His cultivation was not high, just First-Order Dao Source Realm, but the air about him made it apparent he had a strong background.
This man was the current Young Palace Master of Flying Saint Palace, Ning Yuan Shu.
Ever since the last Young Palace Master of Flying Saint Palace, Ning Yuan Cheng, suffered from a sudden death, his younger brother, Ning Yuan Shu, had assumed the role of Young Palace Master.
Two Third-Order Dao Source Realm Masters were standing separately on either side of Ning Yuan Shu. One of them was expressionless and seemed to be resting his mind with his eyes closed, while the other one appeared like an old man but radiated a strong vitality.
They were the Left and Right Protectors of Flying Saint Palace, Gao Shan and Liu Shui.
Gao Shan was Left Protector while Liu Shui was Right Protector. Both of them were proficient in sound-based techniques and had mysterious combination skills that were incredibly powerful.
At this moment, Ning Yuan Shu was savouring the spirit fruits on the table with a smile on his face.
Below him, the former Maplewood City Vice City Lord, Zhuang Pan was staring coldly at a man, his facial expression filled with contempt and arrogance.
The person that he was staring at was Duan Yuan Shan.
Beside Duan Yuan Shan was Drunkard, who developed a red flush in his face and was most likely drunk. His eyes seemed glossy and drifted around the hall as his gaze floated about his surroundings.
“Is there some reason Young Palace Master has summoned both of us here?” Duan Yuan Shan cupped his fists and asked unhappily.
Anyone would be pissed if their home was suddenly intruded on by outsiders and taken over. However, considering that both Protector Gao Shan and Protector Liu Shui were present, and represented Flying Saint Palace, Duan Yuan Shan did not dare to resist and could only allow them to occupy the City Lord’s Mansion, which was supposed to symbolize the pride of a City Lord.
These days, he and Drunkard had tried their best to live in simplicity and stay out of worldly affairs.
But Ning Yuan Shu had asked for them today.
“Obviously there is a reason for you to be summoned! However, don’t you see that Young Palace Master is currently enjoying his spirit fruit? Just stand there and wait quietly!” Zhuang Pan rebuked sharply.
Just a few months ago, he had a conflict with Yang Kai during which the spirituality of his precious artifact was all but destroyed and he had personally been injured. At the time though, Duan Yuan Shan did not help him and instead took Yang Kai’s side to reprimand him.
Zhuang Pan loathed Duan Yuan Shan, so now that he had the chance to repay the humiliation from back then, he took full advantage of it.
“Ge…” Drunkard gave out a loud burp without any warning, filling the air with a strong smell of alcohol.
Ning Yuan Shu, who was seated at the head of the hall, frowned as he lost the mood to savour his food and unpleasantly dropped them.
“Sir City Lord… ge, why does this old man… wu… hear a dog barking… uhh…” He could only finish his one sentence in a few divided sections, looking so sloppy that it was embarrassing just looking at him.
“You…” His words and actions enraged Zhuang Pan. It was impossible for him to not understand that Drunkard was insulting him.
But Ning Yuan Shu waved his hand to stop his clamour.
Seeing this, Zhuang Pan did not dare to continue his sentence and instead just glared at Drunkard with hatred.
“City Lord Duan!” Ning Yuan Shu greeted Duan Yuan Shan with a slight smile.
Duan Yuan Shan frowned.
Although Ning Yuan Shu was smiling, Duan Yuan Shan could not help feeling a chill down his back, like some kind of venomous snake was eying him.
“What is your command, Young Palace Master?” Duan Yuan Shan asked solemnly.
“Father specially arranged the two Protectors, Gao Shan and Liu Shui, to keep this Young Master company for this trip out of the palace. Given that they are the strongest masters aside from my Lord Father in our palace, they actually shouldn’t be dispatched for such a simple errand. So, City Lord Duan, do you know why they are here?” He grinned lightly.
Duan Yuan Shan thought to himself, [What does that have to do with me? It was your old man who sent some men to protect you. Also, don’t Young Masters like you always have some bodyguards with them when they are out for a trip?]
Even though he thought so, he simply replied, “I don’t know.”
“Heh heh…” Ning Yuan Shu laughed softly, “Of course they are here to keep me safe…”
Duan Yuan Shan’s face darkened and he showed an expression that seemed to scream ‘Are you messing with me’. [If this question was that simple, why did you even ask in the first place?]
As expected, Ning Yuan Shu suddenly continued, “Lord Father said that the public order in Maplewood City… is quite bad!”
Duan Yuan Shan frowned and asked, “Where did such a rumour spawn from? This Duan has governed Maplewood City for many years now and although the cultivators in the city might not be the kindest or easiest to get along with, killing and robbing rarely happen here. Regarding the statement about the public order here being bad, please forgive this Duan for not being able to agree.”