"As long as it's within my power, just ask," Tang Jian said with a slight start and a smile.
"I hope you can... marry into the Yan family and become my husband," Yan Zi said, her expression turning serious.
"What are you saying...?" Tang Jian exclaimed in shock, quickly asking.
"I hope you can become my husband and marry into our Yan family," Yan Zi repeated, her previous shyness gradually fading as she spoke confidently.
"No, absolutely not..." Tang Jian responded immediately, without hesitation.
"Mr. Tang, please don't rush to reject me. I'm not proposing this because I want to marry you. It's just that the Yan family is currently in turmoil. Although we've won against the Sun family, our situation hasn't improved much. Besides, many within the clan oppose me taking over from my father to manage the Yan Family Commerce Association. I need you..." Yan Zi's gaze darkened slightly as she spoke slowly.
However, before she could finish, Tang Jian interrupted her with a wave of his hand.
"Miss Yan, do you need my identity as a sword forger and my cultivation at the eighth level of the Qi Refining stage to help suppress the opposition within the clan?" Tang Jian asked seriously.
"If you're willing, I can provide you with the resources you need for cultivation until you reach the Foundation Building stage," Yan Zi said, without directly answering.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't agree to this," Tang Jian said, giving a slight bow.
"Why doesn't Mr. Tang want to agree? Is it because the conditions I'm offering aren't good enough, or is it because my appearance doesn't meet your preferences?" Yan Zi asked, slightly annoyed and somewhat resentful.
"That's not it at all... Miss Yan, to be honest, I'm already engaged," Tang Jian quickly waved his hand, explaining.
Yan Zi faltered at his words, seemingly surprised, and then let out a soft sigh.
Seeing this, Tang Jian wanted to say more, but he opened his mouth and nothing came out.
"Since that's the case, I won't force it. However, Mr. Tang has shown great kindness to our Yan family. It would be too rude and against my mother's teachings to let you leave quietly like this. Please come back to the Yan family with me first. At least allow me to prepare a simple feast tomorrow to see you off," Yan Zi said slowly after a moment of silence.
Tang Jian's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of difficulty appeared on his face.
He originally planned to head straight to West Friend Mountain and hunt beasts in the primitive forest, using this opportunity to evade Ning Shi's pursuit while also enhancing his cultivation.
"Alright..." After much hesitation, he finally nodded in agreement.
A smile flashed in Yan Zi's eyes, and she was about to speak when Tang Jian suddenly lunged forward, embracing her tightly and rolling into the grass beside the road.
She was stunned, her mind blank, as she fell onto the road and was tightly held by Tang Jian, rolling into the roadside grass.
"Ding, ding, ding!"
A series of metallic clashes sounded successively.
Beside them, short, two-foot-long crossbow bolts, one after another, were embedded into the paving stones of the road, sparking a series of golden-red sparks in the night.
The last crossbow bolt had a series of dark golden runes inscribed on its shaft. When it hit the ground, it suddenly flashed with light and exploded with a "boom".
A ball of crimson flame rose into the night sky, and a six-foot-square crater was blasted into the ground. A large amount of dust and debris was sent flying in all directions.
Under the impact of the shockwave, Tang Jian and Yan Zi were thrown high into the air, landing in a lush patch of grass.
As soon as he landed, ignoring the burning pain behind him, Tang Jian quickly turned over. With a "swish", he drew a trichromatic long sword from his side, shielding Yan Zi behind him. He roared towards the distant, pitch-black night:
"Who's there...?"
Yan Zi's face was taut with tension as she gazed at the charred bundle on Tang Jian's back. She pressed her lips tightly together and gently rubbed the silver-white ring on her left index finger.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in her palm, and a sleek, snow-white sword materialized in her hand.
"Junior Brother Tang Jian, it's been a while. Your skills have improved quite a bit," a lazy voice drifted over from afar at that moment.
Immediately following, three figures emerged from the shadows of the trees.
In the moonlight, Tang Jian's eyebrows shot up as he recognized the three, and a trace of anger flickered across his face.
The leader, a man in his thirties, was obese with a round face. He wore a crimson short jacket, and a yellow ancient sword, about a meter long, was tied to his waist. His appearance was quite pleasing, exuding a friendly aura that made people feel inclined to approach him.
To his left stood a skinny youth with a sharp-nosed, monkey-faced appearance, exceedingly ugly. A giant black iron axe, nearly as tall as he was, trailed behind him. His beady eyes darted around incessantly, boldly scrutinizing Yan Zi behind Tang Jian.
On the other side of the round-faced man was a masked figure dressed in black nightclothes, carrying no visible weapons but with purple glows flickering on his ten fingertips. He seemed to be an assassin specializing in close-quarters combat.
"Senior Brother Hu Wei, why are you here?" Tang Jian's gaze bypassed the other two, fixing solely on the round-faced man as he gritted his teeth, squeezing out the words through them.
"There's no other way. Master only has a few disciples, and you wouldn't want him to send Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, right? So, it had to be me, your Senior Brother, stepping in personally," the round-faced youth sighed, speaking with a tinge of helplessness.
"I'm already like this... yet he still won't let me off?" A flash of malevolence crossed Tang Jian's brow as he spoke in a cold voice.
"Master... sigh, it's too late for words now. Besides, with your personality, even if Master stopped now, you wouldn't let it go easily in the future, would you?" Hu Wei asked with a bitter smile.
"Senior Brother, I owe most of my sword-forging skills to your teachings. In a sense, you're truly my enlightener and guide on this path. If possible, I don't want to fight you," Tang Jian's face darkened slightly, and after a long pause, he exhaled deeply and said.
"We don't have to fight. Just come back with me to see Master. I promise I'll plead for you and save your life," Hu Wei said, his expression unchanged.