"Junior Sister Zhao, what’s..."

Wang He, who had been leading the way and showing off his knowledge, watched this sudden scene unfold, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

The attendants behind him saw what was happening and were about to step forward to intervene, but they were sent flying after a single clash, collapsing to the ground with painful groans.

The chattering discussion among the group of Jasper Pool Sect disciples also came to an abrupt halt.

Many of them still didn’t understand what was happening and could only cast confused and uneasy glances toward Zhao Dieyi.

Each of the armed guards before them exuded a potent Evil Qi and a murderous aura, causing the pretty faces of the young women, who had little to no experience with real combat, to turn pale.

Many of them couldn’t help but tremble.

Meanwhile, Zhao Dieyi’s brows were tightly knit, her pretty face was tense, and her hands clenched her sleeves as she glared hostilely at the approaching Jiang Lan.

She hadn’t expected to run into Jiang Lan here. She had thought that since Anyang City was so large, it wouldn’t be easy for him to find her.

"Jiang Lan, what is the meaning of this?"

she asked, her voice crisp and hard, devoid of its previous gentle demeanor.

At the same time, she took a subtle step forward, shielding her junior sisters behind her as she fixed a vigilant gaze on Jiang Lan.

"Little Sister Dieyi, why ask what you already know? After we parted in such a hurry that day, you didn’t even leave me a Communication Jade Talisman or anything."

"We agreed to get closer in the future, yet you just left without a word," Jiang Lan said with a faint smile.

"Jiang..."

Hearing this, Wang He finally reacted. His expression flickered, and then he let out a deep, somewhat dejected sigh.

He had intended to step forward and use his family background to his advantage, but as soon as he heard the name, he knew this was someone he absolutely could not afford to provoke.

No wonder he dared to be so arrogant as to have his men corner them here in the Drunken Immortal Residence.

Guests in the other private rooms heard the commotion and poked their heads out, wanting to see what was going on.

But upon hearing the name, they all hurriedly pulled their heads back in, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.

Zhao Dieyi’s heart sank. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

She had thought the commotion would alert the staff of the Drunken Immortal Residence, but no one had come over.

There were rumors that the Changlong Business Alliance was an enterprise of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. She hadn’t fully believed them before, but now it seemed they were more than just rumors.

"That day in Yu Yi City, my grandfather and I clearly bid you farewell," Zhao Dieyi said, taking a deep breath.

Now, her grandfather was not by her side.

This was Jiang Lan’s territory, and she dared not provoke him recklessly.

If he truly cast all caution to the wind and decided to do something to her and her junior sisters, they would be powerless to stop him.

Although Wang He was a young master of the Wang Family of Anyang City, in front of a man like Jiang Lan, the most powerful noble in Great Xia, he wasn’t even qualified to carry his shoes.

She didn’t expect Wang He to step up and help.

A moment ago, he had been acting so high and mighty, looking full of verve, but now he was cowering in the back, not daring to utter a single word.

"When did that happen? How is it that I don’t recall hearing anything?"

Jiang Lan, still wearing a faint smile, walked up to Zhao Dieyi. Ignoring her frosty expression, he leaned his head close, seemingly taking a light sniff of her neck, which was as fair as snow. "Little Sister Dieyi," he said, "you smell as sweet as ever."

"You..."

Zhao Dieyi was so furious her body tensed, her expression grew even colder, and her hands clenched into fists with an audible creak.

She could even feel the warmth of his breath on her neck. And yet, in this situation, reason told her, ’I can’t make a move.’

"Elder Zhao isn’t here today. I suppose there’s no one left to protect you now, is there?" Jiang Lan chuckled softly.

"You... Don’t you go too far," Zhao Dieyi said through gritted teeth, trembling with rage.

"You weren’t like this that day in Yu Yi City when you were cursing me. Why have you suddenly wilted?" Jiang Lan smiled again, his gaze sweeping over the Jasper Pool Sect disciples behind her.

"Is it because you have a group of junior sisters with you today?"

"As expected of disciples from the Jasper Pool Sect. Every one of them is so succulent and delicate, and quite beautiful too."

"Senior Sister Zhao..."

Seeing Jiang Lan size them up one by one,

the Jasper Pool Sect disciples behind Zhao Dieyi grew pale, unable to hide the terror and unease on their faces.

Even their Senior Sister Zhao, a young lady of the great Zhao Clan of Great Xia, dared not make a rash move, to say nothing of them.

"Jiang Lan, every grievance has its source. I’m the one you have a problem with, so let my junior sisters go."

"They’re innocent."

Seeing this, Zhao Dieyi spread her arms to block Jiang Lan, gritting her teeth like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Jiang Lan said with great interest, "And if I don’t let them go? Are you planning to threaten me? But what could you possibly use to threaten me?"

"Your grandfather?"

Zhao Dieyi’s face flushed red with anger. She gritted her teeth and said, "They are all disciples of the Jasper Pool Sect. If anything should happen to them, the Jasper Pool Sect will surely seek trouble with the Prime Minister’s Mansion..."

Jiang Lan interrupted her with a laugh. "That’s fine. I’m quite familiar with this sort of thing. It’s nothing that can’t be smoothed over with a few Spirit Stones and treasures. The Jasper Pool Sect won’t be ungrateful. Don’t just say a few disciples; even if it were an Elder from the Jasper Pool Sect, as long as there are enough Spirit Stones, there’s no trouble that can’t be resolved."

"And if Spirit Stones and treasures can’t solve it, then I’ll just send my men to beat the Jasper Pool Sect into submission."

"You..."

’Truly shameless.’

Zhao Dieyi was so angry she was speechless. It seemed that in Jiang Lan’s worldly view, any problem that could be solved with Spirit Stones and treasures wasn’t a problem at all.

Moreover, for him to say such things in front of everyone—it was utterly and completely unrestrained.

The disciples of the Jasper Pool Sect were even more terrified, their faces drained of all color.

They finally understood what Senior Sister Zhao meant when she had told them to give anyone with the surname Jiang a wide berth.

This was the height of arrogance and tyranny, to completely disregard the Jasper Pool Sect, a sect famous throughout the Celestial Central Province.

"Little Sister Dieyi, I’m sure you don’t want to see this little group of junior sisters of yours bullied by me, do you?"

Jiang Lan continued, still smiling faintly. "I’ve already had a banquet prepared on the top floor. Right now, we’re just missing a beautiful woman to serve wine."

"I wonder, which of your junior sisters will you have keep us company? Or... will you do it yourself?"

Zhao Dieyi trembled with rage, her teeth clenched tight. If looks could kill, Jiang Lan would have been obliterated, body and soul, countless times over.

But right now, she didn’t have the courage to speak, let alone to act.

Worse, memories she had deliberately tried to forget began to surface like a nightmare, filling her with a subtle fear and dread, and her face grew even paler.

Jiang Lan, however, paid her no mind. He lightly tapped her jade-like, flawless cheek with his folding fan before pushing her aside.

Then, with great interest, he began to size up the Jasper Pool Sect disciples behind Zhao Dieyi.

None of them dared to meet his gaze, shrinking back in fear.

That included Wang He, who looked utterly chagrined as he lowered his head, trying his best to avoid any eye contact with Jiang Lan.

"Hm?"

"Lift your head." Jiang Lan’s gaze suddenly fell upon one of the girls. He closed his fan and used it to lift her tightly lowered, fair chin.