In the official business hall of the City Lord Residence.
Liu Wudiao, Wei Lingzhen, Du Dongtu, and the other bigwigs were currently seated in the hall.
Below them stood the cultivators who had passed the provincial exam. All of them wore solemn expressions and did not dare to make too much noise.
The atmosphere was rather suffocating. Liu Wudiao and the other bigwigs were already showing slight signs of displeasure while the cultivators’ expressions had already become impatient and annoyed.
They were all waiting for Lin Xun.
However, there was still no sign of him until now, making them feel rather unhappy.
Traditionally, the provincial exam certificates were given out according to the rankings, starting with first place.
It was a custom to show that the empire valued these cultivators and also a form of glory for each of them.
Thus, the certificate award ceremony could not begin without Lin Xun, leaving everyone in the hall with no choice but to wait.
One of the bigwigs could no longer hold back and spoke out to show his dissatisfaction. “Lin Xun is too sloppy. I can’t believe he’s so late for such an important event. Is the provincial exam certificate so unimportant to him?”“Hmph, never mind about his antics during the provincial exam. After all, they’re still young and it's understandable for them to have some pride. However, the provincial exam results are already out but we are all waiting here for a single person. This is too much.”
“When he comes, I will definitely not let him off lightly!”
“Right, we also have to teach him a lesson that he will not forget. This is all for his own sake.”
The other bigwigs also chimed in and vocalized their dissatisfaction with Lin Xun.
The exam passers inwardly gloated as they waited to see what would happen to Lin Xun.
They were also frustrated from waiting and sorely wished to see the bigwigs teach Lin Xun a lesson and make him suffer.
Governor Liu Wudiao said, “Everyone, don’t get too agitated. Regardless of what reason he has, Lin Xun is in the wrong this time. I will make sure to reprimand him when he arrives.”
A guard suddenly rushed into the hall, still anxiously sweating as he reported, “Governor, someone has barged into the City Lord Residence!”
Everyone was shocked after hearing this. Barging into the City Lord Residence at such a time? Isn’t that courting your own death? Does the trespasser think all the bigwigs here are just for show?
“What’s going on?”
Liu Wudiao frowned.
“The trespasser claims he is here to collect the certificate on Lin Xun’s behalf. After being rejected by Lord Ruan, the trespasser went on a rampage…”
Before the guard could finish, someone unhappily snorted, “Lin Xun is too much. Never mind if he didn’t come himself, I can’t believe he dared to send a troublemaker. He’s clearly showing no respect for any of us!”
The other bigwigs frowned as well, unable to understand what the hell was Lin Xun doing.
The exam passers’ eyes had widened in shock. Who is this crazy bastard who has the balls to barge into the City Lord Residence? Does he think he can do as he pleases just because he mentioned Lin Xun’s name?
Anger flared in Liu Wudiao’s heart. He abruptly stood up and said, “I want to see which arrogant bastard dares to barge into my territory!”
A terrifying presence surged from his body, causing the atmosphere to solidify as an oppressive pressure flooded the hall.
A bold, rough-sounding chuckle sounded from outside the hall. “Please forgive me for making everyone wait.”
A towering figure strode in, accompanied by a suffocating pressure. Everyone felt as if they were looking at a majestic walking mountain instead of a man.
The cultivators’ bodies turned cold, causing them to tremble as their hair stood on end.
Several bigwigs’ expressions changed slightly. Their pupils shrank as they stood up from their seats.
Only Liu Wudiao, Wei Lingzhen, and a handful of others had stunned looks as if they were unable to believe their eyes.
The towering mountain-like figure was naturally Xue Jin. His gaze scanned the hall before pausing on Liu Wudiao as he grinned and said, “Liu Wudiao, it’s been so many years since we’ve last met. You’ve become increasingly adept at displaying your governor's authority.”
“Why is it you?”
Liu Wudiao’s aura immediately withdrew. He looked at Xue Jin with a complicated mix of surprise, wariness, and a sliver of repulsion.
“Why can’t it be me?”
Xue Jin also withdrew his aura and returned to his usual lazy appearance.
In an instant, everyone realized that the towering man was acquainted with Governor Liu Wudiao!
Liu Wudiao sighed helplessly. “It’s been years since we last met but you still act the same. Let me guess, you’re here to fight me again?”
The crowd could not help but gasp. Governor Liu Wudiao was one of the few peak Heaven Ascension stage experts in the southwest province. His words implied that he had fought the towering man more than once!
Xue Jin laughed. “I’m not here to fight. It’s meaningless for us to fight anyways and it would be more entertaining to slay a few pieces of trash from the Darkness Race. I came to help Lin Xun collect his provincial exam certificate.”
Everyone finally returned to their senses. So he was the trespasser!
For a time, numerous people looked uneasy as if they were unable to believe what they had just heard. They had thought Lin Xun had made a critical mistake by sending a proxy to collect his provincial exam certificate. Moreover, the proxy had acted above the rules and unreasonably barged into the City Lord Residence.
Who could have imagined that the proxy sent by Lin Xun would turn out to be a peerless expert?!
Even Liu Wudiao could not help but be taken aback. After a long time, he sighed and said, “No wonder. I should have guessed this long ago but I did not expect that it would be you.”
Xue Jin chuckled and did not say anything.
Liu Wudiao no longer hesitated and passed Lin Xun’s certificate to Xue Jin. “Take it.”
“Thanks, I’ll grab you for a drink if there’s a chance in the future.”
Xue Jin’s gaze swept across the surroundings and he smiled. “Everyone, I’m an uncultured person who isn’t good with etiquette. If I’ve offended anyone earlier, I hope that you may find it in your heart to forgive me. Alright, I shan’t waste any of your time anymore. Goodbye.”
He turned around and left without looking back.
Liu Wudiao did not stop Xue Jin. After he left, Liu Wudiao returned to his seat and frowned. “I can’t believe he willingly stayed there.”
“After the Cangshan Blood Sunset battle, I heard he left with grave injuries and never appeared again. I did not expect that he…”
Wei Lingzhen sighed as he seemed to recall the past.
The other bigwigs were confused and puzzled. They could not help but ask, “Who was that?”
The cultivators in the hall were also curious to find out.
Liu Wudiao thought for a brief moment before he transmitted to the other bigwigs. “I shall not reveal his origins. You only need to know that the Black Glory notices that were received by the noble factions in the city should be related to him.”
A member of the Black Glory Sacred Hall!
The bigwigs instantly arrived at the same conclusion, causing their hearts to shake as their expressions turned complicated. Lin Xun had sent an expert from Black Glory Sacred Hall to collect his provincial exam certificate? What relationship did he have with Black Glory Sacred Hall?
Although the exam passers did not hear the transmission, they could tell from the earlier events that the towering man was a formidable character.
The thought of Lin Xun using someone like that as an errand boy made their minds and hearts churn wildly.
It was at this moment that Ruan Lingdu hurriedly stumbled into the hall. His face was swollen like a pig’s and his hair was in a mess, making him look extremely miserable. “Milord, why did you let that criminal go?”
Numerous people looked at him strangely. This fellow still didn’t understand the situation after being beaten up by Xue Jin…
How pitiful!
Ruan Lingdu had originally been outraged but he immediately realized something was wrong from the strange gazes everyone was giving him. He stammered, “Milord, is that person…”
Liu Wudiao nodded.
Ruan Lingdu felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He also felt incomparably embarrassed and wished that a hole would suddenly open up and swallow him. He had not only offended someone he could not afford to but had also suffered a great humiliation!
This is all that blasted Lin Xun’s fault!
If Chu Feng found out, he would be overjoyed to know that Xue Jin had unintentionally taught Ruan Lingdu a painful lesson.
If Lin Xun knew that all of the blame had been placed on him because of this affair, he would definitely grumble that it was unfair.
However, even if Lin Xun did find out, he would not care too much. He was about to leave Haze City so there was no reason to bother about such silly things.
On the second day after Xue Jin brought back the certificate, Lin Xun finally finished making his toys and walked out of the room.
He had already packed his belongings and was prepared to leave immediately for the Forbidden City!
……
Outside the city gates.
Lin Xun earnestly said, “Old Jin, I don’t know when we’ll meet again but if you encounter any problematic situations in the future, let me know and I’ll definitely help if I can.”
Xue Jin disdainfully replied, “Hurry up and get lost. We can talk about such things after you have the power to defeat me!”
Lin Xun unhappily said, “This is our farewell, can’t you be a little more serious?”
Xue Jin said, “No.”
Lin Xun rolled his eyes, turned around, and began walking away.
“Kid, I won’t avenge you if you die. So you’d better not die.”
Xue Jin’s lazy voice sounded from behind, causing Lin Xun’s expression to twitch. Annoyed, he waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t die before you, so you’d better not die before me!”
Xue Jin roared with laughter.
Only after Lin Xun’s figure disappeared into the horizon did Xue Jin finally withdraw his smile. He retrieved a bottle of liquor, downed it in a single gulp, and let out a long sigh.
“A man gives his all, never backs down even in the face of a thousand enemies, is always ferocious and fearless in battle, and views death as the return…kid, till we meet again!”
Xue Jin drunkenly walked forward amidst his mumbling. He had no intention of returning to Haze City. After all, his mission was already complete.
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