Chapter 1140: Chapter 1140: Burning Demon Blood
Leaving the Flame Hall branch, Xiao Yi casually found an inn nearby and settled in.
The next task, heading to the City Lord’s Mansion to burn the Demon Blood, there were originally three days’ time.
Tracking Zhong Shuo took two days.
In other words, he had one day left.
Tomorrow would be the time to head to the City Lord’s Mansion, so he decided to stay one more day in Ming’an City for now.
...
The next day, at dawn, Xiao Yi had already left the inn.
Walking on the street, instead of finding the scene deserted, it was bustling with noise, as martial artists continuously arrived at Ming’an City.
"Looks like this grand event is quite lively," Xiao Yi muttered to himself, nodding.
Indeed, today was the once-every-three-years grand event of Ming’an City.
The venue was the City Lord’s Mansion.
And Xiao Yi’s task of burning the Demon Blood was also in preparation for this grand event.
With Xiao Yi’s speed, it wasn’t long before he arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion.
Ming’an City, as the strongest among a dozen or so nearby major cities, had an evidently grander City Lord’s Mansion.
At the same time, in Xiao Yi’s perception, one strong presence after another within the mansion was awe-inspiring.
"As expected of the strongest city nearby." Xiao Yi nodded and proceeded towards the gate of the City Lord’s Mansion.
Around him, the place was already crowded with martial artists who had come from afar to witness the spectacle.
Xiao Yi lined up among the crowd and entered.
At the gate of the City Lord’s Mansion, two Gate Guards were inspecting and registering the incoming martial artists.
Before long, it was Xiao Yi’s turn.
"Name and faction?" the Gate Guard asked instinctively.
"Yi Xiao, Flame Hall Warrior," Xiao Yi replied in a deep voice, "here for the task of burning the Demon Blood."
"Oh?" The Gate Guard looked up, glancing at Xiao Yi, his attitude noticeably more respectful than before.
"So it’s the Fire Envoy from the Flame Hall."
"Please show your token first; if everything’s in order, Fire Envoy, you may go directly inside to report."
Xiao Yi nodded and presented the Flame Hall Token.
The two Gate Guards checked it over, confirmed it was correct, and nodded.
Just as they were about to let Xiao Yi enter.
Suddenly, an elderly man resembling a steward hastily walked out.
"The Blood Refining event is about to begin, take it seriously now; if anything goes wrong, I won’t spare you!"
The old man sternly ordered the two Gate Guards.
"Yes, Old Steward, rest assured," the two guards assured him.
"You’d better let me rest assured," the old man snorted.
Just as he was about to leave, the old man suddenly noticed Xiao Yi, "Hmm? Who are you? Why are you wearing a mask?"
Saying this, the old man looked at the two Gate Guards, "The Blood Refining event must not have any mistakes; did you verify his identity?"
"Yes," the two Gate Guards replied, "this is the Fire Envoy from the Flame Hall, Yi Xiao, here for the task of burning the Demon Blood."
"We have checked the Flame Hall Token; there’s no mistake."
"Yi Xiao?" The old man furrowed his brow, "Isn’t he the one who killed someone publicly in our Ming’an City yesterday?"
"Oh, no." The old man realized, lightly chuckling, "To be precise, it’s the Fire Envoy who killed a wanted criminal."
Yi Xiao merely killed a wanted criminal from the Flame Hall without violating their Ming’an City’s rules.
"Please, this way." The old man made a gesture of invitation.
As Yi Xiao was here on a task to help at the City Lord’s Mansion, the old man naturally had to be courteous.
Xiao Yi nodded.
"Wait." Just at this moment, a piercing voice rang out.
An elder, followed by a dozen or so martial artists, walked over quickly.
"Hmm? Elder Yu An." The old steward immediately furrowed his brows, his face turning slightly displeased, but then he put on a smile.
"Elder Yu An, why have you come so early? The event isn’t fully prepared yet."
"Elder Yu An?" Clearly, the martial artists around had heard of this name.
"The Second Elder of the Yu Family."
"The Yu Family is one of the forces second only to the City Lord’s Mansion in Ming’an City."
"This ought to be interesting."
The surrounding martial artists all displayed gloating expressions, looking at Xiao Yi.
"Hmph." At this moment, Elder Yu An glared uncomfortably at the old steward, "If I hadn’t come early, I’m afraid the City Lord’s Mansion might have let a villain in."
Hearing this, Xiao Yi furrowed his brow.
He clearly sensed the hostility from this Yu Family Elder and the Yu Family martial artists behind him.
"Yu Family?" Xiao Yi furrowed his brow.
Since he was here to complete a task, naturally, he had investigated the intelligence of the nearby major cities.
He knew about the martial artist situation and the major forces in the vicinity.
However, he hadn’t looked into it too deeply, just a general understanding.
He had heard of the Yu Family in Ming’an City.
Originally, he hadn’t paid it much mind.
But now, sensing their hostile gazes, he realized.
With the surname Yu and showing such hostility towards him, it’s clearly adversarial; after he arrived in the Four-direction Domain, the only person with the surname Yu he held a grudge against was one.
That was Yu Tai.
If he guessed correctly, this was Yu Tai’s family.
At this point, the old steward looked at Yu An with a furrowed brow, "Then Elder Yu An, what do you mean?"
"It’s simple," Yu An said coldly, "this villain Yi Xiao, without any evidence, slandered my Yu Family’s Great Elder as a wanted criminal of the Medicine Venerate Hall."
"Even more, he killed our Yu Family’s Great Elder, which is utterly detestable and heinous."
"Such a villain should not be allowed in Ming’an City."
"For the Blood Refining event, how can we let such a villain participate in it?"
Yu An sneered, "I demand that the City Lord’s Mansion immediately expel this villain from Ming’an City to give my Yu Family justice."
"Expel him from Ming’an City?" Hearing this, the old man furrowed his brow.
Beside him, under the mask, Xiao Yi’s face was emotionless, but in his heart, he thought ’as expected’.
"Well, Master Yi Xiao... " The old steward looked at Xiao Yi with a difficult expression.
Xiao Yi remained silent, merely waiting for the old steward’s words.
If the old steward indeed wanted to expel him from Ming’an City, he could leave.
He was here for the task from the City Lord’s Mansion, as the issuer of the task; if they didn’t need him, he truly had no reason to stay here.
He could promptly leave Ming’an City; he would simply not perform this task.
There were plenty of other tasks for him to complete.
The surrounding onlookers shook their heads at the scene.
"Looks like Master Yi Xiao is going to be kicked out."
"Hmm, the Yu Family is one of the major forces in Ming’an City; the City Lord’s Mansion wouldn’t offend the Yu Family for an unrelated kid."
The onlookers shook their heads.
The old steward also sighed, "Alright, Master Yi Xiao, I can only offer an apology on behalf of the City Lord’s Mansion and ask you to..."
Before the old steward could finish his words.
A martial artist quickly ran out from the City Lord’s Mansion.
"Old Steward, something’s wrong."
The martial artist quickly whispered in the old steward’s ear.
Upon hearing this, the old steward’s expression changed, and he looked at Yu An, "Elder Yu An, I’m afraid we cannot accede to your request from my City Lord’s Mansion."
"Unless, you can find for my City Lord’s Mansion a Fire Control Warrior stronger than Master Yi Xiao within two hours."
"How..." Yu An furrowed his brow in question.
The old steward ignored him and looked at Xiao Yi with a broad smile, "Master Yi Xiao, I was being disrespectful just now."
"Master Yi Xiao is a Fire Control Expert of the Flame Hall and here on a task; how could my City Lord’s Mansion dare to close the door?"
"Master Yi Xiao, please follow me."
The old steward courteously invited Xiao Yi into the City Lord’s Mansion.
Behind them, Yu An and his entourage’s faces were extremely unpleasant.
...
Third Chapter.
