Lin Rock gazed at the resolute Zhao Yanyun, his brows tightly furrowed.

    From the first moment he saw Zhao Yanyun three years ago, he had fallen for her.

    Throughout these three years, he had relentlessly pursued Zhao Yanyun, but her attitude toward him had always been lukewarm.

    He had originally thought that it was just Zhao Yanyun''s nature, but he hadn''t expected that she would go to the extent of having an irreconcilable dispute with him over another man.

    "Yanyun, do you really want to have an irreconcilable dispute with me over him? What is so worthy about him that makes you do this? Have you fallen for him?" Lin Rock asked coldly, his voice tinged with suppressed anger.

    The crowd around them all looked toward Zhao Yanyun, curious about the answer to this question as well.

    "Lin Rock, Xu Nian is a person specially looked after by Lord Governor. As a low-level manager in the Battle Mansion, I can''t just let you kill him in front of me. Moreover, whether I like him or not, what business is it of yours? Please do not call me Yanyun anymore," Zhao Yanyun retorted coldly.

    With this statement, the crowd sighed in relief.

    It turned out to be just a command from the Lord Governor.

    If Zhao Yanyun had truly fallen for Xu Nian and was thus desperately protecting him, then Xu Nian must really be defying the heavens.

    After all, Zhao Yanyun was also a desired pursuit among the members of the Battle Mansion.

    Hearing this, Lin Rock''s expression eased a bit, but his gaze toward Xu Nian remained filled with killing intent.

    "Fine, Yanyun, today I will let him go for your sake. But next time, if he appears before me again, I will kill him," Lin Rock said, flinging his sleeve before turning and leading the Battle Mansion members away.

    Though Ding Hao was unwilling, he could do nothing, especially now that Xu Nian had Zhao Yanyun''s protection.

    What frustrated him the most was that Chen Yao''s look toward him had turned extremely unfriendly.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    He knew that staying further would only worsen the impression he made on Chen Yao.

    "Remember to settle the bill before you leave!" Chen Wudi shouted at Ding Hao, who was walking down the stairs.

    Hearing this, Ding Hao, overwhelmed with anger, spit out a mouthful of blood.

    He had lost all his money to Xu Nian, leaving him with nothing to pay the bill.

    He hadn''t been in a hurry, but tonight''s events had taught him a lesson.

    If he continued to cultivate at this pace, he wouldn''t be able to achieve the realm he had promised Leng Yanran in two years.

    Then he wouldn''t have the strength to face the upcoming crisis in the Imperial Capital, and what could he use to rescue his mother?

    "Don''t worry, I have my own judgment, and I won''t jeopardize my future." Seeing Zhao Yanyun and Chen Yao so anxious, Xu Nian said with a smile.

    Zhao Yanyun and Chen Yao both nodded, trusting that Xu Nian was not someone impulsive.

    "If you want Pills to enhance your realm, come find me at the Battle Hall tomorrow." After leaving these words, Zhao Yanyun walked away.

    Xu Nian and Chen Yao, along with Chen Wudi, also returned to the Governor Mansion.

    ...

    Meanwhile, inside the Ding Mansion in the western city, four people were gathered.

    These weren''t just any people; they were the Mo Lang Team members who had left the Tianhua Restaurant earlier.

    "Senior Brother Lin, we must avenge this insult; otherwise, I can''t swallow this grievance," Ding Hao angrily said, his body moving, wincing from the intense pain.

    Xu Nian had embarrassed him in front of so many people and made Chen Yao think so poorly of him. How could he rest until Xu Nian was dead?

    "Yes, Xu Nian must die. I also find him displeasing. Daring to offend our Mo Lang Team is simply seeking death. But with Zhao Yanyun protecting him, killing him is going to be difficult," Sun Zhan said, adopting a defiant tone.

    Hearing Sun Zhan''s words, Lin Rock''s expression immediately grew colder.

    "Now Xu Nian is living in the Governor Mansion, and killing him there would be difficult; it seems we must wait until his next mission and ambush him outside the city," Lin Rock suggested.

    "Hmph, next time I''ll definitely flay him. Losing to him was solely because he was deceitful. If it had been a fair fight, he could never have been my match," Ding Hao said angrily.

    A cold smirk appeared on Sun Zhan''s lips, and his eyes flickered with killing intent.

    Lv Cheng, who had been silent, also revealed a trace of killing intent in his eyes. Experience tales at empire

    Xu Nian''s performance today had sparked intense jealousy in him—thus Xu Nian must die.