42: Live on your knees or die standing up

Liu Yuan had already decided where to bury Luan Yuqing.

However, he couldn't just watch Luan Yuqing throw his life away.

"Brother Luan, stop talking nonsense. This is a senior expert. Hurry and apologize to him."

After speaking, he frantically winked at Luan Yuqing.

Although Luan Yuqing was arrogant, he wasn't stupid.

Anyone Liu Yuan, a Ninth Heaven Flying expert, called a senior, would at least be a Venerable Realm Expert.

"Senior, please forgive me! This junior truly failed to recognize a great master. I humbly ask the senior not to blame me for my offense!"

The expression on Luan Yuqing's face instantly turned fawning, looking exactly like a copy of Yun Feiyang.

However, facing his rapid change in attitude, Lin Mu didn't even bat an eyelid.

He casually fiddled with the wine glass in his hand and said indifferently, "Kneel and speak."

Hearing this, Luan Yuqing suddenly found himself in a difficult position.

After all, today he was in front of so many people.

If he really knelt as instructed, he probably would never be able to hold his head high again.

So, he bit the bullet and said,

"Senior, are you joking with this junior?"

"This junior is the young master of the Luan Family, one of the seven great aristocratic families in the Imperial Capital! I did indeed offend you today."

"But another day, this junior will definitely host a banquet at home, sweeping the floor to welcome you and apologize to the senior."

"This Yingfeng Tower (Tower Facing the Wind) is actually also this junior's property. This private room will be reserved exclusively for the senior from today onwards, always awaiting the senior's esteemed presence."

Luan Yuqing's words, first threatening and then flattering, were delivered.

If it were an ordinary Venerable Realm Expert, they might actually give him face.

Unfortunately, Lin Mu had other intentions for doing this, so it was naturally impossible for him to be dismissed by these few words.

Lin Mu's tone suddenly turned cold as he said, "I only give you two choices: either kneel, or die."

Luan Yuqing's face flickered uncertainly, and he pondered to himself, 'Must I really kneel before this person in public today?'

Luan Yuqing gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes; he decided to take a gamble.

Perhaps Lin Mu was just bluffing, and Liu Yuan, being inexperienced, might have been deceived by him.

After all, he hadn't detected any spiritual energy fluctuations from Lin Mu.

Thinking of this, Luan Yuqing secretly circulated his spiritual energy, preparing to use a family secret technique, attempting to succeed in one fell swoop.

However, Lin Mu had already seen through his small movements.

He gently waved his sleeve, and an invisible force surged like an overwhelming tide.

Luan Yuqing felt as if he was crushed by a huge mountain, unable to move at all.

His face turned ashen, and cold sweat poured down him.

Under everyone's gaze, Luan Yuqing's knees buckled, and he involuntarily knelt down.

Lin Mu looked down at Luan Yuqing, who was kneeling on the ground, as if he were looking at an ant.

"Now, you can tell me how you want to die."

Luan Yuqing looked at Lin Mu in terror, trembling all over.

He had never felt the breath of death so closely before, and his heart was filled with despair.

"Senior, spare my life! It was this lowly one who failed to recognize a great master. You are a magnanimous person, please let this lowly one off this time! This lowly one is willing to pay any price!"

Lin Mu's lips curved slightly, revealing a cold smile.

"Any price? What do you think you have that I would value?"

Luan Yuqing desperately thought, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

"This lowly one is willing to dedicate all my properties to the senior! I only ask the senior to spare my life!"

Lin Mu snorted coldly, a sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Keep those spirit stones to buy yourself a coffin!"

His voice was cold and tinged with mockery.

Then, Lin Mu stretched out his finger and pointed at Liu Yuan.

His eyes revealed authority and decisiveness.

"Go and inform the Third Prince. Within one hour, I want to see him standing before me. Otherwise, they will all die."

Everyone was scared into silence, not daring to make a sound.

Their gazes collectively focused on Liu Yuan, their eyes filled with anticipation and worry.

Liu Yuan felt the gazes of the crowd, and the pressure in his heart instantly doubled.

He knew that if the Third Prince couldn't appear on time, then he would become the murderer who indirectly caused the deaths of these people.

At the same time, in the Third Prince's mansion.

A dark guard was respectfully reporting recent events to the Third Prince.

When he heard the news that "Wang Changhe, the Shadowless Sword, is actually dead."

The Third Prince jumped up from his seat in shock, exclaiming, "What? Wang Changhe, the Shadowless Sword, is actually dead?"

The Third Prince's face was filled with disbelief, and his heart was surging with endless shock.

Wang Changhe was his greatest reliance.

For the past hundred years, no matter how arduous the tasks and difficulties he faced, Wang Changhe had always been able to complete them smoothly.

Originally, the Third Prince had eagerly anticipated Wang Changhe successfully obtaining that crucial item.

This way, he would have enough confidence to defeat the Crown Prince.

Once his imperial father broke through to the Emperor Realm and abdicated, he would naturally ascend to the throne, realizing his ambitions and aspirations.

However, Wang Changhe's death undoubtedly brought a huge variable to his plan.

Having lost this powerful aid, he had to re-evaluate the situation and find other feasible ways to deal with the current predicament.

The Third Prince collected his thoughts and asked the dark guard in front of him, "Who killed Wang Changhe? Could it be a Great Emperor who made a move?"

The dark guard, his breath unstable under the Third Prince's aura, said,

"When the scouts arrived, the battle had already ended. Subsequent tracking led to the discovery of Wang Changhe's tombstone on Luocheng Mountain."

"So, it is not certain who exactly killed Wang Changhe."

The Third Prince thought for a while, his expression fluctuating, then waved his hand: "You may leave first."

As soon as the dark guard's figure disappeared, a rush of hurried footsteps approached from afar.

Before he even arrived, Chen Yuan's anxious and urgent voice could be heard:

"Third Prince! Something big has happened!"

Luan Yuqing and the others have been taken hostage! The other party specifically asked to see you."

"And they threatened that if you don't appear within an hour, their lives might not be saved!"

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince couldn't help but frown, a hint of irritation welling up in his heart.

Having just lost a powerful martial backing, now even his source of wealth was under threat.

Compared to the deceased Wang Changhe, he was more concerned about Luan Yuqing's safety.

After all, to navigate the various connections within the imperial court, support from spirit stones was indispensable everywhere.

It was precisely because he had the support of three of the seven great aristocratic families that he had enough confidence to compete with the Crown Prince.

If Luan Yuqing were to suffer an unfortunate end because of him, not only would he have to account to the Luan Family, but the other two families would also inevitably feel a sense of 'the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.'

Although he didn't know why the captor wanted to see him.

But in this Imperial Capital, he firmly believed that no one would dare to easily act against him.

Even a Great Emperor would need to consider carefully.

"This prince wants to see who exactly this mighty figure is."