Chen Tiansheng didn''t specify what he needed help with, only asking Xu Nian to go to the Governor Mansion earlier.

    Xu Nian had agreed.

    Chen Wudi was his brother; if Chen Wudi needed any help,

    even if Chen Tiansheng didn''t come to ask him, he would have offered his help anyway.

    However, what surprised Xu Nian was that Yan Wu had actually given up his position as City Lord and requested to stay by Xu Nian''s side.

    Xu Nian naturally had no objections to this, having a Battle General level assistant like Yan Wu saved him a lot of trouble.

    With Yan Wu choosing to follow Xu Nian, Yan Ruyu naturally chose to follow her father as well, stating her willingness to serve as a maid by Xu Nian''s side and take care of his daily needs.

    Xu Nian initially did not want to agree, but under Yan Ruyu''s earnest pleading, he eventually nodded and accepted.

    However, Xu Nian really hadn''t intended for Yan Ruyu to become a maid, considering she was the daughter of a city lord and had never performed such menial tasks.

    Yet, on their way back, Yan Ruyu proved to be extremely meticulous and skilled, taking meticulous care of the injured Xu Nian.

    Importantly, the look in Yan Ruyu''s eyes when she gazed at Xu Nian had become exceptionally tender, and every time she spoke to Xu Nian, her face held a shy smile.

    Regarding this, Xu Nian could only think that Yan Ruyu was simply grateful for his kindness since he truly had no feelings for Yan Ruyu.

    But it was obviously not as simple as he thought; Yan Ruyu''s care for him clearly exceeded normal gratitude.

    Faced with this, Xu Nian could only intentionally avoid Yan Ruyu, using this subtle method to reject her.

    In fact, Yan Ruyu had truly fallen for Xu Nian. She had already been in dire straits, even harboring thoughts of death, but Xu Nian''s arrival brought light into her life.

    Moreover, the strength and temperament Xu Nian displayed gave her a strong sense of security.

    She didn''t ask for much; she didn''t hope that Xu Nian would fall for her, only that she could stay by his side and take care of him.

    Thus, even though Xu Nian purposefully distanced himself, she felt it but pretended to see nothing, still caring for Xu Nian meticulously.

    Seeing that his deliberate distance brought no reaction from Yan Ruyu, Xu Nian thought he might be overthinking and thus pushed the matter to the back of his mind.

    When Xu Nian returned to Tianfeng City on the third day, his injuries had mostly healed.

    After settling the Yan father and daughter, he went to the Battle Hall to report on his mission.

    ...

    "Hey, isn''t this our Battle Mansion''s prodigious member? How was the mission?"

    However, just as Xu Nian stepped into the great hall of the Battle Hall, a discordant voice rang in his ears.

    "I remember, I, Liu Mushan, have never gone back on my word. However, it seems impossible for me to keep my promise because you''ll soon be expelled from the Battle Mansion. Someone who can''t even complete their mission doesn''t deserve to stay," said Liu Mushan disdainfully.

    "Since you remember, that''s good! I wasn''t planning to settle accounts with you, but since you insist on pushing your luck, I have no choice," said Xu Nian with a light smile.

    "What do you mean?" Liu Mushan sensed something bad.

    Just then, Xu Nian had already produced a wooden box in his hands.

    "This is the head of Yuan Xiong, the Gang Leader of the Heavenly Slash Gang. Sister Zhao, please verify it," Xu Nian said, handing over the head to Zhao Yanyun.

    "This can''t be possible, this must be fake! I want to open it and see," Liu Mushan exclaimed in disbelief, his face filled with resentment.

    "There''s no need for verification. This time, Xu Nian has completed his mission exceptionally well, not only annihilating the Heavenly Slash Gang but also discovering a large Xuan Iron Vein. For his distinguished service, the Lord Governor has specially promoted Xu Nian to a Two-Star Member," Zhao Yanyun announced. Continue reading at empire

    As she spoke, she now held a Two-Star Battle Robe in her hand.

    "No... impossible, this absolutely can''t be!" Liu Mushan staggered back three steps, his face turning pale.

    If Xu Nian had completed his mission, didn''t it mean Liu Mushan really had to kneel for three days and three nights in front of Xu Nian''s Mansion?

    If he really did it, how could he have the face to stay in the Battle Mansion any longer?

    And if he didn''t, wouldn''t he be branded as untrustworthy?

    "Junior Brother Xu, that was just a joke before. I actually didn''t want you to take on that mission, that''s why I said it. I did it for your own good," Liu Mushan said, licking his face with a smile.

    Xu Nian shook his head in disappointment. He had seen shameless people before, but he had never seen someone as utterly thick-skinned and shameless as this.

    Before, he had been eager for Xu Nian to take the mission and die. Now, seeing Xu Nian had completed it, he immediately changed his demeanor, truly a vile scoundrel.

    "Liu Mushan, I never bothered you from the beginning. It was you who provoked me. Whether you like it or not, you still have to keep that promise today," Xu Nian said coldly, without a trace of sympathy in his eyes.

    "You are being too unreasonable, Xu Nian!"

    Liu Mushan''s eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and a wave of Killing Intent surged from him along with a strong Gang Qi, which he blasted directly at Xu Nian.

    "Stop!" Zhao Yanyun shouted angrily, not expecting Liu Mushan to suddenly attack Xu Nian.

    Although Senior Brother Liu was from the Three-star Body Sect and even though Xu Nian was strong, Xu Nian had injuries on him, how could he possibly fend off Liu Mushan''s sneak attack?

    However, Liu Mushan''s attack happened too suddenly and he was too close to Xu Nian, not even Zhao Yanyun could prevent it.

    Liu Mushan''s fist quickly reached in front of Xu Nian, aiming a furious punch at Xu Nian''s heart.

    "Go to hell!"

    A fierce, cold grin flashed across Liu Mushan''s face, as if he had already seen Xu Nian''s heart being shattered.