Chapter 304 - 190: The Savage Lands

Chapter 304: Chapter 190: The Savage Lands

Liang Province, Hujue Pass.

This was a grand city, much larger than Wuling City.

Unlike Wuling City, Hujue Pass radiated a grim, murderous aura. The people on the streets were far more rugged than the people of Wuling.

Hujue Pass was in a constant state of war with the savage beasts of the wildlands. Nearly everyone here was a Martial Artist, and experts were innumerable.

A True Essence Realm Martial Artist, a rare sight in Wuling, wasn’t exactly commonplace here, but running into one every now and then was not an issue.

Though the city was permeated by an air of martial valor, it was not without its share of decadent nightlife behind closed doors.

Within a sprawling estate in the city, lights blazed brightly long after nightfall, and the sound of string and wind instruments echoed through the courtyard.

"Inspector Wu, I treated you with the utmost kindness and hospitality, yet you do something like this. Don’t you think you’ve gone a bit too far?"

a young man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, said coldly, his face an emotionless mask.

Before him stood a middle-aged man, his clothes in disarray and his face a picture of terror.

Beside the middle-aged man, a nearly naked woman covered her face, sobbing.

"Lord Shao! Lord Shao! I just had a bit too much to drink. It was an unintentional mistake, I swear. Please, forgive me this one time."

Wu Qiuyuan said frantically.

He had received transfer orders, moving from Wuling City to Hujue Pass to serve as a Fifth-Grade Inspection Envoy in the Hujue Pass Inspection Bureau.

After arriving in Hujue Pass, Shao Tongtian, the Fourth-Grade Inspection Envoy of the Hujue Pass Inspection Bureau, had welcomed him with immense enthusiasm.

For days on end, Shao Tongtian had hosted banquets for him in his own estate, treating him as the guest of honor.

Wu Qiuyuan was immensely pleased with himself.

’Even though Shao Tongtian’s rank and strength are greater than mine,’ he thought, ’he’s just from some minor family. I, Wu Qiuyuan, have the Wu Family behind me.’

’It’s only natural that he’d flatter me at every turn.’

’Don’t be fooled by my current title as a Fifth-Grade Inspection Envoy. It won’t be long. Once I make a name for myself in Hujue Pass, I’ll quickly be promoted right over his head.’

Tonight, Shao Tongtian had once again hosted a banquet in his estate, his words dripping with flattery. Wu Qiuyuan, caught up in his delight, had had a few too many.

When he excused himself to relieve himself, he happened to see a woman, and then—

Wu Qiuyuan didn’t know what had come over him, but he had been momentarily consumed by lust.

But just as he was about to have his way with her, Shao Tongtian had burst in with his men.

"Inspector Wu, I showed you the utmost respect because you come from the Wu Family, but you have gone too far!

In my own home, you defile my wife! You’ve made me a cuckold!"

Shao Tongtian’s face was a mask of fury as he raised his hand and slammed it down.

CRACK!

The table was smashed to splinters.

Wu Qiuyuan cried out silently in despair, terrified out of his wits by Shao Tongtian’s imposing aura.

"Lord Shao, please, calm your anger!"

Wu Qiuyuan said hastily, "I truly didn’t know she was your wife, Lord Shao! I had barely even started..."

"What do you mean by that? Are you blaming me for interrupting your little escapade?"

Shao Tongtian snorted. "Or perhaps I should stand guard outside and let you, Inspector Wu, have your fun?"

A potent killing intent radiated from him as he unleashed the full might of his aura as a True Essence Realm Martial Artist.

He looked ready to strike Wu Qiuyuan dead with a single palm at any moment.

’Damn it all,’ Wu Qiuyuan thought. ’To have his own wife taken by another man... no man could endure such a humiliation.’

’Shao Tongtian is a True Essence Realm Martial Artist. There’s no way I can beat him.’

’What’s more, this is his turf.’

SLAP! SLAP!

Wu Qiuyuan slapped himself hard across the face twice. He couldn’t understand it. He wasn’t normally a lecherous man, so why had he lost control just from seeing this woman?

’This is what I get for drinking,’ he lamented.

After a few slaps, Wu Qiuyuan’s face began to swell visibly, and the alcohol’s haze started to clear.

"Lord Shao, I was blinded by lust! I was wrong! I’m willing to offer compensation."

Casting aside all thought of his pride, Wu Qiuyuan pleaded, "I have some savings... and a fine weapon I can give you..."

"Inspector Wu, are you trying to humiliate me?"

Shao Tongtian roared, "I may have come from a humble background, but I’m not desperate for your scraps!

No matter how shameless a man I might be, I would never stoop to pimping out my own wife for money!"

"Lord Shao, that’s not what I meant at all! I sincerely want to make amends!"

Wu Qiuyuan begged.

"You have dishonored my wife! A stain that can only be cleansed with blood!

Draw your sword, Inspector Wu. I will give you the chance to face me in a duel!"

Shao Tongtian said icily.

Wu Qiuyuan wanted to cry but couldn’t shed a tear. ’Draw my sword? What sword?’

He was just a Rebirth Realm Martial Artist. On what grounds could he possibly fight a True Essence Realm expert like Shao Tongtian?

’Does he think I have a death wish?’

"Lord Shao, let’s talk this over. I am a Fifth-Grade Inspection Envoy, after all. If you kill me, you will be punished.

Given that this was an unintentional mistake, please, give me one more chance.

Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. As long as it compensates you, Lord Shao, I will obey without question."

Wu Qiuyuan pleaded, "Lord Shao, if you want a promotion to the third grade, I can help pull some strings for you..."

He really didn’t want to die.

Especially not over some woman.

To die like this would be utterly pathetic.

He, Wu Qiuyuan, still had a grand career to build.

A cold glint flashed in the depths of Shao Tongtian’s eyes. He said coldly, "Are you sure? You’re willing to do anything?"

"As long as it calms your anger, Lord Shao, I’ll do whatever you ask."

Wu Qiuyuan said.

"In that case, if you help me with one thing, I can pretend today’s events never happened."

Shao Tongtian said coldly, "Otherwise, even if this matter reaches the Capital City, I will make sure the entire world knows the true, ugly face of your Wu Family.

I treated you with courtesy, yet a man of the Wu Family defiled my wife right under my nose! This is an insult of the highest order!"