179: test

Hua Hanxiang's gaze swept carelessly across the luxurious entrance of the Drunken Immortal Tower. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice was enchantingly charming, yet it carried a chill that made one's scalp tingle:

“This East Lin City looks prosperous enough. Unfortunately...”

She reached out her slender fingers, painted with crimson polish, and lightly tapped a purple butterfly perched on her hair bun:

“I cannot stay here for long.”

The bald knight bowed and said, “Madam, your subordinate will go and arrange the best room immediately.”

“Mm.”

Hua Hanxiang gave a lazy response, but her gaze seemed to drift inadvertently toward the City Lord's Manor, a flicker of imperceptible mockery and calculation flashing deep within her eyes.

“While you're at it, find out how many tough characters who can still breathe have come to the city.”

Her voice was very soft, but it reached the bald Cultivator's ears clearly.

“As you command!”

A fierce light flashed in the bald Cultivator's eyes, and he immediately understood his master's meaning. To 'find out' was just a pretense; to probe or even provoke was likely the real intent.

It would also make it easier to detect how many experts had come here... Within the Rain Embroidery Courtyard, the afternoon tranquility was broken by the faint sounds of a commotion coming from the front yard.

Shen Xingwan's personal maid, Little Lotus, had finally arrived.

She was a girl of sixteen or seventeen with delicate features and a hint of cleverness. Seeing her Young Miss unharmed, her eyes instantly turned red.

Master and servant held hands, their tears carrying the warmth of their reunion.

Lan Yanliu fanned herself with a silk fan, leaning against a corridor pillar. Watching several large trunks brought by Little Lotus being carried into the West Wing, she said sourly to the Embroiderer beside her:

“Look at this display. Anyone who didn't know better would think a principal wife had arrived at our Rain Embroidery Courtyard.”

The Embroiderer smiled gently:

“Sister, you must be joking. Sister Xingwan has just arrived; it is only natural for her to bring some old belongings.”

However, her heart also stirred slightly. Shen Xingwan's 'belongings' were indeed much more abundant and exquisite than she had expected. It seemed Wang Cheng had put quite a bit of thought into her.

Just then, an elderly maid responsible for purchasing ran in from the front yard in a panic, her face pale:

“Madam! This is bad! Outside... a commotion has broken out outside!”

“What happened? Speak slowly.” The Embroiderer's heart tightened, and she asked quickly.

The old woman panted heavily:

“It's... it's over by the Drunken Immortal Tower! Someone... beat up Little Li, whom we sent from the manor to buy fresh Spiritual Fruits! They even said... said our manor's purchase quantity was too small and it ruined their mood. They... they want the master of Rain Embroidery Courtyard to go in person to apologize!”

“What?!” Lan Yanliu's eyebrows shot up as she snapped her fan shut. “What audacity! To dare run wild in East Lin City, and even bring it to the head of our Rain Embroidery Courtyard? Do they really think we're made of clay?”

The Embroiderer's expression also darkened.

The other party clearly knew that Yuxiu Pavilion was the residence of the City Lord of the Northern Frontier, Situ Jun, and was protected by the City Lord of Donglin's manor. Wang Cheng had even issued orders to follow Situ Jun's commands. At this time, the other party specifically demanded the master of Rain Embroidery Courtyard come to apologize; this was clearly aimed at Situ Jun! It was a probe, and even more so, a blatant humiliation!

Liu Xuaner flicked her wrist, her long sword unsheathing half an inch, its cold light glinting:

“I'll go take a look.”

Her voice was as cold as frost, carrying a sharp killing intent.

Situ Jun was her husband, the one her heart was tied to. To insult Rain Embroidery Courtyard was to insult him!

“Wait!”

The Embroiderer quickly stopped her, saying with a troubled expression:

“The other party comes with ill intent and must have something to rely on. Sister Xuaner, do not be impulsive! First, send someone to inform my husband and the City Lord's Manor!”

“Inform them of what?”

A cold voice, carrying an unquestionable authority, rang out from behind them.

Everyone turned around to see Situ Jun already standing under the corridor at some point. His face was calm, but his gaze was as deep as a dark pool as he looked at them indifferently.

He clearly already knew.

“Husband!” The women quickly bowed in greeting.

Situ Jun's gaze swept over the old woman's terrified face, then looked at the Embroiderer and Liu Xuaner:

“I know about the matter. You all,”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the women:

“To prevent the enemy from using a diversion, all of you return to your rooms, close the doors tightly, and activate the courtyard's defensive Formation. Without my permission, no one is allowed to take a single step out of Rain Embroidery Courtyard.”

His tone was flat, yet it carried a will that brook no defiance.

“Husband, they are going too far...” Lan Yanliu still wanted to say something.

Situ Jun glanced at her. That gaze was calm and rippleless, yet it made Lan Yanliu fall silent instantly, a chill rising from the depths of her heart.

She had never seen Situ Jun show such an... indifferent gaze, as if the ones he was about to crush were not a group of arrogant villains, but merely ants by the roadside.

“Go back.”

Situ Jun repeated, his voice not loud, but heavy as a thousand catties. In extraordinary times, he had to harden his heart to restrain them; otherwise, a single oversight leading to tragedy would be too late for regrets.

The Embroiderer took a deep breath, pulled Lan Yanliu who still wanted to speak, gave Liu Xuaner a look, and said solemnly:

“Yes. Husband, please be careful.”

She understood that Situ Jun was doing this to isolate them completely from the danger, facing the wind and rain alone.

The women dared not say more and retreated to their respective rooms.

Shen Xingwan also pulled Little Lotus and quickly returned to the West Wing, closing the door, her heart pounding wildly.

The defensive Formation of Rain Embroidery Courtyard activated silently. A layer of pale gold radiance, difficult to discern with the naked eye, enveloped the entire courtyard, isolating the inside from the outside.

Situ Jun stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze directed toward the Drunken Immortal Tower, his eyes icy.

“I would like to see which power is so arrogant,” he whispered, the corner of his mouth curling into an extremely faint and cold arc.

“Since you are in a hurry to die, then I shall use you to set the rules once more for this East Lin City.”

His body did not move, but an invisible, vast Divine Sense as deep as the ocean erupted from him as the center. It instantly penetrated the Formation of Rain Embroidery Courtyard, sweeping through the entire East Lin City like an invisible tide!

Finally, it locked onto the Drunken Immortal Tower... Inside the luxury private room on the top floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Hua Hanxiang was leaning lazily on a soft couch covered with snow-white beast skin, her fingertips toying with a colorful butterfly.

Suddenly, the seductive smile on her face froze. Her narrow phoenix eyes snapped open, and her pupils shrunk to the size of pinpoints!

An indescribable, terrifying pressure, like a ten-thousand-foot mountain crashing down, or like a cold tide from the Nine Nether, instantly froze her Soul!

“Pfft!”

A maid at the Qi Refinement Stage serving beside her spat out a mouthful of blood without warning and collapsed to the floor, her fate unknown.

The bald Guard was hit even harder, staggering back several steps and crashing into the wall before stabilizing himself. His face was as white as paper, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable horror.

“Half-step... Nascent Soul?! No... this pressure...”

Hua Hanxiang cried out in shock, her voice carrying a trace of trembling she hadn't even noticed herself.

This pressure was so strong it far exceeded any Half-step Nascent Soul she knew! Domineering, frigid, and carrying a will that could destroy heaven and earth! Like a high and mighty deity, indifferently looking down upon the ants who dared to provoke His majesty!

And the target of this pressure was precisely their group of people!

The incense burner in the private room fell to the floor with a clang. The burning Dragons Saliva Incense was abruptly extinguished, leaving only a room full of icy chill.