Chapter 57: Leaving the City Again, Failing to Win Public Support

Sikong Jing pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead, saying, "Wait for me at home, my dear wife. How could I not return?"

Watching her husband walk away, Su Yuexi touched the moisture on her forehead, her heart overflowing with sweetness.

At the city gate, Sikong Jing met Luo Ning again.

Beside her stood two fierce soldiers in full military attire. Both were at the peak of the Dark Realm, and their presence was ambiguous.

"Regarding your departure from the city, I have already obtained permission from General Chou Ye," Luo Ning said.

"However, he said that as a matter of routine, he must send two soldiers to monitor you—these two before you."

Luo Ning pointed to the two soldiers as an introduction.

Sikong Jing didn't mind. After a nod of acknowledgment to the two men, they set out from the city together.

The Rushun Mountains were not far from Yunye City, and the group arrived by noon that same day.

At the foot of the Rushun Mountains lay a small town called Rushun Town.

This was the staging point for martial artists and merchant caravans entering the mountains for adventure or herb gathering.

Because of the jade veins within the Rushun Mountains, the Luoshui Jade Firm also maintained a sizable courtyard in Rushun Town.

As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, a murderous aura rushed toward them.

A man in his thirties with a small beard approached them and said, "Cousin, you're back."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man shifted his gaze to Sikong Jing and asked in a low voice, "Cousin, is this the expert you went all the way to Yunye City for, even at the cost of thirty percent of the city's profits?"

After speaking, a thick hostility suddenly flared on the man's face.

The thirty percent profit was originally intended for the Su family, a matter already approved by the high-level management of the Luoshui Jade Firm. However, Su Xuefeng's attitude toward Sikong Jing's family had immediately caused Luo Ning to change her plans.

She had now changed the terms to two conditions promised to Sikong Jing, but the people of the Luoshui Jade Firm were not yet aware of this.

Luo Ning did not explain, saying instead, "Cousin Xiao Wu, his name is Sikong Jing. He is the one..."

Before she could finish, the bearded man pointed at Sikong Jing and barked, "Kid, my cousin said that in this duel, you will take the lead instead of her. Now, I want to know—what makes you qualified?"

His voice carried waves of fury, his eyes widened, and his true qi began to circulate—he was at the seventh level of the Dark Realm.

On the way here, Sikong Jing had learned the rules of the duel from Luo Ning.

Both major merchant firms would each send one hundred experts under the age of thirty and below the Human Realm to compete. Whoever killed the Qianyu Leopard first would be the winner.

The bearded man before him was Luo Ning's cousin and was the strongest expert participating in the duel for the Luoshui Jade Firm.

Naturally, he was unwilling. Luo Ning herself was at the sixth level of the Dark Realm, but she was the eldest young lady of the Luoshui Jade Firm. Why should this man named Sikong Jing be able to stand above him?

Furthermore, why did he receive such importance from his cousin?

Staring at her cousin Xiao Wu, Luo Ning frowned but said nothing.

Instead, she glanced slightly at Sikong Jing. At the very least, he needed to demonstrate his strength to convince her cousin and the others, right?

This duel was extremely important.

Sikong Jing understood this logic as well, but he simply shrugged and said, "Then you can take the lead. I don't mind."

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Wu and Luo Ning were stunned. What did he mean?

Just then, a second man stepped out from behind Xiao Wu, sneering, "At least you know your place. Otherwise, our Brother Xiao..."

Before he could finish, Sikong Jing interrupted, "Once we enter the Qianyu Leopard's territory, I will act alone. I don't need to command anyone."

He offered a brief explanation; the Qianyu Leopard meant nothing to him, and too many people would only become a hindrance.

Since he wanted to obtain the Yuanzhen Pill, he naturally wanted to complete the task quickly to prevent the Luoshui Jade Firm from losing to the Leiying Merchant Firm.

Of course, he didn't explicitly say the word "hindrance" to avoid being insulting.

Even so, Xiao Wu exploded in rage, asking with a distorted face, "Are you saying we will be your burdens?"

Sikong Jing frowned, shrugged again, and replied, "I didn't say that. You said it yourself."

Having said that, Sikong Jing looked at Luo Ning and asked casually, "Can we set off now?"

Luo Ning's lips twitched slightly. This Sikong Jing was just as direct and domineering as he had been at the post station.

Did he have no fear of the Qianyu Leopard at all? Or was this simply his personality?

However, thinking of Sikong Jing's terrifying combat power, Luo Ning took a deep breath and replied, "We can depart once the Leiying Merchant Firm arrives in Rushun Town."

"Fine. I'll find a place to cultivate first. Call me when the Leiying Merchant Firm arrives."

With that, Sikong Jing walked straight into the Luoshui Jade Firm's courtyard and found a random corner to begin his cultivation.

He didn't place much importance on the duel itself, but taking down that demon beast deep in the Rushun Mountains would not be easy. Sikong Jing intended to raise his realm to the Dark Realm before hunting it.

"Brother Xiao, I can't take it anymore. I want to hit him."

The man who had spoken earlier couldn't help but growl; this Sikong Jing was too arrogant.

Xiao Wu's eyes were also filled with cold light as he stared at Sikong Jing in the corner, his fists clenched.

However, Luo Ning's voice rang out: "All of you, shut up. You can't beat him."

The scene of Sikong Jing slaughtering the fierce beast and bandit group was still vivid in Luo Ning's mind, even after several days.

As she spoke, Luo Ning stared intensely at Xiao Wu, warning him sternly, "Cousin, do not engage in unnecessary arguments with Young Master Sikong. Our ability to win this time depends entirely on him."

After saying this, Luo Ning turned and entered her room in the courtyard.

Xiao Wu felt an extreme sense of frustration. He looked back at Sikong Jing, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.

Depend on him? On what basis?

But no matter how angry Xiao Wu was, he did not dare to defy Luo Ning's wishes for the time being.

Although he was her cousin, he was merely a guard leader in the Luoshui Jade Firm; his status was not high.

He could only suppress his anger, planning to settle things once they entered the Rushun Mountains.

An hour later, the Leiying Merchant Firm arrived.

Luo Ning led her people out of the courtyard, meeting the hundred-man team of the Leiying Merchant Firm head-on. Their leader was a young man.

At that moment, seeing Sikong Jing stand up and walk over, Luo Ning whispered a cautious introduction: "This is Lei Dong, Lei Shuang's brother. Although his martial strength isn't top-tier in Yunzhou City, he is at the eighth level of the Dark Realm."

Sikong Jing sized up Lei Dong. His face was filled with a mean-spiritedness that seemed to be carved from the same mold as Lei Shuang's.

Withdrawing his gaze, Sikong Jing said, "You are wrong. He is already at the peak of the Dark Realm."

Generally, martial artists hide their aura, and it is difficult for the weak to see through the strong; conversely, it is nearly impossible for the weak to see through the realm of the strong.

But Sikong Jing was an exception. As a re-cultivator, he could see through Lei Dong's realm at a single glance.

As for his own ninth level of the Bright Realm, as long as he did not release his true qi, it would be very difficult for anyone to see through him.

"Peak of the Dark Realm?" Luo Ning was stunned.

Beside her, Xiao Wu let out a cold snort, his tone sinister: "Don't act like a know-it-all if you don't know. I fought Lei Dong two days ago during the negotiations; he is at the eighth level of the Dark Realm."

Luo Ning nodded in agreement; Sikong Jing must have misjudged.