Ultimate Path to Heaven

Chapter 16 Lin Yan

"I will follow Miss's instructions!"

As Wang Suiyue clasped his hands in greeting to Xiao Muyu, all the Iron Slaughter Guards perished. The entire attack was swift and decisive, with none of the Blood Guards sustaining injuries, demonstrating the vast disparity in strength between the two sides.

"My goodness!"

Regaining his senses from the shock, Xiao Jin felt no regret as he had been unable to make a move before, and exclaimed in admiration of his mother's Blood Guards—they were too awesome!

Xiao Jin was unaware that the weakest Blood Guard was a sixth-rank warrior, and they were all battle-hardened and worked in perfect harmony, while the strongest leader of the Iron Slaughter Guard was only a fifth-rank warrior.

With a sigh, he looked at Xiao Muyu, who was talking to Wang Suiyue about something.

At this moment, Ye Bufan, who had not participated in the battle, quietly approached Xiao Muyu from within Xiao Jin's sight and immediately whispered in her ear...

A moment later, Xiao Muyu's brows furrowed, and she looked around warily, seemingly searching for something.

Xiao Jin then looked around in the direction of Xiao Muyu...

"Um? 』

From the direction of the village head's house, Xiao Jin was clearly visible through the mist. A man leisurely approached, playing with a paper fan in his hand.

"I never imagined that such a hero could exist in this small Qingxi Village!"

"Heroes and heroines?" Xiao Jin rolled his eyes in disapproval. "What kind of nonsense is this guy?"

Just as Xiao Jin focused his attention on the newcomer, a sharp whistle suddenly ripped through the air!

Hearing the sound, I looked up—an eagle?

Xiao Jin could see an eagle circling a hundred meters above him... and suddenly he remembered...

"Strange, why is that eagle here again?"

"wrong?"

Suddenly realizing something, he turned to look at the man in the threshing ground—the eagle bandit?

The man in Xiao Jin's eyes at this moment had a jade-colored face, wore a white robe, and held a fan in his hand. He was as refined as a scholar and did not show any signs of banditry.

Just as Xiao Jin was surprised, Wang Suiyue, who had also seen the man, suddenly swallowed hard, curled his knuckles into his palm, and subconsciously stood in front of Xiao Muyu.

Wang Suiyue, a ninth-rank warrior and commander of the Blood Guard, was sensitive and showed signs of losing his composure.

Below the ninth rank, no matter what rank a warrior is, none can escape Wang Suiyue's perception. Of course, ordinary people are not within the perception range of a master like Wang Suiyue.

The fact that the man appeared unnoticed in this valley at this moment was no ordinary occurrence.

The only explanation—the ninth rank?

However, judging from Wang Suiyue's expression, there seemed to be some doubt—in the Sixteen Provinces of Bright Sunshine, Wang Suiyue had at least "meeted" any ninth-rank warrior on the list.

Xiao Jin was not like Wang Suiyue, but while guessing about the Eagle Bandits, he couldn't help but become sensitive.

'If this guy is a bandit...'

The Blood Guard had just killed 20 Iron Slaughter Guards with overwhelming strength. Xiao Jin did not think this man was either exceptionally brave or brain-dead.

Subconsciously, I looked around...

"strangeness?"

After the eagle's cry, there was no further movement, suggesting that the man was indeed alone.

"System... no, ancestor, please don't force it anymore..." While he was praying, the system really didn't move, which made Xiao Jin breathe a sigh of relief.

While stat allocation is important, trying to do too much at this point will only lead to failure. Regardless of what the Eagle Bandits are, the original owner's memory fragments and the sheer number of Iron Slaughter Guards are practically scattered throughout the entire Southern Region.

Even if Wang Suiyue and his Blood Guards are exceptionally powerful, they probably cannot withstand the encirclement of a hundred or even a thousand times more heavily armored cavalry.

If another forced action comes along... that'll be a pain!

Just as Xiao Jin was thinking about how to leave Qingxi Village first.

The man in white was already close by.

At this moment, Xiao Muyu saw the face of the person who came, and her pupils suddenly contracted to needle size. She immediately thought of one person—the deceased city lord of Huizhou City, Lin Zhongyi.

Back then, when Xiao Dingtian died and the entire Xiao family was about to be executed, Lin Zhongyi started an uprising in Huizhou City, attempting to force the Chu Emperor to spare the Xiao family.

Unexpectedly, after Xiao Dingtian was framed, the Chu Emperor had already exhausted all means and made arrangements and plans in many cities, with Huizhou City being of paramount importance.

In the end, Lin Zhongyi not only failed to save the Xiao family, but also caused the Lin family to be wiped out, and even affected all the soldiers and their families in Huizhou City.

Rumors circulated in many forms, depicting blood oaths, unwavering loyalty, and a vow of life and death... but in the end, it was Xiao Dingtian who brought ruin to Huizhou City and the Lin family...

Looking at the man before her, whose face bore an uncanny resemblance to Lin Zhongyi, Xiao Muyu gently nudged Wang Suiyue in front of her and tentatively asked, "Lin Yan?"

Xiao Muyu had met Lin Zhongyi with her father, but Lin Yan was only a rumor that he had escaped from Huizhou City back then, and it was not yet confirmed. Xiao Muyu had never met him in person.

"Lin... Yan." As Xiao Muyu repeated the name Lin Yan, the man closed the fan in his hand, his eyes sharp, staring directly at Xiao Muyu. "I didn't expect that the Princess of the Xiao family (who was bestowed the title by the Chu Emperor back then) would still remember a nobody like Lin Yan."

As they spoke, Xiao Jin inexplicably sensed a chill emanating from this refined-looking scholar, though he couldn't quite place whether it was hostility. He couldn't recall this person from his fragmented memories, so he remained silent and observed.

county lord?

Not only did they point to the Xiao family, but they also explicitly mentioned the title of "Princess," clearly recognizing Xiao Muyu's true identity.

Not only Wang Suiyue, but even Ye Bufan, who was also a ninth-rank warrior, became sensitive and nervous about it.

Xiao Muyu frowned, confirming that she had never seen this person before, but the other party had revealed her identity in one sentence and did not acknowledge Lin Yan. Not knowing what the meaning was, she fell silent for a moment, showing her sensitivity.

In response, the man flicked his fan away, and as he calmly fanned himself, he said in a serene tone, "Princess, rest assured, I, Lin Yan, have no hostility towards the Xiao family."

"What the hell! All that showing off for nothing?"

Xiao Jin didn't know anything about this princess or Lin Yan, but this man, who was suspected to be a bandit, gave him the feeling that he was being deliberately mysterious—why not just admit to a name directly, instead of calling him a nobody.

Leaving aside Xiao Dingtian of that time, rumors still circulate and the mystery remains... How will the Lin family treat the Xiao family...?

Lin Yan, the only surviving member of the Lin family, suddenly appeared in Qingxi Village at this time.

Is it a coincidence?

Or did you come here specifically for this purpose?

Xiao Muyu, who remained silent despite her sensitivity, glanced meaningfully at Ye Bufan beside her.

Xiao Muyu originally planned to leave Qingxi Village after the Blood Guards dealt with the Iron Slaughter Guards and framed the Eagle Bandits for everything.

But right now, Lin Yan...

Following Xiao Muyu's gaze, Ye Bufan nodded firmly.

Previously, the Eagle Bandits suspected that the Lin family's son, who had fled into the deep mountains of the Southern Region, was among them. When Tie Tuwei returned to Qingxi Village, his movements were all connected to the Eagle Bandits, and now the name Lin Yan further confirmed this.

After receiving the reply, Xiao Muyu remained silent, perhaps because she was unsure of Lin Yan's intentions and had some reservations.

Seeing Xiao Muyu's demeanor, Lin Yan closed his fan again, his tone calm: "At most, within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, at least a hundred Iron Slaughter Guards will arrive from the surrounding area." His tone softened, and after glancing casually at Xiao Jin, Lin Yan's gaze returned to Xiao Muyu: "I wonder what the Princess's plans are?"

After speaking, before Xiao Muyu could respond, Lin Yan looked towards the south of the village...

"The time it takes for an incense stick to burn?" Xiao Jin calculated the time in his mind. "At least a hundred riders?"

If that time really comes, even without mandatory missions, they will probably find it difficult to escape.