"By the way, what was your name again? Lin something? I’ve been so focused on finding Meng Qing lately that my memory isn’t what it used to be." Marquis Red Blood looked at Lin Hao, actually deigning to ask his name.

These words from Marquis Red Blood made it clear he didn’t see Lin Hao as anyone of importance.

Or perhaps, he had another, deeper meaning.

’I’ve done everything you asked. Now it’s time for you to get lost.’

Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then, with a look of pure innocence, he replied, "My name is Lin Hao. You’re getting on in years, Uncle. You shouldn’t be overexerting yourself."

The expressions of the others changed drastically when they heard this.

They were all men of a Patriarch’s standing, so they all understood the hidden barb in Lin Hao’s words.

He was basically calling Marquis Red Blood a lecherous old man trying to prey on a young woman.

Lin Hao was far too audacious!

Marquis Red Blood ruled Chijing County; he was a true feudal lord. For Lin Hao to dare speak to him this way was utterly outrageous!

"You..." Marquis Red Blood’s expression changed, and anger surged within him.

As a noble feudal lord, no one in Chijing County dared to defy him. Not even Patriarchs or Mansion Lord Level figures!

But now, some little brat actually dared to speak to him in such a manner.

He was simply courting death!

Meng Qing was startled and quickly stepped in front of Lin Hao. "He’s just a child, don’t make things difficult for him. I’ll go back with you."

Hearing this, Marquis Red Blood smiled.

But Lin Hao frowned.

He was now certain that while Marquis Red Blood lusted after Meng Qing, she definitely did not want to return to him.

He had just saved her from one hellhole; it made no sense to push her into another.

Lin Hao grabbed Meng Qing’s hand and pulled her behind him.

Marquis Red Blood looked at Lin Hao’s hand, and a murderous glint flashed through his eyes before disappearing.

He hadn’t known Meng Qing for long, but he had been captivated by her peerless beauty.

However, despite being a man who had killed countless people, Marquis Red Blood disdained the idea of forcing himself on a woman.

Therefore, he had never even touched Meng Qing’s hand.

Now, suddenly seeing the hand of the woman he fancied held by another male—even a young one—Marquis Red Blood was thoroughly pissed.

For the first time, he felt a genuine urge to kill Lin Hao.

"Your Lordship, Young Master Lin doesn’t know any better. Please don’t lower yourself to his level." Beside Marquis Red Blood, Eighty-Eight spoke with a smile.

Standing by Marquis Red Blood’s side, he could naturally feel his anger.

Anyone from the Treasure Hunting Pavilion who saw Lin Hao had to ensure his safety at all costs.

This was an order that came from the Wenren family in the Imperial City.

As a trusted confidant of the Wenren family, Eighty-Eight naturally didn’t dare disobey this order, which is why he spoke up.

Marquis Red Blood turned his head, looked at Eighty-Eight, then at Lin Hao, his expression changing slightly. He asked, "Is he *that* Lin Hao, the one the Wenren family knows?"

Eighty-Eight nodded.

At this, Marquis Red Blood’s expression changed again.

At first, he hadn’t taken Lin Hao seriously at all. So when he heard the name Lin Hao, besides it sounding a little familiar, he didn’t think much of it.

But now that the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion was speaking up for him, Marquis Red Blood finally realized something was amiss.

Seeing Eighty-Eight nod, Marquis Red Blood’s expression soured.

He had heard the name Lin Hao before.

Chijing County was made up of countless prefectures like the Southern Border Prefecture, so naturally, he wouldn’t know what Lin Hao had done in War Dragon City.

However, he did know that Lin Hao seemed to have some connection to the Wenren family, and that was all.

And the reason his expression had soured was because he felt Eighty-Eight was being deeply disrespectful.

To speak up at a time like this for some youth who merely had a vague connection to the Wenren family... It was a blatant show of disrespect.

"Of course I won’t stoop to his level," Marquis Red Blood declared, "but there’s nothing wrong with me teaching him a lesson on behalf of his elders!"

He might be wary of the Wenren family, but he refused to believe they would sour relations with him—the sovereign of an entire county—over a minor Pavilion Master.

In his eyes, Eighty-Eight’s status was no different from an ant’s when compared to his own.

And as for Lin Hao, that went without saying.

Unfortunately, he had greatly underestimated Lin Hao’s importance to the Wenren family.

After speaking, Marquis Red Blood’s gaze shot towards Lin Hao like a bolt of lightning.

The oppressive might of a Soul Gathering Realm expert was on full display.

To Marquis Red Blood, a single oppressive glance was more than enough to make a mere Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Artist cough up blood.

But in the next moment, his line of sight was obstructed by the figure of Eighty-Eight.

"You’re courting death!" In front of this crowd, Marquis Red Blood wouldn’t kill a junior like Lin Hao, but Eighty-Eight was a different story.

To openly defy him was to ask for death.

"Marquis Red Blood, just because I show you respect doesn’t mean I fear you. If you dare touch him, I guarantee that even a Marquis like yourself will face the wrath of the Wenren family!"

Eighty-Eight’s spine suddenly straightened, and he stared directly at Marquis Red Blood.

This turn of events left everyone stunned.

The Pavilion Master of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion was openly challenging Marquis Red Blood, all for Lin Hao’s sake!

"He lacks discipline. I am merely teaching him a lesson in his elders’ stead. You are overstepping! And stop trying to use the Wenren family to intimidate me! The Wenren family may be one of the four great families, but don’t forget, they still reside on the soil of the Cangnan Empire."

Marquis Red Blood’s tone grew imperious.

Eighty-Eight had the Wenren family backing him, but the Marquis had the entire Empire at his back. The difference in power was immediately obvious!

As soon as these words were spoken, Eighty-Eight’s expression changed.

But he still did not back down.

"Pavilion Master, my thanks. But he’s just a marquis. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself." Lin Hao’s voice suddenly rang out.

HISS!

A collective hiss filled the air as everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

Lin Hao was simply too arrogant. Didn’t he know that saying this would just add fuel to the fire?!

Or was he so confident because he had an ace up his sleeve?

But then, they remembered the events that had transpired in War Dragon City.

Lu Xinyuan’s eyes flickered, and he whispered a few words into the ear of the already furious Marquis Red Blood.

A flash of surprise crossed Marquis Red Blood’s eyes. Then he nodded, his expression softening somewhat.

Finally, Lu Xinyuan hurried inside the main gate.

Meanwhile, Marquis Red Blood became surprisingly composed and said nothing more.

As for the other person, the Ling family Patriarch, he hadn’t said a word from beginning to end, as if he were invisible.

"Young Master Lin, and this young lady, please do me the honor of visiting the Treasure Hunting Pavilion." Eighty-Eight ignored the others, turning to invite Lin Hao and Meng Qing.

Meng Qing naturally knew of the famous Treasure Hunting Pavilion. She couldn’t understand why its Pavilion Master was being so polite to Lin Hao.

Hearing this, her gaze fixed on Lin Hao, a pleading look flashing in her eyes.

For her sake, Lin Hao had openly confronted Marquis Red Blood. Meng Qing was deeply moved, a complex mix of emotions stirring within her.

But she was well aware of Marquis Red Blood’s power. Even a hundred Lin Haos combined would be no match for him.

Now that the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion had spoken up, this was a rare opportunity, and she desperately hoped Lin Hao would agree.

Although Lin Hao was much younger than her, she looked to him as if he were the one in charge.

Meng Qing was definitely the kind of woman who could drive a man to madness.

No wonder even Marquis Red Blood had been captivated by her.

Lin Hao shrugged, his eyes fixed on Marquis Red Blood.

He believed Marquis Red Blood would not let them leave.

Sure enough, Marquis Red Blood spoke.

"It would be a dishonor for a noble Marquis such as myself to personally strike you. How about I make a bet with you today?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Marquis Red Blood said with a smile.

"Not interested!" Lin Hao’s reply was enough to make one keel over from anger.

At the very least, when Marquis Red Blood heard those two words, his face immediately froze.

"What if this bet involves Meng Qing... and her!" Marquis Red Blood said, suddenly stepping aside.

Lin Hao saw that people had appeared behind him.

One was Lu Xinyuan, who had returned. The second was Lu Diewu. And beside her stood an exceptionally dashing young nobleman.

The "her" Marquis Red Blood spoke of referred to Lu Diewu.

Lin Hao’s brow furrowed.

"Lin Hao, if you can defeat the Young Marquis without using your Body Technique, you can take both Diewu and Meng Qing with you," Lu Xinyuan announced.

The reason Lu Xinyuan dared to propose this bet was naturally because he had Marquis Red Blood’s approval.

And for Lu Xinyuan, being in the Southern Border Prefecture, to propose the condition of not using a Body Technique, showed that he understood Lin Hao very well.

The Lu family, or more accurately, Lu Xinyuan, had no major power backing him. In front of Marquis Red Blood, he would absolutely not make a bet he wasn’t confident of winning.

In other words, under the condition that no Body Technique is used, Lu Xinyuan was certain that this Young Marquis would win.

Lin Hao’s expression turned cold.

’So the so-called stakes are human beings.’

Using two women as betting chips, Lin Hao’s contempt for this Marquis Red Blood reached its peak.

"How boring!" Lin Hao said, not hiding his contempt at all.

"Hahaha! Lin Hao, everyone in the Southern Border Prefecture knows Dieyi broke off her engagement to you. Just imagine if you win her younger sister! It would be the most spectacular slap in the face," Lu Xinyuan roared with laughter.

Lin Hao was utterly floored by Lu Xinyuan’s twisted logic.

He had personally heard Lu Diewu call him Second Uncle.

In other words, Lu Diewu was his niece.

To use his own niece as a wager and still be able to laugh so heartily... Lin Hao was truly in awe of Lu Xinyuan’s shamelessness.

Lu Diewu was startled to suddenly see Lin Hao. Then, her face filled with hope, she opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

"As the son of the County Marquis, it is your great fortune that I have taken an interest in you, yet you remain ungrateful! And you, do you really think *he* can save you?!" The dashing young nobleman beside Lu Diewu saw her expression, understood her intent, and sneered.

This was naturally the "Young Marquis" that Lu Xinyuan had mentioned.

"Diewu, the Young Marquis is the Marquis’s only son and will one day inherit the title. He is a true dragon among men. Once he defeats Lin Hao, you will understand. Your engagement to him today is our Lu family climbing to a higher branch. Stop being so obstinate!"

Lu Xinyuan chimed in from the side.

"Urk... urk..." Lu Diewu tried to speak, but only choking sounds came out.

Her mute acupoint had been struck.

"I won’t fight you," Lin Hao said, speaking to the Young Marquis.

The Young Marquis smiled brilliantly. "You don’t dare?"

"In my heart, men and women are equal. A woman is not a man’s accessory, and she should certainly never be used as a wager," Lin Hao stated. Then, a wicked grin spread across his face as he continued, "Of course, if you’re really sincere about this, I wouldn’t mind if you put your mother up as the stake. I happen to need someone to empty my chamber pot."

Meng Qing let out a PFFT of laughter before forcing herself to suppress it.

Eighty-Eight, on the other hand, looked at Lin Hao with a face full of admiration.

Even the Ling family Patriarch, who had been acting like an invisible man, showed a look of horror.

’The Young Marquis’s mother? Isn’t that the Marchioness? Lin Hao is completely lawless! How dare he say she should empty his chamber pot!’

’It seems Xiao’er will have a formidable rival in the Heaven-Stepping Sect.’

Adhering to the principle of ’better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix,’ the Ling family Patriarch had sent his son, Ling Xiao, to the Heaven-Stepping Sect with the sole purpose of him one day claiming the Sect Leader’s position.

But now, seeing Lin Hao’s performance, he couldn’t help but worry.

And it was because of Lin Hao’s words that this man, who had remained silent all along, unprecedentedly opened his mouth to speak.