369: Chapter 369 Why are you here?

"An unknown fellow?"

The Black-robed Man looked toward the burly man.

He had originally thought the other party would bring him good news.

He hadn't expected an unknown cultivator to appear and completely disrupt their plans.

"Yes, I couldn't see through him,"

the burly man said.

"Also, he might have seen through my true form."

...

"He ran away just like that? No perseverance at all."

After obtaining the sea abyss flower, Lin Ming returned to Dongchao City and went back to the inn.

He took a casual glance to see if that Young Master Liu was still kneeling in front of the inn.

There was no sign of Liu Han.

It had only been a day, and this Young Master Liu couldn't hold out anymore.

He had no perseverance and no sincerity at all.

If he had truly kept kneeling, there might have been a small chance Lin Ming would have met him.

What a pity.

"It's time to leave."

The sea abyss flower had been obtained.

The primary purpose of his trip to Dongchao City was now complete.

Next, it was time to return to the Sect.

Once he dealt with Young Master Liu and the Liu family behind him, Lin Ming could head home.

However, before that...

Listening to tunes at the pleasure quarters.

He had been exhausted for a whole day and deserved a good rest.

Balancing work and leisure—

this was Lin Ming's code of conduct.

Destination: Huaqing Pavilion.

But not long after Lin Ming stepped out of the inn, his path was blocked.

"Liu Guichuan of the Liu family greets Young Hero Lin."

Liu Guichuan bowed slightly to Lin Ming and spoke.

He had been keeping a constant watch for Lin Ming.

"The Liu family? Where is that young master of yours who was kneeling there?"

Lin Ming asked in a slightly playful tone.

"Young Hero Lin, if you wish for Young Master Liu Han to continue kneeling here, he can do so at any time."

Liu Guichuan said without hesitation.

Even if he was the young master, so what?

As long as that person didn't cause trouble for the Liu family, it wouldn't matter if Liu Han knelt until he died.

"Young Hero Lin, the Clan Head requests your presence,"

Liu Guichuan said.

"I'm not interested. I have absolutely no interest in meeting your Liu family's Clan Head."

Lin Ming walked straight past Liu Guichuan.

"Young Hero Lin, the Clan Head has said that you may name any conditions you wish as an apology to you."

Liu Guichuan continued.

"I'll consider it,"

Lin Ming said.

This Liu Clan Head certainly knew how to behave.

But Lin Ming's plans wouldn't change because of that.

Huaqing Pavilion.

"Not a single one left?"

Lin Ming looked at Si Niang in front of him, his lips twitching slightly.

He never expected that one day, when he went to a brothel to spend money and enjoy himself, he wouldn't even be able to book a single girl.

"My apologies,"

Si Niang said.

There was nothing she could do about it; business at Huaqing Pavilion had been so good lately.

It had reached the point where demand outstripped supply; even Lady Lan Qin had been booked by several people.

If Lin Ming wanted to listen to her tunes, he would have to wait until the day after tomorrow.

"Stinky Senior Brother, you really are here."

An unexpected voice rang out.

Lin Ming turned his head and saw Su Lianxue and Yu Yaoqin.

Su Lianxue was wearing a mask to hide her appearance.

"How did you two get here?"

Lin Ming looked at them with some surprise.

Why had the two of them suddenly appeared here?

"What? Are we interrupting Senior Brother's enjoyment?"

Yu Yaoqin said with a mischievous grin.

They had only arrived in Dongchao City a short while ago and had learned outside that the city was under lockdown—entry only, no exit.

The two of them hadn't thought much of it and entered Dongchao City directly.

After making a few inquiries about their Senior Brother's whereabouts, they found out he was quite a minor celebrity in Dongchao City.

They successfully located his inn as well.

One after another—

Just as they arrived at the inn, Lin Ming had happened to head out.

They learned this from the inn staff.

Although they didn't know his destination, given Yu Yaoqin's understanding of Lin Ming, her Senior Brother was likely off enjoying life, specifically at a brothel.

They also casually learned from the staff that their Senior Brother was a regular at Huaqing Pavilion.

The two went straight to Huaqing Pavilion and spotted Lin Ming as soon as they entered.

"Enjoying what? Let's go."

Lin Ming shook his head.

He turned around and left Huaqing Pavilion.

"Stinky Senior Brother, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten all day,"

Yu Yaoqin said.

At a certain restaurant.

Dishes were served one by one.

"You two, why did you run all the way here instead of focusing on your cultivation?"

Lin Ming looked at them and asked.

"What do you mean 'not focusing'? Junior Sister and I just finished our secluded cultivation,"

Yu Yaoqin immediately protested.

She had been working very hard on her cultivation.

"Besides, didn't you say it yourself, Senior Brother? Balance work and leisure."

Yu Yaoqin said.

"We came here to see if you were actually taking your mission seriously."

“Heh...”

Lin Ming just gave a light chuckle at that.

Knowing these two, this trip was almost certainly instigated by Yu Yaoqin.

It was likely that this girl had grown bored of staying on the mountain.

She must have found out from somewhere that he was out on a mission and dragged her Junior Sister out of the Sect to find him.

"How is the situation outside?"

Lin Ming asked casually.

"Regarding the Righteous and Demonic Paths?"

Yu Yaoqin asked.

"Yes."

"The True Monarchs of the Other Shore have taken the field. Last time, the Demonic Path orchestrated the death of a True Monarch of the Other Shore from Ximo Mountain."

"This time, led by a True Monarch from Ximo Mountain, they also slew a True Monarch of the Demonic Path."

"I heard the Senior Martial Uncle from Flying Cloud Peak say that these demonic cultivators have become exceptionally cunning now, causing us quite a bit of trouble."

Yu Yaoqin told Lin Ming everything she knew.

"Intruder!"

The burly man's actions were immediately discovered by other Merfolk.

A crowd of Merfolk subsequently swarmed toward him.

"I don't have time to play with you lot,"

the burly man said coldly.

They were just a bunch of small fry who hadn't even reached the Other Shore Realm; he had no time to waste playing with them.

In an instant, the prowess belonging to a powerhouse of the First Stage of the Other Shore erupted.

These Merfolk were clearly unable to withstand the pressure of a True Monarch of the Other Shore and were pinned directly to the seabed.

"A True Monarch!"

A Merfolk in the Bitter Sea Realm squeezed out these words with an extremely grim expression.

"Damn it."

Lan Ji's expression also turned quite ugly.

They had expected someone might raid this place, given the previous two warnings.

But they hadn't expected the other side to send two True Monarch level powerhouses.

Clearly, they had underestimated those people in the shadows...

"Is this your sincerity?"

Lin Ming looked down from above at Liu Han, who was kneeling before the inn's main entrance.

Many people around were watching this scene.

Because of his identity...

Liu Han fell heavily to the ground.

Traces of blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, but his expression revealed a hint of fear.

"I... I didn't know..."