The city gate guard who had earlier spoken with Su Wen stared at the distant tornado, his spine turning cold as his knees weakened.
'Should I start packing…?' he cried inwardly.
Young Master K casually waved his hand. A burst of spiritual qi swept forward, instantly clearing a clean path down toward the underground chamber, scattering dust and rubble like mist.
Suddenly, an enraged roar echoed from below.
"Who dares…?!"
A terrifying Mid-Stage Golden Core aura exploded out from the basement, crushing down like a mountain. The air trembled, stones cracked, and even the scattered rubble vibrated as invisible pressure swept across the ruins.
Su Wen felt as if he were about to suffocate. Even standing became difficult, his legs trembling under the overwhelming force.
For an ordinary Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, they would have already collapsed unconscious on the ground… yet Su Wen remained standing.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, but he did not lower his head or bend his knees. He stood tall beside Young Master K, refusing to yield.
Young Master K placed a hand on his shoulder and in that instant, all the pressure and suffocating force vanished, as if it had never existed.
Su Wen let out a quiet breath, then smiled faintly at Young Master K, feeling genuine gratitude for having such a reliable wife.
He asked calmly, without much concern,
"Young Master K… Is this the City Lord…? Looks like he has broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core…"
Young Master K nodded calmly. "Don't worry. I am here."
His posture remained proud, exuding the serene authority like that of a Heavenly General.
They stood calmly in place, robes fluttering gently in the wind, expressions unchanged… proud, steady, and utterly unmoved, as if the raging aura before them were nothing more than a passing breeze.
From the shattered basement, the City Lord Lu Yang, finally emerged.
He was a middle-aged man in his fifties with dark, sharp eyes and an aura of natural authority, clearly honed through years of command.
Behind him followed four Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators in black robes… one of them being his son, Lu Tang.
Lu Yang slowly looked around at the dust and ruins that had once been his proud mansion. Every collapsed wall and shattered pillar felt like a blade cutting into his heart. Fury burned deep within his eyes as they finally settled back on Su Wen and Young Master K.
"Who are you?" he asked slowly, his voice cold and heavy with suppressed rage.
He did not attack immediately.
One was an Early-Stage Golden Core cultivator.
The other was only Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment… yet stood far too calmly.
He spread his Spiritual Sense across the surroundings, carefully probing every corner.
'There must be someone stronger hiding… Someone capable of causing this level of destruction…'
Far away, citizens had already gathered, staring at the destroyed manor in disbelief.
"That… that was the City Lord's mansion…"
"Did a heavenly calamity strike it…?"
"No… look at that sword qi… this was done by a cultivator…"
"Who in the world dared to offend the City Lord like this…?"
Fear, shock, and curiosity filled the air as countless eyes locked onto the two figures standing amidst the ruins, waiting to see what would happen next.
Su Wen swept his gaze across the gathered citizens, then circulated his spiritual qi, amplifying his voice until it echoed clearly throughout the entire city. His words rang out over Moon City like rolling thunder.
"I heard that many young girls in the city and nearby areas have gone missing recently. And the Young Lord's sudden, explosive rise in cultivation…"
He paused deliberately, letting the tension build.
"I never expected he'd be using a dark cultivation technique to extract Yin Qi from those missing girls!"
The crowd erupted instantly.
"Impossible…?"
"No… that would be too cruel…"
"I knew something felt wrong about those disappearances…"
"My neighbour's daughter vanished last month…"
"Is it true that the City Lord's son is behind it?!"
Murmurs turned into angry whispers, and angry whispers into open outrage.
Lu Yang and the four men behind him paled, their expressions twisting ugly.
"Don't slander-" the Lu Yang began, both furious and flustered.
Su Wen cut him off sharply, his voice rising even louder, forcing the words back into his throat.
"City Lord! You were meant to protect this city, yet you use innocent girls for cultivation like a devil in human skin!"
His voice thundered.
"Aren't you afraid the heavens will strike you down with lightning?!"
Lu Tang tried to step forward. "You… what proof-"
Su Wen interrupted him again, his voice now dramatic, almost trembling with emotion.
Even Young Master K looked at him with a strange expression, as if seeing him in a new light.
"You know exactly what's in that underground chamber! Do you think we don't know where all the missing girls are?!"
He suddenly turned toward an empty direction, bowed deeply, and spoke loudly:
"Thank you, Senior, for helping us uncover the truth! We will deliver justice to those pitiful girls on your behalf… and on behalf of the heavens!"
Lu Yang and his group turned deathly pale. At the mention of "Senior", a chill crept into their hearts.
Now, even the hesitant citizens completely believed Su Wen.
"That explains everything…"
"So there really is a hidden senior…"
"No wonder the manor was destroyed…"
"The heavens truly haven't abandoned Moon City…"
"So it's true… the City Lord and his son have done so much evil…"
Fear, anger, and conviction spread through the crowd as countless eyes locked onto the City Lord and his son, waiting for their judgement.
Lu Yang looked at Su Wen with undisguised murderous intent. He released his full cultivation aura across the entire city, instantly silencing the murmurs.
His voice rang out cold and heavy, filled with authority.
"Where is this so-called senior you mentioned? Stop spreading slander. Don't think we-"
Before he could finish, Su Wen interrupted again, his weathered, scar-faced disguise twisting into a sneer as he shouted arrogantly,
"You disgusting scum. Do you really think trash like you deserves to know about my Peak Nascent Soul Senior?"
The moment "Peak Nascent Soul Senior" was mentioned, the entire area fell deathly silent.
The citizens were stunned beyond belief.
Deep within the underground chamber, Mo Xuan observed everything through his Spiritual Sense. His heart sank.
'Damn it… Is there really a senior behind them? Who sent these people?
I shouldn't be hunted anymore. Young Master Edrick already took care of everything… so how did this happen…?'
Lu Yang's heart shook, but years of experience allowed him to keep a composed face. However, Lu Tang and the three men behind him were far less steady.
One of the Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators snapped at Lu Tang in panic.
"You idiot! I told you not to harvest so many girls from the same area! Look what you've caused!"
Another beside him turned pale and hissed,
"Now even a Nascent Soul senior has been alerted… are you trying to get us all killed?"
The last one muttered nervously,
"What do we do now…?"
All three turned toward Lu Yang and Lu Tang.
Lu Tang hissed through clenched teeth,
"Father… that man is only a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. If we capture him, we can use him to negotiate with that senior!"
They exchanged glances, then nodded grimly. Their gazes locked onto Su Wen like starving wolves.
Su Wen felt a chill down his spine, and instantly retreated behind Du Yue.
"Do you think you can escape now? Do you dare to let everyone see what's inside that underground chamber?" he shouted bravely from behind her, peeking out. "You'll get exactly what you deserve!"
Lu Yang growled coldly,
"I'll handle the Golden Core. You four, capture that scar-faced bastard. Don't let this drag on and cause more trouble."
Su Wen suddenly stepped forward again, raising his voice like a battle cry.
"Young Master K… leave those four scum to me! Please deal with this City Lord dog yourself!"
He clenched his fists, his voice filled with righteous fury.
"We must deliver justice to those girls. How can we waste the senior's kindness?!"
He paused, then roared again, emotion surging like a storm.
"Even if I die today, I'll drag you scum to the underworld with me! And if I fail… do you really think the people of this city are blind fools who will let you walk away?!"