The next morning, the two set off early for Jinlin Mansion as agreed.
As they reached the third floor, they suddenly heard a commotion downstairs. Jian Lin, who was walking to the stairs, peeked out and stopped the Demon Lord beside her.
"People from Guanlan Sect," Jian Lin's eyes suddenly narrowed as she pointed to the person at the front, "That's Hao Jun."
The Demon Lord looked down, observed for a moment, and said disdainfully, "A mere child, not worth fearing. I can deal with him with just one finger."
"Oh, no, no," Jian Lin whispered back, trying to persuade him, "We need to keep a low profile. We discussed this last night, remember? We have to at least put on a show, don't want to embarrass them too much."
As the duel approached, Jian Lin couldn't help but feel a bit worried.
It wasn't that she was afraid the Demon Lord couldn't win, but she feared he might be too ruthless and attract the attention of Guanlan Sect, causing unnecessary trouble.
That's why she had repeatedly instructed him to exchange at least a dozen moves with Hao Jun.
"Got it, you're so nagging," the Demon Lord flicked his sleeve and walked forward impatiently.
Jian Lin froze for a moment, then stifled a laugh. The Demon Lord's demeanor indicated he was still sulking. What she had said last night had truly offended him.
She had said a lot last night, and they had discussed some serious matters. A night had passed, and she thought the matter was over, but she hadn't expected the Demon Lord to be so difficult to appease.
She realized that when the Demon Lord was angry, he was very rational. He wouldn't let personal matters interfere with important business. However, once a certain topic was brought up, he wouldn't let it go easily.
Based on Jian Lin's experience, men like this were the hardest to handle, and it seemed she would have to work harder to find a solution.
With this thought, she hurried to catch up, grabbed the Demon Lord's sleeve, and first took him to have a delicate and delicious breakfast before slowly heading towards Jinlin Mansion.
At the mansion entrance, the same butler from yesterday greeted them. However, his attitude had changed significantly, becoming warm and courteous, unlike his picky demeanor from the day before.
Jian Lin subtly glanced at the butler, forming a judgment. It seemed this butler was someone from Miss Jin's faction, his attitude shifting with hers. Moreover, his cultivation was not low, giving him considerable influence within Jinlin Mansion.
It appeared that Miss Jin was not entirely useless; Jian Lin's anticipation for the day's events grew.
This time, instead of taking the shortcut to the east, they went directly through the garden to the main courtyard.
Compared to the delicate style of Miss Jin's residence, the main courtyard was meticulously maintained, grand, and imposing. The spacious square was paved with fine bluestone slabs, and many onlookers stood around the perimeter.
Jian Lin casually scanned the crowd, noticing people of various heights, builds, and cultivation styles, their auras a dazzling array. If there was one commonality, it was that their Taoist robes were all clean and neat, with no slovenly individuals among them.
Jinlin Sect did not have its own unique cultivation method. The sect was inherited by Sect Leader Jin from his father-in-law. It was a small sect with only a secret manual for whip techniques, not even ranking in the Immortal Realm.
Therefore, Jinlin Sect had no disciples, only retainers. Most of the cultivators in the courtyard were rogue cultivators who relied on Sect Leader Jin for their livelihood and served him in return.
Because of this, the Demon Lord's appearance was not entirely out of place. Rogue cultivators often visited seeking Sect Leader Jin's protection, and it was normal for Miss Jin to seek help from rogue cultivators.
As the Demon Lord walked into the courtyard, rogue cultivators surrounded him with expectant expressions, smiling and saying, "Brother, you look new here. Have you just finished cultivating in the mountains and haven't experienced much? I'll kindly remind you, Miss Jin is being unreasonable and insists on breaking off the engagement. The people from Guanlan Sect are on the other side. Brother, you need to think carefully and not ruin your future."
The Demon Lord remained expressionless, and Jian Lin couldn't help but let out a cold laugh of disdain. Cultivators should have pure hearts and seek enlightenment through quiet cultivation. In this current cultivation world, people were actually concerned about their future, fawning over Guanlan Sect, and everywhere were sycophants. It was truly pathetic.
Jian Lin's snort was too loud, and the rogue cultivator who spoke noticed her and said, "You little female cultivator are quite arrogant. It's best to be true to yourself. Don't come crying to us when you see Young Master Hao Jun, begging to cling to him. We've seen this sort of thing many times!"
The other rogue cultivators joined in with boisterous laughter, turning their attention to Jian Lin and making vulgar jokes.
Just as they were laughing wildly, there was a sudden "bang," and the leading rogue cultivator flew backward, landing directly in the center of the square.
No one had time to react to what had happened. The laughter abruptly stopped, and everyone looked at the Demon Lord in disbelief, asking with uncertainty, "What happened?"
In the center of the square, two people rushed to help the fallen rogue cultivator. The rogue cultivator clutched his chest, enraged, and pointed at the Demon Lord, shouting, "You attacked sneakily! That's cowardly! If you have the guts, fight me fair and square."
The Demon Lord calmly descended the steps, walked up to the rogue cultivator, and with a sudden lift of his leg, kicked him again, sending him flying towards the hall. He said coldly, "Watch your mouth. If anyone is unhappy, come and try me. I have ways to make you submit."
Everyone was startled. As the saying goes, "killing the chicken to scare the monkeys." No one dared to speak further, and even the instigator shut his mouth in shame.
The atmosphere was tense when suddenly, applause echoed from the main hall. A middle-aged man in luxurious robes appeared. His temples were streaked with white, his face was smooth and unlined, and his eyes were sharp and shrewd. His demeanor was slick. Without a doubt, this must be Sect Leader Jin.
"Young hero, you have good skills," Sect Leader Jin said, walking down the hall steps. He stopped a few paces away and smiled, appraising the Demon Lord. "May I know your esteemed name? I heard you are a friend of my daughter. My daughter, having been pampered since childhood, has a rather bad temper. I hope you will bear with her."
"I am Lin Yan, an unknown rogue cultivator," the Demon Lord replied briefly. "Miss Jin is a very good person. Sect Leader Jin, you are too modest."
Jian Lin knew the Demon Lord was being polite, but hearing him praise Miss Jin still made her feel uneasy. A very good person? How so?
Sect Leader Jin's eyes showed undisguised admiration. "Young hero, please come in for a cup of tea. There have been many misunderstandings today. Let's talk inside."
In business, harmony was paramount, and Sect Leader Jin was also a talent who valued people. Naturally, he preferred to avoid conflict if possible. If his daughter hadn't threatened to die, he wouldn't have agreed to the duel and the condition of breaking off the engagement if he lost.
Sect Leader Jin genuinely wanted to form an alliance with Guanlan Sect. He had initially thought Miss Jin was just throwing a tantrum and wouldn't be able to find anyone to help her, so she would naturally back down. He hadn't expected her to actually find a helper, and now the pressure was on Sect Leader Jin, leaving him in a difficult position, unsure of how to resolve the situation.
"No need," the Demon Lord stepped onto the stairs, crossed his arms, and said proudly, "Call that Hao Jun out. Let's finish this quickly. If I win, the engagement is off. If he wins, I'll leave without a word."
The Demon Lord didn't care about all the subtle maneuvering. He just wanted to teach Hao Jun a lesson and vent Jian Lin's anger.
"No rush, no rush," Sect Leader Jin nervously rubbed his hands. "Young hero, please come in for a cup of tea. We can discuss matters."
"Sect Leader Jin, there's no need for further words. I never go back on my promises. Of course, we must finish this quickly." Another voice came from the hall. A man in a Taoist robe emerged. His eyebrows and eyes were quite handsome, but the lower half of his face was not well-formed, revealing a sharp and mean expression.
This was Yuan Shuo's eldest disciple, known as Young Master Hao Jun.
The moment Jian Lin saw him, her back involuntarily twitched. Memories and sensations that were not her own surged, making her vision blur.
She remembered that her first time entering the Punishment Hall in Guanlan Sect was because of Hao Jun.
Hao Jun had carelessly broken a magical artifact in Yuan Shuo's room. He feigned innocence, claiming it was broken by someone who came to clean.
Yuan Shuo's room was managed by low-level disciples. On that day, it was Jian Lin's turn, along with another junior sister.
Without a word, Yuan Shuo sent them both to the Punishment Hall to receive twelve strokes of the rod. As their cultivation was low, they couldn't endure it and had to stay in their rooms for over a month before recovering.
After recovering from her injuries, Jian Lin went to confront Hao Jun, but he ignored her, acting as if she didn't exist.
At that time, Jian Lin didn't realize that the incident was just the beginning. In the days that followed, they were often bullied by Hao Jun, and Yuan Shuo did nothing. They had become numb to it.
It was rumored that Hao Jun was the illegitimate son of the current Emperor, of noble status. Yuan Shuo doted on him and never got angry with him.
Hao Jun was cruel and malicious in private, but always maintained the appearance of a gentle and refined young master.
At this moment, he clasped his hands and respectfully greeted the Demon Lord, saying friendly, "Brother, today is just a competition. Let's stop when we reach a point. If one side concedes, the other must stop. What do you think?"
The Demon Lord stared intently at Hao Jun. After a long pause, he smiled sinisterly, "What do I think? I think it's best if it's a fight to the death."
Hao Jun's eyes stiffened. He felt a trace of fear from the opponent's aura, which he quickly concealed, saying, "Brother, you joke too much. What does Sect Leader Jin think?"
Sect Leader Jin quickly intervened, "Of course, it's just a sparring match, stopping when we reach a point."
"Alright," the Demon Lord rubbed his hands together, his eyes seeming to want to devour someone. "Let's begin!"
"Wait!" Jian Lin suddenly called out, stepping to the front of the hall and saying with a smile, "Where is Miss Jin? This match is for her, so she must be present to watch. Sect Leader Jin, don't you agree?"
Miss Jin had not appeared, and Jian Lin suspected she was being held captive by Sect Leader Jin. She had to take this opportunity to get her out.
"You're right. I'll have someone fetch my daughter immediately. Please wait a moment," Sect Leader Jin called out loudly. "Guards! Bring chairs and let everyone rest for a while!"
Sect Leader Jin had many family members, and soon a set of tables and chairs were brought and placed in the shade of the courtyard. Tea and snacks were also served.
After a cup of tea, Miss Jin arrived fashionably late. She was dressed in a peacock blue dress embroidered with gold, exuding luxury and wealth, adorned with jewels and treasures, but her complexion was not good.
Jian Lin looked at her from afar and gave her a look of "good luck."
On the other side, the moment the Demon Lord saw Miss Jin appear, he eagerly stood up and walked to the center of the square, speaking rudely, "Hao Jun, you brat, come here and let your daddy teach you a lesson!"
Jian Lin, mid-sip of tea, nearly choked to death. What on earth? What was the Demon Lord saying?
Claiming to be someone's father and speaking so arrogantly, wasn't he afraid of being beaten to death?
No, Jian Lin was startled and instantly understood the Demon Lord's intention. He wanted to enrage Hao Jun, fearing that the opponent might surrender too easily. This time, he was determined to give him a memorable lesson.
Jian Lin's expression was complex, and her heart couldn't help but feel a surge of sweetness. This scoundrel was quite protective.