Wang Jin nodded his agreement. Only then did the man show the most relaxed smile he had had in these past few days.
After the decision was made, the five-day deadline had arrived.
Yuan Heng carried Wang Jin back towards Ning'an City. The time they had agreed upon was almost up. The journey through the jungle would have taken too long. To save time, Yuan Heng decided to carry Wang Jin and fly directly across the sea.
Ning'an City Sea Area.
Early in the morning, Pan Shulin and Zhao Xiang had brought a crowd of people and were waiting by the shore.
This was the only route for those who went out to sea to return to Ning'an City.
Pan Shulin's hands were clenched tightly, his eyes staring unblinkingly at the vast sea surface. His whole body was tense, and he was sweating profusely from nervousness.
The outcome, success or failure, would be decided now. By the end of this day, one of them—either Pan Shulin or Xi Yao—would face public disgrace.
Zhao Yu stared coldly at the sea surface, a trace of calculation in his eyes.
He was the Deputy City Lord of Ning'an City. After the previous City Lord passed away, he held the most power. He originally supported Xi Ning's ascension thinking he would be a puppet, since Xi Ning was very docile and obedient as a child. Who knew that person would change drastically as he grew up, becoming shrewd, decisive, calm, and ruthless, step by step taking back his power. Zhao Yu hated it intensely but was powerless.
Zhao Yu now possessed only the empty title of Deputy City Lord, stripped of any real authority Last time, his son Zhao Xiang had his eyes gouged out and tongue cut off by an unknown person, and no one cared enough to investigate properly.
He harbored a deep-seated hatred for Xi Ning, fantasizing daily about his downfall
Now, an opportunity had arisen to harm Xi Ning's treasured younger brother, Xi Yao. Despite the many suspicious aspects of the situation, Zhao Yu had still brought his son, Zhao Shan, to the shore.
His reasoning was simple: if this plan could create trouble for City Lord Xi Ning, he was willing to accept any consequences. Causing problems for the City Lord was an end in itself.
Besides, he Zhao Yu was sure Xi Ning wouldn't dare to kill him. After all, in the eyes of the people in the city, he, the Deputy City Lord, had contributed to helping the City Lord ascend to power.
When Yuan Heng and Wang Jin were almost at the shore, they saw from a distance a dense crowd of people standing on the shore.
He blinked in surprise: "Are those people here to welcome us?"
Yuan Heng glanced over and shook his head. Wang Jin then heard the man's voice in his ear: "Pan Shulin is among the people at the front."
Pan Shulin?
So they are here to pick a fight. What new scheme has he thought up in these five days?
Wang Jin snorted coldly, then heard the man's voice again: "Little ger, hold on tight."
Wang Jin instinctively obeyed and felt the white tiger beneath him pick up speed.
Pan Shulin, Zhao Yu, and Zhao Shan had been staring into the distance when suddenly a white figure appeared in the distance. The white tiger spread its huge wings and flew swiftly towards them.
Pan Shulin curled his lips into a smile and stepped forward, about to speak, when he saw that the white tiger, having reached the shore, did not slow down. Instead, it descended sharply, flying directly towards him...
The giant white tiger pressed down directly towards him. Just one of its claws could probably crush him to death. Pan Shulin cried out in panic, covered his head, and crouched on the ground. The white tiger brushed over his head, its sharp claws scattering his neatly arranged hair. Black strands fell all over his head, making him look utterly disheveled.
The white tiger landed on the ground, kicking up a layer of sandy dust that covered everyone present. Wang Jin jumped down from the white tiger, which immediately transformed into a human and shielded Wang Jin in his embrace, ensuring not a single speck of dust landed on him.
His clothes had long been washed and dried, his hair was also tidied, lying smoothly down his back, revealing that exquisite and perfect face. Now, as he landed on the ground, compared to the dust-covered crowd, it was as if he were the one waiting in Ning'an City for travelers to return.
And these people, covered in dust, were the ones who looked like they had just returned from a difficult journey at sea.
Pan Shulin pushed aside the hair blocking his vision. Seeing Wang Jin like this, hatred welled up in him. He stood up angrily and shouted, "Xi Yao, Yuan Heng, what is the meaning of this?!"
Zhao Yu wiped the dust from his face, his expression dark. "Covering us in filth! You certainly know how to make an impression!"
Wang Jin's gaze swept over the imposing figure of Yuan Heng beside him, and his own confidence solidified. "It's exactly the kind of impression we intended to make," he retorted. "What are you going to do about it?"
"You!" Zhao Shan pointed at Wang Jin angrily and stepped forward as if to teach him a lesson, but was utterly intimidated back by Yuan Heng's aura.
"Father." Zhao Shan called out quietly to Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu frowned and waved his hand behind him. The beastmen scattered around immediately surrounded them, encircling Wang Jin and Yuan Heng.
Wang Jin was somewhat surprised. Yuan Heng's face turned cold.
Seeing the two surrounded, Pan Shulin felt much more confident. He brushed the dust off his clothes, stepped forward, and said hypocritically, "A-Yao, my apologies for the offense."
"..." Yuan Heng's knuckles tightened. He was about to step forward when Wang Jin pressed down on his hand. Wang Jin said meaningfully, "Haven't you offended us plenty already?"
"Heh." Pan Shulin let out a light laugh, ignoring the implication in Wang Jin's words, and announced loudly, "You've been away for a few days, so perhaps you don't know. Right now, everyone in Ning'an City, high and low, suspects that you are not Xi Yao. The City Lord has ordered us to wait here to verify your identity."
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