Qian Jin sensed Xiudake’s gaze, spreading his arms wide like an old mother hen gathering her chicks, subtly pulling the four beauties closer with himself as the center. He casually swept his eyes over Xiudake, then slowly walked toward the City Lord’s Mansion.

“That old scoundrel Xiudake!” Mu Guiwuxin leaned in close to Qian Jin’s ear, speaking in a hushed tone: “Kid, watch out. This old rogue seems to have taken a shine to your women. He’s notorious throughout Yongliu City for being a complete degenerate.”

The deep, rough voice, despite the attempt at a whisper, carried clearly to everyone outside the gate attending the banquet. Some guests even nodded their heads in tacit agreement. Xiudake’s fair complexion turned ashen, the veins in his hand gripping the magic staff throbbed violently, and he glared venomously at the departing back of Mu Guiwuxin as he entered the main door.

If it weren't for Fabreidis achieving Sainthood! Xiudake let out a long breath to stabilize his emotions, cursing internally nonstop. If Fabreidis hadn't ascended, he would have long since brought the Crystal Magic Tower to flatten Mu Guiwuxin's Torrent Fortress, wiping the Warriors’ Guild from Yongliu City forever.

“Guild Master Xiudake seems to be in a foul mood.” Lei Zhen recovered his initial air of graceful elegance, walking slowly to stand near Xiudake with a faint smile: “Guild Master Mu Guiwuxin is currently the most dominant force in Yongliu City. You are quite fortunate to even warrant a few words from him.”

“Is that so?” Xiudake turned back to look at Lei Zhen with a tight, insincere smile: “I heard Patriarch Lei visited the Torrent Fortress to negotiate a few days ago. It seems even the great Guild Master Mu Guiwuxin didn't grant your esteemed self much face. I heard our Torrent Fortress Guild Master saw you off while wielding two battle axes, did he not?”

Lei Zhen’s aged face immediately darkened, the icy glint in his pupils cutting through the crowd to fix heavily upon Qian Jin’s back. If it weren't for that damned brat, his preparations that day would absolutely have forced Mu Guiwuxin to yield, thus achieving his goal.

But, precisely at the most critical moment! A shade of ashen gray washed over Lei Zhen’s face—a look bordering on utter despair. He recalled how Lei Guangming, the Vice Guild Master of the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild he had brought along that day, had informed him, with complete despair in his tone and expression, after witnessing Qian Jin’s forging process, that in terms of forging technique, he, the Vice Guild Master, was utterly inferior to Qian Jin.

“Perhaps my Master, the venerable Guild Master, still has a solution. Once he finishes forging the Soul Weapon he’s been researching for the past two years, that should coincide with the time of the Zhence Blacksmiths’ Grand Assembly…”

Waiting until the Guild Master of the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild finished forging that Soul Weapon? Lei Zhen exhaled a long breath, clearing the stifled frustration in his chest. He couldn't wait that long! Since no one in the Blacksmiths’ Guild could currently suppress Qian Jin, he would find a way to directly hire assassins to eliminate Qian Jin.

But… why was Qian Jin still alive? Lei Zhen looked in the direction Qian Jin had disappeared with utter incomprehension. He had directly offered fifty thousand gold coins to buy Qian Jin’s life! He should have been dead last night.

“Mr. Lei Zhen, I personally feel we cannot allow the Torrent Fortress to continue acting so brazenly.” Xiudake walked alongside Lei Zhen towards the City Lord’s Mansion, maintaining a polite smile, yet his words dripped with profound malice: “The Lei family has suffered many losses at the hands of the Torrent Fortress recently. If this continues… hmph, hmph…”

Lei Zhen’s peripheral vision swept over Xiudake like a hook, cursing silently: You aren't any saint either! When the Torrent Fortress was running roughshod over our Lei family’s territory, were your Crystal Magic Towers just sitting idle? The Lei family’s freight station was seized by your Crystal Magic Towers! Now you come here playing the good guy?

“How about we join forces?” Xiudake clasped his hands behind his back, continuously spinning the expensive magic staff: “If we join forces, we can certainly squeeze the Torrent Fortress out of Yongliu. Afterwards, the Crystal Magic Tower will only require thirty percent of the Torrent Fortress’s assets; the remaining seventy percent can go to the Lei family…”

Lei Zhen’s body trembled slightly, and his steps faltered momentarily. He looked at the of the Crystal Magic Tower with some suspicion. What was wrong with him today? So generous?

“I only have a tiny request.” Xiudake looked up at the tall, powerfully built Lei Zhen: “When the time comes, I hope the Lei family can help me capture three people—three women!”

A look of sudden realization dawned on Lei Zhen’s face. After all that maneuvering, Xiudake still had eyes only for the beautiful women accompanying Qian Jin. If the Crystal Magic Tower moved against the Torrent Fortress alone, securing those three women would be questionable.

“If that is the case then…” Lei Zhen gently stroked his white beard across his chest, agreement already flickering in his eyes. Defeating the Torrent Fortress wasn't the main issue; the absolute necessity was seeing Qian Jin dead! Because of this brat, the Lei family had lost a promising descendant, and even a Patriarch!

A Patriarch! The moment Lei Zhen thought of his diligently raised son, Lei Guangri Yue, and his most favored granddaughter, Lei Yueyue, either dying directly at Qian Jin’s hands or indirectly because of him, waves of rage washed over him incessantly.

“My Lei family has lost two generations, yet he, Qian Jin, still lives!” Lei Zhen sighed toward the heavens: “I, Lei Zhen, am utterly unwilling to accept this! If I cannot kill him, how can I face my son and granddaughter when I reach the Stars?”

“Old Patriarch, the pain of losing your son should not be borne by you alone.” Xiudake smiled, the crescent shape of his eyes holding the venomous ruthlessness of a viper: “I heard that Qian Jin has a son? Named Luo Jin? Also known as Qian Lin.”

Lei Zhen’s narrowed eyes shot up instantly: “Are you serious?”

“Of course.” Xiudake thumped his chest: “Can I, Xiudake, lie and deceive people?”

“Luo Jin? Qian Lin?” Lei Zhen nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick: “Good! Very good! Qian Jin, you made me lose my son, so I will make you taste the agony of losing yours! Not only will I make your son die, but I will use your son to lure you into an inescapable killing situation! I refuse to believe you can escape again!”

“Then allow me to congratulate Old Patriarch Lei on his successful revenge.” Xiudake lightly swayed the magic staff in his hand, inwardly smug. What did the existence of the Torrent Fortress have to do with him? What did a few insults from Mu Guiwuxin matter? His goal was beauty! Beauty!

That one-eyed beauty exuded a provocative exotic sexiness; she would surely be fiery in bed! Luo Qingqing, on the other hand, possessed a look of pure innocence, which would also be quite amusing to defile, especially since such a girl would certainly be unwilling to satisfy a man with her mouth. Making a woman like that serve a man with her mouth…

Xiudake felt himself growing hard, his mind still conjuring images of subjugating the timid Biluo under the sheets—he would absolutely use force! The thought of her desperately struggling and saying no in bed, yet being unable to stop his entry, that feeling…

Xiudake trembled with pleasure as he approached the peak of his excitement.

“Guild Master Mu, you have arrived!”

In the banquet hall of the City Lord’s Mansion, City Lord Lide York, dressed in grand attire and radiating high spirits, strode from the depths of the hall towards the entrance. He spread his arms wide and rushed towards Mu Guiwuxin. Many guests quickly made way, clearing a path for the evidently delighted City Lord.

Even more guests looked upon Lide York with confusion. The City Lord usually showed no such close relationship with the Torrent Fortress. Why was he displaying such enthusiasm for Mu Guiwuxin today? He had just been chatting warmly with others, yet the moment he heard Mu Guiwuxin had arrived, he pushed everyone aside and hurried straight to him?

Mu Guiwuxin watched Lide York approaching rapidly, sensing the surrounding gazes of envy, surprise, bewilderment, and doubt. He subconsciously glanced at Qian Jin standing beside him.

Satisfaction! It felt incredibly satisfying! Mu Guiwuxin puffed out his chest and strode towards Lide York, face beaming, shouting excitedly in his heart: I never thought I’d have a moment this cool!

Satisfying! So satisfying he could wake up smiling from dreams! Mu Guiwuxin embraced Lide York warmly, yet remained quite clear-headed. The enthusiastic welcome he was receiving at this moment wasn't because the Torrent Fortress was overwhelmingly powerful. Even if Fabreidis rejoined the Torrent Fortress, Lide York wouldn't display such warmth.

Fabreidis achieving Sainthood was indeed powerful! But power wasn't what City Lord Lide York wanted to see. Perhaps due to Fabreidis, he would show increased deference to the Torrent Fortress, but he wouldn't become this intimately friendly.

Intimacy and superficial respect were entirely different concepts.

Everything today… Mu Guiwuxin glanced gratefully at Qian Jin, who was busy searching for food on the long dining table. Kid! I truly have you to thank! Without you, how could I be so imposing?

“How have you been, Guild Master Mu?” Lide York spoke with an ineffable happiness: “Your presence today truly grants this City Lord great honor.”

“Not at all, not at all.” Mu Guiwuxin, at this moment, was like a bear shamelessly scrambling up a thick pole: “It is an honor that you, City Lord, sent me an invitation, showing you value me, Mu Guiwuxin! In the future, if you have any matters, just tell old Mu Gui. If it’s something that can be done, we’ll do it; if it can’t, we’ll find a way to get it done for you, City Lord.”

“Guild Master Mu is too kind…” Lide York chatted warmly with Mu Guiwuxin, while his peripheral vision constantly searched for and assessed Qian Jin. Was the Soul Weapon of Fabreidis truly forged by him? He hadn't expected that! Fortunately, he hadn't seriously offended this brat in the past, or his only path to Sainthood would have vanished.

The surrounding guests weren't focusing too much attention on the embrace between the two men. In the past, they might have observed them curiously, guessing what had transpired between them.

Today? At this moment? There was a scene in the hall far more captivating than the two men.