Ma Hongnü fiercely pinched her own thigh. Was this really happening? Could such a thing truly occur? The City Lord’s attendant mage, lacking even the courage to engage the young warrior, had been utterly incapacitated by a mere gesture from him?

The onlookers who had flocked to the shop exchanged looks of utter disbelief; this young warrior was terrifying!

“You… you…,” Situ Yixiao lay sprawled on the ground, watching Qian Jin turn to leave. “If you have any guts, leave your name…” Qian Jin rested one hand on his chin, contemplating. Everything that had happened in Yongliu City would likely be thoroughly investigated by City Lord Li Deyork if he tried to flee. Perhaps it was better to simply admit it openly. As for what might happen next? He couldn't worry about that now! If he couldn't even protect the people beside him, what future could he possibly have!

“Qian Jin.”

Hearing the name, Situ Yixiao’s body trembled slightly, her eyes blazing with an indescribable venom. “You… you are Qian Jin?” Qian Jin was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected this person, a subordinate of the City Lord whom he had never met, to even know his name.

“I’ll remember you. I’ll remember you…” Situ Yixiao strained against the excruciating pain in her body, her gaze fixed in burning hatred, repeating the words over and over: “I’ll remember you. I’ll remember you.”

Qian Jin stared into Situ Yixiao’s eyes, which were saturated with malicious venom. A flicker of agitation crossed his mind. That look was one of absolute, death-defying hatred. Should he just kill her now and eliminate this future trouble?

Gu Yue Jiaying gently tugged at Qian Jin’s sleeve and whispered, “She is, after all, the City Lord’s wife. It’s really not appropriate here…” Qian Jin glanced at the surrounding crowd. While some looked at Situ Yixiao with scorn, the majority registered fear and disgust… genuine, visceral disgust!

That was the true reflection of the powerful when they see a strength that threatens their own dominance. To them, warriors were merely tools to ward off the demon race, but when that power challenged them… these people…

Qian Jin shook his head lightly and turned towards the door. This woman was truly troublesome. Today was definitely not the right time to assassinate her; with her injured, her death might implicate Lucifer Flowing Water.

Yet, letting her live was also a potential headache. As the City Lord’s wife, she commanded immense resources. Many who couldn't gain favor with the City Lord would inevitably try to curry favor through the wife.

This woman was certainly not the type to stop after dealing with just one person. Her target clearly included everyone present today, Gu Yue Jiaying included.

Gu Yue Jiaying and Lucifer Flowing Water could protect themselves, but Luo Qingqing’s self-preservation skills were considerably weaker.

Qian Jin glanced back at Situ Yixiao intentionally or not, etching her appearance into his memory before walking out of the room.

“Don’t dwell on troublesome matters right now,” Gu Yue Jiaying said as they strolled down the street. “Biluo still needs a pair of shoes and some matching accessories. You need a new set of clothes, a belt, and shoes.”

Sensing Gu Yue Jiaying’s gaze, Luo Qingqing furtively glanced at Qian Jin and whispered to Gu Yue Jiaying, “I really get to do the styling?” Gu Yue Jiaying nodded. “You attend social functions often and have seen a lot. The honor of dressing Qian Jin for the first time goes to you.”

Joy bloomed on Luo Qingqing’s face. She secretly clenched her fist, her beautiful eyes darting back and forth, scanning every clothing shop they passed, hunting for any ensemble that might be suitable.

Were women terrifying? Before this, Qian Jin had never considered women frightening, especially gentle and graceful beauties like Luo Qingqing. His impression had always been that they were the type who might topple in a strong breeze. But during this shopping trip, Qian Jin realized that gentle and graceful women bloomed with boundless energy and terrifying combat prowess once they started shopping.

This combat wasn't with swords; it was their complete ignorance of fatigue or boredom, powered purely by legs that could walk all day.

Outfits were tried on one after another, shoes were swapped constantly, and then there were the belts… and the haggling during purchases.

A single copper coin! Qian Jin stood beside Luo Qingqing, listening as this gentle, girl-next-door type beauty argued with a shop owner over the price of one copper coin for nearly half an hour.

In the end, the male owner, after resisting for almost thirty minutes, finally yielded to Luo Qingqing. Not only did he concede the single coin, but he also gifted Luo Qingqing four hair clips!

Qian Jin couldn't comprehend it. For Luo Qingqing, who could earn vast sums of gold in a casual business talk, why was she so dedicated to battling over a copper coin’s price for half an hour?

What Qian Jin found most incomprehensible of all was the carrying of bags! He clearly possessed a massive Dimensional Rift where all purchased items could be stored, yet the ladies insisted on carrying everything by hand instead of using the Rift.

“Sigh…” Qian Jin looked up at the massive structure of the Rushing Torrent Fortress before him, feeling a sense of imminent liberation. The various bags currently hanging off his person—even factoring in the Human-Demon Battlefield’s large-scale offensive weapons like the giant ballista bolts—

Qian Jin was confident that even a ten-foot-long ballista bolt wouldn't penetrate the accumulated layers of bags he was wearing. They had practically become a powerful set of improvised armor.

“Brother Jin, hurry and come try on clothes!” Luo Qingqing chirped, as lively as a playful sprite in a forest. After a day spent together, she had shed much of her initial shyness.

“Try on clothes…” Seeing Gu Yue Jiaying looking on with similar anticipation, Qian Jin sighed to the heavens and entered the Rushing Torrent Fortress, his mind preoccupied with a single question: hadn't they just tried everything on while shopping? Why try things on again?

“Well, well! Who is this porter?” Mu Gui Wuxin’s teasing voice echoed through the hall. Qian Jin shot a hateful glare at the uncle who offered no help but only mockery, then shook his head and followed the ladies back to a room.

“This set looks better, right?” “I think this one is good.” “This one is nice too, paired with this belt…” Qian Jin felt like a puppet, being dragged back and forth by the three women. He sighed inwardly. If he ever managed to meet the Emperor of the True Policy Dynasty, he would petition him to amend the imperial law: one man, one woman only. It looked enviable from the outside, but only those inside knew how troublesome it was to manage.

One outfit after another, Qian Jin stood mechanically in place, rotating as the three beautiful women mixed and matched various combinations.

Suddenly! The room, which had been filled with the chatter of hundreds or thousands of sparrows, fell utterly silent.

Qian Jin was unaccustomed to the abrupt quiet. He quickly turned to see what had happened to the three previously excited women, only to find their gazes had completely shifted. They were no longer focused on the belts and clothes, but were fixed upon an entrance to a room.

That was the room Biluo had slept in last night, the room everyone had prepared for her long-term stay.

Qian Jin followed the line of their sight and suddenly felt as if a sun had materialized out of thin air, brightening the entire chamber.

Th-this, this is Biluo? Qian Jin stared blankly at the figure standing at the doorway. He had traveled extensively and seen many beautiful women, including the three top-tier beauties beside him, and even the stunningly handsome Cekelifuite, who made other beauties feel inadequate.

But… Qian Jin took a deep breath, realizing he truly lacked the vocabulary to describe Biluo. He had always wondered what she looked like hidden beneath the black magic hat and robe—was she plain? Ugly? Average?

He had considered every possibility, yet none prepared him for beauty that could literally suffocate. Her stature was short, but it didn't suggest underdevelopment; she possessed everything she should, and her exquisitely formed face was such that the finest art masters would be driven to shame and suicide by their inability to capture her likeness.

The outfit, valued at two hundred thousand gold coins, which he thought would only enhance her radiance, now seemed merely an accessory, made more beautiful by Biluo’s sheer presence.

Qian Jin shook his head forcefully. Biluo was indeed stunning! But beyond her innate beauty, the years spent cloaked in the black magic hat and robe had significantly boosted her appeal.

Seeing such an utterly plain presentation for so long suddenly switch to such breathtaking loveliness created a powerful contrast, elevating Biluo to the realm of sublime beauty.

Perhaps… Qian Jin thought seriously, only Cekelifuite could compete with Biluo in terms of sheer looks.

A male demon competing in beauty contest with a woman? Qian Jin wondered if Cekelifuite would draw his sword and try to murder him if he knew his thoughts.

“Sister Biluo, you are so beautiful.”

Qian Jin didn't even need to look sideways to know that this compliment came from Luo Qingqing.

“Sister Biluo, you are so gorgeous! So beautiful I want to kiss you, I want to steal you away from Ah Jin! Why don’t you just become my woman then…” This… Qian Jin closed his eyes and sighed. Only a fiend like Lucifer Flowing Water would speak such nonsensical things. She didn't just flirt with men; now she was starting to tease women too!

“Very beautiful,” Gu Yue Jiaying’s evaluation was concise, yet filled with sincere admiration.

Luo Qingqing trotted around Biluo in a circle, observing closely. “Sister Biluo, your backside is quite shapely! The magic robes always hid it before…” Biluo blushed fiercely and tried to cover her rear with both hands.

Lucifer Flowing Water stood directly in front, clicking her tongue incessantly. “The proportion of these breasts to her body is absolutely perfect! Will Ah Jin just want to sleep inside them? Your old magic robes concealed everything too much!”