I am Li Dagui, a mere traveling merchant.

That slender, pale hand was not retracted. It still rested on the carriage curtain, its knuckles distinct, exuding an air of pampered nobility.

The voice from inside the carriage sounded again, neither hurried nor slow.

"Uncle Fu is indeed at fault."

"Beimang has Beimang's rules. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I understand this principle, and so do you."

The voice paused, carrying a hint of a careless smile.

"I have always been a fair person. He broke the rules and was stopped outside the gates; that is his own incompetence."

"However..."

The tone shifted, and the temperature in the air seemed to plummet by several degrees.

"No one is a saint, who can be without faults?"

"Your Beimang's way of treating guests doesn't seem very refined either."

"Although this old servant of mine is a subordinate, he is still an elder who has followed me for decades. He represents the face of the Wu family from the Central Tang State."

"If he makes a mistake, it is naturally up to me, his master, to discipline him. Even if your State Governor came, he could only offer a few words."

"But you, a lowly registration official, taking a chicken feather for a warrant to boss people around, humiliating him in public... isn't that a bit... overstepping your bounds?"

The old registration official was left dumbfounded by this twisted logic. He opened his mouth to retort, but intimidated by that invisible oppressive aura, he couldn't spit out a single word.

The person in the carriage didn't seem to expect an answer anyway, directing his words straight toward the top of the city gate tower.

"And the young hero up there."

"Young in age, with passable cultivation, but this mouth... is far too foul."

"Youthful spirit is a good thing. Do you think you're very handsome? Want to be a hero?"

"I just said, I offended the rules. I don't bicker with mortals; that is my magnanimity."

"But..."

The carriage curtain was abruptly thrown open.

A young master dressed in brocade clothes, with a face as flawless as jade, stepped out. He held a folding fan in his hand, a gentle smile hanging on his face, but his eyes were as sinister and cold as a poisonous snake.

"Let's settle the score right now for when you called my subordinate a 'wild dog'."

"Before beating a dog, you must look at its master."

"I am the most reasonable of men, and I love nothing more than seeking justice."

The young master snapped his folding fan shut and tapped it lightly against his palm twice.

"Since your mouth is so foul, I'll help you cure it."

"Slap his mouth."

As soon as his voice fell, the folding fan in his hand swung fiercely upward.

Buzz!

The surrounding wind and snow instantly froze.

A majestic surge of pale blue spiritual energy gathered out of thin air, forming a translucent hand the size of a millstone. With a howling sound that tore through the air, it slapped ruthlessly toward the face of the young man chewing on a piece of dry grass up on the tower!

If this slap landed solidly, let alone his teeth, half of his head would probably be blown off.

The expression of the young man on the tower changed drastically.

He hadn't expected this pretty boy to strike without warning, and with such a ruthless move right off the bat.

"Screw you!"

The young man spat out the dry grass and drew the longsword in his hand with a sharp clang.

He might be a young genius, but wasn't the young master of the Wu family one as well?

The moment the sword qi touched the giant palm, it shattered into a sky full of light specks.

Seeing that the slap was about to land on his face.

He ultimately managed to dodge it in the nick of time.

"You dare to fight back?"

...

Standing at the back of the crowd, Li Fan closed his eyes in pain, reaching up to rub his throbbing temples.

What a sin!

They must be sick in the head!

For such a trivial matter, did they really have to start a fight in broad daylight at the city gates?

Showing off your abundant spiritual energy? Or showing off your loud voice?

Li Fan glanced at the massive Wind-Snow Boat behind him, then at the completely blocked city gates, feeling incredibly anxious.

His several large chests of formation materials were still on the boat!

With a fight breaking out, the city gates would close, and people entering and exiting would be strictly investigated. Even with customs clearance documents, his batch of goods would probably be detained for an inspection lasting ten days to half a month.

By then, it would be too late!

Was he really going to have to fly over?

Li Fan looked up at the city wall.

If he were to fly directly in right now, it would be a vicious slap to the face of the Beimang authorities in front of everyone.

In that case, let alone going to the Heavenly Lake to set up a formation, he'd likely find it hard to take a single step in the city!

Li Fan paced in circles out of anxiety, wishing he could rush up and kick both sides to make them scram.

Just as his thoughts raced, debating whether to find a deserted corner and sneak in with the formation materials...

A faint voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

"Boss Li, do you have urgent business in the city?"

Li Fan was annoyed and subconsciously replied, "Yeah!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he abruptly realized what he had done.

Turning his head, he saw Jiang Yu standing beside him, hands tucked into her sleeves, calmly watching the farce at the city gate.

Li Fan quickly changed his tune with a dry laugh, "Cough cough, it's not that urgent. Just watching the show, watching the show... When immortals fight, we mortals should just enjoy the spectacle."

Jiang Yu, however, seemed to ignore his cover-up and said to herself, "It would be great if someone could lend a strong helping hand to that young man right now."

Li Fan paused, "What?"

Jiang Yu extended a finger, pointing at the young man on the tower who was on the verge of collapsing, and then pointed at the old registration official who had collapsed on the ground in fear.

"According to my observations, although this place in Beimang is a bit remote and cold, the local customs are simple and honest."

"They are straightforward when dealing with things, unlike the deception and convoluted schemes of the Central Tang State."

"I guess they mostly value gratitude and loyalty greatly."

"Whoever treats them well, they will repay with all their heart; whoever bullies them, even if they have to shatter their teeth, they will bite off a piece of the other party's flesh."

Jiang Yu turned her head and looked quietly at Li Fan.

"Boss Li is a businessman, you should understand the principle of 'investment'."

"If you make a move now and do a favor for that young man, it's the same as doing a favor for the Beimang Immortal Bureau and these city guards."

"Having them owe you this favor..."

"I'm afraid you would be welcomed with great enthusiasm, whether it's for doing business or handling some other matters that cannot see the light of day..."

The corners of Jiang Yu's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a profound, subtle smile.

"Everything should yield twice the result with half the effort."

"After all, doing a small favor for a benefactor is perfectly justified in the eyes of these straightforward Beimang men."

Li Fan was left completely stunned by her words.

This girl...

What she says makes sense...

But why has she been following him?

He couldn't quite see through her.

Why did she keep emphasizing things that 'cannot see the light of day'?

Would she ruin the senior's plan?

Should he find an opportunity to kill her?

Ah, forget it.

It seems it's not easy to kill people casually in Beimang either.

Jiang Yu hadn't been cultivating for long. Perhaps she didn't quite understand the rules of the cultivation world or much about cultivation methods and divine abilities.

But she understood the human heart.

Her words directly and clearly analyzed the pros and cons.

Li Fan stroked the untrimmed stubble on his chin, his eyes rolling thoughtfully.

Not to mention, it really made damn good sense!

Rather than waiting here helplessly, it was better to take a gamble!

Anyway, he was currently wearing the disguise of a wealthy merchant from the Central Tang State. Even if he intervened, he would just be seen as a warm-hearted person who stepped up to help the victim of an injustice.

Moreover...

Li Fan glanced at the young master who was still acting pretentious, and coldly snorted in his heart.

I hate these pretentious pricks the most.

Especially those who are even more pretentious than me!

"Brilliant insight, miss!"

Li Fan gave Jiang Yu a thumbs up, the gloomy look on his face instantly dissipating.

"Since that is the case, I, Li, will definitely meddle in this business today!"

With that said.

Li Fan stomped his foot fiercely on the ground.

"Stop!"

A furious shout exploded like a sudden clap of thunder at the noisy city gates.

At the same time.

Li Fan's figure instantly vanished from his spot.

The next moment.

He appeared beneath the city tower, standing in front of the youth, directly facing the howling giant palm of spiritual energy crashing down.

"Harmony brings wealth! Harmony brings wealth, everyone!"

Li Fan shouted, but his hands were not slow at all.

With a sweep of his large sleeve, a glittering golden abacus appeared in his hand out of nowhere.

This abacus was no ordinary object; it was a defensive magical treasure he had swiped from the treasury of the Xiangsi Sect.

If you are going to put on an act, you have to make it look real.

If he held a sword and claimed to be a merchant.

Probably few would believe him.

Li Fan poured his spiritual energy into it, and the golden abacus instantly expanded in the wind, transforming into a golden shield. The beads on it clattered loudly, emitting waves of tough, resilient golden light.

"Bang!!!"

A muffled boom.

The aggressive giant palm of spiritual energy slammed solidly onto the golden abacus.

Airwaves rolled, and snow flew into the air.

Li Fan only felt his arm go numb. The bluestone slabs beneath his feet instantly shattered, and his legs sank three inches into the ground.

But he had managed to block it in the end.

Under the wearing down of the golden light, the giant palm quickly collapsed, turning into a breeze and vanishing.

"Ouch!"

Li Fan cried out exaggeratedly, shaking his hand with a pained expression on his face.

"Young Master, what a terrible temper you have!"

"It is such a cold day, it is not good to get physical!"

The entire scene fell dead silent.

Everyone's eyes widened as they looked at this Boss Li who had suddenly popped up.

The youth on the city tower was stunned, forgetting to even sheathe his sword.

Even the young master who had been acting breezy and indifferent all along now narrowed his eyes. His folding fan stopped in his palm as he sized Li Fan up with an unfriendly gaze.

"Who are you?"

"How dare you meddle in my affairs?"

Li Fan put away the abacus, his face once again plastered with the amiable smile typical of a businessman.

He cupped his hands and bowed in all directions.

"I am Li Dagui, a humble traveling merchant."

"I was just passing through your treasured land and could not bear to see such a violent scene, so I boldly intervened."