A woman walked up and sat directly beside Li Fan. Li Fan glanced at her and couldn't help but lower his head for a look.
He was young and couldn't handle such temptation, his face blushed slightly at once.
"Are you alone, young man?" The woman leaned on the table, resting her chin on her hand, her body leaning forward, immediately granting Li Fan a deeper view.
He coughed, reminding himself to look away.
"Not that young." Li Fan said somewhat 'shyly', "Almost seventeen."
"That's not so young." The woman smiled lightly, her breath fragrant as orchids, "My name is Liu. You may call me Liu Ji."
"Do you know me, sister?" Li Fan asked in some confusion, wondering if it was because of his good looks.
"Well, now we do, don't we?" Liu Ji replied with a smile.
"Hmm, this wine is quite strong." Li Fan nodded.
The drink set him ablaze from within, feeling hot.
"May I keep you company with a few drinks?" Liu Ji's eyes were alluring.
"Make yourself at home, sister." Li Fan was never one to be stingy.
Liu Ji poured herself a cup of wine and downed it in one go, her face instantly showing a tinge of red, her fingers supporting her head, "This wine is indeed strong, making my head spin."
Her eyes seemed somewhat lost, and the patrons in the tavern were anxious, admiring how a good appearance could bring such fortune, this kind of woman, tsk... She could truly enchant someone to death.
At this moment, another figure entered the tavern and sat in the midpoint position.
This person appeared to be over thirty, donned in a white robe, his hair draped over his shoulders, exuding an elegant and carefree demeanor.
"Mr. Yu has arrived." The innkeeper clearly recognized the newcomer, a regular at the tavern, and greeted him, "Mr. Yu, the usual for today?"
"Add one more serving today." The white-robed man replied, surprising the innkeeper, as it was the first time. Nonetheless, this Mr. Yu was known for his generosity, always giving a tip after drinking, thus he often looked forward to his visits.
"All right, Mr. Yu, please wait a moment."
Liu Ji, beside Li Fan, stood up as soon as Mr. Yu entered, then quietly walked to stand behind Mr. Yu, no longer displaying her previous flirtatious attitude, appearing very obedient.
This caught the attention of the tavern guests, causing unusual expressions. Many knew Mr. Yu, who visited frequently, but none had seen this woman before. Could she be his beautiful concubine?
Could it be that this Mr. Yu actually has such a lovely concubine?
The tavern keeper's eyes widened as well, what's going on?
Today's Mr. Yu seemed somewhat different from usual, or could it be due to Liu Ji standing behind him?
Indeed, if Liu Ji stood behind him, he might also appear different?
Alas, no such fortune.
"Care to join for a few drinks?" Seeing Li Fan's gaze shifting back and forth, the white-robed man spoke first.
Upon seeing Liu Ji standing behind the man, Li Fan realized it was this white-robed man who sought him, not Liu Ji.
"Sure." Li Fan nodded, picking up his wine and appetizers, and went over to the white-robed man's table.
The white-robed man raised a cup, gestured to Li Fan, and downed it in one gulp.
Li Fan also did not hold back, lifting his cup and pouring it into his mouth in one go, quickly feeling a fiery current within, his body heating up.
This time, it was genuinely hot.
"The wine from this tavern is indeed the best, the scent is delightful and it's strong enough." The white-robed man said with a smile, "Much like you, looking gentle but with a strong character."
"Do you know me?" Li Fan asked.
"You've stirred up quite a bit in Lin'an City, killing the arrest officer, the young master of the Chen family, tearing down the City God Temple, and slaying the City God, naturally recognizable." The white-robed man responded.
"News travels that fast?" Li Fan said, just coming from the City God Temple, "With what you've said, I might not be able to enjoy my drink peacefully."
As expected, the surrounding area erupted in an uproar, all glancing at Li Fan, discussing amongst themselves.
Was this harmless looking young gentleman the one who killed Chen Zongzhi and Chen Li?
Moreover, he had dismantled the City God Temple and slaughtered Lord City God?
This is...
Could they have heard wrong?
Liu Ji lowered her head, smiling lightly at Li Fan; this guy, his acting is quite commendable, if it were a proper lady, who knows how badly she would be deceived by him.
"Rest assured, no one here will disturb your drinking." The white-robed man's voice was calm yet full of confidence.
Li Fan suspected, gradually understanding who might be sitting opposite him.
Or perhaps, was it the main player?
Liu Ji, with the surname Liu.
Moreover, she was a demon!
That night, the man in confrontation with the Wuxiang Monk, the ghost woman called him Mr. Liu.
"Did you really kill the City God?" Someone from the tavern with cultivation asked Li Fan.
Li Fan neither confirmed nor denied, as he didn't personally slay him after all.
Seeing Li Fan not denying it, the person continued, "The City God, officially enshrined as a Ghost God by the Court, why did you kill the City God?"
"The City God secretly abducted young girls, constructing a dungeon beneath the City God Temple, go check it yourselves." Li Fan replied.
"This..." The surrounding people showed disbelief, whispering amongst themselves, "So, there are reasons for you killing Chen Zongzhi and Chen Li too?"
"The Chen family colluded with demons and chaos in Lin'an, shouldn't they be killed?"
"Absurd, the Chen family organized the Demon Slaying Summit to eradicate demons, and the government must deal with demons as a duty, how could they collude with demons? Isn't it Fulong Manor instead?"
"Who told you it was Fulong Manor?" Li Fan inquired.
"That's what everyone outside is saying, and the Manor Master of Fulong Manor is also a Great Demon, we came here to investigate this matter and to gather with heroes from various places to eradicate demons together."
Li Fan glanced at the white-robed man opposite, who remained calm, still drinking undisturbed, while Liu Ji glared coldly at the other person, her eyes carrying a sinister allure, and Li Fan clearly sensed a killing intent.
"I see this area is well intact, untouched by demons, if it were Fulong Manor at fault, wouldn't this place have suffered first?" Li Fan asked curiously.
"The absence of evidence is precisely more indicative of demons under Fulong Manor's control?" The person replied.
Li Fan was taken aback, this explanation.
Logical and convincing!
Li Fan shook his head, disinclined to argue further, he looked across, speaking with some implication, "The gentleman has quite the leisure, able to drink so freely."
"What else to do?" The white-robed man seemed indifferent, "What you are seeing now are merely small roles, the real figures behind the scenes have yet to arrive."
Indeed so.
They were probably just pawns ahead.
"Was that earlier Mr. Wen's Sword Intent?" The white-robed man asked.
"You know my senior?" Li Fan asked curiously.
Wen Ruyu was his senior's name, but his senior didn't like that name.
The name was derived from a refined gentleman, gentle as jade, a hope expressed by Senior Brother Wen's father for him.
Yet, his senior never considered himself a gentleman.
However, Li Fan thought it was a nice name, his senior sister's name was even better.
Perhaps only his name was the most ordinary.
Just like his unremarkable self, hence he was named Li Fan.
"That Sword Intent carried such lethality, it must be Mr. Wen." Mr. Yu said after drinking a cup and sighed, "Quite a pity, indeed."
"A pity?" Li Fan asked, curious.
"The other shook his head, "I've always admired Mr. Wen's reputation, hoping for a meeting, yet until now I've never had the chance."
The white-robed man's expression seemed somewhat downcast, drinking alone, and glanced at Li Fan again.
In terms of appearance, Li Fan was quite outstanding, and his talent naturally unquestioned, after all a Li Mountain Sword Cultivator.
His courage in battle was top-notch as well.
Still, it was somewhat regrettable.
If it were Wen Ruyu, perhaps he might accept it more willingly.
"Mr. Yu, do you know my senior well?"
"The youngest Five Realms Sword Cultivator in Da Li, son of the previous Sword Leader of Li Mountain, Da Li has a few people who know about him." The white-robed man responded.
Li Fan: "Is that so?"
He knew his senior was amazing, but he didn't know he was that amazing.
It seemed like what his senior siblings said was true, he was indeed just average, and his name did not disappoint his reality.
"Come, let's drink." The white-robed man continued, "You killing the City God today, for Lin'an City, that's quite a merit."
Though he felt somewhat let down, he accepted. After all, Li Fan was pretty good, someone he quite admired.
A Li Mountain Sword Cultivator's talents couldn't be that lacking.
"Without addressing the root cause, kill one City God and another might come." Li Fan shook his head, remembering the grandfather and grandson, the Court's inaction always left the people to suffer.
"That's true." The white-robed man smiled at Li Fan, "Perhaps you intend to eliminate them all."
Li Fan shook his head, the Old Blind Man once said, if affluent, aid the world; if struggling, nurture oneself. Without sufficient power, living well oneself is paramount; he couldn't eliminate them all.
If he encountered a few demons, he would kill them as an act of kindness.
The people in the tavern were listening intently, the conversation between the two seemed to hold deeper meaning.
Just then, the tavern suddenly trembled, as if experiencing an earthquake.
The people in the tavern murmured, and the sound of hooves came from outside, soon a powerful killing intent enveloped the tavern.
Many went outside to see and saw a disciplined army moving towards them.
"Lord Governor has arrived, Lord Governor is in Lin'an City..." a loud shout was heard outside.
"Lord Governor leading the Demon Suppression Army is here to quell the demon chaos, and the Demon Slayer Bureau has also come by order, Lin'an County is finally saved." People were in an uproar, Lin'an citizens were in jubilation.
The demon chaos left Lin'an City's citizens on edge, living in fear every day, and Lin'an County's government seemed incapable of eradicating demons.
Now, the Governor of Chu State personally led troops to Lin'an County, and the demon chaos would finally come to an end.
Across from Li Fan, the white-robed man picked up his cup and drank again, "The major figures have arrived, the real play is about to begin."
"I'll leave someone to protect you." The white-robed man looked at Li Fan.
"No need." Li Fan shook his head.
"That Sword Intent can only protect you once." The white-robed man stood up and said to Li Fan, "Liu Ji will stay, at your disposal."
The white-robed man turned and left briskly without waiting for Li Fan's consent, tossing a piece of silver towards the innkeeper.