic. Some powerful individuals, in order to seize the resources of Heavenly Scar City, killed the City Lord of Heavenly Scar City. That should be acceptable, right?” Steward Zhao smiled, with a hint of playfulness, as if in his eyes, Liu Ruyan had already been vanquished.
Liu Ruyan’s expression instantly turned ugly, especially after being told this, her entire demeanor became somber. If she guessed correctly, Steward Zhao had already prepared to make a move against her, otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken so directly.
“City Lord Liu, this is your own doing!” The Patriarch of the Situ family narrowed his eyes, “I gave you chances before, but you just didn’t cherish them!”
“Why must you do this!” Liu Ruyan’s eyes changed, “In fact, that brat has already left. Even if you kill me, it will be useless.”
“I sent people to blockade Heavenly Scar City water-tight. How could that brat possibly have left?” Steward Zhao frowned.
“That may be so, but Heavenly Scar City is a strategic location. The existence of a secret passage seems unusual, doesn’t it!” Liu Ruyan shrugged slightly and revealed a smile, as if all this, in her eyes, had already become a foregone conclusion.
“There’s a secret passage!” Steward Zhao frowned, “You are truly audacious. How can I report back if you do something like this!”
“That is your concern. Heavenly Scar City is under my jurisdiction. How I choose to act is my business!” Liu Ruyan stated with conviction, her words not hedging at all.
“Since you’ve let the person go, then I can’t keep you any longer!” Steward Zhao leaped into the air, “Doing things detrimental to the Northwest Commandery Prefecture has only one outcome, and that is death!”
The Patriarch of the Situ family narrowed his eyes, looking at everything before him with a meaningful gaze, and then revealed a faint smile, as if in his eyes, Liu Ruyan had already become a corpse.
“You think I’m afraid of you!” Liu Ruyan also soared into the air, looking imposing. As a Martial Emperor powerhouse, why would she be apprehensive!
In an instant, two powerful auras confronted each other in mid-air.