“Haha, this girl is really ravishing, like a fairy descended from the heavens into the human world. Your silhouette is already enough to make me yearn for you. Could I sit here and have a drink with you?” It was a frivolous voice, with a breath reeking strongly of wine.

Gu Xing’er did not look back. She just said quietly, “Get lost.”

“There’s no need to keep me at an arm’s length. You ought to know that…”

“Get lost.”

“Lass, do you know who I am? You aren’t giving me any face. Don’t annoy me, or I’ll…”

“Get lost.”

The people behind him could not help but be enraged. “He’s quite a bigwig, so how could he just let this wretched, ordinary girl scold him?” They were about to say something when the waiter of the restaurant saw this and was so scared that he blanched. He immediately rushed over, grabbed the man, and whispered something into his ear.

The man’s face immediately paled with fright.

“Um, I really didn’t know that you… were sent by His Excellency Zhang Keyi. I deserve death, I deserve a thousand deaths. Don’t take it to heart, madam. I…” The man was so scared that he could not speak coherently.

“Get lost and rolling.” Gu Xing’er still only said that.

The man was stunned for a moment, without daring to dither. Then he lay prone on the ground and started rolling away.

This scene shocked everyone in the restaurant. Some diners who knew the man rolling away were stunned. He was quite well known in Sword City, yet he was so overcome with fright. Was this beautiful girl some really big shot?

At this moment, a young scholar in teal robes slowly ascended the stairs, glanced around, and walked toward the girl’s table with a smile.

“Can I sit here?” The scholar asked with a smile.

When the crowd saw this, they started to mourn silently for the scholar, certain that he would be rebuffed. That waiter in the restaurant also shook his head and walked over, intending to stop the scholar. He was wondering disdainfully to himself why so many reckless men were around these days…

Quite unexpectedly, the silhouette of this beautiful girl, frosty as an iceberg, trembled slightly. She finally turned her head back for the first time.

It was an extremely beautiful and delicate face, youthful and lively, with a rare heroic spirit unlike that of an ordinary woman. Her wheat-colored skin looked extremely healthy, with a trace of wildness, complementing her bewitching charms like that of a lovely, seductive, prickly she-leopard.

“Oh, it’s you… Please sit down.” Gu Xing’er quickly stood up and pulled out a chair for the scholar.

This move made everyone’s eyes fall out of their sockets.

The waiter of the restaurant also stood there, staring blankly in a daze. He did not know what had happened, nor could he guess the origin of this scholar. Recalling what Zhang Keyi had told him before, he did not dare neglect this matter and quickly sent a messenger to report this man to Zhang Keyi.

“Why are you here?” Gu Xing’er asked curiously. She seemed to have regained her former vigor.

Ding Hao smiled slightly and said, “I’m leaving Sword Province in a few days’ time. So I’m touring this city to experience the local customs and people. I saw you sitting by the window upstairs, so I came up to say hello.”

“Oh, are you leaving? Are you going back to Ice Province?” Gu Xing’er felt her spirits lifted. If that was the case, they might be able to leave together.

Ding Hao shook his head. “No, I have something very important to do. I have to leave the Northern Region for a period of time.”

The expression on Gu Xing’er’s face suddenly darkened. She lowered her head and said softly, “Oh, I wish you bon voyage.” At this moment, her heart was at sixes and sevens and she did not know what to say. That glimmer of hope that had just arisen in her heart was completely extinguished at this instant.

She remembered that on the way to Sword Province, he had also said that he had something important to do. The result was that the Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship Sect was destroyed.

Now that he was leaving the Northern Region, he had something important to do again. She wondered what kind of an earth-shattering deed he was going to do.

Ding Hao paused and said tentatively, “Xing’er, I don’t think you’re suitable to be an armed escort. You’re talented and have good skills. Why don’t you join the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect and become a disciple with your skills? Maybe you can achieve something remarkable in the future. It’s far better than roaming around all day in the dangerous wilderness. What do you think?”

Gu Xing’er was stunned for a moment, then she became wildly ecstatic.

“He cares about me.

“He’s concerned for me.”

This thought flashed wildly in Gu Xing’er’s mind, getting her into a frenzied state. She did not even realize that she had an opportunity to join the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect, which was like a wonderful dream to her.

Without any hesitation, Gu Xing’er immediately nodded in consent.

There was only one thought in her mind: If she could join the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect, her strength would one day reach the same level as this young man before her. Then, might there be hope of a romance between them?

Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, she was willing to give everything she had.

Ding Hao was relieved to see her consent. He nodded and said, “Good. I have already mentioned this to Brother Bai. There won’t be a problem. He’ll arrange everything for you.”

At this moment, the waiter and the owner of the restaurant arrived nervously at the stairs with Zhang Keyi. The waiter pointed at Ding Hao from a distance and said, “Your Excellency Zhang, it’s that lad. He…”

As soon as Zhang Keyi saw him, he had a great fright. He quickly waved his hand, motioning the waiter to shut up, and whispered, “He’s my Martial Uncle Bai’s honored guest. Don’t disturb him. Give him the best wine and food in your restaurant. You must serve him well. If he’s not satisfied with your service, you can prepare to close your restaurant.”

The owner of the restaurant was shocked and assented repeatedly.

Just when Zhang Keyi was about to turn and leave, something strange happened—

“Where is that criminal Ding Hao? Hurry and show yourself. Do you want me to pull you out like a mouse?”

A majestic, imperious voice suddenly resounded in the air above the ancient Sword City, resembling rolling thunder, rumbling outwards and making the ears of everyone buzz.

Zhang Keyi’s complexion changed.

Ding Hao was an honored guest of the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect, a distinguished patron. Everyone knew that. So who was so bold as to provoke him in the sky above Sword City, challenging the entire Extermination Swordsmanship Sect? Who could be so foolish? Was the speaker looking for death?

He dashed out as soon as he could and looked up angrily.

Yet in the next instant, Zhang Keyi’s expression changed.

Dozens of warriors were standing in the sky, all of them clad in golden helmets and armors, like Solar War Gods.

Their leader was not tall and he did not look that impressive, without much of an imposing demeanor. With the golden armor on his slightly fat body reflecting golden light, he seemed like a vulgar, loathsome parvenu. Yet he gave Zhang Keyi the shivers.

He knew very well that this whole matter was getting a bit thorny.

Because he could not afford to offend this man.

Even Martial Uncle Bai Quanshui would find it a little tricky to deal with him.

This man’s name was Zhao Lie.

His power could not rival those top practitioners of Sword Province.

There were many sword practitioners with profound cultivation within various sword sects. There were many who possessed the power to kill Zhao Lie in a strike. Yet no one had ever dared to really kill him.

Because Zhao Lie’s status was very special.

He was an inspector of Sword Province appointed by the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost, in charge of everything here for that palace. It could well be said that he possessed great authority. Even when dealing with the leaders of major sects in Sword Province, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with them. His words often represented the mandate of the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost.

“What brought him here?”

Countless question marks flashed across Zhang Keyi’s mind in an instant.

Although Zhao Lie lived a voluptuary lifestyle and had a weakness for women as a martial artist—with the result that his cultivation over these years had even declined—he was not an arrogant bully despite this one weakness.

On the contrary, he was tactful and sophisticated, most adept socially at pulling strings. He never once took the initiative to provoke the major sects of Sword Province.

He had been stationed in Sword Province for decades, and was rumored to have some powerful backing. Therefore, although he had a bad reputation and achieved nothing of note for the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost, he had occupied the position of inspector unchallenged, and had a good relationship with all the major sword sects.

This man had suddenly appeared in the sky with so many Mysterious Frost Holy Guards, yelling provocatively. Clearly, he had come with ill intents.

Had there been some irreconcilable conflict between Ding Hao and him?

Or was there some powerful character in the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost unhappy with Ding Hao?

If that was the case, it was certainly a thorny problem.

Zhang Keyi had a headache. He did not know how to deal with this.

The next moment, before he had time to react, countless rays of scintillating light flashed across the sky. In the blink of an eye, they had already come up to Zhao Lie’s men. Their leader was dressed in a white sword robe, tall and thin, with a sword on his back. He was Bai Quanshui, the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect’s Monster.

Whenever such incidents happened, Bai Quanshui would of course be alerted and rush over as soon as he could.

Zhang Keyi breathed a sigh of relief. His body flashed as he ascended the sky and stood behind Bai Quanshui.

“I wonder what has made Lord Zhao so angry?” Bai Quanshui smiled, cupping his hands in a salute.

There was no sinister grimness on Zhao Lie’s slightly chubby face. He leaned forward slightly and said softly, “Chief Bai, I am also under orders. I advise you not to intervene in this matter. It’s something neither you nor your Extermination Swordsmanship Sect can change. I know that you are a good friend of Ding Hao, but there’s no need to risk your life for him.”

Bai Quanshui’s face stiffened.

He had frequent interactions with Zhao Lie in daily life. Although they were not close friends, their relationship was not too bad. Now that he heard Zhao Lie’s words, it seemed that he could not make an exception for Ding Hao at all. What on earth was going on?

As far as he knew, there should not have been any personal grudges between Dao Hao and Zhao Lie. Unless…

A possibility flashed across Bai Quanshui’s mind. He was quietly shocked and alarmed.

Could it be that the force behind Zhao Lie was looking for trouble for Ding Hao?

In other words, the authorities of the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost were about to deal with Ding Hao?

If that was the case, they would be in serious trouble. Given the influence of the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect, it would be impossible to fight them. It was basically impossible to protect Ding Hao.