427: goodbye

“The competition is about to begin. Let’s take our seats first.”

Prefect Qin led the way towards the high platform, with Xu Sanyan following half a step behind him. His gaze swept over the arena, where he saw it was already packed with people, roughly a hundred or so.

These hundred people had spontaneously formed small groups, some with over a dozen members, others with only a single person. The drawing of lots had already concluded, and they were just waiting for the provincial examination to begin.

Xu Sanyan slightly furrowed his brow and withdrew his gaze, a thoughtful expression on his face. He felt as if he had just seen something…

An acquaintance?

Xu Sanyan tilted his head slightly and carefully scanned the crowd. First, he saw Qin Shutong, who was also looking at him. The two exchanged smiles, and Xu Sanyan gave her an encouraging look.

Then he saw He Wenshu, whose gaze, filled with venom, fell upon Xu Sanyan, yet his expression also carried a hint of confusion… How could this boy be so virtuous and capable as to be chatting so happily with Associate Prefect Qin?

Xu Sanyan completely ignored him. A mere He Wenshu was not enough to warrant his attention; he simply disregarded him.

His gaze swept around again, as if he had seen something, and suddenly his footsteps halted.

Thud!

Xu Sanyan’s eyebrows shot up, his pupils filled with deep astonishment. Who had he seen?

He saw a young woman standing alone in a corner of the crowd, completely out of place among the other noble family members, like a hungry wolf mixed in with a flock of sheep.

Her bronze-colored skin was full of lines and a sense of power, like a leopard darting through the wilderness, an untamed aura assailing one’s senses.

A form-fitting martial uniform adorned her body, and her bare arms were marked with scars, showing how much she had experienced.

But what was most striking was the long, narrow scar on her chin, extending from her neck all the corner of her mouth. If it had been any deeper, her head would probably have been split in two.

“Tang Huanhuan??”

Xu Sanyan was more than familiar with this woman. Back then, the two of them had happily engaged in burning, killing, and looting, robbing and massacring villages, and were together every day. Therefore, he was intimately familiar with every inch of Tang Huanhuan’s body.

Her slightly rough skin, her slightly sagging chest, her strong and powerful thighs, and her small feet, which would sweat a lot from not washing them for a long time and from daily travel, combined with her non-breathable boots. When she took off her shoes at night to sleep, the sour, pungent odor that had been cooped up all day would rush into his nostrils. He remembered it quite vividly.

Later, he never smelled that scent again, and sometimes he even missed it…

So many years had passed. Although he changed women frequently, Tang Huanhuan should have a place among those who had accompanied him the longest, if he calculated carefully.

When he first arrived in this world, he was forced to be a bandit for half a year. At that time, he and Tang Huanhuan supported each other, forming a ‘profound’ friendship. Later, the two parted ways, and he never expected to meet her here today. Their fate was truly not shallow.

Danzhou Mountain, beside him, followed his gaze and asked, “Does my Junior Nephew know this woman?”

Xu Sanyan’s mind raced, pondering how to answer. Tang Huanhuan knew his origins, and if he accidentally said the wrong thing, it might arouse suspicion.

His current identity was ‘Liang Yongzhuo,’ so how could he have been a bandit?

“Hmm… we met once.”

Xu Sanyan answered vaguely. It was a pity that Tang Huanhuan was too far from him, and the demonic seed’s range was insufficient. Otherwise, if the demonic seed entered her body, all problems would be solved easily.

“Heh heh, she does have some Luck.” Danzhou Mountain nodded slightly, not suspecting anything.

The group walked towards the high platform. Prefect Qin naturally had a seat among the three chairs at the very top. The other two were for Junior Lord of Fate Li Wuxing from Tai Chang Palace, and the Prefect of Qian Province City.

As for the Qian Province Governor, given his status, he would not attend such a competition.

Beside the arena,

He Wenshu had been observing this side the entire time. He watched with his own eyes as Xu Sanyan stepped onto the high platform, and then he watched with his own eyes as they deferred to each other.

Finally, he watched as Xu Sanyan sat down in a seat in the second row. Judging by the expressions of Associate Prefect Qin and the others, they seemed to feel that he had been wronged?

He Wenshu suddenly felt as if the sky had fallen. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his palms, and only one thought flashed wildly in his mind: What is this boy’s identity?

Could he be some noble Young Master from the capital?

If you have such an identity, why don’t you bring two bodyguards when you go out? Is it fun to pretend to be a pig to eat a tiger?

He Wenshu’s face turned pale, and he looked at Qin Shutong with great resentment. Since this person’s identity is so noble, why didn’t you introduce him earlier?

The more He Wenshu thought about it, the more he hated her, feeling that she must have deliberately harmed him!

No wonder you little slut didn’t give me any face, but kept shamelessly pestering him. So you’ve finally seen the light!

Bitch!

He Wenshu cursed and swore, clenching his fists tightly. He secretly vowed… Little slut, don’t let me meet you in the arena competition, otherwise I’ll beat you so badly your own mother won’t recognize you!

He Wenshu was a typical bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. When he learned that Xu Sanyan’s identity was extraordinary, he didn’t even dare to think of revenge and could only transfer his anger to Qin Shutong.

And Qin Shutong remained clueless, looking at He Wenshu’s hateful gaze, only thinking that he was suffering from unrequited love and thus turning love into hate.

After Xu Sanyan and the others ascended the high platform, they attracted the attention of everyone present. Everyone speculated about his identity, wondering how he could be on equal footing with Dan Array Master.

Those who could sit on the second level were absolutely extraordinary in status. For example, He Wenshu’s father, who was the Shoubei of Qian Province City, holding a fourth-rank official position, was only qualified to sit on the second level.

Another example is Dan Array Master, who is not only a Great Cultivator of the Soul Refinement Realm but also a Great Master of the Array Dao, and only he is qualified to sit on the second level. What is this boy’s identity that he can be on equal footing with them?

Below the arena,

Tang Huanhuan looked into the distance, her expression doubtful as she looked at the high platform. She always felt that someone on the platform looked familiar, as if she knew him…

“Fourth Brother?”

Tang Huanhuan’s heart trembled. She remembered! That person looked so much like Xu Sanyan!

Upon closer inspection, however, they only resembled each other in appearance. Their temperaments were completely different; they could never be the same person!

Tang Huanhuan laughed at herself for that momentary thought. How could Xu Sanyan appear here? Even if it really was him, how could he be virtuous and capable enough to sit in that position?

Those who could sit on the platform were, without exception, people of high status, while Xu Sanyan was merely a bandit by birth, not even worthy of polishing their shoes.

But he really looks so much like him…

Tang Huanhuan thought silently.

The high platform was gradually filled. Danzhou Mountain introduced everyone to Xu Sanyan one by one.

“This is Lord Zhao Wenshu…”

“This is Huang Family Head. The Immortal Artifact workshop in the city is the Huang Family’s property…”

Xu Sanyan rose and bowed, and no one dared to be arrogant, all returning the bow. Although they did not know who this person was, being able to sit in this position, they knew with common sense that he must have extraordinary qualities.

“This is He Shubie, loyal to his duties and deeply trusted by the Governor.”

“Heh heh, Mr. Dan, you flatter me. I am merely fulfilling my duties in my position, nothing worthy of praise.”

He Shubie was a middle-aged man, stout and dark-skinned. At this moment, his smile carried a hint of humor.

Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes slightly, and with a mysterious smile, he retorted, “So it’s Shoubei He. May I ask if He Wenshu is your Young Master?”

He Shubie’s heart immediately sank. He knew perfectly well what kind of person his son was: utterly useless, always causing trouble. Whenever he was mentioned, it was never good news.

From afar, He Wenshu watched his father chatting happily with that person, and he immediately felt a deep sense of unease.