After the gate closed, Fan stood still, gazing at the long, green plain stretching endlessly before him.The strange breeze hit his face, stirring his dark, soft hair.The air he breathed now was unlike anything he'd known behind the cold stone walls.It wasn't the scent of tea… nor that of stale halls—it was something warm and fresh.
Hao Lin watched him with a soft smile, as if he were witnessing a child tasting candy for the first time.
Fan spoke, his eyes still locked on the horizon."Hao... this place is truly beautiful."
Hao Lin smiled warmly."Yes, my lord. It is beautiful."His tone resembled that of someone responding to a child in wonder.
They walked together along a dirt road, its surface marked by the frequent passage of carts.Fan looked to the side, taking in the trees in the distance.
Hao asked,"My lord, do you know where we're headed?"Fan glanced at him as Hao continued,"We're going to the Crimson Fragrance City, the largest city in the South. It's currently governed mostly by the Red Tiger Sect."
Fan frowned slightly."Red Tigers? Crimson Fragrance? Who are they?"
Hao chuckled in surprise."Haha... They're a mid-tier sect mostly dominant in the South. Their strength is comparable to a second-rank clan or sect under the Murim Alliance."
Hao thought to himself:(I forgot... Lord Fan only knows about the major powers and legendary figures. He wouldn't care about lower-tier groups.)
But Fan interrupted his thoughts."I want to know my origins. How can I find out?"
Hao stroked his chin, pondering."Hmm... since you're from the Central East, I suppose we should start investigating in—"
Suddenly, a scream echoed nearby, cutting Hao off mid-sentence.Both of them immediately rushed toward the source.
As they ran, they saw a woman—likely a servant—dressed in plain clothing, with dark green hair and tired, sharp eyes.She stood protectively in front of a young girl dressed in elegant pink robes adorned with white flowers, with light red hair and deep black eyes.The woman held a sharp knife, defending the child from a group of armed men wielding swords and axes.
One of the men—a muscular figure with thick black hair, dressed in red robes with white and black patterns, and wielding a white sword—stepped forward and said:"We don't want to escalate this further. Hand over the girl, and we'll spare you."
The woman snapped, her voice fierce as the child behind her wept:"I will never hand over the young lady. You call yourselves men, attacking a woman and a little girl?"
The man sighed."Tch… I wanted to end this without killing women. But it seems that won't be possible. Blame your young mistress for your death."He raised his sword toward her neck.
Just then, Hao Lin suddenly appeared, grabbing the blade with his bare hand, shocking both the woman, the child, and the attackers.
"It's not exactly gentlemanly to kill someone in front of a child," Hao said.
The man hesitated, thinking:(Strange… he stopped my sword with his bare hand. And that elegant look, that expensive robe… he's definitely from a powerful sect or noble clan.)
"I'm Zhao Nan, leader of the second division of the Red Tiger Sect under the Murim Alliance. May I ask who you are to interfere?"
Hao responded sharply:"I see men attacking innocents, and you question my interference?"
Zhao Nan sighed."Sigh… It seems there's a misunderstanding. That woman and child are no innocents. They're followers of the Lady of the Tower of Love—one of the Four Evils. That girl is the one the Lady values most."
The woman suddenly shouted:"And what if we are her followers? Is that reason enough to try and kill us? And don't you dare call the Lady of the Tower such vile names!"
Zhao Nan replied:"Hmph… You misunderstand. I don't just insult her—I'd kill her too. And I'll start with you."
Hao interjected:"I don't think the Southern Plains are yours to rule, Red Tiger. This land is sacred to the Supreme Court. Spilling blood here is a direct insult to the Court and its Master.And even the Murim Alliance hasn't officially labeled the Lady of the Tower an enemy."
Zhao Nan stared deeply at Hao, thinking:(He mentions the Supreme Court? Everyone hates them… Could this bastard actually be from the Court…?)
Zhao Nan sheathed his sword."I suppose… this matter ends here."He stepped forward a little."But it won't end forever."Then he turned and left with his men.
The woman dropped the knife, her hands trembling.She embraced the child, checking her for wounds.Then she turned to Hao and said:"Thank you, kind sir. Without you, something terrible might've happened to the young lady."
She stood, holding the girl's hand."My name is Xin Tan. I'm the maid and guardian of young miss Saha—the daughter of the Lady of the Tower of Love."
The little girl stood shyly behind Xin Tan.Hao looked at her briefly, then back at the maid.
"What is the daughter of the Lady of the Tower doing out here without guards?"
Xin Tan hesitated."Well… originally, we were in the City of Love Lotus. But the young lady decided to sneak out to see the Southern Plains. I noticed her absence, tracked her down, and found her being chased. So I stepped in."
Saha hid fully behind Xin Tan, embarrassed.Hao sighed."Tch… It's always the servants who pay for their masters' mistakes. Anyway, my name is—"
Suddenly, Fan tapped him on the shoulder from behind, startling him.
"You bastard! Who are you scaring me like that?!"Then he realized it was his master, and the scene cut to Hao kneeling, raising both hands toward the sky.
Fan said with light irritation:"Idiot. Is it a crime for your master to tap your shoulder?"
Xin Tan thought to herself:(Who are these people? That man with the mask made that strong warrior kneel like a scolded child… Wait… could they be from the Supreme Court…?)
To be continued...