NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Beauty’s Offering
Chapter 38: A Beauty's Offering
"Master Luo, surely you didn't stop me just to chat, did you?" Jiang Lei spoke in a cold, firm tone, glaring at the hostile members of the Blood Vulture Martial Hall.
The leader of the Blood Vulture Martial Hall, Luo Jiu, sneered, his tone thick with disdain. "Jiang Lei, I'll be blunt. Recently, I broke through to the advanced level of the Form Creation Stage. So here are your options: either merge the Eagle Martial Hall into my Blood Vulture Hall, becoming part of our organization, or leave Great Eagle City entirely. Choose."
At Luo Jiu's words, the nearby crowd erupted in whispers. The city center, bustling with people, quickly gathered onlookers who watched with interest as two of Great Eagle City's most powerful martial halls faced off. For years, the Eagle and Blood Vulture Martial Halls had maintained a balance of power, but with Luo Jiu's advancement, it seemed he was determined to take control of the city.
On the other side, Jiang Lei and the members of the Eagle Martial Hall were visibly unsettled. As one of the city's oldest establishments, the Eagle Hall had a reputation that spanned over a decade. To be forced into a merger or driven out entirely by the Blood Vulture Hall was a humiliating proposition.
Standing near Lin Langtian, Jiang Xue clenched her delicate hands, biting her lip in frustration as her eyes flashed with anger.
"Master Luo, our two martial halls have coexisted peacefully for years. Aren't you going a bit too far?" Jiang Lei's brows furrowed as he tried to keep his voice steady.
"Hmph, victory goes to the strongest, Jiang Lei. Surely you understand that. My strength sets the rules here in Great Eagle City!" Luo Jiu scoffed, his voice laced with arrogance.
"You really think I'm afraid of you?" Jiang Lei's face turned grim as he gripped his heavy sword tightly, his energy gathering into a powerful aura that surged around him.
"Haha! Jiang Lei, you're still stuck at the basic Form Creation level, while I'm already far beyond you. Do you really think you can take me on?" Luo Jiu laughed mockingly, his expression dripping with contempt.
"Then try me!" Jiang Lei's expression darkened, and with a fierce stomp, he sprang forward, his heavy sword flashing as he aimed a sharp strike toward Luo Jiu on horseback.
"Courting death!" With a fierce glint in his eyes, Luo Jiu leaped from his horse, wielding a massive iron hammer. With a swing as powerful as a falling boulder, he brought it down on Jiang Lei's sword, creating a loud clash as energy rippled outward, cracking the ground around them.
Jiang Lei stumbled back, his feet scraping deep grooves into the earth, unable to hold his ground against the overwhelming power of Luo Jiu's hammer.
The members of the Eagle Martial Hall murmured in concern as Jiang Lei was forced back so easily by a single blow.
"You have three days," Luo Jiu said, smirking. "After that, if your Eagle Hall hasn't left Great Eagle City, I'll personally take care of it." He gave a dismissive wave to his followers, turned, and departed, leaving a clear warning in his wake.
After the confrontation, a somber mood settled over the Eagle Martial Hall. Lin Langtian, who had accompanied them back to their hall, was given a comfortable room to stay in. Reflecting on the day's events, he shook his head. In this world, strength ruled supreme, and the strong dictated their own laws. The conflicts between martial halls like this one were a constant occurrence across the realm.
Although he'd spent a few days with the Eagle Martial Hall, Lin Langtian felt little personal attachment to them. He had already repaid his debt by saving them from the leopard-crocodile beasts in the Misty Forest, and he saw no reason to intervene further.
As he was preparing to rest, a soft knock came at the door. He recognized the voice of Jiang Xue calling gently from outside.
"Come in," he replied, curious as to why she'd come so late.
The door creaked open, allowing the moonlight to spill in. Jiang Xue stepped into the room, her graceful figure outlined by the soft glow. Lin Langtian's eyes lingered on her for a moment, taken aback by her refined beauty. Dressed in a blue-green gown over a purple robe, her snow-white skin and delicate features were strikingly illuminated by the moonlight. Her dark hair flowed over her slender waist, and a light blush colored her cheeks.
As she met his gaze, Jiang Xue's blush deepened, and she lowered her head slightly. She closed the door behind her, holding a folded set of clean clothes in her hands.
"What brings you here so late, Miss Jiang?" Lin Langtian raised an eyebrow.
"These are fresh clothes," she replied softly, placing the neatly folded clothes on a table, her head bowed. Her face grew warmer under the soft light, her expression a mix of shyness and determination.
"You could have just sent a servant to deliver these," Lin Langtian remarked calmly, studying her. "Miss Jiang, are you here about what happened earlier today?"
Jiang Xue froze momentarily before nodding, her gaze falling to the floor. She spoke in a soft, hesitant voice. "My mother passed away when I was young, so my father has raised me and Yinyin alone. Eventually, he founded the Eagle Martial Hall here in Great Eagle City. This hall is his life's work. If it were to be destroyed… it would devastate him. I can't bear to see him lose everything."
Biting her lip, Jiang Xue's voice shook slightly with sadness. "So I wanted to ask for your help, my lord. With your skills, you should be able to defeat Luo Jiu."
Lin Langtian's expression didn't change; it was clear he had expected her request. "While Luo Jiu doesn't concern me, Miss Jiang, I've already repaid my debt to you for guiding me through the Misty Forest. I help those who are worthy, but I don't intervene in every conflict that comes my way. I have no reason to get involved in your hall's battle with the Blood Vulture Hall."
Lin Langtian understood that in a world as ruthless as this one, low-key caution was essential. Showing off his strength recklessly would only draw trouble and potential threats. Even if Luo Jiu's power was no match for his own, he saw no benefit in making an enemy without cause.
Looking down, Jiang Xue seemed conflicted. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, her face filled with resolve. "If you can save our Eagle Martial Hall from dissolution, I am willing to serve you, body and soul!"
With that, she took a deep breath, unclasped her waist sash, and let her robe fall away, revealing a flawless, white figure beneath the moonlight.
Lin Langtian's eyes widened slightly, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden sight of her bare, elegant form.
Tall and graceful, Jiang Xue's figure was both slender and curvaceous, her waist narrow and skin smooth like jade. She stood before him, both vulnerable and determined, her eyes cast down.
"Isn't this… a bit much?" Lin Langtian said, his voice calm yet tinged with surprise.
(End of Chapter)
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