361: Lost talent?

“A fifth-layer Internal Breath Realm practitioner couldn't even block one of your moves. It seems this mysterious battle armor on you truly has some tricks…”

His tone was unhurried, as if everything was within their expectations.

“I originally didn’t want to harm anyone.”

Xiao Ran, holding his finger that still emitted a faint glow, watched the City Lord warily, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Although I truly don’t understand why you, City Lord, are targeting me like this, if you merely don’t want me to stay in Jiang City, then that’s easy to say; I’ll leave.”

Even at this moment, Xiao Ran still naively believed that the City Lord was only wary of the secrets on him, worried he would become an unstable factor in Jiang City, and thus wanted to expel him.

After all, Xiao Ran knew in his heart that since his mysterious battle armor had been exposed, the matter of him killing the Armored Bear would naturally be attributed to him by the City Lord and his people.

Although, from a peculiar perspective, successfully eliminating the Armored Bear with the system's power could indeed be considered his “achievement.”

“No, no, no, have you still not understood my meaning?”

The City Lord slowly shook his head, his gaze sharp, locking onto Xiao Ran, and said, word by word.

“You, Xiao Ran, once the acclaimed genius of Jiang City, must die here today!”

His voice was low and cold, like a judgment from hell, echoing on the silent mountaintop.

“Why?”

Xiao Ran’s face was filled with disbelief, and a surge of anger flared up, causing him to ask loudly.

“When did I ever offend you? Why do you have to be so ruthless?”

His eyes were wide, staring directly at the City Lord, trying to find a hint of an answer on the other’s face.

“Forget it, since you won’t escape death today, it’s fine to let you know why.”

The City Lord narrowed his eyes slightly, a complex expression appearing on his face.

“Do you still remember someone you injured when you just started your second year of high school?”

His voice carried a hint of recollection, as if unveiling a long-buried past.

The wind on the mountaintop whistled, making everyone’s clothes flap, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense and oppressive, as if an invisible net was slowly closing in on Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran’s heart tensed, and he tried to search his memory for the incident the City Lord mentioned, but he couldn’t understand what it had to do with today’s life-or-death crisis.

“Second year of high school… injured someone… are you talking about Jiang Bo?”

Xiao Ran was slightly taken aback, suddenly realizing something, and his thoughts were instantly pulled back to the past, those long-sealed memories flooding in like a tide.

He remembered it was his youthful years, just entering his second year of high school, and at that time, he was exceptionally talented, standing out among the younger generation in Jiang City.

One day, a person named Jiang Bo suddenly came knocking.

Jiang Bo was tall, with an arrogant look on his face, and his eyes held an air of undeniable haughtiness.

After finding Xiao Ran, he bluntly stated that he hoped Xiao Ran would become his subordinate, and even vowed to pay for all of Xiao Ran’s cultivation expenses, claiming that by following him, Xiao Ran’s path of cultivation would be smooth sailing.

However, Xiao Ran was already resolute in character, with his own ambitions and pursuits; how could he easily submit to others?

He rejected Jiang Bo’s proposal without hesitation.

But Jiang Bo had not expected to be rejected at all, and immediately became furious, a hint of ferocity flashing across his arrogant face.

He was relentless, and directly rolled up his sleeves, preparing to attack Xiao Ran.

At that time, Xiao Ran was at the Body Tempering Sixth Layer realm, his strength outstanding among his peers.

And Jiang Bo was merely a Body Tempering Fourth Layer fellow; how could he be Xiao Ran’s opponent?

Xiao Ran’s figure flashed, like a black lightning bolt, swiftly avoiding Jiang Bo’s attack.

Immediately after, he followed with a side kick, accurately hitting Jiang Bo’s waist.

Jiang Bo flew out like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

This conflict, at the time, was only regarded as a minor interlude, and Xiao Ran did not take it to heart, but he never expected that it would lead to such a great crisis today.

“That’s right, it was him.”

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in the City Lord’s eyes.

“Heh, let me introduce myself.”

Jiang Bei tilted his head slightly, his eyes full of arrogance and anger.

“I, the City Lord of Jiang City, am named Jiang Bei. And Jiang Bo is my illegitimate son. Do you know that the beating you gave him not only injured his body but also destroyed his martial arts foundation! Even now, he is still just a Body Tempering Fourth Layer waste!”

Jiang Bei trembled with anger, every word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Hearing this, Xiao Ran suddenly understood, finally realizing why the City Lord was so hostile towards him.

So that’s it, after all this, the City Lord also has the surname Jiang, as if Jiang City had truly become his private territory.

Xiao Ran secretly grumbled in his heart, but his face remained calm, though a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

“At that time, he relied on his influence and tried to force me to be his subordinate. After I refused, he attacked first. Should I have just stood there and taken the beating?”

Xiao Ran looked directly into Jiang Bei’s eyes without fear, arguing his case.

“Moreover, at that time, I did not know his relationship with you, City Lord. If I had known he was your illegitimate son, my actions might have been different, but I would never have allowed him to bully me.”

Although Xiao Ran regretted not being cautious enough in his actions back then, he absolutely did not believe he had done anything wrong.

After all, in this world where the strong are revered, protecting oneself with one’s own strength is only natural.

The atmosphere on the mountaintop grew increasingly tense, and the strong winds howled, as if roaring for this conflict.

“Hmph, it’s truly unexpected, a dignified City Lord of Jiang City, who usually appears so righteous, actually has an illegitimate son hidden away…”

Xiao Ran couldn't help but let out a cold snort, his words full of sarcasm.

Before this, Xiao Ran’s understanding of this City Lord was truly limited, let alone such a secret matter as an illegitimate son; he had only just learned the City Lord’s name.

“Hmph, from the moment you injured my son, I had already set my sights on you.”

A sinister glint flashed in Jiang Bei’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly, revealing a smug smile.

“Otherwise, why do you think your talent would mysteriously disappear?”

Hearing this, Xiao Ran was struck by lightning, instantly stunned.

He widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, his gaze fixed on Jiang Bei, as if trying to find a hint of a joke on the other’s face.

“You mean, it was you, it was you who made me lose my talent!”

Xiao Ran’s voice trembled slightly with anger, and the rage in his heart was about to erupt like a volcano.