With those words spoken, Zuo Junyi collapsed onto the ground as if drained of all strength.
His life was over.
"Thank you. Since you're being so cooperative, I won't hit you," Su Fan said with a smile.
He had originally intended to beat Zuo Junyi a few times to vent his anger, but thinking about Zuo Junyi's future miserable life, Su Fan decided against it.
He figured Zuo Junyi wouldn't react much even if he were hit now.
Instead, it would make Su Fan seem cruel.
Su Fan immediately infiltrated the Zuo mansion again, heading to the backyard and finding the woodshed Zuo Junyi had mentioned.
The door was locked with an iron chain, but under Su Fan's sharp sword, it was easily cut through.
Pushing the door open, he found Xiao Xue'er leaning against a pile of firewood, asleep. Her lips were pursed, and her brow was furrowed, indicating she wasn't sleeping comfortably.
"Xiao Xue'er, wake up!" Su Fan called out softly.
Xiao Xue'er was dreaming, and in her dream, she was just about to enter the bridal chamber with Su Fan.
"Don't rush, my dear!" she mumbled in her sleep.
"Hmm?" Su Fan looked bewildered. What was Xiao Xue'er dreaming about?
"Wake up, you pervert!" Su Fan directly shook Xiao Xue'er awake.
Xiao Xue'er, just roused from her slumber, was still struggling to distinguish between reality and dream.
"Don't rush, I... I'm not ready yet," she said shyly, looking at Su Fan.
Su Fan sighed. What on earth was she dreaming about?
"Wake up! I'm here to save you!" Su Fan gently patted Xiao Xue'er's delicate and smooth cheek to bring her to her senses.
"Ah?" Xiao Xue'er immediately remembered her predicament.
"Su Fan!" She threw herself into Su Fan's arms.
"There, there," Su Fan soothed, stroking Xiao Xue'er's back.
A pampered princess, she had never endured such hardship. By his estimation, Xiao Xue'er had been imprisoned here for at least a day and a night.
"Let's go. I need to escort you back to the palace," Su Fan gently pushed away the reluctant Xiao Xue'er and told her.
"Okay," Xiao Xue'er nodded. This time, she didn't argue with Su Fan.
Su Fan led Xiao Xue'er away from the Zuo mansion.
Having been discovered by the guards earlier, the Zuo mansion was now on high alert. While it was easy for Su Fan to enter alone, escaping was more difficult, with patrols of guards everywhere.
"Hold onto me," Su Fan told Xiao Xue'er.
Xiao Xue'er's face flushed. "What are you doing?" she asked. While she didn't mind, it seemed rather abrupt. Couldn't he choose a different time?
"What are you thinking? I'm taking you for a flight!" Seeing Xiao Xue'er's expression, Su Fan knew she was imagining things again.
"Ah? Fly?" Xiao Xue'er didn't quite understand Su Fan's meaning.
Without another word, Su Fan wrapped his arms around Xiao Xue'er's waist.
"Ah!" Xiao Xue'er cried out in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around Su Fan's neck. She felt the wind whistling past her ears, and her body felt light.
They had somehow reached the rooftop. With his current strength, Su Fan could easily leap several meters high. By moving nimbly across the rooftops, he could effectively evade the patrolling guards below.
"Wow! That's amazing! I feel like I'm flying!" Xiao Xue'er exclaimed, her face alight with excitement. The sensation of the wind rushing past her ears was thrilling, especially being held in Su Fan's arms!
"Brother, running on someone's roof in the middle of the night. If you break the tiles, are you going to pay for them?" Suddenly, a wrinkled old man blocked Su Fan's path.
Su Fan was startled. "May I ask who you are, senior?" Su Fan didn't attack immediately because the opponent's level was too high. Su Fan couldn't even see the opponent's basic information; only a string of question marks appeared. This indicated the opponent was at least ten levels higher than Su Fan, a true master of level fifty!
"Who I am is not important. What's important is who you are? You damaged my roof, aren't you going to compensate me?" the old man said softly.
Su Fan glanced down. They had already left the Zuo mansion, meaning the old man wasn't from the Zuo family, which was a relief.
"Senior, please tell me how you wish to be compensated. I will do my best to fulfill it," Su Fan said, not wanting to provoke a conflict. Money could solve most problems.
"You seem quite wealthy. I don't want money. I think the young lady behind you is quite attractive. Leave her with me," the old man chuckled.
Su Fan was taken aback. Did he really have the ability? Xiao Xue'er was beautiful, but she shouldn't be pawed by an old pig like him!
"Are you sure? Her identity is not someone you can afford to offend," Su Fan warned him.
"Su Fan!" Xiao Xue'er became instantly nervous, fearing Su Fan would actually hand her over.
"What identity is there that I, Old Freak Yu Shi, cannot afford to offend? If you keep babbling, I'll kill you!" The old man grew impatient, his cold gaze fixed on Su Fan as he issued a warning.
Su Fan was shocked when he heard the opponent reveal his name. Old Freak Yu Shi, one of the Four Eccentrics of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty? A level fifty boss!
Su Fan immediately understood the opponent's strength and identity. Old Freak Yu Shi was a villain whom the martial world collectively opposed. He had once committed the heinous act of slaughtering an entire city alone, which demonstrated his immense power, capable of facing an entire city by himself.
To be honest, Su Fan couldn't achieve that level yet, unless he was also level fifty. There was a significant gap between level fifty and level forty, primarily in skills. Level fifty arcane skills were incredibly potent, akin to forbidden spells in other games, capable of causing widespread devastation with a single strike. However, if Su Fan could engage in close combat, he might have a chance to kill the opponent, provided he could prevent him from casting his spells.
"Senior, don't force me. Otherwise, we'll fight to the death!" Su Fan couldn't abandon Xiao Xue'er. If he did, he wouldn't be able to survive in the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty. Once the bounty on his head was confirmed, he would have no chance of redemption.
"Are you threatening me? Kid, you've got guts. Do you know who I am!" Old Freak Yu Shi became furious. He had never been threatened in his life, and anyone who dared to threaten him had gone to hell!
"Senior, I'm just telling you the truth. She is the current princess. Are you sure you want to make an enemy of the royal family?" Su Fan tried to scare the opponent by invoking Xiao Xue'er's identity, unsure if it would work.
"A princess? That makes it even more exciting!" Instead of being intimidated, Old Freak Yu Shi grew even more excited. "I, Old Freak, have roamed the martial world my entire life, and yet I have the chance to become a consort. Wonderful!" Old Freak Yu Shi burst into laughter. Su Fan knew there was no peaceful resolution. He had to take a gamble!
Su Fan didn't know if his current set of skills could instantly kill a level fifty boss, so he had to try.
"Xiao Xue'er, run towards the palace. If you encounter any soldiers, reveal your identity!" Su Fan put Xiao Xue'er down and whispered his instructions. Xiao Xue'er would only hinder him here. It was better for her to escape first, and then Su Fan would lure Old Freak Yu Shi away, giving Xiao Xue'er time to flee.
"Run!"