Su Wen remained silent for several seconds, his gaze slowly sweeping over them one by one. Every cultivator he looked at felt their hearts tighten, as if their lives were hanging on that single glance.
Only after making them thoroughly uncomfortable did he finally sigh.
He sheathed his Grade 2 sword back into his storage ring, then clasped his hands behind his back, once again adopting the posture of an arrogant young master.
He spoke in an irritated tone,
"You people are lucky… and shameless. Because of you… I lost a bet today."
He bowed once more toward the same empty direction.
"Senior, I lost the bet. They didn't take a single step forward after the first warning… They're not as idiotic as we thought. They can still be of some use."
After a brief pause, he reluctantly added,
"Fine!... I will give you that bottle of wine I received from the Sect Master…"
His tone made it sound as though the loss pained him far more than any treasure sword ever could.
He then turned back to the cultivators and spoke casually,
"If any one of you had dared to take even one step forward, according to the bet, Senior would have killed you personally… and I would have received a Grade 4 Treasure Sword."
Su Wen's expression darkened slightly, filled with dissatisfaction.
"You bastards… not only did you manage to save your lives, but you also made me lose my bet, my precious treasured wine, but also a Grade 4 Treasure Sword."
A chill ran down their spines. To them, their lives were nothing more than gambling stakes in someone else's game.
They immediately knelt, foreheads pressed firmly against the ground.
"Young Master, our lives may not compare to a Grade 4 Treasure Sword, but please… give us a chance to prove our worth!"
Su Wen did not answer at once. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the same "senior's direction," his expression turning solemn, as if he were listening to a voice echoing directly inside his mind.
"…As you say, Senior."
Only then did he look back at the kneeling cultivators.
"Senior wants me to take my junior sister to the Moon City Lord's mansion to seek justice. Since that is the case, tell me everything you know about them. I do not like going anywhere unprepared."
The cultivators were stunned for a moment… then their hearts surged with relief. Not only had their lives been spared, they were now given a chance to curry favour with a supposed Great Eastern Sect disciple.
"Young Master," one of the leaders hurriedly began, "the City Lord himself is an Early-stage Golden Core realm cultivator."
He swallowed nervously before continuing.
"And the City Lord's son, Lu Tang, is at Peak Foundation Establishment. He used to be trash, barely an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator… but over the last few months, he has completely transformed."
His tone turned complicated, mixed with envy.
"Now he is hailed as a late-blooming genius, with prospects of entering the Central Continent."
Another group leader spoke up, hesitating at first, but unwilling to fall behind in currying favour.
"Y-Young Master… there are also rumours that the young lord of Moon City is cultivating a dark technique."
His voice lowered instinctively.
"That is the reason his breakthroughs have been happening far too quickly…"
Another cultivator quickly added, eager to contribute, "He even placed a bounty of six hundred mid-grade spirit stones on your junior sister, Du Yue. And also… a few days ago, her father suddenly disappeared…"
Su Wen interrupted coldly and arrogantly.
"Don't worry about her father. Senior already brought him to my junior sister to deliver justice and to heal her cracked Dao Heart. Do you think just anyone can heal such injuries? Only Senior can..."
The kneeling cultivators immediately understood.
Only someone at Senior's level could make Du Yufeng vanish without leaving even a trace.
At that moment, their belief in the mysterious senior became completely unshakable. Not only that… their excitement surged. This was a rare chance to cling to an incomparably powerful thigh.
Meanwhile, the five cultivators who had stopped outside the ten-kilometre range could not hear the conversation due to the lingering interference of the tribulation. But when they saw everyone kneeling before Su Wen and bowing toward an empty direction, they were utterly dumbfounded.
The kneeling cultivators began to fawn shamelessly.
"Senior is truly powerful and benevolent. I heard the young lady was seriously injured after her failed tribulation, yet Senior healed her and even gave her justice…"
"She is blessed by the heavens to encounter such a protector."
"She is a heaven-defying genius. Her future in the Central Continent will surely be brilliant."
"With such a senior backing her, who would dare touch her again?"
As they spoke, Du Yue's aura gradually stabilized and settled.
Wrapped in flowing blue robes, she looked ethereal, like a goddess descended among mortals. Her smile was gentle and serene… yet to Su Wen, it was sharp enough to pierce straight into his heart.
He stared at her blankly, his mouth unconsciously hanging open.
Du Yue slowly opened her eyes and immediately caught him staring.
"Senior Brother…" she said softly, her cheeks slightly warm, "close your mouth… or something might fly in."
Su Wen stepped down from his flying sword and landed lightly in front of Du Yue.
Before he could even say a word, Du Yue rushed forward and threw herself into his arms.
Su Wen's eyelids twitched violently.
"Y-You!? … Dumb woman, don't tell me your cultivation was already stabilised?"
Du Yue blinked at him innocently, her long lashes fluttering.
"What are you talking about, senior brother? I was obviously still stabilising my cultivation."
Then she tightened her arms around him slightly and smiled sweetly.
"It's all thanks to you… senior brother. You not only healed me, but even brought my father to me for justice…"
Her eyes curved into crescents.
"And you looked so cool when you intimidated them… hehe."
The surrounding eleven cultivators instantly froze.
Their fawning, respectful expressions vanished, replaced by a terrifying premonition rising in their hearts.
Su Wen let out a helpless sigh. He gently patted her head, but his legs finally gave out, and he fell backward onto the ground, still holding her tightly in his arms.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhausted… not only physically, but mentally as well… from the killing, and from the lingering worry over Du Yue's tribulation.
'In my previous life… I never would have imagined I'd be killing people with a sword', he thought silently.
'And I definitely never expected that I'd get to witness something like a heavenly tribulation… and on top of that, have a dumb wife who would face it like ordinary thunder, with a bored expression on her face.'
Opening his eyes again, he looked at her, who was smiling like a happy child, clearly enjoying the drama that had just unfolded.
"Don't cause me so much trouble, you dumb wife…"