A Chaotic World

Chapter 368: Tax Collection

"They claimed to be members of the Sacred Cliff City Guards?" Lu Tianzi asked in surprise.

"That's right, Master," Housekeeper Changyu replied nervously. "When I told them that you are not receiving visitors at the moment, they got angry and threatened to wreck the place unless you show up..."

Not to mention the fact that Housekeeper Changyu was only at the Peak Essence Condensation realm, even if he was already at the Origin Core realm, he would not dare to offend anyone from the Sacred Cliff City Guards.

After all, the Sacred Cliff City Guards reported directly to the Burning Titan Overlord, and was widely recognised as the most powerful influence in the city.

As long as possible, not a single person in the city would want to get on their bad side.

Over time, this inevitably resulted in the Sacred Cliff City Guards' arrogance, though only a minority would dare to berate them for it.

From what he had learnt over the past few days, Housekeeper Changyu came to understand that either his master was an incredible inscription master, or that there was an incredible inscription master staying in the prohibited room within Sky Snow Manor.

No matter which case it was, it still meant that Housekeeper Changyu was actually serving a rather competent master.

This made him feel much better about serving his young master.

He was finally able to lift his head up high when running errands for Lu Tianzi, and his tone when talking to others had subconsciously become much more confident than before.

But facing these visitors and their unbridled arrogance, Housekeeper Changyu still dared not take matters into his own hands.

That was why he had rushed to inform Lu Tianzi instead.

Lu Tianzi could not help but frown upon hearing this. "Bring me to them."

***

In the front hall of the Sky Snow Manor, three men were scanning their surroundings with sharp gazes.

They looked to be in their thirties, and were well dressed with sturdy builds. All of them were at the Origin Core realm their leader was at the Fifth Origin Cycle while the other two were at the Third and First Origin Cycle respectively.

"This place looks so shabby," the First Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist said in disinterest. "Are we really at the right place?"

"Are you doubting me?" the leader shot a glare at him, and the First Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist instinctively avoided his gaze.

"From the information we have received so far, the owners of this Sky Snow Manor are two youngsters on the surface," the third guy explained. "That being the case, they probably intentionally tried not to let the place look too extravagant. Otherwise, it would be far too suspicious."

"That would make sense only if there really is someone acting behind the scenes," the First Cycle Origin Core martial artist was not convinced.

"What? You think someone that young would be able to come up with a high level inscription?" the third guy scoffed.

"I don't, but unlike you, I would not simply believe in someone who has never been seen by anyone," the First Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist argued.

"Enough chattering!" the leader warned, and the two of them immediately shut their mouth.

Right at that moment, Housekeeper Changyu pushed open the door. Lu Tianzi stepped right in, and Housekeeper Changyu followed closely behind.

"Greetings," Lu Tianzi clasped his fists respectfully. "I am Lu Tianzi, the owner of Sky Snow Manor. I heard from Housekeeper Changyu that our guests here are looking for me?"

In the short span of time needed for Lu Tianzi to complete his question, he took a good look at the trio in front of him.

Of course, he could tell that the other party was scanning him from head to toe as well.

"Are you really the owner?" the First Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist asked without reservation.

"Ganyuan, don't be rude," the leader of the three said in a reprimanding tone, but did not do more.

In fact, his expression did not even change, maintaining a polite smile as he continued to observe Lu Tianzi.

It was apparent the leader did not truly mean to caution his subordinate, and was simply doing it for show.

Lu Tianzi even had a feeling that the leader might have arranged for his subordinate to do this, just to see how he would react.

"Are you here as visitors, or are you here to doubt my identity?" Lu Tianzi said with a frown. "If it's the latter, then you are not welcome here. Please leave."

"Tch! Insolent brat!" the First Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist, Ganyuan, sneered. "Do you even know who you are talking to right now?"

"Does it matter? Will your identity change the meaning behind your words?" Lu Tianzi said with his hands behind his back. "Housekeeper Changyu, the guests are leaving. See them out."

"This..." Housekeeper Changyu felt the corner of his lips twitch.

"What are you waiting for?" Lu Tianzi turned his head slightly to look at the hesitating Housekeeper Changyu. "Or do you need me to repeat myself before you will finally listen?"

Housekeeper Changyu swallowed his saliva nervously before taking slow steps towards the guests. "Sirs, please..."

"You dare turn away members of the Sacred Cliff City Guards?" Ganyuan stepped forward in rage. "And you, lowly servant! Do you think I was joking earlier when I said that I would wreck this place?"

Housekeeper Changyu was startled by the outburst, and hurriedly took a few steps back to stand behind Lu Tianzi.

"From what you just said, I guess I can safely assume that you are intending to wreck my Sky Snow Manor?" Lu Tianzi's gaze turned cold as he stared at Ganyuan.

"And what are you going to do about it?" Ganyuan scoffed.

"Since you are being such bullies, I can only act in self defence!" Lu Tianzi answered domineeringly.

The moment Lu Tianzi completed his sentence, an invisible pressure fell upon Ganyuan.

"You...!" Ganyuan spoke through gritted teeth as he forcibly endured the pressure coming from Lu Tianzi.

Ganyuan had always been confident in his individual combat ability. Even when facing an opponent two full boundaries above him, he was confident that he would be able to stand his ground for at least a dozen moves.

This extraordinary combat ability was what he had relied upon in order to join the Sacred Cliff City Guards in the first place.

However, he quickly realised that facing his current opponent, the combat ability that he had always been so proud of was now rendered completely meaningless.

Not to mention a dozen moves, just the pressure alone from Lu Tianzi was causing him to have trouble catching his breath!

Ganyuan's face quickly turned pale, and his body started to tremble uncontrollably.

The leader of the trio frowned upon seeing this.

Even with the cultivation level disadvantage, he did not expect Ganyuan to fare this badly.

"Stay your hand, Sir Lu. The kid means no harm," the leader finally intervened. "I am Squad Leader Lingmu from the Sacred Cliff City Guards, and we are here to talk to you regarding the taxes that you will need to be paying from now on."

Lu Tianzi smirked in his heart.

This Squad Leader Lingmu had spoken so naturally that anyone not in the know would believe that absolutely nothing had happened earlier.

However, Lu Tianzi was not going to let the matter go just like that.

"I have always admired the respectable Sacred Cliff City Guards who defend the people of the city with their lives," Lu Tianzi said. "But from how you tried to intimidate me into submission earlier, there is no way for me to believe that you are truly from the Sacred Cliff City Guards. Pardon me for saying this, but if you want me to believe you, at least try to act the part!"

"What did you just say?" Squad Leader Lingmu frowned.

Was Lu Tianzi doubting their identities right now because of their attitutdes? Or was he faking it?

Did he not know how things worked in Sacred Cliff City?

"Housekeeper Changyu, see the guests out!" Lu Tianzi said without hesitation.

In fact, Lu Tianzi did not truly doubt that they were from the Sacred Cliff City Guards.

Lu Tianzi might not know what taxes were they talking about, but since he had already decided to stay in Sacred Cliff City for a while, he definitely could not allow himself to be seen as a pushover.

Judging from their cultivation levels, Lu Tianzi was certain that these three people were not highly ranked within the Sacred Cliff City Guards. Otherwise, even with the backing of the Burning Titan Overlord, other influences would not have been this wary of the Sacred Cliff City Guards if it was comprised of martial artists of this level.

If Lu Tianzi were to show any signs of weakness before such small fry, then how was he supposed to lift his head in the city in the future?

How would Nanlan Qianxue be able to lift her head in the future?

Even if they were from the Sacred Cliff City Guards, they could not be allowed to go too far!

Housekeeper Changyu felt his throat go dry.

Faced with his reckless young master and the members of the Sacred Cliff City Guards, he truly did not know what he should do next.

"Perhaps it is because you are relatively new to Sacred Cliff City, but I don't think you quite understand the situation that you are in right now," Squad Leader Lingmu narrowed his eyes at Lu Tianzi. "Let me teach you one important lesson we of the Sacred Cliff City Guards do not react well to disrespect. When others do not give us the respect we deserve, bad things happen, and they will end up in a miserable state ten out of ten times."

"That is if you arrogant lot truly are from the Sacred Cliff City Guards," Lu Tianzi shrugged. "Then I would just have to blame my luck for being targeted and bullied."

"I never imagined that a simple trip here to collect taxes would end up like this," Squad Leader Lingmu shook his head in disapproval. "Even if we are not from the Sacred Cliff City Guards, do you think we would leave just because you told us to? It looks like the recent fame of Sky Snow Manor has gotten to your head, and you have forgotten just how dangerous this world can be!"

Without warning, an invisible pressure slammed down upon Lu Tianzi.

Lu Tianzi had acted domineeringly towards Ganyuan earlier. This time, it was Squad Leader Lingmu's turn to return the favour.

With his Fifth Cycle Origin Core realm cultivation level, he was two full boundaries above Lu Tianzi. Coincidentally, this was the exact same difference between Lu Tianzi and Ganyuan as well.

Ganyuan smirked in schadenfreude.

They should have done this from the start!

That way, he would not have suffered the way he did earlier.

How dare the young brat ignore their status as members of the Sacred Cliff City Guard just because he was a little strong and famous?

He deserved to be punished!

But the very next moment, Ganyuan froze, and his smile slowly faded away from his face.

That was because even when subjected to Squad Leader Lingmu's Origin Force pressure, Lu Tianzi looked to be completely unperturbed!

"I knew it," Lu Tianzi grinned mischievously. "With this level of strength, there is no way that you bunch are members of the mighty Sacred Cliff City Guards!"