Shi Ting heard his words and handed over her sword to him. Shi Lang flicked the blade and asked, “Second Master Ling Shan, is it true that these people have nothing to do with your Ling family?”
Ling Shan nodded and asked, “Who are you?”
Shi Lang did not even look at him as he said, “That is not something you should worry about.”
Ling Shan was dismissed in such an offhanded manner that he was surprised and irritated. He clenched his teeth and wanted to lash out when a subordinate managed to calm him down. Shi Lang looked at the city guard and said, “So you or the city hall will not meddle if I deal with this guy on behalf of the Shi Family?”
The soldiers nodded, and one of them asked, “Who are you?”
Shi Lang dismissed them as well and looked at the three men. He was experienced enough to spot the pack’s leader and ask, “What do you want from her?”
The man said, “I liked her dress. I thought I would bring it back for my wife. Why? Can she not give me her clothes? You people in the big houses are all talk and no show.”
Shi Lang raised his brow and nodded. He watched the man show a crooked smile, then vanished from his spot. The three men were all golden core. Shi Ting being able to hold on to her meant they had been holding back and wanted to humiliate the young girl. When Kang asked what happened, Shi Ting had tears in her eyes.
Shi Lang’s movement caught the people by surprise, they could guess his cultivation realm, but they did not expect him to come at them with such aggression. The people were standing in a triangle formation, Shi Lang was talking to the leader, and when he moved, all his killing intent was also focused on the leader.
The two lackeys moved to save the leader, but the one on the right let out terrifying wails. The people shivered and stepped back from fear. Shi Lang had directly decapitated his limbs. The second lackey watched this scene and froze in his place, Shi Lang moved around like a ghost, and his blade flashed again.
Two men lay on the ground wailing from the pain coursing through their bodies. They did not know what even happened. Shi Lang did not stop and arrived to attack the goons’ leader. His actions were so decisive that Ling Shan was trembling in his spot, with his eyes wide open.
The man still had some fighting will left in his heart and slashed at Shi Lang after he shouted, “Tiger slashing the heavens.”
Shi Lang clicked his tongue, and with a sneer, he said, “Cloud leaf steps.” 𝞸𝗏𝐿xt.𝒸𝑂𝑀
This was a technique that Shi Lang learned after he came to the upper realm. This technique allowed him to use the spirit energy as a base for his movements. Shi Lang turned into a shadow after he invoked his spirit technique. Shi Ting opened her eyes wide; the same was the reaction of the rest of the people.
One of the people said, “This is the common move used in the Shi Family. It is said that when mastered to the limit, the technique will allow the person to leave two phantoms. He is already able to do that.”
Shi Lang was not worried about the things around him. It never bothered him when he entered the battle mode. He closed the distance and flanked the enemy from the side. The next thing was his sword resting against the nape of his target. The person froze. He could not move.
Even if he gulped, the tip of the sword blade would cut into the assailant’s flesh. Shi Lang’s moves shocked the crowd. Suddenly a strong spirit condensed from within the crowd and attacked the assailant held by Shi Lang.
However, the attack was wasted, Shi Lang glared at the attack, and a strong sword intent emitted from his eyes. The spirit slash was dissipated. He focused his gaze on the person who attacked his hostage and said, “Young Master Ling, may I ask, what is your intention in attacking me?”
The crowd turned gazes, and they found Ling Tian standing amidst them. The people pulled back a few steps, and a few of them even bowed their heads. However, Shi Lang was gazing at the man right back in his eyes. Ling Tian did not expect this guy to have some knowledge of the sword’s intent.
He said, “I only intended to help the Shi Family. After all, how can we watch some outsiders bully our city folk?”
Shi Lang chuckled without hiding the mocking expression in his eyes and said, “How noble of your Ling Family. I am impressed. Thank you for raising your hand.”
He paused, and Ling Tian narrowed his gaze. He was not a fool to think that Shi Lang was a regular guy, and Shi Lang made his thoughts come true as he continued, “I do not think it is appropriate to meddle in some other family’s business, Young Master Ling. What if these guys had some accomplice, and they dragged you into the mess? The Shi Family would not want to implicate you.”
His words were a concealed threat. The people in the upper realm were all smart. They were shocked to hear his words. Ling Tian clenched his fists but could not do anything in front of many people. He swallowed his pride and said, “Indeed, but who might you be?”
Shi Lang grabbed the stunned assailant by the neck and blocked his spirit points before he said, “My name is Shi Lang. Is that enough for you, Young Master Ling Tian?”
Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. The surname mentioned by Shi Lang declared that he was a member of the main family. Ling Tian must stay careful in all his actions; if not, the Shi Family will come for his head.
Shi Lang shoved the assailant to Kang and said, “Take him into custody. The Shi Family will investigate the issue.”
Kang was surprised, but Shi Lang winked at him sneakily, and the former nodded as he understood the intention. Shi Lang turned to look at Shi Ting and asked, “Xiao Ting, are you okay?”
Shi Ting was still in a daze, but hearing his gentle voice, she nodded and said, “Yes, big brother Lang.”
Shi Lang nodded, tapped the spirit points around her wound, and said, “Let’s get the third mistress to look at your wound fast.”
Shi Ting nodded, and Shi Lang took her back to the Shi Family manor. He did not care if Ling Tian attacked his exposed back. On the contrary, he wanted Ling Tian to try something so that he could use it as leverage.
Public opinion might not have much physical damage, but the psychological shadows it cast would be too much for someone like a narrow-minded sophisticated jerk to handle. The people watched everything with their eyes.
This was the first time that someone refuted and threatened Ling Tian. The word would spread, and Ling Tian or the city guards could not do it. Shi Lang’s words attacked both City Hall and the Ling family.
…
When she asked what occurred, Yu Jing applied the medicinal paste to Shi Ting’s shoulder. The recollection of the event surprised her, and a faint smile appeared.
Meanwhile, Shi Yulong heard everything from Shi Lang and gazed at the culprit who harmed his daughter. His eyes were brimming with rage as he said, “Ling Yang seemed to have forgotten that I am still alive. He thinks of my silence as my weakness. I will raze his family to the ground!”
The last word was the limit, Shi Yulong lost his temper, and his aura radiated in the surroundings. Shi Lang was not as uncomfortable as in the past, but the leader of the assailants had already wet himself.
Shi Lang said, “Calm your anger, keep it in, let it burn like a volcano. Wait for the right moment and remove all the enemies in one go. The Shi Family must not appear to react to something that has been dealt with already since this man has confessed that he was under the orders of the Ling family. We shall use him to send a message to those snakes.”
Shi Yulong was surprised and asked, “What message?”
Shi Lang smirked and gazed at the enemy.
…
The next morning everyone was shocked because a corpse was hung on a pole in the city square. A banner was tied to the body, “The dignity of others must not be trampled upon.”
The city was shocked and the people knew what this message was signifying. The power struggle was bought out in the limelight, and Shi Family made the Ling family look like a dung bug.
A shadow was watching all this from the window of a glamorous building with a smile and she smiled faintly as she said, “Let me see what you will do now, Young Master Ling. Seems like a dragon has woken up to tear the heavens.”