Greetings, Sect Master!

Qin Huai’s tone dropped to a frigid chill. In response, a throng of armored soldiers flooded the scene, forming a human barrier around the street.

“Kid, let go of me now,” the city official demanded, his confidence growing upon seeing the sea of reinforcements. “If I get hurt even a little, you won’t leave here unscathed!”

Although he appeared confident, he studied Qin Huai, finding something vaguely familiar about his handsome face.

Qin Huai retorted, “You don’t even recognize me, yet you dare to cause such chaos in Shallow Water City.” Suddenly, he released the official’s arm. Before the latter could rejoice, Qin Huai landed a fierce slap, sending him spinning through the air.

Bang!

Landing with a heavy thud, the official lay twisted and twitching on the ground, a pool of blood spreading around him. Witnessing this display of power, the surrounding soldiers instinctively recoiled, their eyes filled with apprehension. action

“Go find the strongest backer you can muster,” Qin Huai coldly instructed.

The battered official immediately scrambled to his feet and limped away. As he fled, he yelled, “Stop him! Don’t let him escape! I’ll be back soon!”

Meanwhile, at Shallow Water City’s city lord’s mansion, the city lord, Zhang Meng, was studying a map when the official barged in, filling the room with the stench of blood.

Seeing the official’s sorry state, Zhang Meng frowned. “What happened? How did you get like this?”

“An unknown tough guy assaulted me,” the official whimpered, adding, “He dared to belittle you, the city lord of Shallow Water City.” Zhang Meng seemed unphased, though. He continued to scrutinize the map, noting, “The two armies are nearing a confrontation, barely tens of miles apart. If we can halt the Li family’s grain supply, their chance of victory diminishes to nothing, ensuring a triumphant win for our five-county alliance. That woman is far too arrogant and places too much trust in us…”

He let out a sigh. “In the end, my youth betrays me. I was foolish to believe that the feud between our Zhang and Li families could end with Zhang Wu’s passing. We’ve been at odds for a century, and it has escalated to the point where only the demise of one family will bring peace.”

Zhang Meng turned to the official, “What’s that guy’s realm?”

“He’s a young man with impressive strength. He shouldn’t exceed the third-level bone pattern realm, possibly a patrol sent by the Li family,” the official speculated.

“Let’s go,” Zhang Meng commanded, heading towards the scene. “At this point, we can’t afford mistakes. It’s time to show our hand to the Li family.”

His eyes gleamed with avarice, yearning to reclaim the Nine Dragons sect and the position of sect master. He also knew that the current sect master, the most formidable opponent, had gone to the prodigies’ gathering in Qingzhou, his fate unknown.

Zhang Meng, clad in a gray robe and straw sandals, radiated an increasingly powerful aura with each step. Seeing this, the official, who trailed behind him, felt a wave of relief.

At the fourth level of the Tattoo Bone Realm, they were safe.

At the Eastern Gate.

“Make way, make way!” echoed the city official’s voice, reaching Qin Huai from a distance. The official, though bloodied, appeared brave and spirited. A pathway instantly opened through the crowd of armored soldiers.

“You’ve got guts, kid!” The city official smirked. “No matter who you are, your fate is sealed! The man standing before you is the head of our Nine Dragon sect’s Zhang family, the future governor of Lingjiang County…Zhang Meng, Lord Zhang!”

As the city official concluded, Zhang Meng made his appearance. His simple gray robe contrasted his extraordinary aura, making the surrounding commoners tremble and fall to their knees. “Let’s see who we have here…” Zhang Meng glanced up, his calm eyes suddenly filled with surprise. Recognizing the handsome face before him, his mind went blank.

“Why aren’t you kneeling and accepting your fate?” the city official barked, adding to Zhang Meng’s shock.

Bang!

The response was a slap to the city official’s face, spinning him around and sending him crashing to the ground. Stunned, he watched as the lord he once revered fell silent and knelt before the young man. He even noticed Zhang Meng trembling uncontrollably.

“Lord… Sect Master… I…” Zhang Meng stammered, his face pressed tightly to the ground.

“Is this how you repay my trust?” Qin Huai’s tone was icy. “I offered your Zhang family a last chance to fight, even entrusted you with the crucial role of guarding this border. Haven’t I treated you fairly?”

As Qin Huai slowly approached Zhang Meng, the latter tried to muster a response.

At the same time, the city official, stunned, muttered, “Sect Master? Young man…” Suddenly, recognition flickered in his eyes. “I remember now… I’ve seen your portrait in the head of the family’s study… You are… You’re the master of the Nine Dragons sect, Qin Huai!”

A wave of realization washed over the official, and he remembered where he had seen this young man before. This was Lingjiang’s savior!

Thud!

Upon hearing ‘master of the Nine Dragons sect’ and ‘Qin Huai’, the surrounding commoners, including the soldiers who’d been threatening him, instantly dropped to their knees, bowing repeatedly towards Qin Huai.

“Salutations, Sect Master!”

“Greetings, Mr. Qin!”

“Hail, Saint!”

Though the titles varied, the reverence behind each one was unmistakable. This chorus of respect and devotion reverberated across Shallow Water City, echoing in Qin Huai’s ears as the pious voices of its citizens.