Chapter 9: The Bold and the Foolhardy

Lin Shen's eyes narrowed as he sized up Li Wei, his disdain evident. "I've never heard of you, Li Wei, but everyone knows the Lin Clan."

Li Wei chuckled, his smirk infuriatingly smug. "That's only natural. People notice filth on the roadside but miss the dragon soaring above them."

GASP.

The crowd fell silent, stunned by the audacity of the insult. Even the guards stiffened, their expressions betraying disbelief. The Lin Clan wasn't the most powerful in the region, but it was still a respected mid-ranked clan. Such brazen disrespect was unheard of.

"He's fearless," one onlooker whispered.

"More like insane," another muttered, shaking his head.

Lin Shen's face turned beet red, his fury barely contained. As he opened his mouth to retaliate, his gaze shifted behind Li Wei, landing on Leng Yue.

Her ethereal beauty froze him in place. She was more stunning than any woman he had ever seen, and for a brief moment, his anger was replaced with something far uglier.

"I'll spare you, Li Wei," Lin Shen declared, his tone dripping with arrogance. "I'll even forgive your insolence if you leave this woman behind." His eyes lingered on Leng Yue in a way that made his intentions clear.

Li Wei laughed, loud and bold, the sound echoing across the gates. "You aren't worthy of making demands. Your clan is less significant than the dirt beneath my feet. In fact, your greatest accomplishment is meeting me today."

The crowd was aghast. Li Wei's words were beyond arrogant—they were suicidal. Even the guards exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to intervene.

Lin Shen's face contorted with rage. "Presumptuous!" he spat. "I gave you a chance, and you rejected it. Forfeit your life!"

As Lin Shen raised his hand to attack, Leng Yue moved like a shadow, her speed impossible to track. In an instant, she had Lin Shen on his knees, his arms pinned painfully behind his back.

Li Wei remained composed outwardly, though relief flickered in his mind. While confident in his system's powers, he had no desire to test them in a brawl just yet.

Lin Shen struggled, spitting threats. "If anything happens to me, the Lin Clan will hunt you down! No one will be able to save you!"

Li Wei tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Why would I hide? Leng Yue, gouge out his eyes for staring at you."

The crowd gasped in unison, the weight of the command hanging in the air. Even Leng Yue hesitated, momentarily caught off guard.

"And after that," Li Wei added coldly, "castrate him and hang his naked body on the city wall."

STUNNED SILENCE.

The audacity of the order left everyone speechless. Even Leng Yue's normally stoic expression faltered for a brief second before she nodded, her face regaining its icy calm.

Lin Shen's bravado crumbled. His voice rose to a desperate pitch. "Guards! Will you just stand there and let an outsider attack me? My clan will have your heads!"

The guards cursed inwardly, dragged into a mess they wanted no part of. Reluctantly, they stepped forward, gripping their weapons with trembling hands.

Li Wei, sensing the tension, decided against escalating into an outright massacre. With a theatrical flourish, he stepped back, maintaining his air of authority.

"Leng Yue," he said grandly, "do not stain your hands with such filth. I am a reasonable man."

The crowd exchanged confused glances. Was this madman actually showing mercy?

But Li Wei's next words shattered that illusion. "Instead, strip him of his clothes and anything of value. If anyone dares to intervene, castrate them and cripple their cultivation."

GULP.

The guards froze mid-step, their weapons suddenly feeling heavier.

"Reasonable?" someone whispered. "How is that reasonable?"

"He's a tyrant!" another hissed under his breath.

Before anyone could act, Leng Yue moved again, her speed leaving the guards helpless to react. In a blur, Lin Shen was stripped bare, his belongings scattered on the ground.

Lin Shen screamed in rage and humiliation, his voice cracking. Li Wei, unimpressed, waved a hand dismissively. "Swat the noisy fly away."

Leng Yue backhanded Lin Shen with a single, casual motion, sending him tumbling naked into the dirt.

The crowd was stunned. Was this truly the same Lin Shen from the prestigious Lin Clan?

As the tension hung in the air, Li Wei decided to escalate the spectacle further. "Leng Yue," he ordered, "scatter whatever spirit stones you took from him in front of me as I enter the city."

Without hesitation, Leng Yue complied, tossing the glittering stones onto the ground like breadcrumbs. The crowd could only watch in stunned silence as Li Wei strode forward, each step radiating an air of unmatched arrogance.

Before entering the gates, he picked up Lin Shen's discarded robes, using them to wipe his feet. Turning to the sickly woman and her children, he gestured imperiously. "Follow me."

The woman hesitated, trembling, but the fear of disobedience outweighed her reluctance. She clutched her children tightly and trailed behind Li Wei.

As they passed through the gates, whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Who is he?"

"A madman."

"No, a genius."

Beyond the gates, Crescent Moon City unfolded before them. The bustling streets were alive with vendors hawking their wares, children playing, and townsfolk going about their daily lives. Though modest in design, the city had a certain charm that stood in stark contrast to the chaos outside.

Li Wei glanced around, taking in the sights. Despite his previous life's experiences, there was something about the vibrancy of this world that intrigued him.

The sickly woman finally summoned the courage to speak. "Great sir, thank you for your kindness. My name is Li Mei, and these are my children, Ping and Lian."

Li Wei glanced at the children. Ping, the boy, tried to look brave but was clearly terrified. Lian, the girl, clung to her mother, staring at Leng Yue with awe.

"No thanks necessary," Li Wei said grandly. "Helping others is second nature when you're as favored by the heavens as I am."

Leng Yue caught the girl's gaze and allowed a rare, soft smile to grace her lips.

As they continued into the city, Li Wei felt a surge of satisfaction. He had made a grand entrance, humiliated a local clan, and completed another system quest.

Perfect, he thought. Now, let's see what opportunities await me in Crescent Moon City.