I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1755 - 189: Cause

Chapter 1755: Chapter 189: Cause

"It’s that person!"

The young Wind Media pointed at Yao Jiu, who had poked his head out from the second floor, and said decisively, "Sneaking over walls, walking on rooftops, and carrying two big bundles into the Banquet Building!"

Martial artists often possess sharp hearing and eyesight, especially warriors of the Fierce Realm like Nongman Valley. Though the upper floors were located at the Tower Top Floor of the Banquet Building, the desperate cries from inside were unmistakable.

Yet, Nongman Valley also recognized Yao Jiu who stuck his head out, as well as their origins.

Having observed to this extent, the truth behind the kidnapping was evident. After all, in Unparalleled City, a place where people could leave doors open without fear of theft, such crimes could only have been committed by outsiders.

Under other circumstances, he would have captured the perpetrator and selected a good day to execute them publicly in the city center. But this time, it was different.

Nongman Valley pretended not to hear the frantic cries of his two concubines, his expression unchanging as he spoke to the young Wind Media nearby, "This place is a lodging prepared for guests from Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. There won’t be any kidnappers here. You must be mistaken. Let’s search elsewhere."

"Impossible! I could never be mistaken!"

Upon hearing this, the young subordinate flushed red and argued vehemently.

"You were mistaken!"

His bloodshot eyes widened to the extreme, nostrils flaring as if he would spit fire the next second. Nongman Valley grabbed Wind Media’s neck and gritted his teeth, enunciating each word forcefully.

The accompanying Armored Soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, unable to understand why their commander, who was always as close to his subordinates as brothers, would show such a fierce expression. The young man being grabbed by the neck was so terrified his hair stood on end; he no longer dared argue and stammered, "Ma-ma... maybe I was mistaken."

Hearing this, Nongman Valley released his grip and began to walk away, but his steps suddenly froze mid-turn.

Among the family guards leaning over the second-floor railing to enjoy the spectacle, one of them unexpectedly called out to them, "Hey, are you the garrison guards from Unparalleled City?"

Nongman Valley halted at the sound but kept his face turned away from the middle hall, staring instead at the door. However, the captain of the Armored Soldiers beside him had no such reservations, turning his head and replying, "Indeed, we are guards of Unparalleled City. May I ask what matter concerns you, distinguished guest?"

"Not much of a matter, just asking you to stay a bit,"

Yao Jiu remarked with a sinister smile after raising his cup and downing the fine wine in it.

"We are currently investigating a case of kidnappings! We have no time to linger here!"

The captain, clad in heavy silver armor, frowned and reprimanded.

"If it’s about that case, then you definitely should wait here."

Yao Jiu passed his cup to his brother beside him, grabbed the railing made of mahogany wood with both hands, and deliberately thrust his hips backward a few times while laughing lewdly. "After the Second Master has had his fill, you can take the bodies directly. That’ll save Ninth Master from making another trip!"

Boom!

Perhaps Nongman Valley never imagined that after enduring and yielding so much, Yao Jiu would still be so audacious.

Moreover, he knew—if he ordered his men to attack now, everything prior would be for naught!

"Everybody stop!"

Roaring to halt the Armored Soldiers already furious and about to charge forward, Nongman Valley’s voice was infused with uncontrollable pain and rage: "Ten Thousand Beasts Manor—are honored guests of Unparalleled City!"

"But Commander, they did to sister-in-laws..."

"Shut up!"

Unable to suppress his own fury, Nongman Valley spun around fiercely. The spiritual power surging within him transformed into an oppressive force that struck terror into those present: "Would you truly act against an outsider of Beast Taming Sect for the sake of two concubines? Are you insane? Stand down immediately!"

"But Commander..."

"I! Told! You! To! Stand! Down!"

From beginning to end, Nongman Valley’s gaze remained lowered. Not once did he make eye contact with the family guards lounging at the second-floor railing.

Because he feared that as soon as he saw their smug expressions, he would no longer be able to suppress his killing intent and would strike recklessly.

He was the commander of the garrison guarding Unparalleled City—not someone who could let his personal wrath lead the entire city into an abyss of destruction.

It was just two women, just... two women...

At worst, he would find ways to make up for it in the future.

Building up his final layer of mental defenses, Nongman Valley closed his eyes and turned to leave.

From the top floor, faint cries abruptly ceased, followed by the sound of a door being kicked open. Out strode Shi Ganhai, disheveled and cursing.

The family guards previously lounging at the second-floor railing instantly scrambled to greet him with flattering smiles, loudly asking, "Master Shi, wasn’t it great? Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Don’t even mention it,"

Shi Ganhai grumbled as he adjusted his clothing. "Two rotten whores, kicking and screaming like some virtuous martyrs. One suffocated from the ride after barely a moment, and the other kept shrieking like an annoyance, so I slapped her neck and broke it. Two dead before the door—how unlucky! Clean up the corpses and find me a few more to deal with!"

"Those two rotten whores don’t know what’s good for them. Ninth Master will find more for you right away!"

Their words, completely unrestrained, naturally reached Nongman Valley’s ears. He felt his head buzz as if struck, leaving him blank for several seconds.

When his mind regained clarity, somehow, he was already standing on the staircase between the second and third floors of the Banquet Building, facing off against Shi Ganhai and his family guards.

"Who is this guy?"

Irritated by the obstruction, Shi Ganhai asked his guards.

"Second Master, he’s from Unparalleled City’s garrison. You might as well have them clean up the bodies."

Yao Jiu greeted Shi Ganhai cheerfully, then arrogantly addressed Nongman Valley, "Hey, hear that? Those two whores’ corpses are in the room. Hurry up and clean them out!"

What does it mean for a martial artist to be defeated?

Is it when you’re brought low by the sheer power of your foe? Or is it when you have the capacity to kill everyone before you but can’t—daring not to act?

Nongman Valley listlessly listened to the boastful jeers of those he deemed insects, heard the furious steps of his Armored Soldiers on the hallway staircases, and tugged the corners of his mouth.

The women were dead. Or perhaps, alongside the women, his martial heart had also perished.

Dejected, he motioned weakly to halt the Soldiers’ charging Spirit Arts, his expression wooden as he entered the room. Carefully wrapping the two women, whose deaths were fraught with agony, into layers of bedding, he carried them out in his arms.

"Stand down... Take the two madams home,"

...

Unparalleled Academy, Tower Top Floor

Tang Luo stood by the window, gazing at the scenery of Unparalleled City below. Holding a steaming cup of tea, he sighed softly.

"People fail to understand that a space for survival is never earned through compromise or surrender. Self-righteous sacrifices only serve to harm oneself and achieve nothing."

Yun Xiu, who had been lingering in the dean’s office, revealed a pained expression upon hearing this.

"Making such a decision without any strength to back it... it must be too cruel for them,"

she said with visible anguish.

"Do not worry,"

uttered Tang Luo, his eyes fixed upon the panorama of Unparalleled City. "They’ll find the basis for their decisions. It’s something that resides within everyone; it’s not hard to discover."

"But... but what if they cannot find it?"

Yun Xiu asked with distress. "The opposing party is an outsider of Beast Taming Sect!"

"Do you know why the world’s sacred lands’ outsiders so often act arrogant and domineering?"

Tang Luo turned and smiled, posing the question.

"Why else?"

Yun Xiu replied indignantly, "It’s naturally because of the protection from the sacred lands, along with their own formidable strength!"

Tang Luo merely smiled, saying nothing in response.

"Do you think I am wrong, my lord husband?"

Yun Xiu was vexed upon seeing Tang Luo’s expression. "Then please enlighten me—why is it so?"

"The arrogance and domineering nature of sacred land outsiders have little to do with the sacred lands themselves,"

Tang Luo responded plainly. "Instead, those forces willing to sacrifice and retreat bear a significant portion of the blame."

"Blame... sacrifice? Retraction?"

Yun Xiu asked, her lips parted in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"It means,"

Tang Luo turned toward her with a gentle smile and said, "The arrogance of sacred land outsiders stems entirely from being coddled."