I Sell Fate Through A System

At once, tension rose within the air. The City Lords' companions faced off against the customers of the Store of Fates. Though nothing happened, everybody knew this small skirmish would be integral for the history of the Extended Delight, if not for the Store of Fates itself, but the influential people gathered in this single spot. While a hot war waged in the outskirts against the many sects, there was also a hidden one in this place.

Magistrate Han Wi grit his teeth. What was going on? He glared at Shou. "The heaven themselves must have sent you to deal with me!" The magistrate grabbed his sword, planning to pull it. He'd be a fool if he let himself be humiliated like that and not fight back. It would be a waste to use such a fine blade on a belligerent fool like that, but in the long run, no one will care about a mere mortal.

However, his hand clamped down, leaving him unable to move, as he felt a sudden chill running down his spine. He quickly swung his head around, only to see the City Lord, watching him with an icy gaze. "M--Milord!"

"You weren't thinking of pulling a weapon in a civilian district, right? Tell me you aren't that short-sighted," Tian Lan spoke with a cold voice. Why was it that people like them, when they feel disrespected, lose all decorum and start picking fights without thinking about the consequences? It didn't make any sense. The three families just stated their support for that man, and here he went, trying to cut the same person down.

Magistrate Wi swallowed his saliva. He appeared to have come to his senses. "I've behaved foolishly." Of course, he could not simply bully someone just because they were a mortal. This wasn't the capital. In this multi-faceted city, what mattered was not exactly one's cultivation. Still—he balled his hand into a tight fist, his knuckles turning white—He swore to himself to remember the blatant disrespect.

The City Lord watched Shou. For the first time, they held steady eye contact. For some reason, the other people felt a notch more nervous, as if two big bosses had met at a coincidental road. Tian Lan could not explain it either. Even though it was the first time meeting that youth in front of him, who, by his appearance, was half his age, he immediately understood him to be a sturdy stone within his plans. A feeling as if they could not exist under the same heavens, to put it into Daoist words.

Mei Xue spoke first. She had a relaxed smile on her face. "I did not expect the City Lord to have so much time and come visit a simple shop for entertainment," she spoke. "I thought the emerging sects were getting more severe every day?"

The governmental officials accompanying him muttered with each other. Tian Lan did not show much of a reaction. "I hear you are quite well-versed with that subject, no? It is well known that the beautiful Mei Xue of the Wang family is interested in the cultists and dark factions outside."

"Let's call it a personal matter." Mei Xue spoke. "I have a rather infallible connection to them, you should understand."

The City Lord Tian Lan squinted his eyes, his expression unreadable. "I wonder, does that 'personal matter' extend to assembling a small personal army? One might even think you are planning to stage a coup." He hid his mouth behind his palm, pretending to be in shock. "The three families may hold strong roots, but that only goes for the main branches in the capital. As you said, we are severely cracking down on criminals these days."

It was no secret that Mei Xue, or rather the Wang family, had assembled a sizable amount of troops outside of their personal pupils and relatives. In this city, they were big fish after all, and every move they take was closely observed by all the people surrounding them.

Still, a blatant threat from the City Lord was still a lot to swallow for the others. Especially for Zhang Yong, a strict member of justice, and also a member of the three families had an incredibly sour expression.

He wished to shout something, but Mei Xue held him back. "Oh, they are simply fanatics who have been charmed by my elegance." She glanced at Shou, who promptly gave her approval to continue talking. For him, it was quite interesting to see everything unfold. "What they do has nothing to do with me, you can ask them yourself too. I did not provide them with anything except basic hospitality. If I really had an organized mercenary troop, would I be able to leisurely play around here?"

Effortlessly, she shook off all the liability that may come to her in the future. In the first place, maybe every step Mei Xue took had long been planned out, including her being within the Store of Fates. It served as the perfect alibi spot, after all. Truly, she was a frightening woman.

"Is there really all there comes with it?" Tian Lan seemed to have realized exactly that.

"It is bad manners to pry in a ladies secret, has your mother never taught you that?" Mei Xue laughed in a carefree manner. She had remained seated the whole time, as such, showed no signs of worries; not even for a second.

Han Wi, the most arrogant—but also short-fused—one shouted, "Lord Lan, we cannot let this pass. Maybe we should call Li Won. . ."

The familiar name immediately caused the Li siblings to perk up. However, before they could speak, the City Lord hushed the Magistrate. "Silence." He swung his robe. "Fine. We will leave for today."

"Sir, but-" The City Lord glared at him, shutting him up mid-sentence.

Tian Lan walked towards Shou, staring at him. He was rather tall, though one did not notice, as he had been standing next to his guards. His shadow cast an imposing figure over Shou. With a heavy voice, he asked him, "Do you dare stand in the way of destiny?"

"You've got it backward." Shou stared back, cocking his head. "The question is whether destiny dares stand in my way." There was no hint of doubt in his eyes.

"What a fun answer," the Lord spoke, laughing wholeheartedly. It surprised his retainers. "I hope you have the power to back up these words. I truly do." He wanted to stretch his arm out, for a handshake, but given the situation, decided against it. In the end, he simply turned around and walked away.

His group had no time to let everything sink in. One person wondered, "Sir, are well leaving? Just like that?" He sent an angry glare at the Store of Fates.

The City Lord did not reply to him. He spoke to Shou only. "The winds have gathered, and the calm before the storm is over. I wish you and your little shop luck. God knows you will need it."

And with that, the entourage disappeared, just as fast as they came. For Shou, that meant he still could not complete the quest. However, he felt no regrets for it. On the other hand, Si was gnashing her teeth, cursing at him. Thankfully, no one could hear her except him.

"The City Lord is different than I expected," Li Yinyi was first to speak.

Ah Liang agreed with her. He understood why Fu Hao and the Dragon Circle chose to alliance with that man. He had a certain charisma that was hard to beat. If it weren't for this store, he'd be following the person to the end of the line.

"It's been a long while since I last saw him, but in my mind, I remember him differently. He was rather cowardly, holding no real strength or cultivation, and rarely showed his face to the masses." Zhang Yong rubbed his chin. "It's miraculous what a few years can do to a person."

"Putting that aside," Lin Zhuyue came running and said. She was still panting but had observed everything that happened. "Miss Mei, you were awesome!" The girl had glittering eyes as if she were looking at her idol.

Ran Wei jogged right behind her. Her shoulders would hurt if she walked too fast, due to the bouncy weight in the front. She pulled Lin Zhuyue away. "Stop it, you are embarrassing yourself."

Mei Xue did not mind though. She patted Lin Zhuyues' head, as that girl reminded her of a puppy. "I did not do much. If it weren't for the people next to me, I would not have dared to say anything."

Li Yangyi pursed his lips, hearing that. He thought to himself, that did not seem quite true. In fact, he felt she would have been a lot bolder alone, not caring for her image. "But do you think that will be the end? With evildoers, they always come back for more."

An Bai corrected him. "He's still the City Lord, you know? You can't just refer to him as an evildoer..." He coughed twice. "But it doesn't really matter. His cultivation is hardly worth mentioning either. I checked, and he was still within the second stage."

The group sighed in relief. Though it was true, cultivation was not all that mattered these days, traditional views do not change this easily.

However, Shous' next words brought them to a fluster. "Oh, that does not seem true though?"

"What do you mean?"

"He is not in the second stage." The youth scratched his head. He remembered what Si had told him the moment the City Lord strolled in. Though his disguise changed even his Spiritual Qi, it was impossible to hide from the systems' eyes.. "In fact, I think he was the strongest within this room? After all, he is on the brink of reaching the eighth stage. Haha, wait, doesn't that make him the strongest in this city even?"